AN: I won't be writing more so plz don't ask XD this was just a lil snippet from tumblr


Chance Encounter

The Painted Lady never visited the Capital. She haunted the docks, the beach towns, and impoverished villages. Anywhere someone needed help, struggling to get by, she'd leave her mark. They'd flourish after her visit.

Zuko read yet another report on the mysterious woman. With a sigh, he ran a hand through his hair. It felt somewhat humiliating, needing to rely on a spirit to do what he couldn't. Zuko tried. He really did his best as Fire Lord, but it proved exhausting trying to juggle everything and fix the poverty his Father's reign had left behind- all the nations resources having gone into aesthetic or the war effort.

Wandering over to the window of his private study, he wondered what Katara thought of the Painted Lady. His guest managed to juggle no end of responsibilities. He wondered how she managed. He snorted, gaining a ridiculous thought. There was no way she was the Painted Lady. One person couldn't do everything Katara did and moonlight as a spirit.

Letting his thoughts drift, Zuko's gaze relaxed, the shapes of his palace's red roof tiles and golden spires becoming hazed- until something moved.

Jolting, Zuko gaped. "... No way."

Climbing up onto his window, Zuko leapt out of it impulsively. Landing on a rooftop in his much too soft house slippers, the fire lord wobbled- quickly regaining his balance and charging ahead.

"H-hey!"

The figure up ahead paused, glancing at him. She seemed to stiffen as he caught up, stopping a respectable distance.

The veil made looking at her face difficult. Moonlight shined over her brown skin, long hair dancing in the breeze.

Zuko hadn't ever brought into the rumours that she was a spirit. This person, this young woman- she was flesh and blood. His heart thundered, forever wondering who she was. He'd figured she was someone from the Fire Nation colonies with Water Tribe ancestors.

"I-uh," he straightened, cheeks flushed. "I wanted... to thank you, as myself."

"As yourself?" she asked, curiosity in her quiet, even voice.

Zuko swallowed, glancing away. "Yeah. Just- forget it. Know I'm grateful for you doing the things I can't."

She shifted to face him. "It's not just me. The Blue Spirit is here to help your country repair, my Lord."

He winced. "You don't have to address me that way. Just Zuko is fine."

Amusement coloured her tone, and he thought he glimpsed blue eyes behind the veil, smiling at him. "Zuko."

His heart did a backflip. Suddenly he felt out of breath. He opened his mouth to say more, before she leapt from the building, freezing a water whip to glide down, taking off running the second she landed on the ground.

Zuko watched her go, feeling rattled. Awake. Burning. That was always how he felt after their encounters. After every glimpse of her, the sheer mention of her.

Letting out a breath of fire, steam hissed around his lips before Zuko turned, hurrying back to his quarters.


Overlooking a poor fishing town, Katara rested a hand over her chest. She wished her heart would settle down, it was distracting. She needed to focus.

Hearing something behind her, she didn't have to turn to know who it was. "You're late."

The Blue Spirit drew up next to her, silently rubbing the back of his neck in a silent gesture of apology.

He never spoke, but Katara didn't mind. Her friend felt comforting, rather than intimidating.

"I'll forgive you, if you take off your mask."

He started, blue mask turning to face her.

She smiled beneath her veil, "just kidding. You know I'd never ask that. Come on, let's go," she said, heading towards the town. He shadowed the Painted Lady's footsteps; her mute, protective spectre.

End