Let's Build on This

Alrighty, ch2 is finally done and here it is. Hope you enjoy it!

Disclaimer: Avatar: The Last Airbender doesn't belong to me.


Chapter 2: Relaxed

About two weeks had passed since Katara had confronted Yon Rha, she still had her ups and downs but overall she was doing better. The same could be said about her relationship with Zuko, more often than not they'd spend the day together: sparring or taking walks on the beach and talking, watching the sunset, heck sometimes he'd even help her with dinner and they'd swap stories about the meals they'd had over their travels.

The rest of the Gaang had taken notice of their close friendship but never commented on it although, Toph and Sokka were debating on when the two would notice that sometimes they were subtly flirting with each other.

It was a bright and sunny morning, the usual weather there, as if the sun rose especially for the Fire Nation. Katara was looking through some of the boxes in the attic. The room was cold and hadn't been aired out in a while. The last time she'd been up there she noted that some of Zuko's old things were up there. And curiosity getting the better of her, she wanted to see some of the things he'd owned as child.

Not surprisingly she'd found very little items belonging to his mother. Even though his family hadn't been here in years, she assumed the Firelord would've gotten rid of anything belonging to his wife since she was longer with them. She'd closed the box she was busy with and dusted off her hands before moving to the next one.

There was a scroll inside and nothing else. It was browned with age but the image was still clear when she unrolled it.

"Katara?" she jumped at the voice behind her. She turned to see Zuko standing at the door. "Looking for something?" he asked and walked in.

"Not exactly, I was just curious about the stuff in here so I've been looking around." She rolled up the scroll.

"Find anything interesting?"

"I found this." She handed him the scroll and waited to see his reaction as he opened it. The image was of his mother and immediately a smile broke out on his lips. She looked just as he remembered and what made him even happier was seeing who she was holding in her arms. It was him when he was quite young, he didn't even remember having their portrait done.

"This painting, it's my mom."

"She's beautiful." She commented. "Who's she holding?" she couldn't help but giggle at the image of the adorable baby, with short black hair tied up and golden eyes with the brightest smile she'd ever seen.

"It's me," he said slightly embarrassed. "I must've been two or three years old." He surmised from his young looking self.

"You were so cute, look at that smile." She teased and he playfully rolled his eyes as she continued going on and on, taking the scroll back from him. "Baby Zuko must have been a handful." She commented and held up the painting next to his face for a side by side comparison. "Also your cheeks were adorably chubby." She was having the time of her life at his expense.

"Okay that's enough, give it here." He smirked to hide how he was feeling on the inside. He could only take so much embarrassment in one day, he held out his hand expectantly.

"Oh no, I'm showing this to the others first." She backed away slowly to the door.

"No ways Katara, hand it over." He was following her out.

"If you want it back you're going to have to come and get it." She said mischievously.

"I'm not chasing you."

"Fine then I guess you're okay with me parading around the house with it." She was headed to the stairs but broke into a run and started laughing when she looked over her shoulder to see Zuko running at full speed after her, a challenging grin on his face.

Laughter could be heard around the house as Katara avoided Zuko as quickly as she could. He didn't even know why he was still chasing her, he wasn't too concerned about the others seeing his baby picture but he also didn't want to stop chasing after her. The sound of her excited laughter filled his ears. He was genuinely enjoying himself. They'd ran through the main area and around the furniture, through the kitchen where Sokka just watched with a confused look while making himself a meal.

Eventually they were outside in the courtyard, Katara could hear his footsteps behind her and whenever she looked back she could see the determination in his eyes. He was taking this seriously but the smile on his face also told her that he was having as much fun as she was.

She'd secured the painting by her hip and bolted to the beach, she was getting tired now but there was no ways she'd let him win. The thrill of the chase was much too enjoyable. As soon as she saw the large expanse of water getting closer and closer, an idea formed in her head.

Well this little game of theirs was already ridiculous enough, might as well add to it. Katara began waterbending as she felt the sand pulling at her feet, making it harder to run. She'd created a wall of ice behind her but it didn't last long as Zuko blasted right through it with a fireball.

She heard the sound of fire moving behind her and dodged just in time to avoid a fire blast. Katara finally stopped running and turned to face Zuko, the smug smile never leaving her face and his expression matched hers.

Things had changed from a game of chasing to a spontaneous sparring match. Zuko didn't really stand much of a chance when she had the literal ocean next to her but that didn't deter him firebending, each attack extinguished by her water.

After what seemed like forever, they both gave in at the same time and were laying on the sand catching their breath. The steam created from their respective elements colliding quickly dissipated.

"Well that was fun." Katara started, her breath coming out heavily and her legs felt like jelly for running for so long and then duelling. "I don't think I've ever seen you so relaxed." She turned her head to look at him.

"It definitely has been a while. When last did I chase someone just for the fun of it?" he smiled, amused and ran a hand through his hair. "We really spent all that time running around. And seriously a wall of ice?" he asked sarcastically.

"Well you didn't have to firebend at me." She propped herself up on her elbow, a teasing look on her face.

"With an ocean right in front of a master waterbender, I wasn't worried." They both laughed and fell into a comfortable silence. She'd actually made him laugh, a sound she wanted to hear more often.

"You know I wasn't really going to show the picture to everyone. I just wanted to hear you laugh. I like seeing you happy." She admitted.

"I figured. You had plenty of time to show them plus running to the beach was a dead giveaway. I appreciate it, I haven't felt this way in a long time." He sat up as well, for the first time in an incredibly long time he'd felt normal. No duties or responsibilities for that day, just running around the place and laughing and spending time with one of his closest friends whom he was starting to see differently. Today had been an addition to the many feelings, he'd never felt before and he'd been thinking about her more often than not. He wasn't entirely sure of his feelings though. When he broke out of his thoughts he saw her staring at him and it unsettled him, his heart beat a little faster.

"You look like you were deep in thought."

"I was, I actually remembered something I want to show you." He stood up and dusted himself off and she did the same.

They headed back to the house and back upstairs to the attic. Zuko remembered exactly where he'd put it or rather hidden it away when the team first arrived here. He walked to the end of the room and opened a small box and took out the clay mould. He traced over his tiny hand print. Katara could see the pensive look on his face. He turned and showed it to her.

"Is that your handprint?" she asked and put her hand over it, taking in just how tiny it was.

"The last time I was here it was with my sister, Mai and Ty Lee but I was in such an angry state because I was realising I'd made a huge mistake by betraying my uncle. I ended up coming here and found this downstairs. This whole house brought back so many memories of times when I was just a normal child before everything changed. I even remember my mother telling me about the day we made this clay mould. She said I was laughing excitedly the entire time. Something as simple as pressing my hand in this brought me so much joy." He put his hand over it and Katara placed her hand over his and gave it a squeeze.

She understood him completely. They'd both been forced to grow up way too early and were robbed of a happy and carefree childhood. She understood that too well. Neither of them was aware of it in the moment but when she looked up into his eyes, they'd started leaning in. Only when Sokka came in to call them down for lunch had they realised how close they'd been. When he was gone they both looked away from each at the same time, trying to hide their blushing cheeks. However, they were still holding hands. Katara had been the one to break the silence and suggested they head down before Sokka came to fetch them again. She put the portrait, that started all this, back in its box before heading out, Zuko followed after her.

On their way downstairs, Katara thought back to their almost kiss just a moment ago. They were so close and it happened so naturally, would they have a moment like that again? She thought and looked at her hand that had held his as well just a moment ago. She certainly hoped so.

Katara was pulled from her thoughts with Sokka waving his hand in front of her face to get her attention.

"Did you hear any of what I just said?" he asked knowing she hadn't and when she admitted it he just sighed and said it wasn't that important. "By the way are you two going to explain what the heck you were doing running around like crazy?" he looked from Katara to Zuko and noted how they both visibly squirmed at his question. He added it up in his head and a knowing smile broke out on his face. "I wasn't interrupting anything was I?" he asked smugly, the rest of the group waited expectantly for the duo facing Sokka's interrogation, to answer.

"No!" they both said in unison then looked at each other.

Wow this was not helping their case. Katara cleared her throat.

"I was exploring the attic and Zuko came to keep me company." She answered carefully. "And as for the running around thing, we were just having some harmless fun." She smiled nervously and Sokka turned to Zuko who only nodded in agreement. But still something didn't add up, when he'd gone up there to call them down, they basically jumped apart like they were about to do something and clearly trying to hide it but, he didn't pursue it anymore. He'd spared them from awkwardly answering more of his questions and they ate their lunch and carried on as normal.

Although Zuko and Katara would steal glances at each other over the course of the meal, a secret communication between them.

Yup, just a fun and relaxed day between two friends. That's all it had been. But then what about that almost kiss? A question on the back of both their minds but would be pondered another time. Right now they were really good friends and they liked it.

But how long would it stay that way? With both of them acknowledging their changing feelings, something new could grow between them.


And there you have it, just a really fun day for the two of them. I wanted to have them spend the day together in a way that they both usually wouldn't but still end up having fun anyways. It was good for both of them but especially for Zuko. Ah I really enjoyed writing this, hope you enjoyed reading, leave a review if you can.

Anyways, that's it from me-

Until the next chapter:

Ketsui Tasogare :-)