The first word Katara heard out of Zuko's mouth when she walked out of her apartment was a breathless, "Wow," sending a rush of heat straight to her cheeks that she hoped he couldn't see. She'd never felt so nervous around a guy before; this was the first man she'd ever gone on a date with in her life, and of course it just so happened to be a man who was, as Song had so eloquently put, 'so dreamy'.
Her eyes shot to her feet for a moment before she worked up the courage to see the look on his face, peeking up shyly at him. His cheeks, too, were flushed a light pink, his eyes zeroed in on hers. Was it possible for those sun kissed golden orbs to be even brighter in the dark of the cool January night?
"Wow yourself," she laughed out, softly. Katara was glad she'd chosen to wear a dress, because Zuko was dressed impeccably. A black and red pinstripe button down covered his torso, his sleeves rolled up to the tops of his muscled forearms, and Katara suddenly realized she hadn't completely noticed just how in shape the fire mogul was as she looked down at the faded black jeans hugging his legs. And what was this? Black and red chucks with the Fire Nation insignia logo were on his feet.
Katara's lips pulled back slightly into an involuntary smile as she glanced back down at her shoes, thankful she'd stood her ground against the one order from Song to wear heels and chosen her blue and white Water Nation converse instead. When she looked back up at Zuko he was looking up from their shoes as well, having noticed her reaction to seeing his own.
"Well would you look at that," Zuko laughed, flashing her a brilliant smile. "Are you ready?"
He sounded just as excited as she was, and she relaxed a little knowing it wasn't just her feeling it down to her very bones. "Than I'll ever be!" Katara answered with a wide smile. She followed him over to the idling town car, blushing again as he opened her door as she climbed down into the seat. She thought she heard a strange clicking sound as the door closed, but paid no mind to it.
Zuko climbed in after her and off they drove. There were a few moments of awkward silence as the other each tried to think of something to break the ice. It was Zuko who went first, telling her, "Uh, just so you know, I told my Uncle about our date, and he got all weird on me so, um," he paused, as if trying to find the right words to explain.
"If it's too short of notice I'll understand if we have to go somewhere else, Zuko! Really, I'm not picky at all," Katara assured him. She really didn't care if they even went out to eat, she was just excited to be on her first date!
"No, not that, it's just… he's a big romantic, and I just don't want you to be alarmed or feel weird or anything if he, kinda, maybe arranges for a band or something cheesy like that to come to our table, ya know?" he replied. He chuckled nervously.
Katara giggled and shook her head. "I think your Uncle sounds very sweet, Zuko. Song's mother has nothing but good things to say about Iroh. But thank you for the heads up."
He turned to flash her another smile, pulling into the front of the restaurant as a valet stepped forward, opening Katara's door as Zuko put the car in park.
"Miss Katara, Mister Sozin, good evening," the valet greeted, a girl their age wearing two red stripes of face paint on either side of her cheeks and a red headband that read 'The Freedom Fighters' across it wrapped around her bushy head of hair.
"Hey, Smellerbee," Zuko responded. "You know you can just call me Zuko, right?"
Smellerbee breezed beside him and said, "Not on the clock, Mister Sozin, not on the clock," as she slipped into the driver's seat and pulled away.
"She seems nice," Katara commented, looking after her before she noticed Zuko standing beside her, staring down at her expectantly. "What? Is there something in my hair?"
"No," he said nonchalantly. "I'm just waiting for you to turn around so I can return something to you."
Katara's brow furrowed for a moment before she realized what he meant. Blushing, she turned around and held her hair up off of her neck. The temperature outside didn't feel cold to her, but goosebumps raised up down her skin as warm hands skimmed over her shoulders, pulling the ribbon choker to a comfortable tautness, fingers tickling the back of her neck as he tied it in a neat bow.
Keep your cool, Katara, keep your cool. No falling for the first guy you go on a date with. You cannot be that girl!
But she was having a hard time fighting that downward spiral from happening every moment she spent with Zuko. She turned back around to find him staring with hooded eyes at her, once again keeping his eyes locked with hers, in such contrast to Jet's wandering eye.
"I didn't think it was possible, but you look even more beautiful now," he murmured, holding his arm out for her so they could go inside. Katara gingerly reached out and put her hand on his arm, allowing him to guide them inside.
As they walked into the foyer, Katara noted there wasn't another person in sight, the tables all empty, no dishes set out on any of the light green table clothes. That's odd, she thought. For such a busy place, there sure didn't seem to be any people here. She glanced up at Zuko and understood all at once. His horrified blush and expression said it all: this was his Uncle's grand gesture apparently.
A whole restaurant, to themselves? Katara's nerves shot back up. With a busy restaurant, they could have at least people watched if they ever reached an awkward talking point. Alone, they'd have no one but each other to watch, and no one but each other to distract themselves with.
"Uncle," Zuko whimpered under his breath. "Why did I not see this coming," he sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.
A hearty voice called across the dining hall. "Ah! Zuko, Miss Katara, welcome to the Jasmine Dragon!" Iroh was ambling towards them, smiling benevolently.
Katara tried to cover her mouth to smother her giggle at Zuko's pained expression but was too slow, and his eyes snapped to hers and she saw his lips twitch in the shadow of a smile. Iroh reached them and reached out to grab Katara's hand in his, saying, "Miss Katara, it is so nice to officially meet you. My nephew has told me such wonderful things. He tells me you are a veterinary student?"
Katara nodded with a smile. "Yes, I am just doing my externship now, but I hope next year I'll have my degree and medical license," she told him. Iroh's eyes wrinkled up in a warm smile at this.
"What a bright young woman you are!" he commented, releasing her hand and moving to hug Zuko. She heard Zuko grumble, "Uncle, did you really have to go this all out?"
Iroh whispered back, "Oh, nephew, the night has only just begun, ha ha ha." He laughed and gave Zuko a few pats on the back. "Come now," he said in a normal voice. "I will show you to your table, and Jin will come right out to get your order for tea and show you our special menu for tonight."
Zuko shot Katara another apologetic look as if to apologize for his Uncle's antics. Truthfully, his jovial attitude was easing her nerves some. Something told her he would be out to check on them frequently that evening, practically skipping ahead of them. Katara absentmindedly wondered if perhaps Zuko didn't go on many dates either.
They made their way to the table and sat down, a young Earth Kingdom woman coming out and getting their orders for tea, setting down one menu on the table.
"Oh, just… one?" Zuko asked, looking down at the paper.
"Well, Iroh made a special menu for tonight, and since it was just you two he made one and forgot to make the other, I suppose," Jin pondered at the end. "I'll be right back with your tea!" She turned and walked away, leaving Katara and Zuko alone.
Katara and Zuko exchanged shy glances as Zuko said, "Well, um, do you want to take turns or, er, just look at it together?"
Katara blushed and grabbed the menu. "Do you… want to come sit over here and we can both look at it?" she suggested.
Zuko stared back at her for a moment, taking a deep breath in and releasing it out his nose as he nodded, picking up his chair and bringing it to the other side of the table to sit beside her. He sat down and they gently knocked heads as they both leaned in to look at the menu closer.
They both winced and turned to laugh together, leaning in more carefully this time to read down the menu. Katara's eyes flew open wide as her eyes read the top line, her heart twinging with a deep longing for home.
The first item on the special menu read sea prune stew.