Katara ran down another corridor, opening each door as she hunted the traitor. Zuko would always be the traitor to Katara, no matter how quickly the others forgot.
But tonight he was it in their game of hermit-sardines, hiding until everyone found him one by one. As Aang's giggle echoed nearby, Katara heard a sharp exhale as she turned the corner. She froze, slowly turning her head towards the sound, eyeing the cabinet at the end of the hall. She snuck towards it, quietly opening one of the wooden doors. Zuko's dejected face was the first thing she saw. An otherwise empty cabinet was the second. "Great, alone with the traitor."
"How'd you find me so fast?"
"How did Toph not find you yet? Move," Karata hissed, shoving the boy aside and climbing in. As she shut them into the darkness, she became aware of how close they were. Shoulders touching, the pair stood in silence as the minutes ticked on.
"Move, quick! Twinkletoes is right behind me," Toph whispered as she pushed Katara. Zuko grabbed her before she fell, his firm grasp on her waist. As she steadied, he quickly dropped his hands, but Katara stayed pressed into his warm chest as more people climbed into the cabinet. Katara could feel Zuko's hot breath on her neck, a new feeling bubbling up in her chest like a fire in the darkness of the cabinet.
"You couldn't find a bigger spot to hide?" Katara muttered as Toph giggled behind her.