"You are my sweetest downfall,

I loved you first."

-Regina Spektor

"Come check this out!" Sokka called through the celebratory sounds echoing throughout the Jasmine Dragon. War was over. Ex-Fire Lord Ozai was locked away forever. A new dawn was emerging on the great nations, and it was time to celebrate.

Suki and Aang were already leaning over the table in the back corner to get a look at whatever Sokka wanted to show off. Their grimaces told Katara all she needed to know, but curiosity got the best of her, and she leaned over her seated brother's shoulder to see.

The painting Sokka had done on a long scroll was laughable, and she was momentarily insulted by the dog ears on her head that were supposed to represent her hair loops. She was about to say something scathing to her brother for his portrayal, but the crudely drawn image of Zuko caught her attention. His depiction looked absolutely ridiculous, but that's not why Katara was staring so intently. It was the image of a scowling Mai pressed right up against Zuko that bothered her.

While everyone was busy issuing jovial, good-natured compliments, Katara turned away, muttering, "Looks good. Accurate."

She wondered back to the table where her cooling tea sat and ran a finger along the rim of the earthenware cup. She had been in such a good mood, but the reminder that Zuko had someone brought her high spirits crashing to the ground.

She wasn't even entirely sure when her feelings towards Zuko shifted into something more than friendship. Her anger towards him, particularly after his betrayal in the Crystal Caverns, festered in her belly like a poison. When he turned up to beg forgiveness and offer himself to their cause, she was so consumed by the miasma of hatred that she was blind to the truth of his transformation. She couldn't understand why he cared so much about her view of him.

But then he offered to help her gain some closure on the death of her mother. Instead of trying to talk her out of it, instead of convincing her that what she wanted to do – what she needed to do – was wrong, he stood by her side. He travelled tirelessly with her as they sought out the Southern Raiders, and he did not try to convince her to turn back when the man they were looking for was not there. He searched with her. He stood silently aside while she let go of what she needed to. He didn't say a word while all of her pent-up feelings came pouring from her body on the way back, he simply steered Appa on and glanced back every few minutes to quietly check on her.

That was when she decided she could fully trust Zuko, and a sudden rush of raw emotion flooded her with the decision. He was stoic, but he couldn't hide his caring nature. The look of relief on his face when she told him he had gained her trust and the tight, close hug he gave her told her so much more than he ever could with words. Even as she stood staring at her cold cup of tea, she could feel those warm arms around her. Her waist tingled from the memory of his touch and she shuddered.

And then there was that stupid play. As awful as it was, wasn't there some grain of truth in it?

"Someone needs to tell your brother he's not an artist."

The voice shocked her from her thoughts, and she took in a sharp breath. How long had Zuko been standing beside her?

She cleared her throat and managed a smile. "Suki will put him in his place, don't worry."

"The Ember Island Player looked more like me than whatever that is." Zuko waved a hand towards the drawing, which Sokka was now attempting to hang on the wall despite Uncle Iroh's protests.

Katara let out a genuine laugh. "At least you don't look like a dog."

"You don't look that bad."

Her smile faded as she took a slow sip of tea. "Where's Mai? I'm sure she'd really hate what Sokka did to her."

"Mai hates a lot of things." Zuko glanced towards the door and dropped his shoulders. "Actually, I don't know where she is right now."

"Oh." Katara looked down at her cup, wondering if she had accidently pried. He sounded a little sad. "I should get this warmed up…"

Wordlessly, Zuko plucked the cup from her hands and held it. After a moment, the tea was steaming once more. "Can't do that with waterbending," he commented as he handed the cup back to her.

They stood in silence for a moment and Katara found herself studying Zuko's face. His eyes were distant, looking just above her head. His lips were pulled in a tight line.

He must have sensed her looking at him. They locked eyes, but instead of shying away at being caught, Katara asked the simple question that had been on her mind.

"Are you okay?"

He frowned at the question, looking like he'd been caught himself. "A lot of things are going to change."

"We're all going to be here to help make those changes," Katara reminded him. She glanced to the side as she thought, And I'll always get to see you. Girlfriend or no girlfriend.

"It's going to be a lot of work. Are you ready for it all?"

"Ready when you are," Katara agreed. "I have some ideas already."

"I'm sure they're great." He offered her a half smile which she promptly returned.

"My first idea is that you should probably burn that drawing before your girlfriend sees it."

Zuko glanced back at Sokka's artwork. He had managed to successfully tack it to the wall while Uncle Iroh was in the kitchen. "She may not be my girlfriend for much longer."

"Oh?" Katara really didn't want to pry into his personal life, but the sudden confession ignited a faint glimmer of hope in her heart.

He flushed slightly and glanced away from her. The way his amber eyes reflected in the slowly fading sunlight was so enticing, she had to fight the urge to lean into him.

"I shouldn't have said that," he muttered. "Uncle is bringing out some cakes. We should get some before Toph takes them all."

"Sure." Katara reached out to touch his wrist before he could walk away from their small corner of privacy. "You can talk to me if you need to."

He gave a single, curt nod. "Thanks. I…will."

They joined the small crowd of their closest friends and enjoyed Uncle Iroh's delicious teacakes. They laughed, they joked, and they pretended to be teenagers with no responsibilities for just a little bit longer. Every once in a while, Zuko's gaze met Katara's from across the group and that faint glimmer of hope in her chest grew brighter.