Fumbling

She blushes every time their eyes met. They share shy smiles and even shyer touches—innocent things like the simple brush of hands or the way he smooths back a lock of her hair. It's harder to be bold in the daytime.

Uncle won't stop grinning at them. He grins his way all through breakfast and grins when he says he has to go meet his patron. "You'll look after our guest until her friends arrive, won't you, Nephew?"

Zuko goes pink but also gives his uncle a grumpy look. It seems he's picked up on the fact the old man is taking far too much pleasure in watching them fumble their way through post-kiss awkwardness. "Just go get your stupid teashop sorted."

Once Uncle is gone, the two teens are left alone and just stare at each other.

"So …" Zuko says.

"So …"

There's an awkward pause, broken by the laughter that spills from both their lips. His is more restrained, but the lopsided smile he gives her makes her warm all over.

"I don't know how to do this," he admits, rubbing the base of his neck.

"I don't really know either."

They step closer to each other. His eyes are so soft and golden. She thinks he might kiss her again, but then something shifts in his expression, a hint of sadness.

"What?" she says, touching his hand. "What's wrong?"

"You're not going to stay in Ba Sing Se, are you?"

Oh.

A weight fills her stomach and she looks down at their hands. "No. Aang has to fulfil his destiny, and I'm his waterbending teacher. He needs me."

He nods as if to say he thought as much.

She tightens her grip on his hand. "You know … he needs a firebending teacher as well."

Zuko raises his lone eyebrow. "Are you actually asking me to be the Avatar's firebending teacher?"

"Uh, maybe?"

He does that cute nose scrunch thing.

"No, listen," she says, shifting her grip to his arms. "It's perfect! I mean you're not hunting Aang anymore, and you and your uncle are both firebenders, and—"

"It's not that simple."

She almost pouts. "Why not?"

He just shakes his head and pulls away from her. That's kind of frustrating. He was a lot more vocal about his feelings when she was a cat. Maybe that's why she decides to wrap her arms around him from behind, nuzzling his back. Maybe she can reawaken some of that openness in him.

"You can talk to me," she murmurs. "I can't promise I'll understand everything, but I can try."

He sighs and his hands come to rest over hers. She waits for what feels like an age before he begins to speak, his tone hushed. He tells her that he's still not really sure what he wants. Everything is new and kind of scary, and he's just trying to process it all. He's spent three years hunting the Avatar, wanting to go home, wanting to make his father proud, and he's just given up on it all.

"And now you want me to work with the Avatar? The same boy I tried to capture?"

She moves around to face him. "Sorry. I didn't mean to make you feel pressured."

"It's not really that." He frowns and runs a hand through his hair. "I just don't know where I fit anymore. Uncle is happy here, and I want him to be happy, so I just assumed I should stay here with him, but now you've given me a new option, except that would mean going against everything, and I'm just …" He sighs much more dramatically. "I don't know."

She clasps his face, tugging gently to bring him down more to her level. "It's okay to be confused." Her lips linger close to his. "Besides, I'm not going anywhere right now."

The kiss is short and sweet.

He leans his forehead against hers. "I like you," he whispers.

"I like you too."

They smile at each other, soft and secretive like two people who have escaped to their own little world. She almost wishes Aang and the others weren't coming today.

I really wish I could just ignore the fact Zuko would be hesitant, even reluctant, about joining the gaang so I can end this cute and easy, but noooo.

On that note, I know there are some people hoping this story will continue for longer, but next chapter will be the last! (I think)