Chapter 6: Denial

For several minutes, Zuko stood there dripping. His heart was screaming, "Stop her!" but his head said that wasn't a smart thing to do. Finally, Zuko could move again. He turned and walked home.

"I'm home, Uncle!" Zuko called as he slammed the door shut. He shrugged out of his shirt.

"Zuko? Why are you all wet?" Iroh asked when he saw Zuko.

"I don't want to talk about it," Zuko said coolly, heading towards his room.

"How did things go with the Avatar?" Iroh asked.

Zuko paused, unsure how to react. "Fine," he replied, brushing past his uncle with dry clothing.

"But you don't have her," Iroh pointed out. "Isn't that a failure? The Avatar won't get any weaker, Zuko."

"She has a name, Uncle!" Zuko snapped as he paused at the bathroom door. "It's Katara!"

Iroh was stunned and blinked. "Wait…why are you so sensitive about her? Why are you being so protective of Katara? Oh! Are you in love with Katara?"

Zuko flung a towel at his uncle's head. "Men who talk too much are annoying," Zuko stated as he shut the bathroom door.

"Katara? Are you okay?" Katara's mom began to look her daughter over. "Did he hurt you?"

"No."

"Oh, thank goodness."

"I'll be taking a bath," Katara strode into the bathroom. Katara got out her bubble bath and poured some into the tub.

She climbed in after undressing and sighed. So warm. So relaxing. Just the thing to do after a battle. Katara closed her eyes. She could hear Zuko's heartbeat. She felt his arms around her, gently enfolding her.

"Whaaah!" her eyes snapped open. "Why did I think of him? I don't like him! He's just a snob! A stalking freak! He's a cold—" she stopped, remembering his actions this afternoon. "Zuko. Why did you do that?"

"Katara. Earth to Katara!" Sokka waved his hand in front of his sister's face. "Did you even hear what I asked you?"

"What?" Katara stirred from behind her textbook. "I'm sorry. What did you say?"

"I asked why you have doodles of Zuko in your notes," Sokka repeated.

Katara flushed and quickly flipped the notebook over.

"What the?" Sokka leaned closer to the page. "Is that you in Zuko's arms?"

"NO! Never! Why would you think that? And who says that's Zuko all over? It's Aang obviously! See?"

"Aang has more hair than the guy in your drawings," Sokka stated.

Nuts. He noticed.

"Katara, do you want to tell me something?" Sokka asked.

"Umm, like what?" Katara played dumb.

"Like who your latest crush is," Sokka said.

"You mean—you think I'm in love with Zuko?" Katara spluttered. "Have you lost your marbles? He's trying to capture me, remember?"

"Okay. Whatever you say. I'm not the one drawing him holding me in my notebooks though, sis," Sokka sauntered out of the room.

"Ugh!" Katara threw her pen at the wall. It ricocheted off. "AAAH!" Katara ducked and the pen whistled by her ear.

"Katara? Are you in bed? You have school tomorrow," Katara's mother called in at her daughter's door.

"Yes, Mom," Katara groaned as she awoke. "Let me go back to sleep!" She rolled back over. She heard her mother's footsteps move away. "Man, and I had finally fallen asleep," Katara groaned as she sat up. "Well, I guess all that's left now is to try to go back to sleep." Katara fell back onto her bed. I can't believe my brother. How can he even think that I even have the slightest bit of romantic feelings toward Zuko? I mean, we're so different! He's of the Fire Nation. I'm of the Water Tribes. We're opposites! Fire destroys everything. Water brings healing and life. There's nothing we share!

But you're technically a Firebender too, Katara's smarter half said.

That doesn't count! I didn't mean it like that, Katara's other side snapped back.

You both don't have mothers.

Ah, forget it. Katara turned over. But why hasn't he come after me since last week? Why hasn't he tried to catch me since that battle? And why hasn't he approached me at school. But I know I'm looking for him everyday. When I catch a glance of him, my heart begins to race. When I don't see him, I begin drawing him in my notes. Why do I want to talk to him? What it is about him that draws me to him?

Katara's mind began to succumb to fatigue. Her last coherent thought was directed to the Fire Nation boy. Zuko, what are you doing to me?

A/N: I hope that was good enough for you fans. More fluff is up next. Don't worry. I know what I'm doing.