I think I have fluff-fever. I can't stop writing it. Oh my. Maybe I'll type up some angst or something later.
"Now, don't you look nice?"
Zuko was silent in awe, staring at the river which held his reflection. Katara had just cut everyone's hair, excluding Aang, and he was the last one while the other's were busy bending and doing chores.
While the water bender placed the knife back into it's sheath and began to wash away all the stray hairs that had fallen on to the ground, Zuko continued to stare at the water while sitting on a stump.
It was a mirror. A mirror of his past.
And it was also the first time he had seen his reflections in months. Years, maybe? He didn't know.
His hand traced along edges of his hair lines, admiring the hard work of Katara. It was good, at least in the few minutes she had done it in. He happily recalled how she worked, tongue in cheek, silently talking to herself and occasionally him.
Golden eyes stared at his new short hair, traveling down to his eyes, and then his scar.
His scar.
Zuko's lips began to quiver at just merely looking at it, memories flooding his mind, and cruel words from his father whispering into his ear. Boiling with internal rage, the scar inside his heart exploded.
Punching his arm forward, he stabbed the water with his fist, sending ripples of water and blurring the painful reflection.
Water splashed everywhere, and he began to breath deeper and a little heavier. His clenched fists and white knuckles went unnoticed by him, as he stared at the grass and sat stiffer on the broken stump.
Suddenly, soft hands appeared around his neck, slowly moving upward to his face. Dark and pale skin clashed, but the softness and warmth of these familiar hands soothed him and calmed him down.
"Now, now. Look at the water, and tell me what it wrong with this picture?"
The voice of the water bender lingered at his ear, as she stood behind him with her hands resting on his shoulders now.
What was wrong? What was wrong other than the horrendous red thing on his face?
Everything.
He said nothing, as he felt hands move to his chin and slowly lift it up so his eyes timidly met the water. From there he could see Katara standing behind him, smiling softly. Her blue eyes were copies of the river itself, and her hands were as soft as the clouds in the sky.
"There's one major flaw with this."
Zuko thought about her words, and his frown tightened. He knew what she was talking about. It was that thing on his face, that scar, that...that...monstrous thing.
But instead, he felt her dark hands move slowly up his face.
Her hand did not travel to his scar, but instead to his mouth, where she placed a finger on each side of his mouth, pulling into a fake smile.
A giggle escaped her lips, and he smiled at this, still staring into the water. Their reflections were perfect, the water so very still, with the help of a little bending.
"See? You should smile more. Then it will be perfect."
Running a hand through his short hair, his eyes stayed on the water. She gave him a soft pat on the cheek, and then on the shoulder, sending him another smile. Katara began to walk away, and once Zuko saw her reflection leave the makeshift mirror, he turned his head and called out her name.
"Katara!"
"Mm?"
"...thank you."
Waving a hand to show it was nothing, she smiled and he couldn't help but smile back at her. Walking away so she could start lunch, her braid bounced on her back, as he watched her walk away.
With a shy hand, he carefully placed a finger on his scar. Doing what she instructed, he gave a tiny smile. Just between himself, and only himself. Placing the normal frown that he always wore, he looked around to make sure nobody saw that.
But somebody had.
That same giggle that made him smile before came from the water bender, and he turned around to see her standing there with a bucket in her hand.
Smiling, a true smile, he got up and turned around.
"You know, someone has to help me with the laundry."
Shrugging, he walked over to her, and began to walk with her as they made their way over to the camp.
Still smiling, but this time with girlish giggles and boyish blushes, their hands found each other and the laundry was totally forgotten that night.