*Disclaimer* I do not own Avatar The Last Airbender even though I wish I did. Kill Kataang! Maybe that's a bit harsh, but you get the point.
As Katara and Zuko walked further into the tea shop, Katara noticed that the place was completely decorated even though Iroh had only regained his tea shop a couple of days ago.
Katara shot a questioning look at Zuko, and he answered quickly. "My uncle likes to shop, okay," Zuko said almost wretchedly.
Katara giggled. "Why are you so upset that your uncle is such a big buyer?" she asked curiously.
Zuko shook his head with an extremely pained look on his face. "Well, one reason is because I nearly died due to his extraneous shopping habits. Another is just that I don't enjoy shopping. It's not worth the effort and it takes too much time," Zuko said wryly.
"Oh come on! He can't be that bad!" Katara said while trying to contain her laughter.
Zuko looked behind him to see if his uncle was there. He seemed to be gone for the moment, so Zuko grabbed Katara's hand and then said, "Come with me."
Katara immediately let go of Zuko's hand and Zuko seemed to have done the same thing. Now that they were both aware of their surroundings and not nearly as emotional, they realized the awkwardness of their gentle touches.
Katara was blushing heatedly as she followed Zuko silently. Zuko was leading her down a narrow corridor until they reached a set of stairs. Zuko put a finger to his lips and then led her up the stairs and opened a rather small door.
Katara's mouth dropped open when she saw what was inside. It was full of seemingly useless trinkets, objects and instruments worth more money than it would take to build the entire southern water tribe.
"You weren't joking, were you?" Katara breathed.
Zuko shook his head sadly. "I really wish that I was joking. You don't know how much time and money my uncle has wasted buying this stuff," Zuko said half-heartedly. "But we should get down and work on that tea now. Uncle will not be happy with me if I don't keep my word. Let's go," Zuko finished quietly.
They went back downstairs to the kitchen and found Iroh there. He had obviously been waiting for them there.
"Where have you two been? I have been waiting for you. It is of no matter. Anyway, I need some Jasmine tea , Ginseng tea, Lychee tea, Green tea, Spiced tea, White Dragon tea, Ginger tea, and that Chi-Enhancing tea which you make so well, Prince Zuko," Iroh finished happily.
Katara looked over at Zuko and she could see an extremely light puff of smoke exit his nostrils.
"Whatever you say uncle," he said in an apparently calm voice. Katara covered her mouth. It was fun watching them converse with each other—Iroh was always oblivious to Zuko's grouchy aura while Zuko was trying to be kind and understanding towards the person that loved him like a father.
"Thank you again nephew. I have a very important friend coming over. I met her while I was coming to call the order of the white lotus. Perhaps you'll meet her as well," he said hopefully.
"Wait, this 'important' guest is a girl? You're making us do your work to impress your date?" Zuko asked intensely.
"I am old Prince Zuko. I need someone to help me in my elderly state of being," Iroh said while giving Zuko a look no one could refuse.
Zuko pinched the bridge of his nose and then grumbled, "Fine. But, I'm not doing this again," Zuko finished hotly.
Iroh immediately stopped putting on a show and clapped while saying, "Thank you Prince Zuko!"
Iroh ran over to Zuko and gave him an awkward hug until Zuko started fighting furiously to push him off.
"Let go of me! Don't make me change my mind uncle," Zuko finished darkly.
"Sorry Prince Zuko. Sometimes, you can be so sweet!" Iroh said while dabbing at his eyes.
Zuko rolled his eyes, obviously wanting to change the subject. He looked over to Katara for help. Katara quickly asked, "So, Iroh. Do you have the recipes for the tea? I've never really made any before…" Katara trailed off.
"That's okay," Iroh started. "Anyone can make tea as long as they do their best. Look at my nephew. He used to make the worst tea—"
Zuko cut him off. "My tea isn't that bad uncle! And after coming to Ba Sing Se even you have to admit I learned a thing or two," Zuko said.
"You also said that tea was nothing more than hot leaf juice. Obviously, it is much more than that," Iroh said confidently and wisely.
"Well that is what all tea is made of! Leaf Juice! I mean sometimes there is other stuff, but leaf juice is the basis of tea," Zuko stated.
Iroh wept silently into his robe. "Why nephew? How could you possibly say something like that?" Iroh asked sadly.
"Uncle, what is your definition of tea?" Zuko asked. He regretted asking the question the moment that he asked.
"That is a very interesting topic Prince Zuko…" Iroh started. Zuko put his head down on the table as his uncle went on and on about tea, where it originated, why it was important, and other topics involving tea until Zuko was practically asleep.
Katara looked at Zuko and then said, "Excuse me Iroh, but your nephew should be listening to your wise words," Katara gave Zuko a burning glare.
Zuko looked up at her and gave her an antagonized gaze. It was apparent that he didn't particularly enjoy having long conversations about tea.
Iroh shook his head at his nephew and then said, "Oh thank you Lady Katara. You flatter me too much. I don't deserve your compliments." Iroh's cheeks were covered in light pink.
"Please Iroh, just call me Katara. There's no need for formality—not for me anyway. But it has been interesting to listen to you hear about tea. In the water tribes we don't really make a habit of constantly drinking tea. I love it, but I can't say I know much about it," Katara finished with a hint of remorse in her voice.
Iroh gasped in horror. "We need to have a long talk about his sometime Katara. I don't know what I would do without tea. It also appears that I need to revisit the water tribes and introduce them to the art of drinking tea frequently," Iroh said.
"However, I believe my nephew is growing tired of talking about tea, so we might as well make some," Iroh happily ended.
He walked over to a shelf and grabbed the recipes that Katara and Zuko would need. "Here you go young ones. I would stay and help, but I must prepare for my guest. Thank you again nephew and… Katara," Iroh said as he quickly exited the room.
As soon as he had left, Katara and Zuko saw his face pop through the door again. Zuko looked rather okay, even if a little miffed at the previous conversation.
"And by the way Katara, you can call me uncle," Iroh said happily while flashing Zuko a meaningful grin.
Zuko was out of his seat and escorting his uncle out of the room before Katara had even blinked. He appeared to be whispering something in his uncle's ear, but Katara couldn't hear a thing.
Zuko came back into the room, sat down, and groaned. Katara noticed he was slouching, so she went over to him and pulled his shoulders back so he was sitting up straight.
"What was that for?" Zuko nearly shouted at her. Katara just shook her head and laughed.
"I would think that the almighty fire lord would know not to slouch. It is bad for you, after all," Katara said quietly.
The edges of Zuko's lips twitched. "You are the little mother aren't you?" He asked.
Katara smiled, "Yes I am. So straighten up and let's start boiling the tea," Katara ordered firmly.
"Whatever you say mother," Zuko said harmlessly. He walked over to the stove and started boiling some water.
Katara followed him and punched him in the arm. Zuko chuckled and then whispered, "I suppose I did deserve that."
"Don't mess with a water bender Zuko. Seriously. Don't forget it," Katara said menacingly as she walked over to the closet to get some tea.
She saw that there were millions of boxes of tea leaves and nearly collapsed. She gave a sigh of relief when she saw that they were labeled. She grabbed the types of leaves that Iroh had asked for and then brought them over to an island in the center of the kitchen.
Zuko had already ignited eight sections on the stove to boil the water so that they could make the tea. But they had to wait to actually make the tea, so Zuko sat down on the floor while Katara sat down on a chair at the table.
She drummed her fingers on the table. Zuko appeared to be meditating, but his left eye was twitching almost uncontrollably.
"Katara, could you please stop drumming your fingers on the table? It's sort of getting on my nerves," Zuko said angrily.
"Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to do annoy you. I just don't have anything better to do. Unless you'd like to talk about something," Katara said slyly.
Zuko stood up in one fluid movement and then took the chair opposite Katara. "Okay, so what do you want to talk about?" Zuko asked.
Katara knew what she wanted to talk about, but knew she would probably just chicken out. 'Gee Zuko, I'd really like to know why you jumped in front of that lighning bolt to save me…' Katara thought. 'No Katara, not now—maybe the time will come later, but it's not now,' she thought to herself.
"I don't know. Whatever you want to talk about," Katara said softly while silently regretting not asking him. She just wanted to know why he would do that for her. For her.
"Really Katara. I don't care what we talk about," Zuko said. Katara looked down to where his scar would have been.
She stood up and walked over to him. He shot her a questioning look as she undid his shirt and looked at the bandages that covered his scar.
Still curious, she slowly unwrapped the bandages that covered his massive scar.
"Katara, what are you doing?" Zuko asked as she placed her hand on the place where Azula had struck him. She looked down at her own torso where she should have been struck.
"Why?" she mouthed silently. Zuko sighed.
"I don't know," Zuko said quietly. Katara looked down, disappointed in his answer, when he continued.
"Yes, I do know. Katara, you have always just been there for me when no one else was. You were there when uncle got hit by lightning, even though I didn't accept your help, you were there in the caves in Ba Sing Se, and you were there when Azula shot me. You are not only my best friend, but also the love of my life," Zuko said quietly.
Katara could feel her eyes glossing over. She went back to the memories she had all but forgotten. The moments they had together, so short, but so priceless. She could have sworn that he was thinking about them to.
They were both unconsciously leaning towards each other so their faces were only inches apart.
Katara considered leaning in so that her lips would be touching his, and then started daydreaming about what would happen if they were to officially be a couple. Her thoughts trailed, and she continued to lean in, and so did Zuko until their lips were touching.
It was a gentle kiss, yet it was passionate. Katara couldn't help but think that it just felt right. It wasn't awkward like it was with Aang, and it was simply peaceful. Their lips were moving in sync as Zuko gently slid his tongue into Katara's mouth, and then deepened the kiss. Katara could feel the warmth that was coming off of him, and it felt nice to say the least. 'That would be one positive thing about having a fire bender for a boyfriend if nothing else,' she thought to herself. She felt herself not wanting to move from where she was, so she held on to him tightly.
She suddenly felt someone shake her gently. "What?" she said tiredly.
"Are you okay Katara? You just sort of spaced out…" Zuko trailed off. Katara gasped. Had she been daydreaming?
'Oh Yue…' she thought desperately. What was she supposed to say to him? She couldn't just tell the truth because that would lead to an extremely awkward situation.
She thought back to her daydream and then felt her cheeks grow hot. She looked at Zuko who had nothing but concern in his eyes.
"Oh yeah Zuko, I'm fine! Why wouldn't I be fine? I just couldn't think of anything to talk about! Why else would I have spaced out like that?" Katara said quickly and loudly.
Zuko looked at her skeptically. She tried to smile but she and Zuko knew it was a fake smile. "Okay, that's it water bender. You've had a long day and deserve to finally get some rest. Do you think you can get up the stairs on your own, or do you need me to carry you again?" he asked sarcastically.
Katara let out an indignant sigh. "There is no way you are doing that EVER again!" she said hotly.
"I'm still coming with you upstairs to make sure you don't fall or anything," Zuko said with a sense of finality.
Katara stood up so that she could get away from Zuko as fast as she possibly could and left the room.
She could feel that Zuko was behind her even though she couldn't hear him. She walked into her room with Zuko close behind her.
When she turned around she ran into his chest and then backed away as soon as she possibly could.
"Goodnight Katara," Zuko said as he turned to leave the room. Katara smiled and then looked back at him as he began to shut the door.
"Goodnight Zuko," Katara replied. She saw the closing door stop for a moment, and then finally shut entirely. "I think I might love you," she whispered to herself in a voice that was meant for no one but her own self to hear.