Katara brought her hand up to suppress a yawn, her eyes only beginning to adjust to the sun. She blinked a few times before sensing a very strong pair of arms around her. She stood up in one fluid movement, and turned around to face whomever it was lying on the ground.
She blinked again, but not because her eyes weren't accustomed to the brightness. "…Zuko?"
And then the previous night's events hit her.
The boy had only gone into shock for a second when she awoke, settling into his phony sleep almost immediately. He was skillfully playing his part at the moment, the even breathing fitting in flawlessly with the rest of his charade. He did peek, however, detracting from the quality of his performance; not to mention it was difficult to fight back his grin, (although he somehow managed it).
Katara, on the other hand, was much too flustered to notice his poorly hidden smile. When the waterbender saw him sprawled out on the floor, she bolted. In the safety of her chamber, she was in no fear of him awakening to the thundering noise of her heartbeat. Silently, she slid down the door, her arms still tingling from the warmth of his lingering touch.
He slowly got on his feet, brushing off his clothes. Smiling slightly, he was happy to know she had fallen for his amateur act. As he tried to put on his cloak that Katara had forgotten in haste, he winced in pain.
"You need some help with that?" The familiar voice made him turn around.
"Mai…you're okay!" A surprised Zuko opened his arms to embrace her, but she maneuvered her way around him. "They let you out of prison?"
Pulling his other sleeve on, she responded, "My uncle pulled some strings. And it doesn't hurt when the new Fire Lord is your boyfriend."
"So does this mean you don't hate me anymore?" he asked.
"I think it means," Mai blushed, (the color reminding Zuko of a certain girl) her hand reaching around his neck, "I actually kind of like you…"
And she leaned in to kiss him.
Within a few seconds, she abruptly pulled away, her eyes irritated and her nose scrunched up in disgust. He tensed, waiting for her wrath.
"Zuko, why do you smell like fresh lavenders?!"