It was Toph's fault. It always was. She just had to go and ask...

That Night around the Fire

The Gaang lolled around the fire. Conversation had long since died – no one had anything to say. Finally sick of the silence, Haru stuck his hand out. "Check it out," He said. "I can bend my thumb back flat against my wrist. Can you do anything freaky Aang?" Everyone gave him a weird look, but Aang smirked to himself.

"I can beat that. Watch this."

He grasped his hands in front of him, stepped through his arms, brought his arms around his head and back in front of himself – without letting his hands go. Everyone oohed and aahed.

"Sokka?"

Sokka grinned and shrugged.

"I can dislocate my right elbow. It used to hurt – but I guess I'm used to it or something..."

He trailed off and a sickening 'pop' was heard around the camp fire, and Sokka's arm was hanging in a very unnatural manner. Another sickening 'pop', and it was back in. "Toph?"

Toph sighed and shook her head.

"I got nothing twinkle toes. I'm built properly. I do, however, have a challenge for each of you." From her pack she pulled a packet of lolly snakes. She ripped it open and tossed everyone a snake. "Try tying that in a knot - "

"DONE!"

Toph rolled her eyes and tossed Sokka another one.

"Not with your hands you moron. Where's the challenge in that? I have a real challenge for you." The fire went deadly silent. "I want you all to try and tie that snake in a knot..." She stared each person down with sightless eyes. "in your mouth."

"Eeeeeeeeeh? How are we supposed to do that?!" Sokka stood and waved his arms in exasperation.

"With your tongue."

"Why would we do that?" Haru pitched in, curious.

"Coz it means you're a good kisser."

Everyone went wide eyed and silent, then looked down at there snakes before stuffing them in their mouths.

Katara's face contorted in concentration.

Zuko just stared intensely in front of him.

Haru's head was squirming in time with his tongue in the effort.

Aang was cross-eyed and waving his hands in frustration.

Sokka sucked his snake in pursed his lips, struggled a bit... his snake shot from his mouth and hit the wall opposite them.

Toph laughed.

"WHAT!? HOW DID THAT EVEN HAPPEN?? Toss me another snake."

Five snakes later, Aang, Sokka and Haru were denied any more. Now it was down to Katara and Zuko. A sly smile crossed her face as she reached into her mouth and pulled out a red snake – a knot tied neatly in the middle. A look of awe crossed both Aang's and Haru's faces. A mixture of awe, concern and disgust was evident on Sokka's. Toph clapped. All attention turned on Zuko. Moments after Katara pulled the snake out victorious, Zuko pulled his green snake out – also with a knot tied perfectly in the middle. Everyone clapped the pair. The swapping of bazaar talents continued on throughout the night. Katara was preoccupied however. Whenever she looked at Zuko now, she couldn't help but watch his lips form around his words. The tongue in that mouth had skill. Her hormones were racing. She didn't want to think about it, but couldn't help thinking about it. Suddenly she stood and left for her room, feigning a yawn. All she knew was that she had to get away from him. Away from him, his lips, and his lean muscular body that she was just starting to notice.

"Toph's fault. This is all Toph's fault!"

"What's Toph's fault?"

Katara froze, the blood draining from her face. She turned to face the owner of the voice – Zuko.

"Um... nothing. Just one of Toph's crazy schemes has my mind going places I don't want it to. That's all."

Zuko cocked an eyebrow.

"Really?"

She nodded furiously, hating herself for acting this way. Normally she could be very smooth about this sort of thing. Something, however, was throwing a spanner in the workings of her mind.

"Are you sure you're ok, Katara? You look kind of... distracted." He licked his lips. Her eyes trailed the movement of his tongue, across his lips, then his lips closed slowly, tauntingly over -

"Hm? Oh! Distracted? Not at all. Not at..."

Zuko closed the gap between them and cupped her face in his hands, looking into her eyes with sincere concern.

" - all."

"Katara, I may not have known you as long as everyone else, but trust me, I can tell when there is something up. Come on, out with it."

Katara's face grew warm. It appeared that Zuko didn't realise how difficult he was making this for her, standing so close, his eyes staring straight through her, his lips so close -

"I'm just... curious I guess."

Inwardly she kicked herself. How she let herself say anything that would lead to further questioning was anyone's guess. Idiot...

"About what, I wonder? Not the same thing as me, surely?"

Zuko had tilted his head to the side to examine her further, then turned pink as he realised the possible implications of what he had just said. Stupid Toph. Stupid snakes. Stupid curiosity... Stupid HORMONES. After the snake tying incident, he had been unable to keep his eyes off Katara. Her full lips looked so inviting, and he desperately wanted to see if she really was a good kisser. He had discovered his feelings for her when he had fought her at the North Pole, all that time ago. When he first arrived at the air temple it intensified, and now tensions were running even higher, all because of this new curiosity.

"That depends entirely on what you are curious about. What are you curious about Zuko?"

Taking a deep breath, he steeled himself. An opportunity like this was not going to present itself again, and the longer he left it, the harder it was going to get. It was now or never.

"This," He whispered before closing the gap between them and bringing his lips to hers. She didn't respond. Pulling away in disappointment, he rubbed the back of his head awkwardly.

"Er, sorry. I've got to go and... find... something..." He retreated and turned towards the door. Finally, Katara snapped out of her stupor.

"Wait a second,"

On tippy toe, she wrapped her hands around his neck and kissed him. Hard. After realising exactly what was happening, Zuko smiled and kissed her back with equal fervor. Katara ran her hands through his silky black hair, loving the feeling of it between her fingers. Zuko wrapped his arms around her lower back, pulling her flush against him. He opened his mouth slightly, hoping she would take his cue – she did. His tongue slipped inside her mouth, stroking hers. She flicked her tongue against his, starting a passionate battle for dominance. Never had she kissed someone like this before, or been kissed this way. Sure, she had kissed her share of boys. She kissed Haru the day they found the old man stuck in the cave in. It was her first, and evidently his. It was sloppy and overwhelmingly unpleasant. She had also kissed Jet. Though it wasn't her first time, his kisses made her feel violated. He had felt her up and shoved his tongue down her throat, making her feel sick to the stomach. Of course, she had also kissed Aang. That was such an innocent kiss it could have been between brother and sister – to her it was. This, however, was something totally different. There was a passion there under the surface that she didn't know she had been harboring. Her mother had always told her that there was a fine line between love and hate, and that it was often blurred. Apparently the man she thought she hated, she actually had feelings for. As they pulled away from each other, purely out of the necessity of breathing, she found a deep passion and caring in his eyes, and knew he felt the same way about her.

"Wow." She murmured.

"Yeah, wow." He replied. "You're... good."

"Just good?" She asked him, giving him her best seductive doe-eyes-and-pout look.

"Well, it could have been a fluke. I think we'll have to try again, just to make sure."

With a smirk, she brought their lips together again, her tongue slipping inside his mouth instantly. She pulled his head closer, one arm wrapped around his neck, the other fisting through his hair. They moved slowly and passionately together, each trying to tell the other exactly how they felt. Katara pulled back slightly and nipped his bottom lip, smiling playfully up at him before crushing her lips against his again. The kiss grew faster and harder until they both pulled away, panting.

"Your assessment?" Katara whispered, looking coyly up at him through her lashes.

"You're amazing."

"You're pretty good yourself."

Zuko looked at her in mock hurt.

"Just 'pretty good'?"

"Well," Katara said, tracing her hand across his broad chest before taking a step backwards towards her bed. "Maybe I need a bit more... convincing."

Zuko smirked and pulled his shirt over his head, tossing it aside, before advancing on her. On seeing his toned chest, she gasped. He pushed her slightly and she landed on the bed, sprawled gracefully under him. This was what he had wanted for so long. Just to be able to be open with her about how he felt – actual reciprocation was almost beyond his wildest dreams. Propped on his arms, he ran on hand through her hair and smiled lovingly at her. He kissed her sweetly, making her body go weak. It was chaste, but there was so much meaning behind it, it sent her reeling. As he pulled away, Katara whispered,

"Ok. I'm convinced. You're incredible."

"Incredible enough for you to let this happen more often? For us to be... more than friends?"

The look in his eye was so incredibly vulnerable, almost childlike, that she couldn't say no. She wouldn't have said no for all the tea of the firenation. She wanted this more than she could say. She told him so. The relief and joy in his eyes was overwhelming – he even smiled.

"Thank you," He whispered so softly she almost missed it, before kissing her again, even more passionately. He moved to her neck, nipping and sucking, leaving his mark on his girl. His girl. His blood rushed south at the thought, but he fought it. There was no way he was going to do anything like that with Katara any time soon. He loved her too much to hurt her, even if she didn't know it yet. She shivered at the feel of him. Running her hands over his solid chest and taught stomach muscles, she moaned slightly. This was fantastic. She wanted more – but she wouldn't ask that of him. Not yet. She loved him. She knew she did. With a sly smile she pulled him back in for a sound kissing.

...

Toph grinned. Finally, she thought to herself, I knew that would get them. No one seems to be able to do anything around here without a little push from Toph. Heh heh heh. With that she padded back to the fire with the others. Although... I may have been a little heavy handed. It may have been a little too effective...