AN//: Hey, Here is my first attempt at any Zutara stuff. I decided to take on the Zutara 100 challenge (I know- that's a little ambitious). I probably won't write them all in order, but I will put which Prompt number it is before I start the chapter.

Category: Avatar: The Last Airbender

Pairing: Zuko and Katara

Rating: M (to be on the safe side)

Disclaimer: I do not now, nor have I ever owned any piece of A:TLA. If I did, the ending would not have happened the way the writers wrote it. For one thing, Ozai and Azula would be dead. For another Kataang would not exist. (be honest, if we saw a "ten years later" segment, they would have broken up and we all know it.)

Zutara 100 number: 027. Mask

Enjoy!

Mask

"This is the stupidest idea I've ever heard of," Toph grumbled as one of the maids fixed her hair in a beautiful cascade down her back.

"I think it's an excellent idea," Suki objected. "A masquerade is a good way for people to meet one another before they learn what nationality they are."

"Besides, it's fun," Ty Lee added as she fastened her necklace. "Who doesn't enjoy dressing up?"

"Toph," Katara quipped lightly.

The girls laughed, even Toph giggled lightly. "Ok, so maybe it's not stupid, but why did I have to wear a dress?"

"We each agreed to wear something completely different than we normally would. In your case, that involves a dress," Suki reminded her, her maid finishing lacing her into a corset. She reached for her wig and bowed her head as the maid gently applied the deep auburn hair to her head. She tossled her new red locks before lightly tying the green scarf around her head.

"You look so pretty Suki!" Ty Lee gushed. Suki grinned and spun around, her gypsy skirt and long red curls flaring out. The maid finally got her to stop and helped her fasten her mask. "You do too Ty," Suki replied.

Ty Lee struck a pose, her long flowing black vampire's dress swirling gracefully to the floor and her platinum blonde wig was elegantly done up. Her black mask gleamed as she drew back her blood red lips, showing off her fake fangs. "I don't know if I feel elegant, but I certainly feel different, which really is the point of these costumes."

"I suppose so," Toph said, smoothing her green formal kimono and holding perfectly still as her maid lightly slipped thin white slippers on her tender feet. "Do I look all right?" she asked nervously, touching her geisha mask lightly with her fingertips.

"You look gorgeous," Katara said kindly as she fastened her large hat and gauze over her coal black wig.

"I think the greatest change would have to be yours though 'Tara."

Katara grinned at the other girls. She had covered her entire body in a light color of paint, making her complexion similar to Mai's. Between the lighter skin and the red face paint she wore, she looked like a completely different person. She had donned on her old Painted Lady costume for this evening and was looking forward to a night of innocent fun.

"My ladies," a new servant entered the room. "If you would follow me, the festivities are about to begin."

The girls eagerly followed him, soon joining in the milling throng of people surrounding the dance floor while other couples swirled around the room. She grinned as she saw various odd couples swaying together. A pirate and a princess, a female warrior and dragon, a woman dressed as a cat and another woman in the swamp benders uniform, a man as a sun warrior with a male water tribesman. She turned to go refill her punch glass when she bumped into him.

He was taller than her by about three inches, but his posture and movements seemed to make him tower a good six inches over her. He bowed low over her hand in a silent apology as Katara hid her smile. Before her was the Blue Spirit. He gestured to the dance floor and offered her his hand. She nodded, enjoying their completely silent exchange as they joined the twirling couples in the center of the room. Katara wondered how it might look to the rest of the room. A patron spirit of the Fire Nation and one of the Water Tribes were dancing peacefully in the middle of a ball. Perhaps this ball would help bridge the gaps between people.

Katara and her stranger parted way for the next dance, but somehow kept finding each other as the night progressed, him never speaking a word. Towards the end of the night, he gently led her out onto the terrace overlooking the gardens. Finally her curiosity couldn't be contained any longer. "Who are you?" she asked. He only pointed at her own mask in a silent rebuttal. She laughed and removed the hat and replied "I am Katara of the Southern Water Tribes. Who is it that wears the likeness of one of my people's spirits?"

He reached back and untied his mask, gently pulling it back from his face as he pulled his hood down as well. "Well Katara of the Southern Water Tribes, I am Zuko of the Fire Nation."

She laughed lightly, "How fitting that we wear the other's saint."

He nodded as he pulled her close her him, "I'm just glad I guessed right. This could have been quite awkward if it hadn't been you under that mask of paint."

"Indeed," she quipped as she leaned up to meet his lips.