A/N Ok, this one won't have angst in it! X
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The day started off normal, little bit of chores, teaching Aang how to waterbend, watching Toph yell at him, arguing with Zuko, oh yeah, everything was just peachy keen.
Evening soon set in and Aang was finished with waterbending practice and firebending practice, all that was left was earthbending.
"Let's go twinkle toes!" Toph yelled, dragging poor Aang by his shirt collar.
"I'm going to go find us some food ok? Be careful Katara."
I rolled my eyes, "I will oh dear brother of mine, I just wish you'll be more careful." I placed a hand on his shoulder.
Sokka scowled, "I was!"
"Right, getting stuck in another small sinkhole was a great way to 'be careful'" I created air quotes.
Behind me, I heard a small snicker from our newest member, Zuko.
Sokka stomped away furious and partly embarrassed.
This was the part of the day that me and Zuko were alone, together.
"Well, I'll go and get some wood and you could help me start the...fire." I trailed off at fire, frightening images flashed in my mind.
Noticing my blank stare, Zuko shot out, "What?"
I blinked and glared back, "Nothing!" Cursing him under my breath, I stormed off into the forest.
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Once I came back, there Zuko was, sitting with his back against a tree and lighting a small flame onto a stick.
"Finally, I thought you ended up like your brother."
"Shut up." I dumped the fire wood into the fire pit and clapped my hands clean.
Zuko immediately shot out a flame and the fire crackled to life, shocking me a little.
"Hey!" I turned around and face him, trying to control my shaking.
"You almost hit me!"
"So?"
"So? I could've gotten hurt!"
"What's your problem anyway?"
"What?" I asked.
"What's your problem with fire anyways? You treat it like the plague." He responded coolly.
I remained speechless and again, the frightening images played themselves in my mind, horrid image after horrid image.
As if to tease me, Zuko lit another flame and shot it on the ground next to me.
I screamed and fell to the opposite side, staring at the scorched ground.
He stood up and lit another flame, a smirk at his face. Again, Zuko shot it on the ground behind me.
I screamed once more, wishing he would stop. Tears freely poured down my face and I trembled all over, gasping for breath while I was crying.
He lit another one shot it at the same place next to me.
"Stop it!" I cried out, fresh tears pouring out of my eyes. "Just stop it, it's not funny!"
Zuko stopped in front of me and kneeled down, so that he was eye level with me.
"Why are you so scared anyways? Whatever happened to 'brave' Katara?"
I lifted my eyes from my tear soaked hands, but not enough so that I was facing him.
The horrid images flashed, each being more frightening than the next. Finally, I looked at my hands, the ones that were burned while Aang was firebending with Jeong Jeong.
The smell of burning grass and weeds came up to my nose and the images of the raid on the South Pole played in my mind, 11 years ago.
"I don't want to...talk about...it." I sniffed and wiped my eyes.
"Well, it's obvious that you're traumatized by fire." Zuko helped me to my feet.
"Am...n...not." I sniffed once more.
"Admit it, you were trembling all over, not to mention crying when I made the fire."
"You shouldn't...h...have...done that...y...you...know," suddenly rage filled up inside me, "what good is fire anyways? All it does is kill and destroy! Nothing helpful!"
Expecting Zuko to "blow up" I closed my eyes.
"Fire is helpful, it helps nature even it out with the cold and helps us to keep warm."
He said in an understanding voice, a voice that I've never heard from.
"It doesn't warm, it only burns...how can it warm?"
"Like this."
With that, he kissed me full on the lips, his hands moving towards the back on my head and around my waist.
Indeed...
Fire really does warm...and boy did it feel good...
A/N BWAHAHAH! Hope you all enjoyed that one!
R&R!
