First Impressions
Chapter Two
Chibi-Hotaru-Tomoe

Okay, here is the second chapter. I may have three chapters after this one, depends on my pacing really. I'm kind of trying to finish it by the deadline (Seven more days!) and I'm just having a really bad week. I just lost two of my fellow cheerleaders two days ago and I'm rather depressed about it, and things like that. My senior year is really sucking so far. Well, I hope you enjoy.

"I can't believe you dragged me out across the tundra to show me a bunch of birds."

Zuko was rather disgruntled again as he clutched furiously onto his thumb. Katara herself was laughing, unable to keep it in as the prior events kept popping into her mind. He only continued to glare at her in response.

"Oh, come on," she attempted to pull his hand towards her. "You were in love with the penguins until a mom just got a little protective."

"A little protective? Now that's putting it lightly. She full out attacked me!" he brandished the red mark on his thumb he had achieved from the mother penguin as if it was evidence on a crime scene. He couldn't help but wonder why things like this kept happening to him. First the turtleducks, and now these blasted penguins. At least he could understand the protectiveness under the turtleduck incident.

Snorting in indignation, Katara shook her head as she finally got a hold of his hand. "Zuko, it's a foot and a half tall bird."

"I know what it is!" he barked in frustration, although his cheeks were flushed in mortification. "It's pure evil, that's what."

The future Fire Lady managed to hold back her laughter this time, instead focusing on the mar he had on his thumb. "It's not that bad," she informed him before leaning in, giving the small injury a gentle kiss. "Better?"

"No."

Sighing, Katara threw her hands up in frustration before turning back to the canal. They were almost to the dock already, and the moment she focused more on the stream of water, they began to shoot past the houses and an unbelievable speed. "I don't know why I even bother," she muttered. Zuko noted from their pace that he'd be in a warm home rather soon.

"Come on, you know why," he grinned, raising his eyebrow at her, trying to get her attention.

Her arm flew violently, succeeding in their gondola bumping harshly into the pier. "Oh really? And why is that?" she raised her own eyebrow, and entirely different meaning behind it as she crossed her arms and glowered at him.

"Because of this." He leaned in quickly, capturing her lips firmly in his.

Unfortunately for him, he was cut off abruptly by a disgusted voice. "Eugh, Zuko, stop mauling my sister!"

Startled, the Fire Lord whipped around the look at Sokka, succeeding only in knocking himself backwards.

Right off of the gondola.

"Zuko, just let me waterbend that off—"

"You shouldn't have been sucking on each other in public. Even married folks like Suki and I are more generous to society—"

Zuko didn't bother to answer them. Instead, he kept Katara at bay. He didn't want to have to go through the process of her bending the water from his clothes. He'd much rather just take off the soaking parka and relax in his own Fire Nation clothes and take a nice warm bath. Frowning, the two siblings still argued about what was best, keeping a good three feet away from the now steaming Fire Lord.

Approaching the large home where he was meant to stay with Katara for the week long ceremony, he cringed when he saw two figures standing by the entry way. From the looks of it, they were important. They could be none other than Hakoda and Master Pakku themselves.

Stiffly, Zuko bowed before them, hands clenched at his side. "Hakoda, Master Pakku. It is a pleasure to meet you," his voice was overly formal as he stood up tall once more, the two older men giving him a bow in return. "I'm sorry that our introduction must be so short, but I am in need of a new set of clothes. If you'll excuse me, I must go find my bag to…change my attire," his voice was emotionless as he tried to keep in as much dignity as he could. Something that's hard to do as each step he made resulted in a loud 'squish' from his shoes.

"Zuko, wait! We don't even know if the sailors brought our things up yet!" Katara suddenly declared, chasing after her fiancé, the door shutting behind the two.

Frowning, the three Water Tribe men stood with raised eyebrows after the Fire Lord before Hakoda managed to speak.

"Well, that was quite a first impression."

"I don't know how he manages to be so clumsy," Sokka crossed his arms, rolling his eyes. "I thought royalty were supposed to be graceful." By his side, his father nodded thoughtfully. Raising his eyebrow even higher as he looked between the two Southern Water Tribe members, Pakku shook his head.

"I wonder who he reminds me of," he left a trailing look off towards Sokka, who was now questioning what they were having for dinner that night.

"Zuko, just wait!"

As the rather disgruntled Fire Lord still continued on his way down the corridor, Katara nearly screamed in frustration before she quickly froze his feet to the floor.

"Now you just wait a second!" she clenched her fists, glaring at him while he stood awkwardly, trying his best not to tip over while beginning to melt the ice. "What is wrong? You just fell in the water, it's not like it hasn't happened before."

In a room far down the hall, Gran Gran smiled to herself when she heard her grandchild arguing with her future husband. It sounded a lot like the conversation between Suki and Sokka the previous day.

"Are you saying I'm clumsy?" he crossed his arm, glaring as if he had the power over her.

Rolling her eyes, Katara stomped her foot in frustration. "No! I'm saying that it's not the first time this has happened here. Now if you would knock it off and just lay down your stupid pride, I could just bend all of the water out of your parka before you freeze to death."

"Freeze to death?" he laughed, clenching his teeth together now to stop them from chattering, as if to disprove her point. Why couldn't she be from the Swamp Water Tribe? "I'm the Fire Lord. Fire…I very much doubt that water will be my fate—then I'm not sure if you'll be the death of me."

Eyes flying open at his comment, Katara slowly began to concentrate on the water particles in his clothes, and slowly began to make the droplets solid, surrounding him until they hardened around his body. She noticed his cringe and a cold breath escaped his lips. Smirking, she held her chin up a little higher. "Just what I thought. Now stop being a child," she instructed before waving her arms, drawing all of her element from him. He shivered slightly before turning away from her. "I could have done it myself."

"Yeah, sure you could," was her lone smug reply. "Because we waited so long, it won't surprise me if you got a cold."

"Oh please. Fire Lords don't get ill," he declared stupidly, only remembering that his father had never ailed from sickness.

His statement was only punctuated with a sneeze.

"Told you so."

There it is. I really hope you liked it. I know it's short, but I'm just having character fun. Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed. It makes me feel special, especially after this crappy week. I love you all! 3