Standard disclaimers apply. I don't know anything recognizable. Seriously.

Day 4: Cobalt Blue (Post "The Search" graphic novel. This one gave me hell. )

Few people are privy to the knowledge that Fire Lord Zuko's favorite color is blue. He loved all shades of the color, most of them having been one time or another by a certain water bending master. There was one shade, however, that could erase any and all coherent thought from his mind. Cobalt blue.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Zuko was not good at refusing his mother anything; even if every instinct screamed "bad idea" it was no use. That was how he ended up hosting a party with his family and Team Avatar at the beach house on Ember Island. The happiness on his mother's face was proof positive that no matter the headache that would come from this party, it was worth it ten-fold. Hugs were shared as his friends finally arrived – a Team Avatar group hug ensued to Zuko's protest. He avoided Appa, not wanting to smell of bison slobber for the rest of the day. The ladies, minus one Toph Bei Fong, prepped dinner for that night. A dinner that included a fire-pit roasted chicken pig that had both Sokka and Zuko's mouth salivating at the thought. The Avatar countered that it wasn't necessary for them to cook it, which was readily discounted by Sokka.

Everyone spent the day lounging about in beach chairs or playing games of kuai ball, with the exception of Katara. Zuko kept an eye out for her but it seemed she was busy still prepping food for the evening. When the sun began to set Ikem, Zuko and Sokka lifted and began carving the chicken pig as the ladies brought out the delicious side dishes Katara had spent most of the day preparing. Still, Katara was nowhere to be seen. Suki announced that she would be out in a minute; Katara was going to change into some fresh clothes instead of the ones she had been cooking in all day. As Iroh passes around drinks, of the alcoholic and non-alcoholic varieties, out Katara finally made her appearance… and what an appearance it was. She was dressed in a halter top that ended just below her breasts and a sarong hugged her hips, riding low on the right one where it was tied off. A tantalizing slit showed off her leg as she walked. Both pieces of clothing, because to Zuko 'pieces' was all they were, had been dyed a vibrant cobalt blue with a pattern of white hibiscus flowers along the hem of the sarong. A strangled sound rumbled in his throat as Zuko openly stared at the water bender. Beside him Iroh coughed to get his attention, but a volcano could have erupted and Zuko wouldn't give a damn.

Sokka caught his friend staring and gaping like a fish. The Water Tribe Warrior's eye brows shot up is forehead when he realized it was Katara who was the object of Zuko's ogling. Sokka looked to Aang to see what his reaction to Katara's outfit was. The air bender waved excitedly to his girlfriend, but definitely didn't have the same reaction as Zuko. Sokka snorted. She hadn't caught Aang's attention like she'd planned, but she sure as hell caught the Fire Lord's. His gaze moved back to Zuko, who had regained some of his composure. Oh the sweet, sweet blackmail.

Everyone finally settled down to eat and Iroh regaled them with stories from his youth, jokes and a lament that he hadn't thought to bring his tsungi horn for Zuko to play. Small talk broke out between individuals as the night wore on. Sokka had been watching the stolen glances that Zuko had been giving Katara all night, his blackmail growing to epic proportions. Then, of all the people, Ursa gave him an opening to fan the flames.

"Katara dear, I must say that you look lovely."

"Yeah, Zuko. Doesn't she look nice?" Sokka asked, his face a mask of innocence.

Zuko choked on his drink, which Sokka guessed was alcoholic. Everyone else's reactions were a complete bonus that Sokka hadn't planned on. Toph howled with laughter, Suki bit her lip hard to keep from doing the same. Iroh pat Zuko on the back with one hand, and hid his smile behind a tea cup with the other. Amusingly, Aang and Kiyi had the same confused expressions. Katara squirmed a bit where she sat, her face flushing as she glanced Zuko's way. Oh, this just kept getting better and better for Sokka. Ikem sent him a look that was probably meant as a warning, but Sokka wasn't quite sober enough to heed it. Aang tilted his head to the side and looked Zuko's way. For a moment, Sokka had thought maybe he had caught on. But no.

"Yeah. Doesn't she, Zuko?" Aang's puppy-love struck gaze shifted to Katara, missing the evil look Zuko sent his way.

The evening wore on, a semi-tense atmosphere as Zuko refused to talk to anyone and just muttered into his glass. Slowly the older members of the party, and the youngest, found their way to their rooms up at the beach house leaving Team Avatar on the beach. Zuko had gotten up to build them a fire when Toph suddenly grabbed Aang by the collar and dragged him off to do some sand bending training, giving Katara a chance to reach over and smack her brother.

"That was so immature, Sokka." She hissed at him when Aang was out of ear shot.

"Hey, the kid didn't realize Lord hot pants over there was checking you out," Sokka waved his hand dismissively, "No harm done."

Zuko wanted to take a piece of wood he was using for the fire pit and hit Sokka over the head with it. Repeatedly. Igniting the fire and sitting back down, he tried not to look at Katara or notice how the fire made her russet skin glow. He failed, of course. Sokka sniggered.

"Man, you have the hots for my sister." The blue-eyed young man nudged Suki with a grin, "Hots, get it?"

Suki rolled her eyes, "Most brothers would be on the war path if one of their friends was attracted to their younger sister. What gives?"

"It's their liquidy-hotness." He said, as if that would explain everything. When they all stared at him, he decided to explain further. "Zuko and Katara make more sense than Aang and Katara. You see, Aang and my sister are all sugary sweetness and oogies. Zuko and Katara? I guess I just see the potential for something more than oogies and puppy dog looks. Not… that I wanna think of my sister and you… doing… things."

Zuko stared at his friend, dumbfounded. That explanation, excluding the end there, sounded completely logical and that fact was so startling that it got his mind working. Too bad that Katara chose that moment to shift her position, the sarong riding higher on her thighs in a way that just made his brain stop. Katara blushed and Sokka laughed again. Zuko would never be able to look at that shade of blue again without images of Katara coming to mind.

"What's so funny?" Aang asked as he and Toph, both thoroughly covered in sand, walked into the glow of the fire light.

"Just adult stuff you wouldn't understand, Twinkletoes." The blind girl grinned and punched him in the arm.

"Hey, I would so understand!" Aang countered, rubbing his arm and scowling.

"Sure, sure."

Team Avatar collectively agreed that it was time for them all to go to bed. They each packed up what they could, doused the fire and headed on into the beach house. Zuko hung back and caught Katara's wrist to keep her from going inside. She looked down at his hand, which was warm against her cool skin, and then looked into his equally warm eyes. In his eyes she saw desire and raw attraction, and a little bit of uncertainty. Katara felt herself growing hot under his gaze despite the cool night breeze. Aang had never given her a look like that, and she cursed herself for it but it sent a thrill through her body.

"You do look beautiful, by the way. You… you always do." Zuko lowered his gaze, calming himself, "And, well, I'm sorry."

Before she could protest that he needn't be sorry, he placed a gentle kiss on her lips and fled inside. She realized he had been apologizing for the kiss preemptively. That one small kiss making her as confused as the last time they were on Ember Island, but when someone else has kissed her. Stupid boys. Stupid island. Stupid, stupid, stupid!

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

It was over a year until Zuko saw Katara again, sitting in his uncle's tea shop as he came out from the back. She was sitting there, a cup of tea in hand and wearing a cobalt blue cheongsam that made him stop. He stared, tray of tea cups wobbling precariously in his hands. As the tea tray tipped dangerously, Iroh took it from his hand and motioned for him to sit. As he sat down it a collective sigh of disappointment from a group of teenage girls at a nearby table. They had no idea that "Lee" was Fire Lord Zuko. Ignorance is bliss, she supposed.

"Hi." Zuko greeted, unsure of what else to say.

"How are you, Zu—Lee?"

"Fine, fine. So, um. Where's Aang?"

"Probably at or near Gaoling, to see Toph's parents." She mused, "That's where they were headed the last time I saw them."

"Why would he and Toph be..?" Confusion creased his brow, "Oh… oh!"

"Yeah." She agreed, once he figured it out.

"Well," He rubbed his chin, "Are you free tonight?"

"Are you asking me out?"

"Yes. I am."

"Then I'm free tonight."