Disclaimer: As of right now my request to become supreme ruler of the universe has been denied, I guess that means that I won't be getting Zuko for Christmas.
"Would you two stop flirting and just make out already?"
I hadn't given it much thought until Toph said those ten words that would change my entire thinking process about Zuko. The idea that Zuko and I would flirt was ridiculous in itself. The very thought that we would have feelings for each other was laughable, wasn't it?
The more I thought about the more I came to realize that perhaps he did laugh at my jokes a little louder than necessary. And maybe we did stand a little too close during battle, my traitorous mind protested saying that it was necessary in order to protect him. And if I stared too long, it was because he just looked so nice without his shirt on.
I nodded my head as if affirming something, after thinking about all the evidence, there wasn't a lot to begin with, I had come to the conclusion that Toph had lost her mind, and was clearly just feeling things. Every piece of evidence had a clear cut explanation. There was no way that Zuko and I liked each other.
'People are talkin', talking 'bout people
I hear them whisper, you won't believe it
They think we're lovers kept under covers
I just ignore it, but they keep saying
We laugh just a little too loud
We stand just a little too close
We stare just a little too long
Maybe they're seeing, something we don't, Darlin''
After coming to the reasoning that Toph was in fact psychotic, I came up with a plan to extract revenge from her and my brother. Sokka for entirely different reason, but why not kill two birds with one stone, but in order to implement my plan I would need Zuko's help. At first when I approached Zuko with my idea he was leery of getting involved not wishing to be on the receiving end of Toph's wrath. But I finally managed to convince him after telling him that it would drive my brother crazy.
I told him that my plan was simple that we would pretend to be dating and go to the extreme of the dating game. We would have ridiculous and embarrassing nicknames for each other. Hold hands at every possible moment, kiss when we knew that we would get caught. Zuko seemed to agree with my plan, especially after I told him what Toph had said, saying, "Anything to make your brother go nuts."
'Let's give them something to talk about
Let's give them something to talk about
Let's give them something to talk about
How about love?'
My plan worked perfectly, Sokka went crazy and in general my plan seemed to be in perfect working order, except for one little detail. I was falling in love with my accomplice. I had my suspicions that Zuko perhaps liked me too, but I couldn't tell if he really did care for me or was just acting. My confusion could be blamed entirely on Toph. Ever since she mentioned that we liked each other it was all I could think about. I obsessed about it. I found myself thinking about Zuko more and more. He haunted my waking and sleeping hours. It became my fondest wish that he would care for me as well.
'I feel so foolish, I never noticed
You'd act so nervous; could you be falling for me?
It took a rumor to make me wonder
Now I'm convinced I'm going under
Thinking 'bout you every day
Dreaming 'bout you every night
Hoping that you feel the same way
Now that we know it, let's really show it, Darlin''
Everyday was basically the same routine. Zuko and I would hold hands; kiss each other good morning and good night, making sure that everyone could see us. Whenever it was required to call each other by name we would substitute in the pet names that we'd come up with. "Foofoocuddlypoops for Zuko and Snugglyicebear for me. I quickly grew tired of my pet name for not only me but for Zuko as well. If I really was thinking up an actual pet name used as an endearment for him I would called him something like Hotlips or something relating to fire. But the point of the names was working and that's all that matters I guess.
'Let's give them something to talk about
Let's give them something to talk about
Let's give them something to talk about
How about love?'
It became almost a game. A game I was rapidly getting sick of playing. It was working so I can't complain there. I think that Iroh figured out our little game, but he never told anyone, perhaps he got amusement out of it as well. If Toph knew it wasn't because of me, my heartbeat really sped up whenever he came near me; my feelings for Zuko were real. In any case I could hear them whispering about us, whenever they thought that we were out of earshot. So I knew that they noticed the relationship.
'Let's give them something to talk about
A little mystery to figure out
Let's give them something to talk about
How about love, love, love, love?
Let's give them something to talk about
Let's give them something to talk about
Let's give them something to talk about
How about love, love, love, love?'
Then one day my plan came crashing down around me, Zuko had said to me those words that anyone in a relationship dreads, "We need to talk."
I just nodded dumbly and followed after him. He led me to a secluded spot about 100 yards from camp. He sat down on a fallen log and I followed suit. He then took and deep breath and started speaking not looking at me at all.
"This isn't easy for me to say but it has to be said. I think that we should end our game. I have no more desire to play. I don't like what we've been doing and I want it to stop." He paused and took and another deep breath, but before he could continue I interrupted him.
"I understand. I thank you for your participation." I made to get up, but found myself restrained by Zuko's hand.
"Don't you even want to know why?"
I shook my head "no" and struggled to hold back tears as I spoke, "Don't worry I already figured it out. You have no desire to kiss, touch or otherwise associate with me any longer. I think that you've made that perfectly clear. Now please let me go."
He laughed out loud, which caused my tears to dry up instantly; I glared at him, "I'm glad that you find this so amusing."
"I can't believe I fooled you. Katara, all throughout that entire game I wasn't acting, I actually do care for you a great deal. In my arrogance I actually was starting to think that you cared for me as well. That's why I want our game to end because I want to make it real."
I could hardly believe what I was hearing. "Are you serious?"
"I have never been so serious in my life. I love you Katara."
I threw my arms around his neck and began kissing him all over his face chanting over and over, "I love you. I love you. I love you."
When we finally broke apart it was Zuko who spoke first, "You know we just proved Toph's theory right."
I just shrugged; I couldn't have cared less about Toph or her theories all I wanted to do was to go back to kissing Zuko. So I did.