When evening finally fell and the household fell quiet, a flustered Katara walked towards the nearby river. To think. And Waterbend. Always great for clearing her mind.

Until it's not, of course.

Like when a certain stupid Firebender was already there, firelight casting flickering shadows over his scarred face, reflecting in his good eye like molten gold. Inescapable heat, one that could consume you. All reflected in his eyes. She sighed, and the man turned his eyes on her.

Her, with the drab blue dress. Her, with the hair almost to her waist. Her, with tan skin darkened further by the sun, scars peppering her body, oceanic eyes always wary and searching.

"Katara?" Zuko called, the fire between his outstretched palms dissipating as he stopd abruptly from the log he had been perched on.

"King Zuko." She responded with a mock curtsy, falling easily back into their old routine of taunts.

"And look at you, still a peasant." He fired back, trademark smirk playing across his lips.

"Ah, I was wondering when the insulting would start again. Starting to think maybe you were an impostor, but no, there it is." Katara shot back, just as quick, winking at him confidently. Internally, her heart was pounding and her face felt hot, though. Her childhood crush on Prince Zuko seemed to have grown with her, despite thinking she would outgrow it.

It just proved she was lonely, is all. And maybe unhappy. She could fix that, though. She could be happy... with... Aang. She would be happy with Aang.

"Katara?" Zuko said, clearing his throat. The Waterbender jumped and trained sharp eyes on the Firebender. "You zoned out for a moment there. Are you feeling alright?"

"Sorry, yeah." She cleared her throat and smiled. "I got lost in my thoughts for a time."

"Oh. Well, I asked if you'd like to spar. For old times' sake."

"Old times' sake? Liiiike when you were hunting and attempting to imprison us?" Katara teased. "Sure, though. We can spar. I might be a bit out of practice, though. But don't go easy on me."

"I wouldn't dream of it, Peasant." He chuckled, shifting easily into position, fire flaring to life at his hands.

Katara narrowed her eyes, drawing water from the river with grace only Waterbenders could possess, body moving with the fluidity of the water she controlled. She found herself grinning, striking put at the man with a whip of water. He snaked out of the way, but barely, an intense wall of flame bursting up and evaporating the water she was bending. The heat bit her skin, eating into her summer dress.

"Really?" Katara hissed, drawing more water from the river. She danced with it, the water ebbing and flowing as it was contorted, snaking around Zuko. She worried her lower lip between teeth before jerking herself back, the water freezing into ice with an almost metallic clink.

Zuko growled, trapped within a snaking column of ice. "Easy." He said smugly, arms heating up and forcing the ice to melt. Katara rolled her eyes, catching her breath as Zuko made his way out of her trap. "Hey. Peasant." He called over the hissing of the evaporating water.

"What?" She snapped.

"Got ya." He said, the flames looping around her in a distinctly... Water Tribe way... just with fire. His movements were fluid, muscles shifting under porcelain skin, focusing on far more than brute power. He was Firebending... with the technique of Waterbending. The flames licked at her damp skin but Katara found herself mesmerized. By him.

"I give." She said after finding her voice. "You win."

"That easy?" He laughed, the fire dissipating as quickly as it had appeared. Katara took note of the singed areas of dress and skin, scowling at the man.

"Look at my dress! You burnt it! I'm not going to spar until you've burnt my dress off!"

"I don't think that would be quite appropriate of me, would it, now?" Zuko asked, voice smooth. Katara felt tiny under his gaze as the weight of her words hit her.

"No... I suppose it wouldn't." Her voice was soft, far softer than intended as Zuko stepped closer to her.

"You know..." He said, closing much of the gap between them. "You should be happier."

And with that, he strode off. Katara remained outside for a while, waterbending under the stars as her mind wandered.

You should be happier.