A/N: I've finally finished it! (Even if it is a day late.) But it's done. All seven chapters :) Tell me what you think!
Lightning lit up the sky and was followed by the deep sound of thunder. There was no rain, but dark ominous clouds covered the night sky telling the young Fire Lord that it wasn't far from falling. Zuko hoped that Aang and Appa were okay and safe from the storm as they made their way to Ba Sing Se. Aang left that morning to get Iroh and planned to bring him back to the Fire Nation before the next day. The storm that was rolling in told Zuko otherwise.
Zuko rolled back on his bed, breathing in the heavy, wet air. He was thinking about the next day and allowed excitement to overcome him. All his friends and his uncle would be there to celebrate the one year anniversary of the end of the war.
"Tomorrow will be a year. It went by so fast," Zuko whispered to himself. He closed his eyes and listened to the thunder as he remembered the past year. The day after Sozin's Comet Aang had declared a world wide holiday and about a month after the war had ended, Katara suggested that they all get together and celebrate. Zuko said that the Fire Nation palace would be best for the festivities and they all agreed to meet a couple of days before the holiday. Aang, Sokka, and Katara arrived the day before and Toph and Suki came earlier that morning. Zuko's uncle was supposed to arrive that evening, but he figured they were waiting until the next day.
Zuko took a breath, stretching into his silk blankets. At that moment, the wind picked up and filled the room with cool, moist air making the Fire Lord shiver. As he got up from his bed to close his balcony doors, Katara stepped into his room.
"It doesn't look like Aang is bringing Iroh back tonight," she said softly from his doorway. Zuko turned to the waterbender leaning delicately against his doorframe. She wore a traditional fire nation night robe made from fine red silk with a gold trim design that dragged onto the floor and had her hair pulled back in a loose braid. Her eyes shimmered from the candle light.
You surprised me," said Zuko. "I didn't hear you come in." Even in the dim light of his room he could make out her worried expression. "Don't worry about Aang. He's probably safely sleeping in my uncle's guest room." She looked down at the floor.
"Probably," she whispered. Zuko wished he could reassure her, but he wasn't sure how.
"Where are the others?" he asked changing the subject. She looked up at him with a soft grin and shifted her posture on the frame.
"They're all asleep," she replied. "I can't blame them though. They've all been exploring the palace and training in the courtyard all day to only end up in beds made completely out of silk and satin. I mean look at your bed. Appa could fit on it and still have leg room." She giggled and gave Zuko a playful look. He gave her a sweet smile and sat on his bed.
"Why are you still up then?" he asked finally. She was quiet for a second as if she wasn't sure. Zuko patted the bed next to him, gesturing for her to join him, and she made her way to him.
"The storm woke me up," she answered. "So I decided to walk around and when I passed your room, I noticed that your door was cracked and some light was shining through." Zuko leaned his head to one side and gave her a smirk, golden eyes gleaming.
"So you just walked in? I could've been changing," he said snidely. Zuko noticed her cheeks turn light pink and her expression annoyed. She then stood up with her hands on her hips.
"I didn't think you'd mind! I was being thoughtful!" she stated defensively. He gave her a confused look and asked, "Of what?"
She stepped back, not knowing what to say. "I… you… I thought you might have been lonely," she said weakly, clearly defeated. Zuko stood up and stepped right in front of her, a clear four and a half inches taller.
"Yeah. Lonely and naked," he said putting his hands on his hips imitating her stance. Her cheeks went from a light pink to deep red. She stomped her foot on the ground and turned to leave. Zuko's smile quickly fell into a frown and he reached for her arm.
"Wait!" he said quickly. As soon as his hand touched her shoulder light filled the room and thunder rang through the palace making them both gasp and jump. Somehow they found themselves clinging to one another, hearts rapidly beating. Zuko looked down at the frightened waterbender and tightened his hold.
"Don't leave. I'm sorry," he said. When she nodded he let go of her and went back to his bed, flopping down on his back with his feet hanging off the side. He could hear the low rumble of thunder from outside and sighed loudly. The room was awkwardly quiet for a moment. Zuko's mind was blank and he hoped that she would say something.
"That storm's getting pretty bad," she said calmly breaking the silence. He felt her lean against the bed post that held up the canopy. He quietly wished she would lay beside him. He could feel her eyes graze across his skin. He glanced up, meeting her eyes. There was something hidden in them.
"What is it?" he asked softly, sitting up. She gazed at him for a minute before finally sitting down next to him.
"It's been a whole year," she said solemnly, looking up into his face. Her expression was blank as if she didn't know how to feel and Zuko could feel himself frowning. Then she smiled. "And so much has happened." She looked away into the room. Zuko looked at her. She had grown so much. She seemed more mature and adult like, even though her bright eyes and playful smile gave away her youth.
"It has." He pushed a strand of hair behind her ear, making her turn towards him. Her crystal eyes looked deep into his and she placed her hand onto his cheek, lightly running her fingers across the bottom of his scar. Her fingers felt like feathers on his skin.
"We missed an anniversary Zuko," she said with a small smile. He looked confused and furrowed his eyebrows.
"Huh?" he asked. "The anniversary is tomorrow." Katara's smile widened as she slid her fingers around his jaw and into his hair. Pulling his face closer, she leaned into his neck to whisper into his ear.
"Five days ago was one year of us becoming friends," she cooed. Zuko let a smile form on his lips. He quickly wound his arms around her back pulling her into a hug. He felt her slip her hands around his neck, holding on tightly. Breathing deeply, her sweet scent filled his nose.
She was the first to pull away ending the hug. Zuko gazed into her face. He noticed he was slowly leaning in and closing the gap between them. She leaned a little closer relaxing her eyes in his. Zuko's heart was pounding. Less of an inch was left between them and right as Zuko pushed his face forward to meet her lips, the doors to his balcony blew open with a crash, extinguishing every candle in the room and making them both scream as they fell to the floor.
A/N: Thank you so much for reading the first finished-multi-chapter-story I've ever written :D It means a lot. Now this particular chapter didn't end the way I wanted but sometimes my mind can't be put into words. But I hope you liked my little piece of Zutara Week :) Thanks for reading!