"It's been a while," Zuko said, staring down at his feet as he scuffed them on the ground.
"Yeah," Katara agreed, laughing nervously. Her left elbow was hugged to her side, gaze focusing on anything but his face.
Above them, Yue sighed. It had been five minutes since Sokka left the pair alone (and locked them outside, though they didn't know that yet) and still nothing remotely resembling a budding romance had happened.
Which meant things still needed her interference to turn out as she wanted.
Since tampering with Katara was out of the question (she was still affected by Roku's possession), she focused on Zuko, prodding his mind and forcing him to recall dreams he used to have about Katara. Memories of tree-tying, water-throwing, and smile-sending flooded his mind.
Face reddening, he scratched at the back of his neck and shifted his weight to one foot. "S-so, uh... so how are, um, things going? W-with Aang?"
"Oh, uh, good. You know – nice, peaceful.... How's Mai?"
"What? Oh! Uh, Mai – yeah, fine. Good. Things are good. With us – Mai and I. Yeah."
Yue bit her lip. While this was certainly having an effect on Zuko, it wasn't exactly what she had been hoping for – raging hormones making him confess his undying love, maybe. Instead, she got an awkward, babbling (though definitely hormonal) teen who wasn't really doing anything to help his chances with his dream girl.
But she couldn't spend the whole night focused on just them. There was still Aang and Toph to worry about, not to mention Mai (whom Jet was still following).
So, with a last few whispered words in Zuko's mind ('Hurry up and kiss her!'), Yue moved her attention to the crowd within the palace.
Author's Notes: The return of dork!Zuko. 8D Don't you just love his social incompetence? It's so cute.
Also, the naughtiness or dorkish simplicity of Zuko's daydreams of Katara is entirely up to your interpretation.
Disclaimer: I do not own 'Avatar' or any of its characters.