They'd been on the bridge for almost an hour now, talking in soft tones, laughing occasionally, and eventually lapsing into a peaceful kind of silence to watch the moon. It was only a few days from full now, and beautiful.
"I'm tired," Zuko whispered, sounding so like he had when he first left the Northern Water Tribe. The difference was that now he had the weight of the world on his shoulders, and he couldn't leave.
He shifted slightly as he said it, and for the first time Katara noticed that she'd been leaning against him. She shot upright and glanced around, as if she was afraid someone had seen her.
"Me too," she lied. "Let's go home." Even though she would have liked to practice her bending so close to the full moon, and was feeling exhilarated now that night had fallen, it had been a long day. Twenty four hours ago, she had been the Avatar's girlfriend, alone and free in the cold night of the Northern Water Tribe. Now, she was the Fire Lord's wife, trapped in a house of ice for La knows how long...
She cut off that train of thought and followed Zuko off the bridge.
--
Yugoda stepped out from behind the ornate pillar and smiled. Yue and Sokka had bonded on that bridge, and now her next "pet pairing", as she considered them, had done the same. She could only hope this relationship would end without such a terrible loss.
The old healer's thoughts flew to Pakku and she smiled sadly. She hoped the Avatar didn't come to the North too soon. There was such a terrible pain to unrequited love...
--
"Zuko, we have a problem."
"What?"
"There's only one bed."
--
Far away, trapped in the political snares of Ba Sing Se, Avatar Aang decided that he needed a break. He would visit Katara at the Northern Water Tribe.
He had the letter in his messenger hawk's pouch when he hesitated. He knew Katara would want some time alone up there. She'd been through so much...
It was decided. Aang would wait. A few days more, and then he would come. And the best part was... it would be a surprise.
--
Zuko winced internally at this latest stab by the nosy Northern Waterbenders. "Fine. I'll sleep on the floor."
"No! Zuko, I'm not going to make you-"
"Would you prefer the alternative?" he asked dryly. He read her gaze like a book. "Katara, I know you don't like it when people make sacrifices for you. But this is hardly a sacrifice. I'm not babying you- I don't want to sleep in that bed. Believe me."
"Fine. Just... take a blanket or something."
"I can make my own heat, thanks."
"Blankets aren't a sign of weakness, you idiot! Can you just swallow your pride for once?!"
"I don't need to." There was no way to counter his smug expression.
"Ugh! You're impossible!"
"It looks like you've gotten yourself a temper since last time I saw you, Katara." Zuko was completely calm, which enraged her further.
"What are you talking about?" she snapped.
"You blow up over every little thing." The insult flowed surprisingly easily, considering the last time he'd heard someone say that.
The response was strikingly similar as well, albeit with considerably less fire. "I'm just... confused, okay?"
"Okay," he replied agreeably.
Katara sighed and rolled over in the bed so she was facing the wall and not those eyes. "Sorry."
Zuko adjusted his position on the floor. "Me too."
"So... truce?"
She turned just in time to catch a crooked grin. "For now."
For now... Katara sighed, but this time it was a contented one. That was good enough for her.
--
"Zuko?"
A groan.
"Zuko? Are you awake?"
A mumble.
"What? Zuko, are you awake?"
"No."
Katara almost went back to sleep, but recognized the sarcasm in time.
"Yeah you are." she informed him.
"You're an ace detective."
"What happened to our temporary cease-fire?"
"I don't do night-time. Please go back to bed."
"But Zuko-"
"WHAT?"
"I'm cold."
"So?" He dragged himself into a sitting position.
"So... make me a fire."
"Honestly, Katara, you sound like..." he trailed off and looked down.
"Who?" The Waterbender was obviously offended. "Who do I sound like, oh mighty Fire Lord?"
"...Mai."
Throughout the tragedies of the last twenty-four hours, it had never occurred to Katara that Zuko was missing someone too.
"Zuko, I'm really sorry..."
"No, it's not like this changed anything. She broke up with me before I left."
"Oh... Do you... want to talk about it?" She felt stupid immediately, but it seemed like that was the only thing she could say.
"No."
"Zuko, if there's anything I can-"
"Just forget I said anything ...I'm tired."
"Okay... good night, Zuko. Umm... sweet dreams..?"
"Sweet dreams, Katara." His voice was amused now.
--
Mai was fuming. She'd broken up with Zuko before, but they'd always gotten back together in the end. She thought that by making him feel guilty, she'd force him to stay behind. Stay with her.
He'd left her- again- to go chasing after the Avatar- again.
But this time it wasn't even the Avatar himself. It was the girl.
Obviously, Zuko was more selfish than she'd anticipated. Or this Water Tribe girl was absolutely gorgeous.
He'd come crawling back, though. He always did. And this time... Mai took her favorite knife from her robes, the one that could become a sai when she wanted it to. The one she used only for the finishing strike. I'll be ready.
--
She was asleep almost immediately, the blankets still churned into a lump at the edge of the bed from when she'd gotten up to shake him awake.
He rose slowly, quietly slipping over to the bedside and fixing them for her. She grabbed sleepily at the newly adjusted quilts and found his hand.
Warmth... the thought rang somewhere in Katara's dream world, and she willed herself to seek it out.
The grip on his hand tightened, then his entire arm was pressed against the sleeping Waterbender's form.
Zuko stifled a sigh. This was going to be a long night.
