Dark:
Zuko circled the lot for the second time, just in time to slide into a spot illuminated by an H3's headlights. As he got out of his Mercedes and turned on his flashlight's beam, the Hummer turned off its lights, leaving the campus around him dark except for the occasional flashlight beam and headlight. He heard someone complaining about his or her battery and chuckled.
He walked over to the dorm closest to him -Cherry Grove- and waited by the door. Inside he could see a few girls scrambling about in the darkness. After about a minute of waiting, Katara exited the building, her glow stick tied around her neck and another tied on her bag. She had changed into a matching radioactive green tank top and jean shorts. Zuko chuckled, saying, "Are we going to a rave after coffee?"
Katara's blush wasn't visible in the flashlight's beam as she replied, "I wouldn't say no to a good party, though I doubt that anyone could find a decent one on this campus."
Zuko raised an eyebrow. "And here I was thinking T.A.'s don't want to have fun. Come on, before the rain comes with this lightning." She followed him as he led her to his car. He tried to not shine the flashlight on the Mercedes logo, and if she spotted it, she didn't make a comment.
Katara couldn't really believe what was happening. Here she was, barely two weeks after her last disastrous breakup, on a date! With a student in her T.A. class, no less. Relax, she told herself. It wasn't actually a date. Just coffee with a classmate from high school.
As Zuko maneuvered through the parking lot, he broke the silence that had fallen on them to ask where she wanted to go. "Uh, just a little ways down the road. There's this place called Jun's where they serve the best coffee you've ever tasted. And it won't be as crowded as Starbucks. She's even got a backup generator," Katara said, glad for the break in the silence.
"Sounds like a plan to me, I suppose," Zuko replied, steering his car carefully through the dark streets that didn't have any light coming onto them, besides a few stray headlights.
They sat for a few more silent minutes. Zuko drummed his fingers on the steering wheel, thinking frantically of a topic to talk about. "So, Katara," he said finally, "Do you have family here?" He glanced over at her, trying to see in the darkness what her expression was.
She turned to look at him, tucking a stray hair behind her ear. "Oh, well my brother goes here- Sokka. He's probably been in some of your classes before."
Zuko shook his head, fixing his eyes on the road, which was illuminated only by his headlights. "Not unless your brother went to Ba Sing University last semester. Or Omashu College the semester before that." He smiled at her apologetically. "I've moved around a bit."
Katara blinked, surprised by his answer. "Oh, I guess you have! Well I've only gone here at Sozin U, so I'm afraid I'm not as well traveled university speaking. I did live in Omashu for some time though, while my father changed bases."
Zuko turned a corner, slowing down the car to look at the buildings around them. These were mostly half lit by candles and the occasional flashlight beam. "So you're father was a military man? So was mine, before he decided that more money was to be made in business."
Katara watched the road, looking for Jun's coffee shop. "Well that's certainly interesting. So your father moves around a lot, is that it?"
Zuko laughed, shaking his head. "I wish, no he mostly stays in the capital. I live with Uncle sinceā¦" he trailed off, knowing that he was leaving Katara in the dark. Well he certainly didn't want her to be insulted, but he also didn't want to go telling his story to any girl he happened to meet. "Well, it's been a while anyways."
His hands gripped the steering wheel more tightly and they both sat in a tense silence. Katara twiddled her thumbs for a moment before saying quietly, "Jun's shop is right there." She didn't have to tell him though, as it was one of the only places around with light streaming through the windows.
"Thanks," Zuko murmured, sliding the car smoothly into a spot that looked like it had been too small to fit the expensive car. He got out and walked over to get Katara's door but before he reached it, she had already opened it and was sliding out. She misjudged where the curb actually was though and plunged her foot down into the dark of the street rather than the sturdy curb. She staggered forwards and Zuko had to catch her.
Now it was her turn to murmur, "thanks." She was glad that her face was a flooded green from the glowsticks to cover up her rosy cheeks. Zuko steadied her, then stepped back to close the car door, unsure of how to proceed.
"No problem," he replied, remaining smooth even as his mind was racing of something to talk about. The silences were getting on his nerves. As they walked up to the door, it opened, streaming bright, yellow light out, silhouetting the exiting person. Katara froze as the exiting person paused in the doorframe. Zuko squinted his eyes against the light, wishing that the person would either hold the door or move on.
"Well, well, well," the dark figure said, finally closing the door. With the backlight gone, the beam from the outside lamp just barely illuminated the youth. He was an average height, perhaps an inch or so taller than Katara, and lithe, like an athlete. His hair was either a dark brown or black- it was hard to tell in the light. "It looks like you bounce back fast Katara. What was it you said? 'I can't just move on from a long term relationship in a moment?' Well, it sure looks like two weeks is a long enough time." The youth sneered and looked at Zuko. "What'd she say to you, huh?"
Katara bristled and seemed to rise up from the quite, polite girl of that afternoon. "Look, Jet, I told you to back off. This is exactly why I never wanted to go out with you in the first place! You're too confrontational, you imbecile. And Zuko's not my boyfriend," she snapped, glaring at Jet.
And clearly won't be, he thought dryly. She didn't have to snap that much about Zuko being her boyfriend. She seemed to realize that and gave a weak grimace at Zuko before returning to glaring at Jet.
"Sure he isn't," Jet said, though he continued to smirk at Katara. She crossed her arms and tapped her foot. "Well? Are you going to stand there all night or are you going to let us go in?"
He shrugged before moving aside, gesturing exaggeratedly for her to enter. "The way is clear, Your Highness. I was just waiting for Smellerbee and Longshot. And here they are." He was right. A small girl and tall, thin boy were exiting, the pair holding steaming paper cups.
"Oh, hi Katara!" The girl said, twinkling her fingers at Katara. "It's not that packed in there, so you're in luck."
Katara waved back, stepping in through the open door being held open by the tall boy. "Okay, awesome," she said, looked back to see if Zuko was following her. He did, making sure that he ignored the piercing glare that Jet was shooting him. He closed the door behind them, shutting out the dark of the outside.
