Katara
When I wake up the next morning, I'm alone. I have a hazy memory of Asking Zuko to stay with me last night, and I would think I'd dreamed it if it wasn't for the rumpled blanket and pillow on the floor. But that means he'd slept on the floor, he didn't crawl in bed with me even though he could have. Tired as I was last night, I'd have let him. But no, he was a perfect gentleman and slept on the floor, close by so I'd be safe but not in my bed.
I remember when I first met Jet and the Freedom Fighters. Right away Jet and I had a huge interest in each other. Pretty much whenever we were alone, we'd talk and talk led to kissing. A few nights in, I remember us sitting close before bed in my room there, and asking him to wait for me to fall asleep before he left for the night. I never meant for him to stay the whole time, but he was still there when I woke up. I felt like I couldn't exactly be mad at him since I had kinda asked him to stay, but waking up with him in my bed still felt…violating somehow. But Zuko was given an open invitation, and chose to sleep on the floor. I felt him reach up when he thought I was asleep and twine his fingers with mine. A gesture he didn't have to do, that I didn't initiate or ask for. Maybe there is a chance he could still have feelings for me after all.
I slept in pretty late, so I assume I just have a few hours left before everyone gets here. I take the time to finish cleaning the house, and take down all the paintings of Zuko's family while I'm at it. He's clearly already hesitant about being here, we don't need these pictures making it worse. I also find some tools in the servants shed out back and fix the broken front door. I find the supplies Zuko stole yesterday and start making dinner for everyone. The work is good. It keeps me from thinking too much about this last week, about Yen Ra, about my mother. But eventually the work runs out, so I just go and sit on the end of the dock with my feet swishing in the water and wait for everyone to get back. Around Sunset, I see Appa flying in. In my peripheral vision I see Aang and Zuko walking up behind me.
"Katara, are you okay?"
"I'm doing fine."
"Zuko told me what you did. Or what you didn't do. I'm proud of you!" He tells me. I snort.
"I didn't do it for you. And I may have let him live but I didn't forgive him. His life Aang, it's miserable. He himself is just pathetic and empty and sad. Killing him would have been a Mercy."
"No. Letting him live was Mercy. As long as he's alive He can still change and grow. You gave him that opportunity, Katara. And in time, I'm sure you'll forgive him, too. It's the first step you have to take to heal."
"I'm not going to forgive him, Aang. I never will." I say and get up. I walk past Aang and over to Zuko. "I am ready to forgive you though." I say with a shy smile and hug him. It's the first hug that I let myself enjoy fully, feeling his warm body pressed against mine, his strong arms around my waist, and his breath in my ear. I let go quicker than I want to, and blush a little without meaning to and head into the house.
I get inside the house, Aang and Zuko walking up not far behind me. I notice Toph took the room across from me, Sokka next to her, and Suki two doors down from me. That leaves one door next to mine and one door on the other side of Sokka.
"Can't wait to see the bedrooms." I hear Aang say. "Let's see how Royalty lives on vacation."
"Not as luxurious as you'd think. My mother always loved it here because of how simple it was."
"Either way, Hot showers." Aang laughs. My heart starts racing. One room next to me, the other down the hall. I know Aang's going to want the first one, but I want Zuko to be closer. At least to be able to figure things out, about how he feels and how I do. I try to think of a way to make it clear that Zuko should take the room next to me without tipping off Aang. And an Idea gets into my head. I quickly make an ice dagger and carve Zuko's name in the wood on the doorframe. I do it a little sloppy, like a kid would have, then slip into my bedroom and listen outside through the door.
"You said Katara's room is at the end of the hall, right? I guess I'll take- wait, is this your room, Zuko? Your name is carved here on the door frame."
"What?" Zuko asks. "Oh. Yeah. This was always the room I'd stay in when I was a kid. I'd like to keep it if that's okay."
"I mean, yeah. Your room is your room."
"Thanks. Let's all unpack and get settled, then we can start training in an hour. We've already missed a week."
"Okay. Sounds good. See you in the courtyard." Aang says, then walks away. I go and sit on my bed, trying to sort my feelings out. Right now there's not much to sort, I'm just happy my idea worked.
Someone knocks on the door and makes me jump. A second later, Zuko comes in. I stand up and my heart starts racing, my stomach twisting. I guess this ins't going to be a gradual thing. I forgave him. That's all it took for the wall I've so carefully put up and guarded to come crashing down. And now all it takes for me to feel a high is for him to be standing in front of me. Spirits, He's gorgeous. Thick black raven hair, Tan eyes, Strong, Muscular, handsome, Tall-
"Katara?" His voice snaps me out of my daze.
"Yeah?" I ask, and he steps closer to me. I step back against the wall.
"Did you carve my name in the door frame?" He asks.
"Y-Yeah, I did, Zuko."
"Why?" He asks, stepping closer. He's so close he's only a foot or so away now.
"Why does it matter?"
"Because I need to know your answer." He says, and takes another step. Six inches, now.
"Because I want you close, Fire Prince. There are some things I need to figure out."
"Like what?" He asks. Spirits, let him keep stepping closer. I take a deep breath. I know he knows what he's getting at. And if he has the courage to ask, I need to find the courage to answer.
"Certain Emotional things, Zuko. And I've figured out my half of it, it didn't take long." I answer in a quiet voice, my heartbeat in my throat. What if I did too much damage? What if I lost the chance for this to be returned, for him to really trust me: Not with his life in battle, but with his heart. Another half step. Three Inches! He's so close to me, I feel the heat coming off his body. I peek over his shoulder and notice the door is cracked open, so I use one hand and send a rush of water over to slam it shut.
"What did you figure out?" He whispers in my ear, making shudders run down my whole body, then he pulls back to look at me.
"My half." I repeat. "Now I need to know yours." I say, and his face looks shocked at first, then flashes another incredible smile at me. And there's my answer. I didn't ruin things. He still wants me, too. He leans in to kiss me, and I want him to so bad that my mouth feels hot. But at the last half second, I turn my head so his mouth skims mine and then my cheek instead. His whole face turns red and he stumbles back.
"I read that wrong. I'm sorry, I'm so, so-"
"Zuko!" I interrupt him. "You Didn't read that wrong. There's no way anyone could possibly have read that wrong. It's okay."
"Then…why did you turn away?"
"Aang." I say, and his face falls, then gets hard.
"Of course it's Aang. I get it. He's the Avatar, after all. I'll just get out of-"
"Zuko!" I say again, going over to grab his arm before he can storm out. "Not because of that, I promise. Aang's still a kid. I can't think of him like that."
"Then…what?"
"Just because I don't feel anything for Aang doesn't mean he doesn't feel anything for me. I was hoping he would get over it, and for a while after Ba Sing Se I thought he had. But I was wrong, and I can't afford to hurt him right now. If we get together before the war ends, it could distract him you know it's a bad idea to go into a fight hurt and angry."
"I get it." He says, his face softening again. He walks over and sits on the edge of my bed, and I sit next to him, still holding his arm. "So then what do you want to do? Be together in secret?" He asks. I laugh.
"I wish I could handle that. But I wouldn't be able to hide it, we'd get busted for sure."
"Okay. So what then?"
"We wait. It's only a couple more weeks until the Comet, we can wait until then. And until then, friends. Very good friends, who can hug when we say hello, and spend time together when we're not training. And when Aang fights your father and wins, we'll figure out how to break it to him. He'll get over it."
"And we'll have to find a way to break it to Sokka without him breaking my neck."
"I'm not afraid of Sokka."
"I'm not either, not really. But I just hope he's okay with it."
"Why wouldn't he be?"
"Trusting me to not betray any of you again is one thing. Trusting me with his Baby sister's heart is another. I've never really had my own friends before, I don't want to lose that with him."
"I see."
"We'll figure it out when the time comes. So, until then, Friends?"
"Very good friends." I tell him, then kiss his cheek. "Who are just waiting to tell everyone they want more."
"I can live with that for now." He smiles and kisses my Temple. "But I'm very anxious to finish that moment with you."
...