Zutara Need You Now

The chatter around the full table was no longer keeping Katara's attention. Her lack of involvement in the conversation around her was hidden with a fake smile. Her eyes were only focused on him.

Zuko.

Since the Agni Kai with Azula, nothing was the same. On the outside it may have seemed like it, but inside of her was a tumultuous struggle. Fighting with the fact Aang believed they were more than friends to keeping up appearances of said "relationship". She didn't want to hurt the young monk. She had no intention of breaking his fragile heart.

Sure, the war was over, the tension released but with everything that happened during the time just intensified everything she was feeling toward a certain Prince -- soon to be Fire Lord. She remembered the feeling of her fluttering heart when his golden eyes opened when she feared they had been closed forever. His injury grave and her hands shaking. The fact she had been in love with him since the search for her mother's killer. The fear of never being able to tell him how she felt....

A declaration she was still holding inside.

For a moment, their eyes caught across the filled room but for them, it was as if they were alone. Katara quickly turned away from the intense glance and found herself staring into her half empty cup of cold Jasmine tea.

She felt a warm hand on her shoulder just moments later, tearing her away from her inner thoughts. Her eyes turned to stare up into the yellow ochre eyes of the Fire Prince.

"Need a refill?" he asked with a soft chuckle tracing his lips.... oh, those lips. She found herself wondering what they'd feel like against hers.

With a shake of her head, she tore her thoughts away from such things knowing it was stupid to even ponder things of that nature.

"Yeah." she replied, running her fingers absentmindedly through her hair. Her eyes downcast on the table, avoiding Zuko's intense gaze.

Zuko's smile fell before he reached for her cup and slowly poured the hot tea into the cup. His eyes fell upon Katara's downcast face. Her beautiful soft brown hair and dark skin a beautiful contrast to the light green of her new tunic. He noticed the pink flower in her hair and felt his insides churn knowing the airbender had to have given it to her. Zuko felt a familiar jealous stirring build in his stomach. He leaned down, knowing it was closer than necessary but not really caring even if Mai was watching his every move from a few tables over. He took a long deep breath of her hair before breathing it out unknowingly against her neck.

As he stood to his full height, Katara shot him a soft glance. Her stunning blue eyes a stark contrast to her dark skin. He noticed a soft red rising in her cheeks, her beautiful mouth slightly open in curiosity. Zuko quickly turned away with a sigh and walked into the kitchen. Katara watched as he left, feeling more confused than ever.

Zuko placed the tray on the counter in the kitchen harder than necessary. His hands pressed against the counter, his breath deep. His brows were cinched at the bridge of his nose. He felt the anger rising in his stomach. The jealousy was churning inside and he hated it. He never knew wanting someone so bad could hurt so much. He had Mai. His head physically shook at the thought. He knew that relationship was destined to fail. He never felt true love toward her. He thought he did at a point but the pale beauty's personality and intentions never were on the same path as his. His heart wasn't in it. He loved her but he wasn't IN love with her...

But her....

Katara.

He couldn't believe that only a year ago, he was calling her Water Peasant. Chasing her around the world, seeing her from an amateur waterbender to a full fledged master. A young frightened girl into a beautiful determined woman. The caverns. If there was one surefire thing he would change -- it would be that. Getting to know her the way he did. Her story. Her mom... Never did he know he could connect so quickly with someone he considered his enemy. Helping her find her mother's killer. He could still feel the stinging rain. Her fingers grasping to the shirt on his chest for dear life. Her face pressed into the crook of his shoulder. Feeling her shaking. Him holding her tightly wanting to do nothing but take away her pain... He thought maybe he was in love with her then -- but it was the Agni Kai with his sister that turned maybe into certainty.

It just happened. Seeing his sister directing the lighting at Katara. It brought out something in him. He was willing to die at that moment. It would be worth it for her. Hearing her screaming his name as it hit. Feeling the darkness surrounding him but the only thought on his mind was if he woke up -- his only goal -- to tell her he loved her. But he didn't.

Seeing her with Aang -- knowing he had what Zuko wanted most churned an unbearable pain inside him. One he knew he would never be rid of...

"Zuko..." her soft voice broke through his thoughts. Katara.

"Katara?" Zuko asked, turning his attention to the door.

She closed the door behind her, hearing the click of the lock before walking toward him.

"You okay?" she asked, her voice a mere whisper.

"I'm fine" he lied.

"You know better than to lie to me."

Zuko's face just fell, his back pressed against the table. "I'm not lying." he lied again.

He felt her hand take his. "Then why are you shaking?"

He didn't answer. He did everything in his power to avoid her gaze, but her fingers soon found his chin and lifted them up, giving him no choice but to meet her eyes. There were no words for a long while. Katara's hands were soon on his tunic, pulling apart the layers. Zuko said nothing afraid she would stop. His chest soon was revealed. The scar from the Agni Kai prominent on his stomach.

"Why didn't you want me to finish healing this one?" she asked softly.

"Because I never want to forget..." he answered.

"Forget what?"

Without filtering, he answered, "How I feel about you."

Katara's eyes ripped from his scar to his face. "...What?"

He remained silent, Katara's eyes wide and quickly growing moist.

"Zuko.... Tell me." she prodded. Her right arm wrapping around his shoulder, her left pressed against his unscarred cheek. "Please..."

"...It doesn't matter... Not anymore."

His eyes met hers, her hand still lovingly caressing his cheek. Zuko soon found his right arm underneath hers, gently stroking her shoulderblade as his fingers lost themselves in her brown tresses.

"Why does this hurt so bad?" he asked softly after what seemed like an eternity.

"Why does what hurt?"

"Needing you... Wanting you... so bad..." he answered. Her eyes filling with unshed tears as she gazed into those eyes that haunted her dreams.

Without another thought, Katara pressed her lips firmly to his as her arms wrapped tighter around him. They were even softer and warmer than she dreamed about and she felt as if she could kiss him forever. Zuko kissed her deeply making up his mind that he knew he would have to fight for her -- a fight he was willing to die again for.