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Zuko pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. The weather was unusually hot, even for the Fire Nation, so the Gaang were splashing in the water of the ponds in his childhood home.
Zuko sat in a pavilion, attempting to pen a difficult letter that could have waited until the cool of the evening kicked in, but he wanted to get the words down while the inspiration for this communication was distracted.
Katara.
The only Gaang member who wasn't splashing about like a kid. Instead she was, as was to be expected, bending the water like a master. Her form was sublime and majestic as she pushed and pulled the water with intent. Her body would twist and turn with the movement of the water, a look of intense concentration on her face.
It almost looked like she was trying to mould it into a sculpture.
Zuko paused in his penmanship once more, to admire her technique.
Her body.
The trails of moisture that trickled over her form. Some of it was sweat, from the heat of the day. Some of it was water droplets suspended in the air, vibrating from the power of her water bending.
Zuko lowered his quill and swallowed heavily as Katara twisted once more, knee deep in the water, a wicked grin on her face the only warning before the swathe of water under her control lifted into the air and disappeared from his view for a moment.
Now, Katara had a silly side. It had shown itself before but the end of the war seemed to have awoken something deeper inside her. She was determined to set aside the mothering instincts she'd honed growing up, and perfected while helping Aang save the world.
But she felt no desire whatsoever to baby Zuko. The girl who had become a woman was not his mother. No. His lover. His world.
And his world was as unpredictable a she was entrancing and distracting. The water from her bending appeared in front of Zuko's pavilion and Katara turned to face him as his eyes widened.
"No."
"What's the matter, Sparky?" Toph called. "Afraid of a little water?!"
Zuko stood quickly as Katara's grin became positively evil.
"Katara," he warned with a growl.
She just smiled.
"Better come into the water before Sugar Queen rains on your parade."
"Join the fun!"
That was either Aang or Soka. Zuko wasn't paying attention. His eyes were narrowed on Katara's as she silently threatened him.
He sighed and set the letter aside.
"Good boy," she said softly as Zuko strode into the water.
Her smile turned into a frown as he grabbed her wrists.
"Zuko?"
Katara let out a squeal as he pulled her to him, the water under her control erupting over their heads. The droplets he'd been admiring on her body now awash with streams of water that steamed at the heat of his proximity.
Zuko cupped her face in his hands, enjoying the way her face darkened impossibly further at his delicate touch.
Gold eyes peered into blue and the world froze around them. Her breathing deepened. His mouth was suddenly very dry. Eyes widened and breaths intermingled.
She was close enough to kiss. His lips brushed over hers gently and she trembled.
"Zuko..."
"I need to finish this letter."
She pouted. "I know. I just miss you."
"And your father needs to be informed that we're officially courting before he hears about it from someone else."
Katara lifted her chin, trying to press her lips to his, but he kept out if reach. She huffed.
"He's hundreds of miles away."
"I know."
"Just kiss the girl!" Suki shouted from nearby, breaking the moment.
"Kiss her! Kiss her! Kiss her!"
Toph began the chant and the others quickly chimed in.
Zuko sighed. "They're so childish."
Katara smiled. "But they're right."
He nodded and pressed their lips together. Neither paid attention to the whoops of celebration as they embraced. Devoured each other.
The letter to her father could wait, after all.