Too Close

feeling

"So are you going to tell me how you got those bruises?" Iroh stood by Zuko as his nephew did the dishes and allowed the other children to hand out in the living room. He was just happy Zuko was with people his age.

"I already told you, I'm done working with him," Zuko rinsed a plate off.

"Zuko," he said seriously.

Zuko turned the water on loudly.

"I confronted him, I got what I deserve but I said what I said," Zuko told him quietly as the water would be loud enough for no one else to hear.

"But there's more...?" Iroh frowned noticing Zukos body language was still timid.

"He said some things back.. I'm not going to repeat all but he threatened Katara, you and the tea shop," he gulped and turned off the water.

"You know I can take care of myself," Iroh patted the counter that had two guns under in a safe concealed area.

"I do know, that's why I was at Kats," Zuko gulped and he nodded understanding.

"Feel free if you want to spend more nights there for those reasons," the old man patted his shoulder.

"In the mean time I think you should ask her out," he chuckled quietly.

"Uncle!" Zuko blushed brightly.

"You act different with her than jin, you let her cross some lines, break down some walls," Iroh winked teasing.

"I-Im not- she doesn't- I don't uh uh I..." Zuko turned the water back on as his face was very warm now.

"I care about her a lot, but I can't tell what this feeling is and what if it's wrong and I took it for something else? Take it to far?" He grumbled a little and Iroh smiled.

"Trust your heart my nephew, if it feels right then it is right," Iroh laughed a little and walked away for Zuko to finish his chore.

"That doesn't help me at fucking all old man," he growled to himself scrubbing the dishes harder.

Red staining his cheeks as he got lost in his thoughts. He loved Katara? Yes. He was pretty sure that was love he felt for her. But what kind of love? As someone that meant a lot in his life? Duh. Someone he trusted and enjoyed spending time with? Of course.

Could he picture her with him..?

Zuko remembered that night that he got to snuggle against her as she held him close against her body and played with his hair. He wanted to feel like that all the time. He wondered what it would feel like if she kissed him?

No no no that's not right to think about his friend. She was a mother hen, he didn't want her to baby him and take care of him like she has to with her friends as the mom of the group. He rather take care of her, brush the tangles out of her hair after a long day, let her be engulfed in his arms and fall asleep with him rubbing his hand against her back. Help her with her school work. Take her somewhere nice and she felt like she could treat herself. He wanted to take care of her seeing how caring she was with nothing in return. Not when she's been so supportive to him.

But what if these feelings were just because she was so kind, so caring and supportive to him? Because no one has acted like she has with him, what if that new treatment was just tricking his brain? He didn't want to lose her.

He couldn't lose if he admitted those feelings and she may not feel the same, or he lost interest because he was wrong. It scared him.

But god did he love her. He loved who he was with her. He loved being in her presence.

Zuko washed the last dish and looked over at the others as Katara was sitting on the floor with appa and Aang as everyone was laughing, she had her hands over her mouth trying to contain her laugh. Zuko smiled a little seeing her fail and laugh loudly anyways.

He wanted to be with her.

He loved her touch.

Her smell.

Her eyes.

Her warmth.

Her heart

Her smile.

He loves her.

Sokka noticed Zuko small grin as he seemed to be thinking about something important. He got up as no one notice him leaving, Sokka tapped the table and motioned to the side for Zuko to follow him. The paler boy noticed and followed Sokka but pulled him into his bedroom seeing he wanted to talk.

"Everything okay?" Zuko asked with a small yawn.

"Everything okay with you? You seem out of it," Sokka poked his forehead but Zuko frowned pushing his hand away.

"I'm fine, just a lot on my mind," Zuko crossed his arms.

"Oooh you are a bad liar, didn't know it was so obvious," Sokka looked him up and down as Zuko didn't look amused.

"... can I ask you something then?" He closed his eyes as he gritted his teeth a little.

"Sure you stayed at my house for days and already stole my clothes, what more could you need buddy?" Sokka waved him off sarcastically.

"I-uh when.. do you love Suki?" Zuko turned darker red as he couldn't believe what he was saying.

"Yes?.. no no no she already thought you have a nice body, if you even think about taking my Suki I'm shaving your hea-" "no I'm not taking Suki Shh!" Zuko covered his mouth quickly before someone heard.

"I was just wondering if you love her," he slowly let go of the boy.

"I do, very much, very very much," Sokka pouted with his bottom lip sticking out.

"Ugh.. can I ask how you knew? Like how did you know you love her?" Zuko asked awkwardly and Sokka was a little more surprised.

"I just knew, I liked being around her and all that, she's the most beautiful person I know and she makes me really happy? It's just kind of a thing you just know, and one day you kind of say it out loud and it sounds right," Sokka shrugged a little as Zuko listened intensely.

"Wait why?... Wait... oh my god!" The brunette stared him down as Zuko now looked like a guilty man.

"No sokka-" "you like Katara!" He gasped.

"Your in love with Katara! Your in love with my sister oh my fucking god!" His voice got a little bit higher but Zuko was quick to tackle him and shove a pillow over his face to muffle him.

"Shut the fuck up dumb ass, don't say nothing or I'm burning you alive," Zuko growled in his ear.

"Wait so you do?!" Sokka gasped.

"I don't know! I think I might," he hissed through his teeth as sokkas jaw dropped.

"I fucking knew it..."

"Are you going to ask her out? Aww are you asking for my blessing?!" The pony tailed teen cooed while they both sat on zukos bed.

"No and no," the scarred child said flatly.

"What why?!" Sokka whined.

"I feel like it'll ruin a lot.. like she won't feel the same," he looked down embarrassed for how vulnerable he felt.

"Dude your kidding right? Katara has been telling every boy no, and only spends time with you, let you in her bed and I'm not even allowed in her room, I'm pretty sure she has a crush on you," Sokka told him seriously and Zuko was shocked.

"She's seen my face right?" Zuko pointed to his scar.

"Yea?" Sokka didn't get it.

They sat in silence as Sokka remembered it was a scar and not 'normal'.

"Oh shit my bad,"

"It obviously doesn't matter dude, go for it, just at least make it special, shes a sap for dumb romance stuff, flowers and whatever," Sokka patted his head as he got up from the bed.

"Oh so your okay with your sister dating a criminal?" Zuko smirked as Sokka walked out.

"Hey wait-"