Steam: An Avatar Story

Chapter 12

Zuko was in better spirits this morning. The things Katara said to him last night really made him feel better about the argument he had with Sokka.

"Hey, ready to practice?" Katara appeared in front of him. The sun was just barely beginning to rise, and the rest of the group was still sleeping.

"Beyond ready." Zuko smirked. "Let's go." The two made their way to a clearing near some water, in case either of them got injured again and Katara needed to heal them.

"I hope you're ready Zu Zu," she grinned, calling Fire to her fingertips.

"Born ready Kit Kat," they took their fighting stances. Katara made the first move, sending a jet of fire racing towards Zuko. He returned with a punch of his own fire fists, causing the stream to separate and blow past him harmlessly.

The sun steadily grew higher as the two benders fought, their attacks taking them slowly closer and closer together, until they were practically nose to nose, dancing dangerously as their flames sparked and flared around them.

Suddenly a wrist was enclosed around one of Katara's wrists, the other one immobilized soon after. She was panting heavily, sweat glistened on her tanned skin, her face flushed as she looked up into Zuko's molten eyes. Dear Agni, she thought.

Zuko was standing over her, wrists held in front of her as he smirked in her face. Katara couldn't move, his gaze pinning her to her spot. Rivulets of sweat traveled down the hard planes of his face and dropped off his strong chin. Her heart stuttered.

"I win," Zuko whispered, his cool, minty breath blowing over her face. Katara wondered why her body involuntarily pressed her legs together. Katara couldn't move, her mouth was stuck in a slight gasp as she stared into those golden eyes that sucked her in.

A moment later, Zuko let her go, and she could think again. Katara needed to cool down, so she walked off towards the stream, hoping he wouldn't follow. She blew a breath out, heart pounding. This was insane. Why did she completely freeze like that? She was the Avatar.

"Hey, you okay?" Katara stiffened as she felt Zuko right behind her. Every nerve was on high alert.

"Yeah," she gasped. It was all she could do to keep from shaking with the tension.

"Good," Zuko smiled and stepped around so he was on her right, leaning close to her ear. "You need to keep practicing Avatar, I can't keep beating you like this, what will the people think?" Katara's skin erupted with bumps, every hair standing on end as his breath blew across her ear. She did the only thing she could think of, and punched him in the stomach.

The sound Zuko made could only be described as a yelp crossed with a weird gasp of pain, almost like a dying cat. Katara spun, face bright red.

"Oh my Agni are you okay?" She exclaimed as Zuko was doubled over in pain. Katara couldn't keep a straight face, and she started laughing. "Okay I'm so sorry, but like, what was that noise?" She cracked up, sinking to the floor. "I mean like...I care about you and I feel awful for punching you but what..?"  Katara gasped between strains of laughter.

"Real mature Kit Kat," Zuko grumbled, slowly straightening. "Why would you do that?"

"I'm sorry okay!" She shouted, laughing.

"Somehow I don't think you're too broken up." He said, raising an eyebrow. Katara couldn't answer, he fit of giggles causing her to roll on the ground. Zuko sighed and sank to the ground next to her, chuckling as well. Katara looked up, tears of joy in her eyes.

"What kind of human makes that sound?" She exclaimed, more giggles bubbling up in her throat. Zuko just rolled his eyes again, smiling at the Avatar.