You Make Life So Hard

Tell Me

Katara's a bit of an addict. Zutara fluff

AN: not quite sure what this is but I'm posting it before I get too critical. context: Katara is an Ambassador to the Southern Water Tribe and she's 18ish because I love those stories but cannot, for the life of me, write one.

I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender or anything else you recognize.

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"Tell me a stupid joke, Zuko."

"Are you ordering the Fire Lord around?"

"Tell me a stupid joke, Fire Lord."

"Fine. Have I told you the one about tea yet?"

"The 'I'm bushed' one? Yeah, you use it all the time."

"You're the one who laughs. But no, this is a different one. Why are artists who drink tea so successful?"

"I dunno. Why?"

"Because they have a lot of creativi-tea!"

She giggled. She wasn't sure why, honestly. Zuko had absolutely no future as a comedian. But she found herself laughing at his dry wit, his snarky comebacks, and his stupid jokes. And she always found herself asking for more.

"Tell me another one."

"Right now?"

"Why, you have someplace to be?"

"...No."

"Exactly. So. Tell me another one."

"Fine. What do you call a factory that makes mediocre products?"

"A failure."

"No, Katara. A satisfactory. Get it? Because...yeah, you get it."

Now she was doubled over with laughter. Sokka would have been mortified to see his own blood laughing so hard at something so not funny, but she didn't care. And when she could finally stand up straight and her chuckles were dying out, she saw Zuko's satisfied half-smile that he wore every time he got her to laugh. She felt like she spent hours every day just waiting to see that smile. But today, it was tinged with another emotion she couldn't name. And because she was a little scared of what he might say if she didn't speak up soon...

"Tell me one more."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"I love you."

and suddenly he was only an inch away from her and her brain was going haywire and her throat was dry and what was happening what did he just say

"Th-that's not a stupid joke."

"No. No, it's not."

"Then why-"

"It's more of a confession. Not really supposed to make you laugh."

Part of her did want to laugh. This all felt so bizarre - when did the nervous boy from the Western Air Temple turn into this man? And why was she finding it hard to breathe as a scene from her most precious dreams played out right in front of her?

"Do you...do you not have anything to say? You always have something to say, Katara, I'm sorry if I ruined our frie-OOMPH!"

She was slightly relieved that he was still her sweet, nervous boy from the Air Temple, but that thought was quickly pushed to the back of her mind. Right now, all her senses were filled with Zuko. Every nerve in her body seemed to hum his name as their lips met. This felt so right, kissing him here, in the Royal Palace's library. She pulled back, only for a brief moment, to tell him the punchline of his stupid joke.

"I love you too."

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AN: I don't own the jokes either :) thanks for reading! hope this made you smile, or at least push a little air out of your nose. Review with opinions, criticisms, and compliments - if you want to!