Too Close

in the night

Katara heard a buzzing on her nightstand and looked up seeing someone texting her. She reached over and saw the time.

2:09 am

"I'm killing whoever is still awake," she growled checking the texts.

Jerk: are you awake?

Jerk: kattttt

Jerk: look out your window

She blinked a few times trying to understand what was happening but got out of bed and went to her window only to see Zuko sitting on the swing that was attached to the front yard tree as he kicked his legs to move.

Katara sighed with a smile and called his phone.

"Hello," Zuko answered.

"What are you doing dumb ass?" Katara stood in front of her window crossing her arms a little with one hand holding her phone.

"Whos this?"

"Dude..."

"Wanna go get some food? I'm hungry," Zuko didn't look up as he played innocent with a grin.

"I was sleeping," she said flatly.

"Really? Didn't know," he hummed sarcastically.

"My grandmother is in the guest room down stairs," Katara raised a brow.

"You're quiet, but you can just say no," Zuko laid his head back.

"... I'll be down in a minute,"

"See you soon love,"

Katara hung up and flipped him off when Zuko turned to wave at her. She laughed a little and went to put on a hoodie over her tank top as she wore spandex shorts, she grabbed sokkas boots to wear outside knowing the grass was wet. She held the shoes to her chest as she snuck down the stairs and tip toed across the living room, careful not to wake up Gran Gran.

She opened the door and closed it quietly as she hoped she wouldn't be caught by anyone.

"You're an ass," Katara laughed a little walking over to her boyfriend on the swing.

"You look beautiful," he tilted his head to the side with a smile as he kicked his legs a little.

Kataras frowned at him trying to pout upset not the blush on her face and the way her heart sped up made it harder.

"I'm thinking Denny's," Zuko pulled her close by holding her hands in his.

"Buy me a milkshake?" Katara smiled leaning close to him as she slid her hands up to his shoulders.

"Good deal," he pecked her lips before standing up and Katara held onto him as she stood on her toes.

"Get off," he groaned.

"Carry me!" She lifted her feet off the ground so he was stuck with all her weight. He didn't hold onto her as he began to walk to his bike with Katara around him like a necklace.

—

"You're gross," Zuko made a face as Katara dipped her fries in her chocolate shake as he had a strawberry one with a burger as she had chicken tenders.

"You're close minded, it's delicious," Katara offered him a fry.

"No, it's going to be soggy, that's so gross," he gagged.

"I'm glad our diner is open 24/7," she leaned back as the waitress passed by.

"The bars close at 3, we get lots of business then," she commented and the two smiled excited for the commotion.

"How's your grandmother doing? Is she moving down here?" Zuko sipped his strawberry shake.

"I.. no? I don't think so, she hasn't said anything about staying, or leaving though," she frowned a little. Gran gran was the only woman figure in her life after her mother died but after a certain age Katara had to start taking on more responsibilities than anyone and be more independent. She eventually didn't need a motherly figure anymore because she had to be almost like one for her brother when it was just the two of them.

"How iroh doing? He just got his cast off right?" Katara waved off the thoughts and smiled at her boyfriend.

"Yep but he has to wear a boot when he's working or walking around a lot, we'll see how that goes," Zuko rolled his eyes but knew she was avoiding the conversation with her grandmother. But why?

"Kat, do you want her to stay? Your grandmother?" He asked softly.

"Is it horrible of me if I say no?" She whispered back as if gran gran could hear.

"I love her but she stresses me out so much, I was always on top of my chores and dinner and studying with her and taking care of Sokka so he eats... but when my dad asked if we wanted to move here but it would just be me and Sokka while he was gone.." Katara ate another fry stressfully.

"I eased up on the chores and taught Sokka how to cook and I didn't study three hours every night, and the world didn't fall apart like I thought it would, and now I get to be my age and still have great grades and a clean house, and get to have more freedom and time to hang out and do stupid things like get Denny's at three in the morning," she laughed shaking her head.

"I'm happy she visits and I miss her as my grandmother, not as my care taker," she sighed leaning back.

Zuko smiled a little understanding a little to well on something similar.

"It would be the same as if you moved out of your parents house I think, you still love them but you don't want to be suffocated by them," he nodded stealing a bite of her chicken tender before she could yell at him.

"Yea, exactly," she breathed another laugh shaking her head. He touched her hand in comfort and she grabbed his back giving a squeeze.

"There's nothing wrong with that, so don't feel bad," he said again seeing worry on her face still.

"For being a butt head that woke me up, your pretty sweet," she kissed his hand gently and he blushed slightly at the touch.

"Keep calling me names I won't be," he chuckled.

"So what got you in the mood for adventure tonight? Mine was this weirdo outside my house," she teased again but grabbed his hand with both of hers as he tried escaping and failed.

"Oh I was talking.. to jin,"

Kataras eyes widen a little, should she be scared? Or worried? She wasn't worried jin would steal Zuko from her but how it was effecting him...

"Is everything okay with her?" She asked concerned.

"We got in a fight again, that I got into a college in America without telling her since I was planning on going to Japan again," he rubbed his neck nervously.

"You got into college?!" She gasped standing up.

"Ah ha.. yea, they emailed me, I'm taking a gap year so.. I um might not accept though, it's just a lame college," he looked down embarrassed.

"Oh what one is it?" Katara smiled gently.

"It's just a stupid one in New York that was asking me... my uncle applied for me and they're kind of offering a scholarship because of my uncle being a war hero and my dad a rich business man and how I lived in Japan so diversity and shit," he rubbed his neck again heading his eyes on the table.

"Dude your grades are awesome and you do have good backgrounds, you should take it! It's New York!" Katara squealed excited.

Zuko pursed his lips, he shook his head.

"Why.. why not? I know your smart enough to get in anywhere," her face softener concerned again.

"I don't like big cities like that," he mumbled.

"You want to wait a year for me?" She smiled sweetly leaning over to push his longer hair out of his face.

"Is it stupid?" He asked looking at her softly.

"Not even in the slightest," she grinned.