Set My Heart On Fire (UPDATED AND CONTINUING!)

20. I'm High Off Of You

Zuko felt the air move as Katara rushed past him. The fury that they spit at each other filled the up the hallway where they stood like a thick smog.

Zuko stood there immersed in an aftershock of what had just occurred. As he heard the sound of Katara's footsteps dissipate, he could feel himself deflate. All those snarky comments he told Katara, all that anger he threw at her all because he was hurt to see her with someone else. He had no right to be, and he knew it; his temper overcame him like it always did. 

Katara was almost at the door but, without a second thought, Zuko chased after her. His body was on auto-pilot while his conscious drummed against his head, screaming that this was a bad idea. Zuko saw Katara's figure get closer and closer, and in those mere seconds of chasing after her, he felt all sense of self-control evade him. 

Zuko grabbed Katara's wrist and dragged her back toward him. She spun around, her big blue eyes alive with surprise, her small sweet face confused. Without a second thought, Zuko pulled her against his chest and wrapped his arms around her. The scent of her crashed into him like a sea breeze, and all that rage inside him began to dissipate. 

"Zuko...what are you...", Katara began, her steady voice now growing small. 

"Just...just let me," Zuko said, his tone still irritated, but also growing weaker.

"Zuk-", Katara began. 

"Listen, just this once." Zuko said, his arms tightening around Katara and his forehead resting against Katara's. He was afraid of letting her go. 

Zuko could feel Katara's frame tense up as he spoke those words. She sighed ever so quietly and relaxed though, her eyes slowly lifting up to meet Zuko's eyes. Zuko met her baby blues. Rage still coated her countenance but her lip quivered ever so slightly. That familiar look of fierce determination graced her face, but a mere glance at her soft lips and the tearful shine in her eyes told a different story. Zuko took a deep breath and buried his face against Katara's shoulder, not wanting to meet her eyes as he attempted to apologize. 

"I'm sorry, alright? I'm so sorry," Zuko whispered his voice getting deeper. He lifted his head slowly to put his forehead against Katara's once more, his new favorite caress. Zuko's warm breath brushed against Katara's face and he watched as her long eyelashes fluttered. They've never been this close before. All their anguish vanished so quickly as soon as their eyes met, their arms interlocked and their lips closed a lustful distance. Their lips, they were dangerously close to each other. Zuko pushed closer to Katara, his lips almost brushing hers. But Katara's eyes widened and she tried to back away. Zuko pulled himself out of his trance as well but refused to let Katara go. 

"I'm sorry for everything I just said, Katara, I didn't mean it I'm just...mad that I didn't see you the whole week," Zuko said. Katara stayed silent and Zuko grew impatient, wanting her to answer. 

And then all too fast, Katara shook herself out of Zuko's embrace. Zuko felt his whole body ache as soon as she pulled away. 

"Yeah, w-w-well I was mad you left me alone at the festival," Katara stuttered, her eyes trained on the floor, her brow furrowed.

"So mad you wouldn't even see me for a week?" Zuko asked, his anger starting to bubble up again to the surface. 

"Yeah, that mad. We...I wanted us to..." Katara stuttered. Then she sighed and her voice finally grew clear and confident.