A Different Nation a New Code (Zutara)

Chapter Eight

•••Zuko and Katara's perspective•••
Katara sat out by the waters edge. She listened to the peaceful sounds of the lake. She thought about the pass month's events and how crazy everything was. But what she focused on was the kiss.

She couldn't get the kiss out of her head. The way it felt was right even if it was wrong. She sighed and got up. She decided she would practice water bending and she spent an hour or so doing that before Zuko came out.

By then Katara was tired from bending and she sat down, her blanket rolled out in the sand on the lake edge. She laid down on it and closed her eyes. She had fallen asleep.

She had somewhat of a fire going but it was pathetic. She managed to start it with friction. He walked over and glanced at the fire. He chuckled and made it bigger.

He sat down on the blanket next to Katara where she slept. He took the bowl of water and put it over the fire.

He sat there and pulled his knees up to his chest. He watched as the water soon boiled. He shook Katara awake.

She woke up and rubbed her eyes,sitting up. She glanced at him. It was evening now and the sun was heading on its way out. She didn't mean to but she leaned against Zuko. "What...?" She asked in a groggy, sleepy voice.

"You need to start cooking the noodles."

"You don't know how to cook noodles?" She laughed.

He bit his lip and shook his head. Come to think of it did Zuko really know how to cook anything? Probably not. "No, I can't cook anything."

Everything had been prepared for Zuko his whole life. He never had to spend his days hunting. He never cooked his food, it was always served to him.

"Well today I'll give you a lesson in one of the simplest things you can cook, noodles."

Katara sat there and explained to him the essentials of cooking noodles. She made it sound more complicated on purpose just so she could give him a hard time. She took the noodles out of the boiling water with a spoon and then put some of the vegetables and flavoring in their bowls. "See that simple."

Zuko stared at her and shook his head. He took his bowl from her and began to eat. "Why did you say it was simple when it wasn't? If that's one of the simplest things to make...what's something difficult?"

Katara smirked and looked at him. "If you don't think that's simple then I don't know what to tell you. Noodles better not be the only food source left one day because then you're going to die"

Zuko groaned and ate. "Not if you're there to cook for me..."

She finished eating and turned to him. "Who said I'd want to cook for you?"

"I said so"

"And why is that?"

"Well let's be honest we both know you wouldn't let me die."he said simply handing her his bowl.

He was right about that. She cared about him-loved him- she took his bowl and walked down to the lake. She washed out the bowls and set them out on a rock where they could dry for the night.

The vibrant colors of the sky's sunset caught her attention. She stared at it in amazement. The sky was decorated with cotton candy pink, blue and purple. But underneath it all there was bright yellow and orange.

Zuko got up and stood next to Katara, without her even knowing he slipped his arm around her waist.

Katara moved a bit closer to him and looked up at the sky. Just being here with him, alone, it was so peaceful.