Archive of Our Own

“Good! Then there is nothing to worry about.”

Katara narrows her eyes at Zuko, but doesn’t question him further, instead opting to show him around the new additions to the South.

“Sokka’s been a phenomenal chief. You should really see him when he’s in his element. It’s actually weird. He’s somehow become… responsible!” Katara’s words force a laugh out of Zuko, who listens intently to everything she has to say.

“And you? What have you been up to?” He asks.

“Spirits, too much! I’ve been training a lot of the newer Waterbenders, and every few months, the North will send down some of their promising Waterbenders to train under me as well. I’ve been helping Toph put together a new form of underground fighting. ‘Pro-Bending,’ she wants to call it.”

“I think I heard of that. I remember her telling me she wanted to set it up in Republic City.”

“She has her sights set high, that’s for sure. But I think she’s really onto something with it. What about you? What’s new with the Fire Lord?”

“Agni, the title still sounds as corny as ever.” Katara chuckles at Zuko’s blushing face. “Actually, that reminds me,” Zuko takes off the backpack he’s still wearing from his trip and rummages through it. “I brought a gift for you.”

This time, it’s Katara’s turn to blush, “What!? Why would you-“ she stumbles over her words before taking a calming breath, “A gift?”

“Well, it might be less for you and more for me.” That causes Katara to raise an eyebrow at him and cross her arms. “Here.”

In Zuko’s hand is a small bag of red chips. Katara stares at the bag incredulously.

“Each time you visit, it’s always on business. I feel like you’ve never gotten to really see the Fire Nation. So, I figured I’d bring a piece of the Fire Nation to you.”

“That’s… actually really sweet.”

It’s true, Katara doesn’t even visit the Fire Nation all that often, and when she does, she’s always on a time crunch and has no time for the smaller, trivial activities that one would normally do when visiting.

“They’re Fire Flakes, a Fire Nation delicacy,” Zuko adds proudly.

Katara can almost swear she’s heard the name before, but nothing comes to mind.

She takes the bag from Zuko’s hand and puts it in one of the pockets of her parka. “Thank you, Zuko.” A soft silence passes between the two of them. Then, as if nothing had happened, Katara straightens up and smiles up at Zuko. “We prepared a royal igloo for his royal highness! Let me show you around!”

Zuko adjusts his backpack back into place and follows Katara.

~

“So… how’d you find time to vacation again? One would think with your schedule, you’d be busy all seconds of the year.” Katara sits across from Zuko in the common area of the Chief’s Igloo.

“You’re gonna laugh.”

“Well, now I need to know!”

“I actually… I don’t know? My Uncle spoke to my advisors one night, and the next day he had my bags packed and a ship ready.”

Katara stays silent for a moment, her mouth slightly agape. “No…”

“Yes.”

“You’re joking!”

“On Uncle’s name? Never.”

“Oh.. my.. spirits!!” Katara laughs, “Is your uncle some kind of fairy godmother?”

“I think he does it less for me and more for his own enjoyment. Just to see what he can get away with.” Zuko chuckles along.

“Goodness, well, I wish he could’ve come as well. Iroh is always wonderful company.”

“He’s actually the one who suggested I bring the Fire Flakes. I was looking around the town for something small to bring with him, and he pointed out one of the stalls that sold them.”

“Oh, right! Let me try some of those!” Katara reaches into the pocket of her parka and pulls out the bag of Fire Flakes. “Would you like some?” She gestures for Zuko to take a chip.

“Well, if you insist.”

Katara takes out a chip for herself. She brings her chip between the two of them as if it were a wine class, and Zuko follows, ‘clinking’ the two chips together. “So how’s Mai?” Katara asks as she takes a bite and-

Oh.

Oh spirits.

Now she remembers.

And she wishes she actually had some wine to wash it away.

She begins dramatically fanning at her mouth as Zuko laughs at her reaction.

“You planned this!!” Katara yells, though it comes out more as “Oo anned dis” because of how wide her mouth is.

“What? Me? Never…” Zuko drawls as he covers his smile with one hand and goes to grab another chip with his other.

Katara slaps his hand away from the bag and sends a playful glare at Zuko. “You are evil!”

Zuko continues to laugh. He ends up avoiding another one of Katara’s swats and steals another chip from the bag, eating it with ease and a lack of discomfort that makes Katara want to pounce on him.

Katara crosses her arms and leans back on the chair she’s in. “Your uncle should be glad he didn’t come.” She grumbles.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if this was why he didn’t.”

Katara sighs and whips her head to face up in defeat. “Whatever. Where were we?” She thinks for a moment, “Right, Mai! How is she?”

“Oh… yeah- uh. We’re actually not… I actually didn’t even know for the longest time,” Zuko laughs to himself. “I think she was trying to push me away or something, but that’s literally just how she is all the time, so I couldn’t tell.”

Katara snickers ever so slightly.

“What about you? Are you uh- seeing anyone?”

“Not since Aang. Apparently, men don’t like the concept of a woman being stronger than them.”

Now it’s Zuko’s turn to snicker.

“So we’re just two bachelor-bachelorettes in the Southern Water Tribe, then?” Zuko questions playfully.

“Anything could happen,” Katara smirks.

Another silence falls between the two, this one thicker than the last, full of something more weighing it down.

Are they flirting?

Katara takes another chip from the bag and takes a bite that can be no larger than a millimeter. “It’s actually not bad when it isn’t burning you alive,” Katara says, which causes Zuko to snort.

Surely not.

But that night, Katara can’t get the sight of Zuko laughing out of her head.