Zutara - Scars Chapter 17

"So should we make a fire?" I asked Zuko.

"It's too wet. And the trees aren't keeping all the ran out." He said simply.

I looked around and saw that the ground was soaked, we were downhill from an opening. "Well I could dry the ground a bit," I said and waterbent the rain from the ground before me.

"Why do we need a fire?" he said.

I frowned a bit, it was like he wasn't in the mood to do anything, "Well, we could cook some of the raw met we have."

"I can do that myself." He stood up and shook the water out of his hair.

"Well fine then!" I crossed my arms and looked out into the rain.

Zuko turned to me and raised an eyebrow, "What are you angry about?"

"You are being ridiculous!" I shouted.

Zuko bowed his head a bit and scratched his neck. I saw this and wondered why he did this so much. "I'm sorry," he said.

I shook my head a little, "Stop apologizing, please." I stood up and approached him.

"I'm sor-," then he stopped himself realizing he was about to apologize about apologizing. "Er… I mean, um. Okay?" He wore a sheepish grin while he looked at me. He raised his arm again to scratch the back of his neck, but I grabbed his wrist.

He looked surprised so I said, "Why do you do that?"

"Do what?" he raised an eyebrow.

"Scratch your neck to much, its gonna become raw."

"Oh," he looked at his wrist that I still held then back at me, "I guess I do it when I'm nervous."

I grinned and took a small step closer, "Are you nervous?"

A raindrop hit him in the face then and he shook his head in surprise. Then he looked at me again with alarm in his comical expression. "Uh, well, kinda, I guess."

"Why?"

"I don't know, just am."

I finally dropped his arm and put a hand on my hip and look at him with a raised eyebrow, but I didn't say anything. He smiled a little, probably at the sassy look on my face. Then he let out a light chuckle. Even though I had a guess at why he did, I still asked, "What?"

"You," he replied simply still smiling and leaned against a tree.

I narrowed my eyes suspiciously, "What about me?"

"Just you," his smile turned to a smirk. I crossed my arms and frowned at him. He laughed again, "It's nothing bad. You just make me laugh, I'm not used to seeing this side of you."

I dropped my hands to my sides and cocked my head sideways, "What do you mean?" I stepped beside him then leaned on the same tree as him.

Zuko looked out into the still pouring rain and said, "Well, remember not long ago you still hated me, so I never really got to see the real you."

"Oh," I bowed my head and felt the guilt that I had earlier.

I was taken by surprise when he spoke again, "But I like what see."

I looked up and saw a grinning face looking down at me. I blushed but tried to hide it by turning my face away. But then a pale hand touched my chin and turned my face back toward him. His eyes had that look of sincerity I had often seen now. Suddenly his face looked torn, like he was arguing inside himself. "Katara…" he said but hesitated. Then he tried again, "I…"

But I placed a finger on his lip and smiled a little. My heart was beating in head when I realized his face was less than a foot from mine. But this time I did not fight the physical pull. Butterflies crowded my stomach when I leaned a little closer and he did too. Our noses brushed each other. I held my breath and waited as he made the distance disappear. Our lips danced with each other and my arms wrapped around his neck. Then his arms held tightly onto my waist.

Our kiss deepened and I smiled against his mouth. For the first time in a long time, I was really happy.

THE END

authors note, there is a sequel (and trequel in development) for this story!!!

it's called "Secrets - Zutara" it is a finished story.

Secrets link: .net/s/5890536/1/Secrets_Zutara

thx for teh reviews!

love you all

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