Challenge

Chapter 5

The next day Zuko and Katara met in a clearing in the forest a bit away from the air temple. They were finally going to get a chance to practice. After multiple distractions and aggravations from the others, most including the phrases, "Sokka you idiot!" and, "Aang not now!" and even once, "Toph do you really need to do that right now?" Katara had finally been able to escape from the menial chores of her daily life and on to her rather large task of getting Zuko to act like he was mad-in-love with her. It was going to be difficult.

"Zuko, you're so stiff and awkward. You need to feel like you're in love, not undergoing torcher."

"How the hell am I supposed to know what being in love is like!" Zuko shouted back, "I've never felt the damn thing!" there was a pause and Katara looked at him with both excitement and pity.

"Then I shall teach you." she said grabbing his hand,

"Love is like dancing, beautiful but hard." Katara, still holding Zuko's hand, spun under his arm.

"Love is like excitement, it makes your heart pound." she took his hand and laid it over her heart.

"Love is like water, it takes your breath away." Katara waterbended a stream of water from the air and filled her mouth, then she blew out gently, forming a large bubble, which she froze and held between her hands. It shimmered in the sunlight. Katara liquified the sphere and made it wind around her head and neck, pooling it in her hands and holding in close before letting it fall through her fingers.

"Love is about compromise, balancing one and the other." Katara took his hands and rested their palms together.

"Love is about respect." she bowed to him.

"Love is like a song, it has it's ups and downs. Love makes us stronger. Love is difficult, but love is wonderful." Zuko looked ruefully at her,

"You speak as if you're in drowning in it, so who's the guy?"

Katara stopped dead, dropped his hands, and stiffened. She turned her back to him,

"I've sworn off men."

"But why? There must have been some guy..."

"Yea there was some guy," Katara's tone was heated, " a lying, big headed, impulsive, unreasonable, insufferable, stupid, infuriating, jerk who just loves playing army!"

"But who?" Zuko was quite puzzled.

"Let it go Zuko!"

"But..."

"Let it GO!" Katara just pushed him back. Zuko grabbed her wrist.

"Don't underestimate me, if I want to know something, I'll find out." Katara gasped and her eyes flicked to his hand around her wrist. The thing was, Zuko's hand wasn't rough or hurting her. His hand was calloused yes, but his grip was gentle and warm, although firm.

"L-let go!" Katara pulled her hand from his grasp. She turned so she faced away from Zuko. Katara's face was a mask of worry and confusion. She didn't want to think about Jet or anyone for that matter. She had sworn off love. She was doing this for Zuko, so he could be left alone, that was all, nothing more.

I know not much humor in this one but I need to put some dynamics and plot-bunnies in place so please, bare with me.