aelisabethchilds:

Hey y'all! This is my very first Zutara fanfic, but it's been a long time coming.

And heads up, while there will definitely be some Zutara action, it'll be progressive. There are a few problems that Zuko and Katara have to face and conquer.

She dreamt of their first kiss for ages. It had been perfect.

The sun was setting over the low, frozen hills behind her home. With her back to the dying rays of light, Katara grinned as she watched her opponent struggle to remove himself from the block of ice she had constructed around him.

"This isn't fair!" He complained, wrenching his left hand free. With a swift swipe, he obliterated the rest of his prison.

"You're the one who asked to spar." She answered, walking over to where he now stood, dripping on the ice. "Let's head back, you're going to get sick if we stay out here any longer."

"A little cold never hurt a man," he protested, looking down at her, "And besides, that was fun. I'm up for another round if you are."

Katara glanced at the sky, and noticed how close the sun was to the horizon.

"It's late." She said, turning to start the trek back to the city. A second later a pair of hands grabbed her ankles, and she went down.

Katara shrieked.

"Come on," he taunted, standing up and spreading his arms out, "Once more, and this time with no bending."

He had been teaching Katara more advanced self-defense for weeks now, and though she was good, he was still better.

"I'll just end up with bruises on my bottom," she answered, "Again."

"I'll go easy on you," he promised, "No bruises."

She stood still a moment, considering just how angry Sokka would be if she was late to make dinner- Suki was visiting Kyoshi again, leaving her poor older brother to fend for himself. Sokka could wait.

"FIne."

With that, she lowered herself into a firm stance, and waited.

He did the same, then grinned at her.

"Your move."

Another second passed, and then, without blinking, she launched herself across the space that separated them. She came at him sideways, aware that this made her a little unbalanced, but also a smaller target.

He leaped to the right just as she was about to jab his stomach, and then spun around and leapt at her. Turning sharply, she twisted out of his extended arms, which, if they wrapped around her torso, could crush her into surrender.

With a cry she came at him again, kicking out once, twice. The second kick landed on his hip, pushing his out of his defensive stance. He growled, and jumped back as she kicked once more.

The sun was already sinking past the horizon, and it cast their lengthy shadows onto the ice, mirroring each jab, every duck, and the few blow that actually landed. Katara had grown accomplished at dodging his attempts to knock her down.

Finally, she made a mistake. Breathing hard, she miscalculated, and stepped onto a particularly icy patch of ground. She flailed a moment, then was tackled to the ground.

"I win." He was leaning over her, arms braced at her sides, a triumphant grin lighting his familiar, handsome face.

Katara groaned, trying to ignore the sudden pulse of heat that leapt into her face.

"Fine. Now, can I get up?"

His face became pensive as he looked down at her, "I don't know...I think I deserve a bit of recognition for my skill. It isn't everyday that a humble man can say he bested the greatest waterbender in the South Pole."

His voice dropped to a whisper, and Katara became oblivious to the chunk of ice biting into her back, and the cold wind teasing her hair. His eyes were intent on hers, his face coming closer. She could feel his breath on her cheek as he said "What should I ask for? A written acknowledgement, a medal, or maybe even a lock of hair? What do you think?"

Think? How could she think, he was so close, her chest was tightening in a strange way, and her pulse was thrumming in her ears.

"Um," She breathed out, " I don't' know- I'm not beaten that often. Maybe you should-

She was interrupted as his lips came down to silence hers. Her eyes fluttered a moment, then closed, letting the sensation overwhelm her.

Warm, was her first scattered thought. His lips were soft, and as they moved slowly over hers, she felt her arms reach up to his shoulders. Her lips parted, and she could feel his breath, his heat, his soul in the space between. He lowered himself onto her lightly, and after she gripped his shoulders tighter.

He broke the kiss, and she felt a wrench in the bottom of her stomach, then smiling slightly, her kissed each corner of her mouth, and the tip of her nose.

Katara couldn't have said a word if her life depended on it. She lay on the ice- despite the encroaching dark, and the cold ground below her- she had never felt this warm in her entire life. Her whole body felt like it was glowing.

She breathed out, then opened her eyes.

He was staring into hers.

She felt a blush rise to her cheeks.

"I've wanted to do that since the day we first met." He murmured, and in a smooth motion, he pushed himself up onto his heels, then extended a hand down to her.

"You have?" Katara stammered, letting herself get pulled up.

"Yes."

She blushed more deeply, then turned her face up to his.

"Good," she said, standing on her tiptoes, "I had hoped the feeling was mutual."

Lakkin was still laughing as she kissed him.