Okay so I know I'm like, what, three, four months off of the Zutara Week 2009, but this story has been playing in my head for the past month and I had to write it. Better late than never right? Right? Anywho, here's my drabble for the cause.
I don't know if I'll do the rest of the prompts. I have an idea for two of them.
Review if you like, otherwise, just enjoy.
Rhythm
Zuko was exhausted after a long day of firebending training with Aang, sword training with Sokka, and being Toph's personal ostrich-horse (he was still making up for burning her feet. Never mind it had been almost a month ago). Taking what little energy he had left, he drug himself to his room at his family's beach house. But a sound caught his attention so he followed it. Through the maze that made up the hallways he came to the kitchen area. There was Katara swaying her hips and humming to herself as she cooked the evening meal. He leaned against the doorway, arms crossed against his chest, watching her in amusement as she twirled and spun as she chopped some food here, dropped it in the pot there, and tasting a morsel or two along the way. Her hair and skirt swung in the air enticingly as she did her dinner dance oblivious to anyone around her. Everyone knew to leave her be when she cooked.
Doing yet another spin, she caught Zuko watching her. Instead of embarrassment, her smile shone brighter. Zuko had no idea why she could be so happy. They had less than a month before the comet would be here and to say none of them, especially Aang, were quite ready was an understatement. Holding out her hand, she invited Zuko to come dance with her.
"I don't dance," he answered, half of him kicking himself for not going.
Katara stuck out her tongue and danced over to him, grabbing his hands pulled him inside the spacious kitchen. "Oh, c'mon. I bet you're a great dancer."
Her hips and arms began to sway to a beat only she seemed to hear, but then she started singing the tune and swaying Zuko's hands that were still in hers trying to relax him. Zuko instantly recognized it as a Fire Nation song. How on earth did this waterbender learn his nation's songs? Rather than ask he reluctantly began moving slowly trying to show his disinterest, rolling his eyes as if to prove his point. Katara's enthusiasm was infectious though, and soon he began stepping and moving in time to the song she continued to sing. Round and round the kitchen they went, his hands on her hips lifting her at the times he was supposed to, her circling around him hands lightly trailing over his shoulders, him embracing her just to stop and twirl her bring her back into his grasp. The whole time their eyes never left each other's, the smile that was on Katara's face quickly mirrored on Zuko's.
Breathless, the song finished but from the look on both their faces they weren't done yet, so Zuko began singing another of his nation's songs. The moves were slower, and while Katara wasn't familiar with the moves, and she picked up the dance quickly. Her rhythm was perfect together with his. Despite the fact that the song wasn't even halfway done, they slowed to a rocking motion as Zuko's voice trailed to silence leaving only the sounds of their breathing and the bubbling of the cooking pots. He pushed a stray strand of hair from her face as her hand slid from its position on his shoulder to wrap around the back of his neck. Her delicate fingers began playing with the hairs at the base of the skull much to his delight. Her body was close to his, his hands embracing one of hers as the other rested on the small of her back, his thumb rubbing against the edge of her skirt teasing at the skin much to her delight. Pulling the hand that embraced hers up to the other side of his neck dropping it there. He ran his warm fingers down the smooth tan skin of her arm, down the exposed skin of her sides, finally resting with his other hand pulling her closer to his body. Eyes slowly slid closed, foreheads leaning against foreheads, bodies swaying as they got lost in the rhythm they had started.
How had they come this far? One year ago they had been enemies fighting against each other, now they were allies dancing in a kitchen at his family's beach house. There was still much to do, but they had come so far, apart yet together.
As their swaying halted, curious blue eyes opened met questioning amber ones. Entranced, Zuko leaned down. Katara lifted her head up. Moist lips parted slightly. Warm breaths mixed together. Breaths ragged in anticipation. So close. So slow.
Katara's eyes widened in remembrance. Too slow.
"The food!" she shouted as she pulled away hustling quickly to the pots on the stove to prevent further burning.
Zuko practically collapsed when she left his arms. He didn't realize how much he was using her for support. He tried desperately to shake away the feelings that had built up so quickly. He berated himself for being so stupid. Trying to kiss Katara? The Avatar's girl? Idiot! But she hadn't protested. In fact, she seemed almost as eager as he was. If it hadn't been for the food, they probably would have. Still though. Not a good idea. What if Aang had walked in? Or worse, Sokka? He'd probably kill him or worse.
Calming himself down, trying to erase the last few minutes from his memory, he went over and tried to help Katara salvage the supper. Standing next to her, he held the bowl as she poured the supper into carefully avoiding the burnt bits at the bottom.
"Thanks for dancing with me. It was fun," turning slightly, rising to her toes, she gave Zuko a lingering kiss on the cheek taking the bowl from his hands, brushing her fingers against his winking slyly at him, "By the way you have pretty good rhythm when you dance. Who'da thought?"
With that she exited the kitchen, calling out to the rest of the group for supper leaving Zuko alone looking at the space that she had just occupied.
His hand instinctively went to the spot she had just kissed. So she thought he had good rhythm, huh? Well, maybe he would show her later how good of rhythm he truly had. Smiling smugly, exhaustion only a memory, he began whistling as he joined everyone for supper.
Boy if that ending isn't asking for a lemon I don't know what is! Must… fight the… urge... to continue. Unless the people want it? Do you want it? Do you?