So this is literally just a small little drabble that I thought up from a prompt of "love."

But I was feeling all cynical- so this is the lovechild of that prompt.

Summary: Onesided Zutara. Thoughts of one Zuko, prince of the Fire Nation on the subject of Katara, friend of the Avatar. Timeline: After the Zuko and Katara adventure to find her mother's killer. Zuko is alone with his thoughts and they about a certain water-tribe peasant. Poor Zuko.

The After

It is almost easy to look at her now. Almost. When she is with someone else and I know that my chances are less than a snowball keeping its shape in hell, but at least I can be near her. At least I won't feel like my emotions aren't right. I won't feel guilty having these thoughts, outlooks, or excitements because he has them, too. I won't feel guilty when I see them kiss. I won't feel horrible when all I want to do is take that opportunity away from him. Hoping that he will treat her wrong so I can pick up the pieces. He won't though. If there is anyone in the whole world who will never screw up, it is him.

It's getting harder and harder to think this will be easy.

It's been a day. They have been official for only a day. One single day. A lifetime in my eyes. We're on the run from my father, the Fire Nation as a whole, people out for our blood (their's more than mine) and Azula and they think it's a good idea to announce to the whole camp, at breakfast none-the-less, that they are together by kissing. Lips touching lips. A small moan from Aang. Katara patting his cheek lovingly after. Me losing my ability to stomach what little food is on my plate. But I eat it, because Toph is staring at me with that knowing look. It's not even in her eyes, but the way her mouth curves just right. She knows.

And I know I am caught by at least one person. Not the person who matters, never the less, but a person.

"Zuko?" I hear her voice ask, swiping away my thoughts of being caught with my crimes. Making me wonder who the hell thought to ring the bell of an angel. "Is everything alright?"

I look at her. Eyes like the ice of the sea, lips fading into her tanned skin, and her expression simple but brilliant. She did not have the gorgeousness of the fire nation, but hers was a better exquisiteness. Exotic. Different. Perfect.

And I can't help but think: if only it were me. If only it wasn't him. If only she was accepting.

But she wasn't. I wasn't. He wasn't.

And we never would be.

"Fine." I feel myself smiling, watching her return that smile. As if me being okay made her okay, too. As if she might have an inkling of the emotions I harbor in my chest, near my heart. That pain that does not show even a part on her face.

"Perfectly peachy."

She doesn't detect the laced sarcasm, because she thinks she knows me better. She thinks that one adventure will change me. That one night spent trying to find her mother's killer, alone in the dark talking about our similarities; is enough for me. That going on one adventure with her, for one night, for one moment, and for one thunderstruck mind-of-mine of an enigmatic second- finding what I had truly be searching for the past so many forgotten years.

That all of that, everything in it's entirety, it is enough to change me?

Me.

Zuko.

Does she not know how right she is?

Very short... I know. But it was only a small prompt, so I hope you guys liked it.