A/N: This is completely different than what I normally do. So here's a college AU. Happy Zutara week everyone! Makorra week starts tomorrow!

Disclaimer: I don't own.

Fall

Zuko couldn't believe Sokka had manipulated him into being an orientation leader. Just because Azula and this mysterious sister of Sokka's were freshmen this year didn't mean he had to care. Spirits he pitied the guy who tried to hit on his sister without her consent. Sokka, however, thought little Katara (Sokka's words, not his) needed to be protected from vicious sex crazed guys. Never mind Sokka had been one of those when they were freshmen until he started dating Suki but, then again, Sokka might have a little bit of a double standard for his sister.

Now he was in front of one of the all-bending groups waiting till they all shut up or at least put their cell phones in their pockets to listen. He was sure the girl in the back who couldn't look away from her phone was Sokka's sister. Finally he got the majority of eyes on him and began. "Welcome to Ba Sing Se University. I could go on about how this will be your home for the next four years and think of all the wonderful memories that you're going to have but I'm not," he paused, really he wasn't the peppy type. "What you really want to know is this: bending isn't allowed in the door rooms per se but you can get away with it as long as there isn't any visible water or fire damage or things are still intact-"

"Sorry I'm late, my dad wouldn't let me go till he'd given me an in-depth demonstration on how to use pepper spray," the girl with the prettiest blue eyes Zuko had ever seen said as she took her place in front of him. Maybe this wasn't such a bad idea after all.

"That's fine and your name is..."

"Katara." Well fuck.

Zuko managed to avoid Katara since orientation. Currently he was waiting for someone, anyone, to show up for tutoring. He knew about half the economics class he was assigned to were failing and should be coming but, well, that would imply they cared. Usually the week before midterms and the week before finals he'd be in high demand but this was just after the first test, the students still didn't care.

"Uh, hi, you're Zuko right?" And there she was. Katara clutched her textbook tightly to her chest and she looked close to tears.

"Yeah, well, I...I...I need help ok? I've never needed help before and this is just stupid and I can't fail my scholarship depends on it and I miss home." Tears were really coming out of her eyes now and Zuko wasn't really sure how to react. His sister never cried and he was never good in these situations. He stood and awkwardly hugged her.

"It's, uh, it's going to be ok. I can help you with this and then," she just started crying harder. He sighed and began patting her back. "Ok, how about we get some food or something and maybe after we can go over this ok?"

She whipped her eyes. "Can it be ice cream?"

"Sure, we can get ice cream. I just need to tell my boss I'm leaving early and we'll go."

Later he reasoned that he took her out as a big brother. Sokka obviously wasn't helping her so Zuko had to step in. That was what it was. All it was. She came every week to tutoring and began to bring him ice cream till it got too cold. Then she brought cookies. It wasn't anything. Nothing even when they started eating lunch together and hanging out.

Winter

She ran up to their usual spot in the tutoring center and flung herself on him. He wasn't sure how to react (besides gasping for breath because she knocked the wind out of him). "I did it! I got an A- and it's all thanks to you!" She was hugging him now and he was trying very hard to not notice how good she smelled and how great she felt pressed against him.

"We should celebrate!" She said excitedly leaning back a little.

"Uh, sure. What do you have in mind?" Sokka's sister, Sokka's sister, Sokka's sister, he kept repeating in his head.

"I don't really know. I'm kind of busy for the rest of the semester," she stood and put her hand to her mouth in concentration. "You're friends with my brother right?"

"Yeah."

"Why don't you come over for our Christmas party? I mean, if you're in the area. It's family and friends and my Gran Gran makes really good sea prunes and spice cake and you'll love it, I promise."

That's how Zuko ended up knocking on his best friend's door and being slightly hurt that he'd never been invited properly before (never mind that he was staying with his uncle this break and not at home). Katara opened the door and smiled brightly and all of his insecurities evaporated. She looked amazing in her blue dress that hugged every curve in the best way. "I'm so glad you could make it! Come on, let me introduce you to everyone!"

After being lead around the room and forgetting half the names after he was told Zuko took refuge in a corner with Sokka. "Hey, thanks for helping Katara out this semester," Sokka said as he handed Zuko a cup of spiced cider.

"No problem. She understood everything, she just needed to go over it a few times."

"I get that. She was so worried she'd lose her scholarship but thanks to you she isn't going to and you kept her busy enough so she didn't do anything with creepy boys."

"Right, no creepy boys." Never mind that he'd been with her every night and that maybe, a small part of him was considering her a possible girlfriend.

Later he found himself and Katara under the mistletoe, away from the others and they stood there, awkwardly for a moment before Katara reached up and kissed him lightly.

He was definitely screwed because he wanted to keep kissing her.

"Did you just ask me out on a date?" Katara asked incredulously.

"Not if this is how you're going to act!" Zuko yelled.

"Calm down! Jeez Zuko I thought that was what we were doing."

"You what?"

"Well we've been hanging out and those times we went to dinner I just thought...I don't know that you were waiting for the right time to kiss me and then we did at Christmas and I guess I was just imagining things-"

"You do realize I'm asking you out now, right?"

"Yes but-"

"No. Do you want to go to dinner with me or not?"

She smiled and blushed slightly. "You know I do," she said softly.

Spring

Katara had slowly moved into Zuko's single room with him. It started with a clean shirt here and there (for when they stayed up late watching a movie and then fell asleep together) then moved on to pants and toiletries and finally she had a whole two drawers to herself.

They'd also been moving forward physically and Zuko had yet to tell Sokka he was dating Katara. He'd cross that bridge when he came to it.

Tonight was turning out like normal. Watch a movie turning into making out and she'd stay over and everything would be great till he woke up in the morning hard and trying to hide that fact from her.

Something changed though. They were both shirtless and Katara's hands were getting bolder, brushing over his zipper more and more often. "Katara," he moaned as she climbed onto his lap and began rubbing against him. "Katara," he groaned as her kisses moved to right behind his ear. "We should stop."

She leaned back a little. "Why?"

"Because if we don't then we're going to you know," he was not blushing.

"Have sex you mean?" Bold as ever.

"That, yes, and I'm not sure if you're ready-"

"Zuko I'm horny and in your bed. I think I'm ready."

His eyes lit up. "Really? Great! I mean not that I expect sex from you but-"

"Stop talking and get me naked," she told him.

"Yes Katara. Hold on." He rolled moved to get up and she pinned him back down. "Uh if we're going to have sex I'm going to need a condom."

"No you won't."

"I'm not getting you pregnant!"

"I'm on the pill."

That was news to him. "You are?"

She sat up and her hands went to her hips (it was rather distracting because she just pushed her breasts out). "What do you think I take at lunch every day? I want to feel everything my first time. Unless you need to use it."

"I don't have any diseases if that's what you're asking."

"Good so let's get back to this," she gestured to the bed they were on.

He tried to make it good. He made sure to make her feel good but there were things he couldn't save her from. It was slightly quick and Katara seemed to think about it a little afterwards but he whispered how amazing she was and how much she meant to him.

He knew he'd done something right when she woke him up a few hours later asking for more.

"When were you going to tell me you're sleeping with my BABY SISTER?" Sokka screamed as he found Zuko's study spot in the library.

"After you got back from a good date with Suki," Zuko replied.

"Too late now, buddy. I had to find out by going by her room and her roommate telling me she was sleeping in her boyfriend's room. You didn't even tell me you two were dating!"

"And have you say we can't? Sokka I really like Katara and she's great and funny and caring and I don't want you to ruin this for me!"

Sokka looked his friend up and down. "You know, I'm a little confused as to what to do here. You clearly found a girl who's good for you, the best in my opinion, but she's also my sister so therefore I need to kill you."

Zuko gulped. "Or you could take the third option and tell me if I ever break her heart you'll burn my right eye."

Sokka stroked his chin. "That is a good plan. I'll also beat you to a pulp." Zuko nodded. "Good, I'm glad we had this talk. Also if you get her pregnant you're going to marry her and treat her like a queen."

Summer

He took her to his family's beach house for a week. He loved watching her bend in the ocean. She was currently laughing and trying to create a wave large enough to get drench him. Zuko took the opportunity to run to her, grab her around the waist and spin her around. It would have worked well if he didn't lose his footing and send them both falling into the shallows while laughing.

As they tried to get up Zuko reached over and kissed Katara. She deepened the kiss until they were both breathless. "I love you," Zuko whispered.

Katara smiled. "I love you too. I've loved you for a long time and just been waiting for you to say it."

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