Random Insanity

"So this is your favorite food?" Katara asks, admiring the plating of the dish. 

Zuko grins as he cuts the round bread into four large pieces. "It's called a Fire Fritter. It's filled with sweet cream and fried then drizzled with Fire Flake sauce."

"Both sweet and spicy, huh? That seems to be common in the Fire Nation." Katara takes a tentative bite of the fried dough, being careful to get more of the sweet filling than the flaming-red icing. The bread itself is moist with a hint of sweetness, but the filling melts in her mouth full of sugar and a hint of mango, but then a bit of the Fire Flake sauce bursts on top of the sweetness, adding just a touch of heat that slightly burns the roof of her mouth before she swallows.

"So?" Zuko asks, his hands fidgeting with the edge of the plate. He's looking anywhere but at her.

Katara licks her lips, considering the mish-mash of flavors. "It's amazing Zuko, although the sauce is a little too spicy for my tastes, but I could eat the rest every day."

A smile spreads across his face. "They make a version with a milder sauce—you can try that one next time."

Katara smiles, too, as she takes another bite, this time avoiding the Fire Flake sauce. She really could eat the sweet cream filling all day long. "You have really good food in the Fire Nation," she tells him, licking her fingers free of every crumb. "Lots of variety and flavors."

( Read more... )

As a child, Zuko dreaded the sinking of the sun. It meant a disconnect from Agni—a dwindling of his inner flame—making bending all the more difficult. But since joining the Avatar on his adventures, the setting sun has meant something completely different to Zuko.

He made his way down to the beach where he found Katara—the moon shimmering in her hair—as she worked through every Waterbending form she knew.

His heart swelled at the sight, but he quietly retreated before she could notice him. His dreams would again be filled with waves and fierce blue eyes.

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Good Morning

Katara had never been what one would consider a morning person. Oh, she got up early every day no matter what, but she never enjoyed it. Things changed when Zuko joined the group, though. That boy could predict the moment the rays of the sun first appeared over the horizon and would be on the beach, ready to practice his forms.

Katara hated to admit that she loved to watch from her window in the house as Zuko meticulously went through each position in his Firebending. She’d never admit to anyone—even under duress—that she appreciated he worked shirtless.

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