action - quad

[pyromatics.livejournal.com]

[Standing at the edge of the Quad garden Zuko's eying the strawberry bushes his previous Home Economics class had planted weeks ago. He's got his arms folded over his chest and a confused glare on his face as he stares down at the plants.

It's been bugging him for a while now... what could he get Katara? What would she like? Flowers seemed too... fast, too soon, he wasn't sure about the flowers. Not right now. And so here he was glowering at the strawberry bushes as though that alone would change his mind.

Were they ripe enough to pick? Could he even use his fingers to pick them? What if he squished them from plucking them too hard off the stems? What if Katara had an allergy to strawberries? What if he brought her a basket of them and he ended up putting her in a hospital bed?!

All sorts of negative thoughts were running through his mind, he's that distracted that if anyone came by he might not notice them at first.]

Comments

[watertides.livejournal.com]

[Now she's blushing, but she tries to mask it by huffing loudly.]

So? Do you want it or not?

[pyromatics.livejournal.com]

I've just... I've never had anyone uh...

[Okay, shutting up, and doing so by leaning forward to snag the strawberry with his teeth. He bites into it, his face warm.]

[watertides.livejournal.com]

[Katara is blushing now as well, and for some reason she has to avert her eyes when he bites down on the fruit. Once he's eaten it, she drops the stem down onto the bench to pick up another strawberry, biting into it herself for something to do.]

[pyromatics.livejournal.com]

[Awkwarddddddddd. Zuko looks away while chewing. Swallowing seems so hard to do with the lump of nervousness lodged in his throat, but he does so anyway, loudly, awkwardly trying to clear it.]

[watertides.livejournal.com]

[She hears that little clearing of throat, but she's still busy eating her strawberry as she's still a bit embarrassed. An arm is crossed over her chest as her eyes glance over to the side, anything to not have to meet his gaze.]

[pyromatics.livejournal.com]

[It only makes sense when Zuko plucks up a strawberry and brings it up for her to bite, she made him eat one so it's only fair. The tip accidentally bumps her bottom lip and he mumbles an apology, going from avoiding looking at her and sneaking glances.]

[watertides.livejournal.com]

[... Well, Katara wasn't expecting that. Her eyes widen as she glances down at the strawberry only to look up at Zuko. It's when she notices his flushed cheeks and his rather awkward demeanor does she lean forward to bite into the fruit.

Why does courting have to be so awkward??]

[pyromatics.livejournal.com]

[It's only so awkward because of who they are, their past situations back in their world; it's something Zuko tries not to dwell too much on whenever he's trying to meditate.

Another glance her way and he doesn't notice that he's staring at her, or more so her mouth and the way her lips are wrapped around the fruit before she takes her bite. Zuko swallows heavily and quickly pulls his hand away, letting the other end of the strawberry fall away.

...Crap!

Brief flash of inwardly flailing! He should probably grab it up again before it stains her clothing! Crap crap!

Zuko does it, his hand shooting out to try to catch the piece of fruit with lightning fast reflexes. And ends up brushing her left breast, oops, with his knuckles.]

[watertides.livejournal.com]

[Okay, Katara certainly felt that. Her cheeks heat up to an impossible shade of red and out of reflex she leans back, completely embarrassed by the situation.]

What-- what are you doing!

[pyromatics.livejournal.com]

[Zuko jerks back at her exclamation in surprise, strawberry squished in his fist, some of the juices bleeding out from between his fingers. He stares at her, confused, oblivious.]

St-stopping the strawberry from staining your clothing! What did you think I was doing!?

[watertides.livejournal.com]

[Well, it's better that he's obvious! Or else Katara would be really mad. She tries to hide her embarrassment by crossing her arms over her chest, her body a bit tense.]

Nothing. Don't worry about the strawberry, I'll get the stain out in the laundry.

[pyromatics.livejournal.com]

[Too late. It's already begun to drip down onto her clothing.]

...you know how to uh- wash clothing? As in... servant's work?

[watertides.livejournal.com]

[Did he just really ask that? Katara gave him a look that clearly reflected how unimpressed she was.]

For your information, I was the one who did the rest of the group's laundry while we were journeying. Besides, what do you do with your dirty laundry? Have someone else do them?

[pyromatics.livejournal.com]

[Zuko frowns and has the grace to look a little embarrassed. He scowls at her and then down at the basket of strawberries as if they were the culprit of their now sticky situation.]

...Uncle...

[A quiet mutter and grumble. Yep.]

[watertides.livejournal.com]

[...]

You had your Uncle do your laundry? But he's your elder!

[Katara is in complete shock; after all, she and Grandma had shared chores together but she always made sure to take on anything that would be remotely strenuous for her elderly grandmother.]

[pyromatics.livejournal.com]

It wasn't like I made him! He was always gone with the basket before I could stop him!

[Major scowling now in her direction.]

[watertides.livejournal.com]

How do you get your laundry done here without Uncle to do it for you?

[pyromatics.livejournal.com]

...Uh. The same way you do?

[CRICKETS.]

[watertides.livejournal.com]

... So you do do your own laundry?

[pyromatics.livejournal.com]

Augh. Yes. Fine. I do my own laundry.

[watertides.livejournal.com]

That wasn't so bad to admit, was it?

[pyromatics.livejournal.com]

[He shrugs.]

...I guess not.

[watertides.livejournal.com]

[Satisfied with his answer, she reaches for another strawberry in the basket to eat.]

[pyromatics.livejournal.com]

[He says nothing as she does, reaching for his own strawberry after her.]