Zutara Week-Stare

7.12.2008
Stare


The next day, Katara decided to go watch Zuko and Aang practice their fire bending. Since she had nothing better to do, Toph decided to come with her. They sat there for a few minutes, just watching the two fire benders. Then, out of nowhere, Toph asked, “Why do you stare at Zuko when he firebends?”

Katara gasped. Of course Toph would know! Katara panicked and replied, “Oh, I’m just bored.” Toph was ready for that. “But you don’t ever look at Aang when he’s bending…” Shoot. Caught in the act… “Well, I always get to see Aang bend. I’ve never actually got to relax while Zuko was bending.

Toph just smirked. “Don’t try to lie, Katara. You know I can tell…” Katara burst out, “Fine! Do you really want to know why I stare at him? Well, maybe it’s because I think he looks sexy when he bends!”

Toph got a surprised look on her face. Her jaw dropped, and she knew it was the truth. Katara started blushing like mad. Then, Toph broke the tension by laughing. Katara was just about ready to rip her head off.

“What’s so funny?” Toph stopped laughing and chuckled out, “Nothing! Really, it’s just funny because I asked him the same thing yesterday!” Katara gasped. “You did?” She turned to watch him again. He was just showing Aang a new move. “And he said the same thing?”

Now Katara was blushing even harder. She was sure that Toph could tell that she liked Zuko. “Yep. He was just staring at you when you were practicing over by the river. I snuck up on him and he pretty much screamed the truth at me, just like you.” Then Toph got a mischievous smile on her face. “You two are perfect for each other!”

Just then, Zuko and Aang looked over at the two girls. Toph was smiling at them, and Katara had a blissful look on her face. “What do you think they’re talking about over there,” Aang wondered aloud. Zuko just stared back at them. He had a pretty good idea. Toph had cornered him about it the other day. If that was what they were talking about, then Toph’s smile meant a very good thing.

Aang looked over at Zuko. “Zuko, did you hear me?” Zuko looked over at Aang. “Huh? No, I didn’t. What were you saying?” Aang replied, “I was just wondering if you had any idea what they were talking about.” Zuko shrugged. “Nope. Not a clue. Girls are just too unpredictable.” Aang thought back. Now that was an understatement.

Aang looked back at the two girls. This time, it was Toph that caught his eye. She was “looking” right at him. She gave him a big smile, and Aang’s heart beat quite a bit faster. He had never really noticed how pretty Toph was. Did I really just think that? he asked himself. No, of course not. Toph’s nice, but… Aang’s eyebrows bent in confusion. Now that Katara wasn’t paying any attention to him, he was noticing new things about Toph that he had never dreamed he would see.

Toph’s hair had grown so much that when she left it down, it reached just to the tops of her shoulders. She even put it up into a hair tie now and then, and when she did, Aang noticed her perfectly beautiful face. Her eyes, though mostly gray, had a hint of green in them. And she was a little shorter than him.

Before long, Aang was staring at Toph and Zuko was staring at Katara. Katara glanced from one to the other and made her choice. She knew that Zuko was the right choice to make. Toph said, “Well?” Katara swallowed and looked down at the ground. Then she closed her eyes and felt a smile come to her face. “We are perfect for each other, aren’t we?”

She looked up to find Aang and Zuko practicing again. Zuko looked over his shoulder at her and smiled. She smiled back and blushed. Then Zuko went back to teaching Aang. Toph just shook her head. “Wow. You really are lovesick, aren’t you?”

Katara just smiled at her. “Yeah, I suppose I am.” Toph smiled back at her. “Don’t feel bad. Besides, this way maybe Aang will start noticing me.” Katara gasped. She had always known Toph had liked Aang, but not like that! “Are you serious?” Toph nodded. “I sure am. Then he might leave you alone, too.” Katara had never felt happier for herself or her friends.