20.  things you said that i wasn’t meant to hear
Zuko hasn’t had this much alcohol in his life but some how he got roped into playing “drink when Sokka is sad.”  Since it is the anniversary of Yue becoming the Moon Spirit and his friends have come to the Fire Nation for the winter Zuko thinks this is the least he could do.
But Sokka has just to look at the moon and get teary so there’s been a lot of drinking.  Zuko has already hiccuped flames which delighted Sokka until they caught his wolf tail on fire.
They’re slumped in the gardens of the palace and Zuko is pretty sure he knows where his room is but he has no idea where Sokka’s is and the world is moving way too much.  Sokka has also been sick in the turtleduck pond.
He contemplating how bad it will be in the morning if he’s found sleeping here when something blue comes into his vision.  His brain assumes this is Sokka.  “What are you doing?”  He mumbles.
“Getting you to bed,” a voice answers and its higher than Sokka’s should be but he’s not really questioning.
“I want to hear that from a different Water Tribesman,” he slurs.
“Mmmhhmmm.”  He has a moment of clarity.  “Not your father!”
“Katara.  I know she’s your sister but I think I might love her.”  The words feel funny in his mouth but he’s certain they are true.  “Agni I love your sister.”
“See if you feel that way in the morning,” the blue blur says.  The next thing he’s aware of is his bed and something cold on his forehead then its morning.
He’s cursing the sun but his head doesn’t hurt too much and there’s water and tea waiting for him.  He’s wishing for more water when his door opens and it’s the last person he’d expect.  “Katara?”
“I brought you more water and tea,” she says as she sets them down on his nightstand.  “You look better than Sokka.”
“Serves him right,” he says.  “But he managed to get me back her last night.”
“He didn’t, he passed out in the garden.  I found you two.” Â
“But he,” Katara shakes her head and Zuko remembers a conversation with someone who turns out wasn’t Sokka.  “Oh.”
She nods and pushes a stray lock of hair out of his face.  “You love me?”
He can lie.  He can say something else entirely and he can keep her as his friend.  But Zuko has never been good with saying the right or safe thing.  He nods and says “you weren’t supposed to know.”
She smiles softly.  “I think I might to.”
It’s not the grand declarations he’s heard about nor is it even anything more than a possibility but it’s enough.
