Zuko is ever so grateful for Toph’s lessons on the cold bus ride -
he’s been training firebending with her;
picking up where Uncle left off
in adding earthbending techniques to his bending -
because when the bus suddenly slams to a stop
he remains standing, centering himself in his piece of floor,
letting gravity take him just far enough
into the bend of his knees
and the grip of his arm on the pole he stands firm –
not the the brunette next to him,
who reeks of waterbender
as she tries to react against inertia,
losing instead and crashing into Zuko,
her hands clutching at his shoulders even as she’s thrown into him -
but he can’t be mad when she looks up at him
with embarrassed eyes in a blue he never could have imagined -
she’d outshine any sapphire, any fire opal -
her mouth drops open and he can imagine the stammering apology
so he cuts her off with a smile,
wide and genuine and real,
and whispers a corny line with just enough self-awareness
she smiles back and laughs –
and months later when they’ve gotten into trouble again -
serves him right for loving a girl that befriended Aang
rather than moon after the Avatar -
he’s ever so grateful for Toph’s lessons
because the men chasing Katara expect fire to come from his fists,
not sprout from the ground after an earthbending-style kick -
“Alright, Sparky!” -
then he has his hand in hers -
“You don’t have to hold my hand when we run, Zuko!” -
and thinks about the kisses he’ll steal later on the bus ride home together



(hahahahahahahahahahha I wrote a poem that's a Zutara fanfic someone kill me now or pay me)