Archive of Our Own

Zuko’s whole body burns. Pain pulsates through his veins, surging from his chest, scorching hot and searing into his very soul. Like someone clawed their way into his flesh and lit him on fire.

The pain is blinding white and numb, but it’s the only thing that gives him a semblance that something is happening.

Zuko can vaguely make out a voice. He struggles to open his eyes, like heavy weights are forcing them to remain closed. Everything is blurred, only indistinct shapes and colors, but he manages to make out the chestnut hair and brown skin. He spots sapphire blue eyes staring back at him. It takes him a moment to realize she’s crying, overflowing tears spilling from her eyes.

“I’m okay, Katara,” he manages to rasp before the darkness engulfs him.

-

Zuko wakes. The pain he felt throughout his body before has subsided, but he feels physically weak—there’s a soreness in his muscles. His body doesn’t burn anymore, but his chest throbs.

He opens his eyes and looks around, trying to take in his surroundings. His vision is still blurred a bit, but he can easily make out the sea of red and gold around him now. He’s somehow made it to a room in the palace.

There are hues of blue, out of place in the surrounding red and gold, and he blinks, forcing his eyes to focus. He weakly turns his head to the side to get a better look at the person sitting in a chair next to him.

Katara’s head hangs low as she looks down. Zuko follows her gaze to her hand, and it takes him a moment to realize it’s wrapped around his own.

He hadn’t felt Katara’s touch when he woke up, but knowing she was there now brought a warm, comforting feeling, and he could feel himself relaxing.

Zuko looks back at her face, and it's only now does he realize how obviously exhausted she looks. Her face is gaunt with dark circles painted under her eyes. Her lips are downturned and her eyebrows are furrowed, staring at their intertwined hands seemingly deep in thought.

Zuko shifts his hand a bit, and Katara’s body jerks to look at him.

“You’re awake,” she says with a hitch in her voice.

He meets her eyes, clearly red and swollen. There are fresh tears too, but he sees the relief washing over her face. He attempts to smile through the weakness.

But he feels his body begin to tire again, and he can’t keep his eyes open as darkness quickly overtakes him once more.

-

The next time Zuko wakes, he finds his uncle at his bedside with a cup of tea in his hands. Iroh stares into his cup, and Zuko notices an entire tea set on the bedside table. There’s still steam wafting from the kettle.

“Hi, Uncle,” Zuko murmurs.

Iroh perks up at the sound of Zuko’s voice, lips upturned in a soft smile before gently placing his tea cup beside the rest of the tea set. There’s a subtle relief in his eyes behind the overwhelming joy.

“Nephew,” Iroh croaks.

Zuko blinks. He hadn’t initially noticed his uncle crying.

Iroh clasps Zuko’s hand between his own, squeezing it and pressing his forehead down to meet their hands.

“I don’t know what I would do if I had lost you, too,” his uncle confides, his voice faltering.

Zuko shuts his eyes and breathes. “I’m sorry.”

He’s not sure what he’s apologizing for exactly. He has a list of things. Between still feeling guilty about betraying his uncle and almost dying, he’s sorry for all of it.

“You’ve already been forgiven,” Iroh stresses, pushing his head up to look at Zuko again.

“I’m sorry for worrying you so much,” Zuko decides to settle on.

His uncle exhales and looks like he wants to say more—probably to refute him again—but settles on talking about something else.

“Master Katara explained to me what happened,” Iroh says instead.

Zuko opens his eyes to stare at his uncle. He feels a small tug at his heart.

“She was… angry and distressed about it. I believe she felt responsible for what happened to you. I don’t blame her, and I told her as much. I’m not sure my assurance was believed, though,” Iroh says with a sigh. He pauses before continuing. “You saved her life, and nearly died for it. You’re a good person, and I’ve always known it. I hope you know I’ll always be proud of you.”

“Thank you,” Zuko utters quietly, slightly embarrassed. He doesn’t know what to say.

Iroh simply smiles and pats his arm.

Zuko attempts to sit up to reach over and return the gesture, but his muscles still ache, and pain claws at his chest. He winces.

“Careful, Zuko. Your wound is still healing,” his uncle reprimands lightly as Zuko manages to settle his back against the headboard.

“Master Katara has been tending to you these past few days,” Iroh tells him. “Your friends and I finally convinced her to take a break to eat something and clean up since she’s been by your side the entire time.”

“Oh,” Zuko lets out softly.

He lays there silent and unmoving for a few moments. A thought crosses his mind and eats away at him. His body tenses, and an uneasiness forces his mouth to clamp shut. He doesn’t know what to say or even what to ask, but eventually, the silence is unbearable and forces him to speak.

“Aang. My father. Is he—did he—” Zuko sputters finally, wavering.

“—The Avatar defeated Ozai,” Iroh interjects solemnly.

“Good,” Zuko says, his voice cracking. He leans his head back into the headboard and closes his eyes. He should be relieved, but he can’t seem to force himself to relax.

“Avatar Aang took away his bending,” Iroh continues.

Zuko’s eyes shoot open as he jerks his whole body to gawk at his uncle. The throbbing in his chest spikes into sharp pain, and he groans over the sudden motion.

Iroh chuckles. “I’m not quite sure how, but Ozai can no longer bend. He’s currently being kept in prison.”

“Azula?”

“Your sister is… also being kept in the prisons, away from your father,” Iroh tells him tentatively.

“I… don’t think that’s the best decision,” Zuko swallows. The thought of Azula in prison makes his stomach turn.

“I understand, but she’s too dangerous. She won’t let anyone near her as it is,” Iroh explains.

Zuko frowns, distraught. She tried to kill him, yes, but he thinks back to little four year old Azula. Life was so much simpler. Their family was together. Zuko knew for a fact Azula loved her big brother.

“I’ll see if we can figure something out though,” Iroh amends.

Zuko continues to sit there, unmoving. His vision blurs as he chokes down a sob. He feels the presence of a body embracing him, and he returns the hug before crying into his uncle’s shoulder.

“It’s okay,” Iroh soothes, rubbing Zuko’s back gently as Zuko vents all his sorrows.

-

It isn’t long before Katara returns along with the rest of their friends.

“I’m really glad you’re okay,” Aang says with a smile.

“I’m just glad it’s over,” Zuko chuckles.

Toph suddenly hugs him, hard and quick before pulling away almost instantly. “I’m so glad you’re not dead,” Toph sniffs, quickly wiping away tears with her sleeve.

Zuko grimaces and bites back a moan as a sharp pain stabs him. He reaches over to pat the blind earthbender on the head, but she quickly swats his hand away before he even touches her.

“Nuh-uh,” Toph huffs as Zuko smirks.

Katara sighs, but smiles nonetheless, entertained by the interaction before she walks over to Zuko to change out his bandages.

“So buddy, how does it feel to be fire lord?” Sokka says, grinning.

Zuko can feel Katara's hands pause as he laughs. “I’m just crown prince, not fire lord yet, Sokka.”

“Yeah, yeah, gotta do all the fancy ceremonies or whatever. You’re already the fire lord to us,” Sokka says as he waves him off.

“What are you planning to do, Aang?” Katara asks.

It’s so abrupt and deliberate that Zuko can’t help but stare at her quizzically. If she notices at all, she ignores it, not meeting his eyes.

He wasn’t the only one to notice the change in conversation, though, because he catches Sokka’s eyes boring into the back of his sister’s skull with furrowed brows.

Zuko tries to listen to Aang as he rattles off his plans, but his attention is drawn to Katara. She finished rewrapping his chest, but now she does nothing more than readjust and fiddle with his bandages. Her expression is blank other than a subtle frown. He won’t prod her in front of their friends, so he lets his mind drift back to the conversation just as Aang is taking his leave.

“I have to get to another meeting now,” Aang says with a groan. “But it was good to see you!” he finishes brightly, running out.

“In that case, I’m heading back to the kitchen. The palace chefs are to die for,” Sokka says, cheeky.

“That’s because they wait on you, hand and foot,” Katara cuts in, rolling her eyes, seemingly woken out of her earlier daze.

“Saviors of the world here! It’s only fair! Just for a little while,” Sokka retorts.

“It’s already gotten to his head,” Katara murmurs to Zuko as Sokka leaves, and Zuko lets out a soft chuckle.

He turns to Toph and finds her blankly staring at him.

“Uh…” There’s an uneasiness in his voice, and he can only stare blankly back at her.

Then she punches him in the arm. Hard.

"Ow!" he yelps, rubbing his arm where Toph hit him.

"Toph!" Katara exclaims incredulously. “He’s injured!”

“His arm isn’t though. He can take a little punch,” Toph says with a shrug as Zuko grumbles. Little punch.

As Toph stomps out, she yells behind her, “Don’t get that close to dying again, Sparky!”

-

There’s a knock at his bedchambers.

“You can come in.”

The door opens to a severe looking old man dressed in red robes. One of the fire sages.

“Yuanbo?” Zuko asks, surprised by his sudden appearance.

The man makes his way to stand before both Zuko and Katara before bowing deeply to the former. “We decided your coronation is to happen in two days, Prince Zuko,” Yuanbo informs him.

“Two days? Absolutely not! We’re only a week into Zuko’s recovery,” Katara rebuffs, crossing her arms.

The fire sage turns to address her, “This is between the crown prince and me, young lady. I suggest you do not interfere in our affairs—”

Katara’s annoyance simmers beneath the surface with those words, and her reaction is immediate.

“—And I suggest you call me by my name, Katara. I’m Zuko’s friend, and his healer. He needs more time,” she stresses, irritation seeping into her voice. He can tell beneath her glare that a forest is catching fire.

“We’ve run out of time,” Yuanbo says plainly.

Katara whips her arms up in the air in exasperation, the building anger exploding into unrelenting flames. “Then make more time! He’s—”

“—I’ll be ready in two days, Yuanbo. Leave us.”

As Yuanbo exits, Katara rounds on Zuko, furious. “You can’t be serious!”

Zuko stands a bit taller, straightening his back. “People are restless. The longer I take the less sure people will be about my reign. I need to appear strong and capable in their eyes.”

Katara closes her eyes and sighs—long and tired—her frustration washing away. She’s spent a copious amount of time with him, tending to him, and she hasn’t really let up. It speaks in the weariness of her stance, the way her shoulders sag, the visible exhaustion in her face. His injury still makes her anxious, and even if it continues to ache, he wants to reassure her that he can still manage this much.

He touches her arm and murmurs, “I’ll be okay.” His voice is soft but laced with determination and conviction.

She takes his hand into hers. Her next words are quiet—nearly inaudible. “I just worry about you.”

-

“It’s going to scar,” she says as she stares at his chest the next day.

“I know.”

She moves, closing the space between them to gently study her handiwork. The skin is still sensitive and tender, but her fingers are light and cool to the touch like a salve to his burn.

“I’m sorry,” she whispers. A crease forms between her eyes, and her lips pull into a frown.

Zuko reaches up to touch his scar on his face, closing his eyes. “I used to be ashamed about it, and I’ve accepted it as part of me now,” he murmurs and moves to clutch her hand as it’s pressed lightly to his chest.

“But this is a reminder of the life I saved.”

-

His coronation is a grandiose event. Every nation’s highest leader is in attendance to witness his ascension to the throne. Nearly everyone is dressed formally, even his friends and others he knows personally. Thousands of people fill the courtyard, and the cacophony of chatter and excitement is almost overwhelming. The surrounding buildings are adorned with warm lights and red ribbons, the decorations continuing beyond what he can see.

The skies are clear, and the sun shines brightly upon the Fire Nation. While the Fire Nation summers are known for their sweltering heat, it feels cooler today, a gentle breeze brushing through his robes. It seems I have Angi’s blessing, Zuko thinks with a soft smile.

Atop the palace steps, he speaks to the crowd, to the leaders, to his friends—a vow to a better future. He speaks from his heart of what he hopes to achieve for his country, the good that the people and the nation are capable of. The Fire Nation will not shy away from its crimes. The Fire Nation will atone for the horrors of the war.

He honors his friends for everything they’ve done for both the world and for him. He addresses each one of them as they stand on the sides with the other leaders and fire sages, but his eyes constantly flicker to Katara each time. He speaks her praise under an unwavering gaze, and she beams at him. She’s proud, and he can’t help but stand a bit straighter at that.

When he turns back to the crowd, he pledges a new era of peace.

-

Since the Fire Nation doesn’t wear much outside of red, and the party was put together on such short notice, Zuko is impressed that the seamstress and maids managed to fit all his friends into appropriate outfits.

He notices Toph’s lack of a dress and chuckles. The fight with the maids was most likely hard won, but he doesn’t doubt Toph’s independence and stubbornness probably overwhelmed them into letting her do what she wanted.

When his eyes wander to Katara, his breath stops. He’s only half-aware how obviously he’s openly eying her now, stupidly gaping and hyper-focused. Her hair is down, but her hair loopies are still fitted on both sides of her face. He’s sure Katara was absolutely insistent on that. She’s in a dress, crimson red, much like the color of his own attire with gold accents adorning the edges.

He can only imagine how much more beautiful she’d be in blue.

She finally catches his eyes, and he tries to school his expression a little. Dressed formally and regally as a fire lord should, he probably looks goofy standing there looking at her dumbstruck, but she smiles at him all the same.

-

He watches her dance with Aang, and he tells himself it’s perfectly fine, Katara can dance with whoever she wants. Still, he watches them, and his stomach sinks. He doesn’t notice Toph approaching him.

“Hey, Sparky, good to finally get to talk to you! All these people are so uptight and stuffy,” Toph says, nonchalant.

“Hi, Toph,” is all he can offer. Katara’s laughing, probably at some dumb joke Aang said.

“So what’s the royal agenda for you tonight?”

“Things.” Katara holds herself with grace. He’s not even surprised she can actually dance.

“Alright… Well, at least you get to order people around, do whatever you want. It’s your party.”

“Yeah.” He can see Katara’s face light up as she talks animatedly, and he internally grumbles over the fact that he can’t tell what she’s talking about from here.

“Too bad you gotta deal with all the stuck-ups around here.”

“Mhmm.” Katara looks so at ease on the dance floor. The fluidity of her movements are eye-catching. She’s so breathtakingly beautiful.

“Okay, as fun as this conversation is, I know I’m not what’s making your heartbeat go wack right now. Why don’t you just talk to her?”

“What?” Zuko says as he swivels his head to look at Toph.

“Spirits, you have it so bad,” she laughs and stalks off before he can say anything.

-

She’s making her way back to Suki, and his body moves. In a matter of seconds, he’s standing next to her. He can feel his lips move on their own, and he hardly registers what’s happening.

“Dance with me?” he blurts, extending his hand out.

She beams at him. “Of course,” she says as she takes his hand.

He blinks as he realizes what just transpired, his movement pausing for just a moment before his determination strengthens, and he guides her to the dance floor.

As they transition to a hold, he grasps one of her hands in his while his other hand is pressed to the small of her back. He can feel her feather touch on his shoulder.

He feels everyone’s eyes on them as the loud chatter becomes mere murmurs. He hears Katara's voice.

“What?” He didn’t catch what she said at all, too preoccupied with the attention that was drawn to them.

“I said loosen up. You’re stiff as a board.” She continues on with a small chuckle, “Have you even danced before?”

“Of course,” he says, mildly offended.

“Well, it doesn’t exactly look like it. I think you should hold off on asking people to dance,” she says with a playful smirk.

“But you accepted,” he says plainly. “I had to take dance lessons and everything when I was seven.”

“I take it that it wasn’t your favorite thing to do as a seven year old boy. I’m not sure you learned anything at all,” she laughs.

He huffs because he can dance just fine, thank you.

“Just focus on me, and follow my lead,” Katara instructs him.

As they move in tandem on the dance floor, their gazes link together, and all the sound in the room drowns out. He slowly notices how close they’ve gotten, his face only inches from hers.

Lavender. Usually he considers the scent soothing, but in the moment, he finds it absolutely intoxicating.

All he can think about is Katara as their dance goes on. Their closeness, that scent of lavender, how his heart races, how happy he feels.

As the music ends, their movements slow to a stop. They take their bows, her eyes closed and her head lowered, but his gaze never leaves her form. When they stand up, she mouths him thank you with a grin before she rushes off. His eyes remain fixed on her as she roams through the crowd, returning to a conversation with Suki.

A hard slap on the back makes him jolt.

“Good job out there, Sparky!” Toph exclaims.

“Thanks?” Zuko grunts, eying her oddly. He’s not sure what she’s praising him for, but Toph walks away, looking entirely too smug for his liking.

Zuko thinks he has an inkling of what she means burrowed far back in his mind. He knows with certainty that the thoughts in his head were only about Katara during their dance, but he’s not sure if he wants to decipher what that means.

-

It’s the day after the party, and it pains him to see his friends leave so hastily, but he understands.

They all gather in one of the palace’s smaller gardens, Appa saddled up ready to leave adorned with all their bags and belongings.

Suki quickly waves goodbye to him as she settles onto Appa and double checks through their stuff.

“The Earth Kingdom wants me for a bit, but I’ll be back once that gets sorted out and I drop everyone off. You think you’ll be fine until then?” Aang asks.

“I think Uncle and I can manage,” Zuko answers.

Aang goes up to hug him, and as he turns to leave to hop onto Appa, he calls out, “I know you’ll do great!”

Sokka smiles at him, holding out his arm. Zuko grips Sokka’s wrist while Sokka grips Zuko’s. They slide their hands into a hand hold before pulling each other into an embrace, patting each other on the back.

“Well, I gotta get home, even just a little. I wanna see my parents, but I hope they don’t try to suffocate me, or I’m out,” Toph drones.

“You’re always welcome to stay with me if you want,” Zuko offers.

“I’ll hold you to it,” Toph smirks.

Sokka glances between his sister and Zuko for a moment with an inscrutable expression on his face. He opens his mouth to say something, but Toph yanks him back with her, cutting him off and dragging him by the shirt toward Appa.

It leaves just Katara, and nervousness radiates through his whole body.

“Don’t forget me?” Zuko jokes lightly, but his tone is a bit on-edge. He’ll miss her.

“I would never,” Katara replies wholeheartedly.

He smiles softly at that admission, and it calms him a little.

“I need to go home and figure out things. There’s a lot of rebuilding to be done, and I want to be there to help in any way I can,” she continues.

Zuko looks at her with uncertainty. His hands are fidgeting at his sides. Whether Katara knows this or not, he’s unsure, but she grabs hold of his hands in her own, and he grips onto her tightly as his restlessness ceases.

“Zuko, I’ll come back and visit. I’ll write to you, too. I promise,” she assures him.

“Okay. Talk to you soon,” he says softly.

Katara gives him a small smile. “Talk to you soon,” she says, just as soft.

Katara lets go of Zuko’s hands, and they remain frozen in place. He stares at them as he tries to hang on to how her hands felt in his before letting them fall limp by his side.

-

Her first letter arrives a week after his friends’ departure from the Fire Nation. He had been cooped up in his office, reading and rifling through piles of documents, when a knock came at his door.

Her joy from being home bleeds through the letter.

It feels good to be home. I missed it, you know? I missed the cold, the ice, the snow. The moment we touched the ground, I let myself fall into it all. With the way Sokka was looking at me, I must have looked crazy rolling around and smiling, but he couldn’t stop laughing either when I pulled him down to join me.

I roped him and Aang into a snowball fight. I won, naturally.

Of course you would, he thinks. He smiles, imagining the laughter and fun his friends must have being home again.

I don’t think we’ve had that much fun in months since we were so focused on the war.

It was good to see everyone again. There were lots of new faces too.

By the time we came home, the tribe had already begun rebuilding. The new faces were from our sister tribe in the North. It seems that a number of them were sent to help with the reconstruction, and a good chunk of them were waterbenders to speed up the process.

I hope everything’s been going well on your end since we left.

He’s happy to hear that the Southern Water Tribe is doing so well as he starts his reply.

The fire sages and council are keeping me busy. There’s a lot to be done, but other than that it’s been fine.

It sounds like you had a really great time coming home. I’m happy for you, and it seems like the tribe’s doing well with the rebuilding and reconstruction. I’m sure the Northerners are a big help.

He hesitates to write his next thoughts, but his resolve solidifies.

I’m going to visit Azula soon. Even through everything that’s happened, I still care. I want to try.

He hurriedly writes some final regards, shoving it out of sight before he loses his nerve and scribbles out his sentences.

It looks like they got most of the rebuilding covered, so enjoy yourself a little more while you’re home. Relax and take care of yourself.

-

The guards all tell him that Azula talks to herself in her own cell. She speaks in hushed murmurs when she’s alone and breathes hot blue flames at anyone outside her cell who tries to speak to her.

Her cell contains a comfortable bed with a table and chair pulled from the palace. Her food is served from the royal kitchens. Zuko knows she’s still dangerous, but he hopes the amenities make it feel less like a prison.

When he first came to visit, he was cautious when approaching her. He slowed his movement and kept his voice soft, as if anything sudden would send her on the attack. But she stared at him with a faraway look and talked to him, even if she didn’t seem all there. He talks to her, and she talks to him like he’s a ghost, like how she talks to herself when she’s alone.

A few days have passed now, and it’s today that he hears the first real words come out of Azula’s mouth.

“You’re here almost everyday. How do I know you’re real?”

Zuko holds out his hand and Azula stares at it. She stares at it so long that he starts to think she won’t take it at all.

He begins to pull away, but she reaches out to grip it. And then his wrist. And then his arm. When she puts the palm of her hand on his chest, he flinches but makes no decision to move. Azula stares at it long and hard, and they sit in silence.

Finally, after what feels like five long minutes, she pulls away.

“You’re real.” It’s the last thing she says.

He says nothing, just nods to her as he takes his leave.

As he walks away, he can’t help but think back to their interaction. Her pressing her hand to his chest. It shakes him.

Was she thinking about their Agni Kai? She must have remembered the lightning, the scar that she created. He stops and closes his eyes. She was focused but just feeling. Maybe, he thinks, she was just feeling the beat of my heart.

-

I hope everything with Azula has gone well. It’s a long, hard road to recovery, and I’m glad that you want to help her. You have a good heart, Zuko. Just know that you aren’t an expert healer. Help her as much as you can, but there’s only so far you can go. If she’s willing, you should get someone who can do more.

He smiles as subtle relief floods his body. He shouldn’t have expected any less.

As for me, I think everything’s going well. I did end up relaxing for a couple days like you said, but I wanted to do my part. I just feel like I should be helping. I need to be doing something despite my dad telling me otherwise.

I don’t know. I’m not sure how I feel anymore. I love the South Pole. It’s still home to me, but it’s changed. I’m not sure how to explain it in an understandable way.

I know things have changed for the better. The South is thriving, but there’s so much change that it’s unrecognizable from my childhood memories. Is it bad that I miss how things used to be?

I shouldn’t be complaining, but it does feel like part of what I called home is lost.

There’s still things to get done, but I miss you. I miss everyone.

He misses her too. He misses her presence, her laugh, her stubbornness. He misses everything about her.

We’ll meet again. I promise, Zuko. Take care of yourself.

He hopes that will be true. His life has been kept busy. Aang made his way back to the Fire Nation to help out in the negotiations and work as a mediator a few days ago. The other nations are still unsure—barring the Southern Water Tribe—but he can’t really blame them. He has to work to win their trust with what he does, not just with words, but he’s glad Aang’s here to vouch for him regardless.

The words spill onto the page. Maybe he can offer her something.

Things change. We’ve changed. We were children of war, and we’ve grown up. Maybe that’s what you missed. Trying to hold onto what everything once was, clinging to the feeling of being a kid. We grew before we ever wanted to, and now maybe you want to go back to being a kid again. I know I do.

He hesitates for a second but continues.

I miss you, too.

He stares at those words, and it’s sincere, but his heart beats just a little faster at them. There’s more that he wants to say, but he doesn’t know how to write it, so he holds it to those four simple words. He tries to shake the feeling off to resume writing.

Aang made it back to help me out. It’s reassuring to have him here. The other nations may not trust me, but they trust him, and that works for now.

Whenever you’re free maybe you can visit and save me from Toph. She dropped by recently. I asked about her parents, but she brushed it off, and I figured it was probably best not to pry.

She’s been a bit of a menace though. I think she likes being known as “the fire lord’s friend” in combination with “Lady Beifong” just so she can order people around as much as she likes, not to mention torment some of the nobles, though, I did tell her the next time a noble eats a mouthful of dirt she’d be assigned a personal maid. I can’t keep following her around to keep her out of trouble and even though some of these nobles are stuck up snobs, I need to win at least some of them over.

Most of them think I’m against them ever since I passed a couple of laws enforcing minimum pay and acceptable working conditions for workers. I kind of am against them in that regard, but I do need them to like me, and that won’t happen if Toph keeps shoving their faces into the ground when they’re around here.

I know Toph’s here because she wants to get away, and the extra rebellious streak since she’s been here is probably from feeling suffocated back home. I won’t tell her to go back, but I also know she won’t be content just sticking around here. All I can do is wait and help her figure out what she wants to do. Until then, I’ll look out for her.

Also, Suki says hi. She was assigned as my personal guard, at least for the next few months until things calm down. Not everyone is happy that I’ve become fire lord, but I figure you know that. I’ll try not to die.

He chuckles a little writing that last sentence, knowing Katara probably won’t be assured reading it, but he wants to keep it light.

We’ll meet again, Katara. Take care of yourself, too.

-

Zuko knows his presence these past few weeks help ground Azula in reality, but he also knows Katara is right—he can only do so much.

“I want to get you a real room. Outside of this cell. I want to get you help. From someone that’s not me.” He leans forward in his chair, sitting at the edge as he pauses to let his words sink in. “You’ll still be pretty restricted to your room. You’d have to be restrained with guards or I’d have to accompany you if you wanted to go somewhere, but it’d be better than here.”

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” Azula states quietly, staring aimlessly at the table between them.

Zuko blinks at her. When they were children, she always seemed infallible and carried herself with such confidence. But in this moment, she looks so vulnerable and lost, and all he sees is his little sister from years ago. It’s been a long time since he’s ever seen her unsure about anything.

“I don’t think it would hurt to try,” he proposes. “If it doesn’t work out or something goes wrong, we can come back to this.”

When she doesn’t say anything, he sighs before sitting up in his chair.

“Azula, I don’t want this to be forever for you, and I know you don’t either.” It comes out quick and shaky, but his next words are the exact opposite. “I trust you, and I want you to be a part of my life again. You’re my sister, and I won’t give up on you.”

The corners of Azula’s mouth quirk up just barely, and she finally looks up to meet his eyes. “You really are the bleeding heart of the family.”

Once upon a time, those words would be mocking, but today, he knows it’s different as his lips pull into a smile.

-

It’s been a few days since Azula’s return to the palace. He’s still on high alert whenever he’s with Azula, but it’s comfortable and routine now. Her progress with the healer has been going well. It’s not completely normal. He’s still required to accompany her as they walk around, but it’s something.

One day though, she catches him off guard on a stroll to the palace gardens.

“I’m sorry,” she apologizes quietly. “I’m sorry for hurting you, for trying to kill you, for using you, manipulating you. I have a lot to atone for.”

He’s had an inkling for a while now about it, but he honestly never thought he’d hear the words.

“I know.” He turns his head to look at her. “I forgive you, you know. I forgave you weeks ago. But, I won’t lie and say that I didn’t want you to say those words,” he tells her.

Azula doesn’t look at him, and he continues. “I accepted that you might never say them. But I’m glad you did. It means a lot to me, really.”

-

I think you’re right. I do miss being a kid. Life was so much simpler back then. But you’re also right that things change. I have to keep moving forward, wherever that takes me.

In any case, I started a waterbending school. It’s actually pretty exciting!

It’s a relatively small class since I’m the only Southern waterbender, and most of my students are adults, mostly women, from the North. There are a couple kids who moved here from the North as well, and I like giving them small basic lessons from time to time.

It gives me a purpose, and I find it fulfilling. I’m not sure if it’s something I’ll do forever, but I think it’s something. Enough for now.

I’ve also been sitting in on tribe meetings as of late. It’s been a good experience learning how the tribe works. My dad’s the chief and all, but a lot of the decisions are voted on by other tribe members, like Gran Gran and Master Pakku. It’s kinda funny watching Gran Gran argue against both my dad and Master Pakku.

Anyway, I don’t doubt Toph is a handful. I’m glad you can be there for her, though. I think I may have a suggestion for her. She might like the idea of starting a bending school. She did invent metalbending, and I’m sure she’d love the idea of cementing her name to it.

Tell Toph I said hi, and tell Suki I can’t wait to see her! Sokka told me she’d be coming here after she finishes up work in the Fire Nation. I feel better knowing that she’s been acting as your personal guard.

Also, you’re not very funny. I’ll write to you again, but Zuko, please, be careful.

It’s been a few weeks since this letter arrived, but he just hasn’t had time to write a response. Finally, with the little free time he has, he rushes to write a reply.

The waterbending school sounds great! If that’s what you enjoy doing right now, I’m happy for you.

I made the suggestion to Toph. Told her it was courtesy of you, and she said, “You know, that idea isn't half-bad! Thank Sugar Queen for me!”

I caught her packing her bags the other day, so I think she’s heading off pretty soon.

Suki said she can’t wait to see you either. She’s never been to the South Pole before, so she’s excited. I told her to pack warm, and she rolled her eyes at me and gave me a sarcastic thanks.

I’m going to miss her snarking when she leaves. She’s been good company. Toph, too. It’ll be a little lonely when they’re both gone.

I have a story to tell you by the way. Azula’s been doing well.

She recently scared off a Northern Water Tribe Ambassador in a meeting. I thought it was absolutely amusing and well-deserved.

Azula’s always been interested in politics, and she’s still princess and part of the royal family, so she’s allowed to sit in any of the meetings I have with the ambassadors.

Ambassador Tsarlis voiced his opinion on how “women should not be at this meeting, let alone participate in politics” for the third day in a row, and I could tell that the few women Earth Kingdom ambassadors were losing their patience.

Azula walked in, and he went dead silent. She must have heard what he was saying because she walked right up to him, looked him dead in the eye, and said, “Are you saying I should not be here?”

I swear, I’ve never been more entertained by my sister scaring the living daylights out of anyone in my entire life. I outright smiled. The others wouldn’t stop snickering.

Ambassador Tsarlis left the Fire Nation as soon as that meeting was over. He left me a letter saying that he had something to attend to and the Northern Water Tribes would be sending a replacement shortly.

It was quite the event to say the least.

Sorry for the late reply. I’ve been busy, but it’s always nice to hear from you. I’ll be careful, I promise.

-

Don’t worry about it. I’ve been pretty busy, too, so I understand.

I’m glad Toph liked the idea. I’m sure she’ll have a blast.

Suki made it here a couple of weeks ago actually! It’s been over a year since we saw each other, so it felt so good to catch up with her. She did tell me some embarrassing stories about you, but I promise it’ll just be between the three of us.

Sokka’s been really happy ever since she got here, and to no surprise, I caught them together the other day. I guess they’re making up for lost time.

That story with Azula was hilarious! I wish I was there to witness it. I probably would have fought that man the moment he opened his mouth, but Azula handled it rather peacefully I suppose.

The council had a meeting on who to send to the Fire Nation as a new Southern Water Tribe ambassador by the way. I volunteered.

My dad was a little reluctant at first, but I convinced him. I’ve participated in enough meetings with the council here to hold my own.

My students have been doing well, and a few of them are nearly master waterbenders themselves, so they’ll be up to the task of teaching the rest of the classes from here on out with help from the influx of waterbenders from the North.

Honestly, it’ll be a nice change of scenery, and it means I can come see you again.

His heart flutters. Katara was really coming to see him again. On business but still. Excitement overwhelms him.

By the time you get this, I’ll already be on my way, probably arriving in a day or two. It’s been a year and a half since we last saw each other, Zuko. I can’t wait. See you soon.

Zuko can’t stop the grin plastered on his face as he reads the last paragraph. She arrives in a matter of days, and he feels the joy bubble over until it’s all he can think about.

He hears his heart pounding loudly in his ears. See you soon, he thinks.

-

He watches her walk off the ship as she wades her way through the crowd of Water Tribe members. Her eyes are absentmindedly glued forward, and she makes it halfway across the dock before catching his eyes.

“Zuko!” she exclaims happily as she barrels toward him, throwing her arms around his neck and wrapping him in a hug.

He buries his face in her hair and returns her hug with similar enthusiasm. “I’m happy to see you, too,” he exhales with a laugh.

They talk excitedly on their way back to the palace, and Zuko feels so happy in that moment. He never asks how long she’s going to stay. He doesn’t want to hear when she inevitably has to leave.

-

He’s not sure what to expect when Katara and Azula meet later that day.

“Welcome back to the Fire Nation, Ambassador Katara. I do hope you enjoy your stay here, and I apologize for my actions during the war.” Azula greets. Formal and polite. It’s strange, and it makes him as uneasy as he knows Azula must be too, considering everything.

But Zuko kept Katara up to date with all of Azula’s progress. Her expression is warm and inviting as she returns the greeting. “Thank you. I’m glad I could be here,” Katara says.

Azula cocks her head at Katara, but says nothing more as she bows and takes her leave.

-

Later, when he takes a break from his office, he finds his way to one of the royal gardens, the one with the gazebo, and he can see Katara and Azula sitting at a table beneath it.

He watches as Katara talks animatedly while his sister listens intently with the largest cat-like grin on her face. Her grin is vicious, but he doesn’t detect a hint of malice in it. It appears that they’re deep in conversation, and he thinks better of intruding, turning instead to head to the kitchen for a quick snack before he returns to work in his office.

He can’t help but smile at how well Katara and Azula have taken to each other this time around, but suddenly a thought strikes him, and it makes him freeze in his tracks.

Zuko’s unable to shake the morbid dread of what two of the most powerful women in his life conspiring together could do to him. He smacks his face with a groan.

-

It’s been a few days since Katara’s arrival at the palace. He managed to finish enough work for today to have some free time and quickly decided to make use of it to seek her out. They haven’t interacted very much outside of the required meetings since she came, so he’d like to spend the little free time he has to at least talk to her.

He finds her in the kitchen, working with the chefs. There’s a pot boiling behind her while she cuts some vegetables on the counter.

“Hey, funny finding you here,” he calls out as he makes his way toward her. He stops directly across from her, leaning forward with his forearms flat against the counter.

A sudden thought strikes him as his face turns serious. “They aren’t making you work, are they? You’re a guest.”

She laughs in response. “Your chefs wanted guidance on making some Water Tribe dishes, and I don’t mind. I like cooking, plus they offered to teach me how to make some Fire Nation dishes in return,” she tells him. “What’s your favorite? I’ll ask them to teach me that one first.”

He pauses to think for a moment before replying. “Tteokbokki.”

She quirks a brow. “Were you trying to think of something that’s easy for me? Whatever you say I’ll try to cook for you. Unless you think you think I won’t be able to handle a challenge,” she smirks.

“I wasn’t trying to think of something easy. I just don’t really have a favorite food. Tried to just pick something I like,” he argues.

She gives him a funny look. “Uh-huh.”

“I’ll like anything you cook! I loved your cooking when we were traveling,” he swears.

She stops to look up at him. “I’m flattered. Glad you think so highly of me, then,” she snickers before resuming her work.

“Well, you are the best,” he smiles.

A moment passes as his grin slowly disappears. His eyebrows pinch together, and he swallows.

“I’m sorry we haven’t been able to spend much time together.” It’s wholly earnest.

Katara pauses in her movements to reach out and place her hand on his. “It’s okay, Zuko. I know you’re busy,” she says sincerely.

“Still… I missed you. And what kind of host would I be if I didn’t get to show you around a little.”

She smiles, and her voice is gentle, like she knows all too well. “I missed you too. Maybe I can help you out. It would give you more free time, right?”

He tilts his head in acknowledgment but dismisses the idea. “You already have stuff to do as an ambassador. You don’t need to work on anything more,” he says with a shake of his head.

“But I want to,” she insists. “Besides, I’ll have more insight on how the Fire Nation works, and that could help me establish better negotiations.”

He lets out a defeated sigh. “There’s no stopping you, is there?”

She responds quickly, looking all too smug. “Not a chance.”

-

At three weeks into Katara’s stay, Zuko had yet to show her the Fire Nation outside of the palace walls. Quite frankly, he needed a break. He managed to clear a free day with her help, and now, he hopes he can make the most of it.

“Should you be leaving the palace?” Katara asks with a slight note of concern.

“The palace will be fine on its own for a few hours,” Zuko says, waving his hand. “Besides, it’s good for people to see me out and about beyond the palace doors. My father never thought it was necessary to interact with our own citizens.”

Katara hums in agreement. “But are you sure you should be out without any guards?”

“Katara, are you doubting my abilities?” he jokes and smiles as she elbows him in response.

“I know you can defend yourself, Zuko,” she admonishes, with a roll of her eyes. Her face softens. “I’m just worried.”

She says it with so much sincerity that it makes something tighten in his chest.

“You shouldn’t worry,” he reassures her, matching her tone. He smirks suddenly as he goes on, “I have you to protect me, master waterbender.”

Katara lets out a laugh. “Are you sure you should have that much faith in me?”

He can’t help but grin harder. “I don’t think my faith is misplaced.”

-

They walk through the streets of Caldera, catching the eyes of many Fire Nation citizens as they pass by. Zuko’s gait stiffens a little under everyone's prying eyes, his gaze fixed forward, but Katara pays them no heed, simply smiling and waving to people as they pass by and continuing to admire the shops around them.

One of them must have sparked her attention because he feels a tug at his arm, pulling him toward one of the shops. He turns his attention to the direction they’re headed. From the massive display of vibrant colors in bouquets and baskets, they were approaching a flower shop.

As soon as they walk in, Katara halts in place to look all around her. “There’s so many. I’ve never seen so many colors before!” she says, awed.

“If you like this, remind me to show you the flower garden at the palace,” Zuko tells her.

She gives him a small smile before drawing closer to examine a set of red and yellow flowers, red carnations and marigolds.

He lets his eyes wander around him. Fond memories flash through his head as he remembers his time in the royal flower garden as a small boy. He always joined his mother as she would tend to the garden, teaching him the names of flowers and how to care for them.

A particular blue flower catches his eye, and he walks over to inspect it more closely. The petals are a deep blue hue, large and in full bloom. A blue orchid, he recalls. He lifts the flower by the stem, bringing it closer to his face and breathes in the scent. A subtle and sweet fragrance.

He takes it with him to the counter as an old lady standing behind it regards him tenderly. “Hi, um, I was wondering how much this flower would be?” he asks tentatively.

“I take it that this would be for the pretty girl in blue over there?” the old woman nudges her head to point at Katara.

“Uh, yes,” Zuko confirms as he stares at his hands, fidgeting with the flower.

“You picked quite the flower. A rare and unique girl, huh?” He can hear her smirking, but her voice softens as she continues on. “For the fire lord and his lady friend, you can have it for free.”

Zuko’s eyes snap up to look at her as he exclaims, “What? No, I can pay for it!”

The woman waves him off, but Zuko digs into his pockets pulling out a couple gold pieces and dropping them onto the counter.

“Boy, the flower isn’t worth this much. You’re overpaying me by a good amount. Didn’t I say you could just have it?” she scolds.

“If you won’t name a price, then just accept that,” Zuko says and quickly rushes off before the woman can refuse.

He finds Katara still admiring the flowers with her back to him, now surrounded by bouquets of red roses and tulips.

“I got something for you,” he declares, and she whips around to face him. He holds his hand out to present her the blue orchid, sitting delicately in his hand.

“Zuko! You didn’t have to!” she exclaims, surprise and elation visible in her features.

“Here.” He takes a stride closer and carefully tucks the flower into her hair.

“How do I look?” Katara says as she grins up at him.

Zuko’s mind blanks as he blinks at her for a moment. He clears his throat. “Pretty.”

-

If Zuko remembers correctly, Uncle recommended him a small restaurant nearby.

They make their way to it, and it’s a bit more quaint than he expected. It’s not a small space, but it’s not very large either, only one floor. The restaurant has no door, just a large open entrance as tall and wide as the building itself. Small wooden stools and tables fill up the space, some of them situated in front of the entryway itself, closer to the streets.

An older man notices them immediately as they step foot through the entrance, and a teenage girl perks up at the sight of them. The man quickly shuffles his way toward them.

“Ah-h, Fire Lord Zuko, sir, what-what can I get for you?” the man stammers, Zuko’s presence catching him by surprise.

“Umm, what’s on your menu?” Zuko blinks. He shifts his weight between his feet, restless from the man’s profuse politeness.

The restaurant owner presents him a list of dishes, and there’s just so many he’s not remotely sure what to order. He probably looks as lost as he feels because it isn’t long before Katara speaks.

“We’ll just take your best and most popular. Your regular favorites,” Katara says kindly.

“Yes! Right away!” The man bows multiple times rapidly to the both of them before rushing off into the kitchen.

They take a seat near the open entrance, closer to the streets. The stools are tiny—he’s practically squatting, and the table is hardly an arm length wide. Even so, he can’t help but find the place charming.

“You haven’t been here before?” Katara asks with a quirked brow.

Zuko rubs the back of his neck. “Yeah, I haven’t gotten around to coming after Uncle recommended it to me,” he says sheepishly.

Before he can continue, the girl from earlier cuts in.

“Hi! What drinks can I get for you?” the girl asks sweetly. He shifts uncomfortably under her stare, her eyes never leaving him.

“I’ll just have a water, thank you.” Katara replies quickly. “Zuko?”

“Uh…” His posture stiffens with his hands glued to his sides. His eyes dart between the girl and Katara, and he can see Katara bite down a smile. “Jasmine tea? If you have it?”

“Of course!” the girl says giddily as she winks at him, and Zuko can feel his face flush in embarrassment.

As soon as the girl’s out of earshot, Zuko coughs awkwardly into his fist. Katara’s mouth is covered by her hand, but her chuckles can still be heard from across the tiny table.

“It looks like you have an admirer,” she laughs. “You know, I figured with all your discussions with the fire sages and world leaders, you’d be able to handle a simple conversation with a gracious old man and a smitten girl.”

“That’s politics and negotiations, and I know everyone during those talks. This is different,” Zuko grumbles.

“Maybe you should try to get out more, get used to talking to the people,” Katara suggests warmly. “It’s what you wanted, right?”

“Yeah,” he lets out softly. Then he speaks suddenly, low and quiet. “Would you join me? Like today?”

Her answer comes easily, without hesitation. “I’d love to.”

-

The moment they entered the palace again, everyone decided that it was the best time to flood him with issues since he was out for the day.

As he escorted Katara to her room, Zuko attempted to resolve concerns the best he could, but it left a bitter taste in his mouth, spending the last few minutes of the day absorbed into more work. These past few weeks were filled with it, and by the time everyone else left them alone, he was irritable. His frustration had been building, and simply put, he was exhausted.

“Maybe I’m just not cut out for this,” he lets out with an angry breath.

Suddenly, Katara’s hands are on his face, and she forces his head to turn and look at her.

Her voice is confident and firm when she speaks to him. “Listen to me, Zuko. I know everything has been difficult, but you can do this. If there’s anyone I believe in, it’s you.”

He closes his eyes and melts into her touch. He breathes out—heavy but calm—as the tension in his body washes away. There’s a stretch of silence between them as they stand still, and he lets himself breathe.

When his eyes open, he pulls her hands away from his face, down between them.

“Thank you,” he whispers.

He loses himself a little as he stares into her sapphire blue eyes, bright in the warmth of the palace lights, but her voice pulls him out of his daze. “I had a really good time today. Thank you for showing me around.”

Zuko can only repeat her words as his mind blanks. “I had a really good time, too.”

A beat passes, and she pulls away, ready to turn in for the night.

“See you tomorrow?” he inquires suddenly, soft and earnest.

“See you tomorrow,” she affirms in return, and she speaks it like a promise.

Katara opens the doors to her chambers, and her eyes are the last things he sees as the doors close on him.

A blissful feeling sweeps over him as he stands like a statue in front of her doorway. He feels safe and warm, and his eyes close to relish it.

-

The next day, a paper finds its way into his line of sight in the hands of a maid.

“Oh, your majesty, would you like to see the newspaper?” she asks giddily. “A reporter drew you and Ambassador Katara on your walk the other day.”

He quickly snatches the paper and scans the front. There’s a drawing. He stares at the page.

In it, Katara has wrapped herself around his arm and his body leans into her. She smiles at him, and he looks carefree and happy, laughter written all over his face.

It suddenly hits him like a bolt of lightning, instant and unyielding as it sends a shockwave through his veins. That’s when he knows.

He is inconveniently and irrevocably in love with Katara.

Dread eats at his mind, and his heart aches because he knows—inevitably, she’s going to go.

-

After the newspaper, he’s suddenly and acutely aware of how intertwined their daily routines and life are now.

He’s an early riser, a firebender trait, so he takes some time out of his mornings to meditate and practice a few forms out in the gardens.

Ever since he mentioned his morning routine, she makes it part of hers to watch. On some days she joins, but others she watches and waits patiently. When he finishes, they head to breakfast together. And lunch together. And dinner together.

Of course they attend the meetings together—they both are required to be there—but they always walk together.

When he’s in his office, she spends a lot of time with him. She’s almost always either reading over his shoulder and voicing her own opinions on decisions, or reading stories from the library in a chair nearby. The days she’s not with him, he finds himself longing for her presence, but he knows he can’t keep her around all the time.

The servants all seem to adore Katara, and that adoration has expanded to the citizens of the Fire Nation. He’s not always out with her, but he knows she likes to walk the streets of the city helping and meeting people.

When he thinks about it all, he feels his heart squeeze.

-

“Hello, Zuzu,” Azula greets casually.

“Azula,” he acknowledges.

“You know, you are so disgustingly in love with the waterbender. I don’t know why you don’t just tell her already, dum-dum,” she says as she makes a face.

“It’s complicated,” he says as he looks away.

“What do you mean it’s complicated? Just walk up and say ‘I love you’. Easy.”

“I can’t just… do that.”

“Why not? She loves you too, and it’s tiring to watch you mope,” she says, annoyed.

“Don’t lie to me, Azula,” he snaps. It comes out so venomously that he freezes. He turns his head to look at Azula. Her face is scrunched up in hurt at his hostility before quickly smoothing out to a look of cold indifference.

It racks him with guilt. She wasn’t even remotely the source of his ire, but his frustration got the better of him.

They had been making so much progress, trying to repair their relationship to a similar semblance of what it was when they were kids. There was a tentative bridge of trust built between them, and in a matter of seconds, he burned it down.

“Azula, wait—I didn’t mean—“ he says as he tries to backpedal. His mind is only half-way to conjuring an apology.

“Whatever,” she says cooly, her voice clipped as she spins around to walk away.

He sighs and presses his face into his hands. He fucked up.

-

He finds Azula looking out toward the turtle duck pond, hands clasped together behind her back. It’s hardly her favorite place; it was always his. But it was also their mother’s, so it probably brings her some comfort as it does for him.

He walks up to stand next to her, taking in the scenery and looking on. “I’m sorry for saying that. I shouldn’t have said it, and it’s not fair to you.”

It’s a comfortable silence between them as they both look forward. It’s lasting, and he’s starting to think she won’t say anything at all.

“I wasn’t lying.”

He turns to look at her finally. There’s a stark look of vehemence and determination on her face, like she’s so sure of this one thing.

Azula wasn’t lying. But it doesn’t mean she wasn’t wrong.

-

Three months pass before he realizes it. Katara spends a lot of time, more time than he expects, in the Fire Nation.

He’s anxious for when she has to leave again. He tried to broach the subject one day, and it was the closest he could get without outright asking.

He was working through some documents with Katara pressed into his side in his chair. It was hardly large enough to fit them both, but Katara insisted, and he relented. It was a squeeze, but they made it work.

“How’s the tribe doing without you?” he asked, out of nowhere.

“It’s doing pretty well. The tribe’s in a good place. My dad’s going to appoint Sokka as chieftain within the next year, but I’m not supposed to tell Sokka that. I miss it sometimes, being there,” she told him absentmindedly. “What brought this up?”

“Nothing,” he replied quickly. It came out rushed and random, and he could tell by Katara’s arched brow that she was entirely unconvinced.

On any other day, he’s sure she would have pressed him for more. Her stubbornness and capacity to care would have pushed him to confess, but that day she let him be, and he was internally relieved as they fell back into a comfortable silence while she snuggled into him.

-

“The stars are beautiful here,” she whispers to him as she stares at the endless sky beyond them.

And they are. The night is quiet, a nice reprieve from the constant bustling activity of the palace. The sky is clear tonight, and the stars are bright, illuminating the sky. The moon is full and shining above them, and he glances at her quickly, taking in how she looks under the full glow of the moonlight.

“I think it’s prettier in the South Pole, though. And you don’t have the Southern Lights,” she smirks as she turns to look at him.

“Take me some time?” Zuko requests softly.

“Of course,” she murmurs.

Katara’s attention returns back to the night sky, and Zuko’s remains on her.

He wants this. He wants more moments like this. He wants the possibility of them, and if anything, he wants to try. He wants her to know. Before she leaves.

“I love you,” Zuko declares, his voice firm but gentle.

Her head spins to look at him, and he holds her gaze.

“You might not feel the same, and it’s okay if you don’t. I want you to know though,” Zuko swallows. “I’ve fallen hopelessly in love with you, and I can’t pinpoint the exact moment that I did.”

He can’t make out her expression aside from the small crinkle in her forehead.

“One day it hit me, and I just knew from that moment there was no turning back,” he finishes.

Zuko’s words are resolute as he bears his whole soul. He can’t think. His breathing is palpable to his own ears, but as he holds her gaze, it steadies him.

“Zuko,” Katara begins softly, “I love you.”

It’s unexpected and overwhelming, like a giant wave crashing over him, and it feels like his heart wants to jump out of his chest. “You… you do?” Zuko asks shakily.

There’s a softness in her features as she regards him. She reaches a hand to his scarred cheek, and he feels the gentle brush of her thumb.

“Of course I do. I love you, and I came here in the first place mostly because I love you.”

He holds her close as he whispers, “I want an after for us. Together. There’s no life I want to have except with you.”

He closes his eyes as he presses his forehead into hers, their noses touching. She melts into him, and he can feel the warmth radiating from her body.

“So I take it that you’re staying?” he asks, breathless.

“There’s no place I’d rather be.”

He kisses her then, and it’s all consuming. She’s gripping onto his robes fiercely, trying to press into him closer. He kisses her harder, but a thought crosses his mind that forces him to pull away. He doesn’t let go though. He won’t let go.

“Don’t they need you at home?” he asks, uneasy and a bit dazed.

“Nothing my dad or Sokka can’t handle. I’ve done what I can there. The Southern Water Tribe has changed a lot. I’ve changed too. Part of me still feels at home with my dad, Sokka, and Gran Gran,” she replies. There’s the softness in her face again. “But mostly? I’m at home when I’m with you,” she continues before reaching up to kiss him again.

They pull away from each other, and he brings up her hand to his face, leaning into it and pressing a kiss into her palm.

He closes his eyes and holds her hand to his cheek as he murmurs, “I love you. I don’t think I’ve loved anyone as much as I love you.”

He moves his hands to her waist as she wraps her arms around his neck. He presses his forehead against hers as they hold each other, standing in the moonlight savoring the moment.

He whispers softly to her and she whispers back to him, both lost in the beginning of their after.