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Chapter Text

Zuko kissed her. Katara didn’t know how to feel. Her last kiss with him would be as she left the castle looming over her, guards no where in sight, in the dead of night.

Zuko kissed her. It wasn’t a kiss of passion, or sweetness, or hell, even love. It was the kind of kiss that broke everything. The kind of kiss that Katara would look back on and cry about because he no longer kissed her with the love that she used to kiss him with. Neither of them did.

He tied a scarf around her neck. It wasn’t soft or comfortable, just warm and old. Katara looked up at Zuko, barely acknowledging the scarf that hung loosely around her neck. Gold eyes met blue and Katara felt herself shiver. She was cold. She knew Zuko knew too, although she also knew that wasn’t why he gave her the scarf. She didn’t really know why he gave it to her.

She turned around and walked away from him. She didn’t dare to look back. If she did, every inch of her body would burn to run back and feel his touch, his heartbeat, his love. She couldn’t have that. She divorced him for a reason. So instead of turning to look back at Zuko, she looked up at the sky. The sky she had flown through so many times atop Appa with her friends.

Everything felt so calm. She hated that. Why was the world so still when she was everything but.

She didn’t cry.

Zuko was gone.

Zuko was back at the palace, probably warm from the breeze that flew through the air. He was probably already back to his duties as fire lord, passing laws to help the betterment of the fire nation.

Zuko has dreams that Katara couldn’t seem to fathom. Zuko was probably fulfilling each and every one with the flick of a pen on paper.

And Katara hurt.

She really, truly hurt.

Zuko couldn’t stand her anymore. Her endlessness. Her constant reassurance. It was too much. He is completely convinced she is what caused their relationship to crumble.

And Katara hurts so fucking much.

He swore to her. Under the oath and spirits of their wedding.

“Till death due us part” they both agreed. But Zuko, convinced the beautiful thing they once had, has died, broke his swear. Broke their bond. Broke everything.

Katara understands, though. Zuko has a right to decide what he does with the rest of his life. He had a right to forge his own path, even if it’s not with Katara.

Spirits, she wishes she could go back. Yell, scream, break everything in her path to make a statement. Tell him to stop running away. Tell him to stop hiding from his problems.

She wants to scream at him that he’s incompetent. That he can’t handle conflict. That if he wants to be a good fire lord, he needs to face things head on.

And then she wants him to hold her. Like he would.

Why did he leave?

Why was he so sure that they would never work it out? Why was he so sure that they would end?

If she could turn back time knowing what she knows now, could she find the clues? See what he saw? Realize that they were somehow never meant to be?

But it wouldn’t change what has happened. It would never chase away the pain.

Zuko is gone.

His warmth, his fire, his scar that she would place her hand on and kiss with gentle lips.

Now she’s the one with scars. So many scars.

And she hurts.

Chapter Text

Zuko was in love.

Zuko was irrevocably in love.

Zuko was in love with a water tribe girl and he could hear his father’s heart break from halfway across the world.

And his grandfather, Agni, he must be rolling in his grave.

But honestly, Zuko couldn’t care less.

Now, Zuko will admit that at first, he definitely did NOT like Katara. Of course, he recognized her beauty, but she was helping the Avatar who he had sworn to capture.

But that one moment in the catacombs. The one moment when she touched his scar with such an unexpected tenderness. Yeah, Zuko was in love. It may have been that fear that led him to later betray her. Fear of love.

But now? Zuko was unable to deny any feelings he may fear towards the younger water tribe girl. And now, he couldn’t care less.

He wouldn’t care if she was bald like Aang, if she was an airbender or earthbender, just as long as she didn’t hate him.

He’s finally found someone he wanted to be with, and he couldn’t let her go.

He’d dated other women before. A variety of fire nation girls who only liked him because he was royalty. He had dated Jin, although, knowing his family’s history, he couldn’t bear to stay with her.

And then there was Katara.

Yeah, he’ll admit that the first moment he met her he was stunned. Her dedication to those she loved was admirable. But when he truly met her, Agni, he could barely catch his breath.

His only thoughts consisted of Katara. The only person he could possibly imagine in his head for days on end was her.

He had spent years at sea, fighting bender after bender, handling emotional scars that ran far deeper than the one on his face.

The nation to which he was meant to represent, his family’s nation, one that wanted nothing to do with water tribe, had forced him away from people like her for years.

And Zuko couldn’t give less of a shit.

He wouldn’t care if she had committed atrocity after atrocity, taken lives, hell, he wouldn’t care if she was once a man. He didn’t care if everyone in the world hated the possibility of an idea that the two of them could be a couple.

It’s tragic but it’s true.

He would do anything to be with her.

Finally, he had found someone who understood him perfectly.

She broke the hundred year ideal that fire nation can’t be with another nations people.

He wouldn’t care that she was “uncultured”. If she was half-vampire, he’d say she’s cute. If she went on a rampage killing every person who ever even looked at her the wrong he’d be right behind her through it all. He’d be at her service.

He’s been waiting, praying, wishing for someone like her.

And he finally found her.

Zuko was in love.

Chapter Text

Katara looked over her shoulder to the figure that was slowly approaching her.

“Zuko,” she breathed, slightly surprised that he had actually come to see her.

He took a few more steps before sitting down beside her, overlooking the ocean that was in front of the pier they both sat on. He looked back over to her, a wide smile stretching across her face.

”What’s that for?”

“I’m just happy you’re here,” she took his hand in hers and held it tightly, “I miss you.”

Zuko nodded. His duties of fire lord had taken over a large portion of his life. He looked down, eyes settling on the new dress she wore. Blue fabrics gently wrapping around her figure.

”Where’s that from?”

”I stole it,” she smirked.

Zuko’s face contorted into that of surprise and disbelief.

“I’m joking,” she laughed, “someone from the Northern Water Tribe sent it. It makes me look like Yue.”

Zuko laughed again. His hand covered his mouth.

Katara sighed and her eyes found Zuko’s.

”What is it?”

She took a deep breath, “I think we’re going to be okay.”

Zuko’s face changed into some kind of confusion before settling down. He nodded again and let out a slight ‘mhm’.

“I mean- we’ll have to try harder. Maybe be a little more flexible?” She nudged Zuko, “what we have is special, just as it was five years ago. I mean- look at you, you’re here, and so am I. I love that.”

Zuko took a long moment to think. Silence overwhelmed the two of them. Katara spoke again.

“I think the water tribes will really like what I’ve come up with.”

”Really?”

“Yeah, im pretty sure it doesn’t suck like the other laws I tried to pass.” She rolled her eyes, then focused back on Zuko. He let out a small chuckle and he smiled.

Yeah, they were fine.

Katara and Zuko both knew they still had a ways to go. Their relationship was bumpy. 

“I-“ Katara started after a long pause, “I think we both know that things have been rocky. We can both see where things could’ve been better,” she mumbled the last part to herself, but she still expected Zuko could hear it. “I’ll- you know I’ll own when I’m wrong or make a mistake, right? I mean, with everything we’ve gone through, we can only get stronger.” Zuko didn’t change his expression much. “So let’s try again and just keep going. One step at a time, hmm?”

Zuko nodded and looked back out at the ocean for a few moments. Katara followed in suit. Then, he stood up.

“I’ve got to go. They’re having another party and I have to- well, you know…”

“I-“ Katara cut herself off. “I didn’t know you had to leave so soon. I thought we’d have more time.”

“I’m sorry. You can come if you want-”

“No, whatever. If you have to do it then you have to do it. And you have to. It’s fine. We can talk more tonight.”

Zuko’s lips pinched together in a tight smile as he began walking back.

Katara looked back at the ocean. She could feel tears begin to well up in her eyes.

She turned back to Zuko who was no more than a few meters away from her.

”You know what drives me crazy, Zuko?”

Zuko turned to her in surprise, “What?”

“We could be here, together, spending time, and you’re going to choose someone else to be with.”

“Katara, you know I’m not-“

”Yes, you are!”

”Don’t talk like this-“

“It’s exactly what you’re doing! You can be here with me, or there with them. And as usual, you pick them.”

”Katara, you know I-“

“No Zuko, you do NOT have to go to another party.”

“If you could just-“

“You could be with ME instead, your WIFE, on her fucking birthday. Or you could, god forbid, even help me fix fire nation ties with the Water Tribes.”

”I…” Zuko stopped himself this time.

“And I know it must drive you crazy that you can’t hang around with your other little girlfriends-“

“They are not-! It’s strictly political, I don’t ‘hang around’ anyone! God, Katara, you’re being dramatic-”

”I’m not!”

”And overbearing.”

“No, I’m not! This is exactly my point! You can’t spend a single day that’s not about you!”

“Katara you and I both know that’s not true.”

“Nothing but you! ‘Oh look how amazing Fire Lord Zuko is’ and ‘He’s so cute’ and ‘Do you have a girlfriend?’ It’s all about you!” Katara yelled, pacing.

There was a long pause. She took a deep breath. 

“And I-” Katara was breathing so heavily. Her chest felt like it was pulsing out of her body. She could barely control herself as tears spilled from her eyes and back onto the pier. Zuko stood there, no less than a meter away now, looking at her. Just… 

Standing there.

“I swear to Tui and La and I will never understand how you can just stand there.. watching me cry-

-and not do anything

at all.”

Chapter Text

Okay, Zuko was going to be honest, things were moving extremely fast. For the slowness of getting into their relationship, things were moving exponentially faster than Zuko had anticipated.

It’s not just his relationship, though, his career is doing better than he ever thought it could. People are truly accepting him as fire lord. It might’ve been that he had been exiled as a child that made him more likable to the public, but he was actually doing well.

He was soaring through his duties, unable to come down from his new high.

He knew he should take a step back, his advisors and Katara all tried to influence different decisions for him.

“Slow down,” Katara will tell him “take some time to enjoy the change you’re making while you make it.”

But Zuko couldn’t. Things were going so well.

No matter what happens, he’ll soar film speed through all obstacles.

He’s not worried to tread on thin ice, he won’t half ass anything, but now, with his reputation and subsequently, the stakes, getting even higher, he can see what everyone means.

But Agni above, he was in love. He had found a woman he truly loves, and advisors who loved him

He understands there will be rocky moments, but it never helps to overanalyze every little thing that happens. It never helps to stop when you can’t see the light ahead, and it most certainly never helps to be guided by fear. So Zuko will keep rolling on and doing whatever it takes to be the Fire Lord his people love.

He’ll admit, he does sometimes fear that he can’t follow through with his promises. He does sometimes fear that he will fail. But he loves on and tackles problem after problem, not letting any negativity get to his head.

After all, he’s the Fire Lord, what else can he do?

So he’ll continue his efforts, living the dreams he had as a young child.

He was truly soaring.

He met his own personal Aphrodite.

He was doing things he couldn’t have fathomed during his exile.

It was exhilarating.

So he takes the next step with Katara: inviting her to live at the palace with him.

And she does. Agni, he’s so happy.

He was exiled by his father and the nation he grew up in and he doesn’t regret a thing.

His hearts been stolen, his ego’s swollen, so he’ll just keep moving along.

And he can’t help but think, what’s next? He’s here at 20 years old, what else is in store for him?

It’s hard to be sure whether or not he’s losing control or not.

The panic of his decisions that aren’t favored by the public are plaguing him. He’s being rushed to make last minute ideas on how to maneuver past this.

But he’s still so happy he can’t not feeling worried.

But one things for sure, things are moving extremely fast.

Chapter Text

For all their time spent living in a castle, Katara liked to think she and Zuko still lived ordinary lives. Katara would go grocery shopping, Zuko would help her make dinner on the weekends (when the cooks were off work), and they slept together every night in the same bed.

But there were these moments, these moments when Zuko seemed to drift off into an entirely different world as he sat in on council meetings and shared his two cents. He was like a whole different person. He would spend time just staring out of the large window opposite of their bed, his chest barely rising with his breath. And then a smile would spread across his face, proving his consciousness, and his love of the world around him. His eyes would light up and without a sound, everything seemed to come alive.

And Katara was a part of that.

And then days would pass as they ignored Zuko’s common behavior, acting like nothing had happened at all. Katara will buy their groceries, and Zuko will help make dinner on the weekends.

And then he’d daze off again, off to his own little world where no one can take him out, not even Katara. He’d pace their living room, walking for what seemed like miles. Or sit and think while grabbing a snack.

And then he’d smile again. That glint in his eyes that would force Katara’s annoyance away. How could she complain when he had that look on his face. That look of pure happiness. In those moments, she could see all the amazing things he could do.

And she was a part of that.

So yeah, she didn’t mind if she was often in his shadow, blocked by his major success as fire lord. She’ll just take his cue and roll with it. But she said she’d stick it out and follow through, and when she does, he smiles. That cheeky, heartwarming smile.

He’ll smile, and nothing else will make sense as he reconnects the Fire Nation, Earth, Kingdom, and Air Nomad culture, with Katara working on the Water Tribes.

So yeah, she’s a part of that.

She reads through Zuko’s newest law.

She’s a part of that.

”With help from my advisors, council, and the infamous Avatar Aang…”

Isn’t she?

”As we work to reconnect the fallen nations once again into peace and prosperity for all.”

And suddenly, she feels apart of it all.

Chapter Text

It wasn’t long after their marriage when duty called the Fire Lord and Lady to the air temples.

Katara hated the air temples. Especially when Zuko wasn’t there to keep her company since he had to clear some things up before he traveled to meet her there.

No, she didn’t hate the air nomads. Aang was a brilliant friend of hers whom she appreciated very much, but the temples… those were the real problem.

They were up high in the atmosphere where the aur was much thinner. She always had to adjust her breathing and be hyper aware of it whenever she traveled to meet Aang and talk politics.

She actually didn’t have much jurisdiction in the air temples. Over time, Aang had gathered up groups of people who wished to learn about Air Nomad culture and live as they did. This let smaller populations fill up the air temples and live there.

Katara did not understand how they dealt with it.

The only thing that gave her any form of power was the fact that she was the Avatar’s friend. In fact, she was sure no one would actually know who she was if she wasn’t close with Aang.

The air temples were closed off by a lot of society, which led them to create their own. Katara was extremely proud of Aang and all his hard work, but she never really understood why he wanted to separate the Air Temples from the rest of the world.

That’s how Katara ended up staying in a small room near the bottom of one of the temples. She sighed and accepted her fate. There was no way she was getting a different room.

Spirits, she just wanted Zuko with her.

The next day, Aang decided to make it abundantly clear that he still had a throbbing crush on her, even though he was a husband and father.

He kept by her side during most of the political meetings, and even suggested they go out to eat when they were each free. She took a deep breath and agreed to go eat lunch at noon.

On the way, they passed a small toy shop. Aang walked in to grab something for his youngest son, the only other airbender aside from Aang.

Off to the side, Katara caught a glimpse of a small “Firelord plushie”. She walked up to it and chuckled lightly.

Aang walked up beside her and his usual cherry demeanor seemed to slip.

”Well, all things considered, I guess you do t have to buy it,” he laughed.

Katara looked at him out of the side of her eye and let herself smile. She grabbed the small plush and gave the cashier a few silver coins.

”He’ll get a good laugh out of it,” she countered.

After all this time, Aang still wanted her, but he wasn’t going to get her.

She had found a man who treated her like a woman. And nothing was going to talk away from that.

She felt like she had finally done something right.

Maybe it was because they were finally married, she smiled to herself.

The next day, she helped to pass a law that allowed visitors to enter the air temples (with the proper forms and signatures).

Once she was done, she’d go back to her small room and pray she’d never have to breathe this thin air again.

She would literally do anything else.

Now, all she had to do was wait for Zuko to arrive.

Maybe Aang would give them a bigger room since he was the Fire Lord.

she stared out the window in her room to where she knew the Fire Nation palace resided.

For now, she’d deal with the torture of the Air Temples and Aang’s pestering.

”Fire Lady Katara, you’re requested in the meeting room.”

She nodded.

Fire Lady Katara.

It had a nice ring to it.

Chapter Text

A boat ride isn’t exactly what Zuko had planned for the night but he didn’t care. As long as he got to spend time with Katara, nothing else mattered to him.

”Yeah, that’s Avatar Roku. They made a statue of him before the whole war thing started. I’m surprised no one ever tore it down,” he softly spoke to his girlfriend. They were riding along a river that went through a lot of the fire nation.

”That one’s Azulon, there,” he pointed to another statue, a bit smaller. He had thought long and hard about tearing it down, the image of war flashing in his eyes whenever he saw the statue. But he knew it would do his nation no good to forget all the bed they contributed to, so he added a large card with information regarding everything Azulon contributed to around the statue.

”No, that’s actually an old school,” he corrected Katara when she pointed to a very large building.

“A museum is just down a couple blocks. Have you been inside? We should go.”

He continued to row the boat down the long river in silence. There was a small smile on Katara’s face.

“We’ve got ten minutes before we have to head back to the palace . What would you like to do? We can dock here and take a few moments to relax, or we could continue rowing?”

She looked up at the sky and then back down at him. “Whatever you want,” she said, laying her head on his shoulder. Although it was uncomfortable for him to row while Katara was up against him, he didn’t show any signs of discomfort. He loved this too much to make her go.

Maybe after these ten minutes finished, they would stay for another ten. The politics at the palace can wait.

And if she agreed to that, he would probably keep asking until the morning sun rose.

He will never feel complete until he shares these moments with her.

Katara kissed Zuko’s cheek. “I’m sorry I was late to this. I promise I wasn’t trying to I just- I know I’m going to be late to a lot of things, I lose track of time easily,” she chuckled, “but if you can just wait a few minutes for me, I promise I’ll always make it. No matter the cost.”

She had been late to the boat ride Zuko had planned for them. She felt horrible and continuously apologized to him. She did this a lot— be late. She always got so caught up doing whatever she was doing and lost track of time.

She sighed and dropped her head. “I really don’t try to do all this shit on purpose . You know that, right? And I’m certainly not proud of it. But anything other than being on time, I can do for you.”

Zuko laughed and kissed her back. “As long as you make it, I’ll never leave.”

Katara felt at home with Zuko.

”I don’t understand how other couples can’t make it work. And I don’t understand why so many people give up on their lovers so easily. You make me think they’re all stupid. It’s a horrible mindset, really. Or maybe it’s just because they don’t know you.”

Zuko laughed again and rolled his eyes. He made a comment about how maybe he should start lowering her standards and she tackled him. It felt so out of character for the two of them to be doing this, but also so perfect. She loved it.

When they were finally settled, Zuko took a moment to himself. 

“Katara,”

She doesn’t remember much else other than gasping and yelling “Yes” so loud she was sure people from towns over could hear her.

Zuko was mentally beating himself up. He didn’t know when to do it, and the ring in his pocket started becoming more and more uncomfortable as their ride progressed. Finally, after a small talk, he ripped off the bandaid and got down on one knee.

”Katara, will you share your life with me for the rest of our lives? For a million summers, until the world explodes— forever? You’re so perfect, I can’t imagine my life without someone like you in it.

”Forever,” Katara repeated to herself, looking at the ring on her finger.

And in the blink of an eye, it was their wedding. The moment Zuko had been waiting towards for years.

Zuko spoke his vows aloud for who seemed like the entire Fire Nation. It was a large wedding that they had invited over one thousand people to.

”Until there is no one left who has ever known us when we were a part. Until only death do us part. I will never be complete without you. And I know damn well I’ll never be able to change this world without you by my side.”

and after a few more words were spoken, Katara and Zuko both said the words they were dying to speak since first getting engaged.

”I do.”

“Is that Avatar Roku?” Katara asked, pointing at a large statue in the middle of an even larger park.

Zuko gave a brief explanation on the statue, then pointed out one of Azulon who was significantly smaller but still in the middle of the same mark.

“Is that a church?” She asked as they passed by a large and beautiful building. It looked amazing, with small plants growing in front of it.

She sat with Zuko for a while. They laughed and flirted. She felt her heart beat with joy.

”Is that a museum? We I wonder what the Fire Nation artifacts look like.”

Chapter Text

Azula told Zuko that the minute he got married every other woman in the world would suddenly find him attractive. Well that’s not true.

It only affected the kind of women he always wanted to sleep with. Though from Azula’s perspective, that was technically every woman in the world, so maybe she wasn’t all that wrong.

But these women had never even given him the time of day before. Probably because he was the banished prince. But now a fair share of women would walk up to him and flirt. Like, blatantly flirt with him.

So here he is, sitting in on a meeting and eating a few fire flakes, and out of the corner of his eye he sees a woman walk by him, somewhat seductively, swaying her hips and flashing him a quick smile.

and all Zuko can think is

’that’s not fair’

And in a perfect world, there would be no other women in the world. And it would be just Zuko and Katara in a world where nothing else mattered.

But it’s fine. He’s happy, she’s happy, everyone is great. It’s not a problem, only a challenge to resist temptation.

Though was truly makes this problem worse is that he’s at all these parties where he’s the center of attention.
And there’s the woman again.

”Do you want a cup of coffee? Will you look over some political policies I came up with?”

And he’s showing her his left hand. Explaining everything with his left hand. Hell, he’s testiculating with his left hand (which he bangs his head against a wall in memory of later that night).

Then he sees Katara walking towards the two of them and he forces himself to wipe the smirk off his face and talk to her as if nothing was just happening with him and the girl across from him. But she knows. And he knows she knows (which leads him to bang his head even more that night). So there’s a moment where he’s trying to prove that he wasn’t encouraging anything which is stupid because he doesn’t want to look like that in front of this woman which is even more stupid because he can’t fuck her anyway.

In a perfect world, a miracle would happen and every girl would look like Ozai. And it’d be him and Katara and nothing else would matter, but it’s fine.

He loves her more than anything and he’s fine.

He’s happy!

It’s not a problem, it’s just a challenge to resist temptation.

-

Here Katara was again. Giving the same spiel she gives to every other cabinet member when proposing her policies. She just wants to clear ties with the Water Tribes, but her policies are always denied. Even so, she holds her head high and smiles when leaving.

”Thank you, thank you so much!”

-

Zuko glances at his watch and out the window and in the direction where the air temples reside.

He’ll be there soon.

Somehow, their honeymoon had been cut short due to political affairs in the air temples and Zuko was stuck fixing the affects it had on the Fire Nation, so Katara was sent on her own first to try and clear things up with Aang.

”Please, don’t give up on me yet.” He whispers.

He’ll be there as soon as possible, if his advisors stop scheduling meetings for him.

He’ll be there.

Abd all he can think about is in a perfect world, it would just be him and her. They’re going to make it through this.

They’re fine. They’re fine. They’re fine. They’re fine. He’s fine.

He’ll be there soon. He swears by it.

Chapter Text

Katara was back at the meeting room, surrounded by advisors and cabinet members appointed by Zuko.

Katara finally felt like she was making progress.

She would wake up every morning at six; the same time as Zuko, and plan out her theses. Before even entering the meeting room, she would have to wait for hours before her appointed time. Since she was the person advocating for a cause, she had to wait to meet with the cabinet like every other person visiting the palace.

There were dozens of men and women waiting around the meeting rooms. Most would be waiting for hours. Katara had only arrived five minutes before she was to speak. She looked around the main hallway at the different people before her, dresses in formal attire much like hers and drinking tea, wine, or other alcoholic beverages to help sooth their anxiety. Katara grabbed a small cup of tea. Perhaps she would also advocate for better scheduled meetings in the future.

She watched a few men and women enter and leave an assortment of different rooms until she is finally asked to enter one of the larger rooms.

As she walks in, she takes note that there are only men sitting in the circular table in front of her. She takes a deep breath and greets the men, thanking them for allowing her the time of day to speak her concerns.

She didn’t truly have gratitude for them. She had hoped that when she married Zuko, she would be best able to mend fire nation ties with both water tribes. Alas, Zuko needed to prove to his nation that he took no bias in his decisions and would leave many up to her own cabinet. Katara was upset that no one of water tribe decent wished to join his cabinet, not even Sokka, who instead insisted on living with Suki on Kiyoshi island.

Katara knew she was selfish for assuming such things. She would stand with Zuko no matter his decision and understood him on all grounds. And Sokka was married, she would never force him to give up his happiness for the sake of politics.

She begins her speech from memory, telling the story of the fire nation and water tribes and how they used to be close, trading often and happily accepting tourists.

Katara feels a tickle in the back of her throat itching to be let out. She holds it in as she continues to speak, a slight rasp coming from her vocals. At one point, she stumbles over her words and internally slaps herself. She needs to be perfect if she wants them to consider her policies.

She looks over at some of the various men to see few writing down notes. She turns to another man who is looking down at his pants. Why was he doing that? There was another man staring directly at her face. She the internally criticized her lack of makeup capabilities.

Why did she pick this makeup? Why did she pick this thesis? Why did she decide to engage in politics? Why—

If all goes to plan and she gets out on time maybe she can go shopping with Toph, it would be nice to spend some time with her, though she would still prefer to spend her afternoon with her fiancé. Zuko needs time to speak with his cabinet too, however, and Katara would never intrude on his personal time. Since she’s very clearly a horrible, annoying distraction to him. Tui and La, what will he be like when they have kids?

Why is she speaking so passionately? These men couldn’t care less if she cared about the water tribes. They didn’t personally see the Fire Lords fiancé as someone with any true power until she was Fire Lady. Agni, she’s terrible.

Then finally, she finishes, and the men tell her they will consider her proposal, just like they always do.

Katara walks out of the room and then out of the castle.

Katara will not be the girl that is just Fire Lady to carry the Lord’s child. She will not be the girl in the sensible shoes, pushing to be heard by her husband and missing any clues about their relationship he might be giving her. And she will not be the girl who gets asked how it feels to be waking beside ‘the best Fire Lord the nation has ever seen’. She will not be the woman who requires a man to get by in life.

The next day, she prepares her next thesis.

Chapter Text

“Katara stop, just stop!” Zuko finds himself raising his voice at his spouse. He halts, taking a deep breath and pacing around their shared room as he gathers his thoughts. “Look, my advisors and my cabinet, they’re finally letting one of my earth kingdom policies through. And there’s a party that we’re all throwing. And— I know you’ve made it clear you’re not going, but that doesn’t mean I’m not, and that’s done.”

Katara stares at him, a low but lost stare. A stare that Zuko can’t let himself look back at. Her lips purse and she shuffles on her side of the bed before finally looking down.

Zuko walks over to his side and sits down beside her. “What’s this really about? Is it really just about the party?” She remains silent, the first time she’s been silent the entire night. “Can we please for a minute stop blaming and say what we feel?”

Katara let’s out a breath, and Zuko feels himself do the same.

”Is it just that you’re disappointed to spend time in the southern air temples with Aang again?” Katara doesn’t move, her posture giving no answer to his question. “Did you think this would all be easier than it’s turned out to be?”

Katara finally shoots her head up, taken aback and seemingly offended at his statement.

”Why would you even suggest that I— that I assumed this would all be easy.”

”Well then talk to me, Katara! Please, talk to me.”

Zuko watches as tears make their way to the edges of Katara’s eyes. He looks away.

”Katara, right from when we first met, I believed in you. I believed you could be anything and everything, and while at first it scared me, I grew to love you and everything you could do. If I didn’t believe in you, I doubt we’d have gotten this far. Because each time, you raise the stakes. I love that about you, you know? So I’m always going to push you to do better, because I believe you can do anything you put your mind to.”

He looks back over at Katara to see her reaction. To his surprise, she had stepped away from the bed and moved towards the window that overlooked Caldera.

’She could change everything,’ he thought to himself.

Had he not believed in her, he doesn’t even know if he’d have loved her at all.

He didn’t get up to meet her this time, he stayed on the bed.

”Had I not believed in you, Katara, we wouldn’t be having this fight. You stood your ground and I— well, I would leave you be. But I could never do that, Kat, I know you too well to let you do that.”

Zuko hears a sniffle from her direction, and he feels he’s finally getting through to her. He stands up and places his hand on her shoulder. She flinches at the initial contact but ultimately relaxes into his touch. He looks out the window and onto Caldera, the bustling never stops, not even at night.

”Don’t we get to be happy? At some point down the line, can’t we relax like this, without some policies pushing us further away from each other.”

”Some policies? Zuko, this is my tribe, my life, my everything. If I can’t do this, it’s worthless.” She shrugs Zuko’s Hand off of her shoulder, turning to face him. They’re mere inches away. Before, when they were this close, it would always be to embrace one another in a kiss. Now, Zuko can’t remember the last time they were intimate.

”Katara, I will always be rooting for you. No matter what. But if I’m cheering on your side, why can’t you support mine? Every night I ask you have your meetings went and you never so much as make a remark about mine. Why do I have to feel I failed you by doing what I swore to my nation I would do!?” He gestures to the window. People were outside their homes, moving around like nothing was wrong. It’s what he always wanted, but he’s never felt less satisfied.

“I don’t want you to hurt, Katara.” He grasps both her shoulders, forcing her to face him, but her head is turned in some other direction, staring at nothing. “Hey—“ he takes her cheek in his right hand and moves it back into her hair. He missed this feeling. “I think we’ll be fine. Just hang on and you’ll see. But I don’t want you make make me wait until you do to be happy with you,” her face is still turned away, “Will you listen to me!?” He finally raises his voice.

She flips her head toward him and stares back. She no longer looks lost or angry, just hurt.

”No one can give you courage, just like they can’t weaken you. But I will not fail so you can be comfortable, Katara.”…”I won’t lose just because you can’t win.”

Katara’s face hardens and she unleashes herself from his grasp. He doesn’t move to take her back. She stops in the middle of the room.

”Had I not believed in you, then this is where it would end. But I can’t bear to lose this. I won’t let us fall, not after these four years. That’s what I thought we agreed on.”

Katara’s body rises and falls with her breath. She turns back around to him, and he can no longer read her face.

”Now, why don’t you put on your dress and we’ll go, okay?”

nothing.

”Katara, please?”

nothing.

”Please!”

Chapter Text

Katara’s brother, Sokka, had a little situation at the end of the 100-year war. When he and Suki found time to participate in the “devil's tango”, as Toph called it, was beyond Katara. Nonetheless, they got married not long after.

Little Yue would get bigger every second, unaware of the political times of which she was conceived. Meanwhile, Sokka would be out as a water tribe ambassador advocating for the two tribes and their role in the world.

In little time, they moved to Kiyoshi Island for Suki to pursue her Kiyoshi Warrior career. Sokka was able to negotiate a payment for his time spent as an ambassador. They were able to get a nice house and grew a strong reputation on the Island.

Katara thought about what she wanted; A life in politics that somehow also revolved around a child; it wasn’t like that at all. So she sewed Yue a small Parka thinking that she could do better than that.

Not long after she moved to Caldera to act as an ambassador for Zuko's council. She got a small house in the city, bought some small decorations that reminded her of home and lost a few pounds as well. While working, a certain blonde would keep eyeing Katara during the council meeting. Not that Katara was complaining, she had been considering expanding her horizons and finding someone to potentially go out with. Even though Zuko had crossed her mind a few too many times for comfort, she decided to give the blond a chance. He was cute and sweet, and yeah, he was good in bed, so she gave up her life for the better part of the year.

Then, when she's finally considering that maybe she could get somewhere with Jun, in fact, the moment it entered her head, he needed to take time off to "focus more on himself". He blew her off with a heartfelt letter which left Katara taking deep breaths to try and compose herself over the abrupt breakup.

She knew well enough that she could do better than that.

She then spent more time around Zuko. Zuko had his reservations about being the Firelord, well aware of his legacy. They would each complain about whatever for hours on end until they fell asleep from exhaustion, and then they would wake up and report to their respective duties. 

One late night, they were walking around the city of Caldera. The night was cold as it was mid-winter, and all Zuko had on him was his usual Fire Nation garb. Katara paused their walk when they passed a nearby clothing store. A minute later, she ran out with a small scarf and wrapped it around Zuko's neck.

Katara was used to cold weather as she had lived in the Southern Water Tribe for most of her life, the hottest her tribe ever got was always well below freezing. But she knew Zuko hadn't been raised the same. This was the first time in five years it had snowed in the Fire Nation Katara had been told.

"Well?" She asked, hoping for a positive reaction from the taller male.

"It's warm. Thank you," Zuko responded, a small smile making its way across his face.

There wasn't much Katara expected when she and Zuko had begun dating. Her expectations were low after her past relationships, so Zuko was able to surpass them exponentially. She would often go on tangents about how she didn't need Zuko to do everything he was doing, his duties as Fire Lord were far more important than his duties as her boyfriend, but he denied every request to let her work instead and continued to surpass her expectations.

He would learn dances when parties were held at the castle so he and Katara could waltz together. He would listen to traditional Water Tribe music to better understand her culture, he would do everything to make sure Katara felt as loved as possible.

She would argue that all he needed to do was love her and spend the night by her side, but he would never cease to go above and beyond.

So yeah, she became obsessed. She couldn't help but admire how amazing her boyfriend, Fire Lord Zuko, was. Not to mention how cute he was. Her life started revolving around Zuko, she could think about nothing but him. No substitution would be able to take Zuko's place, he was perfect.

Then she moved in with Zuko, and they would spend their time sitting in his room as they overlooked Caldera.

"Look at how far we've come," she said as she lightly nudged Zuko.

Zuko hummed in response.

"Just a few years ago, this place had practically been in ruins, metaphorically speaking, of course." Katara continued.

Zuko let out a soft chuckle that made Katara's chest feel like it was pulsing out of her body. Here, Katara thought, was exactly where she wanted to be. It felt like her life had led her to where she was, sitting beside Zuko.

And she would never leave.

She thought for a moment about her and Zuko and everything they had been through.

She thought about what could be.

She thought about how she loved Zuko.

She thought about everything that felt so perfect about the two of them.

She thought about all the bullshit they had each been through.

And then she thought about what had passed because she knew she- no, they could do better than that.

Chapter Text

Zuko lifted his head from his pillow. He felt the pang of the alcohol he had consumed the night before in his head. He turned to his other side and shook the body that lay below the blankets.

"Hey, good morning," he smiled as he looked down at the woman before him. Her eyes fluttered open as she opened her mouth to yawn. "You look like an angel," he complimented, and she gave him a soft smile.

"When did we go to sleep?" She groggily asked as she sat herself up.

"I can't remember, but we should get up."

Katara was waiting.

He took in his position as he was still lying in his bed. The covers made him feel uncomfortably warm, and his mind couldn't stop racing.

He made a promise, he took a vow. “Till death due us part” they both agreed. But Zuko, convinced the beautiful thing they once had died, broke his swear. Broke their bond. Broke everything.

He wrote a story, and he changed the ending. What would Katara do if she saw him now?

He paused what he was doing as the woman beside him began to get up and change. They were each only in their undergarments, he realized. Zuko took a few deep breathes before the initial panic receded.

Nobody needs to know.

Zuko changed himself as he readyed to leave to the Southern Air Temple. He'd have to figure out how to assure Katara he wasn't with her, all while praying he could see her again as soon as possible. 

But then things got out of hand, and his web of lies began to reveal themselves. 

It's over. It's done.

He knew she'd never understand. Nobody would understand.

He built a treehouse with Katara, and he'd keep it from shaking, adding glue every time that it cracked. It would stay steady until he began making more conscious deliberate mistakes. All he needed in the small house was a small private corner. One small room in the back of his heart, but when he finds one, Katara sends out batallions to claim it and blow it apart.

So he'll grip, and she'll grip, and they'll keep going faster. They'll slide and they'll spill 'till Zuko doesn't know when. 

"Come back to bed, Mai. Take me inside you."

He promises he won't lie to her.

He sputters out excuses, begging Katara to not cry then, not out in the open. He holds her, promising not to let go.

His panic begins to recede when they find a secluded area.

He get's what he needs once she's done.

Nobody needed to know he was there. 

Since he had to be in love with someone, 

since he needed to be in love with someone, 

maybe he could be in love with someone

like Mai.

Chapter Text

Zuko kissed Katara. It wasn’t a kiss of passion, or sweetness, or hell, even love. It was the kind of kiss that broke everything.

He tied a scarf around her neck. It wasn’t soft or comfortable, just warm and old. Katara looked up at Zuko, barely acknowledging the scarf that hung loosely around her neck. Gold eyes met blue and Katara felt herself shiver. She was cold. She knew Zuko knew too, although she also knew that wasn’t why he gave her the scarf. She didn’t really know why he gave it to her.

She turned, not daring to look back. She couldn't let herself look at him more than she already had. Snow had begun to fall from the sky. It didn't snow often in Caldera. The last time it had was nearly over five years ago.

"Bye," Zuko spoke, barely grazing Katara's ears. She paused her walking. Something about that word burned a hole in her chest. Katara didn't know whether to acknowledge his words or not. She took a step forward, then another, and another until she turned the corner out of the Firelord's castle.

She wondered if she would hear from Zuko again. She was sure she would. She was sure he would send letters, and she was sure she would respond, in fact, she was sure she would be waiting for the next after he sent the first.

She'll be waiting for him.

She's been waiting for him.

Katara stood on a precipice. She struggles to keep her balance as rocks fall from below her feet until she falls. She opens herself to the open air as her stitches begin to unravel. She takes a deep breath and begins to run.

She was sure she would wait for a letter from Zuko, and she was sure she would respond, but she was also sure that he would never be able to cut her strings anymore, and if he did, all he would do is open her wings.

She finds a pool of water and jumps on top of it as she bends her way down the winding streets of Caldera.

"Bye," she recalls as she laughs to herself.

"Goodbye until tomorrow."

Zuko called one of his advisors to help clear out Katara's room. It was already bare but there were still signs of her presence.

He walked out of the castle and to the bank to close their bank account.

He does everything he can to keep his mind occupied. All he can think about, however, is how he could've mended things. Another psychiatrist wouldn't help, and another compromise wouldn't fix anything. 

He's not the only one who's hurting, but he doesn't know what else is left to do.  Katara had never seen how far the crack in their treehouse had opened. She had never noticed he had run out of glue. And he could never rescue her. 

All he could do was love her hard; then let her go.

Agni, he loved her so much.

So they could fight.

Or they could wait.

Or he could go.

Katara finds the first ship that is headed to the Southern Water Tribe. 

Zuko couldn't imagine a world where they could both win.

She speeds up the ship until her arms are exhausted. 

"Bye," he recalls his words. He bangs his head against the wall in his room.

She jumps off the ship once she's arrived and sees Sokka in the distance.

He looks over at his empty bed and sits at the edge of it.

She hugs Sokka.

Goodbye.