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“I’ll save you from the pirates.”
It all begins with a brief touch—an accidental one, seconds before the necklace teased the back of her neck. Zuko would later cringe at the memory, knowing it was the beginning of a small spark in his heart.
The next touch was also brief, full of an unspoken understanding between the two. Underneath the gleam of the cave, he leaned towards her caress. The girl’s palm had a warmth to it, like the comfort of a fire during the winter. Until it’s interrupted, there’s distance now, formed by the sorrow of betrayal.
He didn’t want to admit that he failed her. Zuko wanted to do anything he could to make it up to her.
“Watch out!” This touch is rough and tumultuous, a slam of bodies in desperation in the face of death.
“What are you doing?!” She spat at him, his heart beating faster.
“Keeping the rocks from crushing you.” He tightened his grip.
“Okay, I’m not crushed. You can get off me now!”
“I’ll take that as a thank you.”
As he felt the wind blowing on his face as he fell to his demise, he saw her arms, reaching out; her touch still felt like a flame.
Only when he helps her face her mother’s killer does everything change. A chance at redemption. He knew he had proved himself to the others, but what she said was true. He had taken advantage of her trust, he failed her, and he would take any chance to gain her forgiveness. Katara had a goal; she didn’t need comfort; they were past that. Closure and justice, that was his purpose. Yet he wanted to reach out and comfort her, just like she did for him back in the caves. But Zuko did not feel worthy.
Until he did, he gained Katara’s trust, surprising him with an embrace. A sweet touch of forgiveness that warmed up his entire being.
Afterwards, there were many instances.
The others were off swimming after training, and they decided to sit together under the shade. She had sand on her face. Katara's skin was still damp, and the sand stuck to her sun-kissed cheek.
“Katara,” he called again, trying to get her attention.
She was laser-focused, reading a scroll.
“You have sand stuck to your cheek.”
Nothing.
“Kat—y’know what–” He leaned closer and grabbed her chin.
“Zuko? What are you doing?"
He gently wiped the sand off with his thumb. “Stay still.”
Her face was soft and glistening. Beautiful.
Katara squirmed, her heart racing.
“There, it’s off.”
Flushed with embarrassment, she replied, “You could’ve told me!”
“I did!”
Their training backs against each other, the accidental grace of their fingers while cooking, or even when they sat next to each other at the theater.
He was sleeping on the deck.
“Zuko,” she said softly as she tapped his shoulder.
“Wake up. It’s time for dinner.”
The first thing he saw was her eyes, and then the sunset forming a halo behind her.
His voice was heavy with sleep, “How long was I out?”
She smiled, “Not too long, but long enough for Aang to run away with Toph.” Katara reached out.
“Is that so?” Zuko grabbed her hand, enjoying the familiar ardor, and slowly got up.
No desire to let go.
“Can you blame him? His dear fellow Sifu Hotman fell asleep!”
She kept teasing him.
“And you? A nap? At this hour? I thought you rose with the sun, Prince Zuko.”
He groaned, “Please don’t ever call me that or repeat that ever again.”
Her laughter filled his ears as she interlocked their fingers, giving him a teasing squeeze.
It seemed she had no intention of letting go either, as they walked inside the house.
Their caresses are a magnetism that they couldn’t explain. A wave that always touches the shore yet always pulls back. Soft and delicate. A spark just about to start a fire, yet never fully igniting.
She touches his shoulder to remind him that it was time to clean up. He always picks out that stubborn hair that leaves her braid, a constant reminder for her to redo it.
It’s casual, as it’s meant to be. But both of them know that at one point, it became something else. Even when they refused to see it.
“I see you worked things out with your girlfriend.”
“I’m not his girlfriend! / She’s not my girlfriend!”
On the day of Sozin’s Comet, amid the final Agni Kai, the realization is clear.
“No!”
He couldn’t let her get hurt; it was the only thing he wished for. To keep her away from this. But it was Azula; he should’ve expected this. Zuko jumped in front of Katara. Nothing else mattered as the lightning bolt went through his chest.
Katara.
“Zuko!” She knew, she knew this would happen. She ran towards him.
Another blast of lightning. She will get to him.
Zuko.
Katara bends the water back, trapping Azula.
Reaching Zuko in a fervent hurry, she lays him on his back and starts healing his chest. He felt the cool water touch the star across his chest, full of care and desperation. A touch filled with the fear of losing him and not being able to reach out to him ever again. Tears formed at the thought. Her body felt the waves crash in and out, a raging sea that she couldn’t calm down. She had to save him, and she will.
Seeing her above him, safe, made him smile softly through the pain. It was all worth it, Katara was worth it and more. His relief was as bright as the fire inside him.
“Thank you, Katara.”
A tear fell.
“I think I should be the one thanking you.” She smiled back.
She helped him up, arm around his waist, and his arm across her shoulders. The last touch they would share as the peace of war occurred around them.
By the time everything had settled, a distance grew between them. This one was different from the one that occurred in the caves; it was simply a consequence of circumstances out of their control. They still cared for each other, but they just weren’t as close as before. The spark grew dimmer inside him while her wave crashed into a rocky shore.
She had Aang and he Mai. Zuko focused on his duties as the new Fire Lord of a divided nation. Katara went back to her tribe, ready to help it rebuild with the strength of its people. Whatever they had, if it had a name, was gone.
“As it is meant to be.” A voice whispered to the night.
The memories of that summer froze as many seasons passed and changed. The yearning came afterward, still unbeknownst to the two heroes. During the odd visit, in the annual reunions, within the seemingly friendly hugs that lasted a bit too long. She would briefly feel the wave going to the shore, while he would feel the heat of a flame that was left untouched.
Zuko tried to extinguish that flame. Agni and the spirits know he tried. He tried with Mai. After all, didn’t love take work? Yet it wasn’t enough; it wasn’t effortless. It was not meant to be. Aang and Katara were proof that love was effortless. A love that hurt him every time he caught a glimpse of it.
Katara wanted more. She dreamed of peace; the Avatar came back after 100 years into her arms. She wanted justice for her mother and all those wronged by the Fire Nation; she helped bring down Sozin’s reign. Katara wanted an all-consuming love; Aang couldn’t give her that. He was the Avatar, savior of the world, and keeper of balance. As much as it hurt to admit it for both, they had to part ways.
One night, under Yue’s glow above the dark horizon, Katara went to the ocean. As she saw the waves crashing, she recognized that something was missing. Yet, like the sea, her myriad of emotions just could not grasp what was on the surface.
Ember Island reveals the true you.
The night was one of drinks and fun. Reminiscing about memories of the past. Aang’s boisterous laugh that still held a bit of that 12-year-old boy they once knew, Toph’s drinking challenges that the boys could never say no to, Suki and Sokka’s contempt faces as they danced clumsily in each other’s arms to the sound of the ocean.
They were sitting by the fire, the others long gone off to rest, when Katara noticed something.
The star-shaped scar that marred his abdomen. She hadn’t seen it in years. The memory came back to her as if it had happened moments before. How it still felt warm because of the lightning strike. The skin scorched and marred.
She saw it now, peeking through his robe, as he sat on the log in front of her, taking a sip of his drink. A reminder of what he had done, left unspoken. The bittersweet memory of the victory amidst Azula’s hurt.
How would it feel under her fingertips? Would the skin feel soft? Or ragged? Was it the reason that a distance grew between them?
“Are you okay, Katara?” Zuko’s concerned voice broke her thoughts.
“Oh yes, just thinking.”
“A copper for your thoughts?” His voice teasing, trying to comfort her.
“You should at least offer gold.” She forced a smile.
He stood up to sit beside her. Not close enough.
“You could just say no, y’know,” his cheeks were starting to get red from the wine he was drinking.
“It’s just that you’ve seemed off these last few days."
He paused for a moment, as if he doubted his instinct. But it was Zuko, of course, he knew.
"What’s wrong, Katara?”
This is what she liked about him. No matter how much time they’ve spent away from each other, he could always tell. Why did it take so long to see it?
She grabbed the bottle and took a slow sip. Liquid courage could help after all.
“That’s rich coming from you, Mister’ Fire Lord of the Fire Nation.” He had a whole nation of responsibilities on his shoulders.
“What can I say? Takes one to know one,” he joked.
“But seriously, Kat, what’s wrong?” He said softly.
She leaned closer to him and put the bottle down.
“May I touch your scar?” Her voice was a bit hesitant.
Fuck, she actually said it. What gave her the right after all these years? Just because she did it in a cave once—
“Sure.” There was no hesitation in his voice, only trust.
He lowered his head towards her; the fire cast a shadow on the right side of his face. His bright golden eyes were closed as he waited for her touch.
Katara couldn’t believe it. His features were relaxed, and although she could see the signs of stress that overtook him throughout the years, he was still Zuko.
He opened his eye. “Katara?”
She snapped herself from the trance.
“Sorry, Zuko, I…” she paused again, “I meant your other scar…”
“Oh.”
He stared at her blue ocean eyes as if asking why, in the hopes of getting an answer from them.
Should she lie? Frame it as a curiosity rather than a desire?
“Please? I know it’s weird, but just humor me this once,” she was rambling.
He slowly loosened his robe, revealing his chest, giving in to her wish.
Her eyes met his, and suddenly, they were back in the cave. The moon shining as brightly as the gems were that night. Just the two of them, in a moment of faith and acceptance.
Katara could hear her heart beating faster in anticipation as she slowly reached towards the star-shaped scar. Zuko remained still. Then, she felt the thorn of hesitation prick her heart, making her stop.
He softly grabbed her wrist, “Katara…”
Has her name ever given her so much comfort?
“It’s all right,” he guided her hand closer to his abdomen.
Her skin met his. The skin felt ragged, solid, and thick. She traced its shape with her fingertips; his body was the sky and his scar the North Star.
Zuko leaned in, and she felt his stare.
The touch that represented everything that was left unsaid. The touch of a fire left idle and the embrace of water when one sank in. The touch that made her realize that she missed this. The feeling of his skin through her fingertips, the sensation of his touch on her body, and the intimacy between them.
A silence overtook them, and she placed her palm flat on the scar.
Katara looked away towards the sea; a wave was just about to get to the shore. Everything was bubbling up: the memories, his concerned eyes, and the desire to just drown in him.
“Why did you save me?”
The wave crashed on the shore.
Zuko’s eyes widen, confused. Where were these thoughts coming from?
The fire across them grew ablaze momentarily.
Was she seriously asking why? Frustration coursed through him.
She removed her hand from his chest as if she could feel his reaction.
“I’m sorry, Katara, did I hear that correctly? Are–” he paused, the air suddenly feeling thick, “Are you referring to the Agni Kai?”
This was the first time in fifteen years that they had acknowledged what had happened between them that day. To say he didn’t know why he did it would be a lie.
“What else would I be referring to, Zuko?” Her voice melancholic. As if briefly reliving that day.
Could he tell her that only her name was in his mind? That in that split second, as he dashed toward the lightning, Katara was all he thought of?
No. Not yet.
“Well, there was that time in the temple—”
“Zuko.” She spoke in a stern tone, not buying the excuse one bit.
He grumbled and scratched his neck, feeling the familiar tingle of anxiety.
“We’ve never spoken about that day, Katara. I don’t see why this is relevant right now.”
“Because it is! It always was! And,” her eyes were glossy, “because we just went like business as usual."
She tightly held her skirt, needing to tether herself to something, anything, to prevent the tears from falling.
"Even though something did change that day. We acted as if nothing had happened other than defeating Azula. Done. Mission accomplished.”
She stood up and started circling the fire.
He stood frozen.
“Why did you do it, Zuko?” Katara asked again.
He thought the answer was obvious.
“Katara, you cannot be serious.” He said in disbelief.
“I am serious!”
“You would have done the same thing. I would’ve done it for anyone.”
They both knew that was a lie.
“No! It’s not the same, and we both know that. Don’t go creating scenarios or what-ifs."
"We’re talking about you," she pointed at him, then at herself," and me."
"We were supposed to defeat Azula together from the beginning. But you took her on alone. You said it was because she was off that day, but there was more to it. Right?”
Another wave crashed on the shore. The sound of the waves was increasing.
Why did people always sacrifice themselves for her? Her mother, her father, Aang…
“Zuko, that decision could’ve cost you the throne. And the scar—” her voice broke, and the tears were fully flowing now.
“You could’ve lost everything and—Why?”
“Why not, Katara!? All of that would’ve meant nothing without you! You’re worth that and more.” Zuko raised his voice.
How could she not understand that she meant the world to him? That he wouldn't have been able to go on without her?
She stood still. He would not meet her eyes for fear of the incoming rejection.
“At the time… I didn’t know the name of that emotion. I just thought of your name.”
He took a deep breath and walked towards her. His hand wiped her tears while the other grabbed her hand.
How could he put into words the way she lit him aflame? That for years, he tried to snuff that fire out, and he couldn’t?
“Love is sacrifice, Katara. I would’ve thrown myself into that lightning again and again to save you. Be it then or even now.”
“Zuko…”
“Now, this isn’t the way I pictured telling you. In fact, I had no intention of telling you. But I will not have you think this,” he placed her hand on his scar, “was a mistake."
He paused for a moment, knowing that his next words would change everything, and spoke.
“Katara, you lit a fire in me that has been left untouched for years. The truth is that I loved you back then and now. I was meant to love you the moment you placed your hand on my scar.”
He gently kissed her hand, his eyes staring directly at hers.
She took a plunge. Breaking from his hold, placing one hand on his face and the other on his chest, brushing her lips to his.
Katara felt his disbelief, yet they both realized words were no longer needed. The feeling of their bodies together, the feeling of his hair on her fingertips, his hands pulling her closer- this was the love she wanted, that they needed.
Their kiss were the waves finally reaching shore. A blazing touch that they were never letting go.
“As it is meant to be.”