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Zuko hadn’t woken in days, and Katara pretended not to know how much time had passed but really she was aware of every excruciating second that passed by without Zuko. Without his rare and shy smile, his laughter, his sly comments. She knew it had been 4 days and 13 hours since she’d last seen his eyes open.
He moved, on the rare occasion. But Zuko wasn’t a restless sleeper, when he was asleep he was actually closer to a dead body than some actual corpses she’d seen.
When that lightning had pierced his chest it had done something. There was something undeniably different about his body to her. Lightning seemed to ripple beneath his skin, pulse through his veins, crackle with every breath he took.
Zuko had told her that he’d never been able to bend lightning. They’d been outside beneath the swollen moon, draped in its perfect glow. She could picture him so well if she reached out she could stroke his warm alive face.
He’d had his eyes closed, leaning back on the steps with his head tilted towards the sky. She was beside him, her lithe fingers tracing characters into his bulging bicep. He’d been shirtless, his hair dripping with sweat and a displeased expression on his face.
It wasn’t odd for her to catch Zuko training at odd hours, but under the moon? She always found him at sunrise, the new sun filling his veins with renewed fire. But beneath the moon his power waned, the fire in his veins dying like the in firewood in their hearth.
She’d sat beside him on the stairs without a word. He knew she was there, he was always aware of her. His voice had been soft, crackling with uncertainty and shame. He’d confessed that he’d never been able to create lightning, not like he could fire. That raw, powerful form of firebending did not find its way to him. There was no lightning in his heart, he was certain of it.
Seeing him here like this, Azula’s lightning shooting through his body in jagged arcs, it was excruciating.
For four days she’d been hunched over by Zuko’s bedside, desperately trying to heal him and remove the lightning from his heart. She hadn’t since the others since they’d left each other at Ba Sing Se, Aang since he’d abandoned them before Sozin’s Comet. The fire lord was defeated, not dead Iroh had told her when he’d come with food and drink, just defeated.
Katara reached out with a trembling hand, brushing a strand of Zuko’s sweat soaked hair away from his forehead. He was hot. As a fire bender he always ran warmer than she did, but not like this. He practically scalded her skin.
“Master Katara,” a soft voice murmured, a gentle hand coming to rest on her shoulder. “You must eat. You won’t do yourself nor my nephew any good by starving yourself.”
She wiped at her cheeks, nodding silently. She took the tray Iroh offered: steaming komodo chicken skewers dribbling with chili oil, plump juicy dumplings, dark red hot cakes layered with sweet cream, and cool watermelon juice to wash it all down.
She reluctantly followed Iroh away from Zuko’s bedside. They were seated opposite each other on plush floor cushions, a low cedar table where they set their food between them. She could still see Zuko from this angle, and the steady rise and fall of his chest gave her enough strength to lift her first dumpling to her mouth.
Iroh watched her with tired eyes, silently sipping his tea in tune with her movements.
“Any news?” she croaked, her voice hoarse with disuse.
“No I’m afraid. Last I heard your four friends had made their way to Ba Sing Se but since then,” he shrugged, a serene expression on his face. “Not a word.”
She sighed softly, raising her glass of watermelon juice to her lips. Iroh cleared his throat.
“I don’t mean to bother Master Katara—“
“Just Katara,” she said, managing a small smile. “We’re friends remember?”
He smiled back, nodding. “Yes, Katara. Do you know what’s wrong with my nephew?”
Her smile dropped, and she held her glass in her hands to keep herself from shaking. “He’s never bent lightning before,” she murmured. “It’s gone through him but it didn’t linger. This—“ she sighed. “Zuko’s heart isn’t meant for lightning, and now it’s practically pulsing with it. I can’t get it out right now but—“ she chewed on her lower lip and looked out the window, counting down the days to the full moon in her head. “Tomorrow night when the moon is at its peak I think I can do it.”
Iroh was silent a moment, swirling his tea before draining it. “The tea leaves show good fortune on us, Katara,” he said. “If there is anyone I trust my nephew with, it is you.”
He left shortly after that, leaving Katara alone in her thoughts once more. She was back in the chair beside Zuko’s bed, her pinkie curled around his. Blood bending. Even the word sent a shiver down her spine. It wasn’t natural, it wasn’t right. Using it on anyone was the worst cruelty she could imagine. That was her stance, though it wasn’t Zuko’s.
He was fascinated by it. He swore up and down that if Katara mastered the skill it could be used for healing. The basic practice would be forever changed. He didn’t believe any form of bending could be unnatural.
“If it was unnatural then you wouldn’t be able to do it,” he’d justified, staring up at her from where his head rested in her lap.
Back then she’d been focused on the absurdity of his words. But now she could remember the little things from that moment. Her fingers sliding through his silky black hair, the blazing sun warming their bodies on the beach, and his eyes. Soft and tender, he’d looked at her like she was the most wonderful thing he’d ever seen. Her heart hurt at the fear that she’d never again see that warmth in his eyes.
She and Zuko had been far from amicable when he’d first come to their camp. Not for a lack of trying on his part, to his credit, but rather an unwillingness on hers. Something about Zuko’s betrayal in the crystal caves had cut her deeply, so deep in fact that she shuddered at the thought that it could happen again.
To protect herself, she isolated herself. She wouldn’t talk to Zuko, wouldn’t look at him, and heavens forbid she touched him. But then he’d taken her to find the man that had murdered her mother, and something shifted between them.
It wasn’t even a slow, gradual shift. It was immediate. She wanted to let Zuko in, she wanted to know all the things that made him tick. She couldn’t understand why, but she wasn’t one for denying her own wants. Not when it came to Zuko at least.
It had sort of spiralled from there. From late night training sessions and early morning talks to cooking dinner together and falling asleep with their arms wrapped around each other, all her free time became their free time.
She reached out to swipe her thumb over the crease between his brows, present even in peaceful sleep. He exhaled softly at her touch, a smile splitting his face in sleep. She scooted her chair forward, pressing her forehead against his.
Tui and La his skin was burning. She nearly flew back from the heat. Tears pricked her eyes and she breathed out shakily, pressing her water covered hand flush with his face.
“Come back,” she murmured. “Please. Come back to me.”
She finished her healing routine, just enough to keep his fever from becoming unbearable, and slid into bed beside him. Her hands, still wrapped in cool water, she pressed to his lightning scar. She curled herself around him, her body a shield against any ill spirits looking to collect him while they slept. She fell asleep to the steady beat of his heart, reassured in the knowledge that he would wake up tomorrow.
Tomorrow came with news. Iroh joined her for breakfast, tea sandwiches and jasmine tea, with a scroll in hand. It was from Aang. The four of them were coming to the fire nation, tomorrow. She clutched the scroll to her chest, a relieved sob bubbling up in her. But then a realization snapped through her.
She and Zuko were on borrowed time. Aang, Toph, Sokka, and Suki would come to the fire nation for Zuko’s coronation, and then what? She’d go home, back to the South Pole, and she’d see Zuko rarely for the rest of her life. And Aang, with his sweet misguided crush on her, would be devastated if he found out just how close she and Zuko truly were.
She pressed her hand to his chest, feeling the lightning pulsing beneath his scar. A rush of anger swept through her and she squeezed her eyes shut against the hot tears threatening to spill. It wasn’t fair. She’d fought a war, a fucking war, and she had to give up the only thing she really wanted? No, she wouldn’t allow it. She’d find some way to make her and Zuko work, she had to.
Hours passed, tense hours filled with nothing but fruitless pacing. It was as though the moon knew how important tonight was and was taking her sweet time rising. Katara crossed the room to the balcony, tossing open the doors and stepping into the sweltering heat.
“Could you hurry it up Yue?” she snarled at the sky, as useless as it was. Stress was eating at her, every moment without action felt like a moment lost.
And then she felt it. That hum in her veins, the familiar power rushing through her and blossoming in her chest. She could hear everything. The rush of Zuko’s blood, the steady heartbeat of the guards outside the door, her own frantic heart pounding in her ears.
She dropped down into the chair beside Zuko and pressed her hands to her chest. She had no real understanding of what she was about to do, only that she needed to do something. She could hear the rush of his blood, every individual blood cell tingled against her hands.
She breathed steadily, and then she worked. She didn’t sleep a wink, pulling the lightning from his bloodstream was no easy task. Every single charge had to be removed. How she did it? She had no clue. Her hands moved of their own accord, her desperation the force that kept her going.
And when the sun began to rise, its first rays splattering over Zuko’s chest, he opened his eyes.
Warm amber, they practically shone in the early morning sunlight. He blinked at the sleep in his eyes, sitting up slightly and wincing in pain. She immediately collected water on her hands and pressed them to his chest, breathing heavily. She was exhausted, she could feel sleep gripping its claws into her brain.
“Katara,” Zuko breathed, and she looked up from where she was intensely focused on his chest. He was giving her that look. His eyes were filled with awe and affection, and he reached out with a shaky hand to stroke her hair. “You healed me.”
She burst into tears, launching herself at him, uncaring of his pain, and wrapping her arms around his neck. His arm immediately came to wrap around her, his face buried into the crook of her neck. She realized suddenly that she hadn’t showered since Zuko had been struck by lightning and she must stink of sweat.
Zuko didn’t make any move to pull back though, his breathing shaky as they just held each other. Neither said a word until she pulled back slightly, wiping at her tears, and pressed her hand to his forehead. Warm yes, but no longer burning.
She laughed shakily, pressing the heel of her palm to her mouth. “Oh you’re alive. Thank Tui and La.”
He scoffed, shaking his head fondly. “No. Thank you Katara. You—“
“I love you.”
The words slipped out of her mouth before she could stop them, so fast they nearly blended together but it was clear Zuko had understood her. His eyes widened and his lips parted, his face horribly beautiful in the light. He was always beautiful, but she’d never realized how much better he looked when he was alive and warm. Seeing him as a near corpse for the last few days had shattered her.
“You do?” Zuko whispered, his voice painfully small. “Like, as a friend or—“
She laughed, cupping using cheeks and pressing their foreheads together. “No Zuko. I am in love with you.”
He inhaled sharply, his body frozen beneath her. Katara went to move back, worried that she’d strained his body beyond what he was capable of but Zuko made a noise of disapproval and dragged her in even closer. They were nose to nose, their lips not even an inch apart. This close she could see every ridge of his scar and the little flecks of gold in his eyes. She was entranced by him.
“You mean it?” he murmured, his hands sliding over her back.
She was in thin robes the palace staff had given her, loose ones she could slip on and off with ease. They were good for the heat, which had been threatening to suffocate her the last few days. Zuko’s hands slid beneath them, his burning skin making contact with her cool water bender flesh. She could practically feel the steam exploding from their contact.
“Yes,” she breathed, just the one syllable word. He grinned, big and wide and filled with everything good in the world and she felt tears swell anew. She pressed her thumb to that gorgeous smile, desperately wishing she could bottle it up so she’d never forget it.
“Katara,” he groaned, just her name but Tui his voice. Husky with disuse it did something to her. She almost felt like she was the one with electricity in her bloodstream. And the way he said her name, a desperate prayer, made her whole body warm. Zuko sat up slightly, adjusting them so she was practically straddling him. He winced and she frowned, pressing her fingers to his chest.
“Zuko you’re overexerting yourself,” she chided. “You need to rest and—“
His hand clamped over her mouth and a low laugh escaped his lips. “Agni Katara just let me get this out, then I’ll— we’ll rest.” He gave her a cheeky look and she rolled her eyes and nodded, prompting him to remove his hand.
“I love you,” he murmured, his hand stroking her cheek. Big and filled with tuff calluses she could also feel something new, scars rippling through his skin. “I love you,” he repeated, that big smile spreading across his face. “You love me. We love each other. What does that mean for us?”
She shook her head. “Not a clue. All I know is that whatever comes after this, we’ll face it together.”
Silence hung in the air between them, tension so thick one could slice through it. Then Zuko spoke.
“I’m gonna kiss you now.”
“Please do,” she groaned just as his mouth descended on her.
Tui and La it was everything. He devoured her, like she was unexplored land and he was an explorer desperate to unlock all her secrets. Every touch of their mouths unravelled her further. The heat of him was making her dizzy but she didn’t think she could stop even if she wanted to. The arm he had wrapped around her waist tugged her in close, the bulging muscle in it sending a burst of heat right down to her core. Her tongue swiped his lips and without a second thought their mouths opened for each other.
She never wanted to part from him, and it was only when her head was starting to go woozy from lack of air that she pulled back. The room was silent aside from their heavy breathing, and then their laughter. And they were kissing again, and again, and again. She could’ve stayed there forever but her stomach rumbled and Zuko pulled back with a cheeky smile.
“Someone a little hungry?” he teased, laughing when she pinched his side.
“Just for you,” she retorted, grinning at the flush that spread over his face. She cupped his cheeks, gently swiping her thumb over his scar. Zuko made it a point to turn his scar side away from everyone. He’d often insist on sitting at the end of a row so that his scar side never directly faced them. She made it a point to sit on his scar side. And it was only her, Zuko had said, where he did not mind.
Her stomach rumbled again and she frowned. “Ok maybe I am hungry. I should get Iroh anyway. And then I have to check you and—“
“Katara,” Zuko murmured. “We have time. It’s ok to move slow.”
She squinted at him. “Did you gain some strange amount of wisdom while you slept or something?”
He grinned, pressing another kiss to her mouth. La she’d never tire of that. “No. Maybe I just don’t want to give you up yet.”
“Zuko, for as long as I live you’re not going to be able to rid yourself of me,” she murmured, intertwining their fingers and kissing him anew. “I love you.”
“I love you more,” he said immediately, yelping when she tugged sharply at his hair.
“I will put you back in your coma do not start with me.”
Iroh arrived maybe a minute later, bearing food and conversation. He nearly dropped the tray when he spied his nephew, immediately crossing the room to pull him into a teary hug. While they spoke Katara slipped out of the room to the kitchen, requesting all of Zuko’s favourite and then carrying them back to the room.
“I’ll leave you two to your breakfast,” Iroh said as she reentered, a knowing look on his face. She froze in her tracks, frowning at him. He simply winked and walked away, taking his tea with him.
Zuko chuckled, shaking his head. “How does he always know?”
“It’s in the knees,” Katara laughed, setting the trays down on the bed and crawling to sit across from him. “My grandmother can tell when it’s about to snow because she gets a cramp in her knee. Must be the same for your uncle and romance.”
Zuko laughed, reaching out and pulling her slightly closer. He looked at the tray and perked up, grinning ear to ear. “Sizzle crisps!”
She took one of his hands into hers, flipping it and experimentally testing each of his fingers. She’d been right about feeling scars there. All across his hands were bolts of lightning, raised white scars that practically glowed against the darker expanse of his skin.
“Woah,” Zuko said, his eyes wide as he stared at his hand. “What did I miss?”
She told him everything, the words slipping out as easy as water rushes from a waterfall. She couldn’t stop herself from telling him even if she’d tried. Zuko just listened silently, snacking on his breakfast while she spoke. When she finished he took her hands into his, pressing kisses to her palms.
“You used blood bending for me?” he murmured, his eyes shining with love.
She nodded. “I don’t think I’ve made it clear before but I’d do anything for you Zuko. I’d cross any line for you,” her eyebrows furrowed and she leaned forward to grab his chin, her eyes smouldering. “But if you ever scare me like that again I will heal you just to kill you myself.”
He grinned, wrapping his arms around her and dragging her into his chest. She landed with an oomph, trying to pull back to not hurt his scar but he didn’t let her.
“I’d burn the world down for you,” he breathed into her mouth, his lips pressing against her own. She groaned into him and he swallowed the sound, pulling them flush with each other. They kissed until Katara’s tea was cold though she couldn’t have cared less.
When they finally pulled back Zuko brushed hair from her face, his eyes narrowed while he inspected her.
“You look tired,” he deduced. “We should sleep.”
“You’ve slept for five days,” she pointed out.
“Comatose sleep is different, I don’t feel well rested at all,” he admitted. “Come on Katara, you need rest.”
She quickly moved the trays to the cedar table and crawled into bed beside Zuko, nestling herself into his side. He wrapped himself around her, tucking his chin over her head and pressing a gentle kiss to her hair. She fell asleep within seconds, calmed by Zuko’s heartbeat and the knowledge that whatever else may come would be theirs to face.