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It’s been so long, she doesn’t even know what to expect.
The Fire Nation is still the same, of course. The trees are green, the wind is warm, the sun shines, the sea is blue and everyone is nice to her. They remember who she is. What she did to save their current Firelord. Back during the war, and some time after, she used to feel like an outsider in these streets, but that wasn't the case anymore. Everywhere is a little bit of her home, now.
She couldn’t bring herself to steal Appa away from Aang, so it took her a while to get there. At this point, everyone must know of her disappearance and they’re probably looking for her right now as she walks towards the royal summer house of Ember Island.
In the first few years after the war, they would all meet at this exact place, and reminisce about the times they were hiding, preparing for the possible end of the world. She was with Aang, back then already. He chose her, so why would she be with anyone else?
The late nights and early mornings, though, she would spend with her best friend.
She missed him so much, she felt like being torn apart every time they had to part ways. But that was normal, wasn’t it? They had spent so much time together, just trying to survive. Then he jumped in front of the lightning for her. She had nursed him back to health for days after that.
“Zuko,” she mutters in disbelief as she steps inside the house, and finds him waiting for her, sitting in lotus position, eyes closed, in the middle of the front hall.
“Katara,” he mutters back, eyes still closed, a small smile curling his lips.
He wasn't wearing his usual royal regalia, but instead some informal robes she only remembered seeing him in during the war, and while his long black hair was still in a topknot, there was no crown.
“What are- How did- Why-” she stutters, confused, as she looks around for any of their friends as if she just walked into a trap.
Zuko chuckles quietly and opens his eyes.
“It’s just me.” he explains “Sokka sent a letter the same day you vanished. Aang was in Caldera a few hours ago, but he left and I… Thought I should wait for you here.”
Katara assumes a defensive stance, crossing her arms.
“How did you know?” she asks, discontent.
“I know you,” he shrugs.
“Zuko…”
“It really isn’t like you to run away, though.” He shakes his head, frowning as if faced with a puzzle he couldn’t make sense of. “I was kind of expecting that from Aang, you know, as usual. But you… You always face things, Kat. What happened?”
It all comes down on her at once.
She ran away. She actually left her home in the South Pole, mere weeks before her wedding and for what? She didn’t even have an answer for that. She just needed to leave, to get away, and when she realized what she’d done, she was miles away from her Tribe already. So she came to the only other place she felt the safest in the entire world — the place where everything changed.
Zuko got up from his place on the floor and went to her, slowly putting his arms around her and pulling her towards him. Only then, she realizes she’s crying. Sobbing, body shaking and all. Spirits, what a pathetic sight she must be right now.
“It’s alright,” Zuko whispers against the crown of her head, petting her back a little awkwardly “It’s ok. I’m here. You’re ok.”
It takes a few moments, but she finally stops crying and they let go of each other. Without saying a word, they go back outside, towards the beach, and Zuko lets her make herself comfortable on the sand before joining her. Even though he’s curious, he doesn’t ask again, and for that she is grateful.
Katara, stares at her hands, resting on her beaten down bluish-grey robes, and takes a long, deep breath.
“I don’t want to marry Aang.” she finally says.
It’s the first time she recognizes it as the truth, and it’s out in the world now. She can’t take back — she doesn’t want to.
“Oh.” That's all Zuko says in return.
“I love him,” she clarifies “But not… I’m not… I was never in love with him. I thought I could eventually fall for him, all these years, and it would all be worth it. But… I can’t do it.”
Zuko stays silent, and she doesn’t need to look at him to know that he’s frowning once again, staring at the sea instead of her, for which, once more, she is grateful.
“What would be worth it?” he asks.
It’s not what she’s expecting him to ask, and it makes her turn to him for a second. There’s that look in his eyes, still trying to put the pieces together, and she sighs.
“You know, being a wife. The Avatar’s wife. That’s what they’re calling me already, did you know? Everywhere we go.” She shakes her head. “I used to be Master Katara of the Southern Water Tribe. I liked being Master Katara.”
“You’re still Master Katara,” Zuko tells her “You’re always going to be. People know that. Aang knows that, too.”
“Aang doesn’t get it,” she mutters, quieter “He’s too obsessed with keeping his culture alive, he doesn’t care about mine.”
“He does, Katara.”
“He doesn’t.” she shakes her head “Maybe he thinks he does, and he tries his best, but deep down… It has always been about keeping the Air Nomads alive. Bringing them back.”
Zuko doesn’t try to say anything else, or defend his friend again, which is probably for the best. Katara didn’t come all the way here to fight with him, too. She takes a deep breath before speaking again.
“I’m not even sure if I want to be a mother, either. Not so soon, at least.” she laughs bitterly “Everybody expects that from me. But I… I’ve been acting like a mother since we were kids. I never got to see what the world could be like… What life could be like without everything tying me down.”
There's silence after that. Silence with Zuko was usually comfortable. They knew each other well and neither felt the need to say things to fill said silence. This one, however, was different. Like there were many things they should be saying, but neither of them had the courage to do it.
“So…” Zuko clears his throat “You don’t want to marry Aang. You don’t want to be a wife, or a mother. That’s ok. What do you want, then?”
She looks at him, taken aback by the question.
“What?”
“What do you want?” Zuko repeats.
Katara realizes, at that moment, nobody had asked her that question in a very long time. And so, she isn't quite sure.
“I don't know,” she mutters “I… Never had dreams of my own. Ever since we found Aang, everything was about what the world needed. And then we won, and everything was about him and what he needed. Or wanted. Whatever.”
Zuko chuckles, surprising her.
“Do you remember Ba Sing Se?” he pulls one leg to his chest and rests his chin on his knee, looking deep in thought “During the war. Before I joined you. My uncle asked me something, once. He said…”
He takes a deep breath before speaking again.
“Who are you? And what do you want?”
His voice sounds a little like Iroh, then, wise with age, and Katara finds a small smile curling on his face.
“Those are big questions.” she whispers.
“He said that, too.” Zuko nods at her, smiling shyly “And for a while, I… I didn't know what he meant. But I found my way, my destiny. And if I can do it, so can you.”
Her smile grows.
It's funny, considering how they started, but she trusts Zuko more than she trusts herself, and if he can believe in her so easily like that, why wouldn't she?
“Are you going to tell him?” she asks. “Aang. Are you going to tell him that you found me?”
“Do you want me to?” his one good eyebrow shoots up.
Katara thinks for a second, then grimaces.
“If you feel like you need to tell him…”
“I won't tell him if you don't want me to,” he guarantees. “But, for the record, I think you should.”
“How do I do that?” she sighs. “How can I look him in the eye after running away from him? How can I just break his heart?”
“Katara,” Zuko puts one hand on her shoulder “I know you love Aang. We all do. But do you know who the most important person in your life is?”
You.
She shakes her head.
“Who? Sokka? Gran-gran? Oh, I know! Toph.”
Zuko rolls his eyes.
“No, silly. It's you.” He gives her shoulder a gentle squeeze “You're the only one who's gonna be there with you for the rest of your life. That's your priority. That's who you should love the most.”
“I…”
“You can choose yourself now, Katara,” he tells her more softly. “It's only fair.”
She doesn't know if it's true. Zuko wouldn't intentionally lie to her, not currently, and she knows that, but he can be wrong. What if she does choose herself, but then she loses everything else? Aang’s friendship, Sokka's support, and her tribe. What if she goes too far trying to find herself that she loses all of them?
She takes a deep breath once more.
“How's the Fire Nation doing?” she suddenly asks “Sorry, I was so wrapped up in this whole thing I forgot to ask.”
Zuko laughs, free and genuine.
“Well, it's been… Kind of tiring, honestly.” he sighs. “Mai left, if you remember. And I don't have an heir, so they're pressuring me to remarry as soon as possible, which I don't want to, obviously.”
“Obviously.” she laughs, a little awkwardly.
“But other than that…” he scratches the back of his neck, purposely not looking her in the eye “It’s been good. People like me, somehow, and the assassination attempts slowed down. Things are good.”
“That's nice.”
They sit in silence again after that, and this time it’s comfortable. Katara can't stop herself from resting her head on his shoulder, and he doesn't stop himself from hugging her as they stare at the sea. They stay like this till it's dark, and Zuko finally moves away.
He stands up.
“You can have your old room, by the way.” he smiles “I got it ready for you.”
“You did?” she blinks, surprised.
“Of course I did,” he shrugs “It's you.”
Katara smiles as bright as the sun, and stands up too. She opens her mouth to thank him, but something else comes out instead.
“Will you wait for me?” she asks in a small voice “While I'm looking… Searching for myself. Will you wait for me?”
Zuko looks at her, and she can already see the answer in his eyes. He doesn't have to say anything else, and maybe he knows that, because he doesn't. He just nods.
Then he steps in her direction, cupping her face gently with a calloused hand.
“Katara, I…” Zuko starts.
She cuts him off.
“I know.” she nods “I have known since back then.”
His breath comes out short, and he nods at her too.
“Then, do you…?”
Katara feels her heart so full it could explode, right then and there. She nods one more time, and smiles as tears prick in her eyes.
“I do.” she whispers “I do.”
They don't need to say it. They don't need to act on it yet. Deep in her soul, she knows there's no one else for her in the whole world. And she knows, somehow, there's never going to be anyone else for him, either. So she smiles brightly at him and goes to her room.
Everything changed after all these years. The war, the pain, the love and the losses. Katara and Zuko, and everything between them, changed as well. But, in a way, they were still the same.
She hadn't expected that. And she couldn't be happier.