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Being alone wasn’t so bad.
Honestly, after everything that had happened to him, being alone was great. Actually, the more time had passed, the more Zuko enjoyed solitude. He could do anything he wanted and he could give his thoughts all the attention they deserved.
Still, he missed her.
Katara hadn’t talked to him since that first night, she just vanished. He heard from Sokka that she and Aang had a proper conversation, but the Avatar didn’t want to see anyone after said conversation. Which Zuko understood, of course.
It’s been two years now. Zuko and Toph were the only ones who got letters. Not much information on them, just that she was fine and figuring out what she wanted to do with her life. Aang slowly started to talk to them again, and he seemed fine as well. Zuko was sure he was dating some air acolyte, too.
So everyone was fine, but Katara hadn’t come back yet.
And Zuko was getting tired of the royal life. It was way too boring and it had way too many rules, and he couldn’t do anything without a bazillion people knowing. And there was the heir thing — Zuko needed to get married. Two years ago, he had accepted the fact that he was never going to marry for love. The woman he loved was marrying someone else, someone better. But then Katara ran away and it changed everything. She had asked him to wait, so how could he not?
Then a letter came.
Nothing else besides coordinates, not even a signature. But as soon as he decoded the coordinates, he knew it was her.
“We have to stop meeting like this.” she says, as he enters the house at Ember Island.
“Katara,” he says, short of breath “Agni, you’re here.”
She was wearing Fire Nation typical clothes, and the red really suited her. Of course he knew that already, but Spirits, he hadn’t seen her in two years.
“Yes, I am,” she smiles “Hi, Firelord.”
He doesn’t wait for her to get up from where she was sitting, he just drops to his knees and launches himself in her arms, hugging her as tightly as he can. Her scent of water lilies, pine and ice feels his chest and he wants to drown in it.
“I missed you,” he mutters “So much. I missed you so much, Kat.”
“I missed you too,” she sighs “Travelling alone is great and all but there were so many times where I wanted to turn and say something to you and you weren’t there and I… I’m just happy to be home.”
“Home?” Zuko stepped back to look her in the eye “You’re home?”
“I’m with you, silly,” she gently cups his face. “I’m always home when I’m with you.”
He smiles so big his face hurts, and before his mind can acknowledge what his body is doing, he’s grabbing Katara’s face and kissing her like he always wanted. Like he would’ve, years ago, if he had been a little more brave.
Katara’s a blizzard, collapsing all round him, freezing him to death — and yet, she is water, holding him carefully and bringing him back to life. She’s the moon, and the sun, and all the stars in the sky. She’s the Southern Lights cutting through the sky, and changing everything. She’s the blood in his veins, and the air in his lungs. Katara’s all he knows and all he wants to know.
She kisses him back, hungry like the sea, and Zuko knows he’s gone forever now.
“I love you,” he whispers against her lips as they break apart “I loved you at the Agni Kai. I loved you when we stopped the war, I loved you two years ago when you ran away from home, and I love you now, Katara, and I fear I’m going to love you until I die.”
Her smile’s so big it is blinding.
“I know" she whispers back “And I love you. Forever and always.”
He can’t stop himself from kissing her again.
He has no complaints about his life, he knows it is actually pretty good. But this moment with Katara is the happiest he has ever been.
As they break apart one more time, he rests his forehead on hers, catching his breath.
“What are you going to do, now?” he asks, shaking “What do you want?”
“Zuko…”
“I'm ok with whatever you decide. I just wanted to let you know how I feel. To actually say it. If you want to…”
“I just want you.” She interrupts him.
“You…” his heart beats faster than ever “What?”
Katara laughs, then holds his hand carefully in hers.
“I don’t want to be a wife,” she clarifies “Not just a wife, at least. But I want to be with you. Here. I’d like to visit everywhere again, with you, when we can. But I’d like to be here.”
“Here? In the… Fire Nation?” he’s still confused.
“Yes. This place has a bad reputation, but the people aren’t responsible for the war,” she reminds him “And you’re ruling now, so I know it’s not a bad place.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” Zuko chuckles, “Some may say I’m not the best Firelord.”
“Some is not a lot. Most people like you, you know. I travelled a lot, including the Fire Nation Islands and I know for a fact that your people love you,” she grins “Not as much as I do, obviously, but you didn’t jump in front of lightning for them, so…”
“You’re very silly, Master Katara.” he mutters, leaving a light kiss on her nose.
“And you’re the silliest, Firelord Zuko,” her smile grows “So, can I stay here?”
“Katara, you’ve lived in my heart for the last twelve years” he states “How could you not live in my Nation?”
“I can’t make promises about the future…” She looks apologetic, and Zuko laughs again.
“That’s alright.” he pulls her a tight hug “We’ve got nothing but time.”