The Dragon and The Ocean // Zutara

Walking

Katara's POV

I slept wonderfully last night! Zuko comforted me the whole night long. His warmth and shielding nature was greatly appreciated and way better then anything Aang could do. We could have been sleeping on a rock and I still would have had a great night's sleep.

On top of that, Zuko seems to be in much less pain today, compared to yesterday which is great. After another quick healing session and an easy process of me wrapping a bandage around his upper body I start to help him to stand up, so I can fulfill my promise of having him try to walk.

He was able to turn himself and put his feet on the floor, but after that he doesn't seem have the strength to do anymore. he lets out a loud huff of frustration as I sit down on the bed beside him and wrap his arm around my shoulders.

As of yesterday it was made apparent that Zuko wasn't even able to stand on his own let alone walk without the assistance of two people. I hope that today will be different. I hope that my healing is working. 

"Hey," I say to him, placing my hand under his chin and turning his head toward mine, "it will be okay. You are going to walk today. You are going to get through this. You are going to stay strong."

I look deep into his eyes and then place my lips on his. I allow myself to melt into him, giving him the sense that he is the leader in the case. He holds me lightly and I feel a small tear roll down his face. He breaks away, keeping his forehead on mine.

"Thank you Katara." he says, his voice shaking. I didn't know truly how much this whole idea of being "weak" was affecting him. I wish there was more I could do. 

"I think I'm the one who is supposed to be thanking you." I whisper to him. 

With that, I feel him smile. He kisses me again except this time it's quick and determined. I can sense the determination rising in him. I have always admired that about him. He is able to push through anything, no matter what the circumstances are. 

"You ready? We are going to stand up together." I tell him. 

He nods and places his other hand, the one that is not around my shoulders, on the bed bracing for the weight that it will need to lift. I keep a strong hold on his hand around my shoulder. I feel him breathe out slowly.

"One, two, three, stand." I say. 

With a grimace and a groan, Zuko is on his feet. He is unbalanced for a bit, but I am able to help him regain it. Once he steadies himself, he looks down at me and smiles probably one of the sweetest and biggest smiles I have ever seen him smile.

"You did it!" I say embracing him gently, placing my head on the area above his wound, "You were strong." I murmur into his chest. 

"Only because you were first." He replies, kissing the top of my head and stroking my hair. I can tell that he is smiling.

I pull myself away from him and pull his arm around my shoulders again. He turns to face the space in front of us and he takes his first step. I feel his weight on me increase, but then he is able to straighten himself up.

"How is the pain?" I ask him, hoping he isn't torturing himself just to stand.

"Intense, but bearable." he replies straining. 

"That's good." I reply. It sort of seems like he is lying, but I trust him so I leave the matter alone. "Are you ready to take the next step?"

"Yes." he says, keeping up his determination.

I brace for the impact of his weight as he lifts up his right leg. I'm quite sure that at least 75 percent of his weight shifts me as he steps, but I don't mind it. His step is heavy but he is able to keep his balance and stay upright. After that and the amount of effort and pain it must have put him through, I'm pretty sure that Zuko is ready to sit back on the bed now.

But he doesn't. He keeps stepping. And for some reason, I don't stop him. I allow him to keep going. After about five more slow steps he starts to pull his arm off form around my shoulders. I try to hold him there, but he is too determined.

As soon as he pulls his arm completely off of me, he takes a few more steps then loses his balance and falls over. I run up to him and quickly kneel beside him. He is holding his wound and his face is twisted up in pain.

"Are you okay?" I ask him frantically. He takes a minute to breathe before he answers. 

"I'm... I'm okay," he says hesitantly but surely.

I grab a hold of him and move him to a sitting position instead of on his hands and knees. He breathes for a few seconds and then I help him move to a wall so that he doesn't have to hold himself up. I made sure not to let go of him too fast and rest his head against the wall.

"You are always trying to push your limits aren't you?" I say to him jokingly. 

"Ya I guess I am." he says letting out a breathy laugh and then grimacing in pain.

I decide to relieve him of some of his pain. I don't want to unwrap his bandage though. I can just heal him outside of it, it just isn't as effective. I move his hand off the wound and bend the water onto his chest and stomach. He tenses up to the stinging of the water but then it starts to glow and he relaxes.

"Healing you through a barrier won't be as effective, but it will hopefully relieve you of your immediate pain." I say to him. 

"I thought we said no more healing sessions." he says with a airy tone. I can tell that he is being sarcastic, grateful for the pain reliever. 

"We did... about ten minutes ago." I reply, seriously.

"Normally I would make you stop but this feels good so I won't. But only this one time." he says. 

This pulls a laugh out of me. That's the other thing that I like about Zuko. Even though he seems really rough and tough on the outside, he is really sweet, considerate, and sometimes she can even be funny.

I heal him for a few more minutes feeling his breathing before I bend the water away. I bend it back into the bowl  on the table beside his bed. I also bend out the excess that remained in the fabric of the bandage.

"Since we have established that I can walk, would you like to go and find some food? I haven't eaten since yesterday morning." Zuko says, pushing himself up into more of a sitting position.

"Me neither. I think food sounds like a great idea. But first, let's get you dressed." I say, laughing slightly. Zuko realizes that he isn't wearing a shirt and blushes slightly as well.

I stand up quickly to help him up. After a mutual count to three, I pull him up and he groans almost doubling over in pain. I keep a strong hold on him until his pain levels lower. While he is catching his breath, I bend the water from the bowl into one of the water skins on my back, just in case.

Here's is another short part for you all! Thanks, as always, for reading!