Who Am I Really?

Chapter 5: Reality

Zuko Pov

It had been nine months since Mai and I separated. Over time, I realized that I had changed. My relationship with Katara was just awful. 

She'd want to go over the world. I just wanted to stay in the Fire Nation.

Katara would want to spend together all the time. I didn't mind hanging out with her but it was all too much.

I liked keeping to myself. Expressing my feelings made me feel uncomfortable. Katara would find something to complain about every day, especially how she thinks I ignore her. I didn't want to, but there was always something she would try to change about me.

A few months ago, when she had said we were in love, it shook me. I didn't know if I really loved her. Maybe I just deeply cared for her like you would a sibling. I never saw her the way I did with Mai. Seeing her leave out that door forever, I wanted to run and beg her to come back.

I started thinking about some memories I had with being with Katara.

~Flashback to the first Month of our New Relationship. ~

I had a dinner with Katara. When the chef brought us a Fire Nation meal, she asked me if they could try serving more Water Tribe Traditional foods. I saw the looks of anger of the Chef as he said, "Maybe go to the Water Tribe. Sure they have plenty there."

Katara lost it and said, "How dare you treat your future Firelady with such disrespect." She water bent a small wave of water at him sending him into another room.

I choked on my water when she said "Future Firelady." My eyes grew wide, and I shouted "Katara!" 

"What?! He clearly disrespected me and my home. Which by the way YOU let happen? I had to take the situation into my own hands." Katara Fused.

"It wouldn't have happened if you had just been grateful." I shot back

"Grateful? You want to talk about grateful? Where's grateful when I give you a kiss in the morning, which I noticed you don't return. When I make reservations at nice places, and you turn them down every time. When I support you and your attitude? I try to follow every single ridiculous rule here, and it still isn't enough.  Your Nation acts like they hate me and what do you do? NOTHING?! You aren't grateful that you have someone like me by your side. Not grateful enough to say I love you. Definitely not grateful to have someone like me as your future wife." Katara said with pure anger.

"Well, guess what? I told you this wasn't going to be easy, and it might not work. We're two different people Katara! I'm not your perfect man! All you ever do is force me into things! Holding your hand, giving you compliments, turning the Fire Nation into the Water Tribe! I'm certainly not grateful for that!" I couldn't help but shoot back. 

"Well, mister, I hope you get your act together during our marriage." Katara said calming down.

"Why do you keep saying that? Katara, we both literally just got out of our previous engagements. We fight almost every day. Why do you insist on rushing things?" I asked getting annoyed.

"Because Zuko. I left everything, and I need to move on. We made our choice to be together and that's all we have left. We ARE going to be together, and I don't need a miserable life. Get it together, propose already, and accept who we are now." Katara said getting up and walking away.

Present Time

There I was. Standing there, waiting for Katara. Today we were getting married, and I've never left like I had made such a huge mistake in my life. We invited our friends since we hadn't seen them since the incident. They hadn't arrived yet, which made me think they weren't coming, and still furious with us. I looked once more and saw 4 people I hadn't seen in almost a year walk in. Sokka, Suki, Aang, and Toph. I waited a bit more to see if Mai was going to walk in. If Aang could see his ex-fiancé marry someone else, maybe she could too. It was all in vain.