Fire is world ending.
When a healer from his past comes to the Fire Nation at last, everything goes up in flames.
Will there be anything to save from the ashes?
...
To Katara's surprise, Zuko has decided he will escort her not only to her chamber but also to her bed. Guiding her toward the comfortable spot, he smacked the door with his foot. Katara melted into the pillows as soon as her body met the fuzzy blankets and soft mattress.
''Are you gonna be okay?'' Zuko asked. She could hear the concern in his voice. He was staring at her intently. She blushed at how his eyes darkened.
''Yes, I just need some rest,'' she reassured. Nervously playing with her fingers, she wished for him to go.
Even if deep down, she probably would have preferred him to stay. Spirits, exhaustion made her have such non sense thoughts.
''It wasn't the first time you've done it,'' Zuko moved to sit at the bed. She sat up. ''Was it?''
Katara swallowed, looking away. ''No.''
At the touch of his warm fingers, she gasped. He lifted her chin up, forcing her to meet his eyes. ''It wasn't the first time I've seen you using it,'' Zuko was talking about the time they were looking for Katara's mother's murderer. How vile she behaved then. He never mentioned it after; how she used the bloodbending on the guard that did not deserve it. She felt ashamed of it ever since then. Of that anger that still sometimes seethed within her. ''Katara, look at me.''
''I am looking at you,'' she mumbled. There was no escaping him. Her actions were laid bare in front of her and once again, she felt the shame that followed her throughout the years for even learning such technique.
His grip tightened. ''Today, you used it in a completely different way. You used it to give life,'' Katara felt tears in her eyes. She fought not to let them escape. She felt intimidated by the way he was looking at her. Staring into her very soul. ''But even back then, I was not afraid of you.''
She stopped breathing. Ringing in her ears was the only sound she could hear. Zuko glared at her so intensively, so seriously that she knew it to be true. Agni, he wasn't even telling her that it was a horrible skill to know. He just... accepted it.
''What?'' she mumbled, barely audible.
Zuko inched closer. ''Katara, I am not Aang,'' the mention of her boyfriends' name punched her in the gut. She should be with him now. Letting him take care of her. Not the Fire Lord. Yet his words were caressing her very tired soul. ''I do not condemn the bloodbending. Yes, it does hurt people. But it does allow you to defend yourself. I would never tell you not to use it if it can save your own life as well as heal the others.''
This is what she was looking for the whole time, she's realized. A confidant to tell every truth to. And she found herself wanting it. Tell him about every secret she kept from others, because he simply understood it.
That's what she should be wishing with Aang too. The life of honesty. Something to build from. She doubted her lies would be a good base for their future. Sooner or later, it would all crumble.
Her chest tight, she wiped an alone tear that's escaped. ''Thank you, Zuko.''
The Fire Lord's heart stung at how vulnerable Katara was now. How small she looked with her shoulders dropped. Her voice breaking was his undoing. He let go of her chin. Only to put his hands on the both sides of her face. Her eyelashes wet, she did not inch away. ''I see you. All of you. And I want to know everything. I will not turn my back on you.''
It was truly painful to Katara to hear such a promise from a person who wasn't in her life for so many years. Who has not returned her letters or cared about her for such a long time. Even if for the past few days, Zuko looked at her with an emotion she's never had from any man except Aang.
But even the Avatar's feelings did not match Zuko's fire. How she burned under his eyes and the smallest of his touches.
Would she ever have that with Aang? Surely now that they're together, things would change. Right?
''Are you angry with me?'' Katara asked. ''For being with Aang?''
Zuko did not expect that question. It slapped him across the face and he was baffled. Shaking it off, he retreated his hands. As if reminding himself that she is not his. Will never be his. ''I was.''
''Are you still?''
She prayed to the Spirits he wasn't. She knew the plan to ignore him wouldn't work out anymore. She opened up to him more than she did to anyone during those years. She didn't even realize till now how desperate she was to have someone like Zuko. A friend who cares. A friend who listens.
''No,'' Zuko sighed. He rubbed at the back of his neck. ''I have no right to be. We have made no claim on one another. And I do realize you love Aang.''
''I-I...,'' she wanted to tell him. Admit to the lie she's told him that unforgettable night and then later to the Avatar himself. Not yet, though. Katara would unravel before him but it wasn't the time now. Especially since she still held up the hope for herself and Aang. ''I am glad to hear that.''
''I do want to be your friend, though,'' Zuko admitted. ''I think we could both use company.''
''I would love that,'' Katara smiled.
The silent promise to forget about the shameful thing they did stretched between them. They would be friends now. Katara's chest became lighter as Zuko's corner of the mouth moved up. Just friends.
Zuko spent some time after with her. Katara told him about how she became the Bloodbending Master. She spoke so excitingly while describing exactly how she found out she no longer needed a Full Moon to bend the blood, Zuko thought he might touch her. Hold her. Kiss her, if he dared.
But then, he scolded himself internally. Friends, he thought.
When Katara's eyes started becoming heavier, she only felt him pulling up the blanket over her. Zuko waited till she fully fell asleep. He's told her a story of Uncle Iroh's son. His beloved cousin, Lu Ten and how they would also talk like that. Like they could tell each other everything and never be judged.
Katara heard everything up until Zuko deemed it appropriate time to go. It was almost noon and he needed to attend to his Fire Lord duties. Should probably finally go to the training room to ensure his advisors don't moan about his lacking firebending skills.
''We need to talk,'' was the first thing Sokka said to him as he dragged him away from the training room, straight to the hall.
