Fire Within: Zuko and Katara fanfic

Fire is essential for life. Fire brings warmth. Fire provides light. And fire was what I felt when I thought about Zuko. When I looked at him, it was like a fire was lit inside my chest, and nothing was powerful enough to put it out. I will always remember the first time I felt that fire.

It was the day of Zuko and Azula's epic battle which would in turn decide the fate of the Fire Nation. Incredible blues and oranges flew through the sky. It was obvious Azula was off her game, like the power had gotten too much imbedded in her head. As the battle drew to a slower pace, she finally realized I was not hiding and standing casually in the open. A wicked grin was smeared across her face as she turned her finger tips toward me and unleashed a bright burst of blue lightning. When I realized the lightning would most likely lead to my death, my life flashed before my eyes. What concerned me was not the fact that death was indeed on my doorstep, but that I did not see Aang during my flashback. I didn't see him suddenly kissing me on the submarines during the day of Black Sun, nor did I Invision the tender moment when I held Aang for the first time. I only saw Zuko chasing us around the world. I saw him underneath the palace in Ba Sing Sae opening up about his mother. And then I saw him jumping in front of Azula's dangerous attack, and a tremble rock his body as the lightning surged through him. Only then did I realize that I was no longer day dreaming.

And then, fire. The fire that I had been denying for almost a year, a fire that was so wrong to feel, finally erupted in my chest. My eyes saw him and only him, lying on the cement, convulsing with electric shocks. My hands fumbled for the water I had taken from the spirit oasis at the North Pole, hoping I had enough after healing Aang from Azula's lightning in Ba Sing Sae. Stupid Aang, I had thought. You're lucky you're the Avatar. Azula was too busy laughing and walking around aimlessly to realize I was running toward Zuko's almost lifeless body. I crashed to my knees as I reached him, bending the little water I had left out of the container and into the burning hole in his chest. As I bended, I tried to keep an ear out for Azula while trying to keep myself together. I was afraid that my tears would affect the strength of the water. As it started to glow, the liquid disappeared into his chest as a slight sound came from his throat.

I allowed a small laugh and a smile to appear for a split second that Zuko was consciousness before I heard Azula on the roof, shouting something about her little "Zoo-Zoo". But I didn't hear anything. I was too happy to be concerned of what she was saying. I had to be aware of what she was doing. She was more dangerous now that she was a little off. She was willing to do drastic things now that she had nothing to lose. And then the fire began again. Her aim was off, but she was still a major threat. As I ran to take cover behind a pillar, I heard the familiar sound of rushing water. When I heard her wild cackle echo through the hallway, I looked up to see a pair of handcuffs hanging against the wall.

I hatched a quick plan, and put into action immediately. I ran out onto the grate above the water, handcuffs hidden behind my back. Another evil smile crossed her face as she raced toward me. I shifted to a better position to bend the water up just as Azula raised her fingers for attempt two at killing me with her lightning. When the deadly blue again illuminated her hands, my hands felt a rush of energy as the water rose from the grate and froze us where we stood. It took me a moment to realize my plan had actually been put into action, and my heart fluttered with anticipation. I allowed steam to escape my nose, making it possible for me to move through the ice. I flowed gracefully, taking Azula's hand and putting them in one side of the cuffs. As I dragged the other side of the cuffs to the grate, her eyes were filled with multiple emotions. Anger, betrayal, and what I thought was a hint of sadness.

When she was securely trapped, I dropped the water back into the grate and took a long breath. I looked down at Azula and watched as one of the possibly best fire bender the Fire Nation had ever seen cry and squirm drenched in the thing that had defeated her. I slowly turned away, looking for Zuko, but he wasn't there. He was tumbling toward me, the wound on his chest still red. I raced toward him, trying not to seem as excited as I really was to see that he was walking. My arms wrapped around his waist as his arms rested heavily on my shoulders, and we watched Azula break down. And the fire burned freely throughout my body.