broken pieces still belong

good and broken

TW: description of a panic attack; extensive contemplation of grief and guilt; trauma-induced hallucinations/images; discussion of death/murder

This fic has been a long time coming. By that I mean I have been working on it for several months, and I am incredibly excited to finally share it!!

I had the idea for this fic after seeing a frustrating amount of Katara slander on Tumblr. There was one comment I kept seeing over and over: "Katara's anger/hatred towards Zuko after he joined the Gaang was unjustified." Where do I even begin to express how wrong that statement is? I'll let the fic do most of the talking, but I want to emphasize this: it was never just about her anger. Anyone with even an inkling of understanding towards Katara recognizes the many burdens she forces herself to carry, one of them being how closely she holds guilt to her chest. Writing her distrust of Zuko off as "just anger" is a discredit to her character. She is so much more complex and nuanced than that, and I sincerely hope this fic pays tribute to the depths of emotion she felt on her journey to forgive both Zuko and herself from the events of "The Western Air Temple" to "The Southern Raiders." Thank you for giving my story a chance!

~*~

"Hello... Zuko here."

Katara's blood turned to ice when she saw the firebender standing before them, and her hand instinctively dropped to her waterskin. What was he doing here? Trying to retrieve Aang for his sister? For the Fire Lord? Trying to trick them - to trick her - once again?

"Hey - I, uh, heard you guys flying around down there, so I just thought I'd... wait for you here."

Katara's grip tightened on the container of water, though her eyes then widened in shock as Appa... licked Zuko. Licked him. What kind of game was he playing?

She didn't miss the way Aang lowered his staff in surprise at Appa's action, either. So Katara focused her laser glare back on Zuko. If Aang was letting his guard down, then she'd up hers. She wouldn't fall into whatever trap the firebender was setting. Not when Aang's life could depend on it.

Not again.

"I know you must be surprised to see me."

"Not really," Sokka retorted. "Since you've followed us all over the world."

Because he's obsessed with capturing - killing - Aang, Katara wanted to add, but she held her tongue. Barely.

Zuko had the decency to look guilty. "Right..." He faltered before he continued. "Well, anyway... What I wanted to tell you is that I've changed" - yeah, right - "and I, uh, I'm good now" - as if - "and, well, I think I should join your group" - like hell they'd let him! - "oh! And I can teach firebending. To you."

Katara stiffened as he awkwardly gestured to Aang. A trick. It had to be a trick. So he could - So he could get close to Aang and - and take his life again when none of them were watching. But this time Katara was watching, she was alert, and she wouldn't make the mistake of looking away again. She was ready for it. Ready for his inevitable betrayal.

"You want to what now?" Toph demanded, speaking on behalf of their group.

Zuko opened his mouth to speak, but Katara made sure she beat him to it. "You can't possibly think any of us would trust you, can you?" she snapped. "I mean, how stupid do you think we are?" She had been stupid enough to pity him once. Stupid enough to empathize with him, to believe he was worthy of her kindness. Her mercy. And then... he'd taken advantage of it. Manipulated her just like he'd done with her mother's necklace before.