I leaned in and tried to find water to heal him with, but it no avail. I brushed the hair out of face, but regretted it. His face was full of pain. No amount of comforting words would save him now.
"Katara, you did your best. I'll be okay." Zuko's voice was strained and rough, and his eyes were weak from agony.
"You'll be okay. I know you will." My voice rose to a high pitch, and a single tear dripped down my cheek. He was going to lose his grip on the world any moment now.
"You know, when I was little, I always thought I'd die old. Not at the age of 16 and the hands of my very own sister." He almost laughed. I stroked his cheek, trying to keep him from freaking out.
"You're not going to die." I said firmly. I refused to let him go so easily.
Azula shot him with lightning. She ruthlessly set her own brother ablaze. I had used the little water I had to quench the flames on his chest, but the wound was too deep to treat with water. We needed real medicine; like the stuff you could get in Omashu. But Omashu was 2,000 miles away.
"I know you can't save me. I knew from the second my chest started burning." He reached out slowly and held my hand still against his cheek. I felt tears well up in my eyes.
"I promised Aang I'd keep you safe. I failed." I gasped the last word, finally understanding Zuko was as good as dead.
"You didn't fail. Azula isn't a threat anymore. She's locked in our grasp." His voice was even hoarser, and I had to strain my ears to hear him.
"I will never forget you, Zuko." I leaned in to his face, and pressed my lips against his as lightly as I could.
"Nor I you." He whispered. His eyes closed, and he breathed his last. I laid my head down on his chest, and sobs racked my body.
Zuko was dead, and I was responsible for it.
Yes, I know; depressing. But I wrote this a few years ago and randomly felt like uploading it, so here you go. Also, feel free to check out my profile, and read Something More, in which chapter 19 is currently being written. Thanks!