Rewrite the Stars

A Zutara fanfic

You know I want you; It's not a secret I try to hide.

I know you want me, so don't keep saying our hands are tied.

"Enter," Zuko called out as the two heavy doors opened to revealed a lone figure. The girl standing in the doorway had her long brown hair flowing down her back. She seemed a little taller from the last time he saw her, but also matured. He let out a sheepish sigh. "Lady Katara."

Katara snickered at his greeting and slowing glided toward him. When she reached him, she playfully bowed deeply and humbly greeted, "It's an honor, oh Fire Lord."

Scoffing at her overly expressed gesture, he quickly stopped her childish act and wrapped his arms around her in a welcoming hug. She followed suit as she melted into his warm embrace.

They stood there in each other's presence until Katara realized they've been like that for a little longer than normal. She pulled back and let out a long, unsettling breath.

"Just thought I would stop in before we headed off..."

Zuko's happy expression frowned when she finished her sentence. "Leaving? But you just got here."

His gaze was rejected by hers as she moved her eyes down to her fidgeting hands. "Well, something urgent in the Earth Kingdom came up, so Aang will be needed there right away."

He let out a small "oh" and his brow scrunched up. There was a sense of concern in his voice when he responded, "Well, surely the Avatar's girlfriend doesn't have to follow him everywhere he goes."

A sting hit Katara's chest, causing her lungs to tighten. "It's my duty to accompany him. It's the least I can do for him."

"The least you can do for him?" He repeated, raising his eyebrow. "And what has he done for you?"

Katara's head whipped around and her eyes widen in disbelief. He chuckled at the sight and reassured her. "Relax, I'm only joking."

Her body relaxed as she sighed in relief. "Wow, who would've thought. Zuko; joking," she giggled softly and decided to jab him back. "So, tell me... how is the single life?"

He winced at her comeback and gave a sly smirk, wondering how she found out about his recent break up. "It has its ups and downs... the people want me to marry; to have someone by my side to help me lead the nation."

"But you have your uncle for that," Katara teased.

Zuko scoffed at her comment again and said, "You know what I mean."

Her smile slowly disappeared from her face. "Well, what are you going to do?"

"I'm going to wait. I don't think I should get married right away. The war only ended a year ago, so fixing the corruption should be more of a priority than finding a wife." Zuko looked down at his hands.

Katara's heart fluttered in her chest as she looked up at Zuko, moving closer to him. Her hand invaded in his sight as sight placed her hand on his. "I'm sorry."

He moved his eyes from their hands to her eyes that were full of concern. He exhaled and gave a reassuring smile. "It's alright. I've waited longer than this, but I'm sure this is worth the wait..."

Katara wasn't sure what he meant by that, but decided to changed the subject. "No, I'm sorry..." she whispered. His expression tightened in a confused look as she moved her hand from his hand to his stomach.

"You should not feel any guilt. It was my decision." He moves his hand over hers and looked down at her.

Her eyes were still fixated on the spot where he took a lightning bolt for her. "I still feel awful about it..."

With his one hand still in hers, he rose his other and placed it on her cheek. "I was terrified of losing you," he muttered out like the the words barely escaped his mind.

"I'm still here..." she brought her other hand to the one that has been placed on her cheek. Taking a deep breath, she decided to ask him something that she should've asked when it was brought up. "What did you mean by that? About waiting?"

Zuko's arms stiffened as he brought both back to his sides and broke their eye contact, turning to the side to look out the window. "It's nothing... It's only going to cause problems for everyone."

Katara continued to look at the firebender with a puzzled expression. "Who are you waiting for, Zuko?"

"It's obvious, Katara..." he exhaled as he closed his tired eyes. "There's a scar to prove it."

"Zuko... we can't..."

"I know... but my feelings for you doesn't stop growing, Katara. No matter how far fate pulls you miles away and out of reach from me... You're still here..."

"I love Aang..."

"But you're not in love with him, are you?"

Katara breath hitched at his words, as a tear rolled down her face. "No..." she exhaled breathlessly as she folded her arms across her chest.

"Katara," Zuko swiftly moved in front of her and placed a hand under her chin, lifting her head up to his. "I love you..." he whispered under his breath, the three words finally in the tension filled air.

"I love you too, but..." she choked up, as she moved back from the deep water they were dangerously treading. "We can't be together. It just wouldn't work... we live in two different worlds. No one will approve of us."

"Who can stop me if I decide that you're my destiny?"

"Everyone... We're able to be just you and me within these palace walls, but when we open the door to our friends, the nations, our people... you're gonna find out that's it's not up to you or me when everyone else tells us what we get to be!" Her ice blue eyes ignited, melting the bright color that was once held inside. "Everything keeps us apart! There are mountains we can't move; walls that we can't break through, Zuko!"

Lowering her gaze, she stared emptily at the marble floor. "How can you say you'll be mine? I have a duty to Aang and you have a duty to your people... I'm not the one you were meant to find."

"So you want me to just drop this? For what, just because it's easy for you?" Zuko yelled with a hint of pain in his voice.

"You think it's easy? You think I don't want to run to you?" Katara screamed back as the uncontrollable tears continued to run down her face. "I will always love you til the day I die, Zuko. But..."

Before she could finish, Zuko immediately pulled her into a longing embrace. The smell of a warm bonfire immediately infiltrated her nose as her head brushed itself against his black hair on his shoulder. "It's impossible," Katara whispered through the fabric, trying to refrain from hugging the warm body that had completely enveloped her. Her arms struggled to stay at her sides. She knew if she prevailed, there would be no turning back...

His protective embrace tightened as her long brown hair tangled through his arms. He buried his head into her shoulder and took a deep breath, smelling the scent of ocean breeze. "It's not impossible," his warm breath softly lingered by her ear.

A warm sensation filled her cheeks when he pulled his head back with her still in his strong arms. Their noses brushed against each other as they shared the same anxious breath. He looked into her eyes only to see that the bright ocean blue dulled into a stormy grey. "It's hopeless..." she muttered, untwining herself from his lock.

With her eyes avoiding his, she scurried to the doors, each step filling the silent air with devastation. She placed her hand on the door, but her body muscles would not move. A lone tear rolled down her cheek and crashed to the floor as she turned her head toward him. With a weak smile, she echoed through the palace walls, "I'll see you soon. Take care of yourself."

With that, Katara exited without another word, leaving Zuko in the gloomy, empty room that was filled with countless "what ifs."

You know I want you; It's not a secret I try to hide.

But I can't have you; we're bound to break and my hands are tied.