The Definition of Can't

A/N: I wrote this...a long time ago, I know that much. I probably started it in August and finished it somewhere around the middle of November. It ended up being around 11 pages, which is a pain to read all at once for someone like me, who has a very short attention span. So, I put into about...five or six parts that very from about 300 words to...however many this part is.

Oh, and there's more cliffhangers than parts, which makes zero sense, but I like cliffhangers.

Disclaimer: Ha, I'm getting sick of typing this...but I don't own Avatar, the characters, my dog...so on.

"I won't do it," Zuko said, dropping his arms.

Finally, after years of being second, fighting for his honor, and battling with and against the teenage girl before him, he couldn't find it in him to do it. After he'd pictured it so vividly for years: the move, the flame, her scream, he couldn't do it. It was set up perfectly, too. She was on her knees, wounded and seconds away from tears, her dusty hair hanging limp and blocking her vision, her clothing torn, and her face covered in soot; her weakest moment. He had her cornered with the battle raging on behind; she'd never be able to escape.

Still, Zuko couldn't follow through. As quick and easy as it would be, he could do it with his eyes closed if he wanted, the prince didn't have the ability. He couldn't kill his sister.

"Zuko, just get it over with!" Azula snapped at him, the tears beginning to streak down her face. "I won't live anyway!" Her words were filled with sobs and followed by sick-sounding coughs.

It pained Zuko's heart to see her that way. She'd always been so strong and he'd strangely admired her for that. Now, she had no strength left and he couldn't bare it. He hung his head in refusal and sank to his knees from exhaustion. "No, Azula," he tired voice managed to choke out; he'd never refused to follow her before. "I won't."

"You will too, just do it." Her voice was softer, like she couldn't yell anymore, but still harsh as ever.

"No," he repeated sternly.

"Yes…"

"No, Azula," Zuko cut her off, using the same harsh tone. "Not another word."

She backed off and Zuko reached for her shoulder. Tears began to fall more heavily from her gold eyes, meaning she gave up. He couldn't help but wrap his arms around her, pulling her into his lap. He could feel her breathing was shallow, so he figured he shouldn't hold her as tightly as he wanted to.

She was admitting defeat and giving in, letting the burns and cuts covering her body take her without a fight. It didn't seem like Azula to give up that way; she'd always put up a decent fight even if she knew she wouldn't win. Azula had always had an open mind, too. She found all the possibilities and looked at every detail and was never too discouraged if something went wrong and didn't work. Why was she just giving up now?

"Azula, hang on," he whispered. He wasn't going to let her give up…without out a fight.

"I can't," she whispered back, her voice strained and weak, "it's too painful."

"Can't isn't a word, remember?" Zuko spoke gently, even though he wanted to order at her so badly. "It's an excuse to not try."

"But…"

"Shh…that's not a word either." He rocked her softly, treating her almost like she was five again. "Don't speak if hurts that much, just hang on."

Her tears continued to fall without saying another word and he thought her breathing deepened for a minute. Zuko wasn't sure what to do next, but he knew it would involve medical help. Obviously he couldn't help her much more than he already was, and any kind of healer was too far away. He didn't have too much time to think, either. There was nothing he could do, except drag every last bit of life out of her in a slow and painful way by telling her to hang on.

A loud explosion broke his train of thought and he glanced over his shoulder to see what dare threaten his sister's life even more. Smoke was rising from dying embers surrounding a heap a little ways away. It took a minute to register in his mind, but the heap was Zuko's father, Fire Lord Ozai, lying dead after an attack from…the Avatar? Sure enough, the Avatar had been the cause of the attack; he was standing strongly a short distance away from what was once the Fire Lord.

He looked back to his sister, making sure she was still there and asked again that she hang on. For a second, he considered telling her what had happened, but decided it would only give her less of a reason to fight. He felt for a pulse and found it weak; he was running out of time. As a last chance, he frantically looked around for someone. The only people he could see were a group; the mixed group of the Avatar and his friends with Azula's friends.

Two broke away from the group and started coming closer to him. He recognized the two as Mai, and the Avatar's waterbender friend…Katara? That was it. His first thought was, we're doomed, since that waterbender could be so temperamental but with Mai running beside her (and slightly ahead), he figured she ment no harm. And if she wasn't a threat, she must be…help!

Once they approached him, Mai placed a hand on Zuko's shoulder and Katara's hands fell to her knees. "Zuko, are you okay?" Mai's hand tensed as her eyes fell on Azula and he knew she wasn't so worried about him anymore.

"Mai, it's okay."

"Need help?" Katara asked breathlessly from behind.

"More than you know," Zuko said, never taking his eyes off the princess.

A/N: Part Two is very interesting...I wrote it without thinking. Oo, that's a scary thought if you know me...R&R, I need to know you're not bored!