Warnings: Death, Child abuse
Aang watched the waves. Lost in thought as he was, he didn't notice when Katara sat beside him.
"Aang? Are you all right?"
He smiled, but she could tell that something bothered him. Tenderly, he took her hand.
"I'm all right. I was just thinking."
"Oh, then we're in trouble."
For just a second, the smile grew closer to a real one, then he became serious.
"Sometimes, I think my powers are too strong…too much for just one individual."
Katara squeezed his hand, and waited for him to continue.
With a sigh, he said, "Maybe it'd be best for the future…"
"Why are you talking like this?" interrupted Katara, startled with such morbid talk. "You're okay! You're…okay, right?"
"I'm not dying, Katara," said Aang, but the words 'yet' hung in the air. She didn't want to think of such times that her dear friends died, though she knew that all of them were getting older. And at that moment, they heard laughter, the sound of their children.
"Don't discuss this with Zuko, okay?" said Aang.
"Aang…"
"He knows, Katara. He knows what to expect, but it doesn't make it any easier, right? So let's just enjoy today."
Zuko knew that nothing could be done, and yet a part of him continued to pray. Just a moment longer…just one miracle…
He held Aang's hand gently in his. Too little time…
Aang's eyes opened.
"Zuko…" he said softly.
"I'm here," replied the Fire Lord, amazed that his voice didn't crack.
"Zuko, I'm sorry I couldn't stay longer…with you…with our children…"
Zuko tried to hold back the tears, but they blurred his vision. Katara and Hahn, with Waterbending, had helped them to have children, children with two sets of parents to take care of them.
But now…
"Did you know that two souls that have touched each other will find their way back together? My love, we'll find each other again."
Zuko finally allowed the tears free, even as he kissed his love goodbye.
When the sun nearly disappeared, an anguished cry was followed by absolute silence.
Moments later, the bells tolled.
Zuko managed to keep himself together for a while. He finished projects that they had begun, and made sure that their friends safe.
Two years following the death of Aang, Zuko followed. He hoped that their souls really were tied.
Assan cowered in the corner, and he knew that the moment the officials of the White Lotus left, he would be beaten by his mother. They were not the most poor of the Northern Water Tribe, but they could not say that they were rich, and she made sure he knew this everyday.
She truly had tried to make it look as if he were the Avatar. Sometimes, but only rarely, it seemed as if a talent were emerging in him, but then his hopes were shattered.
"You utterly useless wretch!" screamed his mother as the officials departed. "Do you realize what you've cost me? We could have been famous!"
She grabbed him by the hair, dragging him away from the corner and throwing him into the middle of the floor. Swiftly, she grabbed the broom.
Just once, he wished he could bend, wished he could be the Avatar…
She lifted the broom up…
He ran as fast as he could. How he managed to survive for so long, nobody was quite sure. Perhaps because he had grown, had become stronger…
But even the strongest person couldn't tolerate abuse forever.
When she realized that she couldn't beat Assan anymore, she turned to words. All the time, berating him. No matter how much work he would do, she would find something.
So he ran, and ran all the way to Republic City…
TBC
Author's Notes: This will probably be the only time I write notes, other than warnings, like those above. All of the reviews I received from Light of Darkness made me think: "Now how can I tie this into Legend of Korra, but still keep it AangZuko." And so this was born. This will be a challenge because Legend of Korra is still ongoing, and I plan to keep it somewhat canon. I say somewhat because clearly THAT won't happen. Wish me luck, and hopefully I won't disappoint!