So this is my take on some of the scenes from the final episode and a little beyond. I know there have been other stories like this, but I wanted to do one of my own.

I like to think this is the prequel to "Revenge".

AN: 10/26/09 I revised Katara's part a bit...



The Fire Palace

Zuko

Damn it to the seven corners of hell! Why does getting on a fucking robe have to be so difficult? Even though it's been almost a week, my chest still ached from the attack from my sister. I imagine there was more than the physical injury at play. In my dreams, or rather my nightmares, I still see that lightening shooting through the air headed for her. I couldn't let her get hurt. I would rather die. And I almost did if she hadn't been there to save me.

When Azula had been defeated and imprisoned, as Katara and I waited for the rest of the gang to return to the Fire Capitol, she would visit me in my private rooms. Taking my shirt off, I would lay bare-chested on the bed with her kneeling next to me. With her water-gloved hands, the healing sessions would begin as she ran her hands over the wound. It was more than the wound that she healed though. It was my heart, my soul. She ignited these within me to levels I had never experienced before. I knew she could kill me, one wrong move, one misguided pull and I'd be done, but the trust I had in her was more than I had allowed anyone, aside from my Uncle, in a long time. It confused me at first, but this young woman was different. I had seen her at her worst, I had seen her at her best, and she had seen the same in me and yet here we were. Together, alone, intimacy that no one could begin to understand.

Though I gave the illusion my eyes were closed, I watched her every move. Each flicker of sympathetic pain in her eyes when I winced, each proud smile when she did succeeded, each time her delicate fingers moved a strand of hair from her face or from mine, each nibble of her lip as she concentrated. I couldn't get enough of watching her. Each time she came to me, I brought my hand closer and closer to her leg until finally I felt confident enough to place it on her. To touch her, to feel her heat through those blue robes she wore. How I wanted to rip them from her body and show her how much I appreciated her! But propriety was required despite my desires. And it killed me.

I saw it too in her eyes. This killed her as well. Our intimacy grew when she began moving her hands from my chest, to my abs, to my neck, my arms, my face, as if mapping out my body underneath her. My breath hitched at each touch. Thank Agni I had control over my body or else I would have burst into flames of desire and taken her. My heart was a different story however. In my dreams, she was all I could think of.

We both knew we should have stopped. Quit while we were ahead. Just let the court physicians do the work, but I insisted that she was more than capable. That I wanted her. But these words had more meaning that what they implied. I was thankful she didn't hear them despite my wish that she had.

As I struggled with the Agni-damned robes, a voice came. "Need some help with that?"

I thought she was still at the Boiling Rock, but her uncle had her released. "It helps when the Fire Lord is your boyfriend." I stiffen as she finishes helping me with my robe. I hadn't thought about that. Yeah, she was. But is? I wasn't so sure. But I wasn't about to dispute this. She wasn't nurturing often, so I had to take advantage.

She kisses me. I kiss her back. But it's not her lips I think of. It's full ones attached to tan skin and a sparkling smile. She pulls away and I look into grey eyes. Suddenly they turn to blue and I have to mentally shake my head, pull myself back to reality. Poking me, she says to never break up with her again. Yeah, okay, sure.

I embrace her as she embraces me. Feeling eyes on me, I glance up and there she is in the doorway. I see a rainbow of emotions wash over her face finally ending on anger. I keep my face, my body, my heart still not revealing that the same wash is coming over me as well. She is the one who should be in my arms. Then as soon as she came, she was gone. Leaving me bereft despite the warm body still surrounding me.

I don't know why I didn't go after her. Why I didn't acknowledge her, tell her it was her I wanted. How could I be so stupid?


Katara

I had helped heal those wounds that had been inflicted upon him by his crazed sister sustained when he saved my life. I would be in his debt for that act. Every couple hours we would meet and I would use the water to soothe the injury. In its stead another fire started between us. Being around him lit something inside me that burned for more. Meaningless words were spoken. Yet it was what wasn't said that spoke volumes. It was the brush here, the look there, the way something trivial was intoned. But it was the fear and uncertainty that kept what was truly wanted at bay. But I knew that fire consumed him as well.

When he placed his hand on my leg, I thought I would explode. I wanted more, so I took initiative. Running my hands over his body under the guise of healing him, I admired the alabaster skin below me. How I wanted more! But I couldn't. We couldn't. It wasn't right. I was supposed to be healing him, not molesting him. Oh, but how his body reacted. How my body reacted. It was wonderful. There just needed to be more.

He was late for the coronation and my brother said someone should go check on him. I was more than happy to volunteer to go to him. I smiled to myself as I headed to his rooms. The stubborn prince, soon to be Fire Lord, was probably having trouble getting his robes on and was still to prideful to ask for help.

I rounded the corner to his room, practically bouncing in anticipation of seeing him. There he was. Kissing her.

I can't breathe.

They part. She pokes him in the chest. Through my fog of disbelief I hear her voice say, "… don't ever break up with me again."

Then he was embracing her again. I felt the rage come to me. He looked up catching my eyes. His face an expressionless mask, his eyes empty. My heart sinking as fast as a stone in the ocean. As quickly as I could, I ran quietly away to where everyone stood outside waiting for the coronation to begin as the tears flowed down my face. I dismissed my friends who wondered what was wrong. "I just got something in my eye."

Yeah, like the image of the boy I started having feelings for embracing someone else.

I was a stupid little girl thinking someone like Zuko, the new Fire Lord for heaven's sake!, would be interested in someone like me, a worthless water tribe peasant. How could I be so stupid?

I watch Aang stand before all at the podium with him. I smile at my friends up there pretending to be happy. And I am. Sort of. But all I see is that kiss, that embrace, those empty eyes looking at me.

I glance to Aang. At least I still had him. He'd always love me. He'd never hurt me.


Another one that's been playing in my head for a while. Damn those bunnies! I thought it would read easier by having each chapter in a different locale. The next one will be at the Jasmine Dragon.

Let me know what you think. Yeah, I know I went into more emotional detail with Zuko, but he is so much easier to write.