Nick owns Avatar the Last Airbender, not me.
Zutara oneshot. Character death.
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She is lying on their soft, warm bed, buried under a pile of blankets and pillows. The drapes are open, much against Zuko's wishes, but Katara wants it this way, and he does not dare deny her anything. He stands by the bedside, her silent guardian. The servants are all gone and will not venture in.
"Zuko" she calls to him weakly, her voice almost an inaudible whisper. "Please, put my white robe on me…the one I married you in." Her breathing is labored and he can see her shivering. His eyes are brimming with tears; tears that will not fall because he is the Fire Lord and to cry is to show weakness.
"The healer will be here soon Katara. She is the best in the world. She will save you." His eyes are hard and filled with confidence, but she can hear the doubt in his voice. She is too far gone and they both know that she will not live to see the sunrise bringing Yugoda's arrival.
"Yugoda is still too far away, Zuko…I can feel the life leaving my body. She won't… get here in time." Her eyes are rolling to the back of her head and the shivers are getting more violent. He drops to his knees besides her and gently caresses her face, sticking a hair loop behind her ear. He wants her to make eye contact with him, so that she can see in his eyes all of the things he had never been able to say to her; but her eyes are glazing over. He doesn't know how else to tell her what he feels for her so he presses his lips to hers and his gentle kiss becomes violent and desperate though she is barely moving. He never knew desperation could taste so sweet.
"Katara, just hold on, please. You can't leave me; not now, not ever. You'll pull through. I know you will. Think of our children." But what Zuko really means is, think of me. Think of what your death will do to me, what I'll become. For the sake of peace, live!
"Forgive, Zuko…no more…war...promise me." Every syllable is costing her seconds of life but she has to let her husband know he must forgive Azula's rebel group for poisoning her. The Fire Nation has suffered too much in this civil war. It must end. "Just…put…my…white…robe…on…me. Let…me go."
Zuko takes her hand, and feels her slipping away. More than anything he wants to scream, to cry out in pain, to rip a dagger through his heart and go with her; but he can't. He is the Fire Lord and must lead his people.
"I love you" she whispers with the last of her strength before slipping into the unknown. An eternity passes in each second and he does not know what to say. He wants to tell her his heart is dying along with her, that his life is over and has no meaning with out her and that peace and war are all the same to him if he can't gaze into her deep blue eyes. Somehow "I love you" doesn't cover it, but he can't think of what else to say.
"I love you too." He whispers back, but she does not hear him, for she is gone and he can feel her hand getting cold and rigid. A sharp cry of pain and anguish is heard throughout the palace. The Fire Lady is dead and everyone knows the world will never be the same again.
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A/N All hail the queen of wooden dialog!!
Comments are nice, but I understand that sometimes there is nothing to say.
Based on an old ranchero song titled Tata Dios, sung by Miguel Aceves Mejia.