Sooo, here's my first contribution, in my first year of participating in Zutara Week! XD

It doesn't exactly fit with the definition of the prompt, but it was the best I could think of and I suppose it will do. It's longer than I had planned, probably the longest one I'll submit this week ;P

I hope you like it!

*Oh, and I don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender or any of its characters!

*The cover belongs to the amazing Beanaroony on DeviantART

Melancholy

Katara stared at the door in front of her. She took a deep breath and pressed down the door handle.

This was her fourth visit with the broken princess. Azula was being kept in a smaller room in the furthest corner of the palace. There was a bed and a table and a window with view of the royal garden. During Katara's first two visits, she had found the princess sitting by the window, staring numbly at the little pond, providing home for turtleducks. Both visits had ended up with Katara sitting down at the table and talking to Azula, trying to get some sort of response, without success.

This visit started no different, Azula's back facing Katara as she stepped into the room. The princess wore nothing but a red dressing-gown, the long black hair falling messily down her back.

"Hello, Azula", Katara greeted the way she had yesterday, and the day before that. As expected, the princess didn't even acknowledge her presence. She just kept staring out the window without a word.

Katara sighed exasperatedly and walked up to the table to take a seat. She didn't know why this was so important to her. She just felt somehow responsible for bringing the princess over the edge. Of course she knew that she couldn't be to blame for Azula's breakdown; if she had understood it correctly, the collapse of the princess had been building up for a long time before the day of Sozin's comet. But Katara had been there to witness the actual prostration, just after chaining the princess to the ground herself. And looking at this broken image of the once impenetrable princess, Katara couldn't help but feel guilty and responsible for bringing Azula out of this broken state.

"So, have you been sleeping well?" It was a lame question to ask someone who was obviously in a deep depression, but honestly, the princess most likely didn't sleep as she should, if she did at all. It had been two weeks since Zuko's coronation, three since the day of the comet and no one entering the room to check on the princess had seen her doing anything else but sit by the window and staring at the garden below. Neither had anyone heard her utter a word. And Katara had grown tired of it.

She suddenly stomped up to Azula and leaned against the window frame in front of the princess. She crossed her arms over her chest and stared down at Azula.

"Look, I'm not going to give up on this, and I'm going to keep coming here until you speak to me", Katara said in a strong and clear voice. "I know you don't like this more than I do, but whether you like it or not, I'm not going to leave this palace in a long, long time."

And then, finally, Katara got some response from the princess. Her golden eyes shifted up to Katara's blue ones and for a moment they just stared at each other. Then, in a slightly hoarse voice, Azula said: "So my brother really did fall for a peasant?"

Katara was taken aback, both from the fact that the princess had spoken for the first time in weeks and from what she had said. Azula may have gone through a mental breakdown, but she was not stupid. She had done the math and figured out Katara's actual reason to stay in the Fire Nation. She and Zuko hadn't announced their relationship yet; officially, Katara had stayed in the palace to function as the Ambassador from the Southern Water tribe. But Azula being Azula, and having seen the tenderness between the two during and after the Agni Kai three weeks ago, of course she had figured it out.

"Yes. I suppose in the future, you'll be sisters with a peasant like me", Katara answered in a cold tone. The princess' face had been expressionless as she'd looked up at Katara, however now, it twisted and Azula shot up from her chair.

Katara winced, but kept her gaze steady as the princess glared at her.

"You don't belong here!" Azula hissed. "You are nothing but a filthy little thief! You don't deserve to sit at the throne, MY throne – the throne you stole from me!" The princess moved in half circles, backing away from Katara, though never breaking eye contact. "I was born to sit at that throne! I was born to rule!" she shouted. Then she turned around from Katara and pulled at her messy hair. "No on can take that from me! Not my failure of a brother or my mother", she added in a somewhat lower voice. Then she turned her head back to look at Katara. "Or filthy peasants like you!"

Then the princess just glared at Katara silently for a moment, before yelling; "I am the princess, not you!", and burst into tears. She stumbled over to her bed, fell face down and cried into her pillow.

Katara watched the broken princess, astounded at how low she had stooped. Deciding she had had enough for one day, she pulled some water from the many barrels kept in the room for her to use, should Azula attack her. Katara walked over to the bed and put her water-covered hands to Azula's temples. Then she swiftly hit a spot just below the princess' neck and put her in a calm, dreamless sleep. It was a technique Yugoda had taught her back at the North Pole. She gently took Azula's head in her hands and placed it in a comfortable angle.

Katara slowly straightened up and turned to leave the room. She knocked on the door twice and the guards let her out. Before she left, the guards bowed to her and she nodded politely to them in return.

It wasn't until Katara had reached the shadows of the long hall that she let her feelings overwhelm her. She slumped down a pillar and leaned her head back against it as she sat on the floor. A tear slipped down her cheek and she closed her eyes.

She wasn't sure what she had expected would happen when the princess finally did respond. From the first time Katara had encountered Azula, the princess had struck her as this extremely confident and strong person; impossible to outsmart or defeat. And impossible to foresee.

However, Azula's outburst was not what Katara had expected. The shouting was reasonable; Azula's antipathy for Zuko and her. But the way the princess' voice had almost broken, her brutish pulling at her hair and her wild eyes where not something Katara had wished to witness... And certainly not the crying. Azula was the kind of person Katara would imagine didn't cry much as a child, didn't cry at all actually. Though after having cried continuously for hours after the Agni Kai, Katara had kind of thought Azula had made up for it.

Now it seemed like the princess had unlocked herself and let herself cry. She let herself lose her mind; she let herself be human. Katara supposed that was at least something – it was better than the apathetic, lifeless behaviour the princess had engaged in lately.

But it frightened Katara how much someone could change in such a short amount of time and it hurt her to see Azula's sanity seeping through her fingers.

You wanted her to show emotion, didn't you? a voice said to Katara. You should be happy – you succeeded.

And Katara was relieved. It would be a lot easier to help Azula now that she was actually speaking. But Katara couldn't let go of the sadness that had inevitably started to creep into her...

At diner that evening, Katara sat silent at the table. Aang had left a couple of days ago with Sokka and Suki to help calm things down in the Fire Nation colonies around the Earth Kingdom; fights had occurred concerning who should have right to the land. An agreement was yet to be signed in the upcoming weeks.

Only Katara and Toph had remained in the Fire Nation palace with the new Fire Lord. The two of them where currently sat in one of the large dining rooms with Zuko and General Iroh.

Katara stared down at her plate. She had barely touched the roasted duck, she simply had no appetite. She just sat there, lost in her dim mind, partially listening to the ongoing discussion between Toph and Iroh. And unaware of the Fire Lord's intense gaze.

Katara soon excused herself, saying she needed some fresh air, and absent-mindedly strolled out onto a balcony. She sat down at a bench and turned her eyes up towards the new moon. She couldn't quite discern what it was she was feeling. She just felt empty, yet at the same time heavy, like she was being drawn down into a dark depth and there was no way to get up.

Huh... I'm being more affected by my meetings with Azula than I thought I would... Katara thought and the image of the princess' hysterical face once again occurred in her mind. She shivered and rose to go back to her chamber. Some sleep would help her get her mind off the princess.

As she entered her borrowed room and closed the door after her, a heavy sigh escaped her lips.

"Something's bothering you", a raspy voice said behind her.

Katara spun around and saw Zuko leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest. He was all covered in shadows; no wonder she hadn't seen him.

Katara averted her eyes to the floor. "I don't know what your talking about. I'm fine", she said. She didn't know why but she didn't want to tell Zuko about what really was bothering her. At least not tonight...

Zuko stepped out into the light, standing in front of her and forcing her to look up at him. He had stepped out of his usual complete Fire Lord outfit and wore nothing but a sleeveless, dark red tunic and a pair of black trousers now, his hair falling messily in his eyes. He shook his head with his brow raised.

"Really, Katara? I've grown to know you well enough to tell that's not true."

Katara sighed again and turned around. Zuko's hand shot out and grabbed her wrist before she could get anywhere. He pulled her to him and captured her mouth with his. She let out a surprised "mmhp" and stiffened all over, not answering his passionate kiss like she usually would.

Zuko noticed this as well and pulled back, though still holding her close. "What is it that you can't even say to me? You know you can tell me anything..." His voice held a taste of hurt.

Katara sighed as she looked into his eyes. She didn't want to give him the wrong idea by keeping things from him. Giving in, she simply said; "Azula spoke today."

Zuko was clearly taken aback, just like Katara had been. "Really? Well... that's good I suppose. What did she say?"

Katara gently pulled away from him and walked over to her bed, taking a seat. "Well, more accurately, she was screaming. According to her, we stole the throne from her. As we predicted, she's got a lot of anger towards you. And me, for that matter." Katara closed her eyes. "I don't know her the way you do, but it's just... no one should have to fall that far..."

Zuko sat down beside her and looked at her closely. "I don't understand why you're doing this to yourself", he finally said. "She's not your responsibility. And for Agni's sake, she shot lightning at you!"

"I never got hit...", Katara said weakly.

"No, I did!" Zuko retorted heatedly. He noticed Katara's slight wince at the sharpness of his voice. "And I would do it again for you", he added in a softer tone and stroke her cheek. "But that's besides the point. She was pleased I took the lightning; she found joy in watching me lying on the ground dying!"

"No she didn't!" Katara threw back just as heatedly. "Not for real! I know there's more to her... somewhere...", she trailed off.

Zuko stared at her as if she'd gone crazy.

"She wasn't herself! Even from the little I know about her, I know that for sure! You can't honestly believe that she was, she's still your sister!"

Zuko shot up from the bed and took a few steps before turning back to her. "Yeah, but it's not the same as with you and Sokka! Azula, she's not... She's never cared about me... or anyone, but herself. My mother could see that all along and I've had to live with it my whole life – you could have died because of it!"

Katara rose as well to stand in front of him. "Yes, but how can you blame her? How can you expect someone to care and show love when they haven't been shown any of it themselves? As I understand it Azula and your mother weren't on the best of turns with each other and Ozai, I doubt he is capable of feeling love at all-"

"So that gives her right to do what she did?!" Zuko interrupted angrily.

"And how much love did you give to her?!" Katara finished with the same anger.

To this, Zuko had no answer. All anger subsided from his face and was replaced by guilt and pain as the truth in Katara's words settled in. He turned away from her.

Katara let out a sigh and closed her eyes. "All I mean is that we all make mistakes, and we all deserve a second chance", she said in a softer voice. She opened her eyes again and put a hand on his shoulder. "You should know that better than anyone."

He finally turned back to her and put his own hand over hers. "I guess so. But I still don't understand why you must be the one to do this."

Katara offered him a weak smile. "Because I'm a healer. And because it was my actions that triggered her actual breakdown. I'm responsible for releasing her into this deep depression. It's my duty to try to help her out of it."

Zuko's eyes met hers. He was about to protest but understood she was not going to listen to him. "Even if it brings you pain as well?"

Katara thought about this for a moment. "I've already started this, and I'm not going to be able to rest before I've finished it. It is my duty, and I will never turn my back on people who need me, no matter the cost."

Zuko saw the determination in her eyes, but he also saw the sadness that still lay behind it. He pulled her into an embrace and mumbled into her hair; "You are too selfless, you know that, right?"

She made no reply, just relaxed in his strong arms.

When they broke apart, Zuko kept a firm hold on her upper arms. "Fine", he said. "Do what you feel you need to do. But I won't let her drag you into depression with her. Tell me what to do to help you, anything."

Katara smiled up at him, a sincere smile this time. "You can kiss me like nothing is wrong in the world."

At this, Zuko's face brightened up, before he more than willingly fulfilled her request. His lips found hers and this time, she returned the kiss and deepened it hungrily as she felt it blunt all her thoughts. As Zuko's tongue playfully made contact with her lower lip, one thought crossed her mind though and she broke the kiss.

Zuko could tell by the frown on her face that she was pondering something. "What?" he asked softly.

"I just don't know how to make her trust me. I can't help her if she doesn't...", Katara said and lowered her eyes.

Zuko stroked her cheek with his thumb. "Trust is something you have to earn, remember? You're the one who taught this to me. You have to make her understand that you're there to help her, and then you have to give her time. This is not something that can be solved overnight. It will take time and it will be difficult. But I know you can do it; when you decide to do something, you can do anything. Nothing can stop you from achieving what you believe in, that's who you are."

Katara looked up at him. His face was one of admiration and warmth. "I love you", she whispered.

Zuko smiled and answered by once again capturing her lips in a passionate kiss. This time, she made no objection and just let him take her mind off her worries.

The next morning, when Katara entered the room in the furthest corner of the palace, it was with determination. Thanks to Zuko, she looked at her fifth visit with Azula with a somewhat optimistic outlook.

Though, the little confidence she had gathered wavered as she once again found the princess sitting by the window, staring down at the royal garden.

"Hello, Azula", she greeted nevertheless and continued with her usual question; "Did you sleep well?"

There was silence for a moment, before the princess' voice reached Katara's ears; "Why do you keep coming here?"

Relief washed over Katara, relief that Azula hadn't returned to her apathetic, unreachable state. "Because I wish to help you."

At this, the princess turned her head to look at Katara with narrowed eyes. "Don't you despise me, the way I despise you?"

"No, I don't", Katara answered truthfully. "I don't like what you've done. But I want to give you the chance to show us there is more to you than the person who did all those things. I believe that you have good in you, and deep down, I think you know it as well."

The princess looked at Katara a few seconds, before turning back to look out the window and made no reply to Katara's honest answer. Instead, she spoke in a cold voice; "During your first visit, you said that the Avatar took my father's bending away. If he truly can do that, how come I've still got mine?"

Katara was slightly surprised that Azula had actually listened to her during her first visits.

"Because we think there is still hope for you", Katara answered in a calm tone. "Like I said, I want to give you a chance to show me there's more to you than we've seen so far-"

Katara was interrupted when the princess suddenly stood up with enough speed to send the chair flying to the floor. "And why should I trust you?!" Azula spat out and glared down at Katara. "Why should I believe that you're not here just to mock me with your victory?! Why should I believe that you've forgiven me so easily?"

This time, Katara didn't let herself wince at Azula's outburst, and rose from her chair as well. She stared back at Azula, meeting her furious golden eyes. "I haven't forgiven you", she answered just as loud. "I haven't forgiven what you did, but I want to be able to one day. And believe it or not, I'm not proud of what I did to you either. I didn't enjoy chaining you to the ground, but I did what I had to do right then. Now, I'm trying to make up for it, because I can see that you're in pain. And I can help you, if you let me."

Azula looked at her with what looked like astonishment for a moment, before her eyes narrowed again. "Why should I trust you?" she repeated.

"Because you're a judge of character, aren't you? Look into my eyes, and you'll see that I'm honest when I say I'm here to help you", Katara said and softened her expression.

Azula examined Katara's face through narrowed eyes, and then her face too softened just the slightest. She took a step back, ever wary, but somewhat more relaxed.

Katara's eyes fixated on the grey markings underneath Azula's eyes. "I think you need more rest", she stated. "Would you like me to help you sleep again?" she offered in a gentle tone.

The princess watched her closely a second, before silently giving a nod.

When Katara left Azula's room, she couldn't help but feel slightly happy about how the visit had turned out. Having been allowed to help the princess sleep wasn't much, but it was a start. And for the first time, Katara felt certain that – with Zuko's help – she would be able to get both Azula and herself through this depression. All she needed was to be patient and as long as she had the person she loved with her, she had the perfect remedy to her own sadness.