Vigil
Disclaimer: Avatar the Last Airbender is created by Michael DiMartino & Brian Konzieko and owned by Nickelodeon.
Also the picture belongs to Lyndez and Pugletto on Tumblr.
It was about two months after the the dance when Katara received a letter. She immediately set out on a boat to the Fire Nation.
Iroh met Katara at the port.
"Katara, I'm sorry my nephew couldn't meet you here," said Iroh.
"It's okay," said Katara. Katara followed Iroh back to the palace. Katara continued to follow Iroh until they reached a hidden room.
Iroh opened the door with firebending and Katara followed him in. The room seemed ordinary at first until there was a cough that came from the corner of the room.
"How is she doing?" Katara asked.
"It's an extremely high fever," said Zuko. "Like the one I had."
Katara went over the bed. She reached out her hand to touch the forehead when fire came from the person's mouth, but Zuko moved Katara out of the way.
Katara spotted a bucket of water and bent the water from the bucket over the patient's face and the water began to glow and cool the patient enough so she laid her head down and slept.
"When did you find her?" Katara asked.
"About a week ago," said Zuko. "At first I didn't recognize her, but I heard her laugh and I knew it was her."
"How'd you convince her to come with you?"
"It wasn't easy and she tried to kill me at least ten times," Zuko replied. "I also had Aang's help. Didn't he tell you?"
"No, we haven't been communicating recently," said Katara.
"You haven't made up?" Zuko asked.
"We did for a while. Then he had to leave," Katara replied. "Where is he? Won't you need his help?"
"I asked him if he could take away her bending," said Zuko.
Katara's brows went up. "What did he say?"
"As you can imagine, he was furious. He said I should have just left her alone and we fought. He wasn't very happy when I left," Zuko replied.
"How long has she been like this?" Katara changed the subject.
"I wrote you right after I noticed the symptoms," Zuko replied.
"Do you think you can get a tub of water? I'll need one big enough for both me and her," Katara said.
"Sure, I'll be right back," Zuko walked out. Iroh followed so he could help Zuko carry the tub in.
A few minutes later they came back with a tub and buckets of water.
"Uncle, I think Katara and I can handle this," said Zuko.
"Have you forgotten how dangerous she can be? We must remain vigil," Iroh replied.
Zuko and Katara lowered her into the tub. She jerked awake and was about to firebend when Katara got in the tub and surrounded them in ice then let it flow back down.
Katara bent the water around them until it glowed. She worked on healing the person in front of her. After a few hours, Katara began to tire.
"Come on Katara," said Zuko as he helped her out of the tub. Then they both lifted her out of the tub and back on the bed. Katara removed the water from the young lady.
"For now she just needs rest," Zuko looked down at the person on his bed.
"We still need to keep watch over her," said Katara.
"Yeah, Azula is still dangerous," said Zuko.
"You said you had a fever like this, what happened?" Katara asked.
"I changed. It was before I joined you and Aang. It was after I set Appa free," Zuko replied. "My uncle took care of me. I want to take care of her. She needs me."
Katara nodded.
The three of them watched over Azula the rest of the night and took turns keeping watch.
The next day, Azula improved greatly.
"Leave us alone," said Azula.
"Azula," said Zuko.
"Relax, Zuzu. I just want to have a chat with her," said Azula.
Zuko woke his uncle up and they left the room.
"My brother found me," she said.
Katara looked at Azula and waited for her to continue.
"I was happy where I was. I know it pains him if I'm around. He said I'd always be his sister," Azula said. Azula cried a little.
Katara wanted to comfort her, but didn't know what to do. She continued to listen.
"He will always be my brother," Azula said. "But I want to go back. Could take me?"
Katara thought and furrowed her brow.
"Don't you want to tell him goodbye at least?" Katara asked.
"It would be better not to," said Azula. "And I won't be back."
Katara took Azula away and helped her get away.
"Tell him not to look for me again," said Azula. And just like that she was gone.
When Katara returned Zuko was there waiting on her.
"Where did she go?" Zuko asked.
"She said she doesn't want you to look for her again," Katara said.
Zuko sighed. "Aang was right. I should have left her alone."
"She was moved when you told her she'd always be your sister," Katara said.
"Let's go back. I'm going to write a couple of letters. Thanks for coming," said Zuko.
Katara hugged Zuko. "I'm glad you contacted me."
They went back inside.