NOTE: this is a small add-on I decided to write, going off the balcony scene between Katara and Aang in The Ember Island Players. I figured that in order to make Zutara work, we first needed to get a glimpse of the alternative... and why Katara would choose not to go that route. I wish I could've written this scene in the episode; to me it just seemed that after being so true and certain of herself since Day 1, it was really un-Katara-like for her to be 'confused.' Blah, fandom. --MM


"In the play!"

Aang fought not to gesture so wildly as he exclaimed finally, almost baffled that Katara had missed such a detail.

"It was when you said I was like a brother to you... and... and you didn't have feelings for me."

"Aang, I don't understand," was all she could mutter as a response, looking elsewhere rhetorically.

The girl crossed her arms as if cold by the night's breeze, looking out into the moonlight. She had a feeling he would bring this up sooner or later, and Katara just wished he'd been brave enough to keep it in his thoughts for... well... for just a bit longer.

But of course it was too late. Katara held her breath, waiting for Aang's voice to come up again.

"We kissed in the invasion, and I thought we were gonna be together," the boy lowered his eyes, looking away as if defeated. "But we're not. It's like you're pretending it never even happened."

"What do you expect me to do, Aang?" a pair of glimmering blue eyes flared at him unexpectedly, angrily. Frustrated. "Go around and sing about it to everybody? Telling them that in spite of all this deadly chaos, and this war... we finally found each other!?'"

Aang flinched at the sarcasm in Katara's voice, and at the harsh gesturing of her hands. He remained calm, however, attempting to bring her back a certain peace.

"I..." the boy searched for words out in the dark ocean, then looking bravely at her eyes as he spoke quietly. "I thought we could at least talk about it."

Katara sighed, looking out into the ocean as well as her voice returned to her natural eloquence.

"We have more important things to worry about."

Aang blinked, not having to guess there was something else she wanted to say. By the sound of her voice, it seemed there were many things she was keeping within her own troubled mind.

All of a sudden, he felt like that conversation in the cave... the storm... had happened so many years ago. It wasn't like Katara to be so distant, and Aang narrowed his eyes to her.

"I'm worried about you," he said in terrible honesty, but through a pure heart.

"Well, worry about the world," Katara whispered back almost too quickly, meeting his eyes with a quivering set of brows. "Think about what you're going to do when you face... him... and he sends his first fire-blow at you."

Aang lingered there, his silver eyes dry as he studied the assertive, almost exhausted complexion of the girl he loved. The seconds passed so slowly that Katara could no longer lock eyes with him, feeling her very self cave in with that same old apprehension. Quietly, she let go of the rail.

"Then we can talk."

That was what she said before she finally took her leave, not bothering to meet Aang's eyes a second time as he remained at the balcony, heavy with burden. Any other day, she would've gladly stayed by his side... but Katara was afraid that another second would make her firm voice break, and the inevitable tears would follow.

But she needed to be strong.

She needed the Avatar to be strong, most of all.