002 Ends
A week had passed since the death. It was sudden; expected by no one. She had just entered their room angrily after having a full blown fight with her husband and was getting ready for her weekly visit to the local hospital. A quick rapping on the door was heard, and she opened it. News about the Fire Lord started spewing from the exhausted and panting messenger. Dead. Poisoned by an assassin, the Royal Physicians had said. Her reaction was widened eyes, the gripping of the door handle turning her knuckles white, paling in her face, and shallow breathing.
Over the course of the next few days, the Fire Lady continued her duties to the nation: the coronation of her son, the process of mourning a death in the Royal Palace, and carrying out the will, all with the posture of an unaffected noblewoman. But inside, she felt broken. Within the confines of her room, she sat grimly, with slumped shoulders, trying to forget the deceased Fire Lord, but unable to.
A week had gone by. The nation could see their Fire Lady was strong. She remained controlled and together. But her son knew that inside, she was fragile. He stood by the doorway one day, where he watched his mother do her daily meditation. She once again had a blank mask on, as she had all week. The Fire Lady stared at the unlit candles that used to burn under their master's control. Now their dead master. Her normally warm blue eyes had turned an icy gray-blue as she continued to look at them. Suddenly, her hands swept across the surface and candles clattered to the ground.
"I hate you," she screamed, tears welling in her eyes. "I hate you, I hate you, I hate you! I hate you for leaving! I hate you for not saying goodbye to me!" The Fire Lady broke down, sobbing. "Why?! Why'd you leave first?! Why am I left by myself; alone in this cruel place that faked sadness when you died?! Why?!"
The boy of twenty-three swept in, pulling his mother into his arms.
"I'm sorry," she moaned, tears still streaming down her face. "I'm sorry for hurting you, for the lack of trust I once showed, for being the rude girl who slapped water on your face. I'm sorry. I'm sorry."
"Shh," he shushed her. "Let it out, Mom." He rocked her back and forth.
After a time, the Fire Lady wiped her tears away with her sleeve. "Thank you," Katara whispered, for the heartache was not quite so hurtful when the spitting image of Zuko held her tight, his embrace never letting go. Just like him.
So sorry for not posting for months! I was struggling with a gargantuan idea I had for this prompt and couldn't narrow it down into only a few pages. Hope you enjoyed 'cause I worked hard on this! I should be updating around once a week now, especially finals are almost over! Thank you for reading! Review, please, or Katara might have another breakdown!
