Karin: Hello everyone! Sorry this was so late. I'm going on vacation soon so it's a little frustrating with the plans.

Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender.


"The greater your capacity to love, the greater your capacity to feel the pain."

—Jennifer Aniston


Meaningful Cursory

In response to Zutara Week 2010:

Pain


Why was he doing this? Why was he running towards danger? Towards possibly his death? Lightening was dangerous. He knew this since he learned the word, since he's seen what kind of destruction it could cause.

So why… why was he running towards it knowing full well the dangers it could cause him?

Through the jumbling and frantic panic in his mind, one fact presented itself clearly in his mind. The very fact that made him abandon all self-preservation and throw away his own safety—possibly even his life.

For her.

For Katara.

I have to make it! Zuko screamed in his mind. If he didn't… If he didn't, she would be the one to suffer. She would be the one to feel the excruciating pain. For himself, he had maybe a chance to redirect it, but for Katara, she didn't.

Why though? Why was he jumping in front of a lightening bolt meant for someone else? Was it because it was his fight so therefore he should take the blow? Was it because of guilt if he didn't attempt to save her?

No, he firmly told himself. Never. She's too important to me for that. I would have run to her regardless of the circumstances if she was in danger.

She meant so much to him. All of his new comrades did, but Katara was someone special. Even before he joined them, she believed there was something good in him. She had faith in him. Yes, he betrayed that faith and like scum, threw it back in her face—which he would later regret with his entire being—but her strong belief in him at that time touched him, or at least he would realize it after he made his mistake of treason.

However, he realized he was wrong for his betrayel, and he was determined to show her that he was wrong for what he did. Wrong and very sorry for hurting her. It took a while, but she did forgive him. She opened her heart to him again, and that was more than anything he deserved. She was his confident when he was worried about seeing his Uncle again and she was his partner in facing his destiny.

For just being there, he was filled with gratefulness.

And that's why… that's why he couldn't let her get hurt. He couldn't let it end for her like this. It wasn't right. She deserved to live.

She deserved all the happiness in the world, and a part of him wanted desperately—but knew it was impossible for him to do so—wanted to be the one to give it to her.

So when Zuko leapt in front of that lightening bolt, his thoughts flashed of images of her from long ago up to her expression of fear when the lightening was heading straight towards her. Recalling those blue eyes shining in fear and such life, and then imagining that light fading if he hadn't done what he did to protect her made his reason for this possibly insane suicide finally make sense in his brain.

White hot pain—no, it's even worse. It's too agonizing and suffocating to describe into words what he felt when the lightening struck his chest. He didn't hear anything except the lightening crackling. He didn't hear Katara's gasp or Azula's laughter. And he certainly didn't hear his Uncle's words from the past telling him to never let lightening strike one in the heart.

As he crashed to the ground, convulsing from the shock, he heard Katara shout his name. She wasn't hurt. She was well. She was alive.

He tells himself the pain is worth it.


Karin: I personally like this one. Even though it was short and hasty, I feel proud. Hope you enjoyed and reviews, as always are highly appreciated. Thank you for all those who reviewed already. Here's the replies:

InItToWinIT- Thank you very much and congrats on being the first reviewer! Hope to see more from you in the future =D

AnnaAza- Thanks! I'm happy you could review.

See ya Next time!