Disclaimer: I don't own anything from ATLA.
"No, no, no, no!" Katara shouted as she knelt beside him, hands fumbling at his face. "Zuko! Zuko, stay with me!"
He smiled weakly up at her, but the image was gruesome as blood sprouted from his mouth. His body jerked every once and a while, proof of the open wound in his chest.
It had been a regular day, a regular evening. As Fire Lord, Zuko was to attend a meeting in which he would attempt to create peace with the rebels. Everything had been going well. The rebel leaders were tired and worn from the war and were eager to form a treaty.
Katara had watched her fiance from a balcony, happy that the last effects from the hundred years war were finally coming to an end. She saw him take hold of the quill, about to sign the document that would cease anymore bloodshed. But, before the tip could even make a single mark, the nightmare unfolded.
A crazed rebel, insane with loyalty to his beliefs, had come out of nowhere, brandishing a foot long dagger in his hand. Nobody was prepared, not Katara, not the rebel leaders, and certainly not Zuko. Within a blink of an eye, the dagger was plunged deep into her lover's chest.
In an instant Katara had been by his side, ready to heal the wound so they could get on with their life, their future life together.
If only things were that easy.
As her tears poured down her face, she knew the poison was already deep inside his heart, to far in for any amateur bloodbender to drain without him losing too much blood. She placed a shaking hand on his scarred cheek, unable to do anything to help the dying man in front of her.
His breathing shuddered, but he reached his own hand up to cover hers. The pain made his golden eyes shine with unshed tears. It broke her already beaten down heart.
"All those years of surviving Azula, and I get taken down like this?" Zuko managed to rasp out, smiling wryly at the irony.
Katara smiled bitterly as the poison continued to sink deeper. "We all get unlucky sometimes, huh?"
She bent down until her forehead rested against his clammy one. "I thought we were going to have a happily ever after." She choked out.
Zuko lifted his chin, trembling with effort, as he kissed her tenderly.
"It isn't the end yet, darling."
She wished he wouldn't lie so much.