Forgiveness:
Epilogue
Zuko sat by the river, sharpening his blades. After their escape from Azula's Island, he and his Uncle had joined the Gaang. It was difficult for some of the members to accept them, but Katara had effective ways of persuasion.
He scrapped the sharpening stone across the blades harshly. He heard her soft footsteps before she reached his spot, smelt her jasmine scent before she spoke.
"Zuko." She whispered. He continued to sharpen his blades. "Zuko. Please look at me." She begged from behind him. He paused, his hand hovering over the blade. He took a deep breath and faced Katara.
Her bronze skin had a pale glint to it, and her eyes were red and wet. She's been crying again. He thought. She looked as if she was going to say something, but thought better of it. She glanced up at the unhealed scratches that stretched from his cheek to his chin.
"Would you like me to heal those?" She whispered. He thought about it briefly. It was the last thing Azula ever gave him, before she died. Before Katara killed her.
He placed his broad swords and sharpening tools the side. "Sure." He said. He watched as she pulled a ribbon of water from the river. She carefully walked over and knelt before him. She reached her gloved hand to hover over the wounds.
She asked with her eyes to continue, and he nodded his head. She proceeded to heal the wound. He watched the shimmering blue out of the corner of his eye. Katara said nothing, didn't even look him in the eye.
She finished and released the water back to the river. "Thank you." Zuko whispered. She nodded. "You have very light scarring, but it is hardly noticeable." She moved her eyes from his, ashamed. Zuko starred at her.
They had hardly talked since the incident on the island. She looked at him again, her eyes restraining fresh tears. "I'm sorry Zuko." She chocked out. "I am so sorry." She sank to her knees, almost bowing to him.
Zuko watched her shoulders quiver, shaking in her shame. "I didn't want to. Please, Zuko, believe me." She begged, turning her face to the gaze of the Fire Prince. "I did it to save you." She continued. She was pleading with her eyes. "I couldn't let her hurt you anymore."
"Why?" Zuko asked bluntly. Katara looked at him, puzzled. "Why did you save me? You could have let me die, and escaped with your friends." Katara smiled sadly. "Don't you know me better then that Zuko? You saved my life, I had to return the favor."
She sighed. "And no matter how much I try to deny it, you've worked your way into my heart. I cannot ignore that." Zuko looked at her with, wide, unbelieving eyes. "How can you possibly feel anything for me Katara?"
"For the Prince of Fire, you aren't very bright." She said wiping a tear from her eye. "You saved me from the me from those men, that day in the village. You and your Uncle took me in and put food in my belly, when I was starving. You taught me, that even your enemies should be given a chance." Her voice was cracking, tears threatened to spill.
Zuko mulled over what she had said. She could be lying. Zuko thought. Just telling me what I want to hear, so I will forgive her. But Zuko knew her better than that.
Zuko lifted Katara's chin with his fingers, pulling her blue eyes to meet his amber ones. "Do you really mean that? That you feel something for me?" Katara nodded against his fingers. "And you are truly sorry for killing my sister?" He asked, his eyes hard, but his fingers gentle.
Katara paused, thinking over her answer. "I'm not sorry that she is dead, but I am sorry that I had to be the one to kill her. She was your sister, and I can only pray that you will forgive me. Whispered the blood bender.
Zuko nodded, as if expecting her answer. He tightened his grip on her chin a little, but his eyes softened. He leaned his head down until his forehead met hers. Her eyes were panicky, searching his for something. Zuko denied her eyes whatever they were searching for as he sealed his lips over hers.
Katara was taken aback by the sudden searing heat against her lips. She instinctively stiffened and tried to squirm away, but Zuko held fast. He searched her eyes, trying to drink in the emotions swimming in them.
The longer he held his lips against hers, the more she succumbed to the intensity of the heat surrounding her. Her eyes slipped closed, closing Zuko off from the pool of emotion in them.
Zuko's hand slid from her chin to the base of her skull, gripping it gently. Heat coursed through his being like currents through the ocean. All he knew in that moment was Katara. Not the death of his sister, or his banishment. Not the seemingly endless war. Only her.
Katara gripped Zuko's raven mane and wallowed in the overwhelming smell of midnight storms. Nothing else existed in that moment. Not her looming past, or the judgmental glares from Aang and her brother. Not the fact that she had used blood bending to kill someone. Just Zuko.
Something dormant with in her came alive, lending her strength and passion. Zuko pulled away, gasping for air. He rested his forehead against Katara's. Through rugged breaths he whispered, "You are forgiven" Before claiming her mouth as his once more.