(part 3 of 3)
iii. worlds are spinning.
His world was turning.
Everything was just not right.
With his back plastered to the floor, kept together only by the flesh on his ripped back, and by the melting will power in his body, he watched the world, and everyone in it, continue to move on without him there.
Can't they see him?
He's dying.
Dying.
Blood is rushing from his body, but not quite as fast as the hope bleeding from his heavy heart. It's weighing him down, keeping him from rising to his feet, as the feeling of being left behind and forgotten holds him down with a force stronger than gravity.
Zuko choked out a cry.
Even if he did his part, even if he fought his father, and even if the Avatar is about to save the world, he can't help but wonder where all the good is left in this pain and suffering.
Sputtering out a trail of blood, his heart was hurting, and he was starting to feel the after pain of fighting your sister.
Not even his victory could drown out pain.
That's when he sees it.
A shiny object, rolling across the marble floors of his past home, found him. It stood out from the red on the walls and the color surrounding him, as it skipped down the hall and rolled near him. Slightly turning his head, so the corner of his amber eyes could see it better, he saw it.
The coin.
It was spinning, spinning, spinning.
The shine of the coin glimmered in the little amount of light there was, and he could feel his mind jumble and spin right along with it, thoughts and memories twirling within the confines of his fading life. Blinking, he gave a groan as he panted a breath, red spilling as he did. It twirled, like a ribbon, spinning in an eternal dance. It summoned his attention, a soft ringing that hummed in his ear, drowning out the noise from a cruel world. Singing its metallic song, the coin glittered at him and winked with rays of sunlight, as he watched it carefully.
Then.
It stopped.
"Either this coin is lucky, or you're the luckiest man alive right now."
He didn't even have to look to know that voice.
Katara.
And before he could even blink, before he could even process, an overwhelming feeling of healing overcome him, and he was breathing. Water replaced blood, washing it away so he could finally see her again. And when he could feel his heart beating normally again, and when he felt something in his heart feel whole again, he realized something.
Something so very important.
The world didn't seem to spin like the coin anymore, the world didn't seem to forget or move on without him, because it was right there. His eyes focused on it, and it was because his world was right before him.
She was his world.
Her lips smashed against him, tears falling from her face to his, as she muttered soft words into his shirt.
And his world would never leave him, never forget him, and never move on without him.
With her head resting against his chest, mimicking the rhythm of his beating heart, he confirmed it all.
He was a lucky man.