Katara
Unconditional
Katara stopped the rain. The man on the ground's eyes widened. Yon Rha was afraid - like she had been. Katara found that she liked the fear, wanted more of it. When he was afraid, she was in control. When Katara was in control, there was nothing she couldn't do.
Zuko stood in the background, silent, unintrusive. He had his swords out, ready to back her up if she needed him. She didn't need him.
The water Katara had been holding back formed into huge shards of ice. She sent them hurtling towards the man who had killed her mother. Inches above him she stopped them. They quivered in the air. His eyes darted from one to one, unable to choose which to focus on. She leaned in close.
You need to face this man. The memory of Aang's words intruded.
Here I am! Face to face with him.
Please don't choose revenge.
Karata's nostrils flared.
Let your anger out.
A ragged scream escaped from Katara's mouth. The ice shattered. Splinters flew, cutting Yon Rha's face, Katara's arms, reaching as far back as Zuko. Happy now? My anger's out. Once released, would it ever go back in? She battered the former captain. A water whip, feet frozen to the ground, smothered in water-logged mud.
Let it go.
"NO! He doesn't deserve to live," Katara informed the sky and the water pounding down on her hair. Then she stalked over to the man who had torn her life apart, who had ripped her mother from her, and Katara informed him as well. "You don't deserve to live."
Yon Rha didn't seem to disagree with her statement; he was just afraid to die.
"But you know what I don't deserve? I don't deserve this. Not anymore."
With both hands, she sent him rolling down the hill. Then she walked away.
Zuko followed her without a word. He sheathed his swords and walked a few paces behind her all the way back to Appa. He was giving her space. Why? Was he afraid? Was he impressed? Did he think she was weak for letting Aang's words get to her?
Instead of mounting up, Katara turned on her heel. Zuko wasn't as far back as she expected. He nearly rammed into her.
"Whoa," he said softly, putting his hands on her shoulders to steady himself. Then, once he was steady, he stayed where he was. Katara's blue eyes held him in place.
"You would have let me kill him?"
Zuko considered her question, then nodded.
The tears that had been missing on their journey welled up in Katara's eyes. She couldn't hold them back. Sobs wracked her body, threatening to tear her in half. Strong arms encircled her. She pressed her face into Zuko's chest, letting her tears mix with the rain in his soaked tunic.
"What if I had done it?" she asked shakily.
Zuko said nothing.
"I'd be a monster like him."
Zuko shook his head. "You could never be a monster."
"Aang would never forgive me."
"His whole thing is forgiveness," said Zuko with a snort. "He'd find a way to follow his own advice."
Katara craned her head so that she could see Zuko's face. The rain made his hair stick to his skin. She reached up to push it to the side. Before he could reclaim her limb, Zuko's hands encircled her wrist, holding her where she was. She pulled slightly, testing if he would let her go. He didn't.
Gold pouring into her soul, Zuko tilted his head and pressed his lips against her wrist. They were cold and slippery from the rain, but also searing hot. "That's power," he said to her hand. "I've traveled all over the world. Every continent, every nation. I've never seen anyone as powerful as you were today. It's a gift and a burden. You are responsible with choosing how to use your power. But the choice is yours. Katara's. I trust your choices completely."
Katara returned her face to his chest. Her tears had disappeared but if she pressed her forehead hard enough, she could hear his heart pounding in his chest. There, surrounded by him, was safe. With Zuko, Katara realized there was a safety she'd never felt before.
He saw her. Truly. He saw her bloodbend - and not to save herself or her friends. He saw her choose power for power's sake. He saw her enjoy it. Without needing time to process, time to forgive, he accepted her, valued her power. Zuko trusted her. Unconditionally.
If she was going to stand, sobbing, wrapped up in him - if she was going to let him kiss her (wrist) - maybe it was time for Katara to tell Sokka that she had decided to trust Zuko as well.
