ZW 2020: Affirm

Zuko skimmed over dewy grass, his gossamer wings fluttering in a soft hum to keep him aloft. He glanced around the bed of violets and mossy sofas, then looked up at the old oak towering above him like a wooden guardian. Not up there. Those branches were too high. But maybe …

He twisted around in mid-air and darted to the aspen on the other side of the clearing, finding the little nook that they had used as their base when they were still kids with gap-toothed smiles. Sure enough, Katara was hidden inside, knees tucked up against her chest, one hand tugging at a loose thread on her tunic.

"Hey," he said, pausing in the opening.

She waved a hand for him to come in.

He sat next to her, folding his wings neatly so he could sit without any awkwardness. Her wings, of course, didn't need to be folded. They were like glittering flower buds not yet bloomed, barely reaching her waist.

"It's been a while since we've come here," he said.

She made a noncommittal noise.

He bit his lip, not sure what to say. He had never been good at this sort of thing. It wasn't like he understood her struggle either. Not really. He had passed all of his tests. He could leave Starlight Vale now and do missions for the fairy Elders, but she hadn't been able to sit the tests. No matter how much she'd fought to be given a chance, they had not let her.

He sighed and shifted to mimic her position. "I can leave if you want."

"No." She rested her cheek on her knees, meeting his gaze. "I'm glad you came. I really am. I just … I'm frustrated, you know. Everyone is moving on, and soon you will too, and I'm just …"

"You could come with me."

A smile tugged at her lips. "That would be against the rules."

"So?"

Her smile widened and the old twinkle gleamed in her eyes. "Don't tempt me."

"I'm serious, you know. You could come."

"But I can't fly," she said in an exaggerated tone, imitating the Elders' excuse for why they hadn't let her sit the tests. "A fairy who can't fly is better off staying here where it's safe."

He tilted his head, raising his eyebrow. "Is that really going to stop you?"

She bit her lip, but the twinkle was more prominent now. His heart warmed at the sight. There was the Katara he knew. Bold. Determined. Willing to break rules if she thought her cause right.

He wrapped his arm around her, leaning his head against hers. "I really will take you with me, you know. If that's what you want."

They'd always been together. Friends from the first day they'd met, back when their legs were still wobbly and he'd called her Kara and she'd dubbed him Zu. He'd love for her to come on a real adventure with him, just like they'd always dreamed.

"I'll just slow you down," she said in a small voice. "My wings aren't ever gonna grow, Zuko. I'm never gonna fly."

"Then I'll be your wings and fly us both."

A snort escaped her lips.

"What?" he said, heat touching his cheeks.

"That was so cheesy."

His face burned and he pulled away from her. "I was just trying to—you're so—"

She tugged him back and wrapped her arms around him. "Oh, calm down." Her voice softened. "It was cheesy, but it was kind of sweet as well."

His face was still hot, but she nestled closer and, after a moment, he relaxed back into her.

"Would you really do it?" she said. "Risk the Elders' anger to take me with you?"

"Of course."

Her hand found his and interlaced their fingers. "Thank you."

He smiled and closed his eyes, content to stay with her like that for a moment.

He would be her wings for now, but he knew her. She would find a way to make her own wings, her own path. She always did.