Katara broke another branch she found, getting pieces small enough to carry. She added the pieces to her pile, lifting it into her arms as she made her way back to where the camp they'd set up was. It'd surprised her how much Iroh and Zuko seemed to lean on her now that they were off the ship, her experiences from traveling with Aang making her the expert at camping out.
Her burn was still healing, but she'd told the two firebenders it was fine, not wanting to be stuck with them all day long. So, she gathered food off the island, collected firewood, cooked their meals, kept their camp clean and did practically every chore by herself. Iroh helped under her direction as much as he could, always ready to boil a pot of tea for the three of them.
Zuko was skittish around her. If she ever asked him to do anything, he'd immediately rush to get it done, no matter what it was, but for the rest of the time, he kept to himself.
Katara could often find him by the ocean, strangely enough, meditating as the waves crashed along the sand. Sometimes, she'd sit a ways behind him and just watch him, hidden by the foliage growing along the coast. Her heart continued to ache, even as the wound in her side healed little by little.
She'd overheard a conversation between Zuko and Iroh once when she'd left to search for food, returning early because she'd wanted to take the bucket they had from the boat.
"What are you planning on doing now, Prince Zuko?"
"I don't know, Uncle. I'm not sure what I should be doing right now."
"In the many years we've been out here together, Prince Zuko, I've only heard you say that once, after Zhou took your soldiers. Now, you are without soldiers, without a ship. What do you think you should be doing right now?"
"Finding the Avatar."
Katara went still at his words, the ache in her heart growing deeper.
"Are you sure that's what you need to be doing?
"Yes. I just don't know how to do it."
There was silence for a moment before Zuko spoke again.
"He's my only way home, Uncle. My only way to regain everything I've lost."
"And what about Katara? Are you willing to lose everything you've gained as well?"
Zuko hadn't given Iroh an answer that she'd been able to hear, and so she'd walked away, disappearing into the trees. Ever since that conversation, Zuko had taken to staring at Katara when he thought she wouldn't notice, but despite his efforts, she'd caught him several times.
She dropped the wood she'd gathered by the fire pit she'd built, slowly straightening as her face tightened in pain.
"Katara?"
Her expression once again blank, Katara turned to face Zuko who had appeared behind her.
"Could we talk for a moment?"
Katara nodded, walking beside him as they left the campsite to walk along the beach. She watched the ocean as she waited for Zuko to start talking.
"Katara," he said after a few minutes, coming to a stop.
She blinked at him, the setting sun striking her eyes. He sighed, looking unsure.
"You're angry with me," he stated.
She shook her head.
"You're not?"
"No, Zuko," she sighed. "I'm not angry. I'm sad, and a little bit hurt, but I'm not angry. Not anymore."
"How?" he asked after he'd gone over what she'd said. "After everything I've done to you, how? I burned you, and nearly killed your father!"
"My dad didn't die, and I'll heal, Zuko," Katara told him. "You're not the only person who's burned me before, Zuko."
His face showed his confusion.
"Haven't you ever wondered why Aang never firebends?" she asked.
Zuko's eyes widened.
"He burned you?" he confirmed, voice hushed.
"It's how I discovered my healing abilities. I forgave him for that. I've forgiven you."
"You say it like it's so easy," Zuko muttered, looking away.
"It is," Katara told him.
"I always assumed it was because he hadn't learned yet, that he hadn't found a teacher," Zuko admitted after a moment.
"He found a teacher, but he wasn't ready," Katara explained.
"He's only going to become more dangerous once he learns fire," Zuko said to himself.
"Dangerous?" Katara questioned quietly.
Zuko looked at her, guilt shining in his eyes.
"You said you were sad and hurt," Zuko said, dodging her comment. "Why?"
Watching him, Katara waited in hopes he wouldn't avoid what she'd said.
"You locked me up," she finally told him once it was clear he wasn't going to acknowledge that subject.
Her voice was soft, filled with pain. Zuko looked down again, crossing his arms in shame.
"I know," he murmured. "I'm so sorry, Katara."
"You're not giving up on chasing Aang, are you?" she asked, voice strained.
"I don't know if I can."
Katara gazed at him, long and hard.
"Make a choice, Zuko," she told him, turning to walk away.
Zuko caught her by the wrist, spinning her back towards him and cupping her face with his hands, drawing their lips together. Their cheeks grew wet as the two of them cried, Katara's eyes fluttering closed. She pressed closer to him, wishing she could force him to give up chasing Aang by sheer willpower. Zuko welcomed her, hand dropping behind her neck, tilting her head and his for a better position.
His other hand dropped before Katara could realize it, coming up on her still healing burn.
Yelping in pain, Katara jumped away from him, hands gently clutching her side.
"Katara," he cried out, reaching out as if to grab her but freezing before he could touch her, realizing what had happened.
"You're still hurt?" he breathed, hands falling to his sides.
"No, I'm ok," Katara tried to assure him, pushing aside the pain as she straightened, trying to smile at him.
Zuko couldn't take his eyes off where her injury was, his expression unreadable.
"I'm so sorry, Katara," he whispered.
He took off running across the sand, leaving Katara calling his name, unable to follow him quickly enough.
Once he was out of her sight, Katara turned to the ocean, stepping into the waves that were curling up along the sand. Sinking to her knees, Katara watched the sun set, feeling the rolling of the sea trying to calm her.
"What are we doing?"
"Trying to live."
"What happened to living, Zuko?" Katara spoke across the ocean, fingertips trailing through the water. "What's making you want to stop living?"