No one even needed to say it out loud. Team avatar was not staying at this miserable place a second longer than they had to. They didn't even stay the night and just packed up to head out in the woods while the moon was still high in the sky.
Zuko was beaten black and blue and winced as he walked. Though Katara was unable to use her water bending at this time. She still insisted on cleaning the slight puncture on his neck. Which in all fairness was nothing but a needle prick. and then wrap it out in clean white bandages. Just to be on the safe side.
They didn't make it that far into the woods before it was just largely agreed that Zuko should just ride on Appa instead of keeping on stumbling around like that. Zukos objections were weak at best and finally the beyond exhausted prince just gave in and climbed up on Appas back.
It didn't really surprise anyone when slight snores came from up there a while later, no one blamed him. And no one had the heart to wake the prince when they finally decided to put up camp.
The next couple of days went by in a weird haze, nothing seemed right.
Aang got to concentrate solely on earth bending for a while since… neither Katara or Zuko seemed up to much.
Zuko was doing doing better training Sokka than he was training Aang. But that left Katara alone and she would cut herself off as she would sit by the fire with her knees in her arms. Looking unusually pale and sometimes rather squeesy… A little green in the face.
To top that off it was clear that Katara wasn't eating much, even when everyone else were pushing her to eat and then finally she would break down in tears.
There wasn't a single time anyone blamed her. In response they would all move closer. Embrace her. Thanking her for always being there for them. Assuring her she didn't need to do anything.
Finally one late afternoon as the soft glow of a setting sun filled the sky. Zuko caught Katara all alone as she was sitting by the shore of the river not far from their camp. Emptily looking towards the waters.
Zuko hesitated but then finally walked over to Katara and quietly sat down beside her with crossed legs.
Katara didn't say anything. But burried her face into her knees.
"Katara…" Zuko swallowed. "Look. I know this is hard." he said. "I know you feel like your insides has been all torn up and you might not know where to go from here. But you have to move forward. We still need you."
Katara sniffed. "I could at least have healed you. Why am I so stupid?" she asked.
"You're not." Zuko assured. "It's okay."
"You don't understand." Katara began. "I used to think… Water bending was so amazing. And beautiful in all of its forms! I wanted to learn everything I could about water bending! I never imagined that…" She halted. "And I can't get rid of it! I now feel the water inside of the plants and trees. Inside of humans. Ready for me to take. But I don't… I don't want it! I don't…" she hissed.
Zuko hesitated slightly. Then he swallowed. "When… When I was banished." he hesitated. "I heard of a battle which had taken place. Not far from our route… I wanted to go see it. My uncle said no… Like always when I should have listened. I didn't." he lowered his head. "I snook out and headed towards the battle field. And there I saw… Corpses. Burned to death. Laying on the ground. Fire bending had done that." he said. "I've seen both my father and sister use lightning. Creating it from their inner flames. And that lightning is terrifying and horrible… Fire fuelled by rage. Hate… unbridled ambition. It's not pretty at all it's… Ugly." he said. "I hated it… I hated it so much. But still fire was a part of me. And yet I couldn't love it so all I had when trying to fuel it was my rage." Zuko closed his eyes and then breathed deeply as he looked up again. "When I realized there was another way that meant everything to me." he said. "Realizing this ugly part of me can indeed be beautiful. Like your water bending." he said. "Look… Hamas water bending is like the fire bending of the fire nation. It has been corrupted by her hate. But that doesn't mean yours have to be."
"When I first learned water bending I wanted to use it to hurt the fire nation." Katara sniffed. "I wanted to hurt you! I didn't think I could ever forgive the fire nation for what they had done! I wouldn't have believed I could forgive you."
"But you did!" Zuko exclaimed. "Don't you see? That means you're not like her at all. You're so much better! Bending can be ugly or beautiful. It all depends on the user. Your bending is wonderful! You heal. You protect. You comfort like the calm waters. I look at you and I am kind of jealous. I kind of wish I was a water bender."
"Well…." Katara sniffed as she dried away her tears. "You kind of have been incoorporating a lot of water bending techniques into your fire bending." she pointed out.
"Heh… yeah." Zuko admitted. "I really like it. The fluent movements. How it's not about forcing things through but create new natural paths. It just feels… pretty nice." and he swallowed.
For a while there was quiet as the two benders sat next each other on the shore.
"How are you Zuko?" Katara finally asked.
"Oh I'm fine." Zuko said. "I'm not the one who.."
"Everyone has been so focused and concerned about me!" Katara exclaimed. "But you got hurt too! You were already feeling guilty and did everything you could to make it up to her. And then she just… You have a right to be angry."
"I'm not… I…" Zuko halted. "I don't want anger to be my first response any more." he muttered. "Also… I really am not angry. I'm just… Sad." he closed his eyes. "I can't even blame her. Not for a second."
"Zuko…" Katara breathed.
"Pretty pathetic right?" Zuko asked. "I just… I think of her and I just feel so… Sad." he swallowed. "It was the fire nation. The fire nation made her into what she became. And now she's locked up all over again… And I hate it." he hissed. "It doesn't feel right. I…" he swallowed. "I kind of want to give her back to the south pole." he said. "But I understand if you don't want her."
Katara looked up at Zuko with wide eyes and Zuko glanced back.
"What do you think Katara?" Zuko asked.
"I think…" Katara breathed. "That thinking like that is the reason I would have no issue bowing to you." she said. "There is no one else I would want to have the crown of the fire lord! None. Not even Iroh."
Zukos eyes widened. "That… I don't even know what to say." he said.
"You don't have to say anything." Katara assured. Then she turned to the water in front of them, she reached out a hand and swallowed.
"You can do it Katara." Zuko whispered. "It's not water bending itself that's bad. It's how you use it."
Katara nodded and then lifted her arms and finally, water rose up. Forming a clear sphere in front of them.
Zuko smiled lightly as he looked at it. "There you go. That's good."
Katara exhaled as she lowered the water and turned to Zuko. "Are you still sore?" she asked. "I think I can heal you now."
"Well… I wouldn't say no to a session. It also loosens up muscles really well." Zuko said only to halt as Kataras eyes filled with water and then she dove forward. Embracing Zuko in a tight hug.
"Thank you." Katara whispered and Zuko nodded as he returned the embrace.
"Any time Katara." Zuko assured.