Relief like Zuko had never felt washed over him. She was okay. Everything was okay. They'd made it. "Katara," he replied through a smile. He let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. Her eyes stayed locked on his for a moment longer. Slowly, they seemed to glaze over, like she wasn't seeing him anymore. Confused, he spoke again, "Katara?"
She didn't move at all at the sound of her name, but she was still smiling. Zuko stared at her in confusion and worry. She'd just been awake! What was happening? He tried to keep his panic at bay. He needed to keep a level head. If his hand hadn't been so close to her neck to feel that her heart was still beating, he would've thought she'd…died.
But she hadn't, so what was going on? Zuko eyes continued to dart around, scanning her body for movement or change. Suddenly, the water around Katara glowed. Surprised at the change, Zuko quickly removed both of his hands from Katara. Her head turned from him and looked up towards the dark sky. Her eyes closed. Spirits.
The water glowed brighter and Zuko thought he could feel a sort of hum around it. He watched in awe, completely not used to water that glowed like this.
Looking closer at Katara, Zuko noticed something amazing. The skin on her raw hand was growing back. It was so strange. He bowed his head closer, not daring to touch her and ruin whatever miracle was happening. Her new skin was paler than her other skin, but otherwise perfectly normal. The crackle on her arms was fading. The red was disappearing, leaving a faded scar in its place. It looked the same as if years of healing had occurred. The gash on the side of her face was almost completely gone now.
As quickly as it had started, the glowing disappeared, and Katara sucked in a gasp and sat up. Zuko's hands were immediately on her. "Whoa there. Slow down." She flinched and gasped again at his touch, her head whipping to look at him. Her eyes were wide, but she breathed easier when she realized it was him. Her face calmed.
"Spirits, Zuko," she said. He was happy to hear her voice sounded normal and strong. "Where…? What happened?"
Zuko was at a loss, still trying to figure out what had just happened himself. "Well…" He didn't know how to explain.
She looked away from him, concentrating on remembering. Something seemed to hit her, and she whipped to look at him again. "Azula-" Her eyes were filled with worry, and Zuko knew he couldn't tell her that he'd simply left Azula down there.
"Taken care of, Katara. It's ok."
"Where are we?" She was looking around frantically, trying to get her bearings. Her hands had moved to his forearms and were gripping them tightly. Zuko's eyes drifted to the water running down her face, neck, and shoulders. It made her skin glint in the moonlight. Her blue eyes shone brilliantly. And, her top was still untied and open. He gave his head a small shake.
"The palace," he said, refocusing on the question. Katara pushed up on his arms, trying to stand up. The water sloshed onto Zuko. Katara stumbled and let out a small cry, reaching for her middle. Zuko caught her under the arms as she fell against him. Katara's hands gripped his shoulders like her life depended on it. She was shaking. Slowly, he helped her step out of the fountain.
Her face contorted at the pain and Zuko could tell she was trying to hide just how much it hurt. Zuko's mind flashed back to the pain of Azula's lightning hitting him. It had been almost unbearable. The thought that Katara had endured it too made him angry. And she'd had to because he hadn't been good enough. Hadn't been quick enough, or smart enough.
Realizing she was standing on solid ground now, Katara loosened her grip on Zuko's shoulder and straightened up, peeling herself off him. Zuko watched her face closely. He kept his hands on her sides, ready in case she stumbled again.
"Thank you," she whispered. Zuko smiled sadly.
"I think I'm the one who should be thanking you." Tears welled in Katara's eyes at the sound of the words she had said to him so long ago. Zuko realized he hadn't seen her cry in a long time. Not since the crystal cave at Ba Sing Se. All during the end of the war, and during the confrontation with Yon Rha, she hadn't cried. The war had hardened her, just like it had all of them from that time.
She seemed to be holding back a lot of emotions now. Her eyes closed and silent tears slid down her cheeks. She buried her face into his chest, and Zuko let his hands fall from her sides. Instead, his arms fell around her waist, pulling her closer, telling her silently that it was okay for her to cry now.
They stood like that for a while. Zuko closed his eyes and let her cry into him, not feeling the need to say anything. At that moment, they understood each other perfectly. All she needed right now was to know that he was there, and all Zuko needed was the comfort of holding her close. So they stood there in the soft moonlight for a long time. She shook with her silent sobs and Zuko moved a hand farther up, stroking her damp hair.
Realizing she was still wet and probably cold, he warmed himself. Katara shivered and curled herself into him even more. She seemed to have calmed down some. After another minute or so, Zuko felt his hands on her back rise and fall as she took a deep breath. She stood, and hastily wiped away the wetness on her face. Zuko bent down to look at her closer. Her body was swaying now that she was standing on her own.
Guessing what was going to happen, Zuko scooped up her small frame in one swift motion and started for the palace doors. Katara's eyes closed, but he didn't know if she was tired or had truly passed out.
. . .
Katara woke with a start and groaned as she tried to sit up. A warm hand on her shoulder pushed her back down. She obeyed, her mind still extremely muddled. A stabbing pain shot through her stomach and her hand flew to cover it. What she felt made her suck in a breath. She had a hole there now. Her fingers drifted over her twisted, mangled skin, feeling every divet and ridge.
The same warm hand from before covered her own and moved it away from her stomach. Katara finally focused her eyes and looked up. When she saw him, her heart and breaths calmed. He was lying right next to her, his dark golden eyes watching her face intently. His hair wasn't in the usual top knot, but hung loose and shaggy around his face, just like she remembered it being while they'd camped.
"Don't," Zuko said simply. Sadly. His fingers laced through hers in what she assumed was a distraction to keep her from touching the star shaped wound on her middle. With his other hand, he closed her top. The kind, gentle gesture touched Katara deeply. "How do you feel?"
"Where are we?" she asked. Zuko laughed softly at her response.
"We're in my room," he replied. Katara thought he sounded slightly embarrassed. The bed moved as he went to get up and give her space. Katara tightened the hand that was weaved through his, not wanting him to go. Zuko paused and looked at her. The faint trace of a smile flit across his lips. Instead of leaving he sat up, resting his back against the elegant headboard. "I didn't want you to be overwhelmed with the nurses and healers at the infirmary."
Katara nodded her head on the pillow, still holding his hand tightly. She wanted him close. "Thank you, Zuko." A beat passed. "Honestly, I truly don't feel too bad. How long have I been asleep?"
"Maybe an hour or two?" he replied more casually. He seemed happy she had silently asked him to stay. Katara nodded a second time as she put her other arm in a place to lift herself up and sit next to him. She ignored the pain. "Will you stop that," Zuko said, his voice teasing in a friendly way, but still serious. He pushed her back down and Katara huffed, but she was smiling. "Don't sit up. You'll just hurt yourself more."
A comfortable silence fell between them. Katara closed her eyes, focusing on the warm movements of Zuko's thumb on the back of her hand. When had they gotten so comfortable with each other? Katara thought back to the words she had said to him before everything happened. I would've stayed with you. In her mind and heart, she felt the truth of those words even still. If she could go back, back to the evening on the balcony in Ba Sing Se, and change what she did, she wouldn't have yelled at Zuko. She would've been completely plain with him. She would've stayed with him.
For some reason this made her sad. All that time wasted with Aang could've been avoided. All that time in the South Pole hating herself and the stupid choices she made could've been avoided. She could've had three years with Zuko. Would he…would he have wanted that?
She sighed, pushing the thoughts from her mind. There was no point thinking like that. If there was anything she'd learned, it was that hating your past self for the choices you made doesn't make any difference. She had to remind herself. The Katara that was on that balcony almost four years ago was scared and confused. And maybe a little hurt. She'd been happy because of their victory in the war, scared about hurting Aang, confused about Zuko and just a tiny bit sad that he hadn't told her about Mai. She'd done what she thought was best. Even though it was a terrible mistake, Katara reminded herself
No. She was here now. What happened, happened. She shouldn't be sad. She was here now with him. Katara thought back to their conversation in the library. She hadn't wanted to admit anything to him, because she knew this is how they would both end up thinking. They'd both start imagining these 'what ifs.' Well, maybe he wasn't, but Katara was. And those almost hurt more than the wound on her stomach did. But, at the same time, if she hadn't admitted anything, maybe he wouldn't be here with her now.
His voice broke the silence in the large room. "What are you thinking?"
Katara smiled. "Too many things," she chuckled.
"Same," he replied, breathing out a small laugh too.
Another silence fell. This time, Katara was the one to speak. "Hey, how did…you know…how did I not…? What happened?"
Zuko shook his head in bafflement. "I honestly don't know. The more I think about it, the more it amazes me. You should have died, Katara." Not knowing how to respond to this, and also wanting him to say more, Katara didn't say anything. "I can't believe you pulled a stunt like that," he smiled.
Katara felt her face get warm. "What else could I do? You would've died."
"Yes, I know, but you jumped in front of it not knowing if you'd be able to redirect it. You knew you might not be able to." Zuko's eyes were filled with wonder. "That's brave, Katara."
Katara's felt her face flush more. Bravery was part of it, she guessed, but she knew deep down it was more than that. In fact, almost the opposite. Fear of losing Zuko, of seeing him die right before her eyes, had been her main motivation. She decided to turn the conversation away from this. "Well, thank you," she said simply. "How come I didn't die though? What did you do?"
It was Zuko's turn to shrug. "I didn't do anything spectacular. I just took some of the heat out of your body. You were the one that healed yourself."
"Really?" she asked, truly confused. She'd never healed herself to this extent before. She'd also never healed herself and then forgotten it later.
He nodded. "Yeah. The water in the fountain started glowing just like it does when you heal other people. At least, that's what I thought was happening." Spirits. She must have really been out of it. Katara didn't remember any glowing water.
Suddenly, a thought hit her, and when it did, Katara was amazed she hadn't realized it sooner. Yue. Of course, it'd been Yue. Katara smiled. Yue would've been the reason behind the glowing water and the healing.
"What?" asked Zuko, looking down her face. Her head was still lying on the pillow.
"Nothing. It wasn't me though." Zuko cocked his head in confusion. "I know it sounds crazy," she said, "but I'm actually pretty good friends with the moon spirit."
"You're kidding," said Zuko. Katara shook her head, laughing. Then, Zuko seemed to remember something. "Wait a second. Does that have anything to do with Sokka's ex-girlfriend who turned into the moon?" Katara nodded, still giggling. There was pain in her stomach, but she ignored it. "Spirits. When he told me that, I thought he was just trying to freak me out or something. I had no clue what to say."
Katara laughed harder, realizing that's exactly something Sokka would do. Eventually she calmed down. "Yeah, she was the daughter of the chief in the North. Sokka fell for her hard, but she was actually betrothed. And then she turned into the moon, so I guess it really was never meant to be."
Zuko let out a real genuine laugh at Katara's words. "Poor Sokka."
"Yeah, poor Sokka. He got over it though."
"What happened to the guy the moon was engaged to?"
Katara didn't answer right away, and Zuko looked down at her. She knew he could sense the change in her mood. "His name was Hahn. When I came home to the South Pole, my Father and Chief Arnook from the North really wanted us to marry, actually." Zuko's eyebrows furrowed. "They thought it might be a good way to unite the Tribes. Hahn is next in line to be chief." Zuko smarted his features, which had reflected a little sadness, and looked away from her again. Katara hated remembering that time period. It'd been brief, but the pressure had been terrible. Her dad had been so torn between uniting the tribes and still not wanting to force Katara into anything, especially so soon after Aang. She'd hated seeing him like that. "Total idiot though. More annoying than Sokka, if you can believe it. I don't know what the world will do when they're the chiefs of the water tribes. Spirits help us," she joked.
Katara could only see the side of his face, but she saw Zuko smile. "I guess arranged marriages aren't just a thing in the Fire Nation, then." His voice was sad. Katara wanted to ask if he'd ever faced anything like that but didn't. He most definitely had, and she didn't need to hear about it. In all reality, Katara realized, it was amazing they'd both managed to hold off marriage as long as they had. Zuko was almost twenty now, and Katara would be eighteen by the end of the year. They both very easily could've been in different places right now, but they weren't. Another minute or two of silence passed before either of them spoke again.
"What was it like? Growing up in the South Pole?"
The question caught Katara off guard and she didn't answer for a few seconds, not knowing what to say. "I mean, I don't know. Normal?" she said. Then she added, "I guess, for one thing, we didn't have any Lords or Ladies." Zuko smiled.
"No, really. What did you do for fun?"
Katara thought hard, considering her answer. "Well, penguin sledding was always a big thing."
"Penguin sledding?" he asked, his tone implying he thought she was joking.
"Yes," she laughed. "Penguin sledding. We would go find a huddle of penguins and try and catch one. Sometimes that part was more fun than the actual sledding. But, anyways, once we got one, we'd slide down the ice on it."
"Wow," he laughed. Katara could tell he was picturing it in his mind and thought it was crazy. His head was leaned back on the headboard, shaking in disbelief. "What else?" He sounded genuinely eager to hear more.
"Well, there was snowball fights, of course."
"What are those?" he questioned simply.
Katara looked up at him, raising an eyebrow. He had to be kidding, right? "You don't know what a snowball fight is?"
He looked down to meet her eyes, his face asking if he was supposed to know what a snowball fight was. He seemed completely serious. Katara felt her eyes widen and her mouth open.
"Zuko!" she exclaimed. He just shrugged, and Katara couldn't help but laugh, still ignoring the pain it caused in her stomach. "Basically, you take a handful of snow and smash it together as hard as you can, and it makes a snowball." She slipped her hand out of his to show the motion. "We'd make a ton and throw them at each other."
"Really?" asked Zuko, genuinely intrigued.
Katara nodded. "When we got more serious, we'd build forts to hide behind and work with teams."
"That's amazing," he said, smiling. Katara looked off, remembering.
"Sometimes my dad would come out and join the fights. All of us kids loved it when that happened. One time, he thought it would be funny to put ice in his snowballs. When he threw one, he accidentally hit a kid right in the face and knocked one of his teeth out." She heard Zuko laughing again. "My mom got so mad at him when she found out later that evening." Katara smiled at the memory. She hadn't thought about this in a long time. When she looked up, Zuko was already looking at her.
"Tell me more," Zuko said quietly. He shifted slightly so he was a little lower and closer to her.
Katara looked away and tried to think. She could feel him staring at the side of her face. He was watching her so intently Katara felt as if his eyes were burning her skin. "Well, once a year, at nighttime, the Spirit Lights shine in the sky, right above our village. It's kind of hard to describe, but they're sort of like a rainbow at night, except bigger and brighter. The elders in the tribe used to say that the lights were a way for the spirits to tell us that they were happy with us. It was their way of giving us their blessing." She paused and spoke quieter. "Most people would go up to the Cliffs to watch them, which were just a ways behind the village. Once you're up there, it's completely flat." A beat passed. "I could lie on my back in the snow and see the lights perfectly."
"Wasn't that cold? Lying in the snow?"
Katara shook her head. "You'd be surprised. It's actually not too bad." Zuko was looking at her now like he was trying to memorize every detail of her face. It made her blush and turn away. She'd been comfortable being this close to him up until now, but now her heart was beating so loud in her chest she was certain he could hear it. Just like it had when she'd seen him step of his ship in the South Pole.
She didn't know what made her say it, but she felt completely safe sharing it. She shifted gingerly onto her side and fiddled with a thread on his pants. Her other hand slipped back through his. When had she gotten so brave? "You know, when I was home again, after everything with Aang, I thought about you for a long time. Wondered about what you were doing. It was strange. Everything reminded me of you. The fires in the fireplaces would remind me of the fires you'd bend while we were all camping. Or when we'd make tea, I'd think of you again." Katara looked up. He was still watching her intently, but she couldn't read his expression. He seemed to be contemplating her, but also seemed happy. She turned away. "Or someone would tell a really bad joke."
Zuko guffawed. "Hey! My jokes are not that bad."
"Zuko. Please. Sometimes you can't even remember them." He rolled his eyes playfully. "But it's okay. Some people just aren't funny."
He laughed and Katara smiled. The sound of him truly laughing was amazing. She got the feeling it didn't happen very often. Especially since becoming Fire Lord. She felt grateful she got to hear such a rare sound. Zuko sat up straighter again, his back still against the headboard. Surprising herself again, Katara shifted even closer to him, lying her head on his lap. She felt him freeze. After a second, he released a breath. His hand lowered to her waist and settled there. Katara smiled in relief, worried that she'd gotten too close.
"Now you tell me something." The hand at her waist was playing with the ends of her hair now.
"There's nothing you'd want to hear," he answered. Katara had been expecting that answer and didn't push him to talk about his childhood.
"Just something you've never told anyone before."
"Uhhh…" Zuko sounded confused at the question. "I mean…I don't really know." He sounded like he was still genuinely pondering the question, so Katara waited patiently. Then he laughed. "Well, before I approached you guys at the Western Air Temple, I practiced what I was going to say to a Badgerfrog."
Katara turned to look up at him. "No way," she said. Zuko's shoulders were shaking with silent laughter and his eyes were closed.
"I'm dead serious."
Katara looked forward again, smiling at the picture of a younger Zuko talking to a Badgerfrog all about how he'd changed. "That's the best thing I've heard in a long time." For a moment, they both smiled, still completely lost in the past. Zuko's hand was still at her waist, twirling the ends of her hair. "Wait a second, you practiced that speech and still screwed it up so badly?"
"The Badgerfrog wasn't much help," replied Zuko playfully. Katara laughed again.
"What else?"
"Hmm," Katara heard him think. Then he seemed to remember something. "Wait a second. I just realized you probably don't know. In the first few days after I joined you guys, I forgot Toph's name. I knew Aang's name and vaguely knew your's and Sokka's. But Toph and the others I had no clue. I had heard them, but just couldn't seem to remember. Anyways, Sokka figured this out and from then on, he and Aang only referred to her as 'Lady Beifong, the greatest Earthbender in the world.' Toph loved it. They refused to tell me her real name! And it wasn't like I could call her that. It was awful. But I guess it was a small payment, considering everything…" Zuko trailed off.
Katara smiled. "That sounds like something they'd do. And sorry, I suppose if I hadn't been too busy being a total jerk to you, I could've helped you out."
Zuko spoke more carefully. "Hey, you had every good reason—"
"No. I was just being stubborn. I didn't let myself consider what a risk you were taking in joining us. What you'd given up. Sokka tried to tell me that you had a past we didn't understand and that we should try to be more open to you, but I was so focused on myself. So focused on how you'd done me wrong…" she said simply.
Zuko didn't respond right away. "I deserved everything you told me. I was awful to you guys."
This seemed to dull the conversation, the mood changing drastically. With her head on his lap, Katara was very aware of every breath Zuko took and every movement he made. His finger was tracing small circles on her waist now.
"Your turn," Zuko said. Katara smiled, glad they could still talk easily. "Where did you learn how to bend people's blood? Or pull water out of the air?" He asked the question lightly, but Katara could tell that deep down he was extremely curious. "I've never seen anyone besides you do those things."
Katara took a deep breath. "Well, I never actually had anyone teach me," she started, not wanting him to think she sought out someone who knew bloodbending. "When we were traveling in the Fire Nation, before the invasion, we met an older woman who was actually a waterbender from our tribe. She'd been captured by the Fire Nation a long time ago and had escaped. She'd developed those skills out of necessity and showed them to me." A beat passed. "She turned out to be an absolute maniac though. Completely crazy." Katara didn't feel the need to go into all the details.
"So, you picked up on those things after just watching her a few times?" he asked, sounding impressed.
"Well, both were out of necessity. If I hadn't figured out how to bloodbend, Aang and Sokka would've died. And if I hadn't figured out how to pull water out of the air, you would've died. Down in the bunker was the only time I've ever managed to do that," she explained. "I just did what I had to do, I guess. I'm not even sure if I could do it again, honestly."
"That's impressive, Katara" he said matter of fact-ly. "Truly." Katara fidgeted at his words, her cheeks warming. She'd never been good with praise.
"Thanks," she replied, her lips turning upwards into a small smile. She moved both of her arms out in front of her and traced her fingers along the long crackly looking scar that ran down her arm. Unlike the large star-shaped one on her stomach, this one was completely healed. But Katara figured it would never fade away completely. She continued running her finger slowly up and down the scar, acquainting herself with this new part of her skin.
Zuko's hand covered hers to stop her again. He laced his fingers through hers. "How can I ever say how sorry I am, Katara." Katara had never ehard Zuko's voice shake until now. Gingerly, she sat up, holding in her grunt of pain. She was now sitting right next to him. Side-by side. Their hands re-clasped between them. With her other hand, she softly grabbed the lower part of his arm to comfort him.
Katara could see how he would blame himself for what had happened. But in her mind, this was all her fault. Azula had escaped three and a half years ago because of her. And, Katara had been the perfect way for Azula to lure Zuko away from the palace. And, she hadn't been quick enough to fight off Azula and the chi blocker when they came for her. If she had been, Zuko never would've needed to come find her. In Katara's mind, there was nobody to blame but herself. Whatever pain Zuko was going through right now was because of her. The thought made her stomach churn. Anger at herself burned strong inside of her.
"This isn't your fault," she whispered, her head falling against his shoulder and her eyes closing. "I'm the one who should be blamed." He shook his head at her words.
"No, Katara. I should have put more effort into finding her during these years. I should've been good enough to beat her when I did. I should've made sure you were safe. These scars are on your skin because I failed." At those words, he used his other hand to turn her arm and touch a part of her scar. "It's my fault."
Katara shook her head earnestly. "No. We can't live in the past. It'll tear us apart. I know that too well." Zuko took a deep, shaky, breath as he turned his body to face her better. Without warning, and without looking her in the eyes beforehand, his head fell to her shoulder. She felt him softly kiss the skin there and she shivered again. Spirits. Why had she let herself push him away for so long? First on the balcony in Ba Sing Se, then when she'd gotten back to the South Pole after Aang, and then again, when he'd come for Aang's meeting. Why had she always denied this feeling she had when she was with him? He made her feel lighter than a feather. Her stomach flip flopped like she was free falling, and her heart pounded.
Zuko was kissing her neck now, and Katara moved to straddle him, again ignoring the pain in her stomach. She was feeling brave again. Her top slid off one of her shoulders slightly, and neither of them moved to fix it. He groaned as her weight settled. Katara's hand rested on his middle between them, where she knew his scar was hidden. The scar from the lightning he'd taken for her. The scar that matched hers. Her other hand was still holding his, and his other hand was clenching the material at her waist. Katara's breaths were shallower now. "Spirits, Zuko," she whispered. His lips at her neck was like nothing she'd ever felt before.
He seemed to remember himself. His soft mouth stopped its exploration of her shoulder and neck and his grip on her dress loosened. She looked at him curiously, but his face was down.
"Sorry," he said softly. His voice was a low growl. "Got carried away." Katara could feel his eyes on her exposed stomach. On her wound. The hand he had at her side moved to pull her top over her shoulder. Again, his kindness and gentleness struck her deeply.
"I'm sorry I pushed you away for so long, Zuko," she replied. "I was confused. I didn't think it would ever work." The hand she had on his covered scar lifted to his face, forcing him to look at her. Her thumb brushed his other scar. The one on his face. The one his dad had given him. When their eyes met, Katara saw the storm in his. He watched her closely, his face a mixture of sadness, hope, and confusion. And something else too that was hard to pinpoint. Desire? Katara leaned closer to him, closing her eyes. She felt him lean closer to her too, his breathing shallow.
Suddenly, a tight hold on her upper arm forced her to pause. She opened her eyes. "No. Please, Katara. Don't do this if you don't…" his voice trailed off, leaving Katara to guess at his unspoken words. "I can't take it if you're going to run away again."
Katara spoke with a forceful tone but matched his quiet volume. His words pained her. Reminded her of all the mistakes she'd made. All the hurt she'd caused him. Both of them actually. "I want this, Zuko. I want you. I mean it. Seeing you almost…" she couldn't say the word, but knew he understood. "I realize now how much I need you. Not just the world, but me." Zuko let out a small breath at her words. "I messed up in the past, and that's something I'll always have to live with. But please understand. Wherever you are, that's where I want to be too. I know that now. I think…I think we need each other, Zuko."
The grip on her arm loosened, and Katara saw him smile. It was the same smile she'd grown to love ever since he'd joined them at the Western Air Temple. There was something about seeing a person smile who didn't very often. It somehow meant more. It was somehow more beautiful. She leaned closer to him again, her eyes closing. She felt both of his arms slip around her, his hands settling at her lower back.
A little more forcefully than she'd intended, Katara's lips fell on his. His body seemed to relax at the kiss and she knew they were both thinking the same thing: finally. She smiled against his lips as she took him all in. This man who she had, for so long, wondered about, thought about, worried about. The man who had saved her life, and who's life she had saved. They were bonded by more than just their kiss. Having sacrificed themselves for each other, their very souls were bonded now.
Her arms snaked around his neck, holding him close to her as she kissed him fervently. Zuko's hands moved more frantically, roaming her back and gripping the fabric of her top, pulling her closer to him. His touch was so warm, and it made Katara shiver. Softly, his tongue brushed her lip, and she opened, letting him explore her completely.
Zuko's legs shifted, and Katara felt herself lift above him. Her head bent down, and she continued kissing him from above. He broke away for a quick breath, before softly kissing her collarbone, which was now level with his mouth. Katara shuddered at the sensation, and she felt him smile against her. He kissed a path up to her neck, leaving a trail of fire everywhere he touched. It felt like every nerve in Katara's body was on fire, overloading her with sensations. She'd never felt like this before. Her hands fell limply to his shoulders while he continued the torment at her neck. She vaguely wondered if he could feel how fast her heart was beating.
Her eyes slipped closed and one of her hands moved to the back of his head. She ran her fingers through his hair and Zuko groaned against her neck. Wanting to kiss him again, Katara backed away from him and knelt lower so she was sitting on his lap like before. Zuko's eyes were closed still and his breath was ragged. His lips were flushed from kissing her.
Katara caught his mouth in another warm kiss, breathing him in completely. He smelled a little like campfire and a little like…cinnamon? The combination made her smile.
This kiss was gentler, and sweeter than the first. They took their time exploring each other innocently. Zuko's hands roamed all over her back and tangled in her long hair.
Needing air, Katara was the one who broke it this time. But, Zuko was the one to speak. He whispered it, his fingers tracing small circles over the clothes on her lower back. "I love you. I think I always have." At his words, Katara knew she did too. She always had.
"I love you too," she said, breathing out a small laugh. Saying it was so easy. She loved Zuko. It was the same as saying Sokka was her brother. Both were universal truths.
Both of their bodies seemed to ease more at the admission of the other's feelings. Katara couldn't have stopped smiling even if she wanted too. At hearing her say it, Zuko smattered her with light kisses, starting at her lips, then her cheek, and on down her neck, shoulder and collar bone. He started back up the other side and Katara threw her head back, laughing at how excited he got. When he slowed, she lifted his face to look at her. They studied each other for a moment, each with a hand on the side of the other's face. Their eyes locked. It seemed Zuko couldn't stop smiling either. They closed their eyes and let their foreheads fall together. For a moment, Katara simply let herself bask in the feeling of being close to him. Of feeling each of his breaths and each of his heartbeats. He seemed to be doing the same.
Holding his wide shoulders for stability, Katara shifted off him. She'd completely forgotten about her wound and wasn't able to hold back her yelp of pain. She cursed herself for letting it out. Zuko's hands, which had never left her body, immediately stabilized her. He let out a quiet groan as her weight lifted off of him. She settled right next to him so they were sitting side-by-side again.
This wasn't what he wanted though, and he gently moved her to a position laying down. To Katara's delight, he laid down next to her, slipping one of his arms under her. Zuko turned on his side, facing her, and Katara's let herself settle right up against him, still lying on her back. Her head rested on his shoulder, the campfire and cinnamon smell overwhelming her. He was so pleasantly warm. With his free hand, Zuko closed her top completely to hide her wound, before settling that arm on top of her stomach.
Katara could feel sleep already tugging at her eyes and knew Zuko was probably tired too. She smiled as she drifted off. If she could pick one moment to spend the rest of her life in, it would this one.
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