But Why?
Rating: G
Canon-Divergent
She gazed upon his resting form, wondering just how deeply he slept. His chest rose and fell in an even motion; his face looked calm and unstressed. At the moment he looked blissful.
She stretched her hand out towards his head, and raked it through his long, shaggy bangs.
His eyes slowly spread and then turned to look at her. She noticed this and pulled her hand away, taking care to not startle him.
"Oh, you're awake."
"I am now."
"How did you sleep?"
"Peacefully, I guess."
She stared for a moment, wondering if she should say next what had been on her mind since the previous evening. As it would have it, he brought it up before her.
"What...happened?"
"You were shot...by Father."
Suddenly he remembered.
"Ugh, of course. Another scar from him that I'll be living with for the rest of my life."
"I believe the bolt was intended for me to be honest. He aimed his fingers at me, after all."
"Oh yeah…I can't believe he tried to—"
He stopped when he noticed the broken look on her face.
How could their father do this? How could he try to commit an act so vile on the one who was supposedly his favored child, despite her not even trying to fight him and only standing by?
"How did I—how did I survive Father's lightning? He's so powerful and it happened on the evening of Sozin's Comet. Was I just...lucky?"
"You could say that, I suppose. I didn't even realize I…"
"You didn't realize what?"
"I didn't know I could...absorb another firebender's attack. Certainly not after it's made its way into a person's body."
"So...you...absorbed Father's lightning from my body?"
"Yes, it looks like I did. I could feel it, as well as your chi."
"That means...you saved me."
She looked down at the floor of the infirmary. He was correct, but she ended up having to do that because he had done the same for her. Took a shot for her. Risked his life for her...
"You saved me, too. Despite everything. You didn't have anything to gain from it, as far as I know. And you could have easily died..."
He gave her a smile so genuine, she felt her chest tighten and she thought she may cry sugar.
"But why?"
He merged his hand with her opposite one, moving it closer to himself and picking his body up, enough that he could press her hand to his lips. He kissed along her knuckles, like he often used to do to her small scrapes and cuts from playing rough, when they were younger. Likely what neither parent ever did for her.
She watched him do this, and the memories came pouring out.
"No...it can't be–be tha-a-t."
Her voice cracked as she began crying, and she pulled her hand away and covered her face instinctively to try and hide her tears.
He moved to wrap his arms around her and pull her to his chest to comfort her. She laid on him, hands above his chest's scar, and weeped. She didn't want to believe it, because life was easier when feelings weren't involved, but she knew he was being honest with her. Just as he usually was, and had made a habit of overdoing.
Note: This is my version of a portion of the finale, which I would have greatly preferred over what we instead got. But maybe that's just me...