I still see you (even though it's dark out)

Day 3: Glowing

Ignoring Azula's screams, Katara ran towards Zuko lying on the ground of the courtyard. She nearly collapsed with relief when she heard a faint groan of pain from him. She dropped to his side and turned him on his back as gently as she could.

Cradling the back of his head, she laid him down as gently as possible, feeling tears sting her eyes. His heartbeat was so weak, his breaths were deathly shallow, and his face was pale and devoid of warmth.

She reached for his torn and charred clothing and nearly sobbed at the sight of the gaping wound on his chest. She pulled water from her water skin and desperately hoped it would be enough. She didn't have any Spirit Water this time. There was a chance that he wouldn't come back from this.

"Don't you dare die on me, Zuko," she hissed through her teeth. "Don't you dare."

She poured all of her concentration into healing him. The water coating her hands glowed a brilliant shade of blue, lighting up the courtyard and temporarily overwhelming the red of the comet overhead.

Katara looked for his chi paths and willed the lingering electricity to leave. She pulled his energy into his body and to his torso. Her eyes squeezed shut and tears dripped down her face, joining the water coating her hands. She begged and pleaded with every spirit she could think of.

She was exhausted but she reached one last time for Zuko's chi and PULLED. Zuko suddenly drew in a deep breath and groaned. Katara gasped in a half sob half laugh of relief.

Zuko opened his eyes as the pain drained away to see a blurry form hovering over him. His vision focused and Katara's relieved face and tear-filled eyes come into view. He smiled weakly at her.

"Thank you, Katara," he said quietly, his voice hoarse and raspy. Katara sobbed and laughed at the same time, shaking her head before turning back to him.

"I think I'm the one who should be thanking you," she said, tears rolling down her cheeks. She smiled at him, that euphoric high of relief running through her. Zuko's eyes were tired and he looked like a mess, but to Katara, he was the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen in her life.

Zuko's brows furrowed when he heard Azula. He struggled to get up and while Katara tried to say no, he insisted, and something in his eyes made her relent. She helped him up and they turned to see Azula. Zuko's face fell and there was something like heartbreak in his gaze. Watching his sister, his little sister, literally lose her mind. Azula's screams and cries echoed through the courtyard.

Katara looked away from the broken girl to look back at Zuko. His gaze was still sad, but somber with a sort of sad acceptance and resignation. He turned back to Katara and she gave him a small smile.

He smiled back weakly before suddenly groaning in pain and clutching his chest as his knees buckled. Katara quickly caught his arm and looped it around her shoulders, supporting him as best as she could.

"I told you you needed to lie down," Katara said, rolling her eyes. Zuko gave her a weak, sheepish smile. But then suddenly he groaned in pain again and his eyes rolled back into his head as he collapsed to the ground. The last thing he registered was Katara calling his name and her hand on his face… she was touching his scar...


When Zuko woke up again, it was darker outside, and the only light illuminating the room except for the candle beside his bed was a faint blue glow. It was coming from his chest. His eyes focused to see Katara bent over him, her eyebrows furrowed in concentration as she moved her hands to heal him.

Zuko tried to sit up causing Katara to jump, startled. The water fell from her hands and soaked the sheets but Zuko didn't care. Katara's eyes flew over to his and her face lit up.

"Zuko! You're awake!" she said, a smile lighting up her face. She bent the water she'd spilled back into a basin before hurrying to his side. She helped prop him upright and sat down on the bed next to him. "Don't try to move, doctor's orders," she smiled gently.

Zuko let out a small chuckle but it faded when he noticed how tired she looked, and how she looked like she was on the verge of falling apart. He reached out and touched her hand gently.

"When-" he coughed, his voice raspy from disuse. "When was the last time you slept, Katara?" Katara shook her head.

"Don't worry about me, I'm not the one who-" she stopped short, biting her lip and blinked hard, looking away from him. Zuko curled his fingers around her hand and squeezed gently.

"Hey, it's alright, I'm ok," he said softly. Katara closed her eyes as a tear fell down her face. Then she turned to look at him, her blue eyes blazing.

"That's the thing, Zuko!" she exclaimed. "You almost weren't! You almost died, for La's sake! If I hadn't gotten to you in time, if you just hadn't been so stupid, I-" She paused as more tears fell from her eyes before looking at him, pain etched into her face. When she spoke next, it was almost a whisper. "I almost lost you." Something broke in Katara then and she touched his face almost reverently. "I almost lost you…"

She finally broke down crying, and Zuko reached up and hugged her gently to him. She wept into his chest and clung to him tightly. Zuko buried his face in her hair.

"I'm sorry, Katara," he whispered. "But I'd do it again, every time." Katara shook her head.

"Don't say that, don't say that," she said, her voice breaking as she cried. Zuko closed his eyes.

"I couldn't live with myself if something happened to you," he said. Katara pulled back and glared at him.

"And you think I could?" she demanded. "You think I could stand to watch another person in my life leave me like that?! I couldn't! You of all people should know that, Zuko!"

"Your life is more-" Zuko tried to protest, but Katara cut him off.

"Don't you dare say that my life was more important than yours!" Katara yelled. "We both know that's not true! The world needs you so much more than it needs me, it depends on you being the Fire Lord, Zuko! It-"

"Well, what if I need you more?" Zuko shouted back and then his eyes widened and his face flushed red.

Katara stared at him in stunned silence, trying to process what he'd just said, what he'd just confessed. She forced herself to look away, not wanting to stare into his golden eyes, glowing with sincerity and passion.

"You don't need me, Zuko," she said quietly. "Not like that." Zuko was shaking, but he grabbed Katara's hand anyway.

"No, I really do," he replied, his eyes pleading with her. Katara looked at him, tears falling down her cheeks once more. Because spirits be damned, she needed him too.

She slowly leaned forward until their faces were barely inches apart. She closed her eyes and softly pressed a kiss to his cheek. Then she pressed a kiss to his scar just above where his eyebrow would be. Zuko's eyes closed and he shivered at the sensation.

She finally pulled back to look at him and when Zuko opened his eyes, he could swear that her eyes were glowing.

"Katara…" he breathed, softly, his breath ghosting over her lips. Katara slowly moved forward, before closing her eyes and ever so gently pressed her lips to his.

Zuko let the moment linger for a moment before slowly moving his lips against hers. He brought his hand up to touch her hair and cradle her cheek and let his other hand rest on her waist. Her hands moved up to gently hold his face to her.

The kiss was slow, unhurried, with a feeling of finally as if every encounter before that had simply been leading up to this moment. It felt so right, so safe.

Zuko pressed his lips more firmly to hers and she opened her mouth slightly as an invitation which he greedily took. He gently caressed her lips with his, trying to convey the overwhelming warmth and affection he felt. He moaned softly when Katara lightly sucked his bottom lip before pulling away to rest her forehead against his.

They stayed like that for a moment, panting for breath, eyes closed, reveling in the feeling of each other. They opened their eyes and looked at each other. Katara stared at him for a moment, hoping she hadn't just misread things horribly. But then Zuko had the biggest, dopiest grin on his face.

"So you admit I'm right?" he said, half smirking half smiling. Katara rolled her eyes and groaned.

"You had to go ruin it," she giggled. She leaned in to kiss him once more, gently pecking his lips. Zuko tried to follow her mouth and made a small noise of protest when she pulled away. He looked at her and pouted and damn it if it wasn't the most adorable thing Katara had ever seen.

Katara giggled and relented slightly, kissing him again, smiling and laughing against his mouth. She pulled away and brushed his hair off his forehead.

"Ok, you seriously do need to rest," she said, smiling. "Doctor's orders." She smirked as he groaned in defeat.

"Fine," he said. "But only if you promise to rest too." Katara paused and then nodded. She lay down next to him, nestling her head in the crook of his neck, and wrapped her arms around him while Zuko tucked her into his side. He turned his head and blew out the candle.

"You don't need the light?" Katara asked. Zuko looked down to see her blue eyes shining up at him even in the dark. He smiled.

"Nah, your smile and eyes are all the light I need," he said, but his cheeks flushed red when Katara laughed.

"Oh for spirits' sake Zuko, that was so cheesy!"

They laughed for a minute with Katara shaking her head.

"Tui and La, you're an idiot," she said, and then she reached up to kiss him lightly once more. When she pulled back, she smiled at him and could just barely make out his face in the dark. "But you're my idiot," she said softly. Zuko's face softened and he pulled her to him, kissing her again. Yeah, this was more than enough.


Author's Note: Hahaha, they're idiots in love, your honor. Yes, I know this is late, but the last few days have been really hectic for me. I know this was so ridiculously sweet at the end but I couldn't help myself. I hoped you guys liked it!