Ignorance is your bliss but it's also my torture

Day 2: Disguised

A violent clash of orange and blue collided together in the sky and gave way to steam. Katara spun and directed her water whips towards Zuko's legs. Zuko simply leaped out of the way and sent a save of fire towards the waterbender. Katara shielded herself with a wall of ice before shattering it and sending the shards back towards him. Zuko intercepted them with bursts of fire but one sneaked past him and cut his cheek.

"Ow!" he said, hissing as he touched his bloody cheek. Katara winced.

"Shit! Sorry!" She stopped attacking and coated her hand in water as she ran over. She grasped his chin and began to heal his cheek. Then she smirked. "I guess this means I win."

Zuko rolled his eyes.

"Sure, whatever, you got lucky. Ow!" he flinched as Katara's hand touched the cut.

"Stop fidgeting and it won't hurt!" she said, frowning. "Spirits, you're such a baby," she teased, smirking at him. Zuko rolled his eyes but couldn't help smiling.

"Shut up." But his soft smile gave him away and Katara felt warmth bloom in her chest. She pulled her hands away and inspected his cheek.

"There, all better," she declared, satisfied. She smiled and then flopped down on the sand and stared out into the ocean. Zuko sat down beside her and they reveled in the comfortable quiet between them. Slowly, Katara felt the high from her spar with Zuko fade away and the weight of the upcoming arrival of Sozin's Comet began to suffocate her again. Her smile dropped and her shoulders drooped.

Zuko noticed and turned to look at her, concern in his golden eyes.

"Hey, you ok?" he asked softly. Katara jerked herself out of her haze and met Zuko's worried expression. She quickly turned away.

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine," she said quickly, hoping her voice didn't shake. She was so tired, for spirits' sake. She sniffed and wiped at her nose with her arm and made a point to avoid Zuko's knowing gaze.

Zuko's eyes narrowed as he looked at her.

"Don't do that," he said, his voice low. Katara looked down at the sand and began drawing patterns with her finger.

"Do what?" she asked absentmindedly.

"Don't pretend like everything's fine like you always do."

For some reason, that rubbed her the wrong way. Katara whipped her head up at him and glared.

"What do you mean, 'like I always do?' What are you trying to say, Zuko?" she asked angrily. Her blue eyes were narrowed but the heavy lines and bags betrayed her fatigue. Zuko scoffed at turned his gaze to the sea.

"You," he paused, looking for the right words. "You put on this disguise where you act like everything's fine, where your worries don't matter." His golden eyes burned as they turned back to meet hers. "It bothers me."

Katara scoffed and opened her mouth indignantly.

"I do not!" she exclaimed. "What, wh-why would that even matter anyway?" Zuko turned to fully face her, his expression completely somber.

"Katara," he said gently, holding her gaze. "You don't have to pretend, not with me." She paused as his eyes softened. "You don't always have to be ok."

Katara sputtered.

"I'm not saying that! I-I'm just! Ugh!" she threw her hands up and groaned. "I'm trying to take care of everyone because La knows someone has to! Aang already has enough to worry about and I have to be there for him so-"

"But what about you?"

Katara stopped short at Zuko's interruption. She turned to face him, stunned. His expression was completely genuine and full of concern and her stomach fluttered.

"I-I…" she trailed off, at a loss for words. She paused before looking away. She couldn't bear his piercing gaze anymore. "It doesn't matter. Aang defeating the Fire Lord is more important. I can deal with it."

Something in Zuko's expression broke and he reached out and touched her hand.

"But you shouldn't have to," he said softly. "At least not alone." He looked up at her underneath his fringe of hair, almost shyly. Katara froze and could only stare at him in shock. Zuko carefully wrapped his fingers around hers and then gently reached up to brush some hair away from her face. "Katara, you're important too. You don't always have to be the strong one. Let someone take care of you for once."

Let me take care of you…

The unspoken plea went between them and Katara's resolve crumbled and she broke down, slumping down against Zuko and letting her face rest against his neck. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and tucked her into his side. He pressed his cheek to the top of her head.

"You don't have to wear that disguise you put on for the rest of them," he murmured. "You don't always have to be unshakeable." Katara squeezed her eyes shut and burrowed into Zuko's shoulder, trying desperately to ignore the tears that leaked from the corner of her eyes.

She inhaled shakily and clung to Zuko tighter before letting herself confess to him.

"I'm just so tired, Zuko," she whispered hoarsely. "I'm so tired…" Zuko held her tighter and she felt a light pressure against her temple as he pressed a soft kiss to her head.

"I'm sorry, Katara," he said gently, holding her close to him. "I'm sorry." Katara finally let the last of her walls crumble down and she buried her face into the crook of Zuko's shoulder and wept.

The fire prince held the waterbender in his arms as the sun set over Ember Island as Katara let the carefully crafted disguise she had built fall apart. But only with Zuko. She only allowed herself to fall apart with him…


Author's Note: Hey! I wanted to do a little unconventional take on this prompt. I think Katara puts up this front as always being the strong one in the Gaang, the emotional support. But in doing so, she often neglects her own needs so she has to pretend that she's fine. And she really only lets this down around Zuko. She's allowed to be angry and upset around him and not this pillar of constant support and positivity. So this is just Zuko helping Katara learn to take care of herself because they care about each other and just want to make sure they're ok uwu. I hope you guys enjoyed! Reviews are always appreciated!