He catches the lightning in midair and the world turns sideways. It's too much to contain. It burns.
Zuko doesn't feel the impact when he lands, but he feels his breath leave in a rush, he feels his lungs contract so he can manage no more than shallow gulps of air.
Everything hurts.
He doesn't care. Katara. He has to get to Katara.
He tries to move, to reach her, but jolts of electricity still course through his nerves. He needs to stand, he needs to fight.
It takes all his strength to raise his head.
His eyes grow heavy.
As she races back to him, her pulse begins to sound like a chant. Zuko. Zuko. Zuko.
The moon isn't full, but when she pours all her strength into healing him, even his blood responds. She welcomes the control, embraces it. Anything to keep him here.
His eyelids flicker, and he tries to rise before she is through. She should stop him. Should push him down, keep him still until the damage is repaired.
Instead, she pulls him closer. He is still breathing. And when two trembling arms find their way around her shoulders, she gives in to her tears.