It felt good to be back on the open sea with a clear destination in mind. He might not have known what exactly was waiting for them in the desert, but it didn't stop the feeling of elation coursing through his veins.
They had been sailing for a week and a half, making only one stop along the way and making good time. The weather had been acclimable and nothing had stood in their way. Zuko was anxious to arrive at their destination. Their time was running out. They only had five weeks left to reach their destination, and he was clinging to the notion that what the Conduit had told him was true, that the destiny of the prophecy could be changed.
For all he knew, she was lying to save her own skin. But Zuko didn't think so. It would have been too easy for the Conduit to kill them both. She could have been done with them and stolen away to hide for another century.
The only thing Zuko didn't understand was why. Her power was so strong it was tangible. Zuko had never felt anything like that before. If she was so powerful, it would have been easy enough for her to conquer the world. I'm not even sure Aang can compete with her. But Uncle thinks the Avatar might be able to stop her if we need him to. Zuko couldn't help but wonder what else his uncle knew that he hadn't told them about.
He recalled his solo encounter with the Conduit and wished he had asked more questions. But he had been so paralyzed by fear his only focus had been getting out of there alive. Getting back to Katara.
He had told her where they were going after they had returned to the ship. Katara had pressed him, and he had said his uncle had mentioned the location and its deep spiritual connection to him before. She had believed him, and the guilt was starting to eat at him. She would have been furious if I told her the truth, Zuko thought. But she'll be even angrier when she finds out you lied to her, a small, rational voice told him. I'll figure it out.
He was kicking himself mentally for it. He had lied impulsively, without thinking it through, like he always did. His desire to protect her had won out over logic and reason. Zuko knew retrospectively that it was dangerous to let his emotions control his decisions, but the water tribe princess was clouding his judgment about more than just the Conduit.
It had taken five days to travel back to the port on Beast. They had travelled from dawn until dusk, stopping only for food and bathroom breaks. Both of them had been eager to get back on the right path.
Every day he had relished the feeling of her in his arms, the sea-salt breeze smell of her hair, the warmth of her back against his chest, and the way she leaned against him, head tucked against his neck, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Every night they slept entwined in the same bedroll.
It had started out innocently enough: simply sleeping side-by-side, only touching where they had to due to the limited space. They had just wanted to keep the awful nightmares at bay. But on the third night, after two nights of waking up entwined together anyway, Katara had slipped into the bedroll beside him and rested her head on his shoulder.
From there, it just seemed natural. She would be pressed against his chest, fingers knotted in his shirt or resting against his neck, her fingertips curling into his hair, her cool breath against his throat; he would have her wrapped in his arms, one hand tracing the dip of her spine along her lower back, the other pressed to her hair. Neither of them were plagued by nightmares as long as they slept alongside one another. It had become a rhythm, a pattern, one he had feared would end when they returned to the ship.
But she surprised him when, on their first night back, he had settled into his futon already missing the feel of her beside him, and she had entered his quarters, a timid, almost shy atmosphere around her. Zuko had lifted himself up and asked her if she was okay. Katara had nodded and fiddled around with her mother's necklace for a moment before shyly asking if he would mind if she slept in his room with him. Because of the nightmares, of course. No, he didn't mind at all. She had slipped into bed beside him and nestled herself against him, one cheek pressed to his bare chest. Her hand had settled over the star-shaped scar on his abdomen and he had run his fingertips across her shoulder. Her fingers caressed the ridges and grooves of the scar until she had fallen asleep.
Filled with so many thoughts and emotions, his heart felt as though it would beat right out of his chest. He wondered idly if she could hear it.
She had come to bed in his room each night since.
Once or twice when they had left his room in the mornings Zuko had seen Admiral Jee or another crew member in the hallway, but any curiosities or questions they may have had, however, they kept to themselves. They instead simply greeted the Fire Lord and the Southern Water Tribe Princess as if seeing them emerge from the same room was a totally normal occurrence.
At first, it had just been a matter of being in the other's presence. At least, that's what Zuko told himself that's what her reasons were. He knew he wanted to sleep beside her because of his growing feelings for Katara. But he wasn't sure what she was thinking. He didn't want to make any assumptions...but how could he not, when she willingly curled up in his arms every night? In the back of his mind, he knew that they were both well aware that friends didn't do that.
Zuko wasn't sure where this was going with Katara. He knew where he wanted it to go, but he still wasn't sure of her feelings and he was afraid to ask. Zuko worried she was responding out of fear or loneliness, so he didn't want to broach the subject in case she pulled away. But Zuko couldn't pretend anymore. He cared deeply for Katara. He realized now that he loved her.
Despite the weight of their situation, he was enamored by that fact. He felt happier than he had been in years. He couldn't believe how long it had taken him to realize his feelings for her. Zuko had repressed them, knowing she was with Aang, and knowing his nation wouldn't tolerate a Fire Lady from another nation, let alone a waterbender. But Zuko wasn't sure he cared about any of that anymore. Not if it meant he had to live without Katara.
The women that his court had chosen were nice, but he didn't feel like it was right. He didn't have any sort of history with those women. How could they possibly be able to relate to everything he had been through? Katara had been there for so much of it. And for the parts she wasn't there for, she had always listened to him when he talked about it.
And, the vague longing he had been feeling for months now, even when he was with Alasie, had finally dissipated. For the first time in his life, he felt like nothing was missing with her by his side. With Katara, he felt like he was home.
"You're up early." Her warm, familiar voice broke him out of his reverie and Zuko turned to see her standing a few feet from him. She had his cloak wrapped around her shoulders and her hair was loose and dancing in the crip sea breeze. The corner of her lips quirked up. "It's even early for you. Having trouble sleeping?"
"No, I slept just fine." He couldn't help the smile that creased his face. "We're almost there. By sundown we'll be in Gaoling."
"And into the desert we'll go." Katara returned the smile as she padded over to him. She shivered and wrapped the cloak tighter around herself. "The breeze must be coming up from the South Pole. It's a little nippy this morning."
"Come here then." He stepped back from the railing and held one arm out to her.
Katara blushed as a shy smile crossed her face. The look in his eyes was earnest and welcoming, and she went to him willingly. Zuko pulled her against him, her back to his chest so they could watch the sea. He wrapped his arms around her waist and stoked his inner fire. As he did so, she could feel his warm breath ghost across the back of her neck and ear as he exhaled. A pleasant shiver ran through her and she burrowed against him. Zuko smiled and held her tighter.
Miles of blue sky and deeper blue ocean spread out before them. Zuko leaned forward until he rested his head on her shoulder, their cheeks nearly touching. Her chilled fingers found their way to his wrists, her thumbs resting over his racing pulse. I could stay like this forever, he thought contentedly.
Katara broke the easy silence. "So when we get to Gaoling, we've got to go into the desert and find this oasis where some spiritual place is, and drink from the pond to get the answer to our problem. Is that right?"
"That sums it up pretty well. But we're not going to go through the desert. We'll skirt around it, following the mountains," Zuko corrected her. "At this time of year the heat would be unbearable. It'll take a little longer to go around the border, but we would run the risk of getting lost or dehydrated if we go directly through it. That desert is treacherous."
"I know. I've been there before." Her voice was quiet, distant.
"You have?" Zuko was surprised. She had never said anything about it.
He felt her nod. "Yes, back when the war was still going on. We went there to find the library of Wan Shi Tong. We were looking for a weakness to use against the Fire Nation. That's where we learned about the Day of Black Sun. And...that's where Appa was stolen from us."
"I'm sorry." He gave her a gentle squeeze. Zuko had his own dark memories from that desert.
Katara sighed. "For a minute there I thought we would die in that desert. Aang sort of lost himself with Appa gone. I had to guide us out of there. If it hadn't been for the sandbenders we ran into, we probably wouldn't have made it."
"I'm glad you did," he said softly into her hair.
"Me too." She let out a snort. "And to make things even worse, we didn't have any water so Sokka thought it would be a good idea to drink cactus juice." She giggled as she recalled the adventure. "He was so out of it for the next day. He imagined a giant mushroom cloud of dust was friendly."
"Sounds like a good time to me," Zuko joked.
"Oh, in hindsight, it's hilarious," Katara agreed with a chuckle. "At the time, though, I was just trying to get us out of there. I'm really glad we're not going through it."
He smiled above her head. "Me too."
Aang awoke slowly. He felt as though he had been tossed around in a storm. His body ached, his head was pounding, and he felt like he was going to throw up. The ground below him seemed to be spinning. Aang groaned and rolled onto his side, drawing his knees into his chest. He wished he didn't remember his dreams, or visions, or whatever they were, but he could recall every painful detail.
"Iroh, he's awake."
Toph's familiar voice brought him fully awake and Aang opened his eyes. He was laying in the grass in the garden. Toph and Iroh sat across the pond, although the Grandmaster was resting against the tree trunk of the willow and snoring lightly. Toph elbowed him and Iroh startled awake. A weak smile pulled at his lips at Toph's affectionate gesture.
"Hm?" Iroh blinked owlishly. He smiled when he saw that Aang was awake. "So you have returned to us. Please, tell us what you have seen, Aang."
"Hold on a minute."
Aang slowly climbed to his feet and lurched behind the tree before giving up the meager contents of his stomach. His vision swam and he thought he might pass out again, but the feeling passed. Aang slumped to the ground in front of the pond and splashed cool water onto his face. He held his head in his hands and breathed deeply.
"Can I have a drink of water please?" he croaked.
"Of course, Aang. I'll be right back." Iroh stood and went back to his house.
Toph turned her sightless eyes toward Aang. Her face didn't betray her emotions. "Are you okay, Twinkle Toes?"
"I feel like I just got trampled by a horde of moose lion." Aang kneaded his temples wearily. "I don't recommend opening your chakras, Toph."
She allowed a grin to crease her face, feeling her worry ebb away. If he was making jokes, that meant he was going to be okay.
Iroh returned with water and tea as well as dry biscuits. Aang gratefully rinsed his mouth before he sipped water from the cup Iroh offered. Iroh then steeped the tea with his firebending before he passed a cup to Toph. For a while no one said anything.
Eventually, the nausea subsided, and the headache became tolerable. Aang realized that night had fallen. He looked at Toph and Iroh, frowning. "How long was I out?"
"A week," Toph deadpanned. "Maybe I oughta call you Snoozles, not Sokka." She was being playful, but Aang could sense that she had been worried about him.
"I was out for a week?" Aang looked around in disbelief.
"You underwent a powerful metamorphosis," Iroh told him. "Did you accomplish what you needed, Aang? Did you sever your earthly attachments?"
"I think so." He glanced briefly at Toph before looking away. She would sense if he lied. The only thing he could do was tell the truth. "I severed my attachments to Katara and Monk Gyatso, and then I fell into this dream place. There was a willow tree that could talk."
"The Mother Willow." Iroh's voice was reverent.
Aang sipped his water and nodded before continuing, wincing when his head thudded in response to the movement. "She told me that I need to talk to the Sieshin Lord to gain the knowledge I need to defeat the Conduit." He stared into the pond as the Mother Willow's admission echoed through his mind.
"Now we must prepare you for the journey into the Spirit World," Iroh remarked.
"I've been there before," Aang snapped. He rubbed his temples again. "I need to sleep. I don't feel well."
"We will let you rest, but you must go soon," Iroh said. "The Equinox is only five weeks away."
"I know." Aang sighed. He couldn't remember a time he had ever been so tired. "Have you heard from Katara and Zuko?"
Iroh nodded. "Yes. Zuko sent word to me a few days ago. He said that he and Katara had made contact with the Conduit—"
"Are they okay?" Panic welled inside of him. They'd faced his enemy while he was sleeping!
"They're fine. The Conduit did not harm them," Iroh said assuredly. "In fact, my nephew said he did not believe the Conduit wanted to hurt them."
Aang was puzzled. "How can that be? The Conduit is supposed to be evil, aren't they?"
Iroh stroked his beard thoughtfully. "I find it is a rare occurrence for everything to be all it seems. Zuko also told me he and Katara are seeking out a place in the desert that will help them along their journey."
"Is that a good idea? They don't have a lot of time," Aang pointed out. He grimaced. "I don't have a lot of time."
"I have told my nephew of this place before. It is a spiritual place, much like the Spirit Oasis in the North Pole. It's called the Garden of the Desert," Iroh informed him. "It is where I ventured to in order to go into the Spirit World for my journey."
Aang gasped. "They aren't going into the Spirit World, too, are they?"
"No, Aang. They will find the answers they seek without leaving this plane of existence." Iroh's eyes were unreadable. "But that is enough questions for now. You must rest and regain your strength. Soon you will go to the Spirit World and speak with the Sieshin Lord."
Aang nodded. He felt tired all the way to his bones. Wearily he got to his feet. He swayed unsteadily, and Toph secured him by wrapping her arm around his middle. She grabbed his arm and looped it around her shoulders.
"Thanks, Toph," Aang said sincerely as they limped across the garden.
"Don't mention it, Twinkle Toes."
Iroh, Toph, and Aang returned to Iroh's home. Toph guided Aang into the guest bedroom. As soon as she released him, he collapsed to the floor. He was asleep before his head hit the pillow.
Ursa looked over the parchment in front of her and frowned. "I won't make any executive decisions regarding the Great Route in Fire Lord Zuko's place. I refuse."
The Earth Kingdom diplomat, Bao, looked at her in surprise. "But Princess Ursa, you're the regent until the Fire Lord returns. King Kuei has returned to Ba Sing Se and would like to begin construction on the Great Route. He needs the Fire Lord's approval to begin."
Ursa leveled him with a look. "The Great Route is my son's project, not mine. I will leave that to him. If you need my assistance for anything else, I would be happy to help with that."
Bao looked deflated. "No, that was all, your Highness. Thank you for your time."
Bao opened the door. Alasie stood on the other side, a sheaf of papers in her hands.
"Princess Ursa?" Alasie gestured to the parchments.
Ursa offered her a kind smile. "Come in please, Alasie. Bao was just leaving."
The brutish Earth Kingdom diplomat departed and Alasie took his place, closing the door behind her. She crossed the room and bowed low to the princess before straightening. She placed the paperwork on the desk.
"These are just a few stipulations and amendments Chief Hakoda and his council added to the contract Fire Lord Zuko gave to him," Alasie said.
"Thank you for bringing these to me," Ursa said. She sifted through the pages. "Unfortunately you'll have to tell him I won't sign these in my son's place. The Great Route is too important to leave up to a regent to make executive decisions for. I'm sure Hakoda will understand."
Alasie bowed formally. "I'll be happy to pass that message along to him for you, your Highness." She paused. "I hope the Fire Lord is enjoying his vacation, if I may be so bold to say. Any word on when we can expect his return?"
Ursa quietly observed her son's former lover. She hadn't had many interactions with the Southern Water Tribe diplomat, though her first impression of her had been that Alasie was sweet and optimistic. But the more time Ursa spent around her, the more she suspected the girl was like a two-headed viper rat. What did he see in her?
"He will be gone as long as he sees fit. Fire Lord Zuko has more than earned a reprieve," Ursa answered placidly.
"I couldn't agree more, your Highness. I've encouraged him to relax more times than I can count." Alasie laughed lightly, but the sound was off to Ursa. Is she upset that he broke things off?
Ursa decided to gauge Alasie's emotions. "Yes, I've heard you and my son were close."
She noted when the pretty diplomat's eyes widened for a fraction of a second. Then she smiled brightly. "As close as an advisor can get to the Fire Lord, I suppose. He and I have worked many long hours together."
Ursa nodded, smiling in return. The girl was a good liar, she would give her that. "I'm glad my son has such trustworthy advisors."
Alasie bowed in acknowledgment. "Thank you, Princess Ursa. If you'll excuse me, I have some more work to do. Thank you for your time."
With that, the diplomat left. Ursa stared at the door for several minutes after Alasie had departed. She wondered...but no, that wouldn't make any sense. Unless there was something that Ursa was missing, which was very possible.
Oh Zuko, Ursa thought sadly. I hope you didn't let a viper-rat into your bed.
When night had fallen, two figures dressed in black slipped through the empty corridors of the Royal Palace. Their movements were muffled; their footsteps silent. No one saw them as they snuck to the Fire Lord's study without being seen. One produced a key from her tunic and the other stood guard while her companion unlocked the door. Once it was open the two slipped inside, noiselessly shutting and locking the door behind them.
They stood in the pitch-black room. The heavy brocade curtains had been drawn over the floor-to-ceiling windows and not a single oil lamp was lit.
"I can't see anything," Ty Lee hissed.
"Hold on. I'll light just one lamp." Suki crossed the room deftly. She had been in it enough to know where the furniture was without bumping into anything, and she lit the oil lamp on the tea table without incident.
The dim glow pushed back the shadow of the room just enough for Suki to see the Kyoshi face paint on Ty Lee. They nodded in unison before going to their respective hiding places. Ty Lee curled up in the dark corner between two shelves while Suki hid in the narrow section between the corner of the wall and the start of the windows, hidden from view by the thick curtain.
This had been the routine every night for over a week. So far nothing of intrigue had happened. Suki was beginning to wonder if Princess Ursa was just as paranoid as her son, but she was reluctant to bring it up to her.
What if I'm wrong and they're right? Suki thought to herself. I would never forgive myself if something happened to Zuko and Ursa because I didn't believe in them. Just because nothing has happened yet doesn't mean something won't.
And so the two Kyoshi warriors stayed in their respective locations, ignoring the aches and the cramps that wrecked their bodies after hours of remaining as motionless as possible. They stayed until the first hint of dawn began to color the sky before they pried themselves from their spots, stretching and yawning. Suki snuffed the oil lamp before she and Ty Lee left the Fire Lord's study and made their way back to their rooms after confirming that the door was locked up tight behind them.
They never saw the pair of eyes that watched from within the empty hearth. Once the two warriors had departed, a black-clothed figure crept from his hiding place and slithered to the desk.
Producing a set of lock picks, he proceeded to open the drawers of the desk, searching for the letter Princess Ursa had received the previous morning by messenger hawk. According to his cohorts, she always put the Grandmaster's notes in the top drawer, and he found they were correct.
Quickly he copied the note on ink and parchment he had brought with him. He impatiently waited for it to dry before returning the letter to its place and folding the note into his leather tunic.
The thief slipped back into the hearth and braced his hands and feet against its walls, allowing himself to rise up to the top. When he emerged from the chimney, he slipped along the rooftops of the palace, and stole away into the early morning. No one inside would know he had been there, and the information he had uncovered was invaluable. He was sure his boss would be quite pleased.
The ship docked at Gaoling as the sun's dying light bled from the sky. Zuko and Katara watched as the crew brought Beast above deck and saddled the komodo rhino with provisions. Soon they were ready to go.
Admiral Jee approached them and bowed respectfully. "We will wait for your return here, my lord," he said to Zuko. "When do you estimate that will be?"
"No more than three weeks from now," Zuko replied confidently. "It should take a week to arrive at our destination, and then a week to return. If we aren't back by then, send word to my mother and uncle."
"We will, sir." Jee nodded. "And we'll come looking for you and Princess Katara as well."
Zuko rested a hand on the man's shoulder, a silent conversation passing between them through a shared look. "Thank you, Jee. You're a good man."
"Thank you, sir." Jee cleared his throat. "May Agni bless your journey."
"Thank you." Zuko mounted Beast and patted its leathery hide before extending his hand to Katara.
"I didn't miss this." She pouted playfully while eyeing his extended hand before she took it, and he hauled her into the saddle.
Katara settled into the saddle before him and with a snap of the reins, Beast plodded off of the ship and into the port of Gaoling. Once they were away from the eyes and ears of the crew Zuko snaked his arm around her waist and pulled her closer.
"But did you miss this?" Zuko murmured in her ear.
His voice vibrated in her ear and sent tingles across her skin that caused a warm blush to rise in her cheeks. "Yes," came the content reply.
He never imagined one word could cause so much happiness to course through him. Zuko chuckled and guided the rhino deeper into town to the nearest inn. It was a short ride, but one they both enjoyed, soaking up each other's presence. It had felt almost strange to be back on the ship, surrounded by the crew. They silently relished this solitude, neither of them knowing the other had missed it too.
"At least we have one more night in a bed before we're back to sleeping in the dirt," Katara remarked drily.
"Oh no, it'll be even worse than dirt—it'll be sand."
Zuko guided Beast to the front of the inn. He dismounted and tied the komodo rhino to a hitch post before helping Katara down. Zuko opened the door and they stepped inside. It was crowded, with nearly every table occupied.
"I guess we can take our meal to our room," Zuko remarked to her.
"You know, I think I have a better idea." A smile lit up her eyes. "The last time we were here, we found this delicious noodle shop. I think it's just a few streets over from here. Why don't we have dinner there?"
Zuko arched his brow at her. "We'll look like a couple, you know."
"We've already pretended to be married once," Katara reminded him with a smirk. Was she blushing, or was he imagining it? "You were right. It does make a nice cover story." She appraised their outfits. "Though maybe we ought to pick up some casual clothes. Our travelling outfits aren't exactly appropriate for a night out, are they?"
Zuko chuckled as he glanced over her apparel. "No, I guess they aren't. Alright. Let's rent a room, get some new clothes, and go eat at this noodle shop. " He made his way toward where the innkeeper was. Zuko threw a playful grin at her from over his shoulder. "It can be our first date."
Behind his back, Katara blushed deeper and hid a smile with her hand.
Twenty minutes later they were strolling through the streets of Gaoling in the twilight. She had one hand resting on the crook of his arm. They talked and laughed as they went. To an outsider, they would have looked like young lovers on an evening walk.
They found a clothing shop and, after browsing through the choices, settled on the type of outfits an Earth Kingdom commoner would wear. They changed in the dressing stalls, with Zuko donning plain brown pants and an unembellished green tunic and Katara putting on a simple green qipao and soft white breeches.
Katara couldn't help but feel a sense of deja vu as she watched Zuko pay for their things. It reminded her of the lonely, hurt boy she had encountered in the crystal catacombs. Even then he had been good-looking, especially with his shorter hair. But she loved his longer hair, too.
The shopkeeper provided a sack for their travelling clothes, and then they were back on the streets of Gaoling.
They found Katara's noodle shop and were seated at a small table in the corner by the window. The waitress smiled at them as she read the night's specials, and they ordered a bowl of pho and jasmine tea.
Despite the weight of their mission, they talked about anything but their journey.
Zuko spoke of his mom and half-sister, telling Katara about how much of a mischievous prankster Kiyi was. Katara could see the adoration in his eyes when he talked about them, especially Kiyi. He even seemed to hold Ursa's husband, Ikem, in high regard. He often negotiated with the other nations on Zuko's behalf. Katara wondered if Ikem was like a father figure to him at all, but decided not to ask.
The atmosphere was relaxed and their worries fell away. Katara saw Zuko smile more than she ever had, and he even laughed once or twice, especially when Katara regaled him of the time Sokka had gotten his tongue frozen stuck to his boomerang...at age thirteen. Zuko wished he could have been there for that. It sounded like such a Sokka thing to do. He would never let him live it down, now that Zuko knew the story.
Katara also told him tales of the Southern Water Tribe. She talked of their traditions, of the Great Spring Hunt all the men and older boys would go on after the thaw of spring, of how fathers would take their sons ice-dodging. She laughed over memories of penguin sledding with her brother, feeling light and happy.
The two of them ate noodles, drank tea, and talked about lighthearted topics for over an hour, until night had fully settled over Gaoling and most of the other restaurant patrons had paid their bills and left. Zuko watched her carefully, noticing how carefree she seemed. She couldn't seem to stop smiling, and her eyes sparkled as if they were full of stars. When he spoke, she rested her head in one hand and watched him with a content smile.
For a while, it felt like they were just two ordinary young adults to Katara. Two friends, possibly lovers, out on a date on a warm summer night. She realized it felt like a normal thing to do. When was the last time my life was truly normal? Katara found herself wondering. How long has it been since I've been able to be myself? She couldn't say, but she relished these moments with Zuko. She studied him for a moment. And if I think I've got it rough, I can't even imagine what it's like for Zuko.
At last, the server approached them with a regretful smile and said that the restaurant would be closing soon. Zuko and Katara thanked her, and Zuko tipped her well before they departed, arms linked together again.
"Why don't we go down to the beach before we get back to the inn?" Katara suggested, finding that she didn't want this night to end. "It'll be the last time we see that much water in one place for weeks, and it's a beautiful night." The idea had sounded good in her head, but after saying it out loud, she felt sort of silly, since they had been on the water for over a week. She hoped Zuko wouldn't point that out and embarrass her further.
Zuko turned his face up to the sky. He could see the first few stars glistening in the indigo night. The corners of his lips quirked up in a smile. "Yeah, it is a nice night." He looked down at her. "Let's go, then."
They walked down to the beach. Katara slipped off her boots and pushed her breeches up to her knees so she could wade into the water. Zuko watched her for a moment before he followed suit. He laid their bag of clothing down next to their boots and joined her.
Katara took his hand and pulled him into the warm, shallow water, enjoying the feel of the gentle swell against her legs. She didn't let go of him either, and that caused a warmth to spread through him.
They walked slowly through the shallow tide, fingers interlocked and arms swinging lazily. Katara had her eyes down on the water, enjoying the way the half-moon reflected on the waves, and Zuko had his eyes to the sky, appreciating its cool silver glow.
His hand was warm in hers. Katara enjoyed the way it gloved hers, the way their hands molded together perfectly. She liked the way she had to look up to see his eyes, and how he had to look down to see hers. Katara loved how he made her feel protected without making her feel fragile. Zuko knew she could take care of herself, but she knew he liked taking care of her too.
And she was starting to realize that she liked being taken care of.
For as long as Katara could remember, she had always been the caregiver. After her mother's death, she had stepped up to help Gran-Gran keep their home and tribe together. She learned to cook, to mend clothing, to stitch wounds and set broken bones and help mothers give birth to their babies—both human and animal—all while watching out for Sokka and their dad.
Even after they found Aang in the iceberg and set off to end the war, Katara had been the mother of the group, so to speak. She had made sure everyone was fed, clothed, and clean (as could be, anyway). She had settled scores between her friends, had delegated chores (although she did all of the cooking and laundry), and kept order.
She had been the glue that held everyone together. And who had been there when she had finally fallen apart? Zuko. He had been there when she could no longer hold back the grief and anger and pain of losing her mother, most of which she had taken out on him, and unfairly at that. But he never lost his cool. He only tried to earn her trust, her forgiveness. And he understood her need for answers, for revenge. Zuko had helped track the man down, had accompanied her. Zuko had watched her bend the blood of a man and hadn't shied away from her in horror and disgust like she wanted to do to herself. Instead he had offered the warmth of a fire and a shoulder to lean on while she sobbed until there was nothing left inside of her (and, as far as she could tell he had never told a soul).
And even after that, she had been the one he wanted by his side during that fateful last fight against his sister. He found her worthy and powerful. Zuko didn't need a caretaker; he needed a teammate, a partner. Then he had nearly sacrificed his own life for her. And she had saved him too.
Katara glanced up at him. I'm such an idiot, she thought to herself. I couldn't even see what was right in front of my face.
She stopped walking, heart pounding hard against her chest. Nervous moth-wasps battered against the walls of her stomach. "Zuko."
He stopped and looked down at her, frowning in concern. "Is everything okay?"
She turned her face up to him. "What are we doing, Zuko?"
He looked puzzled. "I thought we were taking a walk on the beach. Unless you mean what we're going to do out in the desert—"
"No, not any of that." She shook her head with a soft chuckle. For a moment her nerve faltered and she looked down at their hands, his pale fingers wound through her dark ones, before she found herself able to look at him again. She brought their interlocked hands up between them and shook them slightly. "I'm talking about us."
Zuko glanced at their hands before their eyes met and he swallowed hard. "What about us?" His voice was a husky whisper.
Pretending to be more confident than she felt, Katara lowered their hands and closed the distance between them. She stared into his golden eyes as she reached up with her right hand to let her fingertips dance across the scarred flesh of his cheek, feeling the ridges in the rough texture. He closed his eyes and leaned into her touch.
"Zuko." She whispered his name. Her nerve endings were live wires.
He opened his eyes and met her gaze. His mouth looked so inviting. Katara stretched up on to the tips of her toes, reaching for his lips.
For a moment Zuko leaned in, heart restricting with unbridled joy. But then the guilt of keeping things from her hit him hard all over again. He pulled away and released her hand as he gently reached out to stop her. He set his hands on her shoulders.
Hurt filled her eyes. Even in the dark he could see color rise in her cheeks. "What's wrong?" Katara asked, frowning. She couldn't help the slight tremble in her voice. Did I do something wrong?
"I lied to you." His eyes closed and he turned his face from her. "I didn't come up with the plan from Uncle."
"What?" Katara searched his expression, confused. "Zuko, what are you talking about?"
He couldn't bear to look at her. "That night, after we found the Conduit, I...I went looking for her. After you went to sleep."
Katara gasped, taking a step back until she pulled out of his gentle grasp. "Zuko, why would you do that? You could've been killed!"
"I know, but we needed answers!" Finally he looked at her, and his eyes were like golden flames. "We couldn't...I couldn't just let her go off. What would we have done then? I had to go after her." He let out a breath. "I think she expected me to. She was the one who told me we had to come to this place in the desert. She told me we had to rewrite the ending of the prophecy. She said it was our only chance." His eyes fervently bore into her. "I'm so sorry, Katara."
She took another step back, putting more distance between them. Hurt flashed through her. Her thoughts were a tangled mess as she tried to process what he was saying to her. "How could you lie to me?" Her voice broke on the last word, and the sound cut through him like a blade. He winced.
"I did it to protect you," he whispered, his eyes pleading.
She shook her head slowly, trying to make sense of the maelstrom of emotions and thoughts running through her mind. She looked up at him, her eyes glinting with anger. "I don't need to be protected!" Hadn't she just been thinking that he didn't treat her that way? Like something fragile? How had she been so wrong?
"Katara, please." He reached for her hand.
She jerked back from him. "Don't touch me!" A tear rolled down her cheek. She looked at him. "I can't believe you lied to me."
"I'm sorry, Katara," he said softly.
She turned away from him. "I have to go. I need…I need to think."
Katara sloshed through the water back to the sand. She ran away, past their boots and belongings, and back into the city. Katara didn't know where she was going, but the hurt and betrayal seared her. She needed to be away from him to think, to process. Hot tears fell down her face and she wondered how he could ever do something like that to her. She thought he trusted her. She thought they were a team.
Zuko watched her go, shame washing over him as his heart pulled painfully. How could he have done this to her? Tears prickled his eyes and he angrily rubbed them away. He turned back to the sea, to the moon. It seemed to look down on him with sadness.
"Why do I screw everything up?" Zuko demanded to know. From who, he wasn't sure.
His hands balled into fists at his side and with a sound akin to an injured animal, he sent two fire blasts out into the sea where they turned to steam with a hiss as the two opposing elements collided.