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Waiting

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The pain is like nothing Zuko has ever felt before. His vision blurs. He can hear Katara. She's so close, but she's so far away. She's scolding him and saying that she will be so mad at him if he dies on her. He tries to concentrate on her, on her voice. She's asking him to stay with her and he wants to. He wants to stay with her more than anything, but he can feel the world slipping away.

He hears another voice, both closer and more distant that Katara's. He is sure that he must really be dying, because the voice he hears belongs to someone long since dead. It is Lu Ten's voice. He still recognises it after all these years.

Lu Ten urges to Zuko to live. It's not his time yet. Zuko is a fighter to the end and he feels the familiar stubbornness rise within him. He refuses to go out like this. Lu Ten tries to help. He explains about the real power of the comet, in deep and soothing tones.

For a moment Zuko's determination wavers. He's missed Lu Ten so much. Perhaps he could stay here with the voice. He could go back to a time when things were simpler and nothing hurt. But Lu Ten says no. They will see each other again, but not for a long time to come.

But it's okay.

Lu Ten doesn't mind waiting.