CHAPTER 61: Partners

"Look into a mirror and you will see the only guru that you will ever need."

"But you were just nearly killed!?"

Katara's frustration bubbled within her like a boiling geyser ready to erupt.

How could Zuko think that it was a good idea to send her away now, of all times?

She paced back and forth, her movements agitated and sharp, every step echoing her inner turmoil.

Zuko had just escaped death at the hands of mercenaries. The memory of hearing about the combustion bender attack on his caravan in the forest still sent shivers down her spine, but not from fear - from anger.

She was a master waterbender, more than capable of protecting herself and those she cared about. She had faced down many Fire Nation soldiers in the past, confronted her mother's killer and stood against the very spirit of hate. She had even saved Zuko himself from his sister!

Yet, here he was, ordering her to leave, as if she were some helpless child needing protection!

Also, there was Azula's escape…

The thought of that did send a cold spike of dread through her heart.

Zuko's sister was a ticking time bomb, a threat to everyone they cared about, and now that she was out there, plotting who knew what…

Of course, Katara knew that it was no coincidence that these mercenaries had attacked Zuko on the same day that Azula escaped. And soon, the rumor about Katara and Zuko's relationship would probably slip out to the public to possibly wreak havoc upon Zuko's reign.

She could practically feel the old Fire Nation princess' mocking laughter ringing in her ears.

Katara's eyes blazed as she turned to Zuko.

How could he not see the absurdity of his plan?

They needed every ally they could get, and she was one of the strongest ones they had. Sending her away would weaken their position, not strengthen it.

"Zuko, you can't be serious!" she exclaimed, her voice a mix of disbelief and anger. "I'm not some delicate flower that needs protecting. I'm ME, Katara, remember?"

She waved her hands in front of her face, hoping he would somehow wake up and realize who was actually standing in front of him.

"I've fought beside you, risked my life countless times, and now you want me to go hide in an airship?"

But Zuko's face remained an impassive mask.

It was as if every emotion had drained from his features, leaving behind a cold, unreadable facade.

She knew this look all too well - he had perfected it as a child, a defense mechanism to shield himself from the emotional torment of his father and the pressures of the Fire Nation court.

Seeing it now, directed at her, made her heart ache in a way that even battles could not.

He just stood there, tall and unyielding, his golden eyes fixed on her.

His gaze did not feel as warm on her skin as it usually did, and she hated it.

"Katara," he began, his voice calm and collected. "This isn't up for debate. I love you, and this is for the best. You need to go with that airship."

Katara's fists clenched at her sides, her knuckles white. She wanted to reach out, to shake him, to break through that icy exterior.

"Zuko, listen to me-"

But he cut her off, his tone unwavering.

"I've already decided," he simply proclaimed in a voice that belonged in court and not here in their bedroom. "I can't afford to take any more risks with you. The Kyoshi Warriors are on their way to help. They can handle any threats here. You need to stay with Aang."

Katara's eyes narrowed at him, her frustration boiling over.

"Aang?!" she seethed through gritted teeth. "You think just because he's the Avatar, I'll be safe with him? You know I've been protecting myself and others long before he even knew he was the Avatar!"

And then, she saw it.

A fleeting glimpse of hurt in Zuko's eyes, a vulnerability that he could not quite hide from her.

It pierced through his carefully maintained facade, and for a moment, Katara's anger faltered. She knew him well enough to recognize that beneath his stubborn insistence was a deep, gnawing guilt.

Somewhere deep down, she knew that he doubted his ability to keep her as safe as she might have been with Aang.

And even if she did not care to admit it, Katara knew that had her life been different - had she not fallen completely and utterly in love with Zuko, she might have kept up her relationship with Aang, or at least stayed with him at the Air temple, and then, things would have been simpler.

There would be no scandal, no potential fallout from the Fire Lord being with a Water Tribe diplomat.

Because life with Zuko was anything but simple.

Their love was fierce and passionate, forged in the crucible of war and tempered by their shared struggles. It was also fraught with challenges, from the disapproval of conservative factions within the Fire Nation and the Water Tribes to the current threat of enemies who might exploit their relationship to undermine Zuko's reign as Fire Lord.

The political ramifications were immense.

A Fire Lord and a waterbender together, especially one as prominent as Katara, was unprecedented. It was a union that defied centuries of enmity and suspicion between their peoples.

Katara sighed, feeling the weight of these thoughts settle heavily on her shoulders.

She knew that Zuko's decision to send her away was driven by more than just a desire to protect her physically.

It was also about protecting her from the political and social consequences that their relationship might bring.

She could see the guilt and fear in his eyes, the deep-seated worry that by being together, they might unintentionally sow discord instead of unity.

Yet, despite the complications, Katara would not trade what they had for anything.

Their bond was real and deep, a source of strength and solace in a world that often seemed determined to tear them apart. She loved him fiercely, and she knew he loved her with the same intensity.

They were stronger together, even if the world could not always see it.

"Zuko," she said more gently, trying to bridge the chasm between them. "I chose to be with you because I trust you. Because I love you. This isn't about who can protect me better - it's about us facing these challenges together."

He looked away, turning his face so she could only see his scarred side, unable to meet her gaze, and she could sense the internal struggle playing out behind his eyes. The weight of his responsibilities as Fire Lord, the threats that loomed over them, and his fear of losing her all coalesced into a burden he felt he had to bear alone.

"It's not that simple," he said quietly, his voice strained. "If anything happened to you because of me... I couldn't forgive myself."

Katara stepped closer, reaching out to touch his arm. "And if something happens while we're apart? How would you feel then? We're stronger together, babe. We always have been."

He finally looked at her, the pain in his eyes more evident now.

"I know," he whispered. "But I can't shake the feeling that you'd be safer with Aang. That maybe I'm putting you in more danger by keeping you close."

Katara's heart ached at his words.

She could see the depth of his guilt and fear, and it softened her anger into empathy.

"I understand why you feel this way, babe," she replied softly. "But pushing me away isn't the answer. We face the same dangers whether we're together or apart. The difference is, together, we have a better chance of overcoming them."

He sighed, the weight of his fears pressing down on him.

"I just want to protect you, Katara. More than anything."

"And I want to protect you," she said while she put a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Let's do that together. Zuko, please. Don't shut me out."

For a moment, it seemed like the firebender might relent.

That Zuko might actually let his walls come down this time.

But then, the mask slipped back into place, and he tensed his jaw.

"I've made my decision," he said, his voice firm but tinged with regret. "I'm Fire Lord, and it's not your job to protect me. That's why I've arranged for the Kyoshi Warriors to come and assist. They're highly skilled and trustworthy. They can provide the protection I need here."

Katara's frustration flared up again.

"You're not just the Fire Lord to me, you're-" she paused, swallowing the words she wanted to say. "We're partners, you know? We're supposed to look out for each other. And I'm just as capable as any of the Kyoshi Warriors!"

Zuko looked away, as if searching for the right words.

"I know you are," he said quietly. "But they're trained specifically for this. They'll handle any threats that might arise while you're away. Plus, they have experience dealing with... these kinds of situations."

He hesitated a little, and then added without thinking: "Mai's with them, and she-"

The mention of Mai's name hit Katara like a physical blow, and she could not help the flash of hurt that crossed her face.

Mai, Zuko's ex-girlfriend...

The one who had been with him through so much before Katara came into his life.

The thought of Mai being here, protecting him, while she was sent away, stung more than she cared to admit.

"Mai," she repeated in a tight voice. "So, you trust her to protect you, but not me?"

Zuko's eyes widened, realizing his mistake.

"Babe," he said, his voice trembling slightly, while he reached out his arms to touch her. "That's not what I meant. I trust you completely. It's just-"

"It's just that you think she can do a better job," Katara interrupted, her voice rising with a mix of anger and hurt, as she rose to her feet before taking a step back so he could not reach her. "Or maybe it's just easier to have her around because she's not as complicated, right? No political fallout, no scandal."

Zuko furrowed his brows at her, and Katara noticed his shoulders slumping slightly as if in defeat.

"It's not about that…" he sighed, his expression earnest. "Mai and I are in the past. This is about what's best for everyone… what's best for you. I need you to understand that."

Katara shook her head, feeling tears of frustration welling up.

On one hand, deep down inside of her, she did understand what he was trying to say.

Zuko was not breaking up with her to be with Mai, and he was not trying to push her out of his life permanently. He genuinely cared about her safety, which was why he was trying to send her away just for a while.

He wanted to protect her from the immediate dangers surrounding them, especially with Azula on the loose, who was probably already spreading news of their relationship as they were speaking, and the political tensions their relationship in public might exacerbate across the world.

But logical understanding did not make it any easier for her to bear.

Despite understanding his intentions, Katara felt a deep sense of rejection.

It was as if his decision to send her away implied that she was not strong enough, that her presence was more of a burden than a benefit, and it hurt her in a way she had not anticipated.

An immature part of her felt an overwhelming urge to lash out.

This part of her wanted to hurt Zuko back, to make him feel the sting of rejection and frustration that she was feeling now.

She felt like punching him and screaming at him to just go run off with Mai into the sunset and forget everything about her.

It was irrational and petty, she knew that.

And in this very moment, she hated the tears that pricked at her eyes, a mix of anger, sorrow and helplessness welling up, threatening to overwhelm her.

Katara could see the hurt in Zuko's golden eyes as her gaze met his.

"Please don't cry, babe," he pleaded with a frail voice, and Katara clenched her fists, trying to win the battle within herself, but it was too late.

The floodgates of her emotions, held back by sheer willpower, broke open, and tears spilled down her cheeks.

Before she could react, Zuko was beside her, his strong arms wrapping around her tightly.

Katara collapsed into him, her sobs wracking her body as she buried her face in his chest.

The warmth of his embrace, the familiar scent of fire and smoke mingled with something uniquely him, provided a temporary sanctuary from the storm of her feelings.

"I'm so sorry," he whispered into her ear, his voice trembling with emotion. "I hate this too. I hate being apart from you."

Katara's fingers clutched at his robes, holding on as if letting go would mean losing him forever.

"I don't want to leave you," she sobbed, her words muffled against his chest.

Zuko tightened his hold, his hand stroking her hair gently.

"I know. I don't want you to go either. But I need you to be safe. Just for a while."

The weight of his love and concern pressed against her heart, and for a moment, all the anger and hurt were overshadowed by the depth of their connection.

She let herself cry, releasing the pent-up frustration and sorrow into his warmth, each tear a testament to the bond they shared.

"I love you, Katara," Zuko murmured into her hair. "We'll get through this. I promise."

She nodded, her face still pressed against his chest, trying to etch the memory of his warmth and his heartbeat into her mind.

"I love you too, Zuko. More than anything."

For those few precious moments, the world outside ceased to matter. It was just the two of them, clinging to each other amidst the chaos, savoring the closeness they had right now.

Katara wished she could freeze time and stay in this embrace forever, where their love felt invincible and unshakable.

But the reality of their responsibilities and the looming dangers pulled at them.

As her sobs subsided, Katara pulled back slightly, looking up into Zuko's eyes, which were filled with a mix of sadness and determination.

"I'll do what you ask…" she finally said softly, her voice steady despite the tears. "But promise me you'll stay safe too. Promise me we'll find our way back to each other."

Zuko nodded, his golden gaze intense and unwavering.

"I promise. We'll be together again soon."

With one last, lingering hug, they slowly separated, the air around them charged with unspoken vows and shared strength.

Later that day, when the airship ascended into the air and turned in a Southeastern direction, taking Katara away from him, she held onto the memory of his embrace. And she looked down at the man she loved standing there in the courtyard, he seemed so small compared to the grandeur of the palace that surrounded him.

And Katara just hoped that this place would not eventually chew him up and spit him out.