Content warning: non-explicit sex (or, the author resorts to purple prose to describe passion without actually describing anything).
On the evening of the full moon, they're once again at the beach. Katara insists, and Azula can't bring herself to deny her, and so an hour after dinner, she accompanies Katara down to the water, even as she feels reservations about it.
Between the full moon rising overhead and the ocean in front of her, Katara hasn't felt this powerful in a long time.
"Come on", she calls out to Azula, who's still standing at the waterline.
Hesitantly, Azula follows her into the waves. Even with all the trust she's built with Katara, her entire body screams at the notion of stepping into the water, a foreign element, at night, when her own bending is diminished, under a full moon, when Katara's bending is at its peak. But she forces herself forward, unwilling to capitulate to her fear. Every step forward is an exercise in trust, not that Azula would ever describe it as such.
Once she's gotten over her initial reaction, once she's lost contact with the sand under her feet and begun to swim, it all gets a little easier. She follows Katara, just aimlessly swimming around, and stops thinking so much and starts focusing on staying afloat and braving the waves. Katara swims out farther, more than they've ever swam before, and Azula, unsure if she trusts her ability to cover the distance back, follows her.
"This is amazing", Katara shouts over the crashing of the waves. "Did you know there's a shipwreck below us?"
"How do you know?"
"I can feel it! It's deeper down, but with the full moon, I can feel it."
"There's no record of one", Azula muses. "It must be old."
"Wanna see it?"
The words have just reached Azula's ears when Katara, without waiting for an answer, begins to bend the ocean to her will. A pillar of water solidifies under her and as she begins her moves, a circle begins to form around them. Azula, panically treading water for a second before she realises Katara is keeping her afloat, begins to sink with Katara as the water lowers them into a giant hole in the ocean. More and more water drains, and soon, they've passed the edge where the seafloor drops off, lower and lower, until the ocean around them is barely a dozen feet deep anymore and the top of the ship surfaces.
It's a display of power the likes of which Azula couldn't begin to imagine before, and yet Katara makes it look effortless. It's a sight that goes right to Azula's head, and somewhere else perhaps, and just for a second, she is overcome with the urge to bow down to Katara, to kneel at her feet and marvel at the incredible power she holds.
Once the ship has been laid almost bare, surrounded by just enough water to keep it from falling apart, Katara looks at Azula like an owl-cat who's dropped a dead beetle-mouse at her doorstep.
"That… was incredible", Azula spills. "Just… wow."
Katara smirks. Actually smirks. Azula has half a mind to slap the feisty grin off her face, and half a mind to kiss her right there and then until neither of them can breathe anymore. Since neither seems appropriate, or safe while Katara keeps unthinkable amounts of water at bay, Azula settles for looking over the wreck instead.
"I was right, it is old", she states. "I recognise this design. It must have been here since Sozin's time."
She picks up a rusty sword, or what's left of it.
"I wonder why it sank."
Emboldened by Tui's light, Katara closes her eyes and feels the flow of the remaining feet of water, feels the liquid inside the ship, the little turbulences where water snags on broken edges, the drops draining off the wreck. It paints a shape of the ship as precise as if she were looking at it from all sides. Practicing on the guards during her escape attempts, years of guarding herself in the palace; feeling the pulses around her since she's been allowed full moons again, all have sharpened her senses, and for the first time, she understands how Toph must see the world.
"Punctured hull on the right side", she diagnoses when she opens her eyes again. With the water around them illuminating the sea bed for her, she can picture it clear as day. "They must have run aground on one of the outer riffs and sunk here before they could reach the shore."
Azula catches herself staring at her with her mouth agape at this casual demonstration of her abilities, and Katara would be lying if she said it didn't make her proud. Sure enough, when they swim around the ship, there's the damage, just as Katara described.
Fire couldn't do this, occurs to Azula. Earth, water, and air, they can sense the surroundings. Like that blind girl the Avatar was running around with, like Katara. But fire… I could sense a candle, perhaps, or a hearth, but this? I couldn't.
But fire creates. No other element can. Katara can't create water any more than an earthbender can create earth. Only us firebenders can summon fire at will.
It helps her feel a little less inferior in the face of Katara's abilities. She may be able to harness more power than anyone Azula has ever met, but unlike her, Azula can summon not just fire, but lightning out of thin air. As incredible as Katara's powers are, her and Azula are evenly matched, just in different ways.
I sound like uncle.
She follows Katara into the wreck, still musing on the unique nature of firebending. Katara leads her into the ship, keeps the water away from their heads while they explore. Even though the remains of the crew have long decomposed, their uniforms remain, and it's the first time Azula has seen antique suits of armour outside of a museum. It's fascinating, being led on a tour through her own people's history, and the fact that it's Katara who makes it possible is ironic.
When they emerge from the ship, Azula asks to go back, and Katara grins.
"Race you to shore?"
"Hardly", Azula makes a dismissive gesture. "We both you know you would win."
There's an impish glint in Katara's eyes and Azula can't help but feel like she's said exactly what Katara wanted her to say.
"Better idea then."
Before Azula can ask what the idea is, Katara has wrapped an arm around her waist. She lets go of the water and the ocean collapses in on itself, fills the hole Katara has held open for so long, and Katara kicks off the seabed and races towards the shore like a torpedo.
Azula's panicked scream quickly turns into one of exhilaration and mixes with Katara's laughter as they zip through the water, emerge from the ocean faster than an archer's arrow, and slide into the sand as if the ocean spirit itself had spat them out back onto the shore. Gasping for air, Azula tackles Katara, wrestles her back into the sand as retaliation for the impromptu ride. Katara pays her back in kind, and if they get a little sand in their mouths making out during their beach wrestling match, well, who cares?
"That was fun", Katara says as they collect their discarded overgarments and climb back up to the house. "I had no idea how much I missed swimming before we came here."
Before I got to do it again. Before survival stopped being a concern.
"We should do that more often", she continues. Azula is saved from having to reply when they reach the house and find a messenger hawk outside.
A black ribbon. It's important.
Impatiently, Azula retrieves the scroll from the bird's leg and breaks the seal, reads it, and freezes. Her surprise is obvious to Katara, and she steps closer, concern all over her face.
"What is it?"
"Delegates from the Earth Kingdom and Water Tribes have arrived at the rendezvous point", Azula slowly begins. "They've set sail for the capital."
She swallows.
"The Avatar, our brothers, and your earthbender friend are among them."
Katara lets out an undignified shriek of joy and throws her arms around Azula as she tears up, overcome with relief. It's only when Azula remains stiff as a board that she lets go of her.
"Azula? That's great news, isn't it?"
Azula nods, numb and shocked.
"It is, I suppose."
Katara frowns. "What's wrong?"
Azula takes a deep breath.
"Nothing." Under Katara's incredulous look, she adds, "it's just so…", she gestures helplessly, "sudden. Real."
Katara takes her hand.
"I know", she softly says. "But we can do this. And if Aang is with them, that's good news. He'll want peace; he'll bring the others around."
"I hope you're right", Azula breathes. "I hope you're right."
She composes herself, straightens up.
"We'll be leaving tomorrow morning. That way, there will be ample time to prepare for their arrival."
I don't want to go, she realises. The last two weeks, all I wanted was for the wait to be over, but now…
I don't want to go.
I don't want her to leave.
"Dinner?" Katara's voice interrupts Azula's brooding, and she nods. Katara fetches leftovers from breakfast from where she's frozen them and they eat in silence.
"Do you want to tell me what's bothering you?", Katara casually asks afterwards while Azula cleans up the dishes, and although she should expect it by now, Katara's abilty to read her (or perhaps, part of Azula suggests, Katara's willingness to confront her) once again catches Azula so off-guard, she almost drops a plate.
"Nothing", she replies out of habit, and immediately corrects herself. "I mean… it's just a thought."
"Okay?" Katara walks up behind her and puts her arms around her. "What thought?"
"Nothing", Azula repeats. "It's probably pointless anyway."
Katara sighs.
"Zula", this time the nickname is on purpose, "you can tell me. If it's bothering you, it's important."
At the name, the blood rushes to Azula's face, and she hurries to slip out of Katara's arms and put the dishes down before she actually drops one. The effect Katara can have on her is embarrassing.
Do I want this? Really?
Yes, she decides. I do.
Deep breath. In and out. Calm that frantic heart.
"We're leaving tomorrow", she begins, trying to keep her voice calm even though it feels like she can't breathe, like her heart is failing. "When we get back, we'll have our hands full."
Katara nods.
"I was wondering", oh Agni, why does this have to be so hard, "if maybe…"
She trails off, can't finish the sentence. Katara takes her hands in hers and gives them a reassuring squeeze.
"It's alright. You don't have to tell me."
"No", Azula mumbles, fighting the way her hands are shaking. "I want to."
Agni, give me strength.
"This is our last night before… before we have to return", she awkwardly starts over. "I just thought… I wondered…"
She seeks out Katara's eyes and finds nothing but affection in them. Trust. Concern. Love, perhaps even.
"Would you like to spend this night with me?"
Katara's eyes widen once she understands the implication.
"Of course, if you'd rather not, I won't hold it against you", Azula hurries to add; babbles, almost. "But if you would like… I want this to be special. I want this to be something you can remember me by… when you leave."
There. It's out. I said it.
"I've never…" Katara's voice is softer than Azula has ever heard before. Longing, excited, yet hesitant.
"It's okay", Azula assures her. "We don't have to."
"No, no, that's not it…"
In truth, Katara isn't sure what it is. It's unexpected, yes, but there's more. The idea makes something inside her burn with desire; at the same time, she feels more nervous than ever before, like a boy before his first hunt.
Like when I kissed Aang for the first time.
I will see him again, she realises. But what is there between us? I've kissed Azula. I haven't waited for him. Can I expect him to wait for me?
Do I want him to?
In truth, she realises… no. The realisation hurts, but now that she thinks about it, she's not sure what she feels for him.
But she knows what she feels for Azula.
When she arrives at the end of that train of thought and looks up, Azula's hands still in hers, she finds Azula looking at her, more uncertainty in her eyes than ever before. The Azula in front of her isn't strong, isn't a leader or a princess or Fire Lord. Right now, Azula is just herself, looking at Katara like she's expecting to get her heart broken, like she's already trying to make peace with the rejection she expects to hear.
Katara kisses her.
"I want to", she mumbles against her lips, and Azula all but melts into her arms at the words.
"You do?"
"Yes", Katara affirms. "Please."
The uncertainty becomes desire, hunger, and Azula kisses her back with renewed passion, so much so that Katara almost stumbles from the onslaught. They move through the room like some sort of dance, until Katara's back hits a wall and Azula doesn't push her against it as much as Katara pulls her closer, hands roaming to cover every inch of Azula.
"You want this", Azula pants when they pull back for air, both an incredulous celebration of Katara's desire as well as a question, a double- and triple-checking.
"I want you", Katara breathes and follows up her affirmation by pulling Azula closer again, desperate to feel her, kiss her like she's trying to devour every last corner of her mouth. "Bedroom", she adds between kisses.
Once inside, the kisses slow as they sneak around taking the first step on this path that's so foreign to both of them. The hunger turns into passion, greed into loving; long, slow kisses that are as much reassurance as they are worship. Eventually, Katara's hands find the closures of Azula's robes and before long, both of theirs are on the floor. Azula's undergarment is next, and when she shrugs it off her shoulders, Katara stops thinking, stops worrying, and just marvels at her. Even though she's seen part of it before, has felt Azula's bare skin under her hands when she's healed her, beholding her in her entirety…
"You're beautiful", Katara whispers.
Azula's hands slide Katara's clothes off her, her lips pay the compliment back tenfold. Her body burns warmer than a thousand suns against Katara's skin, and when they fall into bed, Katara touches her as if she wanted to map out every curve, every inch of skin with her hands, until she knows her body with her eyes closed. In turn, Azula worships her as if she were praying at the altar of Katara's perfection, and despite every fumble, all their shared inexperience, the spark doesn't go out. What they learn about each other, they learn together, crying each other's names, crying words into each other's mouths that neither would have dared to say otherwise, with only the moon to witness them.
When they fall asleep, Azula's wish has come true. It is a night they will both remember forever.