Chapter Text
“Can I…can I try to heal it?” Katara asked, eyes shining with unshed tears. Her hand drew ever closer to his scarred side, tentative, watching for his reaction. When her fingers made contact with the uneven flesh, Zuko’s eyes fluttered shut, his breath hitching.
“Katara, I -“ he breathed, shuttering. Her touch was electric on his skin.
“Get away from her!” Aang screamed, staff in hand, a fierce protectiveness exploding from him.
Katara glanced between the two men, the moment broken. Zuko had backed away from her, holding his hands up. “It’s okay. He wasn’t trying to hurt me.”
Iroh caught up to them. “Zuko! Are you alright?” His voice laced with concern.
“I’m fine, uncle.” He still held up his hands, awaiting the Avatar’s decision.
Furious grey eyes slid back to Zuko, contemplating her words. A tense beat passed before Aang spoke again. He ran his hand down his face in frustration. “Fine. We need to leave now. Azula is here.” He reached forward and grabbed Katara by the wrist and turned, pulling her with him. She turned back to Zuko and his uncle, eyes still soft from their conversation. Zuko was being checked over by his uncle after a crushing hug. His golden eyes never left hers.
Aang continued to pull her through the twists and turns of the catacombs. After a couple of moments, Katara twisted her hand free and pointed. “Water. There’s water over there, and a lot of it, I can feel it, I think it leads to the surface” Aang shifted on his heel and nodded tersely.
They stepped foot into a huge cavern full of sparkling, glittering crystals of various shapes and sizes. They covered the earth in huge chunks, the light from above refracting and giving the room an iridescent glow.
Blue fire erupted in front of them and they both stumbled.
“There is no leaving her alive for you today.” She stood tall, hands folded neatly behind her back. Her golden eyes were sharp, calculating. Her lips upturned in a triumphant smirk. Dai Li agents fell in next to her, hands covered in earth. “If you come quietly, I’ll make it quick.”
Aang fell into a bending stance, his jaw set. He took a deep breath, steadying himself. A huge gust of wind erupted from his mouth and he launched himself backwards towards the water, out of Azula’s grasp. blowing the agents back several paces. Azula easily jumped out of the way. “Have it your way.” She twisted mid air, eyes shifting to Katara, and summoned a fire whip, long and blazing. Katara could feel the heat on her face, sudden and blazing. She closed her eyes, crossed her arms and braced for impact, but the heat receded.
Zuko stood at the mouth of the catacombs, fists raised, chest heaving and eyes wild. The room turned to him, unsure if he was friend or foe. His eyes snapped to Azula, settled on her smug face.
“Zuzu,” She preened, “I’m glad to see you’re ready to come home. This will be a glorious day in Fire Nation History. You’ll return a hero.” Zuko said nothing, his eyes shifting to Katara. She was in a low defensive stance, hair loose, eyes pleading. Waiting.
Zuko turned his fist and orange, hot flames erupted aimed at Azula. She raised her arms, dispersing the blow.
The room erupted in fire, water and stone. Aang, Katara and Zuko exchanging blows with Azula and the Dai Li. “You’ll regret this treachery, Zuzu.” She sunk low, her index and middle finger pointed, her hands dancing as electricity sparked between them. She pointed, finding a flash of blue and releasing.
Zuko moved without thinking, pushing Katara hard out of the way. They landed in a mess of tangled limbs, Katara’s head hitting hard against the stone as white hot pain exploded behind her vision. “Shit, Katara”, Zuko quickly sat up, pulling her with him. Her vision swam as she scrambled for purchase. Her hand flew to the back of her head, fingers coming back bloody. She winced. “Can you stand?” She nodded weakly, standing trembling legs.
A chunk of earth caught her hands, gripping tight around her wrists and a scream tore from her throat before she could stop it. Zuko fired a blast towards the offending agent, only to find his wrists bound.
“It’s over, Zuko. Come nicely and maybe I won’t tell Father of your treachery.” Her eyes sought out Aang, who had enclosed himself in a shelter made of crystals. She launched a barrage of flame at the tiny hut, pieces crumbling and falling away.
“Aang!” Katara gasped, clutching her bound wrists to her chest as more Dai Li surrounded them. “Please!”
A blinding light exploded out of the hut, shattering the crystals and causing everyone in the room to shield their eyes out of reflex.
Aang emerged in a storm of air, earth and water, tattoos glowing as he rose in the air. Her cuffs fell away.
Lightening cracked through the air, striking Aang in the chest. His body fell, limp and smoldering.
Katara heard a scream pierce the air and her vision had gone blurry. Her own scream, her own tears. Orange flames fired back and she realized Zuko had broken free from his cuffs and was fighting them. Everything was going in slow motion around her and she was sure she had a concussion. Her head felt so fuzzy and she felt like she really, really wanted to sleep. She felt her tears on her cheeks, openly flowing now, her blood at her scalp, on her hands, on her dress. She could feel the water in the room, dancing, rushing, pushing and pulling, calling to her. Her hands moved on their own accord, her blood rushing in her ears. Her vision blurred and hands shook and she could feel her heartbeat pulsing behind her eyes.
It was too much. A sob broke out of her chest and she shut her eyes against the pain, the noise too much. Her head throbbed so violently, she just needed it to stop.
She fell to her knees, clenching her fists tightly.
Across the cavern, Azula fell with her.