#honorsfire

“Were you just about to lie to me?” she said, lifting her hands and water bending the ink from his face before she deposited it neatly back into the ink well. “What were you going to do Zuko? Lie to me about it for our whole lives?” she asked. On second thought maybe she should put that ink back on his face.

She really was going to shake him. “Yes! I haven’t told you, because it’s been one emergency after the other. And I didn’t want to waste any of your time with something as trivial as how I felt about you. So I’ve been waiting for the right time to bring it up, when it seems like I won’t be putting too much on your plate.” She realized she was getting off track explaining why, and not really answering his question. “Yes! I love you too. I’ve loved since I was a girl, you idiot.”

five-word sentences.

“Good.”

Ozai didn’t bother turning to look at Zuko.  He’d been especially silent recently--enough so that he wondered if Zuko said the words simply to get a response from him.  

It worked.

Katara turned around, closing the door behind her with one soft click. She’d been so eager to get back to her family after leaving for the South Pole, she’d missed them immensely. Never in a million years did she think this would happen while she was gone. Leaving them was hard enough, but now that something like this had happened? She didn’t know if she could ever leave without them again. 

She’d known something was wrong as soon as she got home, the reception had been missing two people. Zuko and Kya hadn’t greeted her right when she got home. And they always greeted her right when she got home. Izumi had told her what happened. And Katara had gone to Kya first. To check on her, and talk to her. To provide whatever late comfort she could. Why had she not insisted everyone come with her? 

Katara felt so guilty, she should have been here. She should have been right here when it happened. “Did you do it on purpose?” she asked, walking over to him. She knew he didn’t. Izumi had been clear on that much, it was an accident. 

“I killed him.” -- @honorsfire

“You were defending yourself and Kya,” Katara said, her voice soft but firm. Her hands glowed a soft blue as she did yet another healing session with Zuko. At this point the healing sessions were probably more for her peace of mind, than actual healing. The horror of just a few days ago still fresh in her mind. 

Kya screaming for her mother and grandfather. Zuko’s blood a terrible red across the white snow. How close had her daughter come to having a day exactly like the one that changed Katara’s life forever? How close had Katara come from loosing someone else she loved? From their family being ripped apart. 

“I would have done the same,” she said, “To protect Kya, or you,” she said. “I wish she hadn’t had to see it. That violence that young, I ...” tears clouded Katara’s vision as she glanced back at their children. She wanted to gather up her whole family, and keep them safe in her arms. “I was hoping our kids would never have to see that kind of violence but ... I would have done the same,” she said. 

Zutara -- @honorsfire

    “You tried to hurt Izumi,” Zuko said flatly, but it was spat with venom between his teeth. That was the last straw. Zuko had a tender heart, but it would turn ferocious at the threat of his children. “I will not tolerate that.”

Ah, how he grew tired of these games, this imprisonment.  

                           “But I’ve never told you that before.” @honorsfire​

                                  ❝ WHY are you only telling me this NOW? ❞

      Black strands tickled at her features as her face scrunched. Lips pursing together as she shifted, rocking from side to side. Arms crossed under her chest and resting against the metal of her uniform. Head tilting down ever so slightly to just LISTEN. To him, to his words, to what he has to SAY.