Chapter Text
Zuko stood staring at the waterbender from a distance in thought. The tides swished gently in the distance as Katara fixated on them quietly.
He knew all to well the ire she was capable of bringing upon those she felt hurt by. She had the opportunity to kill the person that took the person she arguably loved more than anyone...
But she chose mercy, kindness.
If he was the arrogant teen he had been just months ago he would of mocked her. The fire bender way was to cleanse weakness with divine flame. Burning away all impurity in its ruthless path.
Oh the irony that a group of children; either blind or traumatized were the ones to open his ignorant eyes to his flaws.
“Hey bud.” Sokka said startling him slightly as he turned to him with a sympathetic smile. “Hey you doing ok?” Zuko asked as he nodded returning his soft expression.
“You should talk to her ya know.” Sokka suggested, tilting his head in the direction of his siter as Zuko’s unscarred eye widened in surprise at the advice.
“I don’t know if she’d want me to talk to her. Last time she opened up to me I betrayed her. I doubt she’d ever open her heart to me again.” Zuko brooded. “Plus I am definitely not family.”
Sokka only shook his head as he looked at Zuko with something soft in his eyes. “You’re right. That’s exactly why she needs you. Someone who understands without the bias of being family. Have some faith in yourself.” Sokka said almost surprised himself at the words, or perhaps it was the light blush that spread across the firebenders cheeks at the encouragement.
Zuko took a steady breath, looking back to nod once at Sokka as he approached where Katara was sat. Swilling some water in the air aimlessly.
“Hey, do you mind if I sit beside you?”
“Do what you want Zuko.” Katara said, her tone lacking bite, almost disturbingly so. #
Zuko did not take it personally as he sat beside her slowly; he soon found his own focus being lulled into the tides of the water below. Along with the way the dull glow of the moonlight sparkled on the inky black depths of the ocean.
They stayed that way for a while, just them side by side as the ocean waved at the pair smoothly. The silence despite the situation however was not tense, it was almost comforting in a sense.
“I don’t know if sparing him was strength or weakness.” Katara eventually spoke up, watching as her ball of water dispersed and splatted softly back into the endless void of water below.
“It was strength. Anyone can be a killer. Not everyone can be compassionate.” Zuko said as Katara looked at him almost as if he had a second head, but he wasn’t finished.
“I may not have met your mother, but if she’s anything like you and Sokka she was a fiery and compassionate woman. You honored her memory by doing the hardest thing. Showing kindness even when you had every excuse to be cruel.” Zuko found himself smiling as the words brought back fond memories of his own mother’s embrace, if he focused hard enough he could almost smell his uncles jasmine tea from a cup sat beside him that he’d never appreciate until it was too late.
“are those words of wisdom from your uncle?” Katara smiled softly. It was an expression the fire bender had not had the privilege of seeing directed towards him. But as he looked upon her face, that suddenly seemed more youthful, he was grateful to be honored with her hope.
“For once no. I only am speaking from my experience, and how you acted today despite your own experience shows me you are much stronger than I have ever been.” Zuko confessed. His interal pride screamed in protest but he didn’t regret it in the slightest as the waterbender wrapped an arm around him.
He stiffened at first, flinching away at the sudden contact as he eyed her warily, in an expression Katara thought looked almost scared. She had known the ‘banished prince’ the one that had hunted them relentlessly. The one that almost killed the Avatar and her best friend...
But as she looked at the way the fire bender slowly leaned into her arm. She couldn’t help but think she finally met Zuko