ZK-Breathe Again

In, out

It was strange how something so simple required constant attention and repetition.  Keep breathing, keep breathing. No matter how many times it was said, it didn't seem to register. Or maybe it did and Katara just wanted to give up now.

in, out

This wasn't the first time she had to remind herself to breathe again. Though she thought she knew what it was like to stop breathing when her mother died or when her father left, the real first time she had to remind herself to breathe again was with Zuko. When she saw the lightning come for her, her heart stopped. When she saw him dash in front of her, she couldn't breathe anymore. When she thought he was dead, she didn't want to live anymore.  It wasn't until she heard Zuko call her name did she allow herself to breathe again. That should have been the last time, but it wasn't.

in out

A year later when he said he was going to marry Mai, there was a different sort of pain she felt. One of betrayal, though it didn't make much sense. The way Zuko looked at Katara made her stop breathing just for a moment. Maybe there was something she missed.

in… out…

And a month later when he announced he couldn't marry Mai because of Katara, she again had to remind herself to breathe. Though this time was a good reason to be reminded.

i…n… o…u…t…

Nothing ever lasted long. The next time he saved her life, he didn't make it. She stopped wanting to live because he left too soon – he left her too soon. She wanted him back so much that it pained her to have to remind herself to breathe again, to live though he was dead.

i…o…

It didn't hurt much, the lightning to her chest. Stupid and unexpected, yes. But painful, no. She could hear her family telling her to breathe again, telling her to stay with them, but their voices started to fade into the background. All she could do was close her eyes.

Katara, breathe

When she opened her eyes, she saw a face she hadn't seen in such a long time. His face. It didn't matter that it meant now they were in the spirit world together. All that mattered was that she was with him and she didn't have to remind herself to breathe again.