They hadn’t gotten as far as he would have liked after their confrontation with Yon Rha when Katara had broken down. Silent, heaving sobs wracked her body and as much as they needed to make their way back to Appa, to escape the Fire Nation authorities that were no doubt on their trail, Zuko couldn’t make himself interrupt her grief.
He averted his eyes from her to keep watch and not because seeing her like this made him feel the need to hold her. He knew– because he knew her now– that her crying was just as cathartic, just as important as confronting her mother’s killer had been. The emotions could no longer be ignored and stockpiled. This is what she needed. But when he looked at her, small and trembling in the fresh mud, he wanted to be able to protect this moment. Once they moved, it would be broken. Once they were safe in the sky, miles away, he knew she wouldn’t continue on like this. And he wished she would allow herself to scream now while the emotions were erupting. He would fight a troop of fire benders if it meant she could add a voice to her anguish.
Instead, any sounds she made were easily drowned out by the heavy rain. Even broken and crying she was determined to do what needed to be done. So he kept watch and promised them both she would never have need of another moment like this ever again.
“I hope you find yourself out there. I hope you figure out your heart. I hope you figure out your mind. I hope you learn how to be kind to yourself. How to embrace the journey you are on. I hope you learn to be proud of the person you are becoming. I hope you learn to be proud of where you are - even if it isn’t exactly where you want to be.”
it is so funny how life is just whatever. it’s hilarious. life is so regimented all the way through high school and then after that you just do literally whatever it’s all just whatever. you’re like “should i do this?” and everyone you know is like “just do whatever” absolutely incredible. that can’t be real
“I have noticed that when all the lights are on, people tend to talk about what they are doing – their outer lives. Sitting round in candlelight or firelight, people start to talk about how they are feeling – their inner lives. They speak subjectively, they argue less, there are longer pauses. To sit alone without any electric light is curiously creative. I have my best ideas at dawn or at nightfall, but not if I switch on the lights – then I start thinking about projects, deadlines, demands, and the shadows and shapes of the house become objects, not suggestions, things that need to done, not a background to thought.”
