October Catch-All

[oceanblue]

Characters: Katara, Open
Date: October
Location: Wood Sector mostly
Situation: Katara's Balancing Act
Warnings/Rating:Lots and lots of hurt feels

Katara, as of late, is stuck in a very tentative balance between her own healing and doing her best to be the strength of those around her. She's starting to wear thin and is far too close to breaking, but she's determined not to let it interfere with her aiding the others.

Stresses/Situations include:

-Physically, Katara has yet to heal completely from Zuko's fire.
-The entire poisoned Zuko situation. Her efforts to heal him have been completely ineffective, for which she feels personally guilty. She's having to watch him fall apart and can do nothing to stop him. There's no way to help him carry his burden except to let him hurt her, which, unfortunately for her friends and brother, she's willing to do. She is also battling romantic feelings toward him as well: this level of dedication to someone's wellbeing definitely has an effect on the heart, and she is no exception. The fact that they arrived together out of a particularly desperate moment back home also doesn't help. (Or does it)
-Though her own turtle was spared, Katara is devastated over the murder of the babies, particularly Korra's.
-She's well aware that her bloodbending capability is emotionally scarring, and now she's having to watch over a hurt and very hesitant avatar. She's healing him in silence (after the Kedan's fail assassination attempt) when he allows her near enough, but the tension is wearing her down to the point of actual frustration, both toward him and herself.


She will, however, attempt to hide as many of these as she can from everyone including Aang, her brother, and Akito, lest she be even more of a burden on an already dark situation.

(( Threads are open to any situation you like :) ))

Comments

[12goingon113]

Aang knows all too well what it's like to feel trapped by the healing process, and so when Katara mentioned wanting to get outside for a little while, he was more than happy to help make that happen.

In truth, there's precious little that Aang is capable of saying No to, when Katara is involved.

Just...feel free to ignore any and all subtle earthbending done in the effort of making the path they walk towards the river easier for her to manage.

6th

[lordhotman]

Being separated from Wan with Aang watching him instead has been a bit stressful for Zuko. Even though Wan managed to live through the stabbing, he's still worried about him. Plus being in a house alone with Aang, with the things not resolved between them, has made him feel more on edge. There's a tension there and Zuko didn't like it. He didn't have Wan's reassuring presence there. Zuko had tried to sleep, but woke up screaming and in pain from the nightmares as usual. But this time he was alone.

Miserable and lonely, Zuko isolated himself in the vacant bedroom that he was inhabiting. He would just stay out of Aang's way. Out of everyone's way. Because he was dangerous, and he knew it.

19th; courtyard of their tree home

[akito]

It's Sunday afternoon and Akito is, as usual, practicing his Waterbending. He's learned a lot since it was gifted to him, thanks to Asti agreeing to add in some basic knowledge with the ability, combined with scientific knowledge of how water works, and his martial arts skills. It's... alright, but he knows he can do better. While he may have figured out how to freeze water and melt frost effectively he has trouble managing to create steam. And his control fades the further away from him the water gets, if he tries to hold its form.

A big part of the issue could possibly be how fatigued he is in both body and mind, working hard every single day and night until he manages to sleep (fitful and filled with nightmares). He's made progress with Tony - and a new friend in the process - and the people he's been teaching self defense to are coming along well. So it's worth whatever discomfort it brings him, in his opinion.

[oceanblue]

Again reminded why she was so fond of the airbender, Katara reveled in the fresh air as they walked along the bank, at first embarrassed by the earthbending, but finally at the point where she had accepted it in silence.

Still wounded and healing, she didn't say much, but after a good walk, she would finally slow to a stop with a sigh and look to Aang.

"There's a good spot up there near those trees we could sit for a bit. If you wanted," she muses aloud, adding the last bit quickly. Though it's obvious she's not in tip-top shape, she's more than capable (she thinks) of getting around as she wants, and she's not about to show any weakness that she can avoid.

However, a small break would be nice...and it might give them a chance to talk.

Re: 6th

[oceanblue]

A lot had happened the previous night, and despite her previous hesitancies fighting her desire to see her friend, Katara could not have been kept away from visiting Zuko. After approaching Aang's home and finding her way to Zuko's room, she hovered at the door before opening it slowly, her head low but her eyes searching. Her voice, at first, was small.

"Zuko...?"

[alphatar]

Having practically locked herself away in her empty suite complex when not at work, Korra had a reason to leave it in seeing Katara and Sokka. They had provided a sense of home in a city that never quite felt like one. Sokka said he'd be there for anything she needed and Korra didn't want to stay away from Katara too long. She had more of a presence in Korra's life than than she knew.

Which was why she was unloading a pack of freshly caught seafood, more scarce to buy now that Jack's fishing shop was closed, and another pack filled with winter clothes. Extras she had left over from when she and Jack donated clothes last winter. The season was coming and she wanted to make they had more than just what they showed up with.

Especially if Asti followed the path of the world she and Wan had seen.

One bag on her shoulder, the other tucked under her arm, Korra motioned Naga over to her. "Knock for me, girl." Korra said her request with a smirk knowing full well what the animal would do. A few loud barks and a large paw hitting the door. Thankfully, Korra taught her not to use her claws.

[12goingon113]

It's a lovely day, all things considered, and Aang is thankful to be out in it. Even more so because of the company with him. Sure the walk is quiet, but it's a companionable silence.

When she stops, he stops. And when she sighs, Aang tilts his head to one side as if considering whether or not letting her leave for the walk was a good idea.

"Oh! I um...I'd like that a lot," he stammers out. "This is a pretty place. I've never been here before. It'd be nice to just sit for a little while."

That was convincing, right?

[lordhotman]

Wallowing in his own thoughts, Zuko almost didn't hear her come in. He had kept replying last night's events over and over in his mind. This time he had killed someone. Sure, it had been in self defense, but... that's just one more casualty of the poison he's had to endure. Not to mention the two Kedan that had to live with the burns given to them by both himself and Wan.

Hearing her voice though, Zuko looked up, a bit surprised to see her.

"Katara?"

[oceanblue]

She's quick to raise a brow at him, but her expression clearly states that she knows he sees that she's tired and that she's amused--and so, so grateful-- that he's even attempting to appease her.

"I... had started practicing my bending around here before everything got so...well..."

She makes her way over to the tree and shakily lowers herself to the grass below it, watching the river flow not far from her feet as she stretches out her legs and lets the rest of her thought go. She hasn't so much as thought of using her bending since she bloodbent Zuko, and she's not sure she should admit it to anyone.

"Thanks for coming out here with me, Aang. I was going crazy in that room..."

[oceanblue]

"I...thought I would visit..."

His surprise made her blink, but while she hesitated to speak, she does not hesitate to step closer and perch at the edge of his bed, just as she had when he had been staying with her.

"I just want to make sure that you're okay after last night," she admits quietly, watching him with careful blue eyes and as much of an encouraging smile as she can muster.

Re: 19th; courtyard of their tree home

[oceanblue]

So, so much had happened in the last few weeks, and while she had, for the majority of it, been staying at her own home, Katara couldn't deny that her relationship with her roommate felt half hearted at best. She felt guilty that he had been dragged into everything because of her, and even more guilty that he had taken such good care of her during her beginning weeks of healing.

Thus, she absolutely refused, even with circumstances as they were, to deny him their waterbending practice.

As he practices his bending this Sunday, Katara finds him easily, and though she's tired, offers him the best smile she can. "Hey, Akito!"

[12goingon113]

"Complicated?" he offers when words seem to fail her.

Aang follows, airbending himself onto the ground next to her when she finally does settle.

"I understand. I felt the same way when I first got here and couldn't get out of bed. Then they wouldn't let me get out of bed." He pauses to grin at her. "So Toph bent the floor of my room through the roof of the building."

[lordhotman]

"Oh."

Well, he's okay with that then. He definitely didn't mind the visit and honestly could use the company. Company that wasn't painfully awkward at least.

"I'm okay. How's Wan?"

After all, the Avatar was the one who had gotten severely injured, and Zuko can't hide the concern from his face and voice.

[oceanblue]

Her smile faded immediately, though she knew she should have been prepared for him to ask.

"Besides being terrified of me, he'll be okay," she assured him quietly with a mix of bitterness and sadness, wrapping her arms loosely over her middle. "Sokka's watching over him right now."

[oceanblue]

"Yeah. Complicated."

She watches as he settles in next to her, then looks out at the water again, stricken by the memories that come to her just from the location. It feels like ages ago when she and Zuko had sparred here, and the conversation now is almost reminiscent.

"Really?" she asks, actually able to smile a little. "That sounds like something she'd do."

[12goingon113]

"Yup. It was really nice too, until the screaming started. The nurses weren't really all that used to earthbending," he says sheepishly.

Those poor Kedan. They went into Aang's room to check on him and fund a column of solid rock instead. It was very confusing.

[lordhotman]

Zuko is stunned at her reply, though relieved at the same time. Sort of. At least Wan is doing all right, but.

"Why is he terrified of you?"

Sure she can get pretty scary when she's angry but, what reason would Wan have to be terrified of Katara?

[oceanblue]

Her reply is delayed and quiet, but resigned.

"He saw me bloodbend you."

She can't begin to explain how sorry she is or how ashamed her choices, in hindsight, have made her, but her body language is enough to say it all. She's weak and drained, and her arms tighten the slightest bit around herself as she turns her gaze away from him.

[lordhotman]

"... Oh."

That makes sense then. And Zuko looked down in thoughtful silence. Though when he looks back up, he could see the regret in Katara's face.

"I'm not mad at you for that, you know."

Even if Wan is scared of her, she can at least know that Zuko doesn't hold it against her.

[oceanblue]

She continued to avoid his gaze.

"That doesn't make me any less sorry."

[lordhotman]

He turns towards her now, his gaze on her even as she looked away.

"I know. I'm sorry too."

[oceanblue]

She was quiet, his gaze heavy but in the oddest sense...comforting. Lifting her own to his, she was quiet a long moment...perhaps too long as she studied him.

"We're going to get through this, Zuko," she whispered firmly after a while.

[lordhotman]

"I hope so."

That's all he could say. Right now, he couldn't see the light at the end of the tunnel. There was just darkness, darkness that threatened to swallow him and everything else whole. The subject of his nightmares. There still wasn't a way to fix him.

[oceanblue]

His disheartened reply strengthened her gaze, and she reached for his hand, curling her fingers around it. "I know so. We've never given up on anyone before, and we've always come through. Besides..." she blushed a little, dropping her gaze. "You're kind of a special case."

She attempted another small smile, then drew her bag around with her free hand. "I brought you something..." she told him, procuring a small, carefully wrapped container. "Aang doesn't eat meat, so I thought I'd give you this. It's just stew, but... you need more than just fruit and vegetables." It had not escaped her notice that he was thinning, and she could at least do this much.

[oceanblue]

She didn't bother trying to stop the soft laugh. "I could imagine. I'm sure our bending's really stirred things up, huh?"

Hers certainly had, though she spoke without thinking first. The moment she realized it, she quieted a little more.