Zutara Week: Soothe

["Good thinking, Sparky," Sokka said. “That’s some pretty steamy bending—ow!" Sokka grabbed his ribs where Suki’s elbow had connected with them. “What? He made the water steam!"]

"Can you do me, now?" Aang asked. He flopped over on his stomach.

"Sure we can," Katara said, smiling. She sat up on her knees and twisted more water free of the fountain. “Come on, Zuko."

Zuko strode over and knelt on Aang’s other side. As Katara spun the water above Aang’s body, he carefully ran his fingers over it until the whole ball steamed. Then he watched her smooth it over their student. Aang sighed gratefully. “That’s really nice…"

Steam rose up between them. She traced a glowing hand over Aang’s back, down the long blue line of his tattoo until she reached the broken place, the mottled pink scar where Azula had made her mark. Zuko’s fingers slipped across the water there, hovering just above the scar. He stared at it before shutting his eyes and balling a tight fist on the stone.

"It’s okay," Aang said sleepily. “It doesn’t hurt much, any more."

Zuko took a deep, shuddering breath. “She’s never going to hurt you again. I promise."[x]

I like Zutara fics that don’t make Aang a villain. I like that a mutual love for a 12 year old kid brings two people closer.

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