A prologue to a story I came up with exploring Prince Wu's possible history. Might have some 'Wuko'-ish shadings.

"Please?"

"No."
"Just for one night?"

"No!"

"Breakfast's on me."

"No, Your Highness. I will NOT spend the night with you in this suite!" Mako almost shouted at Wu, sounding pretty tired of arguing. "Listen, I know the last couple of days have been rough on you, but I really don't think me being in this suite during the night will make any difference." He said a little calmer. The powerless King just looked at the ground in defeat. It had been almost a week since Kuvira disrupted his coronation and basically took the Earth Kingdom from him and Mako wouldn't be surprised if he hadn't slept since then. After a rather embarrassing display in the Little Ba Sing Se Shopping Mall, Wu seemed to have veered into the opposite direction, becoming very morose and nearly mute. At this point he looked dead on his feet. Broken down. Defeated.

"Listen. I-I know this isn't part of your job. But I haven't been able to sleep ever since what Kuvira did. I just see her supporters in every shadow…. and I think that I'll be able to if you're near me. You make me feel safe. A-and I'm sure that even just one night of sleeping well will make a big difference in how I feel. Will help me get back into my groove." He tried, sounding almost desperate. "After that... You don't have to do it anymore. Promise." He looked up at Mako, eyes begging. He just sighed.

"Fine. But just this one night, alright?" This caused Wu to smile brightly.

"I knew you'd come around. I'll ask room service for some blankets so the couch won't be too uncomfortable."

"Waitaminute, the couch?!" Mako protested.

"Well, yes." Wu answered, sounding a bit oblivious. "Where else are you going to sleep? There's only one bed and I have to use the tub in the morning."

"Please don't tell me I have to be along for that, too…." Mako said, as Wu simply smiled sheepishly. This was going to be a long night….

Mako grunted, shifting his position on the couch again. He was at one of those moments where he started to doubt his career decisions again… this wasn't what he wanted to do with his life. He wanted to protect people, not be some kind of butler who waited hand and feet on some spoiled upperclass twit.

A shout from Wu's bedroom brought him out of his musings and put him on edge immediately. Conjuring up a small flame he entered the other room.

Nothing. No one besides the sleeping Monarch was there. However, another scream sounded trough the room and it soon became apparent what was happening.

"Leave… leave me alone." Wu muttered, twisting and turning in his sheets but not waking up. Mako sighed, dissipating the flame. A nightmare. He carefully approached the other man.

"Your Highness?" He asked, shaking his shoulder. It didn't work.

"Mom? Dad? Wake up…." Wu started talking again.

"Wu?" Mako said, a little louder and a little bit more worried.

"Wake up… Please wake up… WakeupwakeupWAKEUP!" At the last word Wu shot up, opening his eyes. This startled Mako, making him reel backwards as Wu sat there, trembling. "Mako?" He eventually asked, voice small.

"It's alright. You were just having a nightmare." Wu just looked down, pulling the covers up, obviously still scared. Mako prepared to leave, but Wu latched onto his arm. "Stay… please stay." He begged.

"But I…." Mako tried, but one look in his employer's eyes shut him up. This was genuine terror. Sighing, he sat down next to the other man on the bed. "I want a bonus after this night." He said, as Wu simply kept clinging onto him until he fell into a more restful sleep.

The next morning was…. awkward as the two of them sat at the breakfast table, eating in silence, not knowing what to say to one another.

"That was… quite the nightmare." Mako decided to start with.

"I'm used to that one by now." Wu muttered.

"Not the first time, huh?" Mako tried to be sympathetic.

"It comes with intervals, usually when I'm stressed out. Last time it was after I managed to flee Ba Sing Se after the inner wall fell."

"May I ask what it was about?" Mako decided to try. The fact that Wu was calling for his parents in the nightmare… struck a chord.

"Not really that complicated. I'm in these dark streets at night and…. I see my parents, laying before me. I try to wake them up but these people approach me and start attacking me. So I run, but they're much faster and then…." He held his head in both hands. "That's usually where I wake up."

"Did such a thing… happen to your parents?"

"No." Wu said, voice suddenly becoming very even and a bit monotone. "They were on Holiday. Their boat sank." He said in that monotone, before blinking.

"Guess it's more symbolic then anything else then, I guess. Like, you felt safe around them and with them gone, the people opposing the Earth Kingdom Monarchy chasing you feel like a much larger threat."

"They're not Kuvira supporters." Wu corrected him. "In fact….. They're wearing… they're wearing the Earth Kingdom emblem on their chests." He held his head, trying to remember things properly. "And then there are these rock hands they shot out…." Mako spat out his breakfast when he heard that. "You okay? Were those eggs undercooked because I can ask the chef for new ones."

"That's the Dai Li you're talking about." Mako said.

"The Dai Li? But they're part of the Royal Guard. True, I never actually saw them in person, but why would they be after me? I'm part of the people they're supposed to serve."

"Still, sounds very much like them." Mako said.

"You think it's more symbolism?" Wu said, looking down at his plate. "Like I… instinctively know I'm not the best for the Earth Kingdom or something among those lines?"

"Perhaps…" Mako said, tough he doubted it. Things weren't quite right here... Wu just groaned.

"All this is making my head hurt. And I still don't feel rested up." He stood up. "That's it. Today's a Spa day. And you're coming along."

"You sure act more like yourself." Mako sighed, not knowing to be happy about it or not.

Sorry if it seems a bit unfinished. It's fairly obvious I have larger plans for this, but this is the only part I feel I can publish without having seen the full season, as the following parts are getting into 'Life-changing field trip' territory and I'm a bit of a canon-hound. To be continued after the Season has finished.