Disclaimer: I do not, and never will, own Avatar: the Last Airbender.
Katara sat at her watch, blanket drawn tightly around her and gazing up at the moon. Her legs were stretched out and crossed at the ankles, her broken right arm sat in her lap, and in her left hand she absentmindedly held a globe of water,its ever sliding, changing surface emanated a soft glow in the pale moonlight. She was at peace; no tangled thoughts of Zuko in her mind, no confused emotions running wild. Of course, he had to go and ruin it.
Zuko stirred under his blanket. Katara glanced at him, thinking he was awake.
"You awake?" she asked. There was no response. Huh, guess not. Just then, he stirred again under his blanket. His eyes screwed shut, his face contorted into one of pleading and immeasurable hurt.
"Zuko?" Katara cried, worried. She scurried over and crouched by his head. The banished prince muttered something in his sleep and Katara leaned down to listen.
"No...mother, don't go," he whispered. Katara's heart stopped. He had mentioned his mother below the catacombs, said she had been lost to the war, the Fire Nation...was she dead? Like mine, Katara thought. Then, Zuko's face changed to add fear to the mix. Katara had never seen so many emotions on his face at once.
"Father! Please...I'm sorry! I never meant to disrespect you! PLEASE!" Zuko's voice escalated fearfully into a shout. He broke out in a cold sweat and Katara, frantic, finally slapped him hard across the face. Zuko finally woke up. His eyes flashed open and he looked up blearily at Katara who was now hunched over him, a few strands of hair floating down to brush against his chest and an expression of genuine worry on her face. His eyes focused and he glared at her.
"What are you doing?" He asked, restraint clear in his voice. Katara flushed, suddenly aware of what it must look like to him; to wake up and find a girl hunched over his body. She scrambled back to sit a decent distance away.
"You were having a bad dream. You were rolling around and..." her voice trailed off as Zuko blushed. The firebender was furious at himself. Bad dreams were weakness, one he had thought he had grown out of years ago and one that should never be shown to anyone other than his mother.
"What?" Zuko spat out, "What were you going to say?"
Katara looked at him strangely for a moment before saying in a quiet voice, "You were talking about your mother, and pleading with your father,"
Zuko's face suddenly was devoid of any emotion. He flopped back down on the ground and looked up at the sky with a blank expression.
"I know you probably won't want to, and I have no clue why I'm asking, but do you want to talk about it?" Katara asked.
"No,"
Katara gave him a long suffering look and merely settled herself down to listen. A few moments later, Zuko spilled.
"My mother...she isn't dead, not that I lied to you down there!" Zuko added frantically, seeing the heat build up in Katara's face. He was trying to earn her trust anyway.
"Just...Ozai...banished her when I was a kid. Younger than the Avatar. She was the only one who ever loved me besides Iroh. The only sane person in that palace," Zuko said wryly.
"At least she might still be alive," Katara said quietly, "That's more than I can say,"
Zuko glanced at her.
"I'm sorry," then, a moment later, "I doubt she'll be alive. Ozai banished her,"
"She got banished, not executed. You're banished and you're still here! If anything, you never give up," Katara encouraged him and glared at him (remembering all the times her little family had gotten captured and nearly killed by him), all in one breath.
"Your father?" Katara asked.
"He gave me this scar," Zuko said a moment later, not even bothering to gesture at the burn across his face. Katara gasped. How could someone be so twisted and evil as to hurt their own son like this?! And this was the man they were going up against...
"I spoke out of turn at a war meeting when I was 14. I had to face my father in an Agni Kai-a fire duel," he added when he saw Katara's mouth open to ask about it, "When I saw it was him, I got down on my knees and refused to fight him. I BEGGED!" Zuko exploded, roaring. A fire dagger flared in his clenched fists but they disappeared when Zuko regained control. Katara flinched, but didn't move away.
Zuko sighed and relaxed back into the ground.
"He told me I was weak, dis-honorable. He gave me the scar then banished me. The only way I could regain my honor and return home was if I captured the Avatar-But I'm over that know!" Zuko finished.
Katara was silent. "I'm sorry," she whispered quietly, not meeting his eyes. The waterbender stood, walked away, then curled up facing away from Zuko.
"Your watch. Good night," Katara said, when Zuko did nothing. Sighing, the boy got up and took on his vigil. In the clearing beneath the moon, stars, sky, and clouds, two teenagers sat, wide awake, alone with their thoughts.
Author's Note: HA! So, I guess inspiration did hit. (sheepish grin) Oh well, read and enjoy! Ah, and sorry for Zuko's drastic mood swings. I'm trying to make him be the nice, apologetic, careful to offend anyone in the gaang, Zuko he is after he's joined the gaang for a while, but his mom and scar are touchy subjects for him.