Disclaimer: Avatar: The Last Airbender, is not, and sadly will probably never be, mine. Anyway, since I can't think of a good disclaimer, I'll use my all-time favorite disclaimer even though it has nothing to do with this drabble. ATTENTION: Do not attempt [reading this drabble] without a signed note from your doctor/physician saying that yes, you are a moron and deserve to die.
It's cruel. I love it. Enjoy.
He noticed that she was wearing her hair down. It was often in her face, hiding her features from everyone.
He noticed that she was saying how tired she was. He noticed when her head lolled to one side or the other while cooking dinner. He noticed when she would carelessly allow Aang a victory during training, and then congratulate him on it as if he was becoming the better bender.
He noticed that she was always the first one up in the mornings and the last one to go to bed at night.
He reached his arm out from the shadows of the hall in the temple and tapped her shoulder. She didn't flinch. She bent her head so her long hair fell as a shield.
"When was the last time you slept?" he asked, holding her shoulder.
"Last night."
He recognized her lie. "When was the last time you slept?" he repeated.
She turned her head up to look at him. The bags under her eyes were so large. Her eyes fell flat; her face seemed sunken. She looked sick, not tired.
"Are you alright?" he asked. "You're not sick, are you?"
"No, I'm just exhausted."
"You need sleep," he said, softly pressing his thumb to the dark bags beneath her eyes. "When was the last time you slept?"
"About a week ago."
Zuko pushed her into the empty room off the corridor. "Sleep," he said, gesturing to the small pallet he had brought from his own room.
"I can't," she said. "There're things I have to do. I have to make dinner. I have to practice with Aang. The invasion is only a few—"
"We'll handle everything," Zuko said, guiding her down on the pallet. "You need rest."
"But…"
"Just sleep, Katara," he repeated, unfolding the blanket and spreading it atop her.
"I can't," she said, closing her eyes nevertheless. "When I sleep, I see things. Bad things."
"They're not real…"
"They seem so real. I can't sleep…I can't…" She shook as tears began to trail down her cheeks.
"I'll stay here," he said, sitting beside the pallet. "Just try to sleep."
Tears continued to seep from behind her closed eyelids. Zuko's hand hovered uselessly over her body before settling itself on her head. He stroked her hair as she slept.
Several hours later when stomachs began to growl, Toph followed heartbeats to a remote area of the temple, away from prying eyes. She opened a door off a corridor and felt Katara curled up on a small sleeping pallet with her head in Zuko's lap. Zuko sat leaning against the wall with his arms around her shoulders, holding her sleeping form. She felt the slow heartbeats, beating in unison.
"That-a-boy, Sparky," she whispered as she closed the door again.
A/N: Hehehe...Totally needed the last bit with Toph. She's so awesome. I think she's what really makes Zutara into Zutara.
Review people! Review with advice!! Review with challenges!!!
OOHHH I ALMOST FORGOT!!!! The challenge "Sock", I am proud to announce, will be up tomorrow! HAPPY DANCE!!
EDIT: Thank you to the reviewer who caught the "that's-a-boy" error. It has been changed. :-)
