Author's Note: Good to see you again everyone! I honestly intended for this chapter to come out much sooner, but I had to scrap the initial draft, that and I started a side project for my own enjoyment. But that didn't keep me from putting my all into this chapter. Of course with all the nonsense going on in my life it did keep me from putting everything I'd originally intended to be in this chapter, but that can be easily mitigated by the next chapter.

We get some more insight into Zuko's past in this chapter, so I hope you all enjoy all the effort I put into fleshing out what's essentially an already fleshed out backstory. If you had fun reading this chapter, feel free to leave a review as I love reading all your feedback. It's what inspires me to keep writing and supplying you all with more of this story during these trying times.

But I've said enough for now, until next time, everyone. So long!


Trust.


Silence filled the village as it lay beneath the veil of night, not even the few farmland animals in the villagers' possession made a sound. Accompanied by the silence, was complete darkness, with only the partially obscured moon lighting much of the area around it, save for a lone candle sitting in the window of the village healer's hut.

She'd worked tirelessly to keep the children and Ming's fever down, going hours on end without taking a break. It had been hours since Lee had set out for that woman's abode, in hope of finding anything that could possibly alleviate this ailment. The trek, while long for the average man, should have only taken him four hours total from there to back.

It was common knowledge that the Fire Nation regularly patrolled the area, and weren't too keen on crossing paths with random travelers. She feared for the worst as she looked out the window, wondering if that stupid boy was actually going to come back, if he wasa ctually going to bring them the cure they needed.

" He'll be back Biyu...That boy is strong you know… "

Startled by the abruptness of the voice, the healer turned back, laying her eyes on the village elder, who gazed back with somber eyes. That old fool was always so optimistic, even when they were young, it irked her so much, especially considering how much of a natural pessimist she seemed.

" You say that with such a look in your eyes, Fong...It makes it hard to believe. " She returned her focus to mashing what little herbs she had into powder, only occasionally glancing back to the elder. " ...The boy is strong, that much I'll agree...But he's stubborn...And foolish, sort of like an old idiot I know… "

This earned a lighthearted chuckle from the man. " No...I don't think I could have ever found the bravery to do what he's doing..You know me...Always the first to run at first the sign of danger...But that boy, Lee, he's brimming with strength...You can see it in how he carries himself, as if the weight of the world had always been on his shoulders…"

The healer, or Biyu as the elder had called her, glanced back towards Katara, who had managed to fall into a semi-peaceful sleep, accompanied by her furry companion, Yuki. " He has his reasons you know...All you men seem to have one reason or another for your stupidity… " Her gaze lowered back to the medicine sitting before her.

" ...When in reality, all you fools do is worry the ones who care for you the most… "

The feeling of a hand placed on her shoulder drew her attention, bringing her eyes back to Fong, who offered a sympathetic smile.

" Call it what you will...But what the boy is doing, it's the single most selfless thing I've ever seen a person do...And in this day and age, how many people, strangers no less, offer that amount of help...We'll focus on keeping their fevers down until he returns, and when he does, we'll throw the boy a feast, as big as we can muster. "

Biyu turned her head away, eyes shut with a smile of her own. " Next you'll be wanting them to move in for good. "

But before the village elder could give a response, the door swung wide open. Their eyes widened as the one who'd opened the door walked through. A young man with shaggy black hair, covered in scrapes, bruises and light singe marks,and one large burn on his left side. He had tired golden eyes, one covered with a dreadful scar. Grasped in his hands were a set of swords in the left, and a muddied blue mask in the right.

At first glance he would've been an utter stranger to the older villagers, but Fong had seen the mask he was holding before. It had been one of the few items Lee had in his possession the day they arrived in the village. Going off that, he started seeing more of the boy, who until now, had kept his face masked by a layer of bandages.

He just stood there, staring at the two, the pain in his eyes as clear as day. Something had happened to the lad, but he'd still managed to make it all the way back here in his current condition.

" ...Lee… " Fong stepped forward, placing his hand on the scarred youth's shoulder. " ...What happened to you lad… "

He didn't respond, merely standing there with a dazed look in his eyes. It was as if he had lost consciousness while standing up, like his body had chosen that moment to give out. But he wasn't, at least no yet, which he proved by removing the pouch with the still frozen frogs in it, passing it off to the village elder.

" ...Here...She said...They needed...To suck on them...Wh...While they were frozen… "

Even the way he spoke was laced with pain. It was obvious to the two elders that he'd gone through something strenuous getting this remedy, and had forced himself to return in this condition.

" ...You need medical attention, Lee...You look as if you've just fought the whole Fire Nation… " Biyu wanted to tell the boy just how foolish he was, going out and getting injured when Katara and the children were depending on him. Had he been any other man he would have surely passed out from the pain that must've come from the large burn alone, and this boy, no older than sixteen had managed to fight through it, and through sheer will alone was remaining conscious.

" ...I'll...I'll be fine...You just...Make sure Katara is...Alright… " He'd turned to leave, his mind set on finding someone quiet to lay down, and wait for Katara to wake him as she usually did.

" Lee...Please, you need to be treated… " The village elder pleaded.

" ...No...I'll be… " That was all Zuko could get out before falling forward, all the light leaving his eyes as he lost consciousness.

" ..L-Lee! "

" L-e! Ar- y- alr-t?! "

" L-! "


Zuko found himself drifting into the void of his psyche, the sound of the voices gradually fading the deeper he went. Despite the fact that the depths of Zuko's mind held numerous memories, ones he doubted he'd ever rediscover, he found himself drifting through nothing.

There were no voices, no images, not even the faint shapes that held some semblance that a memory had once resided there. Just the emptiness he'd become so accustomed with over the past three years.

" ...There's never anything...You should know that by now, Zuko...Then again...When have you ever known better..? "

He wished that mocking voice had been one of the two that plagued his nightmares, he wished he could dismiss it as one of them, but he couldn't. That voice had always pointed out his many doubts and fears, the voice that knew him better than any of the others. The one voice he loathed hearing more than any others, the voice that was his very own.

" ...Then again, why do you think you deserve to remember anything...You're selfish you know that? Always wanting more and more of something you've already lost once...And you're no better when it comes to people...Katara could be happily reunited with her brother...But you dashed the only hope of that happening, all because you were afraid… "

He hated his voice so much, because he knew just how right it was. It was always there, waiting to remind him of how terrible of a person he was, even when he tried so hard to do nothing but help.

It was a part of himself he could never escape, a ghost of the Zuko that existed before the loss of his memories, or at least, that's what he chose to believe.

" ...And now you've gone and injured yourself...Just think of how worried Katara will be when she wakes up… "

There was no point trying to argue, especially with how tired Zuko felt. He'd been filled with so much exhaustion, that by the time he reached the village, the pain that had been running through his side had all but numbed. And what better way to describe how he felt now than with that word; numb.

Before his own voice could overwhelm him, a "new" voice, came from the depths of his mind, beckoning to him. He should've known better, the voices of his past were rarely good, with the exception of his Iroh, his mother, and most recently his cousin.

So for him to reach out for one that was neither of the three, was only asking for something bad. And something bad it was.

" You look so tired Zuzu...Come, get some rest...Don't listen to that awful voice...What you did wasn't selfish. You were just trying to avoid losing someone to another person was all. It's happened before you know? "

No, he didn't know, but despite the voice being one of the two that haunted his nightmares, the idea that he could awaken a memory through it was too tempting. Even if he hadn't found it tempting, he was too tired to fight back against the voice, too tired to resist the temptation that always seemed to be gnawing at the back of his head.

When Zuko awoke, he found himself beneath a tree, the same tree from a memory of his mother he'd had. He was no doubt looking through the eyes of his younger self, who had been pulled from his slumber by a girl younger than himself, with black hair, put up neatly in a knot. Her face, though distorted, made Zuko feel uneasy for a reason he couldn't explain.

" Wake up dumdum! " She cried out.

This girl, her voice sounded so familiar, so much like the same voice that had lulled him into the memory, but with some semblance of faux innocence to it. She stood over him, hands pressed against her hips, with another girl, who also had black hair, but with her hair put into buns.

" He's awake ….., just give him a second… "

" He doesn't need a second, Mai. If he were a good brother then he'd get up and help me now...Unless he wanted father to know. "

Apparently that had been enough to get his younger self moving, and hastily too. Had his father really been that stern, if only he could remember.

" What do you want…..I was trying to get a nap...Those stupid tutors dad picked are working me to the bone… "

That was odd. It was as if his younger self had said the girl's name, but he couldn't hear or make out what he had said. Almost like his mind was blurring out any mention of it.

" Don't be such a baby, Zuzu. " She'd grinned after saying that, seeing the irritation on the younger Zuko's face.

Something about the name nickname felt jarring to his current self, even though he was hearing it through a memory. Whatever it was, Zuko didn't like it, and he generally had good feelings about things he didn't like.

" I told you to stop calling me that….! "

" Alright, alright. No need to go getting all fussy, we wouldn't want you overworking yourself over something as silly as a nickname. "

" Can we please just tell him why we need him so we can get through all this already..? " The girl named Mai had said, seeming less than enthused by whatever was going on.

Even if he couldn't see through the distortion that covered the girls face, he could practically hear her eyes rolling after hearing what the other girl had said.

" Oh alright, if it makes you happy, Mai. " Turning back to face Zuko, she leaned forward, making the younger version of himself incredibly tense. " You see Zuzu, Ty Lee ran away while we were in the middle of a game. She said she hated us for being 'mean' as she had put it, and ran off into the nearby woods. We want you to go get her, and bring her back so we can apologize. "

" And why should I do that? You treat her like dirt! "

Whoever the Ty Lee girl his younger self was speaking of was, it sounded as if she had a good reason to run away. That, and it sounded as if his younger self felt very strongly about the given situation.

" You'll go get her...Otherwise I'll be explaining to father why I have a nasty little burn on me. "

Her grin returned, this time with more cruelty and malice, all while she held a flame above her hand, hovering it inches away from her bare arm.

The sight of that little flame had been all Zuko needed to realize something he'd had a sneaking suspicion about for the longest time. A thought that had appeared in the back of his mind after a particularly long day that ended with him staring at his own reflection.

He'd taken notice of just how different his features had been from everyone in the Earth Kingdom, everyone except the colonists that was. That had been the birth of the traitorous thought, the one he'd wanted so badly to be wrong, but seeing the memory now, proved to him the one thing he never wanted to accept. That he was of Fire Nation descent.

But he had no time to crumble under the weight of the harsh realization, his memories didn't merely stop, and if he wanted to know anything he'd have to watch them play out in full.

That little threat had been all younger Zuko needed to go along with the task that the girl who he had to begrudgingly accept as his sister, requested. He found himself trekking through a rather open forest, with several large trees, all spaced out enough that moving wasn't a hassle. It hadn't taken long for the younger Zuko to take notice of a set of footprints, light ones, that went deeper into the forest. It seemed that even as a boy he had a knack for tracking.

And tracking the girl hadn't seemed to take all that long, when he had found her she was sitting up in a tree, knees pulled close to her chest with her head obscured by her arms. He felt sorry for her, she looked like a pup that had been kicked by it's master, like she just wanted to get away from it all.

" I see you up there, Ty Lee. "

Her head shot up, quickly glancing down at the yet to be scarred face of Zuko. For the briefest moment, Zuko swore he saw what looked to be relief on her face, like she'd actually been glad to see him.

" ...Please...Just go away Zuko...I know that she sent you… "

The younger Zuko didn't say anything right away, instead he just looked at the girl, taking in her dirtied features, even her long brown ponytail looked tattered, with leaves sticking to it in various spots.. She was covered in a fine layer of dirt, dust, and small scrapes, like she'd been shoved down more than once.

" And how exactly would you know that? What makes you think that I'm not just worried about you..? "

She gave a small sad smile, averting her eyes from him.

" ...Because...We both know you don't care enough about me to come looking for me...She sent you, just so you can take me back...And she can kick me around again… "

She'd refused to speak his "sister's" name, replacing it with a scornful 'she' like just mentioning her had a bitter taste. His younger self had picked up on it too, his brows furrowed with concern.

" Well...You'd be wrong… " It was a lie, that much he knew, but something about the sudden surge of emotions coming from within his younger self, made it seem like the truth. " ...I'm not here for her, I came because I was worried about you… "

Before the girl, Ty Lee, had any time to react, Zuko had made his way up the tree, sitting himself next to her. She'd been at a loss for words, just staring at him with dubious eyes, unsure of how to respond to his action.

" ...Whether you believe me or not...I do care about you Ty Lee...More than she ever could… " He turned to her with his own sad smile. " It's cruel how someone as kind hearted as you is treated...You deserve better… "

" ...You're just saying that...Just trying to make me feel better so I'll go back… "

It hurt Zuko hearing how this girl spoke, like she'd completely given up on anyone caring about her.

"...And if I'm not? "

She turned to meet his gaze, her pain-filled eyes looking deep into his own, as if she were searching for any form of deceit.

" ...Then prove it...Give me some proof that you really mean what you're saying… "

How exactly had she expected him to prove he was being honest. To Zuko's knowledge, his younger self had nothing to show that outright said "I'm being honest. " He had nothing but his words.

Well, he'd certainly found a way. The younger Zuko, without even thinking, leaned into Ty Lee, pressing his lips to hers. The sudden contact caught the girl off guard, but otherwise, she didn't react negatively. When they pulled apart, the doubt had been lost from her eyes, which now seemed to hold some sliver of hope, hope that there was someone that actually cared about her.

Well, if there was one way to get someone to trust you, that was it.

" Z...Zuko...You just… " A bright pink tint came to her cheeks, brighter than the pink that made up her dirtied outfit.

" ...I know what I did...And I did it because I do care about you Ty Lee...More than you could ever know...And if you come down from this tree with me...I'll make sure she never hurts you again… "

The girl latched onto his arm with the grip of a vice, tears threatening to pour from her already puffy eyes. Her mouth opened to speak, but quickly shut with hesitation. She wanted so badly to say something, but found that she couldn't, and Zuko wanted to know why.

" I'll do whatever it takes to make sure you're never hurt by her again...I swear it on my honor! "

Her eyes opened wide, staring into the gold that made up Zuko's. There was so much determination in them, he looked like he could stare down the Fire Lord and not flinch with a gaze that burned with that much passion. Slowly, her arms fell from his, moving her hand to firmly grip his palm.

" ...O...OK Zuko...I'll come down with you...Thank you… " This time it was her turn to show proof, proof that she trusted him. And she'd do it the same way he did, leaning close to him, and pressing their lips together, this time with more emotion behind each of them.

When they separated, Zuko gave a small nod, starting the process of climbing down the tree, helping her down the whole way, never once letting go of her hand. Once they'd reached the base of the tree, she flung her arms around him. " ...Thank you Zuko...I've...I've always sort of liked you…And now I know why... " She whispered before taking his hand back in hers.

They'd begun their trek back to the mouth of the forest, sharing a small conversation that was intended to help keep her calm. They'd surely have to confront the girl who they'd now stopped referring to by name, and when they did they'd need to be as calm as can be.

At least, that was what Zuko had planned. When they finally reached the opening that led out of the woods, they came face to face with the two girls. The second Ty Lee had laid eyes on them, her grip on Zuko's hand grew as tight as she could make it.

" Oh thank you so much, Zuzu. You went and retrieved Ty Lee for us, like a good brother should. Now, hand her over to us so we can resume our game. "

But the younger Zuko didn't budge, nor did his hand leave the girl's.

" No way...Not after what you did to her! "

" I'm sorry, Zuko...did you just say, no? "

" You heard me! I said, no! "

The intensity in Zuko's eyes only seemed to draw the distorted sister's ire, as her hands were clenched so tight that he nails dug into her palms, drawing blood. She was infuriated, to the point that she found herself trembling.

" I will not accept no for an answer! Ty Lee! Get over here now! That way we can get back to that wonderful game we were playing! You wouldn't want to make me angry now, would you?! "

Zuko could feel Ty Lee starting to shake in his hand, her resolve was crumbling just from the sight of the girl's temper.

" She doesn't have too! We're going to go back home, and you can't do a thing about it! "

He'd gone to move forward, but found that Ty Lee refused to move, her head lowered, and feet planted firmly to the ground.

" T-Ty Lee...Come on, we're leaving them here… "

But she wouldn't move, at least not with him. Their hands came apart, and she stepped away from him, and towards the girls. When she looked up to him, she wore a smile that lacked any sense of joy, and looked to be fighting back a flood of tears.

" N...No….It's alright Z...Zuko...I'll be fine...I'll go with…..So don't you worry about me…Thank you...For everything...But I'll be fine...Really… "

" T...Ty Lee… "

Zuko couldn't believe it, he couldn't believe anything he was seeing. She'd come so far, decided on what she wanted and everything, only to give in right then and there. He could only watch as the three girls started off without him, his supposed sister looking back one last time.

" Sorry Zuzu, she'd rather stay with her friends than with you. Then again, why would anyone stay with you, especially when they already have someone better to be around. See you at dinner! "

Those parting words left a hollow feeling in Zuko, making him think back to the actions he had made against the Avatar. Had this memory been subconsciously guiding him the whole time that had been going on, screaming at him to just run back to Katara, and forget all about the boy.

Everything Zuko had seen came down on him, crushing him under the weight of it all. He was from the Fire Nation, he has a sister that's the exact opposite of him, and his first experience with romance ended with him being all by himself. So much to take in with such little time to process it, like a torrent of knowledge, sweeping him further into the recesses of his mind, left to drift with no will of his own to try and fight back.

But before he could truly give into the raging current that was pushing him further and further into his psyche, a voice called out to him, ringing through the darkness around him.

" ...Lee! Lee, please wake up… "

That voice, it sounded so familiar, so full of concern.

" Please...Please wake up Lee...I need to know that you're alright… "

It was Katara! Katara was calling out to him, trying to pull him from the vast emptiness that made up much of his memories. He'd promised to never make her concerned again, that he'd always be there for her, so how could he do any of that if he stayed unconscious?

" ...Hang on Katara...I'll be up in a minute… "


Deep blue pools filled with fear and worry stared down at the unconscious form of a masked swordsman. The eyes, so pure, yet forced to shed so many tears, had found themselves looking at this sight more often than they ever should.

It couldn't be helped, Katara had told herself. Lee loved helping people, he felt genuine joy from seeing the smiles on their faces, and would go to any extent to see that. It was something he'd told her in their first week of traveling together, and while some would have called it a flaw, Katara saw it as a sort of blessing.

So few in this world seemed to care anymore, it was nothing like it was in her tribe. There was no sense of community, either you got used, or used others to your advantage. Nobody ever seemed to just volunteer out of the goodness of their heart, nobody except Lee.

So when Biyu had told her what Lee had done to ensure that she and the children recovered, it didn't surprise her, at least no until she saw the condition he'd gotten himself into. He looked like he'd just finished fighting an entire army's worth of Fire Nation soldiers, in fact that's what it exactly looked like, which only furthered Katara's growing sense of worry.

She'd known just how heavy the Fire Nation presence had been from one of her many conversations with Biyu, and she knew how Lee was when it came to fighting the Fire Nation. He was an incredible fighter, the greatest nonbender she'd probably ever see, but he tries doing so much, and ends up overwhelmed before he even realizes it. There was no doubt that he'd come across some sort of encampment, and tried taking them all alone in order to get the "medicine" back to the village. The burn on his side was a testament to that much.

Katara had done everything she could to heal his injuries, but could only do so much with her bending without her full strength. So for the longest time she was forced to just sit there, waiting for some sign that Lee would ever wake up.

The spirits wouldn't have her wait that long though. She'd only recently found herself talking to Lee, pleading for him to wake up, to let her know if he was going to be alright. And just as she found herself on the verge of tears, he'd begun to stir.

" Lee! Lee please say something! "

" Yip! Yip! Yip! " Yuki, who had been resting silently by Katara until now, jumped up, trying to call out to his human.

Slowly, beneath the confines of his mask, Zuko's eyes opened, looking up to find Katara staring back at him with tear drenched eyes.

" ...K...K...Katara…You're...You're OK… "

She wiped her eyes, pulling him into a tight embrace.

" Yes...Yes I'm OK...And it's all because of you… "

" Yip yip! Yip yip! " Yuki scurried from Katara's lap, and onto Zuko's abdomen, nuzzling his snout tenderly against the edge of Zuko's mask.

Slowly, Zuko started stroking the kit's back, taking in the little animal's warmth. " ...I'm glad to see you too, Yuki….But most of all...I'm glad you're alright Katara… " He made an attempt to sit up, putting Yuki in his arms, only to be halted by a sharp pain running through his side. " ..Ngh! "

" Easy! Easy now! " Katara gently rested her hands against his bandaged side, softly rubbing the bandages in an attempt to sooth the pain. " ...I did everything I could to tend to your wounds...Miss Biyu put some salve on the burn, and I used as much of my bending as I could...But I was just too tired…I'm...I'm afraid it will- "

" ...Afraid it'll scar? " He said, cutting her off. " It's fine...Really… " He found his free hand traveling to the bandages that encased his side, lightly cringing on contact. " ...I'm used to the idea of scars by now… "

Slowly, Katara's hand rose to the left side of his mask, running her thumb against the edge of the eye hole. " ...You don't deserve pain like this...Nobody does… "

Despite the truth in her words, he found himself smiling behind his mask; it was a lone, somber smile, one he'd gotten so used to making.

" ...It's fine...My scars are symbols...Symbols that I tried making a difference…I used to think they were just reminders of something I'd never have...A Life I'd long forgotten...But now...Well I see them as so much more… "

" ...Oh Lee… "

Pushing through the pain brought about by his burn, Zuko pushed himself to his feet, making his way out of the healing hut. The moon was still high in the air, just as it had been when he'd dragged himself out of the marshland, just as it had been when he fought alongside the Avatar, just as it had been so many times in the past, and yet only now he was finding time to marvel in its beauty.

The children were finally safe, as was Katara, so for the first time since they'd arrived, Zuko felt as if he could finally relax, or at least the closest thing to relaxing.

" ...Lee...Where did you find this… "

Just as they always seemed to, the Spirits had chosen now to mock him. Turning to face Katara, he found her standing close by, with an unmistakable necklace in her hands. The same necklace he'd stolen from the Avatar.

" Oh...That...I...Well I… "

She gave him no time to respond, the despondency in her eyes as she searched his for answers was clear to him. " ...What happened to you tonight Lee...This necklace...It was my mother's...I lost it back on a Fire Nation prison ship...So how do you have it now...Please...Tell me… "

That "please" had been all it took to break Zuko. He couldn't hide anything from Katara, it wouldn't be right, after all, he never wanted to hurt her.

So without hesitation, he let it all flood forward. He spoke every last detail of what had taken place that night, from the old woman sending him to get frogs, to the Avatar's abduction, to his assisted escape, and lastly how Zuko attacked the Avatar and broke down at the water's edge. The whole time he spoke he took notice of how Katara just stood there, soaking in everything he said, her head going gradually lower with every new piece of information.

The more he spoke, the more pain welled up in Zuko's chest, built up from the fear of Katara's reaction to all he had to say. When he finally finished, he felt as if his legs would give out beneath him, like his body had suddenly gotten heavier, and was in danger of collapsing.

Silence ensued, as Zuko stood there, waiting for what seemed like ages for Katara to respond. And when she finally did, he'd wished she hadn't.

" ...How...How...How dare you! " She cried out, tears streaming from her eyes. " ...I finally had an opportunity to see my brother...To know if he was alright...And you...You go and do this! "

" ...Katara please let me- "

" No! No I won't let you explain! I trust you Lee! I trusted you...And..And you go and do this to me… "

She turned away from him, clenching her mother's necklace close to her chest. Tear after tear dripped from her eyes in an endless stream, unable to fight them back, the hurt in her heart too prominent to allow such a thing.

" ..Katara...Please I didn't… "

" NO! Just leave me alone! I hate you! "

With no further words, Katara started sprinting, running as fast and far as her legs could take her. She couldn't believe it, she'd put all her faith and trust in Lee, vowed to protect him, and he goes and dashes the one chance she has of being with her brother again. Why, why would he do such a thing, if he had an opportunity to get his memories back, she'd never get in the way of that.

When her stamina finally gave out, Katara found herself in an opening, surrounded by trees, not too dissimilar to the one they'd been in when they fought the beastly Tiger Angler. She shook her head, trying to push away any positive memories of Lee, and to her surprise, that had been a positive memory, because just as he had done tonight, he'd saved her then.

" ..No...No! Why...Why did you do this Lee...Why! " Her legs started to tremble, and before long, she was on her hands and knees, her tears falling down onto the dirt below. The sound of soft footsteps drew her attention, and of course, it was him.

Zuko stood across the opening from Katara, before suddenly collapsing to his knees. Once his knees hit the ground, the mask that usually obscured his face dropped, hitting the ground with a thud.

" ..Katara...I'm...I'm so sorry… "

His voice sounded so hoarse, so scratchy, as if he'd been the one crying this whole time. But his voice hadn't been what Katara focused on, no, it was the clear view she had of his face under the moon's pale light. Before now, shed only ever seen glimpses of his face, that, and his scar, but never the whole thing. She remembered trying to piece his face together like some kind of mental puzzle during their stay at the inn, but never did she come close to who she was looking at now.

He was so young, no older than Sokka, and yet, his eyes, those sad eyes, looked like they'd seen more than any soldier ever would. She'd seen similar looks in the eyes of the men who would return to her village, and a similar look in Bato's eye when they'd last met, but none were so sorrowful, so haunted, as the way Lee's were.

His skin was so smooth, untouched like the rest of his body, no doubt from the protection of his mask, that was until it met the horridly marred flesh that covered most of his left side. She'd seen the scar before, seen just how much covered his face, and despite this, told him she didn't care how he looked, but never once did she stop and think how Lee cared about his appearance.

He wore a mask to hide his face from the world, to hide himself from whoever had left that terrible patch of burnt skin on his face, and now she could see why.

Seeing him in such a sorry state made it hard, if not impossible for her to remain angry at him, but that didn't mean she'd forgive him. He'd borderline betrayed her, and no sad look would mend that, so while she was calm, she'd find out his reasoning.

" ...Why...Why did you do it Lee… "

Silence. He just stared at her, like he wanted to speak, but couldn't.

" ...Tell me now Lee! Or...Or I'll leave… "

Again, there was no response, only the blank stare from his exposed face. But Katara had been serious about what she said, if he wouldn't reply, she wouldn't stay.

As she started off in the opposite direction, the sound of sniffling brought her to a halt. Katara turned back, finding Lee with his head hung low, tears falling from his eyes in a far greater quantity than when she had cried.

" Because...Because… "

His head swung side to side, like he was fighting to get the words out, or trying to find the strength to speak whatever selfish reasons he might've had.

" Because I was scared! You hear me! I was scared! Terrified! Frightened! "

His shouts quickly turned into sobs, making most of what came out afterwards incoherent. But those words, those four words.

Because I was scared!

They'd been all Katara needed to hear to shatter the new image of Lee she'd built, the one that made him out to be a selfish individual that only cared for his own desires. In reality, Lee was just a boy in a teenagers body, one that had been taken from whatever home he'd forgotten, and even with resentment in her, she found her heart breaking at the side of him

She knelt down next to him, gently putting her hands on both sides of his face, gently stroking the edge of his scar with her thumb.

" ...Why were you scared Lee...You're the Blue Spirit...Hero of the Earth Kingdom...Why would you possibly be scared… "

It was a question she couldn't wrap her head around. Lee was someone who regularly threw himself into harm's way for the sake of others, so why had he been afraid, and why was it fear that drove him to do what he'd done?

" ...I...I was afraid...Because you would've….You would've left me...And I'd have been all...Alone… "

That's what it was. The fear of loneliness, it made so much more sense now that Katara had heard it. He'd been alone for so long, distanced himself purposely out of fear, so that when someone finally became a part of his life, the prospect that something might come along and take that person, must have been utterly terrifying.

Maybe it wasn't even that, perhaps it was the fear of abandonment. From everything she'd been told, Lee was outright abandoned on the beach he woke up on. The only person who'd been there for him was an old hermit that had found him, nurtured him, and taught him, before suddenly vanishing. So the fear of someone he'd come to trust, just outright leaving him might have been the real driving force.

" ...Lee...This world has hurt you so much...And you were just afraid...Afraid that I'd become just like the rest of the world...And hurt you… "

Katara rested herself on her knees, and gently slipped her arms around Zuko's waist, pulling him into a tender caress. He quietly sobbed against her, no longer able to hold in everything he'd been damming up since his fear first reared its ugly head.

In an attempt to calm him, Katara started to hum in a manner similar to how mother's in her tribe would for their children. And beneath that mask, and that tough exterior he'd built up, was all Lee was, a child, taken from their home, and thrown into a world oh so cruel, forced to adapt or die. So much pain in one individual, an individual that only wanted someone in the world to care for him, to show him the affection he was obviously missing.

" ...I never did stop to think about how you felt about me returning to my brother and Aang...You never intended to get attached to me...And yet you did, and I was so eager to just toss it all away...I'll find Sokka and Aang one of these days Lee, but when I do...I'm bringing you with me...You'll never have to be alone again… "

So they just sat there, taking in each other's warmth, with neither caring to even try breaking the embrace. And before either realized it, dawn had begun to break, and just as the sunlight started pouring in over the trees, Zuko lifted his head, looking Katara deep in the eyes.

" ...I'm so sorry Katara...I never intended to hurt you...I...I never want to hurt you…. "

But rather than immediately respond, Katara took both her hands, and placed them back on the sides of his face, pulling his head towards her, and resting her forehead against his.

" ...You don't have to say sorry...If anything...I'm the one who should apologize...You put in so much effort to try and bond with someone, and something comes along that would separate you from that person, so you reacted how anyone would...You weren't being selfish, Lee, you were just scared...And I'm sorry for not seeing that sooner…I won't ever leave you...I promise. "

" ...Katara… "

She gave a smile, one brimming with reassurance that she meant every word. So long as it was within her power, she would never abandon, and that was something she'd swear on.

He cast his glance away from her, feeling unable to keep their eye contact going.

" ...I...I don't deserve this...I don't deserve that promise...You...You don't even know my real name… "

His real name.

While it had certainly never been a major thought, Katara had always had a sneaking suspicion that "Lee" wasn't actually "Lee's" real name. It just seemed way too common for someone as extraordinary as him, that, and it made so much sense that someone who was hiding away from the world, would hide their true name as well. Maybe now was a good as time as any to put a name with the new face she'd been looking at.

" ...Then tell me...Tell me who you really are, let me get to know the real you...Please. "

" ...The real me? "

He felt so uncertain at that moment, like all this hesitation came rushing forward from nowhere, preventing him from making a choice right then and there. His name was very much Fire Nation, despite all the times in the past he'd convinced himself otherwise, so what if Katara hated him just because of that? So many "what ifs" ran through his mind, so many scenarios where he ended up alone and afraid.

He wanted so badly to believe that Katara would accept him, and yet so many doubts and fears, kept him from doing so. It was all too much.

Just as Zuko felt himself giving up, a voice came forward, one he'd been desperate to hear for the longest time, his voice. Iroh's voice.

" There are times in everyone's life where they feel nothing but doubt and uncertainty. You're bound to have one of these times as well, Zuko, but should it happen, I want you to remember these words. Sometimes even the smallest of doubts can shake the greatest of beliefs, but doubt, and to that extent, fear, are but pebbles on the path of life. Sure you may trip on them, maybe you'll fall, but tripping and falling is no excuse to just give up there. So, pick yourself back up, and believe in yourself, I certainly believe in you, Zuko. So you can do the same too! "

That Iroh, always there when Zuko needed him, even when he really wasn't. Always acting as a light that guided him through the veil of darkness that often enshrouded his thoughts, even if that light was annoying from time to time.

Zuko found himself staring deeply into Katara's eyes, eyes that begged for him to open up. She was giving him a second chance, she was giving him her trust for a second time. If he didn't do this, he'd be squandering it for what would likely be the last time.

Though hesitant, his mouth opened, and with one final push, thanks to Iroh's words of wisdom, he found himself able to finally speak.

" ...My name...My real name...It's Zuko… "

Katara just stared at him for a short moment, letting the name process in her mind. It was a nice name, but not one of Earth Kingdom origin, it was surely Fire Nation. Her brows furrowed, she understood his reluctance to tell her now, it wasn't a matter of trust that caused him to keep his name hidden from her for so long. It was, once again a matter of fear, fear that she'd reject him for one reason or another.

She could feel her silence affecting him, causing him to tremble with frightened anticipation. In response to this, she tightened her embrace, keeping him as close as possible. Whether he really was Fire Nation or not, just off his name alone, mattered not to Katara, all that mattered to her was he opened up to her, he'd trusted her enough to tell her who he really was, even after the awful things she'd said.

With the softest of touches, she started stroking his head, running her fingers through his dark locks. Katara decided then and there, she'd never leave Le-, never leave "Zuko's" side, even if that meant forcing her brother to accept him as a travel companion. With the softest of smiles, she looked down at him, his face more visible in the early sun's rays.

" ...Zuko...I think it's a wonderful name...Far better than Lee, if I say so myself...But whether it's better or not, doesn't matter. To me, the only thing that matters is...That it's your name, Zuko..."