ZW day 4-writer's choice of prompt. I decided to go with nightmares as my theme.

Happy reading!


It wasn't uncommon for Zuko to have nightmares. Hell, he was used to them ever since his father burned him and banished him from the Fire Nation. But after coming back to Ember Island, the nightmares seem to get worse and worse.

The first night, he woke up drenched in sweat and tears falling from his eyes. It was about his mother. It seemed so real, but he knew it couldn't be. It was in the palace. His mother and father we discussing Zuko and his improvements as a Firebender, but then the scene would change to his mother and father arguing and eventually Ozai burning his mother before him.

It was a common nightmare, having started the night after facing his father on the day of the black sun.

Other times his dreams were disoriented, just random flashes of memories that would come and go. But most of all, the most common dream of them all was the day his father scarred him. It was the same every time. Zuko speaks out of turn, his father is ashamed of him, Zuko begs for Ozai to stop, and then he feels the intense heat of flames searing across his face.

Zuko always hated that part. The memory so deeply engrained into him that he can still feel the phantom pains to this very day.

But tonight was different.

The nightmares never came and Zuko doesn't understand why.

He remembers falling asleep on the arm of Appa, carefully nestled in the warm fur of the magnificent beast, but after that, nothing. No pain, no heat, not dying mothers.

Nothing.

Just a pleasant restful night.

The first few rays of sun start to descend over the mountains, lighting up the night sky. Zuko tries to move his arm, but find it trapped beneath a warmth that he does not remember from the night before.

Slowly, his eyes open to peer down at the person nestled in his arms.

Katara?

At some point in the night she must have shifted in her sleep closer to him, seeking warmth from the young fire prince. He knew the nights grew cold, but it never bothered him as much; his internal fire always keeps him warm.

Slowly, panic started to rise in Zuko's chest.

What do I do?!

He attempts to slowly move his arm out from under Katara, but she shifts in her sleep, rolling over facing him. She nestles her head on his chest, seeking his body heat to keep her warm. Her hand comes to rest near his heart, gently gripping the fabric of his shirt.

He stares down at her, afraid to make anymore sudden movements. He isn't even sure he's breathing anymore.

Her chest rises and falls in a steady rhythm. Her face is relaxed and free from any burden.

Zuko notices the dark circles under the young woman's eyes and frowns.

She must be tired all the time.

Between cooking, cleaning and keeping the group somewhat together, does she ever get a chance to relax and settle back?

Zuko already knows the answer to that question.

Settling for what he knows will lead to a ton of teasing later, he wraps his arm tightly around her waist and buries his face in her soft brown curls.

At least we'll both be well rested when Sokka freaks out.