That night, he couldn't sleep.

Sleepless nights were not new to him. The habit had started after his mother had left. She had woken him and said goodbye, but the memory was foggy and distant from his need to sleep. When he finally got up in the morning, it had felt like a dream. It still did.

He didn't want to miss anything like that again.

From what he remembered of the ship's schedule, he guessed it was about the hour of night when the third shift was firmly in their place. Zuko had been given a skeleton crew in the first place, and many of those men had reasons for being assigned to the exiled prince's ship. He could walk about the deck hours before dawn and not see a single soul.

From his first day on this ship, on Lu Ten's ship, he knew that was not the case here. Still, he had spent hours in his room and needed to eat, or at least breathe fresh air. He still remembered the important lessons of his youth; the best places to hide, what to listen for when approaching a blind spot, numerous little lessons that he carried in his mind if not his body.

There were more soldiers about, and being more active. Zuko tried to move unseen, but in places where it would have been impossible, he walked with purpose. The guards he ran into were certainly surprised to see him but only greeted him as Zuko walked past.

As they moved north, the sun started to behave normally. The sun had set but was rethinking that choice and the horizon was still illuminated. Zuko turned away from it and headed toward the middle of the ship.

Bolted down next to the cargo hold was a metal base. It could fit either a catapult or a crane, but currently still had the crane attached. Traveling in open water with it wasn't a good idea when a surprise storm could snap the metal beams in half. This meant they were making a short trip and stopping somewhere that required further use of the crane.

Zuko wanted to get up and away, and knew about the various small platforms that hid in corners of the frame. Checking around him, Zuko grabbed onto the bars and lifted himself up slowly. This body was not as practiced, but still strong. The other Zuko had obviously still trained in some manner, though he wasn't as strong in his legs.

"This isn't my home, these aren't my friends," Zuko muttered to himself. "If I'm not careful, I'm going to get myself killed."

"Then don't climb things in the dark, idiot."

Zuko's hands almost released him, but he scrambled forward and wrapped himself around the bars. The eerie twilight gave him just enough light to see Katara's face peeking at him from the shadows.

"You probably shouldn't surprise people climbing things in the dark." Zuko snapped and Katara laughed. She held out a hand and Zuko took it, letting her help him into the frame and onto the platform.

"You've been avoiding me." She said as soon as he sat down.

"Sorry."

"Did you find out about the thing for Sokka?"

Zuko jerked his head up and then winced.

"I did. It won't work. Not here." Zuko paused and looked out over the deck. "I don't think it would have been the same anyway."

He could feel Katara staring at him, and he made sure not to turn his face. After a moment of silence, Katara came over and sat next to him. They both had their legs over the edge of the platform and Katara began to swing her feet back and forth.

"What am I like? In your time?" She asked.

Zuko tilted his head back, his eyes wide, and blew out a heavy breath.

"Well, you hated me for a long time. Then we," Zuko stopped himself and looked at her. She looked exactly like Katara. But her kindness felt different, her speech more blindly optimistic. His Katara, the one he knew, was fierce and confident, who's kindness came from her refusal to let evil exist in places she could impact.

Maybe that was how she had begun even in his time. It would explain why she had been so willing to help him in the crystal caverns.

"Do you miss them?" Katara asked.

Zuko lowered his head and nodded.

"You and Sokka, and everyone else; you all were the only friends I have ever had. We all helped each other, we all saved the world, but you." He stopped and gripped the front of his shirt. "You saved my life."

"Then why did you leave?"

Stunned, Zuko backed away from her. "What?"

"Why did you come here if you were happy?"

"I didn't, Katara, I didn't choose this."

Katara's face knotted in confusion.

"Then why are you here?"

"I don't know!"

"How did you get here?"

"I don't know!"

Katara, visibly starting to panic, put her hands into her hair.

"Well, what are you doing then?"

"I have no idea!"

"Hey! Get away from my sister!"