Calmer now, Suki sat down and asked Zuko to tell his story again, with more detail. Zuko explained everything that had happened, feeling much the same as he had when explaining this to Katara. Except this time, her eyes were kind and she would nod to encourage him. First he went over what happened in his own time; chasing after the Avatar, nearly capturing him a few times, his choice to betray his uncle, his time in the Fire Nation, and then everything that happened when he joined his friends. He spoke with genuine shame as he related what happened in Kyoshi, but also spoke with sincere hope as he talked about finding Suki and Hakoda in prison.

He fumbled over some events, as details surged up but were sharply dismissed. Sokka's reunion with Suki would do nothing for this stone faced woman, and neither would anything about Ember Island.

However, his words didn't falter because of this Suki's stare. It was that every time Zuko met Katara's eye, he realized they had never done this. He and his Katara had never talked about what had happened. They had never discussed their divergent paths; what it was like for her as she fought and ran, or what it was like for him to be as hunted as her. They didn't talk about the caverns - a blessing - but they also didn't talk about the day she stopped the rain.

Of course Zuko avoided that story. All of his personal narratives were left off to streamline the story. Or...

Katara nodded for him to continue.

Or to avoid making anyone think he deserved any sort of sympathy.

When he finished his story, Zuko began the one in this timeline. Suki had listened quietly before but now peppered him with questions. She tried to ascertain how Zuko had crossed over, but he had already gone over these threads. There had been no celestial intervention, no supernatural light, and no spell that bewitched him.

He had gone to bed in the palace as the new Fire Lord, already missing his friends, and woke up on a ship as the current heir of the crown prince. With Ozai exiled for treason, Zuko was second in line for the throne till Lu Ten married and had a child.

Zuko told Suki everything he knew about what was coming next. That he was heading to the North Pole to see Princess Yue married to Admiral Zhao. He admitted that he had no idea if anything would happen at the oasis. Why Katara was required was also a mystery.

When Suki asked him about his plan, it was simple: find the Avatar, stop the Fire Nation. Same as it had been for him before.

She rubbed her face with a frustrated sigh and then gestured to the warriors. They brought water and more food, and Katara started to relax.

"You've given me nothing useful." Suki said as Zuko attempted to casually pick up his dropped bowl.

"He's given you a Fire Nation ally. A pretty important one too." Katara interjected.

Zuko's ears burned and his fingers twitched against the bowl.

"I don't know how much I trust the son of the White Jade Lady." Suki remarked balefully.

Now Zuko sat upright.

"That's it." He stated. Suki and Katara blinked at him.

"You know this world and its history. You can tell me what's going on!" He said, excitedly leaning forward and gesturing with the bowl.

Suki recoiled and glanced between him and the bowl.

"So you can have more to tell your family?" She spat.

"What? No. I-" Zuko stopped with the bowl out in the space between them. "Suki, I'm just a mirror."

He was in pain, and Suki recognized that.

"You are really not from this world?" She asked.

Zuko sat back, wilting on his frame.

"I was so overcome at seeing my dead mother that I almost gave up on everything else." He turned and looked at Katara. "I know you're not the people I care about, but I'd do anything for you anyway."

Katara blinked rapidly before turning her face away. Sheepish, Zuko looked back at Suki.

"Please. Tell me." Zuko said softly. "So I can help."

Suki sighed, with less irritation, and her shoulders slumped.

"Fine." She said.

"Suki!"

They all turned and Suki stood as another woman ran up.

"Two riders! The war dog is with Shang." The warrior said in a breathless rush.

Suki frowned and whipped around to face them.

"They're looking for you. Get back in the tent and stay quiet." She ordered.

Immediately, Zuko took hold of Katara's hand and walked with purpose to the tent. He didn't know how far the riders were, but if they spotted running figures, it would certainly put them on alert.

"Alright ladies, hide your fans." Suki ordered.

Zuko pulled open the tent flap and stepped into the hot, stuffy space. Katara walked in after him and he dropped the flap, turning the light into a yellow shadow. There was nothing in the tent for them to hide behind, so Zuko sat down by the center pole. Katara sat next to him and he could see her hands shaking even as she twisted them around each other.

"It will be okay. We've always protected each other." He whispered. Katara shook her head before lowering it.

"Not us." She whispered back.

Zuko took in a sharp breath and regarded her stiff shoulders.

"I know that my friendship with you is conflated with her, and that I probably trust you way more than you trust me, but Katara, I do see you as a different person." Zuko murmured and put an arm around her. "You remind me of her, so I want you to like me. But it's because you're not her that I want to protect you."

"I can protect myself." Katara whispered sharply.

"I know that. You're a better bender than she was at this point." He said. Katara looked up at him.

"Really?"

"Sokka told me that she had to face backwards to get the water going in the right direction."

"But you said she saved your life. And defeated your sister."

"She learned amazingly fast. She was a prodigy." Zuko paused as he saw Katara's face. "You share the same bending. There's no reason for me to think that you would be anything less than amazing."

"I guess she didn't have Hama as a teacher growing up then?" Katara asked with a soft laugh.

"Who?" Zuko asked.

"And I said I don't see why a bunch of herders, all women by the way, would need so many tents." Zuri's question was heated and her words burned into Zuko's head. Of course they would send Zuri to find him.

"They've been here for days-" Another voice, a man Zuko didn't recognize, said.

"So you've said." Zuri snapped. "I'm beginning to think I should have joined the military just to bring some common sense to the ranks."

"We stay in the grazing grounds for weeks, er, sir?" One of the warriors said.

"There is no reason for you to ever address me, peasant." Zuri snarled.

"I want them questioned and these tents searched." Zuri continued.

"I've received no orders to-" The man started.

"I represent the acting Fire Lady of the Fire Nation, of which you are a citizen!" Zuri said. "And these people will be searched and questioned even if I have to do it myself!"

A shadow approached the tent flap and Zuko held his breath, tightening his arm around Katara.

It wasn't going to look good that the only other things in the tent were their untied bonds.