Katara and Zuko sat alone together at camp, the girl wrapping bandages around the boy's abdomen, where he had recently been burned.

"There, all patched up," she said as she finished tending to the wound.

A doctor repeats these same words as he finishes wrapping a boy's head in bandages, most of which are covering his left eye.

Zuko nodded, looking away.

"It might leave a scar, but you'll be finr otherwise."

The same boy at his reflection in horror. In place of the bandages is a large, angry red marking.

Fingers gently touched that same mark, breaking him out of the memory. He looked up and saw Katara staring at him sadly.

"You were thinking about it, weren't you?"

He said nothing.

"What happened?"

"I don't wanna talk about it," he said, averting his eyes.

Despite not looking at her, Zuko could feel the waterbender's gaze soften. She understood. She wasn't going to press for answers.

Somehow, that silent understanding meant more than any comfort ever offered to him.


Author's Notes: I'm pretty happy with how this one turned out. It's short, but I think it works.

Disclaimer: I do not own 'Avatar' or any of its characters.