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Title: Cry

Pairing/Main Character(s): Zutara friendship/mutual sadness/understanding

Word Count: 352

Notes: Takes place around the Zuko/Azula fight during the Season 3 finale.

x x x x x x x x x x

He had not cried in years. Not since his mother was taken from him, long ago. But he was young then, and as a little boy he could not help himself; the tears just came out. It was only after that he learned emotions were a sign of weakness. Or so his father thought.

She had not cried in days. Not since they found Yon Rha. The memories of her mother had flooded her mind, and she could not help herself. It was only after that she realized violence was not the answer. It never was.

So when the time came to face the enemy, his face was set in a hard mask while her eyes shone with unshed tears. He was composed while she struggled with her emotions. He understood the losses that come with war while she had not yet accepted that she might never see her friends again. He had lived this way his entire life while she had only recently seen some of the horrors.

And when he stood there, looking his sister square in the eye, she was behind him, clasping her hands to stop herself from interfering. He was unafraid while she held back tears.

But when the lightning came, their roles were reversed. She became the calm one while he trembled in pain. She took on the facade of a healer while he became the grief-stricken patient.

But, as always, she was the one blinking away tears as she looked at the angry red flesh. She was the one holding back sobs as she stitched up his body from the inside out. She was the weak one. The one who cried.

And watching her eyes, wet with tears, he felt his own begin to sting. Blinking in shock, a tear spilled over and ran down his cheek, cutting a line through the dirt and dust on his face.

She watched his face morph from shock to embarrassment. And she smiled through her tears and whispered, "It's okay."

It was then he learned that emotions are not weaknesses. And sometimes, you just have to cry.