Author's Note: To say the least, this summer has caught me off guard. I've had this finished for a number of weeks now (it was the only prompt I didn't finish during ZKWeek last year), but I spent time out of country without internet and work has had me more swamped than I ever expected. I've especially needed to finish work on my personal projects. I have a deadline to get my book to my editor by September but despite that, I still plan to crank out some short stories for this year's Zutara Week. They will likely be up once a week on here, but daily on tumblr during the event. I can be found under the same name there.

Also, I've changed the title for this collection to encompass stories beyond just last year's event. And I've changed the cover photo to be Zutara specific. The artwork is done by my lovely bestie: Jo. She and more of her work can be found at hotcuppahjo-art on tumblr. She's really very talented and, though I couldn't drag her into participating in ZKWeek with me last year, she won't get away as easily this year. So, the cover photo is subject to change again, depending on what we produce during this year's event.

Requests and reviews are still welcome! If so inclined.

"Deeply Buried" (Spark) – July 20th Saturday

Nothing in his life had felt so heavy as the crown on his head. The metal itself was unnoticeable, but the responsibility tied to it gave it far more weight. His head slammed back against the bark of the courtyard tree, but the pins didn't jostle free. A sigh escaped him at the realization that this was his life now. While he had always wanted it, he wasn't sure what to do now that it was his. The weight dragged his eyelids closed. He knew the rest of "Team Avatar" would be leaving soon, but he needed time to himself before the goodbyes hit hard. He would feel – lonely, simple – weird staying behind in the Fire Nation as they moved on to grand adventures in the Earth Kingdom. He would feel – stressed, powerful – weird with his new responsibilities as Fire Lord.

"I've been looking for you," she said. He recognized her voice immediately, without having to open his eyes. He'd recognized it even when she'd been enemy instead of friend. "How long have you been alone out here?"

"Not long," he replied. Really, a couple of hours. He'd hoped no one would find him. Still, if it had to be someone, the water bender would be his choice. Toph, Sokka, or Aang would have driven him up the wall. He and Katara had been through more together. She understood him better, somehow. She was from a different culture, they had a colored past, and yet she had a heart that tried to understand.

Katara folded her blue skirt underneath her as she knelt. "Are you feeling okay?"

He ran his fingers through the grass. He yanked the grass from it's roots and sprinkled it from the air. The fresh smell of it made him want to sneeze. Instead of risking it, he stopped messing with the green blades and smacked his palm on the ground. "Okay. A lot has changed. I dreamed of wearing this crown when I was little. Then, I didn't dare dream during my banishment because the reality of it seemed impossible. I never stopped wanting it, I just stopped expecting it. Especially, when I realized I didn't want to be the Fire Lord that Ozai was. I haven't justified my expectations with reality, I guess. I have my honor now. And I don't have to be like my father. I just have to figure out how."

"I'm sad we have to leave so soon," she said. Absently, she tucked a lock of brown hair, now worn loose and wild around her shoulders, behind her ear. "I'd have liked to see you pull that off."

"That's the thing," he mumbled. "I'm not sure that I can."

Her blue eyes sparkled like stars reflected on the sea. "Of course, you can." She took a deep breath and fiddled with the charm of her mother's necklace. "I hated you Zuko. More than I could have hated almost anyone else."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence, Katara." He reclined his head back against the tree again.

She swatted at his arm, lips pursed. "I'm not finished," she chided.

"Ow!" He rubbed his arm, even though it hadn't hurt. "Okay fine, I'm listening."

"I hated you, but when you showed me your true character, your true colors, I didn't just see red anymore. When the world looks at the Fire Nation, they see the red of flames and blood and hatred, but I see so much more in you. You changed how I saw you because of who you are. And believe me, I wasn't keen to admire you." She wasn't looking at him anymore. Instead, her eyes fixed on the scar in the grass where he'd pulled it up. "You have the determination, the courage, and the ambition to lead this nation until it is respected again. I've seen it in you, maybe even before I wanted to admit that I had."

He followed her gaze to the swatch of bare soil. "What if the nation – or the world – is too scarred?"

That brought her eyes directly to his face, where his father's influence would be forever visible. He averted his eyes. Her stare was too intense to meet straight on. She lowered her voice to a whisper, "Zuko... Do you feel like you're too scarred?"

"Maybe I am." His tone had dropped to match hers. He wasn't ashamed, necessarily. But he wondered how a nation could look at him with any semblance of respect when he starkly bore their bloody history on his face. He wondered if it was even possible.

To his surprise, she reached out to touch the scar on his cheek. Her touch elicited an electric shock where skin met skin. Both of their eyes widened, almost imperceptibly. Pretending not to notice, she traced the pale edge of the burn where it met his even paler skin.

He gulped as she pulled away. It was the moments like this when the spark between them startled him and he had to bury it deeper. If she felt it, she buried it too, he knew. But the spark was undeniable, if buried, and helped fuel the stronger bond he shared with her than any other member of Team Avatar.

"You know, there was a time I pitied you too."

"You hated me and pitied me?"

"I pitied you because of your hatred. Because I couldn't imagine being that bitter. I hadn't even realized how bitter I was being myself. I pitied you because you seemed so concerned about the material things, like a crown. But now that I know you, I know different. You sought respect and pride and redemption." For a moment her hand floated over his like she was going to take it, but then she thought better of it.

"There was a time I would have healed your scar, too," she continued. "But now that I know you, I wouldn't."

The pang in his chest startled him; he couldn't distinguish if it was hurt or gratitude. "Why?"

"Because it is part of you. Some of us hide our scars, like I did for years. And while wounds heal, the scars never fade. They are the symbol of the strength we've gained through our hardships. Zuko, your past with your nation isn't a hinderance to your leadership, it's what qualifies you to be Fire Lord."

Instead of waiting for her to initiate it, he reached out and took her hand. Squeezing it tight, he closed his eyes and focused just on drawing strength from her and the words she'd said. When the dull ache in his chest faded, he opened his eyes. He couldn't help but feel disappointed when he saw that her eyes were averted and almost guilty. The ache came back to see her like that. The spark was buried too deeply to reach, but he needed her. He needed her strength and her comfort: her friendship.

"Katara," he said, "I needed a friend like you." She told him he'd changed, but she inspired change. In everyone around her.

That statement brought her eyes back to his, the uncertainty erased from them now. "Yeah, well, I would be a much different person without you."

For a moment, they smiled in silence before she pulled her hand away. "I should get back. Aang is probably looking for me."

"Can't let your boyfriend worry," he said, pushing himself to his feet and offering her a hand.

"No, he's had enough of that I'm sure." Extending her hand to meet his, she used their shared strength to stand. With a brush of her hand, she knocked away the grass from her skirt. "Walk with me?"

He wanted to, but didn't at the same time. He didn't want to face the goodbyes and the responsibilities. But Katara's words had healed many of his doubts, though their scars remained. He'd made up his mind to face them and what better time to start than now?

"Sure."

The goodbyes would undoubtedly be hard, but his entire life had been hard and he'd made it this far. Besides, now he had the things he hadn't before, friends like the confident water bender he walked next to. Her strength made him stronger. And that spark, even while deeply buried, made him want to do his best. For himself. For his father and sister. For his mother. For Team Avatar. For her. For the world.