Wild At Heart (Zuko)

Chapter Eighty-Three

Zuko bolts up awake after a nightmare from the afternoon nap he and Kali had decided to take within the trees. Curled up together. But he saw something that had him waking with a jolt. Kali is suddenly kneeling front of him, holding a mango in her hand. Her worried eyes search his eyes as he blinks out of his dream.

"What's wrong?" She asks as she sets the mango down, immediately sensing something wrong with him. Zuko shakes his head a little. Kali reaches over and gently runs her fingers through his hair. He sinks into her touch and comfort with a soft breath.

"Whilst we were napping," He admits quietly. "I had a dream"

"A bad one?" She inquires and he shrugs a little. "Do you want to talk about it?" He is silent a moment as he considers telling her about it or just wallowing in it. But he knows better. He knows to rely on Kali.

"I was back home" He starts, rubbing his hands on his thighs. "I was in a meeting, one of my father's.....And when I got to the meeting, everyone welcomed me. My father had even saved me a seat. He wanted me next to him. I was literally at his right hand. During the meeting, I was the perfect prince. The son my father always wanted." He admits and she touches his hand on his leg. "But I wasn't me....and now I'm thinking" He lets out a breath. "What if I turn on you?" He whispers sadly. "What if we get there and he....says something to make me turn on you? On all of you?" He looks at her. "Azula did it"

"Zuko" She whispers. "We've been through so much since then, you went home and still returned to me" She reminds him softly. "You know what you want now, you know who you are now....." He hums a little. He knows that she is right, but that fear is still there. He has wanted his father's approval and love for so long that he is truly scared that if Ozai were in front of him, telling him that he can return home with honour, that he might cave. "And you won't be alone" She assures him. "I'll be at your side, through all of it" He leans up a little and embraces her, curling his arms tightly around her. She has not let him down so far. He knows that she is at and on his side. Always. She embraces him back, letting him sink into her hold.

"I hate the idea of you facing my father in any capacity" He whispers. But he knows he can't do this without her at his side. She draws her fingers through the hair at the back of his head. Aang suddenly wanders by where they've set themselves up, mumbling away to himself and scratching at his elbow. Zuko and Kali both watch him go before Zuko turns to look at Kali. "I do think that I have an idea to help the Avatar sleep" He offers softly. "But I don't think they'd agree if it came from me" He adds, rubbing the back of his neck. "When I couldn't sleep at home, I'd ask the servants to bring me all these pillows and blankets...." His eyes then flicker to a herd of koala sheep. Kali follows his eyes and then smiles a little. Catching on rather quickly. "And with a nice dark misty atmosphere....I know I slept better on those nights....with the windows and balcony doors open"

"If it works, I'll tell them it was your idea" She assures him. "This is a good idea, Zuko" She praises him softly. "A kind idea" He glances at her as she rests her hand over his scar.

........

The sun has set when Aang makes his way back to the main camp where Kai, Zuko, Sokka, Toph and Katara are gathered together around a stone block covered in koala sheep wool within a small low fog. Aang stops at the stone and blinks, reaching down to run his fingers through the wool.

"Oh, look. Another hallucination. An imaginary bed made out of clouds" Aang mumbles.

"Hey!" Toph scolds. "It's real! We spent hours working on it"

"We made it for you" Sokka continues. "A good night's sleep will probably take the crazy away" He continues. "We hope" He whispers under his breath. They are getting increasingly worried about Aang's lack of sleep, and they all understand how it will affect him in the upcoming fight.

"Look! You guys keep telling me that I need to sleep, but I can't! The invasion's tomorrow!" Aang reminds them as he starts to panic a little over the thought of what is coming.

"Aang..." Katara starts, concerned for her friend.

"No, Katara! There's still so much I haven't learned. I don't need sleep. What I need is practice. Quick, hit me!" He begins to wobble on his feet, exhaustion catching up to him.

"I'm not going to hit you," Katara argues.

"You want me to do it?" Toph steps closer to do exactly what he has asked but Sokka nudges her back before she can. Katara moves closer to Aang and touches his shoulder softly.

"Listen to me. You've been training for this since the day we met" Katara moves behind him, taking his shoulders to push him softly towards the bed. "I've seen your progress. You're smart, brave, and strong enough"

"You really think so?" Aang asks and Katara nods gently.

"We all do" Kali assures him.

"You can do this. You're ready" Sokka adds.

"You're the man, Twinkle Toes!" Toph cheers warmly. Aang turns his eyes to Zuko, who has remained silent through this whole thing.

"I believe in you" Zuko voices softly. "You can do this"

"Thanks, guys" Aang nods, yawns, and rubs his eyes. Katara aids him to the bed, where he lies down. "You know what? I think I am ready" Aang snuggles into the makeshift bed and quickly falls asleep. Kali leans into Sokka's side and he wraps an arm around her shoulders and gives her a soft squeeze. They are all relieved that this worked. All of them have been worried about the way Aang has been the last few days.

"I told you this was a good idea" Kali tells Zuko, causing the others to look at him.

"This was your idea?" Sokka asks him. Zuko lets out a breath and nods.

"It was just something that used to help me sleep," He admits. "I improvised a little" Sokka pulls a face and nods.

"Not bad" He offers and Zuko looks at him surprised. "It worked so..." Sokka shrugs a little and then wanders away. Katara keeps her eyes away from Zuko as she clenches her jaw.

"Thank you" She voices, rather strained, but she still said it. It is a start. A step in the right direction. Zuko lets out a breath. A weight lifted from his shoulders. Kali smiles warmly at him. Proud of him and this progress. It is tiny but it is there. It is all coming together. They are seeing the Zuko that she fell in love with.