The Wrong Side

By: Pointy_Objects

Disclaimer: Gah! My first disclaimer to my first Avatar fic! I own nothing. Is that all? Is that it? Is it different for this fandom? Okay, thanks...carry on...

"It's not funny…"

"I know it's not funny." Zuko huffed.

"But, you're laughing. You're laughing because you think it's funny."

Katara pursed her lips together and shook her head, barely containing her laughter.

"No. No, I'm not laughing. I'm not laughing and I certainly don't think it's funny." Zuko huffed and picked absentmindedly at his sleeping attire. The rest of the camp was silent; Toph barricaded herself with a tent made of stone, Suki slept alongside Sokka, on Appa's plush coat, and Aang was off somewhere sulking. Katara was too tired from the events of the day to go off and try to encourage him.

"Can you just tell me what he said? One more time?" she asked, before Zuko could turn over and fall asleep. "Please?"

Zuko looked away, crossing his arms over his chest. "He said…he said my scar was on the wrong side…"

Katara fell backwards and pounded the earth beneath her with her fists. She no longer had any intentions of hiding her amusement at the situation from Zuko. She found it hilarious, and somewhat reassuring that the often prideful, but mostly sweet, Prince Zuko could be humbled by a small child.

"It's not on the wrong side!" he said, raising his voice into the night, no longer concerned with waking their slumbering friends.

"I know it's not…" Katara choked out, sitting up straight, but still clutching her sides and laughing.

"It's on the right side!"

"I'm aware of that."

"And I know, because it's my scar!"

"Of course it is, dear…"

"It's not funny…" he pouted again, attempting to look more annoyed than he really was. Katara gathered her wits and managed to smile, even though the incident only made her want to giggle more.

"I know it's not funny. I'm sorry. I just needed something to take my mind off that kiss Aang gave me." she said, looking away. Her face held the same expression as when Sokka tried to make seaweed stew for everyone.

"Wait, the what?!" Zuko asked, about to stand up on the makeshift bed, before Katara latched onto his arm to keep him grounded.

"It was nothing. Calm down and go to sleep." she said, calmly, leaving him with a kiss on his pouted lips and turning in the opposite direction to sleep. Once she felt him lying down next to her, facing away, Katara spoke up, trying to sound as casual as she could. "Hey, Zuko?"

"Yeah? What is it?" he asked, his voice far less inhibited than before. Katara prided herself on her ability to calm him down so easy. 'Like a handful of water on hot embers…' she told herself.

"Do you mind if we switch?" she asked, speaking normally despite the wide grin on her face.

"Why?" he asked, sitting up to stare at her.

"Because I think you're on the wrong side!" she said, guffawing loudly as tears of mirth filled her eyes. She rolled onto her back as Zuko resumed his sleeping position and glowered, crossing his arms over his broad chest.

"It's not on the wrong side!" he mumbled angrily, before both of them fell asleep.

I wrote this a while ago on my LJ, with some apprehension. I've been a part of the Hey Arnold fandom (Nickelodeon's finest piece of cartoonery, to date) for years now, and I was really hesitant to try anything new. But, what I love about this fandom is it's oppurtunity for change while staying the same. Does that make sense? Either way, I'm the hard-coriest Zuko/Katara fan (at least in my household...my brother is in denial, but I'm wearing him down) and I'd really love to start writing more fiction centering around them. Please let me know what you think. Please and thank you!

-Pointy_Objects