To those of you new to my works, welcome! To those of you joining from Advent Avatar, I do give a tiny warning. This story will not be fluff. I used up my whole box of fluff on that one. This one goes a bit darker, since I have a surplus of Zuko angst to use.
Regardless, this is going to be a long, long story, and I won't be updating quite as quickly as before. I do hope you enjoy it, and know that Zuko won't be unhappy the entire story, I promise!
Anyway, please enjoy the read, and see you at the end!
My name is mud.
Such a stupid saying, isn't it? It's one of the ones my Uncle is always blathering in my ear, a stupid, pointless phrase.
It's supposed to mean that, somehow, you've dirtied your image, your name, your immortality. And I guess that kind of makes sense. After you die, it's your name that lives on forever and ever. As long as someone is there to remember it, you will never truly be gone. So I guess doing something that betrays your very being, something bad enough to grant you a title, could be seen as 'mudding' it up.
My crime was compassion.
For saving innocent men, I was burned and banished. For trying to rescue my honour, I was turned out by my crew of three years and tortured.
But we're not at that point, not yet. No, we're back at Crescent Island, the day my life as a free man came to an end.
It was pretty easy to navigate the temple. Really, it was a tower; he'd be a bit ashamed of himself if he couldn't manage to find his way up.
No, he felt that shame set in when the damned Avatar slipped from his grasp, bolting into a completely sealed room. No matter how hard he trained, how much he struggled, the Avatar was always going to slip away. It took a good deal of control not to scream in frustration, especially with the damned water savages grinning at him, like they had personally carried the boy in there. The Sage that betrayed him and the entirety of the Fire Nation? Yeah, he'd only had bad thoughts for that poor soul.
Unfortunately, so had Zhao.
Zhao, the unfortunate cur that didn't even have the grace to lose without a good bit of backstabbing. The one who knew his greatest weakness and happily picked at it. Zuko hated him, and he felt he had more than just cause. He could feel curious eyes burning into him as the word 'prince' fell from Zhao's lips, and he could only wince when the word traitor slipped out next. Those savages were probably laughing at his back right now, knowing just how welcome he was in his own home Nation. He refused to look back at them, though, his eyes more focused on the snake in front of him.
Which made it easy for the soldier to grab his wrists, ironically. He didn't struggle, only looking back long enough to glare at the man who dared restrain him. Zhao's chuckling had that rage redirected, but as he lunged the soldier tightened his grip, jerking him back roughly. He was slammed against a pillar, and only as the chains were winched around his chest and legs he did indeed see the siblings craning their necks to peer at him. As the boy turned his head to whisper to his sister, Zuko felt his cheek flare in embarrassment.
He couldn't tolerate being laughed and the thought that they were whispering about him ate deep into his pride. But minutes ticked by, and he found that all he could do was grit his teeth as they stared more and more at him. Zhao's sharp, commanding voice distracted them as he ordered the men to him, all facing the grand sealed doors. As soon as the Avatar stepped out, they'd burn him to a crisp, along with any hopes Zuko had at going home. He looked away, drawing one quick, sharp breath. Apparently it caught Zhao's attention, because the man held a quick hand to one of the soldiers before sauntering over. His fingers grabbed under Zuko's chin, forcing him to look straight into that man's golden eyes. Zuko almost snapped at the offending appendages.
"You don't have the right to touch me, Zhao. You're just a backstabbing bastard." He felt his body bristling up, unable to stop the hissing noise that formed the man's name, along with a slight thrill at speaking so boldly right to his face. But Zhao only laughed, lightly jostling his head from side to side.
"A bastard? Really, Prince Zuko, when it was your own father that threw you out, my m- What's this?" And his eyes flicked down to Zuko's chest, obvious glee lighting them to molten gold. He dug his hand under Zuko's high collar, grabbing hold of the blue silk, his playing card, his secret. "A Water Tribe betrothal necklace? Zuko, I knew you were a traitor, but to go this far?" His voice conveyed false disappointment, but his eyes held such malice that Zuko drew back.
"Hey, put that down! That's mine, you jerk!" Zhao's head turned, and the grin became sharp.
"Flirting with the enemy, are you boy? I'm sure your father would be most unhappy to hear of that. Girl, shut your mouth. After I've killed the Avatar, you and your little friend will be next." He turned back to his men, necklace still grasped in his hand. As he rejoined to offensive line, he tucked it away inside his chestplate, only shooting Zuko one quick grin before the doors began to glow.
Zuko was as shocked as any at the appearance of Avatar Roku, and he winced back as the heat roiled over them all. It was brutal, and he was sure that if the soldiers on that front line hadn't been wearing full armour they'd have been killed immediately. The Water Tribesmen managed to keep their skin in tact even as the chain literally melted off of them, and Zuko felt his own starting to slide. Immediately her jerked away, long stride carrying him toward the door when a sharp pain, a brutal snap cleared his feet right out from under him. He stifled the scream by sinking his teeth into his fist, whirling around to grab hold of the chain just above his now-broken wrist.
No matter how how he seared it, the chain wouldn't give, and he saw the Water Tribesmen and their little Avatar friend making for the doors. The girl spared him a glare, no doubt over her precious little necklace, but he could do little else but pull away. The chain tugged at his wrist and he nearly whimpered, managing to break it into a hiss. This became a full-out scream when the chain was jerked, and he blearily looked up at Commander Zhao.
"You think you can get away, boy?! I will not lose both of you today!" A pillar of lava shot behind him, and with the extreme back-lighting and Zhao's hair messed from the fight, the man's silhouette looked positively demonic. He was strangely reminded of the day he looked up at his father and begged.
But he would not beg today.
He was fully snarling by the time they reached Zhao's warship, grabbing hold the chain and yanking whenever possible. Their armour blocked his fireblasts too effectively for him to bother trying, so he just threw himself madly in hopes of breaking their grip.
He realized belatedly, blinding pain in his wrist making him hazy and slow, that his own little steamer was rigged up alongside Zhao's, his crew held in a line on the poop deck. Some stared openly at him, in all his wounded glory, but others were more focused on the ground, the air, the sky. Guilt was written all over them, guilt and joy. The only one who would support him, maybe get him out of this mess, was his Uncle.
Iroh was separated from the others, watching Zuko with open concern and pity. His eyes had locked on to the broken wrist and Zuko could almost hear his worried sigh. The old man faced Zhao, brave for the fact that he was surrounded by enemies. His hands he folded inside his sleeves, hidden from view.
The crew didn't dare bind him; they respected his Uncle.
"Commander Zhao, I must apologize for our trespassing. Surely, though, this is a very extreme measure to take. We will go willingly back to the Fire Nation, if that is what you wish." His voice was the picture of calm, not an ounce of anger or betrayal showing. Zuko didn't understand that, since his blood was racing with it it.
"'We'? Old man, I have no interest in you. No one does. You're a failure to the Royal Family and a disgrace to the Nation. So is your little showboy, here, and a philanderer at that. I would have at least expected someone of his lineage to hire a decent whore, however." At that he dug into his collar, pulling the very necklace that Zuko had hidden there on his own person. "Just look what the prince hides from you! A token from his little Water wench. And the Avatar's companion, none the less! Does that not seem a traitorous action to you?" He had turned his back on Iroh, brandishing the pendant to the men on board.
The crew murmured assent, again refusing to raise their heads. Zhao paced in front of them, holding the necklace high above his head. "Don't fear unjust discipline from that man-child! Tell me, is this not the sign of a traitor?! Squandered away from you, while he wastes your time dragging you for days in pursuit? All for his own desire. I don't know about you noble men, but that seems like poor commanding!" They were getting rowdier now, starting to agree and shout. "I ask again, men! Do you want to serve," He gestured back to Zuko, whose body was crouched low to the ground. "This cowering deserter?!"
They were loud now, almost jarringly so, and one of them, a lowly Private, emboldened himself enough to throw a metal bucket at Zuko. He let his shoulder take the brunt of it, peeking behind his sheltered body at the jeering men. Zhao was laughing, riling them more and more. He could see Iroh attempting to talk them down, but he knew it was too late. Those men had no love for him.
"What say you men? Should we give him his little necklace back?" The raised fists above their heads, cheering Zhao on as he turned to Zuko. A quick signal and soldiers bracketed him, grabbing his forearms and shoving them out in front of him. Zhao, merciless, grabbed both wrists, injured or not, and securely bound the necklace around them. He bit back the scream; all the men around him were enemies now, and he refused to show them pain. His eyes met Zhao's, and the man grinned as he tugged the silk just a bit tighter. "Take him to the brig, boys."
The worst part was that some of his own men, men he'd worked with for three years and yet hadn't given the time to know, were the ones eagerly grabbing at his arms to drag him away. Iroh was moving now too, trying to to intercept the group. Zhao let him go, not that he could escape with hands grabbing at him everywhere, to take hold of Iroh instead. The men were distracted, still in mob mentality, and didn't see as Zhao yanked the old man aside. His head dropped to Iroh's ear, mouth set in a vicious grin as he said something, and Zuko's Uncle stared straight at him with wide eyes. The moment of shock, being caught off-guard, was all Zhao needed to heave the old man overboard.
Zuko pulled, screaming, as his Uncle hit the water. The sudden noise had crewmen looking around in confusion, but Zhao drew their attention from his atrocious action by pacing forward and wrapping his hand around Zuko's mouth. His fingers and thumb dug into the flesh of Zuko's cheeks, and it very effectively silence him. Zhao didn't stop moving, though, now dragging Zuko by the face as they entered the bowels of the ship. The men had quieted a bit, watching curiously as they followed from a distance. No one noticed the missing Iroh, too interested in the going-ons of a dismissed royal brat.
As they reached the cells, Zhao grabbed hold of the door and whipped it open, ignoring Zuko's bound hands scratching at his vambrace desperately. He pulled the boy directly in front of the gaping door, glaring down into scared, mismatched eyes. "I've had enough of your interference, boy. You and your father both stand in my way, and I'll whittle down your kind yet. But I can't have you leaking that information, now can I?" His grip tightened on Zuko's face, pressing into his jaw and forcing his mouth open under his hand. "You've always been a bit of a loudmouth. Your greatest downfall, I think. Easily remedied, I suppose."
Heat blossomed from Zhao's hand, and as he brought both his arm and Zuko back, that heat exploded in his mouth, his throat, searing into his lungs as he was thrown against the rear wall of the cell. He could feel the fingerprints marring his cheek still, his weight listing weakly to the side as his body struggled to draw air. Thick blackness drew around him in a muffled, peaceful silence, pouring over him like suffocating honey. The pain faded as Zuko, finally, thankfully, lost consciousness.
Katara threaded her hands through the sky bison's thick fur, silent in their flight away from that crazy island. Sokka was glancing at her on and off, and she must have noticed his level of worry-edness... worried... -worry- by now. Aang, well, after his show as Avatar Roku he spent a good deal of the time napping. He was curled up around Momo (and his new hat), and had been for the last 20 minutes. Sokka finally sighed, reaching to pat Appa's head.
"Keep goin', Buddy. Break time." He vaulted up onto the saddle, landing cross-legged and cross-armed. He was also staring blatantly at her, eyes narrowed. "Spill the beans, sister."
She rolled her eyes, waving him away in likely hopes that he'd just forget about it. Him leaning forward said no, no he would not leave her alone, and she sighed as heavily as he had not moments ago.
"It's... my necklace."
"We'll get it back, Katara. That Jerkbender has been following us from the South Pole, I'm sure he's gonna keep tailing us. We'll just pull the ol' switcheroo, then bam! Necklace back!"
"I don't think it's going to be that easy, Sokka."
"Well, he's not the smartest guy. Sure, he's got a bit of a crew, but I think the three of us can outsmart him." A grunt from behind him and Sokka's shoulders sagged a bit as he rolled his eyes. "Okay, four of us. Sorry, Appa, you're a big part of the team too."
"I don't think he's got a crew anymore."
Sokka frowned, looking at her now. She didn't look angry, or upset, which he would totally have expected from her. He almost thought she would incinerate the chains with her gaze alone when the big guy had pulled that pendant out of Zuko's chestplate. Now, though, she looked almost... scared. Sokka bit his lip, reaching forward to touch her hand. When she met his eyes, she did indeed look uncomfortably afraid.
"You were getting Aang out of there, and I... I was mad, okay? That jerk had mom's necklace, and I couldn't just leave it at that. But there was lava everywhere, and when I looked back at him, he was... He was still chained up."
"We were chained up, almost right until the end."
"Yeah, but... It was around his wrist, and I heard it snap... We got away, Sokka. I don't think he did." She hugged herself a bit, and Sokka knew how much trouble she had watching people in pain. Even if they happened to be crazy Fire Nation guys.
There was a bit of shifting behind them, and both siblings looked back at the now-sitting Avatar. He rubbed at his eyes in a show of waking up, but Sokka was pretty sure, since he wouldn't meet their eyes, that he had heard everything. He waved him over before looking back at Katara. "So he broke his wrist, he's obviously not too unfamiliar with pain and all," he made a vague gesture towards his own face.
Aang looked uncomfortable now, but Sokka sighed. "There were lots of Fire Nation guys around there. One of them had to have seen him struggling with the chain. They probably unhooked him, patched him up all nice, then sent him back home to the Fire Nation, right back to Daddy Dear's tap on the wrist, no joke intended. I mean, he's the Prince and all."
"They were dragging him away, Sokka. And he was really fighting, even though they had him by his wrist. That's not normal if he was just going back for a scolding."
Aang sat a bit straighter. "It's okay, Katara! The Fire Nation wasn't so bad when I was there! I'm sure he just ran away from home or something. Like Sokka said, he's apparently royalty, so they were probably just mad that he went off on an adventure."
Sokka rolled his eyes. "The Fire Nation isn't some vacation value day nowadays, Oldtimer, but he's right Katara. He's royalty, shockingly. What're they going to do to their little Prince?" He waved his hand dismissively, but she reached out and caught it.
"A prince, I don't know, but what about a traitor?"
The three went silent, none quite looking at the other as they tried not to think about what, exactly, lay in Zuko's immediate future.
Mmkiedoke, here's chapter one! As a complete admission to Advent Avatar readers, I did not watch a single episode of Avatar: The Last Airbender whilst writing that story. This one, however, may take quite a bit more research. It'll be following the main story of Avatar, with that one obvious change to the story. So the gaps between posting will be more noticeable, likely every four days or so. But it's all planned out, it's just working in the fine details!
Anyway, hope you enjoy the story, and please don't hesitate to review! They make me ever so happy!