"Dad's going to kill you." Azula drops her singsong tone, sounding more serious than one would think her capable of. "Really he is."
"Ha ha Azula. Nice try." Despite his denial of her words, Zuko pulled the bed cover closer.
"Fine. Don't believe me but I heard everything." Smug satisfaction radiated from her voice. "Grandfather said Dad's punishment should fit his crime." Her voice dropped into a lower octave. "'You must know the pain of losing a first born son, by sacrificing your own.' "
"Liar!"
"I'm only telling you for your own good." Azula's voice drips with insincere sweetness. "I know! Maybe you could find a nice Earth Kingdom family to adopt you!"
"Stop it! You're lying! Dad would never do that to me!" Zuko growled in denial.
"Your father would never do what to you?" Ursa walked into the room. A second's evaluation revealed all she needed to know. Zuko seemed to have collapsed into himself and was staring dejectedly at the bed. Azula had her usual smile on. "What is going on here?"
"I don't know," Azula opened her eyes wide, a parody of innocence.
Ursa strode forward, grabbing her daughter's arm. "Time for a talk." She could come back and comfort Zuko later. Right now she needed to know why Azula looked so pleased, like a bearded cat playing with its prey. She dragged one child out of the room, leaving the other in silence.
Well, near silence. The echo of Azula's words swirled around Zuko like a sea serpent. He clutched desperately at the blanket, trying to use it to warm his insides. "Azula always lies. Azula always lies." It was a desperate mantra and the only thing that allowed Zuko to slip into sleep.
------------------------
------------
-----------------------
"Mom?"
Zuko's eyes were still full of sleep. He began to nod back off to sleep in her hands. Ursa gently shook her son. He needed to be awake for this. "Zuko, please, my love, listen to me. Everything I've done, I've done to protect you." Guilt wracked her words. But she didn't have enough time to explain more than that. "Remember this Zuko. No matter how things may seem to change, never forget who you are." This would hurt him, but it would hurt less than what Ozai had in store for the child.
"Zuko, drink this." She held the cup up to his lips.
He sputtered at the taste of the bitter liquid, as it assaulted his hazy mind. "Mmm," he moaned. "No." He weakly tried to swat the cup away.
Ursa ignored this, dumping the rest of the tainted liquid into the boy's mouth, titling his head back, forcing him to swallow. He grimaced as the last of the fluid disappeared into his mouth. "Mom," he murmured quietly, his eyes glazing over. He slumped forward into her grip.
------------------------
------------
-----------------------
Lieutenant Jee watched his old friend's face with a hidden sympathy. Iroh stood as solid as a rock as his world shattered into smaller and smaller pieces. It would have been hard enough for any man to face the news that his only child was dead, but fate was cruel. The General had returned home to mourn only to discover that his nephew was missing, presumed murdered by his own mother.
And then the General's father had passed away only days after his return. And to add salt to the bleeding wounds, succession to the throne had passed on to Ozai, the younger of the brothers.
And now this.
"You must understand Iroh. There are whispers everywhere. I cannot undermine my own position by allowing you to remain here." Fire Lord Ozai sounded calm, not like a man who had lost so much in so short a period.
Iroh bowed his head deeply. "I understand brother," his gravelly voice was hoarse and laden with grief and guilt, "but do you really believe that I was involved in father's death?" Iroh's voice broke at the end of the question. Jee winced at the sound of friend's weakness, knowing how much Iroh hated being vulnerable.
The flames of the Fire Lord dimmed a little at the question. "No Iroh. I know you had nothing to do with father's death." He gave a dramatic sigh. "But with Ursa doing what she did to Zuko… I cannot keep you here."
There were bitter memories in those words. Both Iroh and Jee had heard the tale whispered in hushed voices by the palace servants. The soft fight between husband and wife, how Ursa had been seen entering her son's room with a drink, had been seen carrying the limp figure to own chambers, then had been seen at the edge of the city alone with nothing but her bag. An empty tincture of powder had been found hidden in her room. In high enough doses the drug could easily kill a grown man, never mind a small child.
The old General bowed deeply to his brother as though he could no longer stand under the weight of his own despair. "Then I accept my duty. I will find the Avatar."
"Excellent." Jee shivered at the Fire Lord's pronouncement. "A ship and supplies will be provided for you. It launches at sunset. Dismissed." Jee and Iroh bowed low, and then scurried out of the room.
Jee bit his tongue, waiting until they were far away from palace walls, far away from prying ears, before speaking in a hushed whisper. "General Iroh, you cannot be alright with this! You went from the successor to being banished! Do you honestly believe Ozai's story?" Jee ran a frustrated hand through his spiky hair. "The Avatar hasn't been seen for a hundred years. Do you honestly believe you can find him?"
Iroh shrugged, a sad determination radiating off his body. "I don't know Jee. But I owe it to him to look."
Jee just at his friend. "Iroh?"
Iroh shook himself, dragging his mind out of his plans and into back into the moment. He turned to Jee. That man worried too much. He shot his friend a tired small, then clapped his hands together. "Even if we don't find the Avatar I am sure we will find some lovely teas." And maybe the people he wished to drink it with.
------------------------
------------
-----------------------
They had been happy for a while. But the fragile joy that had accompanied their new life was always darkened by the looming shadow of past they couldn't run far enough from. They had tried, never staying in one place for too long, never forming permanent attachments. It had helped. It had extended the jubilation, keeping it alive long after it should have died.
Perhaps that's why the price for it was so steep. Because they had selfishly held onto it. Yet even now, laying in a puddle, breathing in as much mud as water, he couldn't regret that.
A/N- I know this is a little weird. It needs a bit of setting up before it gets good. I also warn you that I am going to play with the episode order, but honestly if you expected me to religiously follow the story line you should know better by now. -.^
In fact, I'm playing with everything, POV, story line, etc. This story is an experiment for me, seeing if i can make it outside my writing comfort zone. That means all and any advice will be appreciated, whether positive or negative. As with all my stories, its unbetad and written at 3 am. I proof read but i miss stuff. SOrry.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy.
PS: Disclaimer. I don't own Avatar. If i did this would be script and not fan fic.
PPS: If anyone can think of a summary I'd appreciate it. I didn't want to write one that gave everything away. . . ]:,
PPPS: I'm sorry to all those who get author alerts from me. I got into a fight with the internet... sorry!