Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar, don't want it either. I ONLY WANT ZUKO!
Woohoo! I had this dream where I found this secret stash of ATLA commercials on the internet! I got to watch the commercial for one episode and I felt the need to write a story about what I saw, even if it is 5:00 in the morning. WHO NEEDS SLEEP ANYWAYS? What would be really cool is if this turns out to be a psychic vision and this episode really is real!
So, now the big question is…can Katie really juggle two stories at once? We shall see! And if I end up flat on my butt you'll at least have something to laugh at. YAY!
Zuko stumbled into the tavern and followed his ever buoyant uncle to the counter behind which the owner of the establishment sat, polishing a glass. Iroh smiled at the man who spat in response and watched him with one glowering eye.
"We need a room to stay." Iroh said bluntly, dropping a few coins on the counter. It made up most of their meager funds. The only reason they had it was because Iroh had sold his velvet robe. The innkeeper nodded and spat on the floor once more.
"Room at the top'o the stairs is open." He grunted and picked up another glass to polish.
"Thank you." Iroh said kindly. Zuko didn't need to hear anything else. He was already dragging his exhausted body towards the stairs, the prospect of an actual bed (no matter how filthy) the only thing keeping him on his feet this long.
"Would you like some food before you go to sleep, nephew?" Iroh called after him. Zuko didn't answer him. Iroh shrugged and turned towards the tables where people of all sorts were sitting, swapping stories over drinks and (Iroh grinned to himself) gambling. Iroh beamed at these tables and offered a short prayer of thanks to Agni before diving into the games with only four silver pieces to his name.
"I hope you don't mind a senile old man joining your game?" He said kindly to his first table of choice.
"So long as you've brought money, we don't care who plays." One man said, then he hocked a loagy and spat it on the floor.
"Very good. Now, how do you play this game?" Iroh asked curiously, his eyes twinkling.
"Brother dear, wake up." A sweet voice sang into Zuko's ear. He sat up with a start, his hair flying around wildly. Someone laughed from the windowsill, the faint light outside barely illuminating the small, lean frame of a woman. Zuko couldn't see her face, but he didn't need to.
"What are you doing here?" He asked, hiding any emotion in his voice.
"Father has sent me on an errand. I heard you had been spotted in this area so I decided to pay you a visit before I finish my task." Zula said, shrugging. Zuko paused for a moment.
"And what task is that, pray tell?" Zuko had been very tempted not to ask this question. He knew it was the one she wanted him to ask and her cat-like grin confirmed his suspicion. He really didn't like being the play thing of others
"To do what you could not. Capture the Avatar." Zula stood up and walk around, idly picking up the few objects on a dresser. "Oh, and then there was some little thing about killing uncle Iroh." She said with a dismissive wave. Zuko released a roar and lunged off the bed towards her. Her leg lashed out in the dark and knocked him in the chest, sending him stumbling backwards onto his bed. He prepared to push himself back up, but the heel of a foot pressed against his throat, pinning his head to the pillow.
"I have no immediate quarrel with you, Zuko. In fact you would be dead now if I chose it. But I want you to watch as I bring everything down around your ears. I want to see your honor lost forever as I present the avatar to father, I want to see your spirit broken as I drive a sword into Uncle's heart, and I want to see your fear as you wait for me to decide what to do with whatever's left of your body." Zuko was struggling and gasping for breath. The heel was blocking his windpipe and pinching a nerve, paralyzing his entire body. The pressure finally eased from his neck and feeling began to return a little. Zula gave him a harsh kiss on the cheek and sauntered over to the window.
"It was really nice seeing you again, brother dear. Don't be a stranger." Then she was gone. Zuko coughed and rolled from the bed. He lay there, quivering as his nerves needled back to life. The door opened, allowing a sudden rush of light and sound from below to seep in along with Iroh. Iroh was laughing and he gave a jolly wave down to tavern full of people cheering him. Iroh shut the door and turned to Zuko.
"Did you fall off the bed, Nephew?" He asked lightly. Zuko hesitated, then nodded. "You'll never believe my luck tonight. We won't be having any trouble with money any time soon, I can assure you of that." Iroh said, jingling a satisfyingly heavy purse. He sat down and pulled off his boots with a blissful sigh. He emptied his sleeves of their vast supply of knick knacks, placing each item on the rickety dresser before laying down on the bed and falling asleep instantly.
Zuko rubbed a shaking hand across his eyes and climbed to his feet. He watched the snoring form of his uncle for a moment before crossing over to the open window. He knew for sure that Zula was gone, and he was grateful for it. His sister had always scared him. He was older, but she was crueler. She worshipped Agni as all in the firenation did, but her patron goddess was Kali. Zula studied her ways and had learned out to drive fear into another with the same ease anybody else breathed. Zuko brushed a hand across his face and shuddered at the feel of the calloused skin. There was no doubt in his mind that she wouldn't try what she had proposed. She had no love for Iroh, or anybody else for that matter. Zuko glanced back at his uncle. He knew the man well. Iroh often put on the face of a halfwit, but that was all part of his genius. Zuko shook his head, his uncle would have no trouble protecting himself from Zula. Especially since Zuko would always be at his side.
Zuko took in a deep breath. There was a swamp just beyond the trees. It made the air thick and musty, doing nothing to lighten his mood. She had mentioned the avatar. But he couldn't help but wonder if that really mattered to him anymore. He had seen what the quest for honor had turned Zhao into. Zuko felt hollow. The one flame driving him on had been extinguished in the arctic air.
"Prince Zuko, are you all right?" A groggy voice asked from behind. Zuko turned and looked at his uncle. Iroh was really the only thing keeping him from falling.
"Yes uncle. I'm fine." Zuko said hoarsely. Iroh grumbled something and rolled over. Zuko smiled and lay down on the bed beside him. He gazed over at the face and committed every wrinkle to memory. He took in the scent of his uncle and kept it in, wanting to preserve what he had so often taken for granted. Then, Zuko closed his eyes and began to drift back to sleep, the warmth of Iroh's body six inches away a final comfort in the thick night.
Then the flimsy bed collapsed under their combined weight.
Yes, I know that was really short, I tend to do that. I promise the other chapters will be at least a little longer, then again I can't guarantee that because I haven't written them yet hee haa. Please let me know of what you thought of this, and even if nobody reviews I will still post more chapters because I'm a rebel! Bwuahahahaa! YOU CAN TRY AND STOP ME, BUT I'M WEARING MY INCREDIBLE HULK P.J. BOTTOMS! I'M INVINCIBLE! (cough) still, reviews would be much appreciated. And if you feel the need to read my other stuff, please do so and remember to review for them as well! Especially 'Everyone else is doing it' because I desperately want to get 500 reviews! YAY!