Burdens
"I'm sorry uncle. I should have attended to the boy as well as I did for you. But I needed to make sure you were ok," Zuko hung his head. He seemed embarrassed by his own kindness and worry.
Iroh placed a hand on his nephew's shoulder. "Don't blame yourself. You did what anyone could have asked for. The boy will recover. Thank you for watching the shop while I was gone, Zuko," Uncle Iroh said kindly. He did not want to lower his nephew's self esteem; especially when it dealt with kindness and love.
"Now tell me what happened," Zuko demanded. He turned to face his uncle; his golden eyes piercing into Iroh's brown ones.
"I will tell you everything…"
"Good" Zuko cut in.
"Everything…in due time."
"What!? Uncle, you can not expect me to save both you and this stranger and not get an explanation for it!" the boy protested.
"What I can tell you is this. This boy is important to us both, Zuko. It was by chance that I found him, but now that I did, we cannot lose me. Trust me, nephew. Everything will be known soon."
The light was blinding, the boy realized when he tried to crack them open. Failing at that, he laid there with his eyes still closed. He was in a warm bed. Warm…which probably meant fire benders because last thing he knew, it was raining and cold. What was the last thing he remembered?
Something about the Dai Li, and old man, running…
He attempted to open his eyes again, ever so slowly. It hurt. His right temple throbbed. His own tentative hand reached up to touch dry blood. The boy winced.
"Good to see you're awake. We could use the help around here," came in a bustling teenager. He seemed to be sixteen or seventeen and was rummaging through a cabinet looking for something. The teenager turned around and the boy in the bed gasped as he saw a large scar on his face.
Zuko, who noticed his surprise, scowled and turned back away. He hated being gawked at.
"My uncle wants you to stay here while you are ill. He doesn't want you getting sick after an injury and risking infection," Zuko commanded. He turned around to find the boy slowly getting out of bed. The boy was tall and lanky with the hint of growing muscles. His dark brown hair lay around his head like a halo –except for the part that was bloodied by the injury he obtained running away from the Dai Li with Iroh – but fell raggedly around his shoulders. His face looked oddly familiar.
"What did I tell you?! Stay in bed!" Zuko snapped; already annoyed at the disobeying kid.
"I think I'll ask this "uncle" myself what he wants," the boy said simply, pulling on his gray parka over the black pants he was wearing. The parka matched with his deep gray eyes.
"What? Don't you trust me?" Zuko asked, his own eyes narrowing.
"No."
"Why not?"
"I don't know who you are," the boy snapped.
"I'm Z – Lee. Now will you listen?" he said through gritted teeth. He had almost given away his alias.
"I'm Jiro, and no," the boy stated simply, continuing with a limp towards the door. Zuko seethed.
"You need to stay in bed," Zuko said in a dangerously even tone.
"Make me"
"That's the last thing you want," Zuko grabbed his arm and made the insolent boy look at him. He stared coolly into Zuko's angry amber eyes before relenting.
"Fine. Just tell this uncle of yours that I want to talk." Jiro limped back to his bed, laying on it calmly.
Zuko, his blood boiling, stomped out of the room and back into the teahouse. Iroh was juggling a tray of tea in one hand, and five checks in another. Seeing his nephew, Iroh called out, "come help Zuko! What have you been off idly doing?" he asked.
"The insolent pup wants to see you," growled Zuko, taking the tray and checks from his uncle, replacing one burden with another.
Do i hear angst and temper problems for the two boys? Heck yes! hope you enjoyed. Read and Review. Much love.
