Ch. ~ 4 Zhao
I froze but not for to long because he was deep in conversation with Iroh. I sat down my tray and went and stood next to Asoka, hoping he wouldn't notice me. They only other ones in the room beside those two and us were Katara, Sokka, Li, and Li's family. Once the food was set down Iroh stopped talking and started eating but Zhao continued the conversation with Li's dad and Sokka, Li didn't pay much attention.
Zhao eyes traveled everywhere and it was only a matter of time before he saw me. His eyes rested on Katara for longer than was needed before settling on me. I could see the surprise on his face. Apparently he had expected to see me as much as I had expected to see him. Our eyes locked and it was like that battle that was fought between us three years ago, along with all the hate, came roaring back to life.
The conversation had stopped since Zhao was no longer responding. Li actually looked mildly interested, Sokka and Li's father stopped with mild tension; Li's mother looked worriedly at Katara because she knew I'm Katara's slave, Katara was silently studying Zhao and I, all the while Iroh kept drinking his tea and eat the little sandwiches. Zhao smirked and said, "You, boy, come here." I had no choice but to do what he said. I came forward all eyes on me now. Zhao grabbed my arm turned me around harshly and yanked up my shirt. He was looking for the scars, when he saw them he laughed and threw me to the ground.
"I thought so, you're the disrespectful little brat I taught a lesson to… how many years ago was it?" He asked and I took the bait.
"Three years ago." I didn't say his name or title, and I was still on the ground. He glared at me before kicking me back to my back and pressing a heavy boot to my chest.
"What's my name?" he growls in a deadly whisper.
"Zhao," I say. He's pressed harder and I could barely breathe. All eyes are still on me. My vision starts to go black and I can barely breathe.
"My full name," he's says in the same deadly quite voice.
"Commander Zhao, get off him, now." Katara says standing up and imitating the deadly quite voice.
"Just dealing with a disrespectful worm Princess nothing to worry about," but he gets off.
"If you have a problem with MY slave you take it up with me, and I'll think up a punishment you do not do what ever you want. Do you understand me?" Katara said coming closer to him then getting on the table to be eye to eye with him. It would have been funny if not for the graveness of the matter. Zhao looked taken back. But bowed said nothing sitting back down.
"Asoka why don't you help Zuko back down and get him cleaned up?" Iroh said as if you couldn't feel the tension in the room. She nodded and helped me back down the steps
"Gin?! I need some help here!" Asoka called when we got down. Asoka was sagging under my weight and was about to fall when Canyun and Gin came out.
"Oh my! Canyun get some water, what happened?" Gin said\asked. The laid me on the floor and she told the whole story. Canyun came back and they removed my shirt to reveal several large bruises and cut on my chest. As they were inspecting me Gin said I had several cracked ribs and possibly one broken one.
When they started cleaning me with the water it started to glow blue and the pain lessened. They stared at me in shock.
"Zuko, are you a waterbender?" Canyun asked cautiously.
"Yes." was all I could weakly manage.
"Quickly wet the towels and lay them on him. Zuko I think you may be a healer. I'm going to see if this works." They laid the now sopping wet towels on my chest and they glowed blue and there was a slight burning then the blue went away and they remove the towels and the bruises had faded significantly, the cuts were gone, but my ribs were still cracked and the one was broken.
"Well, you can't heal bones yet but you're better than you were. Canyun take him to his room. Asoka go tell Katara what happened." Gin said sadly. With that Asoka stood up and with one last look she went up.
There was still a lot of tension in the room and all of us (except Uncle) could feel it. I didn't know why Zhao had attacked Zuko but I would ask later. The conversations started back up to them the only thing wrong with what happened was me coming to Zuko's defense. Mae Su was chattering about something in my ear.
She talked so much its amazing Li didn't develop the same talent as his mother. I tried to add to the conversation but she talked so much I couldn't get a word in. Aw now I see why he isn't chatty living with this woman it would be a miracle to get a word in.
There was a soft knock on the slave door. I held up my hand and motioned for Mae Su to stop talking.
"Come in." I said loud enough for the other person to hear over the rising voices of the men (minus Li and Iroh.) They quieted down as Asoka came in. She bowed to us and said, "Madam, could I speak with for a moment?" I nodded and stood up to leave the room to the one adjacent to the sitting room. When we entered Asoka told me what happened.
"We cleaned the cuts and put ointment on the bruises to help the pain and swelling to go away. The cracked ribs will take longed and the broken one will take at least a month before he could be of much use in doing anything major." She said with her eyes downcast.
"Ok, when's the soonest he could be back to work. You know doing small things." I asked looking up at the older girl. She couldn't be much older than Zuko. I'll have to ask eventually. It was strange thought but hey my mind has been going strange places lately, even before Zuko showed up.
"I'd say a week at the least. And if you need a servant until then I am almost always available and I'm sure I could get Canyun to take my shifts, you know if you want." She added sheepishly. I looked up and she looked really embarrassed.
"That would be wonderful, where is Zuko now?"
"I believe Canyun took him to his room the pain medicine knocked him out and he needs to rest. If that's alright?"
"Absolutely, would you mind going to my and starting another bath I need to get out of here and rest." She nodded and bowed before she left. I went in and excused myself before I headed out. I needed time to think so I went to the turtle-duck pond to think. I heard a rustling behind me. I turned but didn't see anyone. I was about to leave when a hand grabbed my arm and the other hand covered my mouth…
x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x. .x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.
Ooohhhh! Cliff Hanger, don't you love me? Mwhahaha (evil laugh) Don't worry I'll try to get the next one up soon. I'm so happy I figured out how to up load the new chapters. Yay me! Again I would like to thank my one and only reviewer Tterit. But anyone can comment if they like, or have questions. I Haven't been able to get on my page to update in a while but if your reading this it means I was able to get on and update. Reviewing would help and like I said I won't hold the stories but with out reviews I just won't work to get them out as fast…
I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender But I do own any OCs and this plot.
