Week 4: Fever

Genres: Hurt/Comfort/Romance

Rating: K+

Setting: Forgetful Valley (alternate ending to The Search)

Word Count: 1,000

Fever

Even when you're strong… you're weak. His sister's parting words resounded incessantly as he desperately searched for her in the Forgetful Valley. But just as he had almost abandoned all hope, he found her. Curled up in the fetal position near the westernmost pool of water, entirely motionless. Unresponsive to his cries.

Zuko ran to her as fast as his buckling knees would carry him. Kneeling down beside her, he picked her up, cradling her like a child. She was hot to the touch. Dangerously hot.

Azula's yellow eyes fluttered opened as she gained consciousness. "Zuzu?" she whispered, reaching for him. "Is that really you?"

He grabbed her hand and guided it to his cheek. "Yes. It's me. I'm here." His voice cracked.

"I don't feel right."

"You're burning up." He gently stroked her onyx hair behind her ear, not fazed by the sweatiness of the strands. "Hang on." He softly laid her down on the grass before removing his outermost layer, which he promptly ripped up into rags. With shaky hands, he soaked one of the cloths in the cool water. When he returned to her, he propped her head up onto his lap and placed the wet rag on her scorching forehead.

She sighed, instantly comforted by the cold water. "I've been seeing things… illusions… but not like before – "

"Why don't you save your energy and try to get some rest?" he soothed, continuing to run his fingers through her silky locks. "You can tell me all about these visions in the morning."

"You promise you'll… still be here?"

"Of course."

He held her through the night, coaxing her through each nightmare that plagued her slumbers.

Though still weakened, she was feeling a bit more stable when the sun rose. Waking up to find her brother loyally by her side was medication on its own, despite how much it elevated her heartrate.

He smiled. "How are you feeling?"

"Thirsty."

He pulled out a flask of water he had collected from the pool. "I hope the Spirits don't mind us drinking their water."

She snatched it from his hand and chugged down the entirety of its contents. "I honestly don't care," she exhaled, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.

"I'll, uh, get some more," he chuckled, recovering the flask and leaning over the pool to refill it. But before he gave it back to her, he rested his hand on her forehead to check her temperature. "You're still really hot."

She knew what he meant, but the comment made her cheeks redden nonetheless. "Y-Yes, well obviously I'm sick, Fire Lord Genius."

"Clearly not too sick to tease me," he laughed.

"You make it too easy," she smiled before laying her head on his shoulder.

He rested his head upon hers. "So… tell me about these hallucinations."

She sighed. "They're… confusing."

"How so?"

"Like last night, I dreamt that I was the Fire Lord sitting in the throne room, but instead of fire behind me, there were mirrors. Actually, the mirrors surrounded the entire room, all pointing toward me. Everything was just… off. The royal hairpiece was too big – it kept digging into my scalp. The throne was constricting, and I was literally chained down to it! When I called for my attendants, no one showed up." She began to breathe heavily.

He took her hand in his to calm her down.

"First, Mother appeared in one of the mirrors. She said, 'You banished all your servants, remember, foolish child?' Then Ozai showed up and said, 'Needing people makes you weak. Haven't you learned a thing I've taught you?' And then Uncle emerged. He said, 'How can you rely on others when you can't even rely on yourself? Do you even know who you are, Azula?' And… and…"

He interweaved his fingers with hers.

"Lu Ten was there. He told me I needed to find my light. And finally… you appeared. You didn't say anything – you just stood there, bathed in orange flames, wearing your crown so proudly. You looked so…"

"Handsome?" he offered, attempting to lighten the mood.

"I was going to say 'happy', but yes… that too."

He blushed, casting his eyes down toward their laced hands.

"What do you think this means?"

Suddenly, he jolted up, completely dumbstruck. "I-I don't know how I didn't see it before! The exact same thing happened to me in Ba Sing Se after I set Appa free. Dropping that incriminating letter must have triggered it! Azula… you're having a metamorphosis!"

"A what now?"

"It's this illness that occurs when your mind wars with itself, but when it's over, you emerge as the person you were truly meant to be – "

"Did Uncle tell you this? This has Iroh written all over it – "

"Well yes, he did… and he helped me get through it. And now I'm going to guide you through yours. So… just let me take care of you, okay?" He brought his hand to her cheek.

His touch immobilized her. "Okay, brother."

He spent the rest of the day caring for her. Bringing her food and water, washing the sweat off her brow, hugging her tightly after a hallucination. Come nightfall, he fell asleep with her in his arms.

And for the first time in years, she slept peacefully. That night, Azula only had one dream.

She and Zuko were meandering through a dark cavern that seemed to lead to nowhere. The more they tried to firebend to see a path, the hazier everything became. Then, after they extinguished their flames, he took her hands in his. And they kissed. Suddenly, the whole cavern became illuminated in a beautiful array of warm light. They were able to find their way out.

When she woke up in her brother's embrace, it was clear that he was her light. And maybe, just maybe, she was his too. The realization brought a smile to her face.

"Hey Azula," he whispered, affectionately stroking her cheek. "Your fever's broken."