Lost in the screams of pain is a chapter story,
All the stories are about fragments out of Zuko's and Iroh's lives.
Iroh develops as a carrying father. Zuko has a very hard time with his healing. The boy becomes 'the blue masked boy', Captain Zhao get his pay back!
Iroh is sixty-four,
Captain Zhao is forty-four,
Zuko is fifteen.
Lost in the screams of pain,
Chapter 21: Revenge.
Iroh had stayed this passed night into his nephew's room, he was glad to see the first morning shines. It was such a tough night for everyone on this ship.
Prince Zuko couldn't find peace after the horrible attack of Captain Zhao, he had some awful nightmares. Uncle Iroh tried to calm his nephew down but it didn't work often. He didn't know if it was the shock, the pain or the fever but from the moment when Zuko gets into a deeper sleep.
The boy began to do odd; it's very creepy to witness. It's very painful to see and hear the raves and screams that came out of the boy's mouth. Even some men from their crew, came that night to ask what was wrong.
Uncle tried everything to comfort his nephew but from the moment Zuko woke up, he couldn't speak about it. He didn't answer his uncle's questions, or he was in a state of hysteria. From the moment he fells a sleep, Iroh held his breath.
"Are you feeling a little bit better?" Iroh asked with concern in his voice.
"No, not really." Zuko whispered, his eyes were red from high fever.
Iroh helped the boy with drinking some healing tea. "You need to drink much, otherwise you will dry up!"
He felt at the boy's cheeks and looked carefully at his face. His left side was badly swollen, it didn't look great.
"Why do I have this fever?" Zuko asked calmly.
Iroh smiled at his calm nephew. "Well boy, your scar is infected. You've laid with your scar side into the dirty sand. The scar was ripped open, so probably some bad bacteria out of the sand have causes this infection."
"Stupid scar." Zuko muttered quietly.
Iroh laughed with his nephew's expression. The old man liked his boy's sense of pure drama; Prince Zuko could make wonderful face expressions and very dramatic monologues. Most of the time, they were very enjoyable. Like you watched some sort of play but sometimes they were very sad and heartbreaking.
"I'm going downstairs, eating! I'll come back with some nice food." Iroh said while he left the young man's room.
Zuko felt so bad, he had more pain than yesterday. His body was stiff from the kicking's, his neck was sore from the brutal shakings, his hands tingled from the punches.
The boy tried to sit up slowly, he laid his hands on his belly. "Aww" Zuko snarled a bit.
He moved his blanket away and looked over his belly. It was dark blue, purple and red. It hurts so badly. "Stupid Zhao." Zuko spoke out loud. "Why do you always need to embarrass me?"
Zhao was a very smart man. He does everything with significance. After Zuko banishment, he saw the boy as trash. A traitor, a disgrace, a nothing, so he treated Prince Zuko like he was nothing. Captain Zhao gave his significance in the way he racked Zuko.
Ripped his scar, ripped Zuko's signature.
Bruised his personal parts, broke Zuko's proud.
Destroyed his belly, the stomach, the energy source of the body.
Let him behind like trash. Uncle Iroh had warned Zuko several times to never be alone with this guy. Zhao is a price cutter; he will always follow the leader. He doesn't care who the leader is but he will charm him and will do all his dirty jobs.
Just, to shine.
Many men in the army hates him but he's loved by the mighty Fire Lord, because he's a dirty rat. He knows everything about everyone and no secrets remains a secret. Uncle Iroh didn't trust Zhao, he knew who Zhao was. He isn't afraid to kill someone or to hurt, abuse an un-guilty person.
Prince Zuko tried to relax, he had promised himself to brake Zhao's proud from the moment he's healed. He didn't want to hurt him but he had enough from his embarrassments. So now, it's Captain Zhao's turn to be the fool.
The door opened gently, it was his uncle with a dish. It smelled great! Zuko sniffed. "Mmm, what is this?"
"Some komodo sausages with rice and cabbage." Iroh answered while he puts the dish on Zuko's night table.
"I can eat by my own." Zuko replied firmly.
"No, no! You need to spare your energy." Iroh offered Zuko some food.
Zuko knew that he couldn't change his uncle's mind, so he agreed. "It is nice." He whispered.
"Do you feel a bit better?" Iroh asked.
Zuko sighed and shrugged. "Some pain."
"And psychic?" Iroh whispered while he took Zuko's hand closer.
Zuko looked down. "Everything is okay when I'm awake, but the nightmares are back."
Iroh sighed; he had his suspicions but hoped it weren't 'THE' nightmares. "From the Agni Kai?"
"Yeah." Zuko admitted.
Hmm, all our hard work is lost. Iroh thought while he looked to the plafond.
After the banishment, Zuko couldn't sleep from his cruel nightmares. They were awful dreams about the Agni Kai and other sad memories. Zuko was stuck inside, when he had those dreams. He couldn't wake up; he was stuck in the sad memories.
Uncle Iroh worked hard with his nephew, they worked years to over win these dreams but now, all his work was lost. His nephew has relapsed and the dream seems to be worse than in the past.
"I'm here for you, if you want to talk about it!" Iroh suggested.
"Euh, no. Sorry, but I-."
Iroh smiled and took his nephew closer. "When you're ready, I'm ready." Zuko lay his head down on his uncle's chest; he snuggled against the older man and yawned.
"Tired?" Uncle asked while he stoked the boy's cheek very gently.
"Yeah."
The boy quietly placed himself back on his bed, his eyes slightly closed. Uncle tucked his nephew in and placed himself next to Zuko on his mattress.
Three weeks later.
Prince Zuko's body had healed but the wounds inside not. They were carved deep into Prince Zuko's heart.
"When may we leave, sir?" Lieutenant Jee asked.
"Within two days." Iroh replied.
The ship hadn't sailed for weeks, Iroh didn't want it. Prince Zuko would have start to search for the avatar again and he wouldn't take his time to recover.
Iroh took a little sip from his tea and glared at his nephew."Where are you going Prince Zuko?" The man asked curios, Zuko rarely left his ship alone.
The young prince looked up, his expression was neutral. "Walking in the forest."
"Ah! Recovering your spirit!" Iroh stroked his beard, he knew his nephew. Zuko never enjoyed walks, he's hiding something.
"Indeed!" Zuko smiled while he left the ship.
Prince Zuko walked a few meters away towards a huge forest. He waited until the moment when he was out of sight. The young boy took his uniform of, he wore black clothes under it, he was dressed inconspicuous.
Zuko hid his uniform under some bushes and puts his blue mask on. He was ready, ready to work undercover for the first time in his life. Prince Zuko ran through the woods, discrete and soundless.
He loved this feeling! He felt so free inside, this was so exciting!
Zuko arrived Captain Zhao's huge fortress, there were guards everywhere. He waited in the bushes and thought about what he would do.
There arrived an old farmer in a covered wagon with cabbages.
This is my change! Zuko thought.
The guards checked the cabbages and gave the farmer a sign. Zuko jumped out of the bushes into the car, he covered himself with some cabbages.
He heard the gate close; he made himself ready to escape. Prince Zuko looked carefully out of the car.
There! Zuko thought while he saw a sewer.
He waited until everything was safe; the boy crept out of the car and went through the sewer. "This was so awesome!" He whispered.
Zuko wandered a while through the sewer; he searched his way to the main building. After some fumbling, Zuko found a little cover.
He crept quickly into the main building. Zuko heard a male voice; it was Captain Zhao's voice. Prince Zuko pushed himself against the wall; he tried to keep his breathing calm.
Focus Zuko, don't fail this! Zuko gave himself some courage. He looked behind the corner, observed the place.
Zhao was alone in a sort of small meeting room, he rehearsed a speech. Zuko crept closer; he took a cloth which lay in the passage.
Okay, this will be fun! Zuko thought while he came closer toward the door. There hung a bat in front of the room, as an ornamental. Zuko took it off.
Zhao stood with his face side before a map, he was speaking towards himself. Zuko ran and slammed the bad against Zhao's head. He fell down immediately, the man didn't move.
The blue masked boy closed the door quickly; the adrenaline was streaming through his veins. He blindfolded the man and took his ropes. Binds them around the man's hands and hung them over the steel bars.
He pulled the man up, tied the rope to a pole. He watched carefully at Zhao. The captain was hanged with his hands in the middle of the meeting room.
Should I? Zuko thought while felt at his belly. He humiliated me several times. Why shouldn't I?
He took a deep breath and took Zhao by his pants.
"I'm sorry Zhao!" He whispered with a grin. The boy pulled it off with amuse, he took some steps back and watched at the captain's backside. He couldn't help; the boy observed the man's other side.
He stood before the door and watched at Zhao who was hanging half naked in the middle of the room.
The prince slapped his hand before his mouth, forced himself not to laugh. So, sad! Oh Agni, this is so sad!
The blue masked boy quickly despaired into the forest.
Sometime later.
"Did you enjoy your long walk, Prince Zuko?" Iroh asked with a little smile.
Zuko smiled widely. "Yeah, I've enjoyed it!"
"What did you do?" Iroh leaned his head a bit, he was so curios.
"Euhm, I've- ? I've watched animals?" Zuko replied unsure.
"Oh and it was fun?" Iroh frowned.
"Ha-ha, Yeah! It was awesome!" Zuko cried out.
Hmmm, or he went out with a pretty girl or he did something risky with Zhao. Iroh thought while he sipped from his tea.
Meanwhile…
Zhao woke up very slowly; he was very unaware of this situation. The man felt dizzy in his head for an unknown reason.
He glared before him and noticed the high difference. "Huh? What is this?"
The door flew open, the follow captains and commandants entered the room. They stood perplexed by this sight.
Captain Zhao hung half naked in the room."What? What's happening?" Zhao cried out.
The fellow men couldn't hold their laughs.
"Help me! Get me off!" Zhao demanded.
His men tried to help him but couldn't stay serious.
The higher commandant was so furious. "Captain Zhao? What kind of show is this? Such a disgrace for our uniform!"
Captain Zhao grabbed his pants, tried to save his reputation. "But Commandant Ling, I have been attacked. This - this was an assessment on my persona!"
"Shut-up! You will be suspended for seven weeks! How could you be so week Zhao?" The commandant asked.
"Because I'm a failure, sir." Zhao replied between his teeth.
"You can withdraw." The commandant demanded.
Captain Zhao never felt such shame. Was it Prince Zuko? Zhao thought while he sighed. No! That can't be, not that weakling. He thought while he went to his room.
Zuko lay in his bed and grinned to the ceiling; he fantasizes about what would happen if they found Zhao. His smile grew bigger and bigger by his thoughts.
Man! I would pay to see his face right now. Zuko thought amused.
The next day.
Uncle Iroh benefited his last free day; he went out to a nearby market. "Good morning sir! Do you have some lychees?" Iroh asked the merchant.
"No, not today." The merchant replied. "But I have a great rumor!"
"Oh, I'm always in for a good rumor!" Iroh said curious while he came closer toward the merchant.
"Do you know captain Zhao?"
"Yes, I know him very well!" Iroh smiled, knowing that his young nephew was behind this.
"Ha-ha, yesterday! Ha-ha, he's been attacked; someone has hung him up by his hands in a council room, half naked! Ha-ha, can you imagine the moment when his superior entered?" The merchant laughed out.
"That must be very embarrassing!" Iroh replied amused, the man turned around and sat on a little stool. Hi-hi, my little Zuko! Amazing how he went unnoticed in -and out the fortress! Iroh stroke his beard again. Now I understand what he means with 'watching animals'!
Iroh smiled. That strange nephew of mine, I'm so proud of him!