Blood Benders
Chapter 35,
Crossroads
"You went to speak with her?" The prince, miraculously, was not surprised. It seemed exactly like something like his uncle would do. And he really wasn't feeling much of anything nowadays.
"She was not well."
They didn't speak for several more minutes. Zuko knew it was a reaction to the visit, but he wasn't feeling well. It could have been that hearing that Katara was ill. Or hurt. It didn't feel right. Knowing he was, in some warped way, responsible.
"You should go see your father. He was wanting to speak with you." Iroh was packing things away, though Zuko did not know what for. The prince nodded and walked to his father's chamber.
The room was dark, though lined in flames. It was meant to direct your attention directly to the Fire Lord. As if you could look anywhere else. The man had a presence that made you pay attention.
"Uncle sent me." Zuko said, bowing to his father.
"Be seated." Zuko did as he was instructed.
"Is there something you need?" Though Zuko doubted there was anything he could do that his father couldn't without him.
"It's about the Painted Lady."
Zuko was grateful to his father for not saying her name. It was one small grace that he knew he would need to get through this conversation.
"We've discussed the punishment. But, I wondered if you had your own opinions."
Zuko looked away, taking a breath.
"Is there something you'd-?"
"No. I don't care what happens to her." He rose, without being released, and began walking away. He had nothing further to say on the matter.
It was the biggest L-I-E the prince had ever told in his entire life.
…
He couldn't sleep that night. It felt like his body was burning, and he couldn't get enough to drink. He kept having nightmares he couldn't remember. He would just wake up, almost striking an invisible enemy. Then he would pace for a few steps, and try and go back to sleep. This continued for a few days.
Some time in between fits of delirium, Zuko heard his uncle tell him that Katara was to be executed publicly within a month. He couldn't be sure if he had imagined that or not, and he wasn't sure how he felt about it.
After almost a week of fever, the prince finally remembered one of his dreams.
A red dragon, a blue dragon. Words he couldn't hear. Her name echoing endlessly. Her voice crying for help. A blue mask and ice-edged swords. A woman with white paint. Her eyes. Those blue orbs he so sorely missed.
When he woke up, he knew what he had to do. Even if he didn't want to, he was going to have to. But it would have to wait until he was well enough to walk on his own.
He was going to have to save someone who tried to kill him.
A/N: Extremely short, yes, but I'll make it up to you. Somehow. Tell me how? I ran out of e-brownies. Those mysteriously disappeared. ...