EYYY i'm back again for another update after what? Two months? better than last time at least! I always say I'll get better at updating, but we know that's a lie don't we...

Anyways! Thanks for all the nice comments I love reading them! You guys are absolutely amazing!

CH 3 Questions and More Questions

The declaration left the room quiet. No one said a word as they took in the information. Zuko figured they were surprised but wasn't sure what to think of their expressions. The leader had a familiar look, a set look that betrayed no expression, while the older healer openly expressed his shock as he sat back and watched.

Zuko felt trapped. It was a suffocating feeling he was familiar with such as the many times his father or tutor would ask a question he didn't know how to respond to. What he was supposed to do or say, he didn't know. He never was able to meet anyone expectations and now he was stuck with strangers. Strangers who looked like they might want to kill him. Zuko curled up slightly, fear coursing through him.

"I am Chief Hakoda of the Southern Water Tribe," the leader introduced his face softening. "You have nothing to fear. We won't hurt you."

The healer scoffed. "Only bastards would hurt children. They have no soul if they do."

The Chief shot a look at the older man before turning back Zuko. He did feel a bit better knowing that was how they felt, but maybe that wouldn't stop them from killing him in the end or maybe just keeping him prisoner. It was most likely they wanted to keep him prisoner. That was the only explanation as to why they would not hurt him and heal him of his injuries. Zuko wished Azula was here, she was so much better at figuring this stuff out and even turning it to her favor.

"So tell me Prince Zuko, what were you doing in that life boat we found you in?" Chief Hakoda questioned.

Would it be worth telling? He was already they're prisoner. Did they really need to know how he got out there? Maybe they wanted to know so they could send a ransom letter to his father. Not that his father would ever pay. If you were weak enough to be captured you deserved what you got.

Zuko opened his mouth, deciding to just go for it. "Why do you need to know?"

"Because, you could have died. The cold almost killed you and even then your infection and injuries would have killed you before then. Whoever let you get that bad and left you out like that deserves to be punished," the healer spoke up, his voice firm and steady.

"Atka is correct," the Chief spoke up. "If you could tell us we want to help you. A young boy like you doesn't deserve such treatment."

"I'm not a young boy!" Zuko exclaimed.

He was tired of being treated like a kid. He wasn't fragile and he wasn't some weakling, he just had to prove himself is all.

"How old are you?"

"13," Zuko mumbled, before mentioning, "But I turn 14 in the winter!"

"Ah so a young man then," the healer, Atka, Zuko remembered, nodded knowingly and sending him a smile. "It still doesn't change the fact that you did not deserve to go through that."
"I um," Zuko stumbled over his words, unused to anyone but his mom and uncle showing such kindness. "They were the men on the ship. I don't think I was supposed to survive."

Chief Hakoda tensed before questioning, "Were they from another nation? Did they kidnap you?"

Zuko shook his head confused again. "No? Why would anyone kidnap me? My father sent me away because I-"

He cut himself off as shame filled him. No way was he going to expose what he went through. They already knew he was banished, but anything more could ensure his death and besides why would they want anything from a dishonored, banished prince. Shame filled him.

"You don't have to tell us every, not if you're uncomfortable, but we do need to know who hurt you," Healer Atka gently said, shooting the other man a look when he went to press on.

It was silent as Zuko contemplated this. He really had nothing to lose. There was no way he would escape without help, much less get back to the Fire Nation if he was so far south. He remembered looking at a man and someone pointing out how far away the poles were from the seemingly always hot lands of the Fire Nation. It would be impossible.

Shivering while remembering the cold and other memories, Zuko curled in on himself. No one had wanted to help him before. The last group of people he had been around had left him in this state. He didn't know if he could trust them. Pressing his lips tightly together he silently decided he was not going to speak anymore.

"I see," Healer Atka sighed, still keeping a soft tone. "I think it's time I check over my patient, Chief, if you could leave?"

Zuko quickly looked up, tensing. If the chief was like his father he would be furious! Not just at being told what to do, but at him refusing to answer his questions! They would both be punished and he would rather be dead than trapped in another hell.

Shock and surprise couldn't describe what he was feeling as he watched the Chief untense and nodded to the healer. His body was still stiff, but he kept his hands to his side and didn't move in a threatening way.

"I'll send someone in to help, but I will need to speak to him more later," the last part directed at Zuko.

The shock must have been visible on his face as the healer sent him a reassuring look after Chief Hakoda had left the room. Zuko stayed still, almost like he was waiting for the other shoe to drop. It couldn't have gone like that. No, it didn't make sense. Where was the yelling, the fire, the demanins and orders?

"The Chief is a kind man, he'll wait until you're ready," Healer Atka spoke rummaging around for some items. He turned around and looked Zuko over with a scuritizing look. "Now please be honest and tell me how you're feeling."

Having many "accidents" caused by his sister over the years made him fearful of healers. They weren't the most gentle and always seemed to know when he lied. Trying to keep the distance between them Zuko decided to be honest. If there was anything he learned was that healers were terrifying when you defied them.

"My eye hurts a lot, my leg too," he mumbled, clutching the blanket on his lap. There was more pain than that but those were the worst.

Healer Atka hummed as he pulled new bandages out and some paste. He moved to sit in front of Zuko, who tried to scoot back and keep his distance.

"Your leg is bound and should heal in time. Your eye on the other hand is going to need to be treated repeatedly, and I'm not going to lie, but I don't know if you'll ever see from that side again," Healer Atka honestly said.

Zuko stared at his hands as they turned white from the tight grip. Of course he'd have another weakness. He was such a useless firebender and now he'll be at a disadvantage now, a disability. If his father found out, he couldn't even finish that thought of what he'd do.

"Now please allow me to replace the bandages and put some of this on your burn. It should help with the infection and healing and pain."

Still ridged with fear, Zuko moved slowly to the healer. Just as the healer was about to begin unwinding the bandage there was a knock at the door. Zuko tensed even further if that was possible, his shoulders coming up to his ears as he waited for a reaction from the healer being interrupted.

"Come in," the healer spoke calmly, keeping his voice low and gentle.

The person who entered was not the Chief like Zuko feared. It was a young man obviously of the Water Tribe, which made sense considering where he was. The blue eyes looked over him, but didn't hold the hostility that he anticipated. What was going on?

"Chief told me to bring some food," the man said, lifting the tray in his hands.

Zuko could see the bowls and cups, and as much as he didn't want to eat his stomach growled making his hunger known. When two pairs of eyes turned towards him at the sound, a blush worked it's way over his cheeks. Turning away he tried to ignore the quiet chuckle the two older men let out.

"Come, Prince Zuko, you must eat," Healer Atka said, though he could hear the order hidden in the words. "You've been unable to eat for much longer than we know, and your body needs the nutrients."
There was movement around him and when Zuko turned back to look, the two had moved a crate in between the three of them as a table with the tray sitting on top. There were only a few bowls of various foods. He watched in confusion as the two took what they wanted from the trays and ate. Why were they feeding him, much less sharing their food? Normally prisoners would only get poor quality or even just scraps (at least that's what Azula always taunted him with).

"Prince Zuko, is there an issue with the food?" Healer Atka questioned. "You should have some of the soup, your body might not be able to handle solids since you haven't eaten in a few days, if not longer."

"I-" Zuko tried to speak before deciding the best course was to just listen.

The other man at Healer Atka's words pushed a smaller bowl in front of him. Peering inside, the bowl was filled with a dark soup still steaming slightly from the heat. Picking up the bowl, he sipped at it slowly. He couldn't remember the last time he ate after being locked up on the ship, much less something warm. There were few memories of Lee trying to feed him, but he knew he didn't keep a lot of it down.

The two men ignored Zuko and continued to eat off of the shared plates. Zuko couldn't help but stare in confusion unsure of what was still going on. The young man, he still didn't know his name (not that it mattered of course. No need to get close to these savages, a voice like Azula taunted. Even if they rescued him and were being nice, that one sounded like Uncles), looked up just as Zuko looked at him. Freezing the two stared at one another, neither unwilling to look away.

Healer Atka chuckled as the two continued their staring contest. "Prince Zuko. I'm sure you're confused on a few things, but please ask any question you have."

Breaking away from staring, Zuko turned his attention to the healer. He was being so kind, but so much was confusing him. Was it really ok to ask them? His father never liked questions.

Quietly, he finally decided to just try, "Why are you treating me?"

"Treating you?" Healer Atka repeated. "You mean your injuries? It is because you would have died if I hadn't as well as no child should suffer."

"But I'm alive, you don't have to continue to do so."

It made sense in his mind. If they didn't heal his leg then he couldn't walk, and therefore couldn't escape. They shouldn't want their prisoner to escape. The men on the Fire Nation ship had done exactly that. Also if he was kept weak then he wouldn't be as much of a problem. A weak prisoner was one easily controlled.

"Prince Zuko," the soft voice of the healer made him jerk his head up in surprise. "We are not the kind of people who would let someone, much less a child, be left to suffer. Your leg, even if it healed wrong, would have hurt you and made it impossible to walk again. Your burn would get infected again if not taken care of. The fever it caused almost killed you the first time and I don't know if a second would be possible to survive."

"But I'm your prisoner, aren't I?" Zuko whispered out.

"That remains to be seen. So far we don't know what to do with you seeing as you were unexpectedly found and you won't speak of what caused you to end up in this situation and not a home with your own family. As far as I'm concerned you are just another one of my patients."

The other Water Tribe man sat quietly just watching, but Zuko could make out the tension in his body as he listened to the healer as well. It still didn't make much sense to him though. Everything just circled around "why". Why would they help him, why would they treat him, why let him live?

"Finish your soup," the healer instructed, bringing Zuko out of his spiraling thoughts.

Listening, Zuko finished the last of the soup. He didn't think much of the flavor, a little saltier than even the bland soups served in the Fire Nation, but at least he was able to keep it down. The other food looked good, but strange. It didn't have the dark orange and red of spices a lot of food he was used to, but the other two didn't seem to mind.

Seeing he was done, Atak ordered him to lie down and rest. Curled under the covers Zuko stifled a yawn as exhaustion swept over him. He barely heard the healer whispering to the still unknown man before leaving the two of them alone. The man looked very awkward and confused on what to do.

Zuko struggled to stay awake but was jolted out of his sleepiness when the man took a seat next to his bed. His blanket slipped off his shoulders when he jumped at the man appearing next to him. He stared at him with one wide eye as the man stared back. The man looked at him with confusion and something else Zuko didn't recognize, but figured he was just unhappy having to look after him.

"Um.. Atka said you should sleep," the man mumbled slowly reaching out and moving the blanket back over his small body.

Clutching it to himself in a small sense of security, Zuko shook his head slightly, still staring at the man.

"What? You don't want to sleep? Why not?" he asked.

Zuko stayed quiet for a moment before whispering, "Don't know."

It was a lie, but he didn't need to know it was because he was afraid. The man thought for a moment before brightening.

"How about I tell a story? Kids your age like stories still right?" Taking Zuko's wide eye stare as an ok to start he began to tell a tale.

"There once were two spirits who lived. Tui the moon and La the ocean. Together they pushed and pulled the tides of the ocean and kept balance in the world. The humans watched them in aw and wished to control the water as they did. Watching the two spirits they learned how to push and pull the tides themselves, thus creating the first waterbenders. They learned directly from the source of bending and on the nights of the full moon were said to have been even stronger as the light of Tui shined down on them. They drew power given by the great spirit.

"Watching over them, Tui and La were impressed and it is said they decided to learn from the humans themselves and manifested themselves forms to watch over their people. And to this day waterbenders pass down the movements the spirits taught them."

It was so different. Most stories told in the Fire Nation dealt with firebenders of course, but usually were focused around the war and battles they conquered. If any spirits were discussed it would be Agni only. Even the stories he could remember Lee telling him didn't have something so- he didn't even know how to describe it, gentle? Calming?

Whatever it was, it and the soothing voice telling the story drew the drowsiness out of Zuko. His eyes grew heavy and closed for longer and longer. The story ended just as he was about to fall asleep when the door opened. Not stirring due to how quietly it was done, Zuko just reamined lying with his eyes closed.

"How is he?" the familiar voice of the chief asked.

"He just fell asleep," the man answered a gentle hand pulling the blanket higher around him. "Chief what are we going to do?"

"For now we won't be doing anything. He's a child and hurt. We don't know enough to be able to make a decision so for now he'll be healed and then haven't been any reports of any other Fire Nation ship appearing, so it's not a trap, at least for now."

"And the rest of the men?"

"I'll have a meeting later. Would you be willing to watch him? I think Atka's advice will be helpful in swaying the men to listen."

"Of course."

It was silent and Zuko let the tension that had built up at the beginning fall away. He'd be safe even if it was just for now. That's all that mattered. Before he could think another thought, he slipped off into his dreams.

Comment how you think Zuko is now that he's not an angry gremlin! I think with him not having a drive to return home reveals a lot of how he felt about not just the situation but everything. Don't worry he'll have great support soon.