Chapter 16
It was two days after they had left Omashu that the full weight of his impending fatherhood finally hit Zuko. He was lying next to their small fire across from Sokka and nearly asleep when it happened. Images of Katara heavily pregnant floated through his mind as he drifted off when suddenly he saw his own father in his mind's eye. Only it wasn't his father, it was him. He held an infant in his arms and as he watched him, a hideous burn spread across the child's body. Gasping awake, he sat up suddenly in a panic. He startled Sokka who groggily pulled his boomerang from under his pillow and sat up as well.
"What! Who's there? Whats.. Is.. Zuko?" He dropped the weapon when he caught sight of his companion and rubbed his eyes. "Are you ok buddy?"
"I.. I am going to be a father."Zuko stared dumbly into the night and Sokka snorted.
"Finally put that together huh? I'm surprised it took so long for the panic to set in."
Zuko seemed to snap back to himself then and glared at Sokka across the fire.
"Well no. I just… You wouldn't understand." He flopped back down onto his bed roll and stared at the night sky, thinking about his own childhood.
"Oh ya? Try me" He was quiet for so long after that Sokka thought he wouldn't answer.
"I guess it just really hit me. What if I.. Well you know who my father is but you've never really met him. I.." He debated with himself for a moment what to say. "He wasn't anything like your dad. Ozai always favored Azula since she was so much better at bending than I was and he was never shy about letting everyone know. Honestly he was, is, a manipulative bastard." Reaching up to run his fingers over his scar, he sighed.
"He did banish you at 13 and sent you around the world to find someone everyone thought was dead for the last 100 years so, I mean I kind of figured he was a jerk. What happened anyway?"
Zuko hesitated only a moment before telling him everything that led up to the Agni Kai and his banishment. Ever since he had faced his father on the day of black sun, it was a little easier to think about. He knew Sokka wouldn't pity him like others might. Getting to the worst part of the story he paused.
"He burned you didn't he."
"Ya."
" Your own father burned off half your face to teach you a lesson. What kind of a sick monster does that?" They were both silent for a while before Sokka seemed to realize why this was bothering him so much now. "You know Zuko, you aren't Ozai. That's what's bothering you isn't it? You think you'll be like him as a dad too."
He let out a long breath. "Ya I guess. What if I am a terrible dad? I know I am not him, but he is still my father. How do I know I won't end up just like him? I don't want my kid to ever feel like I did growing up. Like I still do when I think about him. I don't have any idea how a good father is supposed to act."
They were quiet for a few minutes while they thought about this.
"Well that's not entirely true. I mean you've said Iroh was like a father to you, maybe try and be like him. And… as much as it pains me to admit this, you are probably the most honorable and decent guy I've ever met. Sure you did some pretty stupid things before you realized all this about your dad and joined us but… You'd never treat your own kids the way your dad treated you. You're too..honorable. Maybe your dad called that weakness but it isn't." He laughed quietly. "Besides if you were anything like your dad there's no way my sister would like you so much. You'll be fine. Now go to sleep, we have fire nation assassin's to bust up tomorrow."
Zuko released a breath of smoke and threw his arm across his eyes. Maybe Sokka was right.
oOoOoOo
Rising with the sun, the pair gathered their things and headed to the next village. It was north of two lovers' caves across the river. There was heavy Fire Nation presence in this part of the Earth kingdom and they hoped flaunting Zuko's appearance would draw the attention they wanted. Sokka had taken a map of the Earth kingdom from Omashu and had laid out a detailed plan and route for travel. They had already been recognized by several travelers on the road and guessed it wouldn't be long until their first confrontation.
After they had crossed the river and were breaking for lunch, Sokka decided it was the perfect time for more deep conversation.
"What made you decide you wanted to marry Katara? I mean, when you asked dad to marry her you mentioned you'd been wanting to ask for weeks so it wasn't just because you got her pregnant." Sokka glared at his future brother in law despite himself. Zuko raised his good eye brow in challenge. "Obviously you love her… but what made you want to actually marry her? That's forever." Zuko wondered what had brought this up all of a sudden. Did he question his feelings for his sister or was this about him? Guessing by the faint color tingeing Sokka's cheeks it was the latter. He smirked at this before growing more serious as he thought about his answer. After several minutes and an impatient gesture from Sokka he answered.
"The night before we faced my sister I realized that she was the one person I wanted by my side for that. I was facing my prodigy of a sister, and all of the bad memories and pain that went with that and Katara would be right there beside me. I just... knew we were going to be ok. When she told me that she loved me I realized that no matter what the rest of my life would throw at me, as long as I had her I could face it." He smiled into his canteen as Sokka sat beside him, rubbing out the tight muscles over his month old fracture and listening patiently. "Plus, ugh this is gonna sound so stupid but, she makes me really happy. I am finally the kind of man I want to be and she loves and accepts that man." He looked up and gave Sokka a smug grin. "And she looks amazing naked."
Zuko thought afterwards that seeing the look on Sokka's face was definitely worth the busted lip and bruised jaw.
oOoOoOo
They walked for another few hours before the town came into view. It wasn't large, but there were Fire Nation soldiers stationed there. Sokka spied what looked to be a tavern and headed towards it. It was dimly lit and peopled with shady looking individuals. Zuko nodded towards the counter and they sat down together, looking down the bar in either direction. He nudged Zuko and pointed out a particularly dangerous looking trio sitting a few seats to Zuko's left. Sighing, Zuko ran his hand through his hair, making his scar visible.
"So buddy, what do you say we have a few drinks? A well earned break from the long and dusty road, hey maybe they have a few ladies around here whose company we could enjoy for the night!" Sokka clapped Zuko on the back as he spoke louder than necessary, drawing the attention of nearly everyone in the place. "Come on Sparky, what'll ya have?" The portly man behind the bar set two glasses and a bottle in front of them with a glare and went back to ignoring them. Filling both glasses to the brim he rose his in the air in toast. He thought for a moment as to what they should toast too. "To the Fire Lord! May he fall off one of his ships and drown in the sea!" Beside him Zuko pinched the bridge of his nose, groaning before reaching for and downing his own glass. The ploy seemed to work. The men next to Zuko started to stand and two Fire nation soldiers stood from their table and headed their way.
"How dare you speak about the Fire Lord, Earth Kingdom scum. We should arrest you for saying such things!"
A rather inebriated looking woman leaned against the counter, apparently feeling the need to add her two cents.
"Especially now.. His, his, flaming highness is on his honeymoon after all… poor form. Boo!" She took their bottle and staggered off towards the door, all eyes following her out. Sokka turned to Zuko to ask what she'd meant but going by the look on his face, he guessed the disgraced prince was as shocked as he was. A mischievous grin lifted the corners of his mouth as he turned back to the Fire Nation baddies closing in on them.
"His honeymoon eh? Well isn't that special, the world is going to hell and he decides to get remarried. Wonder why?" Sokka had his hands on his hips as Zuko stood up shoulder to shoulder with him to face the men surrounding them. One of the big men to their left smiled cruelly at them, his hand resting on the head of a large broadsword hanging from his belt.
"Probably realized that since his nutcase of a daughter was dead and his son turned traitor he needed a new heir. Though, I bet you'd know all about that wouldn't you, Prince Zuko."
The soldiers stopped in their tracks, taking a closer look at the scarred face and golden eyes. When their faces sparked in recognition they drew their swords and advanced on them again.
"Prince Zuko, by decree of the Fire Lord Ozai, you are under arrest!"
"Forget it soldier boy." A bald and tattooed man stepped between the Fire Nation men and their quarry, holding a hand out to stop them. "We recognized the royal brat first so he's ours. The Fire Lord is offering a reward so handsome we'll be able to retire twice over once we turn him in. Better get lost before you get hurt." The man who had spoken before drew his sword and waved it menacingly at the other men. They did not back down. While their would-be captors squared off to determine who had dibs, Sokka and Zuko slowly backed away. Maybe their enemies would fight each other so they could slip away.
"Hey you two! Where do you think you're going?" Suddenly they were being chased out and onto the streets. Zuko swept his arm around and sent fire behind him towards their pursuers as they ran towards the edge of town. Only the two bounty hunters still followed them, Sokka hoped that meant they'd have fewer opponents. He hadn't ever found his space sword but he had taken another from Omashu and he still had his boomerang. Zuko was a master firebender too. Hopefully that would be enough.
When they reached the trees past the last of the village, they spun to face the three men who'd chased them. Zuko dropped into a bending stance and Sokka drew his weapon; the bald man smirked as he too took a bending position. The blade wielding man held his weapon up and the third man unwound a long evil looking whip. As they all advanced at once, Sokka idly wondered if all their fights were going to be this dangerous. If so he was less sure than he previously had been that they would make it to Ba Sing Se unscathed.