You Don't Hate Me
By
Lucibell
Chapter Two
I step outside the sick bay, quietly shutting the door behind me. I look up and see the Avatar and Katara's brother… Sokka, sitting by the opposite wall. The Avatar is sleeping, and Sokka's nodding off, but as I close the cold metal door, he shoots up, alert and concerned.
"How is she? Is she okay? Will she be alright? Can I see her? What happened? What did you do to her? If you hurt her, I swear I'm gonna—" The young Avatar places a comforting hand on the older boy's shoulder. Sokka takes a deep breath, looking at his feet. "Is she okay?" He looks at me, hopeful.
I nod. "She'll live. Though she can't move around for awhile." Sokka lets out a breath I'm sure he hadn't known he'd been holding.
"Can I see her?"
Reluctantly, I shake my head. "No, she's sleeping." He nods, slumping in disappointment. I feel my chest tighten. Despite what everyone thinks and says, I'm not evil. I feel. And I have friends. I know how I would feel in the same situation, so I'm trying to be sympathetic. "Why don't you and… the Avatar follow me. I'll get you settled into proper cabins."
They both give me a disbelieving look. I sigh and turn my back on them, not willing to explain. I know they see me as the enemy, and I am their enemy, but in this situation… I don't think they need that 'I'll kill you if you don't come with me' crap. I know I wouldn't.
Being the human that I am.
Sighing again, I let a small puff of smoke float from my throat. I lead them down the hallway to two of the empty rooms on the ship. I say 'lead', but I really could care less if they're following. I resist the urge to sigh a third time. I'm tired and confused.
I need to talk to Uncle Iroh…
A Brief Interlude
He felt Aang's hand on his shoulder and he slouched slightly. He knew he was overreacting, but if this fire-breathing, selfish, banished, royal excuse for a—
He stopped himself. He was overreacting again. The point was that if Zuko did what he thought he did, then he'd be a very, very sorry Fire Nation Prince.
Very sorry.
"Is she okay?" He stopped breathing unintentionally. His sister had been fatally wounded. He didn't think he had the right to breathe until he knew she was going to be fine. That everything would be normal again.
But it wouldn't be normal again. He knew that. Once this was over, they'd either be Zuko's prisoners or…
What other option was there? He pushed the thoughts aside, focusing on his sister.
He listened for Zuko's reply, holding that breath for far too long now.
"She'll live. Though she can't move around for awhile…"
He let his breath out. She was okay. That was good. Too good, really, to be true.
But the not moving… They'd be here for awhile. Long enough for Aang… The Avatar to be turned into the Fire Lord.
They'd be with Zuko for long enough to be captured.
He wished he could curse Katara for their folly, but knew better. She was lucky to be alive, and if he cursed her now, he'd probably only make it worse.
He wanted to see her… "Can I see her?"
Zuko shook his head. "No, she's sleeping." He nodded. He wanted to cry, the big bad warrior that he was. It was ironic really, but this was his sister. His baby sister! He looked closely at Zuko's face to judge whether or not he'd said that on purpose, lied to him to make him upset. He discovered with a glance that that wasn't the case.
Zuko, the banished Prince of the Fire Nation, the ruthless hunter of the Avatar, actually looked…
Sympathetic.
He was stunned. He never actually thought that Zuko was capable of feeling things like sympathy. He knew it was a spiteful thing to think and that it wasn't true by any means, but Zuko was always so irritable and frustrated, so Sokka had automatically assumed that he felt nothing else.
Sokka had obviously been wrong.
"Why don't you and the… Avatar follow me. I'll get you settled into proper cabins."
Yep, definitely sympathy, Sokka thought sardonically. He gave Zuko an uncertain look, not sure of the meaning of the words 'proper cabins'. Considering how Zuko usually treated them a proper cabin could very easily be some dingy, hell-hole cell in the brig. Zuko turned, and Sokka looked to Aang, who just shrugged. Reluctantly, Sokka followed the Prince down the hallway, taking one last lingering look at the cold metal door that somehow, he thought, sealed their fates.
But what their fates were, he didn't know yet…
Chapter Two (Continued)
I hear them following me and I release a breath. At least they trust me enough to understand that I'm not imprisoning them. Not yet, at least.
In all honesty, I've no idea what to do with them. Under normal circumstances, it would've been no question. Lock up the Avatar and his friends and head straight for the Fire Nation.
No questions asked, no doubt. But now… Now the tables had turned somewhat. One of theirs was injured—almost fatally so—and I had been the one to save her. I grimace inwardly. I hate the feeling of knowing that I'd done something heroic. Because after being banished, one just gets to that point where you just feel so… un-heroic. When you're banished for something so foolish as speaking out for a life—or lives—you start to feel like you're worthless anyway, so any good deed you do really doesn't matter.
Saving a life or no. Because saving lives is what got me in this situation in the first place.
I sigh. I hate being so bitter.
Reaching the cabins, I stop. I point to two doors on either side of the hallway, turning back around to face the two young men behind me. "Choose," I say simply. "I'll send food and water in around an hour." With that I turn on my heel, searching out Uncle Iroh.
Although I have a good idea where he'll be…
And for once, it's not in the bridge playing that stupid game of his.
A Brief Interlude
After making sure Sokka was okay and settled in, Aang flopped down on his futon, having preferred the mattress on the floor as opposed to the bed nailed to the floor that Sokka now occupied. He wanted to sleep, but knew that there would be no way in Heaven or Hell that he'd be able to. He was too worried, and he felt guilty about having fallen asleep outside the sick bay while the doctors worked on Katara.
Katara… The first motherly figure he'd ever had, as young as she was. Already he missed her, and didn't know what he'd do if she didn't make it through. He sighed, I should've been there.
But there was no point in dwelling on the past. Because when you got down to the nitty-gritty, he should've been there a century ago when the whole war started, but he wasn't.
And now he had to stop a power in much less time than that power had had to build up to what it currently was. Much less time…
Now all he could worry about was how to help Katara through. But never having had been in this sort of situation before, he was lost in that as well.
He sighed. Maybe he would go to sleep, after all…
Chapter Two (Continued)
After arranging for Sokka and Aang's food, I go to find Uncle Iroh. I enter the sick bay quietly, letting the door thud behind me. I stare passively at Uncle Iroh, leaning over Katara in her bed, a thoughtful look on his face. "Uncle?"
He looks up slowly, as if being dragged from some trance. "Yes, Prince Zuko?"
I indicate the door with my head, "Can we talk?"
He nods, standing. I turn, and we make our way out the door and into the meandering hallways. Quickly, we pace to the captain's hold, each of us taking a seat at the long, overly elaborate table in the middle of the room.
He stares at me as I uncharacteristically put my head in my hands, feeling the stubble on the shaven portion of my crown. "Prince Zuko, is something bothering you?" he asks.
I look up at him, propping my chin on my hand. Slowly I nod. "Yes, Uncle. I don't know what to do with the Avatar…" I trail off, not knowing how to explain myself further.
He frowns, "You mean whenever the girl is well? You don't know whether or not to consider them guests or prisoners?" I nod.
"They're guests now, considering their situation, I can't tell them they're anything else. It would be… wrong." I sigh, not used to expressing myself this much. "Uncle, I know that my duty as the Fire Nation Prince is to capture the Avatar and take him to my father… But Uncle, why? What does it matter?" Why me? is the unspoken question. I'm only a teenager, after all. A fact that the Avatar so brutally pointed out at our first meeting.
Uncle Iroh sits for a moment, doing that old person 'think-before-you-express-your-wisdom' thing that he does. I wait, somewhat impatiently, being the impatient person that I naturally am. Finally he answers, though I never expected a question in answer to my question. "Zuko, why do you think your father gave you the task of catching the Avatar? Why do you think that he chose something so impossible for anyone to accomplish as the one condition that would let you back on the throne?" He studies me. I look away from him.
I know the answer he wants; I know the truth. Commander—Admiral—Zhao already threw it in my face. "If your father really wanted you home, he would have let you return by now, Avatar or no Avatar. But in his eyes you are a failure and a disgrace to the Fire Nation."
The most brutal thing I'd ever heard in my life, and it was the truth.
But I can't—I won't—say it. I can't tell Uncle Iroh that I know. If I play innocent, I know that there's still that chance, that glimmer of hope, no matter how small, that I'll be able to go home. It's not about the throne, it's not about power.
It's about going home.
I sit silently, thinking over my reply. I know the truth, and that's what he wants, but I can't give him that. So I make up the lamest excuse ever. "Because he wants the world to see how powerful his family can be, banished or no." I look at him and feel pitiful. He knows. He knows I know. He sighs.
"Prince Zuko… You know the truth. Now answer honestly. Why does your father do this?"
I put my head down on my arms that are crossed on the table.
Quietly, I give him the answer he wants. He puts a hand on my shoulder. I look up at him tiredly.
"Then why don't you consider joining the Avatar instead of capturing him? Help him to defeat your father. Then you can take your place at the throne and restore the harmony the Four Nations once had."
I stare at him. His idea makes sense, but I'm so confused right now, I just don't know… I need to sleep. It's late. "Uncle… I'm going to sleep. I'll consider that…" Awkwardly I stand, looking at him. I know I should thank him, but I'm just so unused to the notion that I don't know how. "Th-thank you…" Hastily I exit, feeling extremely uncomfortable.
Slowly I make my way to my room. On autopilot, it seems, I maneuver through the winding corridors. Normally I'd be on deck at this time of night, thinking. But I'm just too tired…
I pass the sick bay on my way and stand for the longest time, just staring at the door. I consider going in for a moment, but shake my head, deciding against it. I'm getting too soft…
I need to sleep…
As soon as I reach my room, I strip my armor, tunic, boots, and socks. I walk to the bathroom, and look up at the mirror.
Silently I stare into my glaring amber eyes, the left one shrouded in dark obscurity. I sigh. For a moment, I think that I really am a disgrace to the Fire Nation, to my father. I think that I won't be a great leader, if only for the simple fact that I'd never be able to produce an heir.
I mean, in all honesty, who would want to marry a bitter, scarred, once-banished Fire Lord?
Shaking my head I splash cold water on my face and dry it off with a soft towel. I go back into my room and unroll the futon. There's a bed in the corner of the room, but I've always been partial to the futon. I only sleep in the bed when I'm too tired to unroll it.
I lay down and am asleep before my head hits the pillow…
Author's Note: Okay, next chapter's up. And I must say, that this story has gotten more response in one day than any other story I've put up. Or actually, than any other chapter I've put up...
In response to Purpurroter Schatten Drache: I know that Zuko may seem out of character at this point, but you have to understand that in the series, you only get one perspective. You don't really see what he sees or knows how he feels about things. I feel like Zuko is misunderstood, but you will see his temper here soon. Because it just wouldn't be Zuko if you didn't, right?
By the way, Zuko and Sokka are the greatest. And Katara reminds me of myself. Just thought I'd add that in there.
To Kitsume: I'm glad I made it to where you could understand it. It makes me feel like I've done my job.
To NybCR: Intriguing is the angle I'm going for. Thanks for your review!
To Monito: -Bows- Thank you ever so much for your applause, it makes me feel special.
To Fanactic: I'm glad you like it. Thanks for your review.
To Arwey: Ow. That hurt. Anyway, I liked the teaser, too. I got the idea for it when I was freewriting to come up with the plot. Thanks!
To Mini MnM: I'm glad you like it.
To Chinesechic: I'm sorry you thought that the violence was too much. I'll try to keep that in mind. I'll check out your fic.
To Aangluva: I liked the way the POV turned out too. Thanks!
To aangsair: Here it is! Hope you like it!
To DrakenD4: Thanks. Hope you like.
To starlightz1112: Thank you! And if I need info, I'll be sure to look you up. Thanks for the offer, it means a lot. Hope you like it!