Next chapter, our prince has awoken
And thank you Mrs.Delrossi2.0, I have Zhao's name spelled wrong like 3 times in my note book :p silly me.
"Prince Zuko, You must focus on your basics," Iroh said calmly, patently. A 14 year old Zuko, with his bitter attitude and stubborn disposition, was still trying to force his bending to be stronger. He was currently trying to form a large cannonball sized fireball between him palms, and even though his uncle knew it would be too strong for him, Zuko would not listen to reason.
"I can-" Zuko managed to speak through his concentration, sweat already dripping down his brow, "I can handle it, Uncle!" Iroh just shook his head and the ball started to deform, becoming like molten liquid, sloshing around in the air until Zuko forced too hard and it sputtered out on him, draining his strength and he fell to his knees, breathing hard.
Iroh shook his head and walked over to his nephew. Zuko had the fire in him, a powerful flame that may rival his father's, but unless Zuko learned to control the power, he would barely be able to light a campfire without frying everything in the vicinity.
In a burst of anger, Zuko slammed his fists on the deck of the ship in his frustration. "Why can't I get this?" Iroh helped his nephew to his feet, even though the young prince was being unhelpful, staggering to his feet and yanking away from his uncle.
"You held your breath." Iroh said simply, calmly, patient with his student and family. Zuko looked at his Uncle, breathing hard from his exertions, though Iroh's calm presence seemed to be contagious and the prince quieted significantly, folding his arms and acting huffy now. "Fire needs a constant flow of chi and oxygen, if you are without one, you are without fire." Prince Zuko huffed.
"I know that, Uncle, but I need to get stronger if I'm ever to find the avatar." Zuko said and Iroh shook his head. If only Zuko knew that he was already so powerful, that it was not power, but control he needed.
"I knew a naive bender that wanted to get stronger and powerful," Iroh said, "He was ruthless and unleashed so much power it nearly burned down an entire forest." Zuko's eyes lifted to his uncle's, curiosity swimming in his amber orbs. It wasn't often that Iroh's stories caught his interest.
"Who was he, Uncle?" he asked, his voice considerably softer; this bender sounded amazing. Iroh looked into Zuko's as he spoke, watching his nephew's reaction carefully.
"Your father," Iroh said and immediately Zuko's eyes widened and averted to the floor. It was a dirty trick of physiology for Iroh, but he couldn't let his nephew become power hungry, he would surly not catch the avatar that way. He knew Zuko was still bitter... No, not just bitter, he was down right resentful towards his father for banishing him. He was ashamed of being banished and wished now that he'd fought back to prove his worth. Iroh rested a hand on Zuko's shoulder and for once that day was not shoved away.
"Your father, King Ozai, did not only burn a forest to the ground, but also his fellow soldiers and numerable water and earth benders. He did not know how to control this burden and blessing that is in all of us. He'd crossed the line of savagery long ago, and I don't believe he ever will fully come back to sanity." Zuko was quiet, head turned away from his Uncle's vision. "If you can harness this control now, like few have done, you will be more powerful than any fire bender dares to be. And for this, you must learn patience, mortality, and be at peace with yourself." Zuko was still quiet, and he patted his nephew's shoulder before deciding to give it a rest for the day; it was best to let Zuko dwell over his words a while. Iroh smiled warmly then.
"Come, we shall drink tea and have a sporting game of Pai Sho." And then he walked away to prepare the game and tea, Zuko's eyes turning only to see Iroh shut the cabin door. Then he walked over the railing of his ship, gazing out at the sea. He refused to turn into his father; he refused...He refused…
Zuko sat up then, awoken at the end of the memory, a sense of empty calm hovering over him. Staring blankly in front of him, not registering where he was right away; tent, blanket over the lower half of his body, missing his shirt, bandages around major injuries (Shoulder cut, arm cut, side gash, from sharp glass and metals). The bandages were soaked with a red pool of blood in the middle of each bandage where the wound was.
Reaching up slowly, he winced at the movement, but another wince was because he felt a large, and very tender, bump on the back of his head. Finally his brain started working reasonably and he heard people bickering outside.
"I don't see why I have to do it, you're the healer."
"I did it this morning, and you still have yet to take you're turn."
"When did we start taking turns!" There was an amusing "Ow!" of someone obviously getting nailed in the head. "Alright! You don't have to start throwing things at me!" He heard someone grumble and come closer.
Sokka pulled open the tarp of the tent and it flapped shut before Sokka stopped and blinked, seeing the fire bender was awake. Zuko just watched him, observing. Sokka's expression turned from surprised to huffy in one snort and carried the small medical kit, which his sister had thrown at him, over to Zuko's bed side.
"Finally awake." He just stated as he knelt down next to the prince and Zuko didn't reply. Sokka watched him carefully, a subconscious thought making him be cautious; Zuko was like a wounded animal and could strike if he felt cornered. Zuko made no tense moves though so he decided to get this done and over with. "I'm going to change your bandages." He said coolly and opened the tin kit.
Sokka thought it was strange that Zuko hadn't started questioning him about where he was or how long he'd been out; or, his most favorite of question, where was the avatar. Sokka took out a pair of scissors, and found Zuko's eyes still on him. He ignored that fact and started to snip away at the dirty shoulder bandages. Zuko didn't even finch, Sokka observed, just watched him; and to tell the truth, it was a bit creepy and nerve wracking. Once the shoulder bandages were off, he cleaned the wound with some kind of solution that Katara brewed up with hot water and herbs. She'd mentioned that Zuko had flinched when she applied it when he was sleeping, but Zuko didn't even react when he did it. He rewrapped the wound with a clean bandage and moved on to the one on Zuko's side.
"You've been unconscious for nearly two days," Sokka finally said, the silence more unnerving than the prince's stare, "I'm guessing your ship got blown to bits by the look of the debris around the area. By another fire nation ship I suppose…" He looked up at Zuko but his expression hadn't changed since Sokka had walked in; indifferent and uncaring. Sokka couldn't tell if it was an act or what.
Sokka finished with the gash on Zuko's side and wrapped that as well. He actually got a reaction out of that wound, maybe because it was the most tender injury, but Zuko's body shied away as soon as he'd touched it with the salve. But that was it, the only movement he got out of the prince that whole time. Sokka gestured for Zuko to give him his arm and with somewhat shock; he was given it without protest. Sokka grasped Zuko's wrist and with a quick glance at the fire bender, he began dressing that injury as well.
Sokka felt less tense as Zuko cooperated, being able to get this done quickly and effectively. He was even starting to feel calm in Zuko's presence; Zuko had turned his eyes to stare at the tent in front of him, so it wasn't as nerve wracking any more. The normally loud and demanding Zuko now quiet was strange, but it was defiantly better on the stress levels. He glanced up at Zuko a bit as he was finishing the wrapping. The tiny nicks and cuts, they hadn't bothered with, they were too minor to use any bandages on them, but they blemished Zuko's handsome features. The ugly scar on the left side of his face was bad enough, but the new little scrapes of the skin just added lines that weren't suppose to be there.
Sokka finally finished and closed the medicine box and piled all the dirty bandages with the others in the corner. He stood, holding the box in both hands, and Zuko still hadn't moved, hadn't spoken; it was still unnerving to be around the prince, he wanted out.
"I'll get Katara to get you some food…" And after not getting a reply, he left, the tent flapped closed after him. Zuko watched him go, and then his gaze drifted back to the tent, barely taking notice of their conversation outside. The question heaviest on his mind, was, 'what now?'
:D Some Zuko/Sokka for ya in this chapter, Even though its not full blown 'I love you because you're not mean anymore' its still the two of them interacting, and it looks like Sokka is trying! I really don't believe in love at first sight, that's why these two are so fun, they just have chemistry.