Okay here's a long'un with some actually dialogue between the boys. It frightens me that Zuko is so damn broody. Trying to get in his head is making me all broody and considering my temperament is more reminiscent of Aang's, this just seems wrong.
Anyhoo! Thank you to all two of the people who bothered to review!
Kigen, your review saved my sanity and the story. I wasn't sure if I was managing to write Zuko properly and you reassured me that I was getting the right idea across. Thank you!
Potions Mistress 101: Of COURSE she was kidnapped….I tried to not have her be kidnapped but the fanfiction gods smited me with a Bathroom Remodeling Grout Emergency(don't ask, I'm traumatized…)
Okay, now bathe in the broody bath of Zuko's brain:
"Katara….nnnnngh." Zuko looked up from where he was finishing wrapping Aang's last wound, a bad burn on his wrist. Sokka had regained consciousness and was trying to get up from Zuko's bed where he'd been set. Zuko made sure Aang was comfortable on Iroh's bed and took the bag of supplies his uncle had found on the Bison over to the other. Sokka still hadn't succeeded in escaping Zuko's bed and floundered for a moment until a half-amused Zuko put a hand on his chest and pushed gently. The boy deflated back on the blanket and gave Zuko a wild look.
He was soaking wet and bruised and bleeding, his eyes vivid blue and glazed with fever. He was not in the best shape. "Katara! I have to go save Katara…" He insisted weakly.
"You look like you're about to die. Katara can wait." Zuko said firmly. He hadn't had much trouble tending to Aang. The boy was unconscious and all it required was his common sense and he was able to tend his wounds as he would his own. This was different, though. He felt awkward and foolish trying to help another boy his age. He was a Prince. He didn't tend the wounded, the qualified healers did. He scowled. It wasn't like he had a choice in the matter with Iroh out in the rain trying to save the bison. He just didn't know how to deal with a distraught water tribe boy.
"But she's my sister. I'm supposed to protect her…I have to go back…" The previously obnoxiously proud boy pleaded, voice strangled with grief. Zuko sat back on his heels and tried to imagine caring that much for his sister. It didn't work. "She's my responsibility….she's all I have…" Sokka finished brokenly, trying to sit up in spite of the hand Zuko kept pinning him place. Responsibility he could get. Having only one person left to you, he could get. He envisioned himself in Sokka's place with Iroh in AAzula's hands and the words to help the boy came to him.
"You will do her no good if you die trying to get out of bed. Let me help you then we'll find her." Zuko snapped at him.
"Aang…he's alright?" Sokka ventured after a moment, eyes now focused on the sleeping figure across the room. Zuko changed the subject.
"Your sister is a Waterbender, right? Can she heal?" He asked to distract as he took hold of Sokka's shirt and started peeling it free from the blood and water.
"Nngh… Y-yes." Sokka whimpered as his wounds were exposed. It was not as bad as Zuko previously believed. He was beyond bruised, but nothing appeared to be broken, he was just exhausted and in pain.
"She could heal you and the Avatar?" Zuko pressed. He nodded and bit his lip hard when Zuko probed his ribs to ensure nothing was broken. "Where is she?"
"Azula….on her ship." He gasped. Zuko continued his investigation, thoughts focused elsewhere.
"Where?"
"Northwest, about a day's flight." He hissed in pain then grabbed Zuko's hands to keep him from pressing the investigation. "She kidnapped her and used her as bait. She's after Aang. Our rescue attempt…"
"Failed." Zuko supplied when he fell silent and held his hands over the stretch of damp purpling skin before him. Sokka jumped when flames licked out from his palms, but none of them touched him. Zuko ignored the nervous looks and continued warming and drying the prone body. After a moment Sokka continued, still eyeing Zuko's hands warily.
"I was captured and that g-girl-"
"Mei."
"M-mei….she was trying to get me to betray Aang but he saved me. He couldn't get Katara away from Azula."
Zuko was meditating before the fire when Iroh staggered in and flopped across the flames from him. "How is the bison?" Zuko asked quietly.
"Tired. The burns were not so bad. He will be fine with a little rest." Iroh reported, his eyes on the injured.
"Good. I will need it to get to Azula tomorrow." He said, noticing that his Uncle's eyes now rested on the Blue Spirit mask that lay on the ground beside the Prince. It was propped against the hilts of two scimitars. "They had to leave behind the girl. We need her to heal the Avatar so he can fight. We don't have time to find another healer." He explained defensively. This isn't about helping the Water tribe moron get his sister back. It's a strategically sound move that will serve the Fire Nation in the future. He reassured himself.
"Do not be seen. Azula is strong and she has her masters with her."
"And Mei." Zuko added silently. "I won't be seen." He agreed, hoping to avoid that sort of pain at all costs.
"I'm going with you." Sokka interjected. Zuko didn't acknowledge him. He would be far quicker and stealthier without an injured fool following. "I can help you."Zuko restrained a weary sigh. He kept his legs crossed, but used his arms to turn him in place until he faced the speaking bruise. He looked very determined, and ready to cause himself all kinds of bodily harm if Zuko said no. The Prince stared at him, remembering fondly the first time they'd met. He remembered sending the boy flying with a foot to the face. He almost smiled until he really looked at the boy's face. He was wearing the same expression now that he did back then. He remembered the determination and now knew just what caused that look on Sokka's face. He scowled as he remembered how easy it had been to storm the Water Village. Sokka had been the only warrior. He'd been protecting his people. From Zuko. The Prince had never considered just why he was always fighting. Intellectually, he knew that as a Firebender, he was an enemy to many. But he'd never before understood that he was feared.
This boy in front of him had fought him when he had no chance, because he was afraid that Zuko would hurt his family. And he was right. Zuko felt ill. He'd destroyed a great portion of their village's defenses and chased the village's only warriors away in his insane attempt to regain his insane father's regard. Zuko suddenly understood just how desperate the boy's need was to drive him to seek help with the one that he must hate more than any.
Zuko's thoughts returned outward and he saw that there was no hate in Sokka's eyes. Just fear and worry. And not a little discomfort caused by having a Firebender stare at you for a while. And then there was the determination that kept his entire body tense. Sokka was prepared at that very moment to fight for the right to save his sister. Zuko wasn't so sure he wanted to argue anymore.
"So do you have anything darker to wear? We'll be relying on stealth and speed and blue is not going to blend with the shadows on a Fire Navy ship." Zuko said, starting slowly, and speaking more quickly as he committed himself. As he watched, Sokka's fear broke and he slashed a grin. Just a split second of joy at getting what he wanted out of the Big Bad Firebender transformed his bruised face into something completely different. Zuko whipped himself around to face the fire, not wanting the former enemy to construe this concession as a weakness and trying to convince himself that the flush on his cheeks was induced by sitting close to the fire, regardless of which way he was facing when it began.
"I have something dark." The boy said and Zuko heard him roll to dig in the pack of the trio's things that had been dumped next to the bed. Zuko took a deep breath and tried to figure out why he'd just felt so strange.
"It will be good to know that someone will watch your back." Iroh said from across the fire. Zuko started, having forgotten his Uncle was there. It wasn't an unusual occurrence though. Zuko tended to focus very hard on what held his attention and someone as trusted and naturally peaceful as Iroh tended to fall into the peripheral. Zuko looked up at his uncle and saw relief.
"You don't think I can take care of myself?" He accused. He was worn out from all the introspection and didn't like the idea of Iroh questioning his strength in front of Sokka.
"I think that I would not want to face your sister alone at night." Iroh said with a good-natured smile. "And I would never ever want to face your sister and Mei alone. Teenage girls are evil." Zuko heard Sokka make a noise in agreement, but he was too busy trying to repress the memory of his last meeting with Mei to say anything. He squashed a shudder and tried to return his focus to his meditation.
"Why don't you try to sleep, Nephew. It has been a long day." Iroh suggested. Zuko scowled at him.
"I'm trying to regain my focus and plan for tomorrow. It is difficult enough without you prattling on." He snapped. He never worried about preserving Iroh's feelings. Iroh was impervious to his temper after a lifetime living with Ozai. He tensed at the snicker from behind him. Sokka was laughing at him.
"I don't think focus is what you lack, you big creepy staring guy." The other chortled. Iroh chuckled at this and Zuko clenched his fists to keep from turning and glaring at the other. He'd probably misconstrue his look of death for more of the mocked staring.
"He can be a bit….intense." Iroh said to the other in a loud conspiratorial whisper.
"In all the times he's attacked us, I've never seen him blink….creepy." Sokka whispered back. Zuko frowned. I blink don't I? He thought about it, suddenly very aware that his eyes were dry and he needed to blink but when he did it just felt unnatural and he wasn't sure if it was from thinking too hard about it or if maybe Sokka was right and he didn't blink. He jumped to his feet and crossed to the far corner behind the Avatar's sleeping form and lay down on the hard floor.
"We'll leave at dawn. Be ready or I'll leave without you." He hissed over his shoulder. Iroh was still chuckling as he turned his tattered focus on sleep.
Okay, time to go to work! Slavery is FUN! WOOOO! cough er….yeah.
