The sand stuck to Zuko's face in bits, clumping together with the dirty bandages. He moaned as he wiped the dirt off. Some of it got in his mouth, and the taste wasn't pleasant. Around him, there was wood, floating up the beach. Zuko's eyes widened the same moment he started coughing up salt water, trying to cleanse his lungs from it. The water spluttered out of his mouth in painful intervals, seemingly fighting to stay inside of him, where it didn't belong. Zuko fell onto his side, opting to use his right arm to hold himself upwards.
He sat upright, sand slipping into his robes, but he ignored the itching. Zuko, using his one good eye, looked around the beach, for any sign of civilizations. A building, a stand, or even a rogue hut would work. Anything.
Grudgingly, Zuko tried to stand, his legs wobbling under him. Steadying himself, Zuko took a step, collapsing from exhaustion. He wanted to rip his hair out, whatever remained of it. Tears sprung to his eyes, and threatened to spill. He tilted his head upwards to keep them from falling. He couldn't dehydrate himself, he didn't know when he'd get clean water next. He might never.
He needed to get home, to see his mother again. He wanted to curl up into his bed, not sleep outside, like any commoner. He was a Prince, yet he hadn't been acting like one. He'd allowed soldiers to talk down to him like he was nothing but a stupid child, nothing but a burden.
Maybe that's all he was. A burden. He made everyone's lives more difficult. Miserable. He left Kendri and Surin to die. He's selfish, and dishonourable, and Father will never take him back now. He wouldn't even recognize Zuko. Not anymore.
After three more attempts, Zuko allowed himself to cry, to let it out. His legs collapsed under his own weight. He sniveled and wailed like a baby, and he couldn't bring himself to stop. He brought nothing but shame to his family by acting like this, but some part of him didn't care.
He was tired, and hungry, and his head wouldn't stop hurting. The bandages were wet, and gross, and Zuko knew he needed to remove them, but he didn't want to feel what was under there. He didn't want that burn to become permanent, even if it already was. Zuko crawled forwards, away from the tide. He sobbed some more, and closed his eyes, willing blissful unconsciousness to fall over him. In the morning, he decided, he was going to go find some food.
He was going to get home. Mother would be delighted to see him. Grandfather would throw a festival in his honour. Azula would play with him, and apologize for setting him on fire all those times. Father would welcome him home with open arms.
He just needed to get there.
"Is he still alive?" A young girl asked, from somewhere to the left of Zuko. A sharp jab into his side made him open his eyes. "He looks dead. Like a ghost, Mama."
He sprung upwards, shielding his face from the newcomers. The sun wasn't out, the moon lighting up the sky instead. The cool air bit against his skin, leaving him shivering.
"Song, please stop bothering the poor boy." An older woman chided the younger girl, who couldn't have been older than Zuko himself. "He looks like he's been through a lot."
"Sorry, Mama." The girl, Song, apologized, still eying him with something close to wonder. Interest, maybe. "I didn't mean to be rude."
"Hello," The woman crouched down in front of him. Her features were kind, and maternal, not unlike his own mother's. He backed away from the woman, creating a safe distance between her and himself. "Oh, you don't need to be afraid of me, dear. I work at a hospital, and I want to help you."
"Leave me alone." He whispered, covering himself with his arms. "I don't need your help." Kendri's words rang through his head, the warning about being careful who to trust. This woman seemed nice enough, but he didn't, couldn't know her true intentions. She had trademark Earth Kingdom clothes on. All his instincts screamed for him to run from this woman and her daughter, but he couldn't move. His eyes widened, and darted around the landscape.
"Please," The Earth Kingdom woman pleaded. "Come with me. I promise we'll help you. Please don't stay out here. You'll freeze."
"I don't want your help." He repeated. "Go away."
"What's your name, sweetheart?" She asked.
"Zu-um…."
"What? Could you repeat that?"
Zuko bit his tongue, hard enough to draw blood. He nearly blurted out his real, Fire Nation name. (" Don't trust anyone," Kendri warned. "No one is inherently good to everyone.")
Zuko's voice came out shaky. "L-Li. My n-name is Li."
"Okay, Li." Her voice lilted at the end, a singsong quality to it. "Why don't we go to the hospital? We can get you some food. You must be very hungry."
"I don't want any of your food." He protested, wincing when his stomach growled loudly.
"I think you do." She smiled. "Song, why don't you help Li up?"
"Okay," The little girl grabbed Zuko's arm, and yanked him up. He stumbled as he flew forward. "There you go."
"Hey!" Zuko huffed, as he patted the sand off his pants.
"Sorry, Li." She shrugged, a small, sad smile on her young face. "I didn't mean to hurt you."
"I'm not hurt," He yanked his arm away from her weak grasp. "I'm fine."
"Li, why don't you come with Song and I?" Song's mother wouldn't give up, persisting until he gave in, which would never happen. "We're having roast duck, and I always make way too much. It would be a shame if it were to go to waste. You can warm yourself up too."
"I already said I was fine." He frowned. His hands began to heat. Quickly, before Song or her mother could notice, he focused on cooling them down. "I don't want your pity food."
"Li, I'm not pitying you. I genuinely want you to come eat with us, after we give you a check-up, of course." She explained. "Maybe you can even stay the night. We don't mind."
"You're lying." He accused. The woman didn't even blink. "I know it."
"Li," She raised her eyebrows. "Why would I lie to you? Come on Honey, you're going to regret it if you don't. Being hungry isn't fun."
"Please, Li?" Song poked his side, a pout on her face. "Pretty please?"
Zuko frowned. Song kept poking him. "O-okay. Fine."
"Yes!" Song grabbed him, and pulled him into a tight, crushing hug. Zuko used all his willpower to not push her off. Some of his disgust must've shown, however, because Song's mother only laughed at the two kids. "Let's go."
"Li, you need to sit still." Song's mother applied a cool, liquid to his days-old injury. He wiggled in his seat, trying to avoid her fingers. Song and her mother brought him back, shivering and coughing, to their home.
Zuko pulled an old, ratty shawl over himself, trying to ward off any excess cold. The healer also gave him a red blanket, to heat himself up with, should he need to. Really, he didn't need or want it, but he wanted to avoid suspicion. "I need to disinfect this."
Surin had said the same thing. Apparently, to be in the medical field, you needed to annoy Zuko. "I know."
"Then why aren't you letting me, Li?" She challenged, setting the medicine down on a nearby table. "I need to clean your burn. I don't want you to get an infection."
"I'm fine." He insisted. "It's not that bad."
"Li, this is a third degree burn. It's skin deep. I need to do this, okay? I can't do that if you don't let me."
"Fine." Zuko crossed his arms.
The woman dipped her fingers in the product, and smeared it all over his face. The cream stung his skin, causing tears to form.
"Ouch." He protested. "That hurts."
"Li, of course it's going to hurt," She sighed. "Those bandages you had on haven't been changed in a long time. The bacteria alone could've killed you. Honey, you need to settle down."
"I already said I was fine. Don't touch me." He growled, turning away from the woman. He slouched, and used his back to block her.
"Li," She scolded. "Sit still. I won't ask you again."
Zuko humphed, and stopped moving, his lip jutted out in a pout. He wasn't happy, and he was going to make sure Song's mother knew.
She slathered it all over his face, coating his skin in the disinfectant. He winced when it stung, but he didn't squirm.
"You see this bottle?" The woman motioned to the container in her palms. "This is a special burn medicine. If we want to get optimal results, you need to apply this every day for a month. I think I have enough of it to last." She placed the medicine down, beside two replicas. She continued applying it.
"That hurts." He complained. "Stop. I command you."
Song's mother only rolled her eyes, not deigning to respond. Zuko frowned. All citizens should show proper respect to royalty, Earth Kingdom or not. Though, he mused, he didn't tell her of his superior status, so she had an excuse. "You command me? Tsk tsk. Li, honey, why don't you go fetch Song? I'm done with your bandages. For now, at least. I'll need to change them later."
"Okay, ma'am." He jumped out of his seat, and sprinted towards the door. Song, who was too young to help her mother out at the hospital, was playing a game in a nearby field. She sat in the middle of a dirt mound, her knees tucked towards her chest. "Song! Your mom wants to see you."
"Why?" Song frowned. "I did all my chores today. I fed the ostrich horse, and I cleaned my room."
"I don't know." Zuko shrugged. "I didn't ask why."
"I wanna keep playing," Song said, throwing a patch of dirt at Zuko. "Wanna join me? We can pretend we're benders."
Zuko swallowed uncomfortably, his mind conjuring images of flames, and burns aplenty. "Um, sure. I guess."
"Great!" She smiled, as she tugged on his sleeve. "You can be an Earthbender, and I'll be a Waterbender. I heard they can heal. How cool is that?"
"I don't want to be an Earthbender." Zuko declared. He wouldn't stoop to their level. Earthbending was brutish and unrefined, as compared to the art of Firebending. "Rocks are dumb."
"Okay," Song said, her features twisting up in confusion. "Then you can be a Waterbender, like me. We can freeze people in place."
Zuko's eyebrows creased. He didn't want to be a water savage, either. "Ugh."
"You can't be an Airbender because they're gone." Song explained. "And you don't wanna be an Earthbender, so you get to be a Waterbender, like me. Come on, it'll be fun."
Song didn't mention Firebenders, as if they were something to be ashamed of. Firebending was a blessing, a gift; why didn't she recognize it as such? It baffled Zuko, more than he would like. As opposed to the other bendings types, Firebending was civilized. At least, that's what his old instructors at the palace used to say. "Okay."
Song moved her arms weirdly, in fluid yet chaotic motions. She elbowed Zuko, as if expecting him to replicate her. Zuko merely sat there, watching her make a fool of herself. He had to admit, though, when she fell over, and laughed it off, he might've been a teeny bit jealous. He wanted to roll around in the mud too, but he was royalty. He couldn't.
"What are you doing, silly?" When Song called him a name, it didn't have the same malicious intent behind it that Azula's nicknames did. More lighthearted and fun, if that made any sense. It didn't keep him from being annoyed, however. He hated nicknames.
"I don't like this game." Zuko growled. "It's stupid, and bad."
"You're boring." Song stuck her tongue out.
"Your mom wants to see you, Song." Zuko repeated. "Come on."
"Alright," Song said. "But we're playing later, right?"
"Fine." Zuko muttered. "Whatever."
"Song?" The girl's mother called out to them from the building. "Li? Please hurry."
"Coming!" Song cried back. She grabbed Zuko's wrist and led him back to the makeshift infimary.
"What took you little ones so long? Here I was, thinking Li had gotten lost," Song's mother tsked softly, her voice taking a singsong quality. "I was so worried."
"Sorry," Zuko amended.
"We were playing, Mama. Li and I were benders!" Song grinned. "I was a Waterbender. I could heal people like you."
"That's very sweet, Song." The kind woman said, a similar smile adorning her face. "What about Li?"
"He was gonna be an Earthbender, but he didn't want to. So he was a Waterbender too." Song offered. "Though I was the best Waterbender out there."
"And I'm so proud of you for that," Song's cheeks were pinched, in a loving way, not unlike when Zuko's own mother would do that for him. Something ugly churned in his gut. "But it's time to come inside."
"Kay." Song hummed, stepping inside, mud slightly tracking behind her. "Is dinner done?"
"Almost," Her mother answered, leading the children inside. "While you wash up, I'll go get it ready."
"Race you," Song said, turning to Zuko. "Slow poke."
"Hey!" Zuko protested. "I'm not slow."
Song didn't hear him, as she had already taken off running. Miffed, Zuko followed the high energy girl, determined to beat her at her own game. He turned the corner, and bumped into an unfamiliar man.
"Who're you?" The man grabbed Zuko by his shirt's collar. His breath reeked. "Half-breed scum."
"Half-breed?" Zuko repeated. He had never been so offended. "Excuse me? I'll have you kn-"
"Hua?" The man called out. "Why is there a Fire brat here?"
Song's mother—Hua, popped her head out, a frown deeply etched into her features. She froze when she saw the predicament. Her mouth formed a little 'o'. "Wei. Let Li go."
"That doesn't answer my question, Hua. What is he doing here?"
"He's injured, and in my care." Hua answered. "That's reason enough. Li, come here."
Zuko didn't need to be told twice. He shook himself free, which wasn't that hard, and ran over to Hua. The man's nostrils flared.
"Hua, his kind killed your husband, and you're giving it pity? I thought you were loyal."
"Li is a child, Wei. Besides, the Fire Nation hasn't been kind to him either. You better than anyone else should know how poorly they treat their mixed population."
"He's rolling in his grave, Hua. Traitor woman." Wei spat. Song finally entered the scene, freezing when she saw Wei. "You bring disgrace to us all."
"Uncle Wei." She greeted, cordial and cold. "It's nice to see you."
"And you, Song."
"Li, we should go."
"Hua! You're letting this creature around Song? Disgusting." Wei shook his fists.
Hua narrowed her eyes. "I'll raise my daughter as I see fit, Wei."
The large man just snered. "I'll be on my way, Hua, but don't think I'm going to forget about this just because you married my half-brother."
"Of course not, Wei. Now, leave. I didn't invite you onto my property, or into my house."
Wei, the brute he was, spat on Hua's face, and made his way out the nearest door. Zuko stood there for a moment longer, and sniffled. He wasn't a dirty Half-Breed.
"It's okay, Li. He didn't mean any of those words." Hua reassured him. "You're welcome here."
They both knew she was lying.
The meal was duck, just as Hua had promised. After he finished, Zuko sat outside, on the porch, just staring up at the night sky, and the moon. The cold of the air didn't bother him much.
The door opened behind him, and Song stepped forward. "Are you mad because of what Uncle Wei said? Because Mama says Uncle Wei is a stupid pri-"
"No. I don't care about what that brute thinks." Zuko rolled his eyes. "I don't take advice from uneducated simpletons."
"Huh?"
"Nevermind."
Song frowned, her young face crumpling. "Are you sad because of your bandages?"
Zuko's hand flew up to the thin wrappings on his face. Underneath them, was a horror Song couldn't begin to understand. Monstrous, ugly and disfigured. When Hua had cleaned up his face, and removed the old bandages, she had gasped. Zuko wasn't an idiot, he knew disgust when he saw it. He scowled, "No, I'm fine."
"Are you sure?" Song asked, concern colouring her tone. "Mama said that the Fire Nation hurt you, like they hurt me." She pulled her filthy dress upwards, showcasing her leg to Zuko. Just like his face, it was mottled, and ruined. It must've been deliberate as well, because the placing was in a strange place. Firebenders didn't miss so badly.
"I'm fine. No one hurt me." He refuted. He didn't know how he got his mark, but surely, it couldn't have been his father. No matter what anyone said, Father loved him.
"Li, it's okay. Mama said they hurt everyone. They're evil. It's not your fault."
"How do you know that?" Zuko challenged. "Huh? What if I'm evil too?"
"You're not evil," Song stressed, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. Clear to everyone but Zuko. "You're my friend, and you're nice."
"I could be lying," Zuko pointed out. "I could be tricking you into liking me."
"I trust you." Song shrugged. "You wouldn't trick me. You don't even have to! I like you. You're very kind, Li. Even if you like to pretend you aren't."
"I'm not weak," Zuko seethed. How dare Song suggest such a thing? "I'm strong, and powerful. I'm not soft."
"Whatever you say, Li. I'm going inside now. You should come. Bedtime is soon, and Mama doesn't like it when I stay up too late."
"I'll be there in a few minutes." Zuko lied, his voice wavering. His falsehood wouldn't have fooled Azula, but Song wasn't as smart as his sister was. It would do. "Promise."
"Goodnight, Li." Song smiled. Zuko watched idly as the young girl entered her home again. He checked around the area. Earlier, Song mentioned an ostrich horse. That must be in the hut, slightly detached from the main house. Additionally, Zuko needed the medicine Hua used on him. She said he needed it for another month.
He crept inside, making no sound. He tiptoed around creaky floorboards, and avoided stepping down too hard. The medicine was in the furthest left room, if he remembered correctly. Carefully creeping, he found the room. He could barely see anything, but that wouldn't stop him. He pushed the door open, and ran his hand down all the supplies left out. He'd find the medicine eventually.
"Here we go," He whispered as he made out the correct shape of the bottle. He reached slightly to the right of the bottle, and snagged the second one too.
Silently, as if he were never there at all, he left the small house, and grabbed the ostrich horse. He didn't have any money, or food, but he'd worry about that later.
He rode down the street, inconspicuous until the end. He didn't notice the little girl watching him. He didn't see her cry.
He was one step closer to home.