Another chapter is written. I had originally intended to post it last Wednesday for my birthday, but a big snow storm hit and I had lot of family to take care of. Thank you to Kikuchan for her delightful birthday wishes, it was a wonderful and made me feel very appreciated. As for lover-of-light, this chapter is for you! I hope this chapter lives up to your expectations. As for Gordanon, I appreciate your critism and have worked to address both points. I hope this chapter pleases you a lot more. So yes, poor Lulu has been caught out of bounds and is now having to face the music. I admit, this chapter was especially fascinating to write. But enough on that, I think you have a story to read. As always, dedicated to my dear friend Avocado love, and a special thanks to my dear Beta Rua. I'm the luckiest gal in the world to know you both. Thank you so much for all the wonderful conversations!
Somewhere Out There
Somewhere out there if love can see us through then we'll be together somewhere out there out where dreams come true
And even though I know how very far apart we are, it helps to think we might be wishing on the same bright star
And when the night wind starts to sing a lonesome lullaby, it helps to think we're sleeping underneath the same big sky
Somewhere out there if love can see us through then we'll be together somewhere out there out where dreams come true
Written by James Horner, Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil
Lu Ten had only known fear when he had been around his grandfather. Otherwise, he had been the happiest boy in the world. He had servants living only to serve his whim. He had toys and books and many rhinos. He was loved by his aunt and uncle, and worshipped by his cousins. He was perfectly content with everything around him.
Yet, in the last few weeks he had known levels of fear that he had never imagined could exist for such an important person. He had faced the Earth Kingdom and the slave block, and now he would have to face the wrath of Hakoda. Somehow, he knew that this would not go well for him.
He was a runaway slave. He had stolen property…he was stolen property. What if Hakoda had punished Zuko for Lu Ten's crimes? If one slave ran away back at the palace, anyone the slave knew could be tortured for information. Poor Zuko wouldn't last a moment under pressure; he was so weak and fragile. It was Lu Ten's job to protect him, or at least not make his life worse. All he had done was make his life worse! He coughed weakly, until the Water tribesman removed the gag, thinking it was choking him. "Hakoda?" Lu Ten whispered as soon as he could speak. "Is my brother all right?" He had to know if they had hurt his cousin for this.
"No thanks to you. You left him," Hakoda growled. "You can see for yourself what has happened to him." This didn't sound good, his poor cousin! He just had to lie still and pray Agni had protected his anointed ones. The night was cold and cloudy, without any stars in the sky. It was a bad omen for sure. A shiver past through his body and he found himself wishing he had never run away. All he had done was make things worse. "You should see how he suffered because of you."
Lu Ten's blood ran cold. "He's alive?" he pleaded, underestimating the savages' fury against an innocent child. "You didn't kill him?" The thought was too terrible to imagine. Hakoda wouldn't hurt Zuko, he was too kind and gentle to ever do anything so vile!
"Of course he's alive, why wouldn't he be? That's enough out of you, I'm still angry and I need to decide how to deal with your behavior," Hakoda snapped, carrying him along into the beach. "You could have been killed and you've put the crew off schedule with me having to look for you. Selfish!"
The ship was docked on the beach. They had tracked him so easily, as if he had been a wild animal to be eaten and skinned at their pleasure. The son of the great Dragon of the West had been foiled so easily. He did not deserve to lead the country if he couldn't even escape on his own without assistance. Now he would pay the price. He hoped he could take the punishment without humiliating himself further.
Standing at the shore's edge was a very angry Bato, who looked as disgusted as Hakoda did. "You found him already?" he asked, looking less than amused. "Took you long enough. Now we're completely behind schedule."
"Boy left a trail that a blind penguin seal could follow. I really must give him a lesson in proper camouflage when I have a chance," Hakoda said, his usual stupid humor coming out. "Don't worry, we'll make the next tide and be back on schedule before we know it. What's a little terror between friends?"
"I expect you'll also be teaching him a lesson for what he did," Bato reminded. This didn't bode well for him. Hakoda didn't respond and just dragged him up the gangplank. "Hakoda, he has to pay for this." Another nail in his coffin, he was doomed.
"He will, Bato," Hakoda said softly, as he hauled him along. "He will." This didn't sound very good at all! Lu Ten shivered as he was carried along into the ship and into the storage room that had been the princes' royal bedchamber. He wanted his father or uncle to protect him.
In the dim dawn light, Lu Ten could see Zuko was lying on the furry floor, red eyed and miserable. As Hakoda dragged Lu Ten inside, Zuko fell to his knees, sobbing hysterically. "Please, don't hurt him," he pleaded, grabbing unto Hakoda's leg. "I know you're angry and he shouldn't have run away but he's sorry, don't beat him. He's not a bad slave, it wasn't his fault." Lu Ten was so terrified himself, but seeing Zuko frightened only made it worse. He hadn't meant to make his cousin suffer so, it made him feel worse!
Lu Ten winced as the memories passed before his eyes. He had never given it a moment's notice, it had just been an ordinary day in the life of a prince, who had been taught to judge the people. Him high on a throne, crowned and be-draped as a future king. He now remembered the case. Lord Prince, please have mercy…the sobbing slave, he had been so young, Lu Ten had noted that haughtily last year. There can be no mercy on you. To the copper mines. Let it be a lesson to those who run away. Grandfather had approved of his choice, had called him strong. He felt a horrible weakness now as his stomach began to churn.
"What kind of insanity do you come from?" Hakoda asked, putting down Lu Ten and picking up Zuko carefully like a baby. He was glad his cousin wouldn't have to see what happened next. He wanted to hug his cousin so badly, to reassure him that all was well, to reassure himself Zuko was real, but he needed to be strong and stoic. He was a prince of the Fire nation, he would show no fear. He wouldn't look down penitently at the floor like some slave. He forced his chin high and his face expressionless as Bato crept up behind him and began untying him. It was a horrible feeling to see his cousin suffer so.
Zuko only wept harder. "I know he did wrong, but he is sorry. I'll be good, I'll clean the whole deck if you don't send him to the copper mines," he begged. Lu Ten could hear the pleading, the terror and the memories of a time when he had heard those pleas because he had felt others deserved to feel pain. He had never imagined how frightening it was to await someone else deciding life and limb.
"I'm not sending your brother to the copper mines," Hakoda said, gently placing Zuko's head on his shoulder. Zuko's sobs only grew louder as he shook with terror. He babbled some stuff but his sobs hid the meaning. "Why are you so scared, little one?" he whispered tenderly. "You have no need to fear, you haven't done anything wrong now. We talked about this, you're fine."
"I'm so sorry," Zuko finally made out, sounding exhausted from all his crying. "I just want him to be safe, even when he's bad and doesn't listen. I hate seeing him punished. Mama says he's a very good boy, just headstrong and stupid sometimes." If Lu Ten hadn't been terrified, he would have rolled his eyes at Aunt Ursa's words. "I'll never do it again!"
"I know you won't." Lu Ten ached to comfort his cousin, but couldn't explain why his cousin was so scared. Zuko knew what happened to runaway slaves, and he feared it happening to himself. "Bato, can you take them with you and calm him down? I think he's overemotional and I still need to deal with his brother. Someone is in trouble," Hakoda said darkly.
Zuko began shrieking into terror, as Bato stepped into the room. "Come on, little one, this isn't something you need to see," the older man said, grabbing Zuko from Hakoda. "We'll have some milk and seaweed cakes." Lu Ten winked at him to try to comfort his cousin but Zuko had gone hysterical. "I hope you're happy, Shaya. You deserve this," Bato said in a withering tone. "You deserve every bit of it." Zuko was fighting to get away from the warrior, but was carried away like a shrieking sack of flour. "Lulu!"
Lu Ten stared at the wall, trying to drown out the screams of terror. Each time Zuko cried out to him, it was like another blow of the whip searing into his very soul. He would make this up to him, he swore it. "Thank you for not hurting him," he managed to stammer, blinking back tears. Poor Zuko, he didn't deserve this suffering.
"Why would I hurt him? He's innocent! I wish I could say the same about you. How dare you? You abandoned your brother, look what you reduced him to," Hakoda growled "He spent hours crying his eyes out, begging us not to hurt you. How dare you leave him behind? I get you felt the need to run, but to abandon your own family? That is unforgivable. And to leave this ship? We all thought you had drowned, we were worried about you. What you did was selfish!"
Lu Ten trembled as Hakoda reached out to him. He knew what happened to slaves who ran away, he had seen it with his own eyes. He knew he would be flogged for this, he just hoped he had the strength to keep his honor and not cry out. To his shock, it was only a soft grip on the shoulder. "Oh," he managed to say, shocked it wasn't worse.
"Running off was more than just selfish. It was dangerous. You could have drowned, an animal could have eaten you and we won't even go into what the Earth Kingdom would have done to you. You need to think about the consequences of your actions and how they affect others!" Hakoda said, shaking him without even realizing it. It was frightening to see how strong his captor was. "Didn't you care that we would have been worried about you? That your brother was sick over you?" he demanded.
Lu Ten shrugged. He had considered Zuko's pain but had outweighed the safety of the succession to the tears of his best friend. It was what his grandfather would have done. "I knew what I did." He had to be a leader, leaders made tough choices and never wavered.
"You have no idea what you have done! This could have gotten you a short trip to the spirit world! At the end of this voyage, I'm going to be taking you to live in the South Pole. There are polar bear dogs, arctic sea lions, and icy waters that are only too eager to end your life. Behavior like this could get people killed. Not just you, but the people who would search for you," Hakoda said, pushing him unto to a box to sit down. "You deserve to be punished severely for this! I know you think you are special because you can fight but you are a little child! You may claim to be twelve but I doubt you're older than nine! You're tiny and helpless and it's supposed to be my job to protect you. I can't do that if you run off!"
Lu Ten looked at the wall, refusing to cast his eyes down like a slave. Even if he was frightened, he would not show it. He could take the pain. He just wanted it over with. It was waiting that was the worst part, he hated the unknown of hearing what justice would be meted out. Runaway slaves had little else to wait for. "I know," he whispered.
"I don't understand. What more could be done for you? We have treated you well even if you were a surly little monster and tasked our patience. We saved your lives, the least you could be is grateful," Hakoda shouted, keeping his hand on Lu Ten's shoulder. He was a mountain standing over him. "What have we done to make you want to leave this safe place and nearly get yourself killed in the forest?" Lu Ten was not even listening anymore. He just waited quietly. Answering back his grandfather only made things worse for everyone involved. "Answer me!"
Lu Ten shook his head. What was there to say in his defense? He would never go willingly to the cold lands and he would never abandon his title and people. They were enemies. He owed him nothing. He was their prisoner, not their friend.
"Just going to sit there and ignore me? Well, you are part of my family and it's my job to undo this entitlement you have and teach you a proper lesson in manners. Why is your brother hysterical at the thought of you being punished?" Hakoda asked. "What is going on with you both? Well?" he shouted, pulling Lu Ten's chin up to look at him. Lu Ten couldn't hide the shudder as he waited for the blow. "Why are you flinching like that?"
Lu Ten bit his lip. "You know what we fear," he said softly. He feared the man before him, who held all the power. Hakoda could decide to kill him or feed him, to beat him senseless or pat his head, to chain him up like a pet or allow him freedom, to work him to the bone or show him mercy. Lu Ten's life and the life of his poor Zuko was in his hands and there was nothing that could be done. Knowing he was so helpless was irritating and frightening. "What you will do to me. please, don't let my brother see…"
Hakoda stared at him for a long moment, clearly trying to control his anger. "Ah, I see," he said softly. "You think I'm going to hurt you. I can't deny that if any child has ever deserved a smack, it would be you. You are the most arrogant, spoiled, disobedient, reckless and selfish child I have ever met." His words almost stung, even if they were uttered by Water Tribe scum. "But…after what you went through, I understand I am scaring you. So let's talk first. Don't get me wrong, you will have to be punished for what you did. You abandoned your family and your brother, you disregarded orders. So, what happened to you if you misbehaved at home?" Hakoda asked, sitting down on the rug and motioning for Lu Ten to move down and do the same.
"Nothing at all," Lu Ten lied smoothly. His tutors had never dared to punish him too badly and he had only angered his grandfather a few times and valued his life too much to have ever done it any more. "I was a model child." That was the furthest from the truth, but lying to savages was no crime. "Other children were compared to me and found lacking." That was true, he was the heir to the throne.
"First of all, most children would have an answer for such a question, having disobeyed their parents once or twice in their lives. You have no answer which means that the thought of disobedience frightens you so much you're scared to even face the possibility of punishment. Second, you have lash marks on your back and you assured me that you deserved the punishment. That means you had been disciplined before, if you can call such barbarism discipline. Third, your brother is sure you're being sent off to the copper mines for running away," Hakoda said angrily. "I may be a savage, Shaya but I'm not a fool. What is the answer to my question? What would happen to a child who ran away from your home?"
Lu Ten's stomach sunk into his ankles. "A child who ran away from home should be clapped in chains and locked in a dark dungeon. This should continue for a period of time no less than two weeks, on bread and water till he learns to appreciate the kindness of his guardian. He should then be made to beg forgiveness from his guardian and given ten strokes of the strap. A slave who runs away from his master the first time should get twenty lashes and be branded on the hand. The second time, he should be sold to the copper minds," he mumbled. It was the law of Sozin, codified for nearly a hundred years. The only question was he a child under the law, or a slave? Neither prospect seemed hopeful.
"Merciful spirits, who could do that to another human being?" Hakoda asked, completely shocked. "That kind of torture is unfit for criminals, let alone children." He looked so
"It is the law," Lu Ten whispered. It was the law and it was his grandfather's will and it was the only way that was right. "It…is justice." It made sense when he had been the prince and beyond the touch of the law. Now he was just afraid and wishing he had other answers.
"Shaya, I swear to you, I would never do something so cruel to you. You are a good boy who made a mistake. No matter what you did, you never deserve to be treated in such a manner. You need to be educated to correct your mistakes, not tortured. Can I ask you again, what you did to deserve such chastisement?" Hakoda asked, looking at him piercingly in the eyes.
Lu Ten lowered his eyes, wondering how a savage had become so intelligent. "Something far lighter than what I did to you, but I did it to someone far more important. I can only hope you spare my life," he said softly. Grandfather wouldn't spare his life. Lu Ten wouldn't have spared the life of a slave who had run away, but standing trembling before a master made him terrified. It was a horrible feeling to wait and hope for another to grant him his life, or to subject him to horrific punishment. "For my brother's sake." It was sickening to beg for mercy.
Hakoda pulled Lu Ten into a hug. "Of course I am going to spare your life. You may still think I see you as a slave and fear me, but I see you as my new son. You are safe here," he said softly. "Do you understand? I will not hurt you at all. I swear it on the lives of my crew." A savage had just touched the sacred body of the prince and all Lu Ten wanted to do was throw himself into Hakoda's shoulder and cry. He wanted his father so badly, he wanted to be a little boy instead of a great leader. He was just so exhausted. He forced himself to wiggle away. "Why do you fear me so much? Why do you fear the Water Tribe?" Hakoda asked, smoothing back Lu Ten's hair. It was strange how much that gesture failed to repulse him.
"I fear everyone who I don't know. My brother was almost killed before your eyes. I can't afford to trust anyone. But I thank you for your mercy to me," Lu Ten said, his voice trembling. He had asked for mercy from a savage instead of stoically enduring whatever castigation was decided. It was shockingly wrong to think he was grateful to an enemy. He would have never shown such mercy to a runaway. He would have considered it immoral to reward such criminal behavior with kindness. So why was he so grateful to disobey a law a he believed in?
"Mercy is the sign of the strong, Shaya. It is a sign of leadership to know when to use restraint on others. You believe I should have beaten you senseless for you did, right?" Hakoda said quietly. Lu Ten stared down at the floor, saying nothing. He didn't want what he deserved. He should have been back in the Fire nation, serving as their prince, but had willingly returned himself to slavery. He was a traitor and deserved no mercy from anyone. "You poor confused little kid, I almost feel sorry for you. No wonder you keep running away. Let me ask you a question, my young friend? Why do you punish someone who has broken the law?"
Lu Ten sighed. "Punishment is needed for two reasons. One is to make the person suffer for making the wrong choice. The second is to serve as an example to others," he said, quoting his grandfather's teachings. Thieves needed to have their hands cut off, debtors had to be sold into slavery, children who disobeyed had to be broken into obedience and slaves who ran away had to be thrashed within an inch of their lives. "Everyone has an authority and by obeying their authority, order and peace is maintained. Therefore, those who break the order and peace deserve to suffer. Showing them pity shows a disregard for the peace and order we so treasure." He knew those words and he had to believe them. He had to believe the truth that had been taught to him.
"I can see you have studied hard on this issue. Yes, obeying your authority is very important. But you missed the most important part. Building a stronger and better society, helping people learn from their mistakes by having them face the consequences of their actions," Hakoda explained, his voice firm. "What was done to you doesn't make you more likely to make the right choice in the future. It just makes you afraid and obedient. You talked a lot about what should be done for an authority, but you did not discuss what an authority should do for those who serve him."
Lu Ten's shoulders lowered. "A good leader must be fearless. He must be wise and farseeing, he must be unquestioned in his genius. He must make the choices only he is qualified to make, questions of life and death. He must think of what is best for everyone, even if it means making the few suffer for the many. He must be strong and unmatched in battle, ferocious in combat. He must be stern and just, carrying out the law and punishing those who disobey. He must command the nation," he whispered, the long list of things that he would someday have to be.
"That's a long list, Shaya. Ever think of how to achieve it?" Hakoda asked, taking some dried seaweed from a sack and offering it to him. "I don't think it's done through fear." What did he know? This paltry band of warriors was nothing compared to the kingdom that Lu Ten would someday rule. With Agni's blessing, someday he would inherit the entire world.
"Fear of your lord is the root of all wisdom," Lu Ten quoted. He had written in it a hundred times in his best calligraphy. "Obedience is the root of all freedom. Everyone knows that." It was what he had lived his life by, it was the teachings of the Fire Sages.
"Shaya, I can make you fear me quite easily. All I have to do is cause you pain and you will fear me. I think that's the time of life you are used to. Someone made you fear them and everyone else around them. That won't make you do the right thing, it will just make you afraid to question. I want your respect and that is something I will have to earn," Hakoda said gently. "My father was the chief before me. One day, when I was your age, he asked me to carve a beautiful sculpture in the ice. It took me hours but I was so very proud of it. When I was done, I showed it to him, and he picked up a snowball to throw it at it. I had tears in my eyes, and begged him to stop. He smiled and asked me how long it had taken to make the sculpture. Half a sun cycle, I replied. And yet, a snowball made in a second could destroy it. Do you know what the lesson he taught me was?"
Lu Ten shrugged. It didn't make any sense. "That you should have let your father destroy it, and that his will must come before your own?" he asked. What a stupid lesson this was, about snow and ice and wasted effort.
"I thought you might say something like that. No, what my father, Chief Sokka wanted me to know is that it takes so little effort to destroy something. It can take a lifetime to build something up, but in a second, it could all be destroyed. A good leader is creative, makes the people better by inspiration. It is a lifetime of hard work to lead through justice and not through intimidation. When all you do is frighten someone, it creates a person who is unable to think for themselves. They will never be truly loyal to you, or serve you well. No matter how strong a leader is, there is a time where he will need help. He will need the love of his people, not their fear."
Lu Ten stared at the ground. Hakoda's heretical words had a ring of truth but he just didn't understand. Grandfather didn't punish him to make him fear, but to make him a proper prince. It was his own fault if he wasn't intelligent and dutiful enough, and Grandfather was just correcting him. Lu Ten would be stern out of love for his people, not to make them fear him. he wanted to speak up, but he felt too grateful to argue with a man who was sparing him the lash and allowing him mercy. Arguing for what was right wasn't useful to him. "I see."
"I wish you did see what I'm saying. I look at you and I see what terrible things fear can do to a child. I don't know why you feel you need to lie to me but I am going to find out the truth, one way or another. You don't have to worry, whatever you tell me, I will keep you out of harm's way. My poor, scared little child, what's been done to you before your slavery that has made you so afraid?" Hakoda asked tenderly. Lu Ten opened his mouth to speak, but forced himself to turn down the chance to unburden his heart. "Still afraid of me?"
Lu Ten shook his head. He could barely keep his head up, he was feeling nauseated. Hakoda was still staring at him, almost trying to read his mind. It was becoming very uncomfortable. "I am merely observing you, that is all. You are confusing to me, after all," he said regally, folding his arms to hide the shaking of his hands.
"Then let me return the favor. So, what else have I learned from you? Your family had slaves, and you've sent them to copper mines for disobeying you, since that's a common fate for runaways in noble homes," Hakoda continued, noticing the look of terror on Lu Ten's face. "You and your brother may be future warriors, but you have a lot to learn about listening and gaining clues about your opponent." The smugness in his voice irritated Lu Ten. "You give a lot of information away."
Lu Ten still shivered at being known as someone of importance. He had no idea how Hakoda would react if he knew just how much importance Lu Ten had. "What are you going to do to me for running away?" he asked, deciding to take the bad news with dignity. He had no idea how much of this safety he could manage on. He needed to know how much pain and suffering this safety would entail. Surely savages wouldn't just ignore misbehavior?
"You will be kept under guard. From now on, you will be locked into your room at night and you will not allowed to remain alone," Hakoda decreed. "You lost my trust and you will have to earn it back. I will earn your trust and you will earn mine. You will also be dealt with tomorrow, I have a thought of how to teach you your place. Finally, you will apologize to the crew. You worried us terribly, and you made us think we had lost you. You need to make this right. " Lu Ten bristled. He would never kowtow to these savages and the thought of it made him sick. "Now, why don't you calm down, and then go back to your little brother and talk to him? He has been crying his eyes out for you and I am sure only you can comfort him."
Lu Ten was surprised at the punishment, but said nothing of it. He would think about the questions of right and wrong after he had seen his beloved cousin well-being. "Yes," he mumbled, staring down at the rug in confusion. Had he decided on punishment so strange, he would have faced Grandfather's wrath. Was justice different out in the savage lands? "He should not be crying, he should have trusted me," he said, before realizing that the most he had said to Hakoda with emotion other than disdain. "He knew I had his best interests in mind."
"So why did you do it, Shaya? Why did you hurt someone who needs you so badly?" Hakoda demanded, slamming his hand on the ground. "You were willing to leave him alone and helpless. I'm not sure if that's a mark of your trust or your own wish to value your life over his?" he asked angrily. "If you are my new foster son, that is one lesson I am going to get through your young head. You do not leave family behind. What you did was like suicide and murder at the same time, you risked your own life and your rescuers. You will learn that no one can survive alone and your group needs you. Your family needs you and as much as we want to be your family, your brother considers you the only family he has. He needs you and you need him. I understand you are young and foolish, and need to be taught. It starts now, you will never ever do something so selfish again, is that understood?"
Lu Ten bowed his head under the verbal onslaught. He could only imagine how evil he must seen, stranding his own family to save his own skin. Unless Hakoda knew that Lu Ten was a prince, it would make no sense. So he would have to pay some penitence here to keep his captor happy. "I would never leave my brother to suffer. I was going to help him by finding help," he said softly. "I was heading to the base in hopes of rescue. I knew I couldn't take him with me, he was too young to survive swimming such a harsh journey." He was explaining himself to a savage. He had truly fallen very low.
"But it was an Earth Kingdom fort, wasn't it?" Hakoda chided angrily. "That wouldn't have gone well for you, either?" He patted Lu Ten's hand reassuringly. "I think you should thank your lucky stars I found you first."
"What are you talking about?" Lu Ten whispered, his stomach churning again. This was getting very disconcerting, how could a Water tribe savage be so perceptive? They were supposed to be mindless beasts in the shape of men. This was more than frightening, this was dangerous.
"We know you're Fire Nation, Shaya. Your golden eyes, warm hands and ability to create a hot bath from cold sea water told us more than you can imagine. You also might not want to show off firebending styles while brawling with someone. Northern Dragon Xiou style, am I correct?" Hakoda asked, ticking off his disguise with impatience. "I figured you ran away because you didn't want us to know, that you were afraid. I thought you should know we all know and we do not care. We only want you to be safe."
Lu Ten's eyes lowered. "Yes," he said, as all his errors were laid bare before him. He had failed so many times, it was painful to realize how unworthy he was to lead his cousin to safety. He was a terrible leader! He looked at his sore feet, knowing just what Hakoda thought of his people. "My father was a high level merchant who had me educated. We're not in the military or anything." He had to keep lying, he had to keep believing that he could save himself from this horrible prison. He had to keep hoping they would not toss him overboard for being born superior.
"Don't worry, we're not going to hurt you. You can't help who you were born to. I do doubt the Earth Kingdom would have resisted the urge to ransom you, but we will keep you safe. Of course, if we're found to be holding Fire Nation nobility in our protection, we'd likely suffer a similar fate to you," Hakoda said, taking his hand. "Please know you are among your friends. Hopefully, you can see that we're people too, people who care about you."
Lu Ten's eyes widened. They were protecting at the risk of their own lives? It didn't make any sense, he wouldn't do the same for them. What made them so foolhardily kind? "Thank you," he whispered, with pangs of gratitude.
"Don't bother. It is the right thing to do. Still, I'm assuming everything you say is a lie until proven otherwise. You destroyed my trust, Shaya and it will not be easy to get it back. But I see you didn't intend to abandon Hanzo and for that, I am pleased. That's what made me decide to keep you, my friend. Anyone willing to die for his brother is someone I respect," Hakoda said. "Your punishment stands, you two will be locked in every night and you will be checked on more often. If you run away again, I will be forced to keep you in the cellar. But you are safe here and safe you shall remain. I will never hurt you the way you've been hurt. So…feel better now?"
Lu Ten nodded, still confused. He was beginning to feel feelings of respect towards his enemies. He was losing his mind, and he just wanted to be alone with Zuko. "I would feel better, but you're scaring my brother. Since we kept slaves, Hanzo knows what bad things happened to ones who ran away," he explained.
Hakoda paled. "I didn't connect that. Wait here, I'll get him," he said softly, getting to his feet and going to the door. "And seriously, I don't know why your people are so barbaric. I would never hit you for running away. You may have been badly behaved, but you don't deserve to live in fear of people. I want you and your brother to be safe and happy here." Lu Ten noticed that Hakoda also locked the door when he left. He supposed that even mercy had his limits.
A moment later, the door opened and Lu Ten felt his cousin's small body burrow into him, sobbing. "You came back," he wept, so excited. "And you're not hurt. Thank you, Hakoda. I promise, I'll make sure he's very good and you never have to punish him again." It felt wonderful to hold him close again, his wonderful cousin, his wonderful friend, was safe and sound. He wasn't dead, he was in good spirits and back under his wing where he belonged.
Hakoda smiled and patted Zuko's head. "See, I didn't hurt your wayward brother," he said. "Though if you give him a smack, I won't be surprised." Lu Ten stroked Zuko's back and breathed in his salty smell. He was alive and warm and healthy.
Zuko was too busy wetting the front of Lu Ten's shirt with his tears. "I missed you so much," he whispered, his tiny hands gripping Lu Ten hard. "Please don't ever do that to me again."
"I'll leave you two be. Stay in here, though. I think you both misbehaved enough for one day," Hakoda said. "Don't make me put a bell collar on you, Hanzo. You gave us all a big scare." If Lu Ten hadn't been so caught up in the moment, he would have glared at him. Instead, he ignored him and held his cousin close, waiting to speak until the door closed and they were alone. No matter what, Zuko was safe. That was all that mattered.
"You came back," Zuko said joyfully, wrapping his arms around Lu Ten's neck. He was still choking on his tears but he was overjoyed to be with him. "I prayed that Agni would send you and he did. Did you bring an army with you?" he asked. "And did you say hi to Mama and Dad for me?"
Lu Ten hugged him tightly. "No one was at the fort and it was too far to the next one, so I just decided to turn back," he lied, not wanting to admit his mistakes. "Agni always answers the prayers of good little boys. I realized it was better for us to stay together and find our way home together."
"Hakoda is a nice guy, he didn't even whip you," Zuko said happily. "The Water Tribe scum are nice. I like them. We should tell Grandfather they aren't savages at all." That would not go over well and would likely result in Zuko getting the thrashing of a lifetime. He would not tell Zuko that for now.
"They wouldn't dare to whip a prince. Royal blood wins out," Lu Ten said, wondering if Zuko was right. They had been merciful to him, saved his life twice and they had some idea that he wasn't some nameless useless boy, but someone with importance. This was so confusing to him.
"But they don't know that we are royal," Zuko said worriedly. "Did you tell him? Can we finally be friends and family with them?" No, he was becoming too close. They had no need to kill nobles, but the princes of the fire Nation would be shown no mercy. He had to remember that the relationship is based on lies.
"No, and don't you dare breathe a word. I didn't forget you called me Lulu. Here, my name is Shaya,' Lu Ten said, gripping Zuko a bit too hard. Lulu had been Zuko's first word at two years old, and he was the only one who could call the throne prince such a name. Once, it was amusing as a bond between cousins. Now it could cost them their lives. "Now, what happened while I was gone?" Yes, he had to discipline his cousin, he would ponder the ethical questions later.
"I don't want to tell you, you'll be angry," Zuko said cheerfully. "So let's forget about it and just be happy you are home." He was such a little rascal, but he was adorable. Still, he had to admit, this was not a good habit, learning to hide things from his superior. Zuko was going to get into trouble if he didn't learn his place and submit to his prince.
"Zu, do not make me force you, it won't go well for you," Lu Ten threatened. He was not in the mood to mocked, he had just been captured like a runaway calf and his identity had been nearly teased out. "What happened to you?" He left the boy for a few hours and already he got into trouble. Once they were back home, he would have a bell put around his neck to keep him out of harm's way, just as Hakoda suggested.
Zuko hung his head. "I sorta decided to swim after you. So I climbed over…and I fell in. Shinta saved me," he said softly. 'I'm sorry, I know you wanted me to stay and I shouldn't have done it, and I got sent to bed for it." His cousin had nearly died without him? He should have never left him alone, it was his fault! Being a leader seemed to be always making tough choices where both sides were wrong!
"I'll yell at you later, but Shinta saved you?" Lu Ten gasped. Why would that sour brat ever do something so noble, especially after all Shinta had done to him. "It just doesn't make any sense." Shinta hated them. He had threatened to sell them both into slavery.
Zuko nodded. "He said he was sorry and he was going to make sure you were brought back safe," he said. "Lulu, why are you so upset? Aren't you happy he saved my life," he chirped nervously, clearly trying to avoid getting punished. He wasn't even curious about the situation, he just wanted to avoid discussing the entire situation.
"Don't call me Lulu, behave yourself," Lu Ten growled angrily, still trying to make sense of the entire problem. "My name is Shaya here, remember?"
"I'm sorry, I'm just happy to see you," Zuko mumbled, his eyes downcast. "I didn't mean to make you angry." He was a kid and in a better turn of fate, he would be safe in the palace where he didn't have to suffer to survive. Lu Ten didn't enjoy being cruel to him, but he knew he had to. Their survival depended on it.
"I know you're happy to see me, but you must understand that they are catching on to us. They knew we're Fire Nation, they know too much," Lu Ten explained, his voice shaking with frustration. He had to keep his cousin safe, running away was no longer an option.
"But they are nice, why are you so angry?" Zuko asked, his voice bordering on direct insolence. This could no longer be tolerated, Zuko had to understand how dangerous this is?
"I told you to stay put. I will have to punish you for this. You are never allowed to disobey my orders. How dare you jump overboard?" he snapped. "I told you to stay put, how did you expect me to find you when you could have drowned?" All he was trying to do was save his cousin and Zuko was making it so much harder.
"I'm sorry," Zuko said mournfully. "I was so scared something would happen to you and I wouldn't be there to protect you. I'm your daimyo, I have to protect you and be wiling to die for you!"
Lu Ten rolled his eyes, trying not to smile. How did Zuko have that ability to charmingly manipulate himself out of punishment? He would have to take lessons from him sometime. "You are too little to help me, Zu. You know that. It's my job to lead and keep you safe, and yours to do as you are told so that I can do that," he said, giving his cousin a light tap on the head. "A warrior always obeys his prince."
"I know," Zuko said, wrapping his arms around him. "I want to be just like you, you know." That was what Lu Ten was afraid of, he approved of Zuko being brave and strong, but he doubted his little cousin had the skill to be a true warrior or leader. At least, not yet. He was too immature, too sweet and kind. That was why he had been born to the branch house, to never see the throne. He was to be spared the terrible burden. It would be up to Lu Ten to bring out his potential and keep him safe in this terrible world. He would stop burdening his cousin with the terrible truth of the knowledge of the danger of the situation. This was his duty, the duty of the crown prince.
"Just do as you're told, Zu. That's how you can be like me. I missed you so much," Lu Ten said, forcing himself to smile at his beloved cousin. The door opened as they spoke and the Water Scum who saved Zuko's life stumbled in.
"You're back!" Shinta said, looking shocked. "Everyone thought you had drowned." He looked so nervous and now Lu Ten understood why. Shinta knew Lu Ten could set him ablaze with a flick of his fingers.
Lu Ten stared at him, trying to find the words to say. "You would have liked that, wouldn't you?" he challenged harshly, before remembering that he owed the cretin Zuko's life. "But you saved my brother's life, and I need to thank you. So consider yourself thanked." He wasn't sure what else to say.
"Your thanks is accepted. Let's just avoid the topic," Shinta said, trying to sound all gruff. "You okay, Hanzo?" He actually cared about him? It seemed completely foolish!
Zuko nodded, and cuddled closer to his cousin. "Thank you," he squeaked, latching on to his cousin. "My brother is back so you don't have to protect me anymore."
"So, why did you do this?" Lu Ten asked, completely confused. "You did try to kill him only a while back. What changed?" He wouldn't have saved Shinta, he would have likely been the one to push him overboard.
"You wouldn't understand why I did it," Shinta said, scuffing his boots. All this behavior was so strange for him, he wished he was back in the Fire Nation where he could command answers. "You don't owe me anything."
"Try me, I'm in a forgiving mood," Lu Ten asked. "I will refrain from causing your death. I would just like to know why you did it. You hate us." He was the one who tried to kill Zuko. Why was he saving him now?
"I thought you had ran away because of what I was doing to you. I figured you could have been recaptured by slavers and it would be my fault. I couldn't live with the guilt of knowing I had condemned you back to slavery," Shinta said softly, looking younger than he should be.
Lu Ten was shocked. He couldn't believe his own enemy had treated him that way. "Why should you care if you had? You threatened to sell me yourself!" he accused. "You almost killed my brother!" They hated each other and always would!
"I know. I was wrong. I may not like you much, but I realize now you aren't going anywhere. We're going to have to work together and someday, you will be a warrior at my side. Dad had a talk with me about it, and I realized now that as your future war commander…I need to protect you both." The thought of Shinta being in command of him was so ludicrous that he could only nod politely, for fear of laughing. This was starting to make a great deal of sense. "It's my responsibility to see you safe. I couldn't sleep. I was going to go out looking for you and find you myself." Otherwise, he would have lost his honor. Now it all made sense. Even savages had a primitive sense of honor.
"I didn't run away because of you," Lu Ten said, wondering why he was being so frank and honest. "I just wanted to find my family and well…I couldn't take my brother with me," he confessed. A few days ago, he'd have sooner carved out his own liver than spoken to the oaf. Honor had given them a common ground upon which to compare lives.
"I saved your brother because it was right. When I saw your yellow eyes…you reminded me of something which wasn't fair. My mother was killed by Fire Nation soldiers in a raid. It still hurts. And I know your family had nothing to do with it…but I just lost it. I wasn't logical and I'm sorry," Shinta said softly. It was something he already knew, but hearing it with such sadness made Lu Ten pity finally him. Losing a mother was the worst thing to ever happen. "You can't help being born to them."
Perhaps, a bit of winning understanding would be helpful to maintaining peace. If they knew he was Fire nation, the Water tribe would be on guard. He would have to maintain a sympatric alliance and Shinta seemed an excellent prospect. "Hanzo and I are…half brothers. My mother died a year ago. It drives me crazy sometimes," Lu Ten said, squeezing Zuko tight to keep him quiet. He would have to borrow some of that manipulative charm to keep them both alive. It wasn't something he had told easily, the loss of his mother.
"I'm sorry," Shinta said, sounding genuinely sad. "It's been years. Still hurts all the time. I keep thinking someday I'll look up and she'll be there, looking at me, saying it was all a joke and that she really didn't mean to disappear. And then I realize it's all true. She's gone and I'll never see again."
"I understand how devastating that might be for you, to lose your mother," Lu Ten said, unwilling to share more emotion. He couldn't share his pain with an outlander, no matter how confused he was.
"Yeah, life sucks. But it doesn't make what I did right, and I'm really sorry," Shinta said, clearly embarrassed for revealing so much personal information. "I imagine you still hate me for what I did, but someday I hope we can work together without killing each other." That would never happen, but it was a pleasant thought. Yes, it would be nice to have an ally like Shinta. Being the eldest was a bit lonely, he could use someone who he could manipulate and use for information.
Of course, he was destined to be the eldest son. It was a terrible thought to think he was ungrateful for the honor he had been given, to someday rule the Fire Nation and the world. How dare he regret what was the greatest joy of his life? "Thank you," Lu Ten said softly. He was just so confused, he was their captive, what did he care how they thought of him? He was supposed to return with an army to capture them and string them up!
"I don't need your thanks, I just want a truce. Besides, anyone who has gone through a Hakoda lecture and didn't cry has got to be tough," Shinta said softly. "You might actually be worth my time." It was as close a compliment that he would ever give.
Lu Ten snorted. "You clearly are delusional," he said. He could defeat the idiot with one hand tied behind his back. Shinta's face darkened. "I'm joking. You saved my brother's life. I mean what I said. I forgive you your trespasses against me," he continued genuinely. He wasn't sure how he felt towards the Water Tribe pest but he didn't feel hatred anymore. If anything, he felt a kind of gratitude and a prince always repays his debts, even to those who were lowly and useless. "We are even."
He held out his hand automatically, realizing he was making a gesture for Shinta to kneel before him in homage. That would have been extremely awkward had Shinta not grasped his hand and shook it firmly. "Excellent. You guys better rest, I'll be back with dinner for you guys."
Did this make him a traitor to his family? No, he was doing the right thing. He had been recaptured, but avoided being given over to the Earth Kingdom. The tribe seemed kind enough for the moment. His cousin was safe. He would just have to wait for his next move and endure the barbaric punishment tomorrow would bring.
AN-So poor Lu Ten has no idea how to respond to kindness and all his lies are falling apart. I thought this conversation really highlights how messed up this very good boy really is, how truly brainwashed he really is. Next chapter, things are going to get even worse! A sneak peak for you guys!
To stand before a Fire bender, knowing that someday, Hanzo would rejoice when he died. It was sickening knowing that someday this innocent little boy would commit the ship to the fire and its horrors without a moment's hesitation or remorse was not an experience much less cruel because Hanzo today was too small to hurt them today.