Wake Me Up

Feeling my way through the darkness guided by a beating heart

I can't tell where the journey will end but I know where to start

I tried carrying the weight of the world but I only have two hands

Hope I get the chance to travel the world but I don't have any plans

-AVICII

I doubt many are reading this story, but I owe my readers an ending and an ending you shall have. The reasons for leaving it are many, I moved to another country, I got a new job, and I wanted to write this as an original. But some kind reviews made me remember you deserve closure. So, here it is. Decided to SoBadAtBeingGood and Tamuril2 for reminding me how much I love writing.

Hakoda didn't know the appropriate Fire Nation funeral customs. He didn't know how to comfort poor little Zuko who was about to lose the only family he had left. He didn't know how to move on from the loss of his enemy's child. He just kept a lonely vigil by the suffering child's bed, waiting for the end.

He had handed over command to Bato, determined the little boy wouldn't die alone. He would have to bury the child at sea, his body could bring war. It was a cruel way to go, but Hakoda was determined appropriate prayers would be said.

"I'm sorry, child. I'm sorry it had to end this way," he said softly, caressing the boy's hot forehead. "I know you wouldn't believe me, but I do care about you. I would have been a good father to you," he said softly. "And deep down, I think you would have been a great king. You had so much to learn. But you could have done it."

He wondered why the Dragon of the West hadn't been hunting his lost children. He still wished he knew what happened. He would have to ask the little one someday. Right now, they had to get home as quickly as possible, pack up the village and sail North, for protection.

"Hakoda!" Shinta said, interrupting the sad mournings. "I need to talk to you, I know what's wrong with Shaya! While trading for supplies, I found an Earth Kingdom healer and she told me how to help!"

"It's too late, son. I know, you want to help, but the kid is too far gone," Hacked whispered. False hope would hurt too much.

"No, it's not! She gave me medicine for Za'ar infection, said it can break fevers," Shinta said. "I know, it's a long shot, but you have to try it! Please, we don't have much time!" He opened his hands to show a frozen frog. "It won't stay frozen long, get it under his tongue, he needs to suck on it."

Hakoda did as bidden, sure it couldn't make things worse. He opened the boy's mouth and gently inserted half of the frog. "You did this on your own," he asked softly. Even if it failed, it was still a noble gesture.

"Of course, I owe him," Shinta said softly. "I am responsible for the safety of those weaker than me. I know that now." He looked older now, more mature. He had grown up well during this time. He would make a good warrior, he had learned to find compassion amidst the rage.

Hakoda hugged him tightly, hiding tears of pain and pride. "I am proud of you. Your punishment is over," he said softly. "You are an adult again." Even if Lu Ten died, it was still a noble gesture.

"Hakoda, look!" SHinta said, not even responding to the recall of his ban. "He's sweating! His fever is breaking!"

Hakoda reached out his shaking hand out and touched Lu Ten's forehead. It…was cool. The child was going to live. He wasn't sure how he should feel. He had accustomed himself to the death of this little dragon. He had seen it as the terrible end of the terrible problem he had.

Now, the problem was back in full force. And Sedna help him, he was not sure how he should feel. Relief and dread washed over him in equal measure. Now…what? "Go, and let me tend to him. He can thank you once I calm him down a bit. He's going to be very confused. Have Kesuk brew some tea, he'll need some nutrition."

The spirits had answered his prayer. Now, he had to firmly take command. While the little dragon was weak, Hakoda would make sure that his prisoner/ward finally understood his place.

—-

Lu Ten opened his eyes weakly. "Father," he whispered. He didn't remember much from his illness, but he knew his father had saved him. Everything was all right now. "Father, where am I?" he whispered, not recognizing the place.

"You're on a ship, kid," a voice said. The Water Tribe savage was sitting over him, looking haggard. "And it looks like your fever broke. Welcome back to the land of the living,"

Lu Ten blinked his eyes miserably, aware of his fate. He was a prisoner, miles from his home and in deep disgrace. He closed his eyes to hide his tears and tried to keep his royal composure. "Where is Zuko?" His voice sounded hoarse. He felt so weak and helpless.

"He's fine,' Hakoda said, putting a water skin to his lips. "It's okay, he's resting in Shinta's room. You've been very sick and you must not move. You still have a long way to go before you can get out of bed."

"What is it?" Lu Ten asked, a bit terrified at how sick he truly felt. He hadn't imagined anything worse than being so weak in front of his enemies. His hands felt like ice, and he didn't even feel bending was possible.

"A special treat. It's pretty cold down here and I know you must like tea. It's said your father is famous for brewing right before a battle," Hakoda urged, pressing it to his face.

It was an unexpected kindness, and one to be suspicious. "Drink first,' Lu Ten said, closing his eyes. He wanted some tea badly, it was his favorite drink, but he couldn't look too eager.

"Little one, if we wanted you dead, you would be dead. You have been eating our food, and sleeping on our ship. We have chosen to let you live. I don't expect gratitude yet, but I thought you would see you are safe here," Hakoda said softly.

Lu Ten recognized the logic and drank, closing his eyes. The warmth seemed to seep back into his bones. "You saved my life. Well…again," he murmured. "Why?" The tears started flowing as he wished it was his father here. Of course…he was a miserable failure who didn't deserve his father.

"What's wrong?" Hakoda asked, stroking Lu Ten's cheek. It was so much like how Father used to care for him, before everything had gone mad. "Please, I can't stand seeing children cry. What happened to you?"

Lu Ten was humiliated by his weakness as he allowed himself to speak, wanting to say everything and letting it all out. He was weak and exhausted. "The…Earth kingdom captured us before we were taken by the pirates. They…" he whispered numbly, hugging himself. He saw their faces every night in his nightmares. "They…put weights on my chest. I couldn't breathe, it hurt so much. They kept demanding to know where my father's army was going to attack next. I don't know, but they kept piling more weights. I couldn't breathe."

"That's disgusting. I can't imagine having that done to you," Hakoda said gently. "You must have been so frightened, but none of this was your fault. They are the monsters, not you."

"I'm just the weakling." Lu Ten's voice grew more flat as he continued to speak. "If I would have known…I would have told them just to make the pain stop. It hurt so much. They would have stoned my brother or broken him on the wheel. I couldn't defend myself, I couldn't do anything. They were going to hang me. They said my brother would be next." It was a fear he had imagined so many times, his poor cousin tortured in front of him. "They said they'd make him watch me die. I was a coward, I was ready to do anything to stop the pain. I would have done anything, said anything." He had been so weak. Father would have sneered at them and shown no fear. He had been a shameful weakling and now he was confiding to some savage. He was a failure, Grandfather was right. "I broke." He was broken. A broken prince should be tossed away, no longer of use to his people.

"Anyone would break under that torture, my friend. If they say they wouldn't, they're lying. I would have done the same thing, you know. You were trying to protect your beloved brother and your life, there is nothing shameful about it. You were very brave, you managed to escape. Your family should be very proud of you," Hakoda said, patting Lu Ten's hand. "I know I am."

"That's why I ran away the first time. I couldn't do the torture again, I couldn't do it anymore and I know you would turn me over…and it was all because I'm Fire Nation and I can't help being born superior to all of you," Lu Ten explained, completely bereft.

"My poor kid," Hakoda said, raising Lu Ten's chin to meet his eyes. In spite of himself, the young prince forgot his royal dignity as he flinched and looked away. "It's not hard to see you're terrified of me hurting you. But why would you think I would ever allow harm to come to you? You've given me many excuses and I haven't done it yet. I believe you are quite safe with me."

"Don't lie to me. I'm your enemy. I heard what you said about my nation and I know exactly what you think of my family," Lu Ten whimpered, trying to hold himself together. "But I'm not afraid of you. I'm just feeling ill. This has nothing to do with you." The shivering and trembling was only from the fever. "Don't flatter yourself, I'm a future God. I fear nothing." It was a good lie.

"I admit, I have no love for your people's ways. But I won't hurt you, you know. I swear it on the lives of my family, you are under my protection. You're right, you know. You're just a little boy; you can't help who you are. You have nothing to fear here as long as you don't mention who you are. Then none of us will harm you or your little brother," Hakoda soothed.

Lu Ten tried to take comfort in the words, but he only felt more confused. "All right," he whispered, choked with fear. He just wanted to be alone.

"You're a child, you couldn't be expected to do anything against a whole army of benders who had you in chains," Hakoda said, stroking his head. "They shouldn't have done that to you. you're just a kid, you can't be held be responsible for what they have done to the world."

"But I failed. I was supposed to protect my little brother and keep our identities secret and now you know. I've failed and I'm a terrible son and brother and I should be exiled for this," he whispered sadly, completely broken and babbling to the enemy. "My father and grandfather would never forgive such failure."

"Hush. You were willing to be beaten to stay close to your brother. You did his chores for him and gave him most of your food. You kept him safe and you drilled him to keep him from talking. You have done better than most grown men, your father should be proud of you," Hakoda said, hugging him close. "I know princes aren't used to hugs, but I hope you will oblige me."

Lu Ten allowed such an unseemly display of familiarly reluctantly. He was feeling sick to allow such contact between water scum and himself, but he was ashamed to admit he liked the comfort. "My father hugs me whenever he's home," he said, defending his family's behavior. "He loves me very much."

"Well, you deserve that. You are a very brave and strong young man. Your family should be very proud of you. Still can't believe you're the Prince of the Fire Nation. So, your father is the general Iroh, Dragon of the West," he said, as he sat down next to him. "Great general, never lost a battle. He's a master of battle, and the greatest legend of our generation."

Lu Ten nodded and smiled. "I am very proud of him too. I want to be a great warrior like him, but he's going to conquer the world long before I have a chance to do anything interesting. He's going to make the Earth kingdom pay, crush them to the bone." That made him feel slightly better, imagining his wonderful father bravely fighting the war against the savages…besides the savage beside him.

"Oh yes, he's legendary for burning everything in his path. Don't suppose you would know what he would do to my son if he had him prisoner?" Hakoda mused sadly, stroking his chin.

Lu Ten flinched visibly. His father was a good man, but he knew that he could be very scary to his enemies. "Father…" he whispered, closing his eyes. He didn't want to die yet! "You wouldn't…" he trailed off. Father would have tortured them for information.

"Don't worry, son. I said I'm not going to hurt either of you," Hakoda said, touching his shoulder. "I'm sorry I said that. I'm not a monster, you're not my enemy and I have to work on not scaring you. You are a small boy who can't help the war that is going on outside your control. I just want you to know I'm not your father. I am not going to let anything bad happen to you or your little brother either, even if it costs me my life. As far as I am concerned, you're members of my crew now."

Lu Ten nodded. "Thank you," he whispered, too exhausted to say much more. He had just thanked a savage, owed him his life. This Water tribe barbarian had guaranteed the future of his greatest enemy. It was either an act of startling stupidity or incredible nobility and generosity of spirit. "My father…he serves his country well." He had to defend him somehow.

Hakoda grimaced. "All too well. I know you love him, but that does say a lot about your father, that you're afraid of what he'd do to prisoners. Do you plan to do the same thing when you're Fire Lord?" he asked. Lu Ten shrugged his shoulders. "That was an unfair and cruel question; I withdraw it, little one. Now, you need to rest. I will come back later to check on you, but I am ordering you to stay in this bed and regain your strength."

That sounded familiar…a hazy…."You pretended to be my father when I was ill. I don't understand why you care about me."

"Because I do," Hakoda said, helping him sit up so he could drink better. "It doesn't have to be pretend. On this ship, I'm your parent and…everything I said….I meant."

"We're enemies. You know that and I know that. I should keep my guard up," Lu Ten whispered, unable to keep up his royal tone. "I know what you must think of Zuko and I. You hate us. Yet…you saved my life. I don't understand."

"No matter who you are, you are children. I won't have your blood on my hands. As chief, it's my responsibility to make life and death choices, and I don't take the responsibility lightly. I have decided your life must be protected and that means I must lie to my own crew. Life and death matters are never simple."

"Yes. The first time I had someone sent to the block, I didn't sleep for a week," Lu Ten said, gulping down the warm drink.

"You had to order executions?" Hakoda asked, looking shocked at such a benign fact. "You're a child, you shouldn't know of such things. Coming from any other place, I'd think you joking or lying."

Lu Ten looked at him with annoyance. "I'm the future Fire Lord. I need to know the facts of life. At home, I can snap my fingers and I can decide if someone lives, dies, loses their property, or their freedom," he explained, staring sadly at the room. "I've sent a number of people to dark cells like this. Never thought how lonely it is."

"And how does that make you feel, now that you know?" Hakoda asked, putting his hand on Lu Ten's shoulder. "Do you regret it?"

"I regret nothing," Lu Ten snapped, pushing his hand away with all his meager strength. How dare he be so disrespectful! "I only regret I am the one who must live at your whim. I must make sure you are happy or you could toss me and my brother overboard."

"I see. So you regret having to live the life you give to others. And do your people enjoy living under your rule?" Hakoda asked, with another mocking smile. "You don't seem to enjoy living under my rule."

"Well, you're a peasant, you aren't meant to rule. I am the son of Iroh, in direct line to Agni himself. I was made to be in charge," Lu Ten explained sullenly. "And before you mention you are the chief, I remind you that your men voted on that. You weren't born to it."

"No, I had to actually earn my place," Hakoda said pithily, making Lu Ten growl at him. "We don't believe that being born to privilege makes you're a better leader."

"Say what you wish. I will be Fire Lord," Lu Ten finally answered, deciding that there was no point in arguing with a savage. He was a prince and had no need to win a debate in what was reality. "My will be done."

"I suppose you will. May the spirits help us on that day," Hakoda said softly. "If anything happened to your father and grandfather, you'd rule the world and you'd still be trapped in my closet. Try and learn from that fact."

Lu Ten shrugged at the moralistic twaddle. "You are only brave because you outnumber me. In my home, you would bow before me and beg for my mercy," he hissed angrily.

"And I would hope you would grant it, like the mercy I showed you and your brother when you were nearly separated," Hakoda said placidly. "Mercy has benefited you, my young prince. I hope you show that trait as often as you can."

Lu Ten had no idea what to say to that. It was true, he currently was alive on the mercy of a savage. Zuko was as well. they had spared his life, when no Fire Nation warrior would have done the same. "I will…reward you for what you have done. Enough gold for a thousand winters." He hoped to keep that mercy for as long as possible. "If you return me."

"I don't want your reward, child. A good deed is its own reward. If you learned that, I'd consider myself well paid," Hakoda said. "You should rest. I'll bring you some food and yak's milk to help you sleep."

Lu Ten lay back in the furs, miserable. He had no idea what to do. He was in the hands of an enemy, who was merciful to him. He was weak and defenseless. He was without honor. And he had no idea what to do about it.

Sleep would be better. At least in dreams, he truly wasn't a failure.

Next chapter-Zuko and Lu Ten have a talk, and Lu Ten learns actions have severe consequences.