The Trouble with Fire
Ch.12: Refugee
Zuko X OC
disclaimer: I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender. I own my OC
Fang's eyes widened as she looked at Azula. She was glaring daggers at the captain for giving the secret away. Iroh quickly turned and pushed the guards over the ramp and into the ocean with one large fire blast. Zuko reached forward and pushed the Captain into the water.
"You lied to me!", Zuko yelled at his sister. Azula smirked and waved her hand. "Like I've never done that before.", she said, a big smirk was plastered across her lips. Zuko quickly leaped forward sent a fire blast toward Azula. She dodged it with ease and smacked his wrist with her open palm. Fang cringed as she heard a small crack.
She was sure that Azula had broken his wrist but at the moment he didn't feel anything with the anger and adrenaline going through his veins. Fang sent a fireball toward Azula who again dodged it and smirked.
"Don't even try Fang, we both know who's the more powerful one here.", Azula said, scowling at Fang. "And we both know who's quicker.", Fang said. Azula frowned and sent a fireball toward Fang, Fang pushed it away with the palm of her hand and hit Azula's arm.
She blocked Azula's hand as it came up to collide with her head. Fang took the opportunity hit Azula in the face, making a scratch across her cheek. Azula looked a little surprised for a second but then quickly regained her composure. Azula threw another fireball toward Fang and smirked.
"My dear sister-in-law... you don't know what pleasure it will bring me to kill you now. I've waited for this moment a long time.", Azula said with a menacing tone. Fang said nothing as she dodged another swipe from Azula's hand.
The two woman were very close to each other and had thrown firebending out the window due to their close range. Fang winced as she felt Azula's nails collide with her cheek. Blood flowed down from the open wound but Fang did not let that startle her.
Using all her strength she lifter her leg and kicked Azula in the ribs as hard as she could, digging in her pointed heel. Azula let out a small whine, the contact had hurt but she didn't want to give Fang that satisfaction of it.
"Zuko! Fang! Let's go!", Iroh yelled from the pier as he fended off the rest of the soldiers single-handed. Zuko finished with his guard and turned his attention to the two woman fighting. They both had scratches on their face and their clothes slightly ripped. Blood trailed down Fang's face making his anger rise even more. He leaped toward Azula and shot a fireball toward her.
Azula pushed him aside and scowled at him. "You know father blames Uncle for the loss at the North Pole... and he considers you a miserable failure for not finding the avatar. Why would he want you back home? Except to lock you up where you can no longer embarrass him.", Azula boasted.
Fang bit her lip, it wasn't her place to say anything. This was an issue between a family. Zuko said nothing but lunged forward again at Azula but she was ready for him. Blocking with her arm she pushed him back onto the ground.
Fang's eyes widened as she saw Azula move her arms, almost as if she was dancing. Lightning danced between her fingers as she did this. Had Azula mastered the next level of firebending? Fang didn't have time to think. She needed to save Zuko before the lightning struck his heart.
She quickly jumped in front of Zuko prepared to take the hit but Iroh was ready for it. Iroh grabbed onto Azula's hand and redirected the lightning away from the couple. Azula was taken off guard by Iroh that she didn't have time to dodge his kick.
As Iroh kicked Azula off the ship, Fang helped Zuko up. They needed to get out of there as soon as possible. They broke into a run toward the pier, running back through the cherry blossoms they had passed in the morning.
Fang's lungs burned as they continued to run along a fast flowing river, her legs wanted to give out under her but she knew she couldn't. Zuko and Iroh finally stopped, kneeling down on the ground to catch their breaths. Fang did the same, resting her back against a thin tree. "I think.. we're safe.. here.", Iroh said between pants.
Fang watched as Zuko brought out a knife from his pocket. He stared at it for a few seconds and then brought it up to his ponytail. He cut it off and held it in his hands for a few minutes and then dropped it in the river. Iroh did the same as they both stayed absolutely silent.
Fang slowly stood and took the knife from Iroh. She knelt down toward the river and held the knife toward her neck. Zuko had to turn away, he could not bare to watch his wife cut off her beautiful hair. Bringing all her hair forward she slowly worked the knife through her hair. Cutting it short, her hair now met up to her jawline, framing it.
Zuko turned to his wife and held up the washcloth. He raised his good hand and gently wiped away the blood that had rolled down her cheek and neck. She winced a little as the water stung the wound. He hated to hurt her but he had to clean the wound.
He did not want her wound to get infected and make her sick. Her eyes met her husbands as he helped her. There were no words spoken and there didn't need to be. She could see the hurt in his eyes from what Azula had said. Her eyes fell to the ground as she leaned against his hand for comfort.
It had been weeks since they had been out into the forest. Iroh had eaten a poisonous plant and had a large rash spreading all over his body. They had been slowly making their way to the earth kingdom where they would hopefully find medicine for Iroh which they had eventually found.
The medicine lady had been kind enough to treat Iroh before his throat closed from the infection. Since they had arrived they had all adopted new names. Zuko would be "Lee". Iroh would be "Mushi". Fang would be "Bai".
A nice family had taken them in and gave them food. The meal had been well received. They had not eaten for many days and the duck the family had prepared seemed to be the most delicious meal they had ever had.
They had stolen the family's ostrich as well even through she had protested. She did not want to steal from the family that had been so generous but she knew being a refugee would come with sacrifices. Even if it was not morally correct... they had to do what it took to survive.
Lately they had even take to begging on the street for money. It was humiliating and degrading but she knew it had to be done. Some residents were nice and actually gave them money. Some ignored them. Others were rude and wanted favors. They had the nerve to ask them to sing or dance.
One man had the nerve to ask if he could "borrow" Fang for the night. Zuko had almost killed the man when he asked his wife that question. More so because the man didn't want to take no for an answer the first few times his question was answered.
Zuko would complain everyday saying "We're royalty. They should be serving us!". Fang had to agree with him... to a certain extent. She didn't expect to be waited on every second but she didn't want to beg on the street either.
If only they could find a job here in the town where they could earn some money to buy food and a place to stay. She was tired of sleeping on a haystack. She was tired of not knowing when they were going to eat next... but most of all, she was tired of seeing her husband so upset.
As the week past though there had been no work and no warm beds to sleep. Iroh had suggested that move to the outside of the town. Fang didn't like the idea very much but she knew it had to be done. They had found a small cave where they could light a fire and hunt for fish.
Fang was in the middle of scraping off the scales of a small fish, one that they were going to share between the three of them, when Zuko came through the brush. He was carrying barrels full of food. Her eyes widened at how much food was in them.
"My Prince, where did you get this?", she whispered setting the fish down and looking at the food in disbelief. "Doesn't matter.", he answered, walking away from her. Fang frowned and turned toward Iroh who looked at his nephew with concern.
Fang sighed softly and walked back toward the fish that she was cleaning. How had Zuko gotten this food? She hoped he wasn't stealing the food from other people. He wouldn't stoop to that... would he? "Iroh, I know... I know I shouldn't say this but... you don't believe Zuko is stealing this food, do you?", she whispered, looking at Iroh.
Iroh seemed deep in thought which gave Fang her answer. Fang sighed and walked after Zuko, she found him putting away his blades in a bed of leaves. Pretending not to have seen she continued to walk over to him and placed a hand on his back. "Are you not going to have a bite to eat, My Prince?", she whispered, curious if he was going to tell her the truth.
"In a minute.", he answered her. Fang frowned. "Are you okay...?", she asked quietly, half scared to ask. He turned to her quickly, a little surprised by her question and then turned his gave away. "I'm fine. I love living like this.", he said. Fang let out a sigh.
"We'll find a home soon... it just takes time.", she whispered. Zuko said nothing and continued to look away. After some silence she realized he was not willing to talk. "I will continue preparing our dinner.", she said, leaving him to his thoughts. She was hoping he would have told her but it seemed that was going to be unlikely. Walking back to the cave entrance she sat back down and scraped the remaining scales off the fish.
It seemed that Iroh had went out for a walk. As she set the fish to cook in the open fire, she could hear Zuko moving back to the cave. She gave him a small smile and reached into Iroh's bag to grab some tea leaves. After a walk Iroh always loved to have a cup of tea.
Fang expected Zuko to say something but he stayed quiet and just watched her. It made her a little uncomfortable but after awhile she did not notice. The smell of fish filled the cave and she quickly plucked them out of the fire and set them on a plate. She poured a cup of tea for both of them and handed Zuko his fish and tea. He took it... in silence.
Fang knelt down next to him and sipped on her tea. He continued to say nothing as he ate the fish which continued to drive her crazy. Finally after what seemed like hours she reached up and grabbed his hand, preventing him from taking another bite.
"Please... tell me.", she whispered. Zuko turned his gaze to her. "Fang... please stop worrying. It's okay. I'm doing what I have to so we can survive.", he answered her, grabbing a hold of her hand, placing a kiss on it and then setting it back in her lap. Before she could answer she heard the footsteps of Iroh approaching.
"You must have done a lot of shopping.", Iroh said, sitting down next to the freshly prepared tea. Iroh held the gold tea pot up and examined it. "But... where did you get the money?", he asked, looking across the fire toward Zuko. "Do you like your new tea pot?", Zuko asked, finishing his piece of fish. Iroh set it back down and closed his eyes.
"To be honest with you... the best tea tastes delicious whether in a gold pot or a tin cup. I know we've had some difficult times lately.. we've had to struggle just to get by but it's nothing to be ashamed of! There is a simple honor in poverty.", Iroh said, taking a sip. Zuko frowned. "There's no honor for me without the Avatar.", he retorted.
"Zuko... even if you did capture the Avatar... I'm not so sure it would solve our problems...", Iroh sighed. Zuko turned away from both of them. "Then there's no hope at all..", he whispered. Iroh slammed his tea cup into the plate.
"No Zuko! You must never give into despair. Allow yourself to slip down that road and you allow yourself to surrender to your lowest instincts. In the darkest times.. hope is something you give yourself. That is the meaning of inner strength,", Iroh said.
"I have no hope.", he said. Iroh frowned. "Prince Zuko! That is in the least bit of truth! You have a wife that has stayed by your side during the hardest times in your life! You have me who thinks of you as his own son!", Iroh yelled. Zuko looked a little taken aback but quickly got up and left the cave.
Fang watched her husband disappear into the brush before she let out a sigh she had been holding in. "I'm sorry, Fang. He didn't mean it.", Iroh whispered. "I know..", she whispered, standing up from her kneeling position. "He will come back in a little bit. For now lets pack so we can travel in the morning.", Iroh stated, as he started loading some of the food into a duffel bag.
Fang nodded and started to pack the few articles of clothing that Zuko owned, folding them into neat piles so they would fit in there carrying box. Once she finished his, she set about folding her dresses and other articles of clothing.
Her hands fell on her hair ornaments and a frown came to her face. She supposed she should throw those away now that her hair was cut short but she couldn't bring herself to part with the gold phoenix that Ursa had given her. One day.. when she grew her hair long again she could wear the gold and ruby accented jewelry.
Fang could hear footsteps approaching, happy to have Zuko back she looked up at him and gave him a small smile. The walk had probably cleared his head. "Uncle... I thought a lot about what you said..", Zuko stated. Fang smiled, perhaps her husband was coming to an understanding that this was temporary and they had to make the best of it.
"You did? Good. Good.", Iroh said, sounding relieved. "It's helped me realize something... we no longer have anything to gain by traveling together.", Zuko said. Fangs eyes widened and her hands let go of one of the tea cups in shock.
It clattered to the rocky ground making such a loud sound that echoed in the silence. Fang stared at her husband in complete shock. Had those words just come out of his mouth? This wasn't at all what Iroh had intended for Zuko to understand. "I need to find my own way.", he continued.
Fang watched as Zuko took his folded clothes and blanket from next to her things and held them on his back, using his other hand he grabbed her things and held them to his side. He started to walk away. Fang was motionless. Should she stay with Iroh or should she go with her husband? "Go with him, Fang.", Iroh stated. Fang turned to Iroh and frowned.
"But I...", she started to say but Iroh quickly shook his head. Fang wanted to reach out and hug Iroh but she just couldn't move. "Wait! This way you and Fang don't have to walk.", Iroh called out handing the ostrich's reigns to Zuko.
Fang slowly inched forward as Zuko motioned for her to come closer. She did as she was told and felt Zuko's arms wrap around her and lift her up onto the ostrich. He quickly got on behind her and shook the reigns making the ostrich move forward, away from Iroh.
Fang couldn't hold back the tears as she looked out at the forest in front of her. This wasn't right. She wanted to run back. She wanted to yell at Zuko for doing this. She wanted to stop living this way. She wanted a home and a family but most of all she wanted her husband back to the way he was.
End of Ch.12
