The Trouble with Fire
Ch.13: The Earth Kingdom Family
Zuko X OC
disclaimer: I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender. I own my OC
Zuko looked on at the desert they continued to travel. His vision was getting blurry but he had to stay focused. Fang had fallen asleep against him and he didn't want to disturb her if he could help it. His head gently laid on top of hers, providing some kind of comfort to himself.
Her hair was soft against his chin and neck, a frown came to his face as he thought about how she had cut her beautiful hair off. He gently placed a kiss on the top of her head as she slept. He didn't know how or why Fang had put up with him for so long.
It was a miracle she had not left to go back to the Fire Nation and find another husband that could give her so much more than he ever could. Another man could give her better status, more money, a safe home... a better life in general.
He placed a kiss on top of her head again, silently thanking her for staying with him for all of these years. His mind drifted off to his mother as he thought about when he had found out that Fang was to be his wife. He hadn't understood at the time what it all meant, he just knew that they would spend their life with each other.
"Mom?", Zuko asked, walking over to his mother as she fed the ducks in the pond. She smiled at him and motioned for him to sit by her. He did so and watched her feed the ducks. "I wanted to talk to you. Your father and I have been thinking about your future and who you will one day rule with.", Ursa said wrapping her arm around Zuko.
"My future?", Zuko asked, looking up at her. "Yes, we've been thinking of a wife for you.", she said smiling. Zuko scowled. "I don't need one. I can rule by myself. Girls are crazy!", Zuko retorted. Ursa smiled and ran her fingers through her son's hair.
"When you're older you will find that you will need one more than ever. She can help guide you in times of great peril or sadness. I wanted to have someone that you already are friends with so that the transition would be easier for both of you. Which is why I am thinking of Fang." Zuko made another face.
"Fang? But she's just a friend. I don't want to have a wife.", he mumbled to himself, crossing his arms. Ursa smiled again and patted his shoulder. "You will understand when you're older but for now, why don't you go play with your sister and her friends in the yard?", she said, giving her son a gentle push on his back.
Zuko slowly moved over to them watching as Fang, Azula, Mai, and Ty Lee were practicing cartwheels. Ty Lee of course could do it without fail. Fang was getting the hang of it, she landed the last cartwheel, stumbled a little but kept her balance.
His sister, being the perfectionist she was, landed but fell on her butt and immediately threw a tantrum. Ty Lee giggled at her for falling and Azula pushed her on the ground with a thud. Azula noticed her brother walking towards them and smirked. "Zuko, come play with us. We need equal teams and Mai won't play with us.", Azula whined. "I don't want to play with you.", Zuko answered, frowning a lot.
"But we're brother and sister... don't you think it's important for us to spend time together, mom?", Azula asked as Ursa walked up to all of them. "Yes darling, I think it's a good idea to play with your sister. Go on now, just for a little while.", she said, motioning for Zuko to play with all of them. Zuko walked up to all the girls and crossed his arms. This was going to be a long day that he wanted to just get over with.
Fang was shaken awake by a hand on her shoulders. "Fang, wake up.", her husband called to her. She turned her head up to look at him. He had dark circles under his eyes from being awake all night. She had asked him to set up camp and rest for the night but he insisted on continuing to travel. "Yes, My Prince?", she asked, resting her head against his shoulder.
"I'm going to stop in this town. We can get some food and water.", he whispered. His voice was hoarse from the lack of water, even their Ostrich was dragging his feet. As they walked into town people stared at them, no doubt eying if they could be robbed of anything. Luckily, there was nothing that the couple had that would have warranted a robbery. Zuko moved closer to a merchant and got off the ostrich.
He held out the only money that they currently had to him and whispered "could I get a bag of feed, some water and a hot meal to eat. My wife is pregnant and she's feeling sick from travel." Fang frowned at what he said, he was lying again but she knew it had to be done for them to survive. "That's not enough for a hot meal but I can get you two bags of feed.", the merchant said, not buying the lie.
Zuko nodded slowly and watched as the man walked into his shop. Fang slowly got off the Ostrich and walked beside her husband. "We'll find something somewhere else.", she whispered, trying to provide some amount of comfort to him.
A giggle came from the side of the store where she saw two kids with eggs in their hands. Her eyes widened as she saw one of them throw the egg at some guards playing with a pair of dice. "Hey!", one yelled, standing up. "Fang, get back on the Ostrich.", Zuko ordered, wanting her to not be caught in the fight if it turned violent. She did as she was told and walked back over to the Ostrich, holding on to the harness and stroking it's beak.
"You throwing eggs at us, stranger?", one of the guards asked. "No.", Zuko answered. "You see who did?", the man asked. "No.", Zuko answered again, grabbing a hold of his sword. "That your favorite word, 'no'?", another guard asked, who was holding a spear.
"The egg had to come from somewhere. Maybe it was from the pretty lady you have there.", the guard said, turning to look at Fang. "She didn't throw anything... maybe a chicken flew over.", Zuko answered, making one of the guards chuckle. Finally the merchant came out from the back of his shop holding two bags of feed in a beige sack.
Before Zuko could grab them one of the guards stepped forward and took the feed from him. "Thank you for your contribution. The army appreciates your support. You better leave town. Penalty for staying is a lot steeper then you can afford stranger. Trust me.", the guard said, tapping his fingernails against the hammer he kept by his side.
Fang frowned. What awful people. "Those soldiers are supposed to protect us from the Fire Nation... but they're just a bunch of thugs." the store owner said. Zuko said nothing and moved toward where Fang was standing. "Thanks for not ratting me out.", a voice came from behind Fang. She turned to see the kid that had thrown the egg.
She knew he was just being a child but still... he had caused them a lot of unnecessary trouble. The kid ran in front of their ostrich and grabbed the reigns from her. "I can take you to my house and feed your ostrich for you. I owe you.", the young boy said. Fang sighed and looked at her husband who nodded slowly.
Zuko helped Fang back on the ostrich and quickly climbed on behind her. They followed the kid to a small farm with pigs and cows that squealed and mooed as they passed. A man approached them and raised an eyebrow. "Are you a friend of Lee's?", a man asked who Fang presumed was his father. "This guy chased all the soldiers away!", Lee exclaimed.
"Does 'this guy' have a name?", a woman asked, who seemed to be Lee's mother."I'm...uh", Zuko stammered. "He doesn't have to tell us if he doesn't want to, Sela. Anyone who can hold his own against those bully soldiers is welcome here.", Lee's father said to his wife.
"Those men should be ashamed to wear Earth Kingdom uniforms. The real soldiers are off fighting the war like Lee's big brother. Super is going to be ready soon, would you and your companion like a bite to eat?", the woman asked. "I can't. I should be moving on.", Zuko answered. Fang had really wanted to stay but she knew that if they did it would put this family at risk.
"Gansu could use some help on the barn. Why don't you work for awhile and then we'll eat. In the mean time your female companion can help me in the kitchen.", the woman suggested. Zuko realizing he couldn't get out of this slowly nodded.
Fang stepped down from the ostrich and made her way to the kitchen, helping Lee's mother cook. "You can help me by kneading the dough., the woman named Sela said, motioning to a lump of dough that was set on the counter.
Fang smiled and set about to squishing the dough in her hands. "Have you two been traveling far.", Sela asked. Fang's red eyes flashed toward the woman's. She had to be careful what she said but still act friendly. "Yes. Quite. It has been a very long journey.", Fang answered her not wanting to give too much detail.
She tried not to make eye contact with the woman for fear that the woman would notice her fiery orange eyes and correlate it with the Fire Nation. "Where are you traveling to?", she asked, stirring some herbs into a pot of boiling liquid. Fang stopped kneading the dough... she hadn't even thought of an answer to give to these people.
We're... um... we're in search of a friend.", Fang answered, going back to kneading the dough in her hands. She didn't want to lie to this kind family that had taken them in but she couldn't say who they were or where they had come from.. nor where they were going. "Why don't you peel some potatoes for me. That dough looks like it's good to put in the oven now.", Sela suggested, moving over to Fang.
She nodded and moved aside, walking over to a chair, bucket and bag full of potatoes. She picked up the knife and gently started removing the skin off the vegetable. Sela turned to look at her again. "Your eyes are such a distinctive color? Where were your parents from?", Sela asked, slipping the dough into the oven. Fang's heart was racing by this point.
"I.. my mother was from Kyoshi Island. My father was a traveling nomad from the Si Wong Desert. My father traveled to Kyoshi Island and met my mother and they fell in love. Shortly after they moved back to the Si Wong Desert.", Fang lied, hoping it was believable.
"That must have been a drastic change for your mother. A tropical island to a vast desert. Do you go and see your parents in the desert often?", Sela asked, adding vegetables to the pot of boiling water she had been fussing with earlier. Fang stopped peeling the potatoes as soon as the question left Sela's mouth. "My parents are dead.", Fang whispered.
"Oh... I'm sorry, dear. I didn't mean to bring up bad feelings. I shouldn't have asked that.", Sela apologized, hoping that she hadn't upset her. Fang stayed silent and continued her task, throwing the completely peeled potatoes into the bucket that was now half full. Thankfully Sela stopped asking questions after that, leaving them both in silence.
"Would you like to eat with us at the table?", Sela asked, pulling the loaf of bread from the oven that Fang had kneaded previously. Fang shook her head. I don't think that it's appropriate. We will eat out in the barn.", Fang said as Sela prepared a plate for her and her husband.
"It's quite alright but if you don't feel comfortable...", Sela whispered, trailing off. Fang shook her head slowly making the woman smile and hand her two plates. The meal looked kid, Fang's mouth watered as the aroma of steamed veggies, fresh homemade bread and baked pork filled her nose. She bowed to Sela and thanked her twice for the warm meal.
Hurrying quickly out of the house she approached the barn where Zuko was laying down in the hay. "How did it go?", he asked, looking up at the warm plate of food outstretched to him. "It went okay... I had to make up some quick lies through... Where we're going. Where I come from.", Fang whispered. Zuko nodded and sighed.
"We can't stay here. We'll leave early before the rooster wakes them up.", he instructed. Fang nodded and ate her meal in complete silence. As they settled down for bed, Fang ran her fingers through her hair. They were also going to have to sleep in the barn.
Stacks of hay coated the floors and would act as their cushion. She wanted nothing more then to be traveling with Iroh again on Zuko's ship. She missed the tea every morning. She missed her warm bed. She missed everything about the way they used to live once again.
Before she had wished they were back in the Fire Nation.. now she just wished they were back on her husbands ship still searching for The Avatar... how things had changed. Fang's eyes slowly drooped down as she drifted off to sleep next to her husband who was too tired to speak or move.
"Fang. Wake up, Fang.", a voice called to her. Fang's red eyes fluttered open slowly. The blurry vision of her husband came into focus slowly. She felt him press his lips to her forehead as she slowly sat up. Zuko reached up and brushed some of the hay off of his wife's hair. "Are we leaving?", Fang asked, looking up at her husband who nodded in answer. Fang slowly stood, her back aching a little from sleeping on that haystack.
She hated to admit it but she was happy to leave the place. Shortly after both of them stood there was a knock at the barn door. Zuko made his way over to the door and slid it open to find Sela there. She had two boxes presumably filled with food. Sela must have guessed that they would be leaving early. "This should hold you both for a few meals.", she said with a big smile on her face and extended her arms out to Zuko.
A husky "thank you" was all Zuko said as he took both of the boxes from her. Sela suddenly snapped her in the direction of the dirt road. Her eyes widened and her mouth slowly dropped open. Fang quickly made her way to Sela and stuck her head out to see what she was staring at. The same group of soldiers that had harassed them yesterday was heading in the direction of the farm.
Fang frowned. What did they want now...? Zuko turned to Fang and grabbed her arm pulling her back into the barn. "Stay here.", he ordered and walked through the door past Sela. Fang pouted a little. She was sure she could hold her ground against those soldiers but she did as she was told as to not upset her husband.
Gansu stepped forward as the men approached him. "What do you all want?", he asked, scowling at them. "We just thought we would let you know that your son's battalion was captured this morning.", he stated. Fang's mouth dropped slowly. This wasn't news that she wanted to hear. "Did you hear what they did to the last battalion that got captured?", one soldier asked the other.
"I heard they made them dress up in Fire Nation army clothes and put them on the front lines unarmed.", the other one answered, smirking. Gansu seemed to be growing more and more irritated. "You watch your mouth.", Gansu threatened. The soldier stepped forward and was about to hit Gansu but Zuko stepped in his way.
The men slowly backed off, spit in Zuko's direction and then road off. Fang slowly unclenched her hands that she hadn't even realized she'd been holding so tightly. Zuko turned his eyes to Fang. He shook his head slightly, letting her know that she could not come with him.
Fang gave him a pleading look which he ignored and road off after the soldiers. Fang stepped out of the barn. Why was he always fighting alone? Why did he never allow her to help him? Sela turned to look Fang surprised by Zuko's actions. "We should go after him.", Sela said, grabbing one of the ostriches.
Fang nodded and climbed on top of the ostrich behind her. They quickly made there way towards the town. As they approached, Fang could hear shouting from the towns main square. Both woman quickly got off the ostrich and headed toward the sound of the shouting. Fang could see her husband fighting the Earth Kingdom solider that held two hammers.
Zuko was certainly having trouble fighting against the soldier without using his fire bending. She gasped as a large rock went soaring toward Zuko and knocked him off his feet. He seemed stunned for a moment but then quickly got up, knocking the man back with a fire bending blast. She couldn't believe that Zuko had given their cover away.
Sela turned to Fang with a shocked expression. Fang didn't know what to say but she managed a "I'm sorry." before Sela gave her a dangerous glare. "Sela...", Fang whispered. "I knew something was wrong about your eyes!", Sela yelled, still glaring at Fang making her turn her eyes away from the woman. "You're both Fire Nation. How dare you come into my home!", Sela yelled, reaching out to hit Fang. Fang quickly dodged it and grabbed Sela's hand.
"Sela...", Fang whispered again, holding the woman's wrist as she struggled against Fang's grip. "I'm know you hate the Fire Nation but my husband and I are not bad people. I have never killed a human being from any nation. However... you do deserve to hit me for staying in your home and eating your food. ...We were desperate and starving to death.", Fang said softly, letting go of the woman's wrist.
Sela seemed very surprised by what had just come out of Fang's mouth. The woman scowled at her and turned her back toward Fang. "I'm not going to hit you... you're not worth it.", Sela whispered as she walked off. Fang watched the woman disappear out of sight slowly feeling horrible inside.
She turned her head toward her husband who had caught the attention of everyone in town. She quickly walked out toward him where he reached down and pulled her up onto the ostrich in front of him. She held her head low and tried to cover her face with her hair. Today was quite possible the day were she felt the lowest in her life. Zuko yanked on the reins as kicked the ostrich to move through the town. They had to leave quickly from this town or word would spread... that word would surely get back to Azula.
Happy New Year Everyone!
End of Ch.13
