A/N You guys are so awesome. D Thanks for all the reviews. And muchos gracias for the description advice, Angelic Lily.
I'll try and make this one a little longer, for those of you who enjoy bigger chunks of the story.
I own nothing.
"Aren't you supposed to be watching someone?"
Zuko scowled, his body frozen in a firebending position. He had been going through a cycle of movements out in the field, practicing positions without using fire. Yet. It took concentration to remember where he was supposed to be at different times, and to balance. To keep his center of gravity where it was meant to be.
"Watching who?" he replied irritably, sweeping his arm forward and bending his knee, taking on the position of the Dragon.
He could almost sense Azula's arrogant smirk at his back. "Your servant, of course."
"Why does everyone say she's my servant?" Zuko growled, dropping his stance and turning to face her. As he had suspected, she was wearing her usual smug expression, leaning casually against a tree. Anger boiled within him at the sight of her. "She isn't even a servant! She's a slave!"
"Slavery was outlawed, dear brother," Azula said flatly, her smirk never dropping. "The fact that we don't pay her is irrelevant."
"To you, maybe," he said quietly as he turned away, thinking of Toph's difficulties in mapping out the entire courtyard on her hands and knees.
"What was that?" his sister asked with a sudden frown.
"I said, 'We don't pay babies,'" Zuko invented on the spot, still turned away from her. "She's a whiner."
"I suspected as much. She's an earthbender, after all. Anyway, back to my original question." She shifted positions, resting her forearm against the tree. "Why aren't you watching her?"
"She can't run. She's blind," he said shortly, trying to restart his firebending cycle and finding it very hard to concentrate. He suspected it was because Azula was standing right behind him—a very likely suspicion. "And it's not like she'll do anything stupid. She met the Servant Lord earlier."
Azula stood up straight, preparing to leave. "I don't know, Zuzu," she said in her mocking sing-song voice. "Those earthbenders…they take a lot of risks. You can never really be sure, can you?"
Zuko turned his head, glaring at her over his shoulder. She smiled 'sweetly' at him, and turned to walk away.
Just before she did, he caught the sharp glint in her eye. She knew something.
Damn her.
Zuko reached for his robe, throwing it over his shoulders and tying it around his waist. Maybe checking on Dirt Girl was a good idea.
-x-x-
Toph pulled and yanked, tugged and jerked—all to no avail. "Stupid weed," she muttered, placing her feet firmly on the ground, her bottom on the stone path, and repositioning her hands on the stem. "Come on!"
With a sudden burst, the plant flew from the ground, throwing Toph backwards on to her back, to land on the path amongst dirt and flora. "Gotcha," she said with satisfaction, throwing the plant to join the rest of them. The sunlight was so warm on her face…it felt wonderful. She had been shocked to find that the sun actually did shine in the Fire Nation; it wasn't hidden by smog. She hadn't really seen a lot of sun since their arrival so many weeks ago…
Memories began to surface, memories of her friends. Would they come after her? They shouldn't, it would be stupid., especially if Aang came. They shouldn't reveal the Avatar's presence just for her.
A sudden vision of Sokka bursting through the double doors, ebony sword raised high, calling her name—
"What did you do?!" Zuko shouted above her head. She opened her eyes, realizing that she was sprawled on her back in a pile of dirt in front of the Pansy Prince. Maintaining her composure, she slowly and deliberately got to her feet.
"Well, I decided I would only do one side at a time," she said, with the air of a teacher's pet reporting to the class. "So I started with that side. After I trimmed all the bushes, I thought I would do the weeding next. So I did. I just got finished with the last plant." She tilted her head, trying to hide the smirk. "Is something wrong?"
"You pulled all the flowers!" Zuko cried, his voice almost pleading. "All of them!"
"Really?" Toph gasped, putting a hand over her mouth. Oh, such acting! He was such a gullible Pansy. "I had no idea. I thought they were all weeds."
She heard Zuko's breathing quicken. She wished she could feel his heartbeat; she knew it would have been racing with anger.
"Weeds. And. Flowers. Are. Very. Different," he said haltingly. "You can feel the difference. One is spiky, the other is not."
Toph shrugged, palms facing upwards. "Well, I didn't know that," she said innocently. "I told you I didn't have a green thumb. Flowers and I don't get along very well."
"You could still have told the difference between weeds and flowers!" Zuko shouted. There was no pleading in his voice this time, just anger. Toph knew she had gotten to him now. It became harder to hide the smirk.
"Well, I couldn't," she said simply, clasping her hands in front of her. "I'm terribly sorry, Prince Pansy."
"Dirt Girl," Zuko snarled, advancing towards her. She heard his furious footsteps, and backed up quickly, a scowl beginning to form on her face.
"You blinded me. Surely you didn't expect much when you gave me this job?"
She felt Zuko's large hand snatch her upper arm, and pull it closer to him. "Listen to me," he said quietly, dangerously. "I want all these flowers put back, and the weeds thrown away."
"I've forgotten where the flowers go," Toph said defiantly, looking straight ahead. "And I can't tell the weeds from the flowers."
She heard Zuko take a breath, about to say something in retort; but another set of footsteps was approaching, heavier than Zuko's. Their weight was familiar.
Uh-oh.
"WHAT HAPPENED TO THE FLOWERBEDS?!" a deep voice bellowed from across the courtyard. Toph felt Zuko stiffen.
"I can't do anything for you now, Dirt Girl," he said. His voice was mixed; Toph couldn't discern the emotion. Was it vindictive? Sympathetic? Resentful? Regretful?
Too late to figure it out. Zuko's footsteps backed away from her, and the heavier footsteps were getting closer by the second. The Servant Lord was barreling towards her. She backed up more and more, her feet hitting the dirt of the flowerbed. Finally, her back hit the stone wall—dammit, she was trapped—and a fat fist slammed into the stone just inches from her right ear.
"You're coming with me, earth-wench," he breathed softly into her face. His breath was hot, and it smelled like whiskey.
"No," Toph said stubbornly, folding her arms across her chest. (Did she just hear Zuko suck in a breath?) The Servant Lord stamped on her foot—hard.
Although it had been healed, the burn was still fresh. A loud scream escaped Toph's lips before she could stop it, and she doubled over in pain. The Servant Lord pulled her up abruptly, and carried her much like Zuko had the first night; in the air, by her arm. She looked back at Zuko with a resigned look, unwilling to let him see her despair.
She wished she could see his expression.
-x-x-
Zuko couldn't get in the way of the Servant Lord—he obeyed Ozai only. Princes had no authority over him.
He was furious with the earthbender. She had done it on purpose, he knew it. It was easy to tell flowers from weeds! And a bright girl her age, even if she was blind, would be able to discern one from the other with ease. And just to annoy him, she had pulled everything.
He gazed exasperatedly over the garden path. Flowers were strewn amidst a sea of mud and dirt. She hadn't pulled them out cleanly; that much was for sure. The flowerbed was gutted. It looked like someone had shot it with a cannon multiple times. She would have to replant every flower when she got back.
When she got back…Zuko felt an involuntary pang of pity for the girl. The Servant Lord was notorious for being unkind and cruel. The servants, consequently, were obedient and docile. After all, their pay was rather large for servants. They should be thankful.
Zuko ran a hand through his hair, his mind teeming with conflicting thoughts—did she get what she deserved, for such an act of defiance? Or was it unfair to her?
He made a hmphing noise. Why would it be unfair? She broke the rules. A punishment was a punishment.
An idea crossed his mind: Uncle. Maybe he could go to Iroh, ask for his advice.
Zuko turned and stomped away, immediately trashing the notion. No. He would work this out on his own. He didn't need his uncle's help for every little thing; he was strong. He could make sense of his feelings by himself.
Still…perhaps Iroh would like to know of the earthbender. She knew him—did he know her?
He stepped into the torch-lit darkness of the corridors again, not finding it as comforting as he usually did. The lack of sunlight gave him goosebumps.
Unsettled, he walked down the hall towards his study.
-x-x-
The jail door opened with a creak. Iroh didn't turn around; he knew who it was.
"Package for you, old man," the jailer said gruffly, dropping a basket on to the floor outside his bars. Iroh waited to hear his stomping footsteps walk away, and the door creakily swinging shut. Then he turned.
His grey hair hung in his face, now. It was greasy and unkempt—but when had he ever cared about appearance before? There were deep shadows under his hazel eyes, and he swore he had more wrinkles than before.
But no matter.
He crawled to the front of the cage, gazing at the basket with interest. He took it, opening the top through the bars.
The contents were meager: a large canteen, and a roll of parchment. He took both, placing the canteen in his lap—it was very warm, he noted. Then he unrolled the parchment and held it at arm's length.
His old heart skipped a few beats as he recognized his nephew's writing. It read:
Uncle:
We have taken a captive, someone who I know was with the Avatar. She keeps asking about you, and where you are. She didn't know your name, and seemed satisfied when I told her. She is a blind earthbender girl, about 12. Do you know her?
Iroh's hand trembled slightly. The girl…a captive in the palace…she was in for a rough time.
She reminds me of you a little. She keeps giving me these hints on what she thinks is right. She gave this little speech to a plant about how the Fire Nation was so superior—
Iroh blinked. A plant?
--while she knew I was listening. I almost believed her at first, but know I realize it was just an act for my benefit. She's an excellent actor.
They're keeping her as a servant without pay, which I take to mean 'slave'. They burned her feet so that she couldn't 'see' with earthbending. She keeps restating the fact that the Avatar is dead, which only makes me believe that he's alive. Today she rebelled, pulling out all the weeds—and flowers—in the flowerbed of your favorite courtyard. The Servant Lord took her. I don't know where she is now, but she hasn't returned.
What started as mild trembling in his hands turned to shivering. The girl was in the hands of the Servant Lord? Agni help her. It was a silly thing to do, rebel against authority. Especially in the royal palace—Iroh had learned that lesson a long time ago, when he withdrew from Ba Sing Se. He was shamed for the rest of his career, just because he gave up on a lost cause and didn't follow orders through until the end.
He read on: They keep calling her my servant, and I don't know why. No one else would take her! And I couldn't just let her wander off on her own, there's no telling what she could have gotten up to…
He smiled. His nephew had some compassion in him yet—he just didn't know how to use it.
I just thought I would tell you, since she keeps asking about you. I don't have time to come visit you, and I wasn't sure you would respond to me anyway. You ignored me for so long, Uncle. I couldn't understand why.
I don't know what to do about this girl. She's rebellious, defiant, devious, and she backtalks everyone, including Azula! She has no fear of consequences, so how can I discipline her? Even when the Servant Lord was leading her away, she just gave me this resigned expression as if she didn't care. How could she not?
The next few lines were crossed out, but Iroh could still catch a few words.
I…protect…know I shouldn't…why…she's an earthbender…
Perhaps there was more hope for his nephew than he had originally thought.
The final line: You could have sided with me in the cave, Uncle. Then you could be here, giving me advice like you always do.
The next line was crossed out as well, but not as hard: I miss your advice.
It was signed 'Zuko'.
Iroh placed his chin in his hands, studying the letter on the floor. That poor girl—they burned her feet so that she couldn't see? It was almost too cruel to think of. Now she was truly blind. It was like stabbing a child in the eyes, taking away their sight. And the Servant Lord…
She had asked about him. Asked his name. Where he was. It was very sweet of her to do so; she hadn't been in the cave that night. She wouldn't have heard of the proceedings. Perhaps her friends told her…but even they didn't know how he was captured as a traitor while Zuko was welcomed as a hero. She would have no idea.
He sighed, feeling intense sympathy and helplessness. There was nothing to do but wait for more news.
He turned to the canteen, spotting a note tied to the cap: I didn't make it, so I'm sure you'll like it. Which means he stole it, but at the moment, Iroh didn't care so much. He unscrewed the top, smelling the contents.
Tea.