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Prisoner of War ch.5
Zuko shifted silently in his sleep. There was a light breeze coming through the window and it felt somehow peaceful on his face, yet his mind was not at all tranquil. He had to somehow get information out of an irate earth bender, which was not going to happen, for his sadistic sister. Life would have been so much easier to have been an only child, but contrary to what his father had said, he was not lucky.
The moon was strong, and it's light bathed everything in sight. Morning was coming soon and he would have to wake from his unconscious state of mind. The only time when he was at peace with the world, was in his sleep.
The sun was already halfway up into the sky when Zuko woke. It was the first time in months since he had gotten up that late, but he was still tired. The tiredness could be dread hanging thick on him or just pain. He didn't spend time making sure he looked his best; he just put on a fire nation robe and tried fruitlessly to fix his messy hair.
Mai, Azula, and Ty Lee were already finished with breakfast, when he entered the dining room. He was happy for it though, because he wouldn't have to sit in awkward silence, or receive glares from his sister. A slice of bread and jam was what he usually ate and he ate the same today. The jam was cold and so was the bread, but he didn't have time to think about his food.
After inquiring about Azula from one of the servants, he was able to find out that she had left the palace to go to a meeting with some prominent earth nation citizens held captive. She would do what she wanted and he wouldn't ask about it. He walked down the narrow hallways toward his destination, the dungeon. It was a perfect time to talk to Toph and he wouldn't waste it.
On the way, he grabbed a towel from the bathroom and submerged it in cold water. For some reason he felt sorry for Toph and her scar. The cool water would feel nice on it, even if it wouldn't help the swelling. The damage had already been done, and the scar couldn't be helped now. He knew the pain of having a scar, the stares from strangers and friends, the feeling of having been wronged, and the self hate.
She was awake when he walked to her cell. She was sitting quietly in the corner with a plate of untouched food in front of her.
"If you eat, the nourishment will help your wound." He didn't know if that was true or not, but that's all he could think of, of saying.
"Why would you care," she mumbled barely audible, "I'm just part of your game."
"I know what it's like," he said softly, "I have one."
"Is it this big?" she said spitefully.
"It's bigger than yours, and it's on my face," he said unemotionally, "So no one's told you about it, about my scar."
"No," she said quietly, "And even if they had, I probably wouldn't have thought anything about it, but know that I have one, I do."
"I brought you something…for your scar," he said as he set the towel in her cell.
She felt around on the floor until she grabbed it and then she set it gently on her leg.
"How did you get your scar?" she asked curiously.
"I would rather not talk about it," he replied stiffly. Just because she had a scar, didn't mean he was going to open up to her and talk about all his problems.
"I'm not here to chitchat with you, I'm here because I'm supposed to get information out of you, so don't ask me stupid questions like that," he said bitterly.
"Whatever, but I'm really not going to tell you anything," she said kind of going back to her old self.
"Why are you so stubborn? Most girls your age are more interested in jewelry, clothes, or having a boyfriend, not going off leading rebel groups."
"What can I say; I'm more of an outcast. I can't go home to my family, I can't live there like a prisoner, even though I'm one now, so what's the point of continuing to run away."
"At least you have a family who loves you. A family who worries about you so much that they would hire someone to find you."
"My dad sent two lunatics after me. It's an entirely different matter when the two people sent after you are crazy. They put me in a metal box, which really shows how much my dad supposedly cares about me."
"So, you would rather be stuck in a Fire Nation prison cell than warm and nice in your own home?"
"Yes," she said immediately, "Life with my parents was so full of rules and restrictions. I was watched every minute of every hour; I really couldn't even keep my own thoughts to myself."
"I don't understand you," Zuko replied to her swiftly, "You had family and friends. Most people would give anything for that."
"Have you listened to anything I've told you," she said roughly, "Most people didn't even know my parents had a daughter and they still don't. I had no friends at all and the only time I felt free was when I joined the Avatar. I'm creating my own life; my parents aren't going to live it for me."
"But, you're not living a life; you're stuck in a jail cell. You wasted time teaching the Avatar how to earth bend, who is now gone. You led a rebel group and saw most of them die and the rest taken to prisoner. That is not a life."
"To me, that is a life. I spent time fighting for what I thought was right, and if that path is going to kill me, then so be it. At least I'm not living a lie, at least I'm not fighting for a cause I think is wrong, at least I'm not killing and torturing innocent people."
"You think what you're doing is right," Zuko said bitterly, "How many people have you saved. How many people have you changed and helped?"
"Even if I've only changed one person or helped one person; I still know that's one more than you have."
"Enough," Zuko said practically screaming, "I've had it with you. If I ever talked like you, I would be burned alive. You don't know you're place; you're just a girl, who thinks what she's doing has a cause, a good cause, but you're just stupid. You should just give up now, because where you're headed, you'll just be shown pain, torture, and death. "
"My cause may never come true, but at least I know who I am. Who are you, do you even know? You follow the will of your sister even if you know what she wants is wrong. Even if I die here in this foreign place, I'll at least know that I died trying."
"I don't have any other choice. I must do what Azula says. She is the ruler of this place, and on her command anyone could be killed or imprisoned, even the highest general," Zuko said quietly and unemotionally.
"Why is everyone so scared of her?"
"Well if you haven't noticed," Zuko said bluntly, "She just burned you, and you're not the first person she's done that too. She's killed people who were innocent to prove her stupid points and she's just a psycho."
"Yeah, she is pretty crazy, but if you let me out of this cell, I'd show her a thing or two."
"I highly doubt that. Azula is a fire bending prodigy, a great master. She can bend lightening and she probably would take you out in one hit."
"Are you kidding me," Toph said hotly, "If you don't remember, I'm a master too. How many people have you met that can bend metal?"
"If you're such a good bender, then why haven't you broken out of your cell?" Zuko said roughly.
"…I'm still working on that, but one day you'll come down here and I'll be gone. You just wait. Once I get more used to my surroundings all get out of here, you'll see."
"I'll believe it when I see it," Zuko replied sarcastically.
"By the way," she said kind of tauntingly, "You haven't got one piece of important information out of me that is of any kind of importance, so why stay here and annoy me."
"Oh, so I'm the one who's being annoying. You're about the biggest nuisance I've ever had to deal with."
"It's my pleasure, because as long as I'm stuck in this cell, no one is going to be happy."
Another plate of food was soon brought out to Toph and she barely ate any of it. For at least an hour she rambled on about how she wasn't going to talk, and then another hour about how much of a bitch Azula was.
It was getting late. The little light that was able to sneak into the dungeon was fading. He had missed lunch, probably because he had gotten up so late and had just forgotten when it came. Azula would be coming home soon from whatever evil thing she had been doing.
He didn't mind her being gone, though, but he didn't want to be caught by her talking to Toph. She would soon find out he was and keep tabs on his nonexistent progress with her.
"Until next time," Zuko said harshly as he walked away from the cell. She just gave him a sardonic smile and waved. She really was a pest. Why did Toph have to be the leader of that insane rebel group? Anyone else would have cooperated and followed what they told them, but Toph just has to do things the hard way.
Azula was already in the dining room when he came up from the dungeon. She was looking over some papers, while servants hovered around her. Dinner would be served soon and Azula was not a very patient person. She would get angry if he showed up late.
He changed quickly and put on a nicer robe. It was muggy outside, but a breeze was bringing in cooler air. The robe felt hot, but it was one of his nicest. It was plain, but most of his clothes were plain. It was solid red with a black symbol of the fire nation on the back.
Mai and Ty Lee were already in the dining room when he arrived. The food hadn't been served yet, so he wasn't late. Mai had on a black robe and a blue belt, which was the only trace of color she was wearing. Ty Lee had on a purple dress-like robe with her hair done up in braids sitting on her head. She was cheerful like usual.
"So, Zuko, I heard that you visited our guest, Toph, today," said Azula haughtily, "Did you get her to talk?"
"Yes, I got her to talk, but it was none of the information I wanted."
"Really," Azula said coldly, "That's no surprise. But how is her scar doing."
"It's okay," Zuko said quietly.
"I was just wondering," Azula said, "But I thought you would know, considering you have one."
The food was brought out, cutting off any remark Zuko could say. The food was spicy, which was what Azula liked. The meals are ordered to fit her likes. If you don't like anything put in front of you, you have to eat it anyway.
Ty Lee started talking about some circus act she had seen and the guy that had performed it. Mai looked bored at this topic of conversation and Azula listened. Zuko, though, was able to leave the table before Azula could harass him again. He tried to stay away from her as much as possible, but dinner was unavoidable. He was required to eat with them and Azula would have it no other way.
The fifth chapter is done.