SOULMARKS
Chapter Two
The Fire Nation takes over Ba Sing Se in near silence. There is a distinct lack of fire…and an even greater lack of defence.
The first that Zuko knows of it is when the tanks roll past their teashop in the Middle Ring. It is the middle of the week and Uncle has disappeared in a huff -his latest delivery of tea leaves is subpar and he's marched off to the supplier's depot to have words. Smoke billows out of the rolling metal contraptions and storms through their windows. The fugitive and his customers are left choking as the thick black smoke gets into their lungs.
Zuko turns sharply on his heel and runs upstairs to the open window in their living area. The Outer Wall is smoothly sinking in the ground -what the hell?!- with all of Zuko's hopes for safety and rest with it.
Zuko returns downstairs to chaos. The refugees and (pathetically few) citizens who knew what was going on beyond the protective walls were panicking and for once the Dai-Li imposed law of 'There's no war in Ba Sing Se' goes flying out the window; refugees are loudly comparing this invasion to the conquest of their home villages and plotting ways of fleeing the city even though it is clear that the Earth Kingdom has fallen and there's nowhere left to run.
For those that have grown up in Ba Sing Se, there is mind-crushing disbelief that the Earth Kingdom has been at war for a hundred years and they didn't know (here Zuko scoffs, because these are the same people who complain and sneer about the influx of refugees -why in Agni's name do they think the Earth Kingdom even has refugees in the first place?). Zuko can see more than one of them suddenly eyeing his scar with horrified realisation.
Chest icing over, he turns away from them and searches the room for his uncle, hoping that Iroh has somehow returned during the confusion and chaos. He hasn't. Zuko inhales and exhales sharply before raising his voice and barking out orders in a tone reminiscent of his sea-faring days (Spirits, he actually misses his little ship). In a matter of moments, the customers yield to his tone of authority and begin to leave the teashop for their homes.
Zuko is quick to board up the teashop, the entire time his heart beats to a tune of 'nowhere left to hide'. He then proceeds to gather up even crumb of food in the place, spiriting it upstairs to hide. He is the Fire Nation Prince; he's grown up with the stories of conquest his people have wrought on the world. He knows the protocols and so he knows that the occupying force will target the food; they will make the local populace dependant on rations from the Fire Nation officials as a means of making them obedient.
Zuko has never been terrified of his own people before.
He really hopes Uncle comes home soon. In the meantime, he distracts himself by creating a few hidey-holes for when the house searches begin.
XxX
Iroh doesn't return in the two days after the occupation. Zuko doesn't know if he came home after that.
Zuko's hidey-holes turn out to be no match for the Dai Li. Zuko is frozen with shock when it is one of those sworn to protect Ba Sing Se who drags him to the occupying General. They betrayed their own nation…how could they?!
General Ting is delighted to have captured a high-ranking fugitive, and mocks Zuko for just missing out on seeing his sister kill the Avatar. Thankfully, it appears Azula left for the Fire Nation the day before. Zuko tries not to look relieved that she's not there.
"Cheer up your Highness." Ting smiles viciously. "You'll be seeing her, and Fire Lord Ozai, soon."
Funny how what was once his greatest wish was now his greatest fear.
When Zuko is thrown into an earth bent cell deep in the crystal catacombs of the old Ba Sing Se, he lands on another youth.
XxX
Jet is working at a stable when black ash begins to falls around him in a twisted mockery of pure snow. His heart plummets down into his feet. As the people around him start to wonder about the odd phenomenon, Jet ruptures into broken laughter. They have no clue; he'd had a few close calls with the Dai Li because he spoke about the War; Spirits, these ignorant locals have no idea the illusion they lived or what black ash means but Jet does.
He drops the bundles of hay he was carrying and bolts. His boss's angry yells and threats of being fired chase him and Jet laughs again, darkly amused. The Fire Nation has taken Ba Sing Se -the Earth Kingdom has fallen – and the old man thinks that he'll give a damn about a stupid job?
Jet takes to the roofs; out in the street are fellow refugees who are either panicking or, like Jet, hurrying home. It's never been easier to tell those who've lived outside the Walls apart from those who've never been outside them. The born and raised City dwellers all look so confused about the refugees' reactions. Bastards, ignorant bastards, Jet thinks scathingly, while they lived a cosy life within the walls, the rest of the Earth Kingdom has suffered, lost and burned.
Jet thinks he may just hate Ba Sing Se and its people more than the War.
He sees Smellerbee dropping down onto a roof ahead of him and whistles. She spins around and all Jet can see is wide eyes and a pale face with horror drenching every inch of her expression. It's an expression he hasn't seen since he first found her in the smouldering ruin of a farmstead. He never wanted to see it again.
"Where's Long?" He demands, skidding on the clay tiles as he tries to stop next to her.
"I don't know." Smellerbee whispers. "It's his day off…but he left when I did with his bow and arrows."
Jet curses, tells Smellerbee to head for home, and takes off to search the spots Longshot frequently practices his archery at. His feet pound a crescendo of 'damn it, damn it' as he races across the Lower Ring.
It's hours later before he finally manages admits to failing to locate Longshot and manoeuvre around the Fire Nation troops to return to their dingy little apartment. Smellerbee has barricaded herself in the main room, emergency packs tucked away under the table and waiting Jet's order to leave. Her face falls when Longshot fails to appear behind Jet.
Neither of them knows what to do.
XxX
Zuko doesn't know what to make of his silent companion.
On one hand, it's a relief that he's not such with a hysterical prisoner…but the lack of reaction from the other boy is fast becoming disturbing.
When the 'door' to their cell is bent open, Zuko presses himself against the far wall.
"Good evening boys." General Ting, Zuko resists the urge to snarl like an animal. "You'll be pleased to know that I've arranged your transport to the Fire Nation."
Golden eyes should not look that icy. Zuko thinks as he grits his teeth.
"Now," the general faces his silent cell mate with a congenial expression. "I'm sure you've heard all sorts of things -but they're only true if you step out of line." Zuko snorts and the general spins around to slam a fist in his temple. "That was out of line Prince Zuko." Ting coos. "You'll both be searched by the Dai Li -can't let you go on ocean cruise with weapons after all."
Fuck. Zuko thinks over the ringing in his ears, knowing that the single knife tucked up a shirt sleeve won't be there much longer. He swallows thickly. There went his last resort…not that he really wanted to use it.
The general finally leaves a few minutes later once two Dai Li arrive. Both boys lose their outer shirts in the Dai Li's search for weapons. Sure enough, Zuko's knife is swiftly snatched up and disappears. The younger Dai Li is searching Zuko and glimpses a splash of colour teasing him from the edge of Zuko's t-shirt and pulls the sleeve up. He stills. Then curses.
"Problem?" Came his partner's voice. Zuko is too busy glaring at the Dai Li manhandling him to glance over.
"Earth Kingdom Soulmate." Came the uneasy reply. "Sir…"
"Ah." Came the soft reply. "It appears they both have soulmates." He taps the odd tree and knife mark on Longshot's shoulders. "A pity." He muses. "You're both going to disappear en route to the ship."
Zuko blinks. He looks between the two men and then at his cellmate. The boy is staring intensely at Zuko's soulmark. He chews on his lower lip before raising his eyes to met the older agent's eyes. "You're…gonna let us escape?"
"I've done many dark things boy, made many hard decisions…I will not add aiding in the death of a soul-marked to that list." The man grunts and exchanges a telling look with his partner. "I've no desire to anger the Great Spirits. Your people do not protect soul-marked. The Earth Kingdom knows better." He adds with a wry twist to his lips.
Realisation warms Zuko from the chest out. He's not going back to the Fire Nation.
Zuko decides that he can take a hint.
It's time to find his soulmate.