Sang's head reaches Zuko's hip.
And he's not even fully grown.
Zuko would like to think that his wolf is intimidating, but apparently Sang himself doesn't think that way.
Sang lets the servant girls cuddle him, and he happily eats the scraps that Azula feds him from the dinner table.
Zuko has noticed that Azula quite likes Sang. Zuko suspects she'd probably steal his wolf away if Sang wasn't always glued to his side.
Zuko tells his sister that perhaps Katara will bring a wolf pup to her one day.
Azula perks up at this. She tells her brother that she'll have a girl wolf, and that her wolf will be more awesome then Sang.
Zuko rolls his eyes and shakes his head, even though he secretly agrees. Sang isn't a very aggressive wolf, despite Zuko's training.
Then the two siblings go back to bickering and play fighting like they always do.
Like siblings always do.
Zuko can feel the early signs of summer.
This thrills him.
Summer has quickly become is favorite time of the year.
He can't wait to show Katara how much his wolf has grown. Despite all of her original complaining, Zuko suspects that she'll be super impressed with Sang's training and his abilities. Or, at least, he hopes she will.
He walks through the palace towards the training area. Azula is starting to learn how to bend lightning, something Zuko probably won't start training in for another couple of years.
He frowns when he finds her practicing. The person whose training her isn't her usual instructor.
It's Ozai.
Zuko immediately moves onto the sidelines of the area, quickly taking in the situation.
Both his father and his sister are covered in sweat, chests heaving, faces flushed from their bending.
But that's not the thing that concerns him most.
Azula looks like she's about to burst into tears. That's how he knows that something is definitely wrong.
Azula never cries. She never lets anyone talk down to her, or make her feel like the lesser person.
But the Azula standing in front of him has a quivering lower lip. She rapidly blinks her eyes, trying to clear her tears, and takes deep breaths in an attempt to calm herself.
"Your form was off again," Ozai says eyes narrowing his eyes at his daughter. "I will demonstrate one more time."
Azula sniffs and gulps, watching as Ozai roughly moves through the form for producing lightning.
"Now do it. And do it right."
Azula nods quickly and moves through the form with twice the grace that her father had. Then she looks up at her father with wide, hopeful eyes—
—but he only curls a lip at her.
"I must question the sanity of your trainer, since he tells me that you're a prodigy. Do it again."
Azula bites her lip, but a few stray tears escape from her eyes and run down her cheeks. Ozai lets out a sigh of disapproval.
Zuko can't really help the, "Leave her alone," that pops out of his mouth.
Ozai turns his cold gaze onto him and Zuko panics. He's about to apologize for speaking out of turn when he sees Sang making his way towards him from the palace.
Zuko is reminded of what Sang's name actually means and why he picked it out.
He clears his throat, stands up straighter and squares his shoulders.
"Leave her alone. Can't you see she's trying?" his voices comes out a little shakier then he would have liked, but he's proud that he's even managed to speak.
Ozai's eyes narrow into slits. "Your insolence is astounding for one so young. You should take your leave before you make a fool of yourself."
Zuko can feel his heartbeat speed up, but he stands his ground.
"I just think that maybe you should take it easy on her," he says sharply, defending his sister. "From what I saw, her moves looked good."
Ozai outright laughs at this. "And what would you know of lightning forms? Have you managed to bend lightning without my knowing?" He waves his hand casually at his son. "Leave us. Your sister and I will keep training until she gets it right."
Zuko notices that Sang has come to stand by his side now.
He suddenly feels braver then he should.
"Are you pushing her so hard because her forms are better then what you could ever do?"
As soon as he says it he regrets it.
Ozai freezes and Azula's eyes widen in shock.
Zuko's father slowly turns to face him, fury embodied. "Are you challenging my abilities, boy?"
Zuko suddenly feels wobbly. "No, no, I—"
"Because it sounded like you think your eleven year old sister is a better firebender then I am."
Zuko takes several steps back, shaking his head rapidly. "I'm s-sorry, I didn't—"
"Perhaps, since you're such a good judge of firebending capabilities, you would be willing to showcase your own against mine? Agni Kai?" His father stalks towards him, a fireball between his hands.
Zuko sinks to his knees, crippled by his own fear.
He knows that now would be the time to scream for his mother, Uncle Iroh, or Lu Ten, but he can't seem to muster up his breath.
He's crying and he feels so helpless and afraid.
Ozai stops his advance and gives him a look of disgust. His brings his hands together, snuffing out the fire. "No, I'm not going to Agni Kai with someone who can't even stand on his own two feet."
Zuko almost lets out a shout of relief, but manages to contain it.
But then his father extends his hand and ignites a bright flame. "However, you have shown me great disrespect. This will teach you to watch your tongue around those who are above you."
Ozai thrusts his fist forward.
The pain is white hot and suddenly Zuko can't see.
But he hears the horrified and then enraged cries of his sister.
Then there is vicious, vicious growling.
Then screams upon screams of pain that mix with his own.
Zuko's eyes are open but he can't really see.
"Lay him flat, don't prop up his feet."
He feels water drip onto his face and there's hysterical crying.
"No Princess Ursa, no liquids. He's going into shock." The physician barks out more orders, but Zuko doesn't catch them.
He thinks the darkness might be a safer place.
Someone is starting to wrap part of his face in a cool cloth.
He can barely make out two figures standing over him with his uncovered eye.
The figure to the right goes, "Do you think—"
"He will live. But it will scar."
The figures start to clear. The one on the right is his cousin; the one on his left is the Royal Physician.
Something wiggles against his side. Something furry.
"That damn wolf—"
"—will stay right where he is."
Lu Ten reaches out and takes Zuko's hand.
Zuko has managed to stay awake for longer than four hours.
He understands that he has been burned.
But he's not too worried. He hasn't managed to get out of his bed yet, but that's okay.
The burn barely hurts, you see. In fact it's nearly painless.
The skin around the burn is sore, but Zuko takes that in stride.
When the physician and his mother come in with his evening meal, he manages a smile for them.
"It must not be that bad," he says, gesturing to his face with a finger. "It doesn't even hurt." He's relieved that it seems to be healing so fast.
His mother bites her lip and lets out a choking noise, turning her face away.
The physician gives him a very defeated look and shakes his head.
"That is because the nerve endings have been destroyed."
It's been two weeks, but Zuko has yet to leave his room.
He just…doesn't want to.
Instead he accepts visitors. Mother and Lu Ten spend the most time with him, and Uncle Iroh eats his lunch with him.
And then there is Azula.
Mother says she has been avoiding him, so he's slightly surprised when she walks into his room a week and a half after the incident.
She sits on the edge of his bed and doesn't look at him.
Well, she doesn't look at his face, anyway.
"You don't understand," she begins, "I thought he was going to kill you."
Zuko tilts his head and thinks that that was an odd thing for her to say, but doesn't question her.
She leaves after that.
No one has mentioned what has been done with Ozai.
Zuko hates himself for wondering.
For hoping.
It's been nearly a month and today Zuko decides he'll finally unravel his bandage and look in the mirror.
He's been avoiding it.
But now he must stop pretending.
He stands in front of the mirror and takes his time removing the bandage. His hands are shaking and he feels nauseous.
But finally he's gotten it off.
He takes his reflection in for the first time.
They have to stitch up his hand because he breaks the mirror.
He refuses to come out.
He refuses to see anyone.
He thinks he'll wither away in here.
He thinks that might be best.
His bedroom door opens and he turns towards it with a heated glare.
The only one that is allowed in is Sang. The whole palace is aware of this now.
He's sees someone that he never thought would step foot in his room.
"Prince Zuko, it is nice to finally meet you."
Avatar Aang closes his door behind him and offers him a wide smile.
He makes his way over to a chair in the corner of the room. "Do you mind if I sit here?"
Zuko shakes his head dumbly.
Avatar Aang is a funny looking man.
He's old, as in ancient, with a wrinkled face, blue arrows and a funny wisp of white facial hair that sticks out of his chin. His gray eyes, however, look young and happy. He offers Zuko a broad smile.
"Your mother tells me you won't come out of your room." It is a statement, not a question.
Zuko just continues to stare.
The Avatar is in his room.
"I would think it would get quite boring in here, after awhile."
Zuko shrugs one shoulder halfheartedly.
Avatar Aang's smile turns sad. "I am so sorry, my boy, for what that man did to you."
Zuko looks down at the ground, not sure what to say. No one has brought up Ozai so far.
"It is fitting, perhaps, what happened to him."
Zuko looks back up now, confused. "What…what happened?" he croaks. He hasn't used his voice in awhile.
Avatar Aang looks surprised for a moment, but then his expression quickly calms. "Your sister and your wolf happened."
Then the Avatar tells Zuko what no one else has.
The cries of rage that came out of Azula happened when she burned Ozai in retaliation.
"I thought he was going to kill you."
The vicious growling came from when Sang ripped into Ozai's arm.
Zuko suddenly feels the need to be sick.
"Where is he now?" he whispers.
Avatar Aang gives him a look of sympathy. "Fire Lord Iroh and I have agreed on a place for him to stay for the time being. But I suppose you should consider him banished."
Zuko feels nothing at this news, for the most part, except for a slight twinge of sadness. He feels as if he has betrayed himself because of it.
"Why are you the one telling me this?" he snaps, suddenly feeling angry (at himself, mostly).
"You won't see anyone else. Besides, I figured it was time we became acquainted. I do hope you perk up soon, Prince Zuko. Perhaps your friends will help in that regard."
At Zuko's panicked expression Avatar Aang nods reassuringly. "Your mother says they'll be here in a couple of days."
"But I had thought—"
"That they weren't coming? Prince Zuko, you must not understand what makes a good friend."
Zuko braces the chair against the door before curling up on his bed and wrapping his arms around Sang's neck.
He can hear the commotion in the hallways. They're arriving today.
He can't see her.
He can't.
So he won't.
By nighttime Zuko's resolve breaks.
He pulls the chair away from his door, refusing to leave but hoping that just maybe…
He's almost asleep when he hears the door open.
Almost.
He has lit candles all over the room. He thinks that she should see him properly.
And when she does her eyes start to water.
He turns away from her, feeling ill.
He hates to see Katara cry.
But his face is what's causing her tears.
Slender arms wrap around him from the side, but he doesn't return the embrace.
He can't.
"I hate him." Her whisper ghosts over his shoulder and neck and he can feel her tears soak into the shoulder of his shirt. He steps away, breaking out of her arms with ease before climbing onto his bed. Her wolf and his wolf curl up on the pillows.
He waits until her crying stops before he looks at her. Really looks at her.
It's then that Zuko sees that Katara is showing signs of prettiness. Her hair is long, thick and wavy, her eyes are big and round, her lips are starting to curve pleasantly and the color of her skin seems to glow.
She'll be beautiful one day.
No, she already is.
And yet here he sits, mangled beyond repair, half his face melted off.
He's disgusting and someone like her shouldn't have to look at someone like him.
"I think you should go," he says, voice harsher then he intends.
She blinks, confused. "But we always—"
"You should go," he repeats. "This isn't proper anymore."
"But—"
"Leave!"
He hears her sniff and he hates himself for causing her to cry again.
When she reaches the door she pauses.
"I'm still your friend, you know."
Zuko quickly learns that Katara is just like her brother's favorite weapon.
Like a boomerang she always seems to come back.
Even if she's unwanted.
The next day she practically breaks down his door, carrying a tray packed with fattening and delectable looking foods.
Zuko barely even nibbles on it.
Katara makes herself into his fulltime nurse. She brings him food, keeps him company, and makes sure he's comfortable.
It isn't until she's been there for over a month that she tries to take off his bandage, however.
She approaches his bed with a bowl of water in her hands, setting it down on the bedside table.
Zuko has a sinking feeling. He knows where this is going.
"Katara…"
"I'm going to heal it," she says determinedly. "I am."
He practically flies across the room when she reaches for his face.
"Zuko," she warns, looking perturbed.
"No, Katara. No."
"Just let me try!"
"NO."
"Please!"
"I SAID NO!"
Her bottom lip begins to quiver. "Just let me try, Zuko. I won't be able to live with myself if I don't."
It takes a few minutes, but finally Zuko sits on the edge of her bed and lets her reach for his face.
Her fingers hesitate along the edges of the bandage, but finally she unravels them with unfailing gentleness.
Her face visibly falls when she finally sees the full extent of his burn. But she doesn't say anything, which he appreciates.
She calls the water to her hands and a moment later the liquid is glowing blue.
Zuko gulps, nervous and suddenly hopeful. He remembers how she had healed his injured hand a few summers ago.
He wonders if her healing will be successful this time as well.
When she coats his burn with her glowing water Zuko doesn't feel it. But he can tell that it's not going the way she had hoped.
She bites her lip in concentration, but after a moment her eyes narrow and she furrows her eyebrows. She lets out a few huffs.
Then her eyes start to glisten and suddenly the water soaks into the bed with a splat.
She looks devastated.
And then she's hysterical.
"I'm so s-sorry!" she cries before getting up and running from the room.
His door is open and he is standing in the open doorframe, staring out into the hallway.
If he takes one step forward he will leave his bedroom.
He doesn't want to, but he thinks he might have to.
Katara hasn't come back since she tried to heal him.
If she won't come to him then Zuko thinks he might have to go to her instead.
He kind of hates her for making him leave the one place that had been safe for the past couple of months.
He remembers the crushed look on her face and his resolve hardens.
He steps out into the hallway and keeps his head down, hoping he doesn't cross paths with anyone.
When he finally reaches her room he hesitates for a brief moment before knocking on the door. When she opens up and sees him she looks shocked.
Then she's flung her arms around him, apologizing over and over. He pats her back awkwardly and wonders at how she so easily ignores the fact that half his face is still covered in a bandage.
She coaxes him out into the garden. He tells her he's not ready to deal with her brother yet and she nods in understanding.
She has lunch waiting for them, and she has a scroll in her arms.
They sit in the grass and he picks at his food. He finds that listening to her voice is much more filling.
She unravels the scroll and starts to read.
"The people from the village demanded to see The Blue Spirit's face. They claimed that despite everything he had done for them, if he chose to hide behind a mask then he must not be trustworthy. But one girl spoke up for The Blue Spirit. 'You are all fools,' she said. 'The Blue Spirit does not hide behind a mask, he exposes himself through his actions. You do not measure a man by the shape of his nose or the brightness of his eyes, but by his honor and his choices...'"
She does not stop reading, even when she reaches up with one hand and tenderly wipes away his tears.
A/N:
I found this chapter extremely upsetting to write for obvious reasons. For the record the next chapter will be happier. Promise.
I hope everyone is still on board with this story despite the heartfail.
Also, there won't be another update for at least a week. I'm going on vacation! In fact in a little over 24 hours I'll be in Disney World (:D :D :D). There is a teeny tiny chance that I might update while I'm away, but that's doubtful. Hope everyone enjoyed the quick update!
Review and let me know what you think!