Disclaimer: Avatar: The Last Airbender does not belong to me, but to Michael Dante DiMartino. Midori is my own character.
Becoming Fire Lord Zuko
Once the men landed on the ground the man holding Zuko's midsection released him and the other two began to drag Zuko across the ground rapidly creating distance between the palace and them. Zuko winced as his legs dragged across the rocky floor surface. Zuko inhaled focusing on the ground waiting for that moment, then kicked upward causing two of the men to lose their balance and release him. Zuko quickly took his Fire Nation stance while three encased him in a triangle. Zuko exhaled taking a step closer then lifting his leg inches off the ground before slamming his foot down and causing a wave of fire to reach for the men. The three men did a backwards leap in unison missing the wave. All three of the men took a fire nation stance preparing to enclose Zuko in flames. Zuko could feel the sweat drip down his cheek in anticipation of their movement. Their stances were firm, accurate, and strong these weren't nobodies.
A movement to his left cut through Zuko's peripheral. Another figure in a black hooded cloak had arrived but this one stood next to Zuko. Before Zuko could even overlook the new stranger the other three pushed their fist forward and blast of flames engulfed Zuko and the stranger. Zuko redirected a portion of the flame throwing it back at one of the kidnappers, while he noticed the stranger had leapt high into the trees. Before the kidnappers could regain their composure Zuko exhaled again this time creating extended fire whips that licked at the kidnappers legs. He move his hands in sync directing the whips back and forth from kidnappers. Zuko inhaled once more and on his exhale the whips grew in size. With a final stroke he brought the whips down on the men knocking both to the ground unconscious. A rising heat behind him made Zuko roll to the ground the hit intended for him engulfing a nearby tree. He jumped forward running towards the attacker with his fist already inflamed.
Then the black cloaked figure swept down from the tree and in a blur of black and locked their legs onto the awaiting victims neck the figure pushed themselves upward till they were briefly standing on the kidnappers shoulders before leaping backwards then giving the kidnapper a firm kick in the spine that pushed them into a tree and knocked them unconscious.
Zuko looked away then pulled the nearest kidnapper to his side stripping them of their hood. There sat a man. A man he had never seen or known. There was nothing unordinary or distinct, Fire Nation skin, Fire Nation hair. Zuko was losing his patience, but having your meeting room bombed, and being kidnapped then dragged down his courtyard could do that to a person. Zuko's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of heavy breathing behind him.
He begun to approach the cloaked figure with as much suspicion as concern, "Hey you –"
The hooded figure's head rose at the sound of his voice and for an in the instant he saw ruby red lips. Just as Zuko's fingers grazed the soft fabric of the hood a white smoke encased him. He coughed loudly his throat still sore from the previous explosions. Once the white smoke cleared the hooded figure had disappeared into the the night breeze.
"Zuko! Are you alright!" Zuko looked up at the star painted sky watching as Aang flew towards him on his glider.
Zuko only nodded as Aang landed next to him. "How's Midori?" Zuko asked while he tied to the men together with a their own rope.
Aang only gave Zuko a confused stare, "Midori? I haven't seen her since dinner."
Zuko felt his heart quicken its pace, "She's still under the rubble! We have to get her!"
Aang grabbed Zuko by the collar without a seconds word then sent a gust of wind under their feet. The wind shot them upward into the sky past the trees and right when Zuko felt the weight of his body return Aang propped open his glider. Zuko held onto Aang's ankle as they soared towards the meeting room. Once above a balcony adjacent to the meeting room Zuko let go and did a brief roll on the ground before standing then running to room. As soon as Zuko entered the room he sank down to his knees and began moving fall books and glass from the bundle where he had last seen Midori fall. He could feel the skin under his nails split and ooze fresh blood. He continued digging through. Midori looked so young. She had such a small smile on her face. The kind that lingered and made you wonder if her face lit up when she laughed. Midori was so young...
Aang ran into the room. His eyes landed on Zuko who was frantically removing fallen glass and books. He placed his hand on Zuko's shoulder, "Let me" he said barely above a whisper.
Aang did a 180 degree spin with his glider in hand and with mastered precision whipped the glider like a bat at the debris. The force threw the debris to the opposite wall with a shattering thud. Under what had been a mountain of glass and books was nothingness.
"Wher-" Began Aang.
"Fire Lord Zuko, Avatar Aang," a guard that had seconds before arrived at the meeting room gave a brisk and quick salute. "Miss Midori is in the infirmary Sir Sokka found her and Master Katara is taking care of her."
Zuko almost sank to his knees in relief. Another life was not added to his hands.
Katara fussed over Midori's cut hands and arms while Midori looked up at the ceiling lost in a whirlpool of thoughts. One day in the fire nation and she almost gets killed by a bomb. The pain from the numerous cuts had yet to settle before her, but served as a reminder of death's brush against her skin. She was in a state of shock.
The infirmary doors slapping harshly against the walls broke Midori's whirlpool and marked Zuko and Aang's entrance. Even with dried blood smearing his face, his scarred eye crunched up in anger, his previously tidy top knot hair loose giving him a loop sided wave of raven and his ropes once a beautiful maroon now marked with ash and soot. He still looked all the grand Fire Lord his title entailed.
"Are you alright?" The Fire Lord was talking to her, not Zuko.
Through her cracked glasses her jade yes bore into his gold. There it was. A spark. It sent a wave of electricity throughout her body like a song that shakes a person to their very core. She felt like the wind had been taken from her lungs and she was waiting for air. And just like that the moment disappeared into the wind when Zuko's eyes shifted from hers to her cut marred hands.
She had been silent for longer then intended, "Yes Fire Lord."
Zuko hesitated for a moment, taken aback by the formality but he then gave a short nod then left her bed side making rounds to all the servants and advisors that had been harmed.
"Aang who were they?" Katara's voice broke the silence.
"I'm not sure yet Zuko has declared an emergency gathering in his library right now. "
Sokka and Suki entered the infirmary looking over the people before catching Midori's raven hair and running to her side.
Sokka did not say anything, only gave a reassuring smile to Midori. The small gesture was enough, it was like an anchor to the reality of what had just happened here.
Without any other exchanges Suki helped Midori off the bed as the four made their way to Zuko's library. No other words were said during the walk. They walked like soldiers preparing to enter the enemy ravine, unknowing of what is to come. The idle thumping of their footsteps was only disturbed with Midori's momentary inhales of walked into the private library in a single file line. No one had, had a chance to add chairs to the library so Sokka and Aang stood behind Katara, Suki, and Midori as they took a seat on a long crimson and gold chesterfield style couch.
Advisors and generals soon followed all standing near the bookshelves. No one exchanged looks or words. In silence they waited till Zuko entered. His hair was redone, his burned ropes replaced with new silken crimson garments and his Fire Nation crown again sat proudly in his top-knot.
And like a spell now broken his mere appearance caused a roar of questions from the advisors and generals while Team Avatar and Midori remained silent.
Zuko only raised one hand and a new spell of silence fell upon the library.
"I have been given a short brief by all the guards as to what has occurred. After I debrief everyone the Community Developer and International Affairs Coordinator Sensu also has some news he wants to share with us."
Everyone either sat a little straighter or leaned a little closer.
"No one has been fatally injured thanks to General Rui for using the meeting table as a barrier for many of the servants and advisors. Suki and Sokka have also informed me that no other bombs have been found as of now. Also nothing appears to have been stolen. Now I introduce Sensu who will enlighten all of us." The word enlighten dripped from Zuko's lips with either sarcasm or anger all present were unsure.
Zuko took a seat in an arm chair at the corner of the semicircle everyone had unintentionally made. Sensu was a pudgy older man with a head full of long gray hair that was tied in a long braid behind him. His beer belly poked forward from his Fire Nation ropes and his small brown eyes looked over everyone in the library. He cleared his throat with a cough that echoed throughout the silent room. "Thank you Fire Lord Zuko."
Two attendants came behind him and held a map of the Fire Nation.
"There have been suspicions of a rebellion, but in the past three years suspicions there are many, actions there are few. We believe these rebels are known as Sol." He pressed his finger on the map to a area far in the outskirts of the capital as the supposed location. "The demographics of the members are unknown, but it is assumed the middle and higher middle class members do the dirty work, such as these three kidnappers, but are funded by the upper class and maybe even officials." Midori glimpsed around at the advisors in the room for a brief second…anyone could be a funder.
"We have reason to believe they are angered because of Fire Lord Zuko's latest progressive policy to encourage those from other nationals to take residency in Fire Nation territory by providing certain benefits especially to the families of nation ambassadors."
"Is that all we know?" Zuko asked while resting his chin against his knuckles.
Sensu cleared his throat once more, but this time his cough sounded weak to the ears present. "Y-y-yes your highness that is all we have present."
Zuko stood abruptly, "Alright we will revert to palace watch formation A, tomorrow morning, generals, expect a meeting in my office after the first candle flashes after midday. Everyone else please go about your business as planned the festival and summit are upon us and everything will go as scheduled. Any suspicious activity will be reported directly to me or Sir Sokka. You are all dismissed."
While everyone exited the library Team Avatar and Midori were the last to leave. Zuko gave a small reassuring smile to his friends which they returned before heading towards the exit. Midori stole one last glance at Zuko.
Jade locked with citrine.
Midori's voice broke their stare, "A leader is a dealer in hope, Zuko. Don't forget that."
Miodri left the room with only the fleeting ebony braid as a goodbye.