A. N. : Did you know ? The word migraine comes from Greek hemicrania, meaning half the skull. And they hurt like a bitch, forgive my French. Also, kindergarten is German for garden of children, so what if you have no garden and only snow ? A nursery is what. And while you may want to explain the word prince as chief's son, it doesn't actually mean the same thing, just like warrior and soldier. I love me some word meanings.
This camp is slowly turning into a nursery.
Bato looks at the child perched on the giant man's shoulders – he'll need to ask for their names – trying to look at every single thing despite his oversized helmet, and he can't help but smile.
It's good to have something happen that doesn't involve fireballs or injured people – though it's even better when these things don't happen in the middle of the night and don't require to un-beach a ship to get her back with the others, but hey, you can't have everything.
At least she wasn't damaged.
The boy, Jet, seems to have completely changed his mindset with the arrival of the two. Whether it is actually the case or not is hard to say, but he has gone from dark and dangerous like high sea, to a bright eyed, smiling young man, and looks at the little boy the way Hakoda used to look at Sokka long ago.
What's with kids acting like young fathers these days ?
Kids, uh… That Jet boy is one thing, but can a Prince – which is apparently the Fire Nation equivalent of a Chief's son – who wears the war on his face really be considered a child ? With a scar like this one, he must've gone through his fair share of battles already, maybe even killed Water Tribe warriors – or worse, the Fire Nation doesn't stop at honorable fighting – before changing his mind and selling himself to his enemies in order to keep his life…
Bato knows accepting him in the camp was the right, logical decision given the circumstances, but he can't help feeling angry – guess that's why he isn't Chief. Hakoda is much better at putting his feelings aside and making the right decision for the Tribe's sake.
He is the first to come back from the shore – his arm still hurts sometimes and he can't haul the ship along with the others. So he walks back into the camp, hoping to fall asleep quickly.
There's a lonely shape near the ashes, and it takes Bato a few seconds to realize it's the Prince, wearily mumbling to the baby, trying to lull it to sleep – he looks up, sees Bato, and tenses.
And maybe it's because he never really looked, but for the first time Bato notices the scar on the Prince's face is actually a burn. And a really bad one at that – worse than his own arm, and the nuns said he was lucky to still be able to move.
Can he even see with that eye ?
The Prince seems incredibly tired and holds the baby protectively, as if fearing someone will attack him and hurt the kid – which makes Bato grit his teeth, no one here would do that. But with his weary and fearful expression, he reminds Bato of a child waking up from a nightmare and not being quite sure of what is real and what isn't.
Warriors don't look like children. No matter how scared or tired, no matter the time of day or night, warriors always look like sea-wolves, fierce and determined, until the fighting ends and they can finally go home, until they can safely take off the war paint and start living again.
Warriors don't look like children, but Bato has seen children who look like warriors, children who fight to protect or to avenge, who are ready to give their lives, children who have seen death and who still face it daily. But children are still children, no matter what, and that shows when they think no one is watching or when they are tired.
The Prince's scar looks old, is worse than Bato's own, and probably took years to heal. If he got it in battle, he must've been a child, playing war like Sokka used to, only the war was real and so was the fire.
How does a firebender get burned that badly ?
Bato sits next to the Prince without realizing it, or even knowing why. The Prince doesn't move, almost stops breathing, clings to the baby so hard Bato starts wondering who is protecting the other. Bato doesn't know what to do, doesn't even know what he's doing, so he speaks about that very odd night, about how kids tried to make off with a ship, probably to escape the Fire Nation troops, and how they were lucky they got caught, because they obviously wouldn't have fared well out on the sea – the Prince nods in agreement and adds, like an afterthought, that he spent three years at sea.
And while this doesn't make Bato feel any better at the thought of being trapped on a ship with a firebender, it at least means the Prince won't put anyone in danger by mistake. He only will on purpose.
Why did he change sides ? It would be different if he'd been made prisoner or had been threatened. Instead, he chose not to just stay out of battle, but to specifically go against those he used to fight for. And Bato might not like them, but if there's one thing Fire Nation warriors know and respect, it's loyalty.
And really, up until now, Bato never really thought about the motivations behind the Prince's actions. He betrayed his nation – his Tribe – and even went so far as fighting his own sister. All the more reason not to trust him.
But now, sitting next to him and seeing him up close, Bato realizes the Prince isn't a warrior who betrayed his Tribe and family. No, he is only a child, scared and lost and trying to look tough and protect that baby, a child who makes believe and acts like a warrior, because for whatever reason, he went to war too early and ended up on his own.
Bato can't treat a child like he would another warrior. Not that it means he will trust the Prince in any way – children can be much more vicious than any warriors – just… there's a possibility that, if the Prince proves himself worthy, Bato could think about changing his mind about sharing a ship.
The baby is sleeping. The others are coming back. Bato gets up. Goes inside his tent.
He'll probably sleep well.