A. N. : Compliments if you can guess what's happening before the next chapter comes out. I only vaguely know what's going to happen in this fic (long term), and I know even less what needs to happen in order for me to be happy with it. And for now I didn't even stray too far from canon. This is going to be fun.
Zuko can't sleep.
His sleeping habits have never been that great, but he usually manages to get at least some sort of rest. Tonight he fears this will be impossible.
He has his blanket near the remains of the fire, Lin close against his skin – she had no trouble falling asleep, thank the spirits. Toph and Jet aren't too far, along with two Water Tribe men.
He feels watched. He is watched, in fact.
The men aren't even pretending to sleep. The only reason they are here is to prevent him from setting the camp on fire, or whatever they think he's going to do. The actual watchmen are a bit farther away.
Toph stirs in her sleep – she has managed to half bury herself in the sand and doesn't seem bothered in the least. Jet doesn't move at all, barely even breathes, and Zuko suspects he isn't sleeping either.
They should probably talk, but Zuko doesn't know what he should say and he doesn't want to risk provoking Jet accidentally – he can still feel fingers around his throat and that is not a pleasant feeling.
At least Lin is more or less safe.
Maybe it's because he's so tense, or maybe it's just because he has good ears, but Zuko is the first to notice the noise.
Very light footsteps, hushed whispers missing with the sound of the waves, and something heavier – Zuko jumps to his feet. The men draw their weapon, eyeing him warily, and he almost wants to laugh at the irony. There's something unidentified sneaking in the camp and they see him as the real danger.
Jet gets up in turn, and he gestures to shut up and listen. Apparently he heard it too. Toph is still in the sand but her eyes are wide open – not that it changes anything for her.
One of the watchmen comes up, spear in hand, walking fast, his gaze fixed on Zuko – he doesn't even look suspicious, just determined to skewer him, like he's the one responsible for what's wrong in the camp. Except he's not and one of the ships starts creaking loudly as it wobbles away.
As it what –
They all stare in disbelief for a second before the men sound the alarm and start rushing forward. Jet seems to hesitate, looks at Zuko, at Toph, at the tents and the men groggily walking out of them, at the way they squint while lighting their torches, looks at the ship again, and shrugs.
The agitation woke Lin up, and she starts crying. Zuko scoops her up quickly, shushing her as the embers glow red and Jet takes a step back – he runs toward the ship, and Zuko shouldn't feel guilty about this, he shouldn't but he does, and all he can do is try to soothe Lin, whispering soft nonsense and watching the others hurry.
He feels useless.
Even then, it's not as if he could just follow everyone and take out the enemy with some fireballs.
He can't fight with Lin. He can't trust anyone with her either. He can't firebend, not with Jet around, and certainly not anywhere near a bunch of warriors so jumpy they'll probably think he's attacking them.
He sits down, Lin still sobbing in his arms.
Toph has gone off to fight, just like Jet has – though with a dagger as his sole weapon, he was probably just running away from the firebenders, and not really thinking of fighting.
Zuko is alone.