Chapter Text
How had he gotten into this situation? Didn't really matter.
Zuko was surrounded by people who were his enemies. The Avatar and his followers. Under any other circumstances the Avatar would be his and the honor that was taken, restored.
That though was out of the question, because an even worse enemy was standing in front of him. Azula… His own sister. The Firebending prodigy and the worst sister in the history of evil sisters.
They had her surrounded. Zuko…. The Avatar gang. And Iroh… His uncle who had somehow showed up out of the blue and now stood right beside him… Like he had done for three years.
Zuko was not sure what was happening at all, but it didn't matter. Azula was the dangerous one. His largest threat. Zuko could see in her narrowed eyes, the set of her mouth that she was not afraid and she was ready to kill him. Ready to kill them all.
Zuko had been declared a traitor to the fire nation. And Azula would be more than happy to kill him just because it was fun for her. She just wanted to watch the world burn.
It was exactly what she had tried to do just a few seconds ago as they fought.
Now there she stood, with her hands in the air and her back against the wall. Nowhere to run.
Perhaps Zuko should have seen it coming. She always played tricks, there was a light in her eye and then out of nowhere she struck, it was so fast… So incredibly fast. She fired a bolt of blue lightning and hit Iroh, right in the chest sending the old man flying through the air until he slammed and rolled to a stop on the ground. It felt like Zuko had been struck himself, consumed by an ice cold pain and a wild panic.
The world stood still as Zuko saw the limp figure of Iroh who was not moving. He wasn't even making a sound. This was bad. Zuko reacted, so did the others.
Four benders aimed a simutainius attack at Azula, creating a colossal blast.
Zuko didn't even stay to see what happened to Azula. He turned around and in a wild dash, ran for Iroh. Sliding in the dirt, Zuko grabbed the man's shoulders and looked for any signs of life.
"Uncle?" he whispered fearing the worst. For almost three years, Uncle had been there for every failure and every success. When Zuko couldn't face the world, Uncle picked him up and told him to never give up without a fight. When he was angry - which was often, Uncle calmed him down, held him back or helped him to see the consequences of the choices he could make. But despite all of Zuko's failures, Uncle never gave up on him. Yes, even when Zuko told his uncle that he was leaving him behind, he never gave up. Never.
But this was an unimaginable consequence of standing up to Azula. Thinking he could win this time. His uncle being gravely injured.
Limp… his shirt burned and exposed burned flesh which stank into the air.
Zuko grabbed his hair, hissing. Yelling… This couldn't be happening!
A weak groan came from Iroh's mouth just as a shadow approached and blocked out the sun's hot rays. Zuko sharply turned around to see them approaching.
Those people! The avatar and his followers. "GET AWAY FROM US!" Zuko wildly flung his hands in the air before turning back to Iroh who still only groaned.
"Zuko I can help." The water bender girl shouted.
Zuko didn't hear her words though, he only felt the presence coming closer. The enemy is out to hurt them. He was fuelled by fear, rage and adrenaline. They were going to hurt them! Hurt his uncle whilst he is down, just like Azula!
"LEAVE!" he screamed, sending a wave of fire towards them with the swipe of an arm. The girl jumped back out of the way, the Avatar pulled her further away whilst blowing out the fire.
Zuko hugged his uncle, trying to shield him from further injury. He could feel them behind them still. The avatar, the waterbender, her Idiot brother and a stranger in earth kingdom clothing.
"Zuko -"
"Leave us alone! GET OUT OF HERE!"
"He's hurt!" The little girl then screamed. "You have to let Katara help! His heart rate is out of balance. He needs help."
"I told you to leave!" Zuko cried standing up. "Leave us alone! Go away!" he screamed again and swung with his arms sending a more intense wave of fire. Why would they stick around? Why wouldn't they Leave?
"ZUKO!" The water bender girl yelled. Breaking through Zuko's agony, he turned to her, ready to attack only to be caught by her stern blue eyes.
Her eyes kept Zuko locked into place. Her eyes were stern and determined. However, there was no hostility in her expression, shocking Zuko to the spot.
"Zuko… Listen to me." The girl spoke in a stern, strong voice. "I am a healer. Do you understand? I can heal him." she empathized. "But you have to let me do it."
Zuko violently shook his head. "No… Don't touch him… Don't… Don't hurt him." he sniffed and bawled. Zuko hated feeling weak. He hated that he was responsible for uncle's injury. He hated that he was lost and didn't know what to do. The only one who could tell him was unconscious in his arms. The tears spilled over from his eyes and he made a noise between a choke and a growl.
"Zuko. I swear." The girl held up her hand and with effort, used a softer voice. "I will not hurt your uncle. I'll do what I can to heal him. Then we'll go our separate ways and that will be it."
Zuko swallowed, his entire body shaking.
"He needs help." Katara insisted. "Who else is there to help him?" she asked. "We can't just leave him to die can we?"
Zuko gasped… Die? No no no. Iroh couldn't die! It would all be Zuko's fault if Iroh died.
Zuko looked down at Iroh's still body, the smell of the burned flesh tore into Zuko's nostrils, the wound was so deep. Going right into Iroh's stomach and Zuko swallowed bile as he stepped back… Or rather staggered back. "Please…" he asked in a broken voice. "Help… Please." and he fell down on the ground on his knees.
"You got it." Katara said without any hesitation as she ran to Iroh's body and fell down on her knees. Opening her small sack of water and started her water bending. The water spun round in a circle and glowed white.
Zuko remained on his knees, watching the girl work. His eyes wide open, not daring to look away for a single second. If it wasn't his uncle that was this badly injured, he might have found the process fascinating, but he just felt numb.
Katara frowned as she concentrated, the water going into Iroh's wound. After a tense moment, it began to close and Iroh took a deep breath at last. And after a few moments more the breaths became more easy making Zuko sigh with relief.
Katara already had deep shadows under her eyes, but kept working regardless as the skin started to heal, the wound close and then…
The water tribe girl groaned as the white showed in her eyes and she fell backwards.
"KATARA!" The water tribe boy shouted as he just managed to grab her. "Hey sis. You okay?"
"I'm…. Okay." The girl groaned. "He's out of life danger. At least for now." She said. "Sorry… I didn't get any sleep. I just need to rest then… Then." Her words slurred and faded out as her eyelids drooped.
Zuko swallowed as he still sat on his knees. Tears rolling down his face.
"He's safe for now right?" The water tribe boy asked. "Well, we need to get out of here before they send more fire nation soldiers to this place."
"But…" the water tribe girl groaned in objection.
"He's still hurt. Isn't he?" The little girl asked. "He still needs our help."
Everyone turned to Iroh still laying on the ground and then Zuko who looked up at them looking completely hopeless and broken.
Finally Aang stepped forward until he stood in front of Zuko who was still sitting on his knees.
Slowly Zuko lifted his head to face the young boy who stood right in front of him. Aang's grey eyes looked down on Zuko. They were impossible to read.
The boy frowned, a wrinkle appearing on his forehead as his eyes grew more stern.
And Zuko… Zuko was on his knees wide-eyed looking up. Waiting for the Avatars decision. He had never considered the small boy as powerful before. A nuisance maybe because he refused to be captured but now his and uncles fate rested on the decision of a boy who would one day grow to be the most powerful bender in the world.
Would he have mercy or would he… Zuko shuddered inwardly. Involuntarily Zuko's memories brought him to another place where he had also been on his knees in front of someone so much more powerful than him. Back then he had been begging for mercy. Now he knew better and had already resigned himself to his fate. Zuko lowered his head... Ready for what-ever judgement he was about to receive.
"Prince Zuko…" Aang said in a low controlled voice "I have a proposal."
Zuko gritted his teeth, but otherwise didn't move. He knew he was without power and he just had to take what was coming. So why was he shaking?
"A truce." Aang said, making Zuko's eyes widen in shock. "Come with us for now. We'll heal your uncle, and if you swear you will not hurt any of us, we swear we wont hurt you, or your uncle either. When your uncle is healed, you are free to leave and our truce is over."
Zuko was stunned quiet, had he heard correctly? Slowly... Slowly he lifted his head, wide-eyed to meet the gray eyes of the Avatar.
The Avatar - Aang looked calm though he was leaning heavily on his staff and he had shadows under his eyes like they had been up all night. Zuko's entire body was shaking however, he kept gasping for air silently, as he tried to find any meaning in all of this. There had to be another reason. No one was this … kind.
"I don't understand." Zuko gasped. "Why? Why would you even… I don't... I." he stammered.
"All life is sacred." Aang replied. "If we leave now and he dies. Then that is on our hands. Zuko…. I don't want to kill anyone."
"We are enemies in a war." Zuko pointed out, while trying to control his voice. "It is our destiny to be enemies."
"Is it really?" Aang asked. "I don't believe anyone is destined to be enemies and… Even if that was the case, You are still human. When I say all life, I do mean all life and I will stand by that until the day I die. Do you understand?"
Zuko swallowed then nodded. "I accept your terms." he said.
Aang nodded and reached forward a hand offering his hand to Zuko.
Zuko looked at Aang's outstretched hand, his body was still shaking. His entire body, it was screaming this was wrong. It wasn't what he was supposed to do! If his father saw this he would be furious. There would be no way for Zuko to recover his honour. Ever.
But as he hesitated he saw Iroh's still frame in front of him, and the wound which looked so much better now. Despite everything Zuko had done to them, they were willing to put that to one side and help him. Without them, Iroh didn't stand a chance! And uncle had to wake up. He just had to.
Finally Zuko took the Avatar's hand.
The Avatar's hand wrapped itself around Zukos. Firmly. And they shook.
"Hello Zuko." The avatar spoke as if they had never met before. "My name is Aang. And this is Katara, Sokka and Toph." he presented each of them. "Don't worry. You'll be safe. And so will your uncle. Until he is healed and the two of you will be on your way."
Zuko just simply let go of the Avatars hand and nodded in their direction. He could barely meet their eyes. They were so … so full of pity. He didn't know how to feel about this. I don't have a choice though do I uncle. "I'm going to take care of you, ok?" he whispered to his uncle as he crawled through the dirt to his side. He felt quite pathetic but he couldn't find the energy to care. The Avatar and friends had seen him cry, seen him in a blind rage caused by grief, seeing him - a Prince crawl on the dirt can't be much worse than that.
Aang nodded before stating, "I'm going to go fetch Appa. You guys stay here. Look over…" he looked at the figure on the ground. "What is his name? Your uncle?" he asked.
Zuko swallowed. "Iroh… His name is Iroh."
"Look over Iroh." Aang asked. "Make sure he's okay."
And then he flicked out his staff which folded out into a glider and he flew away.
Zuko's eyes were on Iroh's still frame and he reached out to push Iroh's hair out of his face.
There was awkward silence around the group but no one knew quite how to break the silence either. Irohs deep breaths was the only sound until a part of the building collapsed behind them sending up dust.
With his arms wrapped tightly around himself, Zuko just felt utterly helpless as he looked at Iroh's face. He tried to match his fast shallow breath to his uncle's deep steady ones.
Sokka was sitting a bit away, gently holding Katara who had passed out for good. He looked like he had a question but looked away when Zuko glanced over.
And the little girl… Toph. Was standing by herself touching her arm not knowing what to do.
Then slowly. Toph stepped closer towards Zuko. "Urhm… Hi." she spoke awkwardly. "It's going to be okay. Katara is a really good healer."
Zuko looked up, wiping tears off his face on his sleeve as he looked at the strange girl. She was new… She wasn't looking back at Zuko though. Her eyes were weird. Not looking at anything at all. They were strange and cloudy and her face was blank.
"You're…" Zuko swallowed.
"I'm Toph." Toph smiled gently.
"Blind." Zuko ended.
"Yeah. That too." Toph's lip twitched. "Don't worry. I can take care of myself."
Zuko glanced down, looking down at Iroh before returning to look at the girl- Toph. He hesitated before speaking. "How did you know that his heart rate was out of balance?"
She shrugged, "I just do. Just like I know how much your Uncle really cares about you. He wouldn't have been following you if he didnt. I can tell he is going to be ok though, as long as you let Katara fix him up. Promise me" she sounded really concerned.
Zuko said he would try, and sat questioning the existence of mind readers.
"What are you even doing out here?" Sokka finally asked from his own spot where he was holding Katara. "And wearing those clothes? Normal earth kingdom clothes? " he asked. "Why did those girls attack you…. She's your sister? Seriously? did you both get lost and not want to ask for directions too?" he asked. "Boy I know sometimes me and my sister fight but geesh that's another level. And wow, lightning, and I thought you were bad..."
Zuko turned his head away, away from Sokka. Did he never shut his mouth?
"Last time we ran into you that was…" Sokka continued with a frown. "Geesh it was at the Northern water tribe. That feels like forever ago. When you kidnapped Aang and took him to die in the blizzard. Damn I was all for leaving you out there but Mr hero had to bring you back with us didn't he"... Zuko had not forgotten that.
"... You guys killed the moon spirit!"
"I didn't!" Zuko snapped looking up. "I didn't kill the moon spirit!"
"Your people did!" Sokka replied back.
"Zhao did! And Uncle tried to stop him!" Zuko shouted back. "Which is exactly why…" he stopped.
"Why what?" Sokka asked dryly.
"Why we are fugitives… We betrayed the fire nation." Zuko whispered, hanging his head.
There was silence. Shocked silence.
"What?" Sokka asked.
"Go ahead… Laugh." Zuko hissed. "The great General Iroh and Prince Zuko. We are wanted by the fire nation. Dead or alive. Ordered by the Fire Lord." Zuko picked up a rock and tossed it at a window which smashed.
"The Fire Lord?" Sokka asked more quietly than Zuko had ever heard him before. "But you're the prince so… Your dad?" He shook his head, "that is totally messed up"-.
"Shut up." Zuko muttered.
"He's not lying." Toph informed.
"Seriously?" Sokka asked. "Okay. Listen. I have a whole lot of questions Princey. A whole lot!"
Zuko didn't reply as he was just looking down at his uncle and resisted the urge to blast the boy out of the street. A truce. Only for you uncle. Just for a day or two.
"But I suppose they can wait until later." Sokka yawned deeply. "Like after I slept for a month."
Zuko closed his eyes. Didn't reply. Just sat.
Just then, a big flying bison came from above and landed next to them all with a thud, Aang sitting on his head. "Come on hurry." Aang asked. "Let's find a place we can all sleep." he said and Zuko looked up to see that true enough, like all the others Aang looked dead on his feet.
Sokka stood up supporting Katara who looked like she could barely walk on her own and Zuko, Zuko bowed down to pick up Iroh as best he could.
In spite of Iroh's small stature, he was quite heavy and Zuko grunted. But he would not complain, not at this time as he finally managed to get Iroh up in the saddle. Then he halted as he looked up.
Sokka, Katara and Toph were already there. And they were looking down at him.
Well Katara and Sokka were anyway.
"Well. Come on then." Sokka said, offering Zuko a hand.
Zuko looked at the hand, his body was numb, his mind foggy.
"We have a truce." Sokka reminded him. "And as long as you don't break the truce. The water tribe honour prevents me from doing it too!"
Zuko frowned as he looked at the hand… Water tribe honour? Finally he reached up and accepted the hand that firmly took him and pulled Zuko up in the saddle with the others. Feeling so awkward and oddly small, he just wanted to curl together with his uncle and disappear into the bison he was sitting on.
"Come on then." Aang yawned deeply. "Yip yip."
And then… They were off. Zuko's eyes widened as they left the ground and he grabbed the saddle to keep himself in place. It felt like he had left his stomach somewhere below.
"Yeah, the first time it's a bit shocking." Sokka commented. "You get used to it though."
Wide-eyed Zuko looked up at Sokka.
"Remember." Sokka lifted a hand. "We have a truce!" he stated whilst pointing a finger at him. "We won't break the truce if you don't break the truce! But if you step out of line. One step."
Zuko sucked in a breath and then looked down at Iroh who was still laying on his back…. If he messed up they wouldn't help Iroh. That was clear… And quite fair.
Zuko closed his eyes and then nodded. "I understand." he said.
"Good." Sokka leaned back. "Then we won't have any problems will we. We'll find a spot to get some sleep. These pacifists, 'we gotta save everyone' idiots, can heal your uncle. Then we'll walk each our way and pretend this neever happened. If it sounds good to you, it sounds good to me". He yawned deeply, putting his hands behind his head and sinking into a slouch.
Zuko nodded as he pulled his knees up under his chin. "Thank you." he barely whispered.
"What was that?" Sokka asked, surprised.
Zuko closed his eyes. "Thank you." he said a little bit louder, making everyone halt stunned.
Then Katara sat up and smiled gently. "You're welcome. We weren't just going to leave him there. Right Aang?"
"No." Aang replied. "It wouldn't have been right. It's that simple" he said without turning and they kept flying across the land.