Chapter Text
Zuko realized the next day, after his escape from Gaoling, that he hadn't brought his travel bag. He had no weapons other than those he had hidden in his pockets, no water, his canteen had been left hanging from his travel bag, and no money beyond what he had left after buying the dim sum. Without money, he also had no food or transportation. And if he could get food, which was difficult given the long distances between the small villages, he had to make sure it wasn't too much, as it would be a burden to carry in the semi-desert environment where carrying his own weight was already tiring.
It was the fourth day after his escape, the sun burning his back even through the fabric. At least he wasn't sweating enough to make the fabric stick to his skin, making everything uncomfortable inside. Well, it wasn't like he could sweat much with the lack of water in his body, and although the improvised turban made from one of the layers of his robes was suffocating him, it had done its job, protecting his head, face, and neck, except for his eyes, to avoid a direct hit from the sun that could make him faint, leaving him unprotected in the open air.
Though he might as well have been merely prolonging an inevitable death.
If it weren't for the fact that he was already halfway between Gaoling and the Valu River gates, or at least Zuko hoped he was halfway there, he would have turned around and headed for Liang's house instead of going directly for June.
Zuko's stomach growled, complaining of the lack of food, pulling him out of his thoughts, or perhaps from how exhausted he was. Perhaps he should have taken more than a couple of hours the previous nights instead of trying to gain more ground. Now, closing his eyes and resting sounded so tempting with how exhausted his body was. Maybe he could doze off a little while he walked; he'd seen soldiers do it several times, and Sokka did it almost every day they trained.
- I didn't knew he was a firebender! - Sokka shouted to his sister, while giving his back to Zuko as he winced in pain, trying to get out of his sleeping bag.
- But you did knew he was from the Fire Nation! - Katara shouted back.
Zuko's eyes snapped open, and he shook his head, trying to shake off the sleepy memories so he could keep walking.
- Tell us who you are and how you got into our fortress - General Shai growled, grabbing him by the collar of his robes. Commander Rangi stared in awe at the boy, just as she had since the soldiers dragged him into the office, claiming he was the same intruder who had breached their walls the previous nights.
He stumbled and fell to the ground, jolted out of his reverie as his knees dug painfully into the earth and his hands scraped against the hot ground, breaking his skin. Zuko groaned, forcing himself to his feet and waiting for the next crossroads that would tell him which way to go to reach the nearest village before he collapsed completely in the middle of the wasteland.
- I know you can't tell us your real name - June's father murmured, watching his daughter and their pet train the tracking abilities of the beast, which was then barely half the size it would reach in a couple of years - or your story, but how can you assure us that we can trust you if we don't know who you are? - The boy, with bandages still covering his left eye, frowned, lowering his gaze, unsure how to respond. - Do you at least know who you are? -
Zuko's body collapsed, exhausted and lifeless, beside a river after desperately drinking from it. It was unhygienic, and he would most likely end up sick, but at least he wouldn't be dying of slow and painful dehydration until he was completely drained. The water hadn't quelled his hunger, nor had it quelled the rumbling in his stomach, which resumed at the smell of cooked meat, waking him only to find a man and his pregnant wife walking away in the distance. A small wrapped package lay beside him, containing a piece of still-warm meat, which the teenager quickly devoured. Part of him told him not to eat something offered by strangers, while another part warned him that he was letting his ability to react slip away if he hadn't heard them approach or leave him something. Zuko ignored both voices and continued on his way.
The shadow of a woman all too familiar to Zuko moved away from him with an apologetic and worried look as she lifted her dark maroon hood, turning around to disappear into the shadows of the night.
Zuko opened his eyes, gasping, from his nightmares. He kept walking, lifting his head to see a small village in the distance, standing alone in the middle of nowhere. The houses were destroyed or abandoned, completely neglected, but still inhabited, and still had food for Zuko to buy.
As soon as he entered, he noticed the village was also home to soldiers. They looked at him disapprovingly when they noticed the color of his eyes, whispering amongst themselves as they quickly checked him over to see if he posed a threat. Zuko had no intention of fighting anyone, and he doubted he could do anything in his condition, but he knew better than to show any sign of weakness to men who would clearly take advantage of it. He didn't look away until he had to approach the nearest man with sacks of food.
- could I get some water, food, or something hot to eat - he wrote on the dusty counter as he took out half of what little money he had left. He couldn't spend it all when he still had days of travel ahead of him.
- not enough here for a hot meal - the man shook his head, looking apologetically at the pale teenager. Zuko didn't want to cause anyone any pity, but in his condition, there was no point in fighting over it. - I can give you two bags of food. -
- I won't be able to carry them. -
- I'll give you one bag then. It won't weigh much, and you'll have food for a day or two. - The golden eyed man nodded in agreement, handing him a couple of coins. The man disappeared inside his shop, presumably in search of the bag of food, while two children took the opportunity to slip past the counter, laughing to each other before throwing an egg at one of the soldiers' heads.
Well, that was a waste of food.
The soldiers stood up growling furiously as the children disappeared, worried about the possible punishments for their pranks. Zuko wouldn't lie, if he were the children's age, with five soldiers growling menacingly over a small prank, he would also be terrified. Yes, nobody would like to have eggs thrown at them, but that didn't justify growling like a beast that would be ready to break the bones of small children with blows for the affront.
- Hey - called one of the soldiers, a receding hairline on the top of his head but with long hair on the remaining strands, and a goatee-like beard with no hair above his upper lip except at the sides. His muddy green eyes didn't inspire any confidence in Zuko or anyone else in the village, if the way they avoided looking at him meant anything. He had a wide nose, broken in two places. He wore a thick metal belt, carried two warhammers, and had an extra piece of cloth draped over his shoulders in a darker green than the village uniform. Perhaps it was meant to signify a position of greater strength, Zuko surmised, seeing how the other soldiers seemed to follow the one with the hammers as their leader. - you throwing eggs at us, stranger? -
Zuko shook his head, still not bothering to look at him, but quickly took stock of the weapons he had. Given his poor condition, the golden-eyed man would hardly be able to hold his own in a fight.
- What, you can't answer because you're scared, pretty boy? - another soldier asked mockingly. Zuko turned his head slightly in their direction, revealing his scar, while still giving them a murderous glare. The glint of one of the knives hidden in his clothing made the soldier and his companions back in fear, except for the one with the warhammers, who visibly tensed but remained in his place.
- you see who did threw it? - the higher ranking soldier asked again. Zuko shook his head once more as the man looked around, searching for the culprit. - it had to come from somewhere -
"Maybe a chicken flew over" Zuko signed, not caring that the soldiers most likely wouldn't understand him. This was confirmed when he noticed the confused looks exchanged between the soldiers before they stopped bothering him. The man from the shop came out with his bag of food, and the higher ranking soldier stepped in, grabbing the bag before Zuko could reach it and throwing it at one of the soldiers.
- Thanks for your contribution, the army appreciates your support - the man growled boastfully, quickly moving out of Zuko’s reach. The trained eye of the former archer Yuyan recognized this as a show of power to mask the man’s true cowardice. It was no surprise; Zuko had learned long ago that cowards stole from those powerless to stop them. - You better leave town - the man continued, turning to face the pale teenager, his posture and words a threat. -penalty for staying is a lot steeper - He slapped his warhammers together. - trust me -
- those soldiers are supposed to protect us from the Fire Nation - the vendor remarked behind him as the soldiers walked away laughing and shoving each other as if they had just pulled off a great feat by stealing someone’s food. - But they’re just a bunch of thugs -
Zuko's blood boiled as he recognized the group's attitude as the same as the soldiers who had tried to rob Liang shortly after she'd rescued him, badly wounded and near death, from the forest as he escaped the Fire Nation. He knew it was a bad idea without the Blue Spirit Mask, but the golden eyed man couldn't help but consider attacking the group of thugs to give them a taste of their own medicine and reclaim the village supplies they were hoarding for themselves.
A growl in his stomach reminded him that he wasn't in any condition for a fight, much less a theatrical attack where he'd end up carrying several heavy bags back to the village.
- Thanks for not ratting me out - one of the children who had thrown the egg blurted out, running alongside Zuko as he started walking toward the village fountain to get a drink before leaving. The golden eyed man only glanced at him quickly without breaking stride, only for the child to run up in front of him, grinning from his recently fallen baby teeth, and grab the elbow of his robes, pulling him in another direction. - The well at my house is better, and it's also right outside the village, so you won't have to go out of your way. - Zuko opened his mouth to refuse, forgetting his promise to himself not to speak, only for the child to rush ahead, preventing him from making a sound. - Come on, I owe you -
According to Zuko himself, he had done nothing more than maintain his silence and divert the soldiers' attention, but if it meant getting clean, cold water, if it came from a well, even in the wastelands, it had to be cold, he wasn't going to complain.
They didn't take long to reach a farm on the outskirts of town, along a road parallel to the exit but which rejoined it shortly after. The farm was teeming with various crossbreeds of pigs and other animals, mainly cow pigs and sheep pigs, with a couple of deer-pigs mixed in. They were all excessively noisy, which quickly caught the teenager's attention. He stared at them long enough to be caught by the Earth Kingdom boy.
- nno one ever sneak up on us - the boy remarked, turning back to Zuko, who nodded in agreement. - You don't talk much, do you? -
The golden eyed boy raised his hand, intending to point to his throat and shake his head at what he'd learned most people recognized as a speech impediment, only to be interrupted by a clucking sound behind him. He turned to find a rooster-pig perched on a wooden post, staring directly at him.
- you a friend of Lee's? - asked a man with skin tanned from hard work under the blazing sun, his dark hair streaked with gray tied in a high, untidy bun, his face weary with wrinkles and signs of age, and patches of dirt and dust clinging to his body and worn clothes. He approached the boy, who was standing a few steps from the house's entrance, his expression a mixture of concern for the teenager's well-being and the distrust of someone who had encountered all sorts of dangerous people and situations throughout his life.
- this guy just stood up to the soldiers - the boy, Lee, nodded animatedly beside him, as a woman peeked out from behind the house before deciding to approach the man Zuko assumed was Lee's father and the woman's husband. - by the end, he practically had them running away. -
- does this guy have a name? - the woman asked gently, drying her hands on a rag as she reached the man.
Zuko lowered his head, unsure how to respond without speaking, or even if he should respond at all. While these people seemed friendly, he wasn't sure he should give them a name that could help them track June and her family. Besides, Lee was already the boy's name, and no matter how common it was, he couldn't repeat it without it sounding fake, or at least without it sounding fake to him.
- he doesn't have to say who he is if he doesn't want to, Sela - the man said, taking the burden of the answer off his shoulders a little too obviously, but that didn't diminish Zuko's gratitude. - Anyone who can hold his own against those bully soldiers is welcome here - the man declared, placing his arms familiarly around his wife and son's shoulders. - Those men should be ashamed to wear Earth Kingdom uniforms. -
- The real soldiers are off fighting in the war - the woman declared, giving her son a loving smile, which he returned with a look. - Like Lee’s big brother, Sen su - Zuko’s chest tightened painfully, remembering that he had had someone he considered a brother fighting in the war. Lu Ten never returned, but he prayed to the spirits that the young man missing from this family would, or else he would break the hearts of such kind people. - Supper’s going to be ready soon - Sela tried to quickly change the subject, aware of the pain her words caused the family. - Would you like to stay? - Zuko shook his head before gesturing toward the path, earning puzzled looks from the two men of the family and a sympathetic one from the woman. - Gansu could use some help ont the barn. Why don’t you two work for a while and then we’ll eat? -
The pale teenager nodded in agreement. He didn't want to be given food out of pity, as if he were no longer a beggar at their door asking for something that was clearly scarce in the village. But if it was payment for his work, Zuko would accept without hesitation, even though that work turned out to be fixing the stable roof. Zuko wasn't exactly good with construction tools, having never had to repair anything beyond weapons at Pohuai Fortress or clothing at Katara's instruction, since no one else in the group seemed willing to help her. With that in mind, no one had the right to tell the former prince that he was doing a terrible job on the roof. But Gansu, Lee's father, didn't hold it against him; instead, he gave him pointers on how to improve.
- You don’t seem like you’re from around here - And while Gansu only spoke to give those specific directions, his son spoke for all three of them from the wooden stairs leaning against the building. Zuko made a sound of denial, having given up several minutes ago on having to answer the boy, though even if he didn't, the boy would move on to the next question, still enthusiastic. - where are you from then? . Zuko gestured into the distance, an ambiguous answer that didn't discourage the boy. - where are you going? -
- Lee - Gansu scolded - give it a rest, stop asking the man personal questions, got it? -
- Uhhh, yes - the boy agreed before raising his head again with interest. - so how’d you get that scar? - The question took Zuko by surprise, hardly anyone had the courage to ask it, much less directly, causing him to accidentally catch his thumb in the path of the hammer.
- It's not nice to bother people about things they might not want to talk about. This man's past is his business. - With that statement, the conversation ended, and the boy pouted as he headed back home, only to return minutes later announcing that lunch was ready. His intention to ask all sorts of questions was obvious even from that distance, but a look from his father made him change the subject at the last minute. He started chatting about his mischief with the pig hybrids throughout lunch, after his father and Zuko returned to work. During a quick evening snack before Gansu took the boy to bed, he told the teenager that, given how late it was, it would be best if he rested that night in his newly fixed stable and set off tomorrow with some bread and leftover snack.
The former Fire Nation prince accepted the humble offer from the Earth Kingdom farmers and settled down for the night, overcome by exhaustion the moment he struck the hay, drifting into a world of dreams and memories of someone he had ceased to be many years ago.
The duck turtle pond was one of Zuko's mother's favorite places, and for the same reason, besides, of course, the adorable animals, it had also become one of Zuko's favorite places in his short ten years. Sitting in the shade of the large tree with his mother, watching the long stretches of the well-kept garden and the peaceful animals frolicking in the calm waters, had become one of his favorite activities, along with secretly practicing with Master Piandao, playing with Azula and her friends when they were free from their horrible governesses, listening to Uncle Iroh's stories while sipping on his strange concoctions of fallen leaves, or excitedly following Lu Ten around the palace on his duties as the future crown prince.
- hey, mom! - Zuko called excitedly to get his mother's attention, who was currently focused on feeding the small turtle ducks with pieces of a large loaf of bread. - want to see how Azula feeds the turtle ducks? -
Without much thought, Zuko grabbed the entire loaf of bread in both hands and threw it with all his might at the nearest turtle duck, just as Azula had done a few days earlier when she was playing with the same animals. Back then, the loaf hadn't even reached the turtle ducks, who had swung away. His sister arrived, demanding he play with him, to which her twin had replied that he would as soon as he finished feeding them. The loaf had sunk into the water before resurfacing, with the mother turtle duck approaching to quickly snatch it away. It had been a quick way to feed the turtle ducks, and Zuko and Azula had spent the rest of the afternoon playing and stealing cakes from the kitchen. But this time, the little turtle duck didn't run away; instead, it approached the boy, unaware of the danger, until the entire loaf fell on top of it, violently submerging it, much to Zuko's dismay.
- Zuko! Why would you do that? - exclaimed his mother, utterly shocked by his actions, before turning to look at him disapprovingly.
The boy blinked, staring at the now empty space where the little turtle duck had been, not understanding what had happened and worried about the animal's absence, until it came back out of the water, shaking its head and blinking in Zuko's direction as if they shared the same dismay, neither of them understanding what had happened. The mother turtle duck, on the other hand, seemed to understand when she approached her baby, checking that it was alright before giving it a little nudge with her head so that it would swim in another direction, while she swam directly towards Zuko, who thought the animal was approaching for affection until it lunged at his leg, biting it.
- Ahhh! Ouh! Ouh! - the boy cried out, quickly lifting his leg to free himself from the animal, which held on resolutely even though it meant dangling several centimeters above the water, its legs flailing desperately. The boy's mother rushed to grab the mother turtle duck and pull her away from her son, returning her to the water with her babies, who were watching the scene intently. The mother turtle duck swam away, quacking angrily and calling to her babies to follow her to the other side of the pond, which the little animals readily did, quacking happily behind their mother. - Stupid turtle duck - Zuko grumbled, hugging his legs with a grimace of annoyance at the attack and departure of the turtle ducks. - Why’d she do that? -
- Zuko - his mother called, approaching and sitting beside him with the elegance of a royal lady. - That's what mothers are like - she began, putting her arm around the boy's shoulders. - If you mess with their babies, argh! - She lunged at him, making a biting gesture that made her son giggle. - They're gonna bite you back - she declared, shielding him with an arm around his shoulders. They stayed embraced until they decided to go for a small afternoon snack of tea and pastries.
- Azula! - The younger prince of the Fire Nation heard one of his sister's friends shout her name. His eyes darted up, searching for the source of the sound, hoping to find his sister too, even though he knew that in the company of her alpha friends, they wouldn't let him play. It wasn't as if Zuko could ever play; with how bad he was at firebending, he had to train in every little space he had, and that was just another reason why he had no friends beyond Lu Ten and Azula, and both of them were family.
Azula's eyes met Zuko's in the distance. She glanced quickly at her two friends before whispering to Ty Lee and running toward her brother.
- Mom! - Azula called, running toward Zuko and their mother. - Can you make Zuko play with us? - she asked innocently. - We need equal teams to play a game. -
- Can I come, Mom? - Zuko asked immediately, turning to his mother with a hopeful smile.
- As long as it's not dangerous - Ursa agreed, stroking her son's head but watching her daughter closely, fearful of what she might want to play. Azula had told Zuko that his mother believed he was a monster several months ago, and although Zuko had never seen his mother treat Azula as one and didn't understand why anyone would think she was a monster, he completely believed his sister. Azula might be a master of lies, but she had promised Zuko she would never lie to him, so Zuko could trust her word, always. - Just for a little while - his mother said as a last thought before turning and continuing on her way.
- here’s the way it goes - Azula said, taking an apple and leading Mai a few steps toward the fountain. She placed an apple on her head and ran back to the other children. - now what you do is try to knock the apple off the other pearson's head. - She shot a burst of fire, igniting the apple but not quite bringing it down. - Like this - Zuko's eyes widened in concern as he watched the flames descend toward Mai's head. Surprised and frightened, she watched the fire getting closer and closer. Her hair would soon catch fire, and then she herself would be burned, Zuko thought terrified. He ran toward her to throw the apple into the fountain, extinguishing the flames, but misjudging the throw, he ended up knocking Mai over and falling into the water with her. - see, I told you it would work - Azula said.
- they’re so cute together - Zuko turned his head from the water toward Azula and Ty Lee, who was talking, annoyed at the thought that it had all been a prank to get them wet. Ty Lee was teasing them about Mai's father's proposal of a future marriage between Zuko and Mai. Mai blushed and looked away, which the boy noticed. He quickly assumed she was angry with him now, and grumbling, he stood up and stomped out of the fountain.
- You two are such... - the omega began to hear behind him, only prompted to walk faster to avoid hearing the girl complaining about him. He fixed his gaze ahead, quickly noticing his mother approaching with a gentle smile.
- I was just coming to get you. Uncle Iroh sent us a letter from the war front... - Lady Ursa stopped abruptly to look at her son in surprise. - You're soaking wet. -
- Zuzu! - Azula called, running toward her brother and stopping when she saw her mother.
- I said nothing dangerous, Azula - Ursa scolded before gesturing to the servants to bring a towel, which she quickly wrapped around the boy's shoulders. - Come here, both of you. Uncle Iroh sent you gifts. -
Azula approached her mother and brother, intending to walk beside them, quickly checking Zuko for injuries. However, Ursa pulled her to her other side, placing herself between them. The girl pouted in annoyance, quickly hiding it with a huff.
The children's mother read the letter containing Uncle Iroh's stories from the walls of Ba Sing Se before gesturing to the servants carrying the wrapped packages of Uncle Iroh's gifts. - For Azula, a paper koi elephant kite to grow as big as your heart desires. - Azula took out the kite, making a face at Zuko, who knew his sister's aversion to fish and to having to handle fragile things like paper. - And for Zuko, a new friend. - Zuko took a doll with outlandish clothes and a finely carved wooden face covered in paint that resembled makeup. The boy hid his grimace with an awkward smile, which his sister read all too well, giving the toy a disapproving look for not being to her brother's taste. - he wears the latest fashion among the omegas of the Earth Kingdom. -
- How lovely - Zuko said, earning a huff from his sister as the servants moved away, giving them some privacy.
- It's awful - she grumbled before turning to her mother, clutching her own gift by one end as if it were something unpleasant unworthy of her touch. - If Uncle doesn't make it back from war, then dad would be the next in line to be Fire Lord, wouldn't he? -
- Azula, we don’t speak that way - Ursa quickly denied. - It would be awful if Uncle Iroh didn't return, and besides, Azulon... - The woman cleared her throat to correct her mistake, - the Fire Lord Azulon is a picture of health. -
- How would you like it if Cousin Lu Ten wanted dad to die? - Zuko asked, agreeing with his mother. Besides, Uncle Iroh was fun. Zuko hoped he would live for many years and return soon with Cousin Lu Ten. He missed them both. Why did they have to go to war?
- I still think our dad would make a much better Fire Lord than his royal, tea loving kookyness - Azula declared before twirling the kite in her hands, setting it ablaze, and throwing it to the ground in disgust.
Zuko sometimes wondered if, in his father's eyes, Zuko was as disgusting as that kite was to Azula, because just like the paper toy, he had burned him and carelessly discarded him to a death he himself had orchestrated.