Two Hearts, One Soul Chapter Seven
Title:Two Hearts, One Soul
Rating: Pg-13
Chapter: Excess of Damnation
How many times would he have to be brutally awakened by a surprise visitor? Zuko was accustomed to rising with the sun; becoming alert to even the slightest noise. These indiscretions on his part would almost be disconcerting, if not for the stress of the past couple of weeks weighing heavily on Zuko's mind. Zuko rose, and shook the fledgling nightmares from his head.
The Avatar was perched a small ball of air, calmly surveying the firebender's struggle with consciousness. His grey eyes held a mixture of amusement and curiosity, but there was something slightly off about his expression that Zuko could not place. Feeling oddly vulnerable, Zuko leaned back against the bedframe, curling his legs in and attempting to maintain as much dignity as possible in the presence of his once sworn enemy.
"Good morning," The Avatar said, his voice pitched low. The ball of air disappeared and there was a gentle click as his feet met the wooden floorboards. He looked bruised and exhausted, despite his long rest, and there was hair on his head. Zuko probably should have noted that first, but the very idea that the Avatar was in his room, standing across from him without any signs of future confrontation, was enough weirdness for Zuko to absorb.
"Hello," Zuko returned, running a hand through his own grown-out hair. Well, this was awkward.
"I suppose I should thank you," The Avatar said. "You helped us in Ba Sing Se. You might have saved our lives."
Zuko shrugged, a strange feeling coiling in his stomach at the thought of the Avatar thanking him. "I just did what my Uncle wanted. What I thought was right."
"You did do the right thing," The Avatar agreed. "I never thought I would ever forgive you for chasing us around and attempting to capture me-" Here, Zuko winced, "But your Uncle said we should give you a chance. And you did prove yourself to us. You're with us now, and I think it is the right path for you."
Well ok, not only was the Avatar forgiving and thanking him, he was now speaking with the wisdom of someone beyond his years. The strangeness of this morning fogged Zuko's brain. Really, he should be used to it by now. His life had been nothing but strange for years, but these past few minutes really trumped all of that. Zuko simply nodded to the Avatar's statement, not quite sure how to articulate a response.
"There's also something else I wanted to talk about," The Avatar continued. His voice became even lower, more like a conspirator. "It's something I think you would understand."
Understand? What could he, The Avatar, and Zuko, banished Prince of the Fire Nation and up until three weeks ago a refugee without hope, possibly have in common with the Last Airbender?
The Avatar closed his eyes, calming himself before they reopened and focused directly into the golden ones across from him. "As you know, I let the city fall."
A sense of dread crept up Zuko's spine.
"I failed my duty. I let Azula win."
"My sister is powerful and crafty. You had no idea what you were walking in to-"
"I let myself become injured. I failed to enter the Avatar state. I failed the Earth Kingdom, and-"
"Listen, Avatar-"
"No, you listen," And her Zuko went silent, in awe of the fury that he didn't know a young boy could possess, "This is my responsibility, my duty, and my fault. If I'm going to fix this, I'll have to set things right."
Well, there was no doubt about that. Zuko wasn't sure of what he was missing, but he had little time to worry about that because the Avatar was still speaking…
"I need my honor back."
0_0
Zuko sat for a long time, in that catacomb prison, contemplating his Uncle's words. His sister offered him freedom, a chance to return home. Zuko missed home so badly he ached with the need to return to it.
But Azula was also a liar. Azula could not be trusted. Zuko trusted Uncle, and Uncle wanted something completely different for him.
What was he supposed to do?
Zuko had freed the bison, the Avatar's bison, and in doing so a new clarity had hit him. Could he choose his own destiny? Could he follow a path he had not yet considered?
That scared him. It hurt to think about, and the idea of abandoning his birth right sent chills down his back. But then again, returning home had always been an abstract thought. He couldn't even imagine what it would be like now. He only vaguely remembered waking up in his own bed. His body remembered the hard pallet he had awoken from this morning. His tongue tasted the gruel his diet consisted of, and his nose smelled the air that smelled richly of soil rather than the fragrances of the palace.
He missed the sun. He missed the pond. He missed the soft grass and the blue sky above him.
But those were slipping away from him, and no matter how hard he tried to hold on he found he no longer could.
"Agni, help me," Zuko breathed.
And as he left the prison, as he headed straight towards the fight happening below, he burned all thoughts of home out of his mind.
He had his own destiny to complete.
0_0
"I need my honor back."
How many times has Zuko spoken those words? How many times had his thoughts been consumed with "I must restore my honor, I must return home, I must capture the Avatar"?
Those words did not sound right coming out of someone else's mouth. They sounded convoluted, they sounded way too much for a boy of only 12.
But he was not just some boy. He was The Avatar, and he had a duty to do.
And Zuko had no idea what he was supposed to do.
He had thrown his father's destiny for him out the window. But forging his own path was hard. Was he now supposed to follow the Avatar, or follow what he thought was right?
But what was right? Without Uncle, how was he supposed to know?
"I have to set things right. I have to do it myself. I can't hurt anyone else anymore."
Agni, why did those words sound so familiar? It was like the universe was taking all of Zuko's believes and shoving their stupidity in his face.
"Look," Zuko said, (and since when was he the voice of reason?), "You might want to think about this."
"I have, that's why I'm here. You should understand."
"I do," Zuko argued. "Trust me when I tell you, I tried to be alone for a long time."
"You had your Uncle."
"Yes, and I resented him for it, and now he's in Azula's hands and I need to help him!" Zuko hissed, the mention of Uncle caused his heart to hurt, like a vice was squeezing it straight out his chest. "Trust me, Avatar, when I tell you this. You don't know what you're saying. You don't know what you're doing."
"Trust you?" The Avatar challenged. Zuko glowered back, refusing to let this child intimidate him.
"I thought you would help me," The Avatar said.
"I am helping you, Avatar."
"Aang."
This took Zuko by surprise. "What?"
"My friends call me Aang," Said the Avatar. He turned, tossing his last words over his shoulder as he exited. "And if you won't help me, I'll restore my honor by myself."
"That's not-"Zuko tried, but the Avatar (Aang), was gone.
Zuko collapsed back on his bed, confused and a little pissed off.
Agni, irony was a bitch.
0_0
"There is no war in Ba Sing Se….here we are safe….here we are free"
"Do your duty Jet!"
He was eight, and his home was on fire, and his parents were dead. He was running, running far in to the forest, his little feet carrying him as he stumbled over branches and rocks. Tears ran down his face, obscuring his vision. His breath came in spurts, his mind full of dark thoughts.
He hated them. He hated the Fire Nation.
They were all bastards, all horrible people. The destruction they caused sickened him.
He wanted them dead. He wanted to defeat them.
He was eight, but he was very, very smart.
He was charismatic.
He had followers, had survival skill, he had a plan.
He was eight, and he was ready to fight.
"Foolish boy, you have chosen your own demise."
Jet awoke with a start, moonlight streaming in through his window. Sweat dripped down his face and his back was sticking to the sheets. His blanket was in a twisted mess on the floor, and his face was wet from tears.
It took him several minutes to calm down as his thoughts swirled angrily in his head.
Spirits, there was no way he could sleep now.
Rising Jet padded to the door, the floors barely creaking below his expert feet. He pulled it open and swiftly moved down the hall.
His mind chose not to decide the destination, but it didn't matter. The rest of him already knew where he was headed.
The door to the Li's (Zuko's) room opened quietly. The soft breathing of the boy could be heard as Jet stepped through the entryway and neared the bed.
Zuko lay on his stomach, arm thrown over his head. From this angle his scar was obscured. Jet stepped closer, not quite sure of his intentions, and one golden eye snapped open.
The calm breathing ended, and Jet saw Zuko's fist clench. Jet stepped closer in to view.
Zuko started, bolting straight up and would have gotten out of the bed if Jet hadn't laid a light hand on his shoulder. Zuko stilled his breathing very audible, as his eyes narrowed in confusion.
Jet put his finger to his lips. "Shhh," he whispered, and Zuko complied, yet remained stiff under Jet's hand. The Freedom Fighter leaned forward, his rough hair brushing the pale skin of Zuko's forehead.
And then his lips pressed, lightly at first, but then his tongue aggressively captured Zuko's, as surprise weakened the prince's defenses. Jet gripped the skin of his shoulder and would a hand through the other's hair, holding him there as he deepened the kiss, tongue plundering rather than teasing.
He tasted like Li. He was Li, but he wasn't.
He pressed further, taking in the soft noise Zuko made as his teeth scraped the boy's bottom lip. He wanted him, wanted possess him; to destroy him. No not destroy, he could never destroy, because Jet wanted more.
Finally, when Jet couldn't breathe, he pulled back. Zuko opened his mouth, words just starting to form, but Jet should his head.
And he walked away without saying anything further.
0_0
In the morning, the Avatar was gone.
Rating: Pg-13
Chapter: Excess of Damnation
How many times would he have to be brutally awakened by a surprise visitor? Zuko was accustomed to rising with the sun; becoming alert to even the slightest noise. These indiscretions on his part would almost be disconcerting, if not for the stress of the past couple of weeks weighing heavily on Zuko's mind. Zuko rose, and shook the fledgling nightmares from his head.
The Avatar was perched a small ball of air, calmly surveying the firebender's struggle with consciousness. His grey eyes held a mixture of amusement and curiosity, but there was something slightly off about his expression that Zuko could not place. Feeling oddly vulnerable, Zuko leaned back against the bedframe, curling his legs in and attempting to maintain as much dignity as possible in the presence of his once sworn enemy.
"Good morning," The Avatar said, his voice pitched low. The ball of air disappeared and there was a gentle click as his feet met the wooden floorboards. He looked bruised and exhausted, despite his long rest, and there was hair on his head. Zuko probably should have noted that first, but the very idea that the Avatar was in his room, standing across from him without any signs of future confrontation, was enough weirdness for Zuko to absorb.
"Hello," Zuko returned, running a hand through his own grown-out hair. Well, this was awkward.
"I suppose I should thank you," The Avatar said. "You helped us in Ba Sing Se. You might have saved our lives."
Zuko shrugged, a strange feeling coiling in his stomach at the thought of the Avatar thanking him. "I just did what my Uncle wanted. What I thought was right."
"You did do the right thing," The Avatar agreed. "I never thought I would ever forgive you for chasing us around and attempting to capture me-" Here, Zuko winced, "But your Uncle said we should give you a chance. And you did prove yourself to us. You're with us now, and I think it is the right path for you."
Well ok, not only was the Avatar forgiving and thanking him, he was now speaking with the wisdom of someone beyond his years. The strangeness of this morning fogged Zuko's brain. Really, he should be used to it by now. His life had been nothing but strange for years, but these past few minutes really trumped all of that. Zuko simply nodded to the Avatar's statement, not quite sure how to articulate a response.
"There's also something else I wanted to talk about," The Avatar continued. His voice became even lower, more like a conspirator. "It's something I think you would understand."
Understand? What could he, The Avatar, and Zuko, banished Prince of the Fire Nation and up until three weeks ago a refugee without hope, possibly have in common with the Last Airbender?
The Avatar closed his eyes, calming himself before they reopened and focused directly into the golden ones across from him. "As you know, I let the city fall."
A sense of dread crept up Zuko's spine.
"I failed my duty. I let Azula win."
"My sister is powerful and crafty. You had no idea what you were walking in to-"
"I let myself become injured. I failed to enter the Avatar state. I failed the Earth Kingdom, and-"
"Listen, Avatar-"
"No, you listen," And her Zuko went silent, in awe of the fury that he didn't know a young boy could possess, "This is my responsibility, my duty, and my fault. If I'm going to fix this, I'll have to set things right."
Well, there was no doubt about that. Zuko wasn't sure of what he was missing, but he had little time to worry about that because the Avatar was still speaking…
"I need my honor back."
0_0
Zuko sat for a long time, in that catacomb prison, contemplating his Uncle's words. His sister offered him freedom, a chance to return home. Zuko missed home so badly he ached with the need to return to it.
But Azula was also a liar. Azula could not be trusted. Zuko trusted Uncle, and Uncle wanted something completely different for him.
What was he supposed to do?
Zuko had freed the bison, the Avatar's bison, and in doing so a new clarity had hit him. Could he choose his own destiny? Could he follow a path he had not yet considered?
That scared him. It hurt to think about, and the idea of abandoning his birth right sent chills down his back. But then again, returning home had always been an abstract thought. He couldn't even imagine what it would be like now. He only vaguely remembered waking up in his own bed. His body remembered the hard pallet he had awoken from this morning. His tongue tasted the gruel his diet consisted of, and his nose smelled the air that smelled richly of soil rather than the fragrances of the palace.
He missed the sun. He missed the pond. He missed the soft grass and the blue sky above him.
But those were slipping away from him, and no matter how hard he tried to hold on he found he no longer could.
"Agni, help me," Zuko breathed.
And as he left the prison, as he headed straight towards the fight happening below, he burned all thoughts of home out of his mind.
He had his own destiny to complete.
0_0
"I need my honor back."
How many times has Zuko spoken those words? How many times had his thoughts been consumed with "I must restore my honor, I must return home, I must capture the Avatar"?
Those words did not sound right coming out of someone else's mouth. They sounded convoluted, they sounded way too much for a boy of only 12.
But he was not just some boy. He was The Avatar, and he had a duty to do.
And Zuko had no idea what he was supposed to do.
He had thrown his father's destiny for him out the window. But forging his own path was hard. Was he now supposed to follow the Avatar, or follow what he thought was right?
But what was right? Without Uncle, how was he supposed to know?
"I have to set things right. I have to do it myself. I can't hurt anyone else anymore."
Agni, why did those words sound so familiar? It was like the universe was taking all of Zuko's believes and shoving their stupidity in his face.
"Look," Zuko said, (and since when was he the voice of reason?), "You might want to think about this."
"I have, that's why I'm here. You should understand."
"I do," Zuko argued. "Trust me when I tell you, I tried to be alone for a long time."
"You had your Uncle."
"Yes, and I resented him for it, and now he's in Azula's hands and I need to help him!" Zuko hissed, the mention of Uncle caused his heart to hurt, like a vice was squeezing it straight out his chest. "Trust me, Avatar, when I tell you this. You don't know what you're saying. You don't know what you're doing."
"Trust you?" The Avatar challenged. Zuko glowered back, refusing to let this child intimidate him.
"I thought you would help me," The Avatar said.
"I am helping you, Avatar."
"Aang."
This took Zuko by surprise. "What?"
"My friends call me Aang," Said the Avatar. He turned, tossing his last words over his shoulder as he exited. "And if you won't help me, I'll restore my honor by myself."
"That's not-"Zuko tried, but the Avatar (Aang), was gone.
Zuko collapsed back on his bed, confused and a little pissed off.
Agni, irony was a bitch.
0_0
"There is no war in Ba Sing Se….here we are safe….here we are free"
"Do your duty Jet!"
He was eight, and his home was on fire, and his parents were dead. He was running, running far in to the forest, his little feet carrying him as he stumbled over branches and rocks. Tears ran down his face, obscuring his vision. His breath came in spurts, his mind full of dark thoughts.
He hated them. He hated the Fire Nation.
They were all bastards, all horrible people. The destruction they caused sickened him.
He wanted them dead. He wanted to defeat them.
He was eight, but he was very, very smart.
He was charismatic.
He had followers, had survival skill, he had a plan.
He was eight, and he was ready to fight.
"Foolish boy, you have chosen your own demise."
Jet awoke with a start, moonlight streaming in through his window. Sweat dripped down his face and his back was sticking to the sheets. His blanket was in a twisted mess on the floor, and his face was wet from tears.
It took him several minutes to calm down as his thoughts swirled angrily in his head.
Spirits, there was no way he could sleep now.
Rising Jet padded to the door, the floors barely creaking below his expert feet. He pulled it open and swiftly moved down the hall.
His mind chose not to decide the destination, but it didn't matter. The rest of him already knew where he was headed.
The door to the Li's (Zuko's) room opened quietly. The soft breathing of the boy could be heard as Jet stepped through the entryway and neared the bed.
Zuko lay on his stomach, arm thrown over his head. From this angle his scar was obscured. Jet stepped closer, not quite sure of his intentions, and one golden eye snapped open.
The calm breathing ended, and Jet saw Zuko's fist clench. Jet stepped closer in to view.
Zuko started, bolting straight up and would have gotten out of the bed if Jet hadn't laid a light hand on his shoulder. Zuko stilled his breathing very audible, as his eyes narrowed in confusion.
Jet put his finger to his lips. "Shhh," he whispered, and Zuko complied, yet remained stiff under Jet's hand. The Freedom Fighter leaned forward, his rough hair brushing the pale skin of Zuko's forehead.
And then his lips pressed, lightly at first, but then his tongue aggressively captured Zuko's, as surprise weakened the prince's defenses. Jet gripped the skin of his shoulder and would a hand through the other's hair, holding him there as he deepened the kiss, tongue plundering rather than teasing.
He tasted like Li. He was Li, but he wasn't.
He pressed further, taking in the soft noise Zuko made as his teeth scraped the boy's bottom lip. He wanted him, wanted possess him; to destroy him. No not destroy, he could never destroy, because Jet wanted more.
Finally, when Jet couldn't breathe, he pulled back. Zuko opened his mouth, words just starting to form, but Jet should his head.
And he walked away without saying anything further.
0_0
In the morning, the Avatar was gone.