Chapter Text
The sun rose
Katara, Sokka and Aang were saying bye to Pakku, while Zuko was talking to his uncle, he put this facade up everyone could see through it but it wasn’t too clear what he was hiding. They went on the boat, nobody trusted Zuko and that did not make the fact that he was teetering on the edge of madness better.
Zuko Pov:
Departure
Why did I sign up for this? I’m a pretty shit firebender already and I’m back on a boat, which frankly instead of exploding I feel like it could fall apart or burst into flames. The chatty water tribe buy has been asking me questions since last night and I just want to dive into the waters, I don’t care if I drown, I just want to have a normal life again not go hopping from place to place whilst still looking fire nation because to nobody’s surprise besides apparently the avatars team is that no earth kingdom citizen wants to be close to the prince of the fire nation.
Afternoon:
I just got a shaving from the water tribe girl because I addressed her brother as “water tribe boy” because his name was Sokka, I don’t know what they expect? They never told me their names I just know that that girls name is Katara because of the chatterbox that I know the name of as Sokka. Goddamn it, why am I feeling nauseous, I was sailing force years I shouldn’t feel like this. I swear to god if it’s the spirit and another untold side effect I think I’d rather get a fire sage style exorcism which by the books (from a library ) is terrifying.
I feel like a freak with this thing in me and who I am on this boat
Night time:
I can’t sleep... Again
I haven’t slept since I got to the north pole which was nearly a week ago, life’s getting weirder by the day and I have an ever-growing hatred for my looks, actions and a constantly diminishing will to live.
“Hi, bitch I forgave you now do you want talk” There spirit was back and sounded like an opposite on how he was feeling
Oh god that thing is back again.
“No it’s night time and I’m in public” Zuko said
“Then go out of you little bunk and them talk to me didn’t I tolerate your weird little human body for over 6 hours just to teach you a lesson” The spirit said, Christ it was getting annoying responding to this thing
“yeah, and you didn’t have to do that you could’ve just done something with your spirit powers to intimate me” Zuko responded
“How would I have known because with my past err... Encounters with people they are much more stubborn and need a little rattle to get something in their head” the spirit said
“fine, good point you win now shut up” Zuko said
“fine, but once you’re alone you need to respond everything” the spirit at least stopped
Those were some of the most annoying five minutes of my life, now a priest would be nice.
The morning:
I have been woken up by the avatar two times last night and I don’t have the brainpower to argue with the water tribe girl... I will stand with until she earns my respect I’ll then and only then call her by her name, everyone hates me, I just got a shaving and the only person I so far partially trust is the avatar because he at least kept the security on me low
The afternoon:
I’m now on the sky bison, I think I’m going to fly off this animal if it goes fast enough I’m not sure if I’d die or I’ll just splatter on the ground because I’ve somehow survived an explosion from the help of the spirit and over 3 hours encased in ice
“Hey, sparky” Sokka called out
Again?
“what” Zuko said in a monotonous voice
“Were you bluffing when you said about the spirit things when we questioned you?”
“No, I’m not as much of a lying bastard that you think I am” Zuko said in a self-deprecating tone
Sokka looked at him sceptically
No more pov:
They landed in the earth kingdom base, Zuko was quickly put on more strict regulations, he was kept under close supervision in a room so quote on quote “He doesn’t burn the place down” like his weak red flames can burn any form of rock bigger than a pebble, at least he was alone at long last he still had an earth kingdom guard watching over him but at least they just ignored each other. He heard Aang just go hyper, Zuko thought they gave him coffee or something of the sort pretty stupid move from a ton of adults giving a 12 year an energy booster.
He slept in the dark room, the next morning he heard something.
The Avatar State
Zuko stayed in the cell he felt the earthquake, the ground sinking in, he looked out the window, and earth kingdom general was doing it. That bastard! He imposed the rules on him then he saw the man sink Katara into the earth, Zuko wasn’t fond of Katara but he was about to suffocate a 14-year-old but even he had standards, the second Katara was pulled under Aang went into the avatar state. The General was laughing like a psychopath.
After that incident they all left, the whole base was flipped upside down, guard slammed against the walls, barriers knocked over, a whole unit missing and the general continued to offer a ride to Omashu but nobody was going to trust the man he guilt tripped Aang, trapped Katara in earth which thankfully didn’t suffocate her, Sokka just didn’t trust him now and Zuko didnt want to be put in those conditions again
So they all went back on Appa and started their journey to Omashu, everyone was quiet, it was awkward. Usually at least one person was talking
Unbeknownst to Zuko he was being hunted down by Azula