Chapter Text
Zuko did not feel good, hell, he didn't even have any appetite for dinner, went straight to bed when it hit nightfall, didn't even tell Aang to do some extra katas before bed....it was odd, even Katara, who normally would only glare at him, looked at the scarred teen with a confused look, before looking at Aang's worried eyes.
"Do you think Zuko's okay? He hasn't really said anything since he and Sokka got back."
"I'm sure he's fine Aang. Probably tired from our prison break–rescue mission." Honestly it sounded more like Sokka was trying to reassure himself more then anyone.
...☆
The next day rolled around, and Aang woke up on his own....odd.. normally Zuko would wake him up while talking about "Firebenders rise with the sun!" Aang couldn't tell if he was worried or glad he got to sleep in for once.
.☆
Suki and Katara were chatting while Katara tried her hardest not to laugh about that Sokka had worn a dress once. Serves him right! Then, Toph suddenly spoke up, sounding annoyed.
"Eugh! anyone else smell that? It's like i'm getting too close to a sauna or something!"
Katara took a good whiff of the air, it did smell like a sauna. Even Aang looked puzzled, before the sarcasm and meat guy spoke up.
"Uhm...guys, why is there steam coming out of Zuko's room..?" Katara looked pissed. Assuming the worst as she stomped to Zuko's room.
"Ugh! is that stuck up prince missing his lavish lifestyle so much, that he makes his room a sauna?! Not on my watch!" The others followed her in curiosity over to Zuko's room, as Katara knocked loudly on his door. "Zuko! you can't just turn your room into a sauna! i don't care if you think you're entitled to it!"
No answer.
"Open up, jerk face!"
Still no answer, a mere mumble was heard from the otherside.
"Ugh! That's it! I'm opening this door, whether you like it or not!"
Katara tried opening the door....surprisingly, it was unlocked.
As soon as the door swung open, a large cloud of steam poured out, as the group gave eachother confused glances —besides Toph, that is.— Katara only seemed more annoyed. "Aang, mind airbending the steam out??"
"Oh– uh, sure!"
With that, Aang let a gust of wind blow away the steam, as the group stepped into the room, only to be met with not a self-made sauna, but a pale looking Zuko, curled up into a ball, eyes tightly shut, with steam coming off of him. Aang looked worried, well, everyone did, but still. "Uh oh...i think he's sick..."
"That much was obvious, Twinkletoes."
Suki giggled at the nickname, before speaking up. "Still doesn't explain why steam is coming off of him."
"I know why! Kuzon's mom was a healer, and told me and Kuzon all kinds of things! And when sometimes when firebenders get a fever, their....inner flame...i believe it's called that... starts working overdrive! And so their body heat gets so hot that it evaporates the sweat as soon as their body produces it, so it's best not to—"
Then, a loud yelp of pain was heard from Sokka — who had touched Zuko's forehead, getting slightly burned in the process— cutting off Aang's sentence.
"—touch him.....because that'll happen."
"OW!! Tui and La! He's boiling hot!" Sokka sulked as he nursed his wounded hand, luckily it wasn't a serious burn enough to scar. Katara meanwhile, rolled her eyes. "Sokka, go put your hand under cold water, i'll try to cool Zuko down. Suki, Aang, get some water from the fountain please, Toph, please stay here." Suki and Aang swiftly made their way out of the room, on their way to the fountain. So, when Katara and Toph were alone with the overheating firebender, Katara bended out the water from her pouch, and tried to cool him off...only for the water to evaporate, turning into a cloud of steam. Huh. Okay.. Katara gave a confused look, surprised by her failure, but the sound of Suki and Aang walking in, holding a few buckets of water with them, snapped her out of her daze. Aang merely smiled brightly at her, only for Sokka to barge in.
"Soooo....what's the plan..?"
"The plan is, Sokka, that we put Zuko in a bath or something, i tried to bend the water onto his skin, to cool him off, but it— it just...evaporated! So maybe a bath might just be better."
"Well, you heard sugarqueen! Chop chop ya lazy bums!" Before someone could even utter a protest, or a mere word, for that matter. Toph earthbended a shape that resembled a tub, Aang airbended Zuko up into, only for Zuko to land awkwardly, making the unconscious teen to groan slightly in pain, but he didn't stir. Suki merely let out a 'ow' on Zuko's behalf. Katara meanwhile quickly dumped the water into the tub, some steam came off of Zuko, but soon enough, Zuko began to cool down, much to everyone's relief.
And the most relieving part was, Zuko also seemed more calm, his face peaceful.
.☆
Toph was 'watching' over Zuko while he slept, the other's were busy with their own things, but sure enough, Toph heard his breathing get quicker, that alone was enough to worry her. But then Zuko started to mumble, all while tossing and turnin violently, Toph, reasonably so, panicked.
"KATARA!!! sugar queen!!! Zuko's he—his breathing is all weird!! You gotta come check!!"
"Huh–? Toph, what happened?"
"No time to explain Katara! Hurry up!!" Before Katara could say a word, she was dragged along by Toph to Zuko, and let's just say, he didn't look good, he kept muttering, his face was scrunched up in distress. "F...father...n...no... please..." Katara looked shocked, was Zuko having a nightmare about his father..? "Please...i meant n..no disrespect.... i..it..burns...pl..please..."
Luckily, Zuko finally woke up, though he wasn't really lucid, the delirium was obvious. "Unc'l....why are we...at the templ...again..? Wait...you're...not..uncle."
"No Zuko, im not your uncle. It's me, Katara."
"Oh...'kay..." And Zuko was out like a light again. Damn it.
Toph had put her hand on Zuko's chest, checking his heartbeat. "His heartbeat is finally normal, thank the spirits.." Katara gave a weak hm. before going back to her healing attempts, she didnt know how to heal illnesses, but it's worth a shot, right? Then, Aang walked in, looking more worried then before. "How's Zuko doing..?"
"He's doing fine, Aang. he should wake up soon, hopefully without suffering from delirium."
"And how long will that take?"
"an hour or so..?" Katara's tone was unsure, but sure enough, Aang stayed by Zuko's side, for a whole hour. "Aang, i'm going to try and get lunch ready, you stay with Zuko."
"On it, Katara!" Sure enough, 10 minutes after Katara left, Zuko woke up. "What the...? Aang, why..why am in a rock-bath tub? and why does it feel like i got trampled by an ostrich horse..?"
"Oh! Zuko! you're awake! try not to get up, you got a fever, and you're in a tub because you were kinda-sorta generating steam because of how bad your fever was..and this was the only way to cool you down...sorry..?" Aang gave his signature crooked smile, Zuko merely sighed. "Did you atleast practice firebending..?"
"Wellllll....about that..."