Chapter Text
The kitchens were loud as usual when Takeru entered them, it was time for dinner, rather than sitting with the others, he took his food with him. The route was familiar as he headed down the passageway, away from the kitchens and towards the dorms, turning down a stairwell once he passed them.
The room had been cleaned since Takeru had last been there, it no longer had charring up the walls and the scent of soot was almost gone.
He sat on the floor, a warm bowl resting on his knee in contrast with the cold stones he sat upon. The very stones that had offered a soothing and protected sanctuary for him over the years, a place he could read his letters and practice breathing techniques completely alone.
He gazed along the walls, eyes tracing over the few new cracks that lined some of the stones. Cracks he had created in the incident.
The incident.
Takeru’s entire world flipped upside down because of a banished prince, and his cruel sister.
He shovelled what was left of his pig-chicken curry into his mouth and sat, for a moment, in the company of his past thoughts, past feelings.
Takeru went to bed earlier than usual that night. Someone had insisted that he rest before tomorrow, though he couldn’t remember who it was by morning.
He woke before intended, something he usually would have deemed incredibly annoying, but not that morning. It meant he had more time to prepare before the soldiers whisked him away. Almost none of the other servants were awake when Takeru finally dragged himself out of bed.
For a reason beyond his knowledge, or perhaps for no reason at all, he took more time than usual getting ready for the day, took more care. He dressed himself in his servants’ uniform, the nicest clothes he owned, tied back his hair slowly, careful not to leave loose hairs. He packed the last of his things silently, as to not disturb the peace of the sleeping servants. It wouldn’t be difficult to sneak out then, run away from everything. The night watch guards’ shifts would have ended by this stage, and there was no one else awake to witness anything.
It seemed an impulse or sudden urge had taken over him when he picked up his bag and walked toward the door. Hand resting on the handle, he looked back, just a glance. It looked to be the only time Takeru’s mother was calm, free of stress, was when she was asleep.
He stood there for a moment, watching her breath rise and fall as the sun finally glistened its first light through the high windows.
It was his stupidity, his carelessness that had landed him in that position, caused his mother such pain and worry. It wasn’t fair if she were punished for his actions.
He gripped onto his belongings and stepped out the door, moving as if on autopilot. Like no matter how hard his brain fought for him to wait for the soldiers in the area he was assigned, his legs wouldn’t obey.
Soon, he found himself standing at the edge of the turtleduck pond, gazing into the glistening waters. A young turtleduck bobbed its way across the water to the edge where he stood. It watched Takeru as he stood by the edge, expecting food he didn’t have.
A young Takeru sat at the edge of the pond.
“You’re lucky, Mr Turtleduck.” He held out tiny crumbs of bread he had snuck out to the little creature.
“You get to do whatever you want.” He rested his head on his hand. “Ma says I have to keep an eye on the prince but… this is a secret, you can’t tell anyone, okay?”
He waited a moment, the turtleduck stayed silent. Takeru took it as a solemn promise that it would keep his secret.
“Well… no one is meant to know this, but you’re my friend, you’ll listen to me… unlike His Royal Sparkiness.”
He pondered for a while before his voice dropped to a whisper. “I’m actually a firebender too… I’ll show you.” He held out his hands and began to focus, trying to create a little flame to show his tiny friend.
“Who are you talking to?”
Takeru yelped, tiny sparks flinging with the breadcrumbs and sizzling into the pond. The turtleduck huffed a disgruntled quack before diving beneath the water. Takeru whipped his head around to see Zuko standing, hands behind his back.
The air warmed a little as Takeru’s ears turned pink, he clenched his fists, willing it to stop, but it was too difficult.
Zuko stepped closer, his eyes lighting up like little fireworks. “You’re a firebender too!”
Takeru went still. “Am not!”
“You are!” Zuko said.
He waited a moment, pondering something before grinning suddenly, small but bright, like something had finally gone right in his day. “I can teach you!”
Takeru frowned. “I’m not a firebender”
“You are.” Zuko said, offended. Then he leaned in a little, lowering his voice like someone else might overhear him even though they were alone. “I saw the sparks flying into the pond, and you’ve somehow managed to make the air warmer around you.”
Takeru pouted. “My Ma said it’s meant to be a secret.” He whispered, looking at anything but the prince.
“It’s really obvious.” Zuko paused for a moment. “I’ll show you how to control it.”
He sat down, copying something he had been taught, even if imperfectly.
“Inhale, then exhale.”
Takeru sat down hesitantly. Zuko stared at him like it was a personal insult. “Try it.”
Takeru did so.
Nothing happened.
“Slowly.” Zuko grumbled.
Again, Takeru tried, and failed, to cool the air.
“You’re doing it wrong. Imagine the fire going up, then cooling down.” Zuko huffed. “Again.”
Takeru inhaled once more, concentrating as he slowly exhaled
The heat in the air steadied.
Zuko’s expression sharpened with attention. “Again.”
Takeru obeyed. The air cooled slightly around him.
“Keep practicing.”
Takeru practiced until the turtleducks had done so many laps of the pond he had lost count.
But each time the air cooled a little more.
Zuko’s grin returned, proud, almost. “See? You’re doing it!”
Then, a slightly awkward addition like he didn’t want to be too nice.
“I mean… it still needs work”
Takeru blinked. “That is not a compliment.”
He looked down at his hands, uncertain. “Anyway, it still feels like it’s there.”
“It is,” Zuko said immediately. “But you can barely tell.”
“Did you hear me? I said the soldiers are looking for you.”
Takeru didn’t even notice Ai Hua’s arrival until she stood next to him.
“Sorry… I didn’t even notice you were there.” His laugh was quiet and sounded forced even to his own ears.
Ai Hua didn’t seem to know what to say in response, instead standing there, observing him.
Takeru sat down, no longer able to look at her, and stared into the crystalline depths of the pond.
“It’s very peaceful out here. Do you come here often?” Ai Hua sat down beside him.
“I used to. When His Majesty Azulon was still Firelord.” He dipped his fingers into the water, gently splashing the tiny turtleduck.
“I see…” Ai Hua whispered, it was before Takeru and his mother were demoted with Ursa’s banishment.
She watched the tiny water fight between Takeru’s fingers and the little turtleduck that resulted in one saturated turtleduck, Takeru’s right sleeve being drenched and a tiny grin on his face as the creature tried to shake its head dry.
“I guess I should be going then. If the soldiers are looking for me.” Takeru squeezed some of the water out of his sleeve before standing up and grabbing his luggage.
He helped his younger friend to her feet before Ai Hua began to lead him toward the kitchen.
Before Takeru had a chance to walk after her, he spotted a stone from the corner of his eye. It seemed out of place, it had been scorched until it stood out from the other rocks. Takeru bent down, curious. It seemed almost intentional. He picked it up to inspect, finding a small hole underneath it, and inside, a small piece of folded parchment.
“Takeru?” Ai Hua called out, she was already a fair few strides away.
“I’m coming!” Takeru shoved the parchment into his robes and ran ahead to meet Ai Hua.
They walked together to the kitchens in silence.
Ai Hua stopped before they reached the end of the corridor. “I have to go… I haven’t finished helping in the library and it’s getting late.”
Takeru nodded and stayed still for a moment, it may be the last time he saw her.
Ai Hua opened her mouth as though she wanted to say something else. Instead, she whispered, “goodbye.”
When Takeru arrived in the kitchen, he found Ayame and two soldiers sitting at a table in the corner.
One of the soldiers looked up at him. “Are you the new recruit?”
“Yes… sir.”
“Took you long enough, hurry up and say your goodbyes, we leave soon.” The other soldier grumbled as he stood up and walked over to the door.
The first soldier followed him. “We’ll be in the corridor, meet us there when you’re finished.”
Takeru nodded before turning around again to face his mother, who had since stood up.
He couldn’t control the shake of his shoulders as he looked at her through a foggy gaze.
“Oh, Takeru…”
Ayame brushed away the tears that rolled down his cheeks, cupping his face in her cool hands. They felt like water on a hot summer's day, soothing and calming.
“I’m sorry, Ma…”
He didn’t have time to think before he was wrapped in an embrace.
“You have nothing to be sorry for.” She whispered into his ear.
“But there’s no one left… Ursa and Zuko are gone. And now,” he sniffed, “I will be too and there will be no one to protect you.”
“It’s okay, Takeru.” She pulled back to face him. “You don’t need to protect me.”
Her smile was weak and trembled as she held his shoulders.
“I should be the one protecting you, I am so sorry I failed you.”
Ayame brushed her finger along Takeru’s cheek, her eyes lingering on each freckle that dotted his face.
“Takeru,” Ayame whispered, “I don’t care how long it takes, if you come back a commander or a fighter for the front, but please. Make it home.”
Takeru didn’t answer. It was a promise that, if he couldn’t keep it, he would break his mother’s heart.
“Please, Takeru. Promise me that.” Ayame pleaded. “I can’t lose anyone else to this war.”
Takeru nodded before he pulled her into a hug. They held each other tight until the tears had turned into whispers of air, climbing up past where the two stood.
There was a knock on the door, one that reminded them that the world would not stop for anything.
Ayame chuckled as she wiped the remainder of the tears from Takeru’s face and fixed up his hair. “After all that nagging, this is the day you finally tie your hair neatly.”
Takeru tried to smile, but it ended up as more of a grimace as his mother began to fix up his robes.
“Remember to make a good impression, make sure you respect the other children, many of them will be from noble families.” She smoothed a crease on his sleeve. “Listen to your instructors, keep your head down and follow their orders.”
Ayame looked into his eyes. “Every day you stay out of trouble is a day closer to coming home.”
She placed a kiss on his forehead before he walked over to the door. Looking back just once to see his mothers’ face again for the last time before he left.