Chapter Text
When Zuko rolled out of bed that morning, he was hit with a wave of dizziness. The world swirled around him, and he froze while colors and shapes settled into their proper forms. He shook his head. That was weird. Come to think of it, he had a slight headache. Only slight, though, and so he pushed himself up.
The first few bites of breakfast told him that his throat was getting sore. By the time breakfast was over, he felt chilled and a little bit achy. He ignored it and started firebending practice with Aang. After having half his face burnt off and fighting through that pain, there wasn’t much discomfort he couldn’t handle.
There also wasn’t much about his friends that Aang didn’t notice. He halted abruptly in the middle of a firebending form and looked at the prince with concern. “Zuko, are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” Zuko said. “Come on, finish the forms.”
Aang frowned.
Zuko gave an exasperated sigh. “I’m a bit tired, but it’s no big deal.” He took his stance, and Aang hesitantly followed, still watching Zuko in concern. Zuko grimaced and ignored him, demonstrating the forms again. Somehow, his headache had gotten worse in the couple of minutes he had paused the training, and his firebending looked weaker. Aang stopped again, abruptly, and gave him a pointed look.
“I have a headache,” Zuko replied in annoyance. “That’s all. It’ll go away.”
“I can help.”
He jumped at the sound of Katara’s voice and grimaced again. He hadn’t known she was there, and if it had been anyone but Katara, he and Aang would have been in big trouble. Headache or no headache, he should pay proper attention to their surroundings. Katara hurried forward with her waterskin and bent a thin stream of water free. “Hold still.”
Zuko scowled but obeyed.
“Where does it hurt?” Katara asked.
“I don’t know. All over.”
Katara frowned and pressed a cool, water-coated hand to his temple. The pain eased a little, but most of the aching felt deeper, like it was throbbing in the depths of his head where the healing water couldn’t reach. Still, he did feel some relief. “Okay, thanks.”
Katara frowned again as she pulled her hand away. “Actually, you don’t look so good, Zuko. Are you okay?”
“That’s what I was saying,” Aang chimed in.
Zuko shook his head sharply—which brought all the pain back. He scowled deeper. “I’m fine. Let’s go back to practice,” he said to Aang.
Aang crossed his arms and gave Zuko a hard stare. Katara took his arm. “Zuko. You’re pale and flushed, and you look exhausted. You look like you’re getting sick,” she added pointedly as he began to protest.
“I’m not sick, just tired!”
“Then take a break,” Katara insisted. “Rest for a bit.” She looked to Aang for support, and he nodded vigorously.
“A small break won’t hurt,” Aang agreed.
Zuko sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “We just started.”
“And we made a good start. Now you can rest for a bit,” Aang added. “Seriously, I don’t mind.”
“That’s not—” Zuko cut himself off and groaned. Then a thought struck him. Maybe this was the best way to get them to shut up and leave him alone. “Fine. I’ll rest.”
***
Katara scowled. Apparently, Zuko’s definition of “rest” was “sit still for five minutes and go right back to firebending”. She crossed her arms and sat where he could clearly see her and her posture and her dark look. Zuko glanced her way once and deliberately ignored her.
A few minutes later, he stumbled in the middle of a firebanding stance. Katara stood up as Aang dashed to Zuko’s side.
Zuko drew himself up. “Concentrate!” he snapped, as though talking more to himself than Aang. “Try again—”
“No.” Katara stopped beside them, her arms still crossed.
Zuko’s eyebrows went up. Then he matched her scowl. “You don’t get to interfere with lessons—”
“No more firebending,” Katara declared. Zuko opened his mouth, but she ploughed on before he could speak. “You’re sick—anyone can see it—and you’re going to get worse if you don’t rest.”
“I agree with Katara,” Aang put in. “We’ve done lots of firebending already—and I’ll keep practicing while you rest,” he added, glancing at Zuko to see how he would take it.
“There’s no time—”
“And if you make yourself worse so that you can’t teach?” Katara demanded. “That will take even more time, put us even further behind, if that’s what you’re so worried about!”
“You don’t understand how serious--!”
“Zuko,” Aang said quietly, “I do understand how important this is. Really. But it’s okay to rest for a little while. I don’t mind,” he added, “And I don’t think it makes you weak.”
Zuko hesitated, looking from one to the other, still grimacing. His knees buckled suddenly, and he would have pitched forward if Katara and Aang hadn’t each grabbed one of his arms.
“That does it,” Katara declared. “You’re going to lie down for a while.”
Zuko groaned. “Listen, I’m fine! I’ve done more when feeling a lot worse than this!”
“Yeah,” Katara said drily, “I’m sure.”
“Come on,” Aang insisted, pulling his arm to lead him back to the camp.