Post by Yug on Apr 7, 2013 13:05:31 GMT -5
“You know, Father still loves you, Zuko. Even if he doesn't show it all the time”
Azara didn't know whether her words were entirely true – in fact, they most likely weren't true at all – but nevertheless, Zuko needed to hear them. Truth be told, Father probably didn't love a lot of things that most normal people would. Zuko, Uncle Iroh, Mom...even Azara. All Father really loved was carrying out the lofty ideas of the Fire Nation; spreading wealth and prosperity through superior firepower and all that. Azara could still respect him in this regard, as his end goal was the same as hers, even if it had turned him into a hollow, black-hearted shell of a man.
Was what Father turned into merely a sharp lesson for Azara, or rather an inevitability? She sincerely hoped it was the former.
“We all have to make sacrifices, Azara,” Father had said, in a darkened throne room from her childhood. “every Fire Nation citizen knows this. Sometimes sacrifices, even of ourselves, must be made for the greater good.”
In honor of their first meeting in over two years, Azara had taken Zuko to a small tea shop that she didn't even know the name of. She hoped it would prove beneficial for them both; for Zuko, to cheer him up; and for herself, to clear her head and help her think.. Her idea hadn't worked on Zuko's end, as she hadn't seen the barest hint of a smile cross his lips since they'd been there. On Azara's end, however, her few sips of tea had been warm and relaxing, and, aside from the slight clank of cups in the kitchen and the slight pitter-patter of hurried feet across wooden floors, the shop was silent.
Azara truly pitied Zuko; it was like he'd drawn the short stick even before being born. How was Azara to tell him that she was to take him back to the Fire Nation not as an honored prince, but rather, as her prisoner?
“Did you hear me, Zuko?”
Zuko made a short sigh, scowling. “Yeah. Somewhere deep inside, buried beneath layers of embarrassment and shame for his only son, Father loves me. Great. That means just so much coming from you, Azara.”
“He does love you,” Azara said. “he just...has a funny way of showing it, I guess.”
“Must be the 'burning half of your child's face off' method I've heard so much about.” As Zuko turned to look at Azara, she could see that her words had gotten through to him, if only a little. “...how is he doing, anyway?”
“I would think he's still alive, since I didn't see any funeral processions or anything before I left. Honestly, I can count the times I've seen him over the past couple of months on one hand.”
“He didn't see you off?”
“Nope, not even a 'farewell' or a 'good luck'” Azara took another sip of tea, still thinking about her decision. Why did their family have to be so messed up? A sister shouldn't have to make these kinds of choices about her own brother. “Zuko, you have to understand, Father hasn't been himself lately. In fact, I don't think he's been himself since Mom left, really.”
“I guess you would know, being his favorite and all. I barely feel like I know him at all.”
Azara shrugged; she needed to steer this conversation in a less depressing direction. “Well, I guess girls are just better at that type of stuff.” She gave a small, caring smile. “So, how's the hunt going?”
“Hmph.” Not well, it seemed. Azara mentally kicked herself. So much for that uplifting conversation. “All I have left from when I first sailed through the Gates of Azulon is Uncle. Does that about sum it up for you?”
“But you actually found the Avatar, right? So, you've already done better all the other Fire Nation trackers that have tried to find them, and you're half their age. You haven't done so badly for yourself, Zuko.”
“I have no idea where he is, and I lost my ship and everything I need to find him, Azara. How much worse can it get?”
“You're still alive, Zuko, and Uncle's still alive. Listen to his guidance, he...he --” Tears streamed down Azara's face as she buried her face into her palm. She couldn't do this anymore. “You know what, Zuko, you're right. You're exactly right. I shouldn't lie to you.”
Zuko's eyes widened. “Are you alright?”
“No, no I'm not alright, Zuko,” Azara said. “Listen, things are about to get worse. Much worse.” She looked Zuko directly in his eyes. “Father wants me to bring you back to the Fire Nation. You and Uncle. As prisoners.”
“W-why?”
“Because he thinks Iroh is a traitor for stopping Zhao at the North Pole. And...and he thinks you helped him.” Azara began wiping her tears away, trying to regain her composure. “But I don't agree with him. I think you're more useful joining up with me, rather than rotting away in some prison for the rest of your life.”
Bolting up from his seat, Zuko clinched his fists. Hard. “So, Father's not even giving me a chance anymore. How am I supposed to capture the Avatar now?”
“I'm giving you a chance, Zuko.” Azara stood as well, and grabbed Zuko's hand. “But no one else can know. No one besides Uncle.” She caressed his hand, and, gradually, it loosened. “Listen, Fire Nation troops will be on the lookout for you and Uncle, and if the men on my ship find out I'm doing this for you, I'll probably be hanged as a traitor as well. I'll contact you once I find out a way to ditch them.”
Zuko didn't respond, as if he were in shock; Azara tugged on his hand. “Okay, Zuko? Zuko?”
He gave a slight nod. “How will you find me again, Azara?”
“I tracked you to this town, didn't I? I'll find a way.”
Zuko simply stood for a little bit, staring at the ground in silence. Then, he gave a small grunt in approval of Azara's plan, making for the exit. He stopped in the doorway, turning his head towards her. “Azara, why are you doing this for me?”
“Because you're my brother, Zuko. Why else?”
For just a split second, Azara saw a faint smile on Zuko's lips. “Well, thanks.” And then he walked through the doorway, disappearing from Azara's sight.
Azara thought of her father's anger and disappointment upon finding out what she had done, and shuddered. In her mind, however, it had to be this way. She wasn't about to sell her own brother out, even if it came at a great personal cost.
“Sorry Father,” she said in whispers. “but we all have to make sacrifices.”
Azara didn't know whether her words were entirely true – in fact, they most likely weren't true at all – but nevertheless, Zuko needed to hear them. Truth be told, Father probably didn't love a lot of things that most normal people would. Zuko, Uncle Iroh, Mom...even Azara. All Father really loved was carrying out the lofty ideas of the Fire Nation; spreading wealth and prosperity through superior firepower and all that. Azara could still respect him in this regard, as his end goal was the same as hers, even if it had turned him into a hollow, black-hearted shell of a man.
Was what Father turned into merely a sharp lesson for Azara, or rather an inevitability? She sincerely hoped it was the former.
“We all have to make sacrifices, Azara,” Father had said, in a darkened throne room from her childhood. “every Fire Nation citizen knows this. Sometimes sacrifices, even of ourselves, must be made for the greater good.”
In honor of their first meeting in over two years, Azara had taken Zuko to a small tea shop that she didn't even know the name of. She hoped it would prove beneficial for them both; for Zuko, to cheer him up; and for herself, to clear her head and help her think.. Her idea hadn't worked on Zuko's end, as she hadn't seen the barest hint of a smile cross his lips since they'd been there. On Azara's end, however, her few sips of tea had been warm and relaxing, and, aside from the slight clank of cups in the kitchen and the slight pitter-patter of hurried feet across wooden floors, the shop was silent.
Azara truly pitied Zuko; it was like he'd drawn the short stick even before being born. How was Azara to tell him that she was to take him back to the Fire Nation not as an honored prince, but rather, as her prisoner?
“Did you hear me, Zuko?”
Zuko made a short sigh, scowling. “Yeah. Somewhere deep inside, buried beneath layers of embarrassment and shame for his only son, Father loves me. Great. That means just so much coming from you, Azara.”
“He does love you,” Azara said. “he just...has a funny way of showing it, I guess.”
“Must be the 'burning half of your child's face off' method I've heard so much about.” As Zuko turned to look at Azara, she could see that her words had gotten through to him, if only a little. “...how is he doing, anyway?”
“I would think he's still alive, since I didn't see any funeral processions or anything before I left. Honestly, I can count the times I've seen him over the past couple of months on one hand.”
“He didn't see you off?”
“Nope, not even a 'farewell' or a 'good luck'” Azara took another sip of tea, still thinking about her decision. Why did their family have to be so messed up? A sister shouldn't have to make these kinds of choices about her own brother. “Zuko, you have to understand, Father hasn't been himself lately. In fact, I don't think he's been himself since Mom left, really.”
“I guess you would know, being his favorite and all. I barely feel like I know him at all.”
Azara shrugged; she needed to steer this conversation in a less depressing direction. “Well, I guess girls are just better at that type of stuff.” She gave a small, caring smile. “So, how's the hunt going?”
“Hmph.” Not well, it seemed. Azara mentally kicked herself. So much for that uplifting conversation. “All I have left from when I first sailed through the Gates of Azulon is Uncle. Does that about sum it up for you?”
“But you actually found the Avatar, right? So, you've already done better all the other Fire Nation trackers that have tried to find them, and you're half their age. You haven't done so badly for yourself, Zuko.”
“I have no idea where he is, and I lost my ship and everything I need to find him, Azara. How much worse can it get?”
“You're still alive, Zuko, and Uncle's still alive. Listen to his guidance, he...he --” Tears streamed down Azara's face as she buried her face into her palm. She couldn't do this anymore. “You know what, Zuko, you're right. You're exactly right. I shouldn't lie to you.”
Zuko's eyes widened. “Are you alright?”
“No, no I'm not alright, Zuko,” Azara said. “Listen, things are about to get worse. Much worse.” She looked Zuko directly in his eyes. “Father wants me to bring you back to the Fire Nation. You and Uncle. As prisoners.”
“W-why?”
“Because he thinks Iroh is a traitor for stopping Zhao at the North Pole. And...and he thinks you helped him.” Azara began wiping her tears away, trying to regain her composure. “But I don't agree with him. I think you're more useful joining up with me, rather than rotting away in some prison for the rest of your life.”
Bolting up from his seat, Zuko clinched his fists. Hard. “So, Father's not even giving me a chance anymore. How am I supposed to capture the Avatar now?”
“I'm giving you a chance, Zuko.” Azara stood as well, and grabbed Zuko's hand. “But no one else can know. No one besides Uncle.” She caressed his hand, and, gradually, it loosened. “Listen, Fire Nation troops will be on the lookout for you and Uncle, and if the men on my ship find out I'm doing this for you, I'll probably be hanged as a traitor as well. I'll contact you once I find out a way to ditch them.”
Zuko didn't respond, as if he were in shock; Azara tugged on his hand. “Okay, Zuko? Zuko?”
He gave a slight nod. “How will you find me again, Azara?”
“I tracked you to this town, didn't I? I'll find a way.”
Zuko simply stood for a little bit, staring at the ground in silence. Then, he gave a small grunt in approval of Azara's plan, making for the exit. He stopped in the doorway, turning his head towards her. “Azara, why are you doing this for me?”
“Because you're my brother, Zuko. Why else?”
For just a split second, Azara saw a faint smile on Zuko's lips. “Well, thanks.” And then he walked through the doorway, disappearing from Azara's sight.
Azara thought of her father's anger and disappointment upon finding out what she had done, and shuddered. In her mind, however, it had to be this way. She wasn't about to sell her own brother out, even if it came at a great personal cost.
“Sorry Father,” she said in whispers. “but we all have to make sacrifices.”