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Zuko stared.
Grey eyes stared back in confusion.
"What did you just say."
The Avat-no, Aang, just Aang (this kid can't be the Avatar no he won't let it)-the boy frowned, head tilting to the side as he looked up at Zuko. "I said I was frozen in the ice."
Frozen in the ice. Frozen.
That too for a hundred years.
Zuko is eerily still. He remembers charred skulls crumbling to dust, too small ribs cracking under his feet. (A large hand cradling his face as though in mercy before-)
(no I'm sorry I'm your loyal son-father-father pleaSE I'm sorRY fathER PLEASE-)
Zuko does not want the boy in front of him to have the same fate.
He suspects, but still-"How old are you." He asked curtly.The boy's face brightened. "I'm twelve!"
Zuko felt sick.
The boy grinned, "I've never really seen snow you know? And Katara took me penguin sliding!!!", he talked cheerfully, his round face a stark contrast to the haggard figures standing a distance away. The Water Tribe boy still tense and holding his enraged sister back. Zuko didn't look at them. The boy brought his hands up, Zuko's men tensed. He raised a hand to stop them. The boy obliviously rattled on, not having paused for breath in his ramble (childish naive he's so naive how is he sO nAIVE-)
"-and I even learned this air bending trick recently-" Zuko stiffened. Surely he's not stupid enough to-
Aang smiles widely-
(the boy dammit! He can't think of him as anything more Zuko can't he's always been bad at lying-)
(charred feathers a soft shell black the body lifeless and a sharp face grinning in glee "You're so weak Zuzu-")
-the boy-brought his hands up and made a ball of swirling air, tongue sticking out in concentration. He jumped on it and looked up at Zuko and beamed.
(Why why is he happy I'm the prince of the fire nation if Fa-the Fire Lord hears of this-)
(Enough)
Zuko shot fire at him (easily dodged, he still remembers the smell of burning flesh, to this day he can't stomach the smell of grilled meat-weak weak he's so weak Azula always said-no Azula always lies she's a liar a liar she liED-) Aang tumbled to the ground, face stunned. The Water Tribe siblings yelled in fear, the girl rushing forward to crouch beside the boy and glare up at him, blue eyes wide in fearful (protective) rage. (siblings? But no that's not possible surely they're not family can't be like this Azula was-no shut up shut up don't think about her you know what you need to do-)
The Water Tribe boy stood in front of them, spear held in tight grip.
(inexperienced his stance is unsteady I could knock him over in a second weak there's nothing in this village is this all they are this can't be right-)
Something twinged in his chest at the look on that youthful face, but Zuko pushed it down. He had a duty (he always did not that he ever succeeded failure that he was but he needs to try he needs to keep trying he can't let it happen again not again please fAthEr mERcY-)
and he would see it through.
"I am Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation, and you will not keep spouting your lies!" He roared, shifting into a firebending stance.
Let the act begin. Aang stuttered, "Lie-I'm not lying!" He shouted indignantly, struggling to get out of the tight grip dark arms held him in.
Zuko glared. "Do not defy me!" He hissed. (Use Azula's face she was always good at hiding-)
(scared faces rushing out of her room, Azula checking her nails nonchalantly, looking up face twisting in disdain on seeing him "You would not believe the incompetence of the servants Zuzu they're even more useless than you what a wonder! Maybe they should take lessons-)
(No now was not the time to let the memories take him he cannot fail here he can't be the reason for another child's death Zuko you useless boy! no not that not Father not him don't think about it-warm hands around him the smell of tea-Focus on me nephew.)
Zuko breathed.
"The Air Nation has been defeated for their betrayal by the might of the Fire Nation." He stated baldly, sneering.
(his stomach turned)
Aang froze, "No you're lying-"
"I am the Prince of the Fire Nation." He said coldly.
(don't tremble you can't give it away don't show any signs-fuck the Water Tribe savage seems to have caught on Zuko always fails-he's not saying anythi-he's nodding? Oh-oh. Oh he understands)
"I do not lie." He spat out (liar what a liar he hopes he succeeds this time he needs to-).
Zuko comes out of the stance (pathetic Zuzu even a baby could defeat you why are you so weAK bOY-) and folds his hands behind his back, proud and commanding like he was trained to.
(sharp thwacks on his wrist staff knocking his legs out cruel laughter burns on his arms is this training how does this make him stronger how is this love if it's so cruel no don't question it Father's always right-)
"We won't be fooled by petty tricks." He continues stiffly. "I have been tasked to bring the Avatar in chains by the honorable Fire Lord Ozai-"
(honorable? HoNoRaBLe??? Zuko can still feel the flames sparking in his eyesight blinding him smoke from his own burning flesh no nO pLEAsE FA-)
"and I will not be distracted from my mission by fanciful stories."
He glares at the boy. Zuko can feel the tremor in his hands.
(Fa-the Fire Lord can't find this boy he can't he'll kill him oh Zuzu you're lucky to be born-)
He turns to Uncle, glancing away from the boy (a child he's a fucking child-) as if in dismissal.
(Azula looking away in disdain smirking as Fa-the Fire Lord praises her Zuko dreads his attention no he craves it why wouldn't he he's Father his Father Father's always right-)
"We're leaving". He says flatly to his men. "There's nothing here, they're of no threat". Katara snarls but Sokka stops her. He knows.
Zuko turned back to the Water Tribe boy. "I will resume my search for the Avatar. Make this village idiot behave, others won't take so kindly to his lies."
Don't let him say he's the Avatar.
Zuko breathes a sigh of relief internally when the water tribe peasant nods.
"From now on if he continues I will be forced to arrest him for his false claims". He continues. I cannot protect him any longer.
The other boy twists his face in overdone contriteness and bows, exaggerated, a farce.
"I'm sorry for him my lord-" Zuko grimaces slightly at the title, the water tribe boy looks nauseous, but they know this has to happen. That this has to be said. There were witnesses. Plausible deniability
"Our cousin hit his head as a baby, he's always been fanciful. We've been trying but," Sokka glares at Aang (still silent frozen fuck he's crying Zuko feels like a monster) looking remorseful when he turns back to Zuko.
"We haven't succeeded it seems."
"Do that then". Zuko orders, curt.
He turns on his heels and stomps back to the ship, his Uncle and Lieutenant Jee beside him.
Zuko doesn't look back.