Echoes where there was something...

[princeinexile]

He was still sore, he realized -- Katara hadn't had time (a chance, he hadn't given her a chance) to finish. But it was a small thing, Zuko decided, and probably weariness and the fact he'd been on cream of wheat for a week straight that made him tired and irritable.

The suite was terribly quiet. There were no turtleducklings going qua~~ qua~~ in the bathroom, and Xu Ning...

... Xu Ning did not lift her head, did not awr-roo-roo at him when he walked into the kitchen. Her bed, her bowls (food and water in them, gone nasty), a rawhide chew--

-- they were all still here.

He cleaned up perfunctorily, feeling a new sort of soreness; he scrubbed the bowls of their filth a little too hard, only to realize that after they were clean-- there'd be no use for them. Still wet, they hit the trash with a clang. He began to pick up everything of hers, and throw them away-- rawhide, the blanket, the big lambswool bed-- it all had to go.

He would never admit that when it was over, he breathed raggedly out of grief rather then exertion.

"Just a stupid Water Tribe dog," he said to the empty air. "That's all."

Having some small privacy, he leave the rest in a heap by the trash, he went to his bed, stripped free of his infirmary robe, and dropped into it.

Finally alone, he allowed himself some bitter, angry grief-- tearless-- and slept.

Comments

[alwaysroomforhope]

There's a knock. Soft, scared, apologetic.

- well, actually, it's just a knock at the door. But the girl who's knocking is all of the above. She's washed and clean now, and she's dressed, and her hair tied back neatly; she even found a cuff to cover the new scar on her wrist from the melting bracelet she'd been wearing that night.

Then she'd washed her hair again, and then she'd put on a different shirt, and then a different pair of jeans, and then she'd cleaned up her bedroom.

But she really can't put this off any longer. And she doesn't really want to.

"Zuko?" she calls, quietly, and knocks again.

[princeinexile]

There is silence beyond the door. Crickets would be louder.

Zuko sleeps, hiding his face in his pillow.

[alwaysroomforhope]

She can't apologise if he won't let her in.

Stupid fire prince.

She knocks again, louder.

"Zuko!"

[princeinexile]

That gets him to open his eyes at least. He grumbles to himself, rolls over, and puts a pillow over his head.

[alwaysroomforhope]

SHE CAN GET LOUDER.

"Are you going to answer the door or not?"

[princeinexile]

Okay, fine!

...but first he has to put pants on. Which he remembers to do! And then he's upright and moving and glaring and OH GOD he's going to BELT YOU.

Only he's not. He's just going to opent he door and go, "WHAT?!"

[alwaysroomforhope]

- yeah, that just sucked the impatient angry right out of her, because... she really did screw up.

"'m sorry."

[princeinexile]

There is a flushed, irate, tired, grieving Firebender.

Shirtless.

In the doorway.

One hand on the door itself, the other on the doorframe. He GLOWERS. But she's already wilting.

Goddamn it.

"What part of she's my enemy didn't you get?" he snarls, as he turns, leaving the door open.

[alwaysroomforhope]

He needs a cuddle.

But she's still too guilty to give him one. She goes to the door, and hesitates just inside, fiddling with her sleeve.

"I just wanted ... I shouldn't have."

Mel said she shouldn't have, and Mel's ... Mel. Otherwise there'd be less apology and more cranky.

[princeinexile]

"It can't be that way," He explains hotly. "i can't-- be friends here and enemy there! I can't! War does not work that way, and that's what's going on at home!"
We haven't seen my father since.
He could honestly care less about the war.
Is your father fighting in the war?
"So don't-- try and think I'm going to play nicely with her. I'm not. I hate her. I hate her and her friends and the Avatar too."
Yes, he is.
There was no forgiviness here. Not for Katara at least; for Stephanie, he hoped for understanding.

[alwaysroomforhope]

"She healed you," Steph protests. Not very strongly, but it's still a protest. "You don't have to be friends. You just ... didn't have to punch her, either. Wouldn't you heal an enemy if they were sick, in a neutral zone?"

[princeinexile]

"No," Zuko says stiffly.

It's his father talking, but she doesn't know that.

[alwaysroomforhope]

She narrows her eyes a little.

"You would."

She thinks he's a good person. Even if HE doesn't.

[princeinexile]

"Meh!"

Zuko is unconcerned with what Steph thinks! She is obviously incorrect, and maybe even criminally stupid for asking KATARA TO HEAL HIM.

So he sits on his couch heavily and sulks.

[alwaysroomforhope]

She shuts the door behind her, a little harder than necessary, and leans on it.

"You would. And you'd be pretty pissed off if someone hit you while you were trying to help them, too."

CROSS FACE.

[princeinexile]

"It doesn't matter! I didn't want it, Steph!" Zuko replies. He can't stay sitting like this for long; he's angry, well worked up, flush-faced. "Why can't you understand that?"

[alwaysroomforhope]

She drops her eyes, guilty again, but she isn't backing down.

"You were hurt. I would've asked - asked - I would've asked Billy to heal you if he'd offered."

[princeinexile]

"And I'm sure he would have," Zuko says, and then does not add: by placing a pillow over my face and holding me down.

Bitter? Mistrustful? Zuko?

Always.

[alwaysroomforhope]

"If he'd offered to heal you, I would have let him," Steph insists. "Did you want to still be lying there?"

[princeinexile]

"No! But I'm-- not willing to take kindness from an enemy!" Zuko retorts. "Why can't you understand that?! I won't be weak infront of them!"

[alwaysroomforhope]

She just - looks at him.

If he'd explained it in Gotham terms she might get it! If he asked her if she'd eat from Joker's hand if she was starving, for example. But she just ... doesn't see. Katara's nice, and he's nice, and now he's not BURNED any more. WHY IS HE SO CRANKY.

[princeinexile]

He doesn't know how to explain it in her terms. But he glowers at her for it, before he puts his hands to his face and then-- waves. "Go on then! If that's what you want, to be friends with them, then go on!"

He doesn't need a girlfriend who paints Katara's nails pink.

[alwaysroomforhope]

Steph clamps her jaw down on the hurt.

"Maybe I will! At least she tried to help!"

She doesn't make any move towards the door, though. PLZ DON'T SEND HER AWAY. ;_;

[princeinexile]

You did not just imply that!

YOU DIDN'T!

Zuko just sort of looks at her for a long moment, blinking mutely.

"... you going to go back to Billy, then?" Since he's so helpful?"

He tried to save you, you ingrate! How can you say that to him?!

[alwaysroomforhope]

SHE DIDN'T MEAN TO IMPLY THAT.

"Why would I - argh! No!" Fists clenched! "Why would you even say that?"