(no subject)

[princeinexile]

The first order of business in the apartment was the puppies. Zuko got the kiddy gate they'd grabbed to start penning the turtleducks in an area (oh, thank you uncle, for taking care of them) and used it to cordone off the kitchen. The pups still weren't large enough to jump it, but they might be powerful enough to knock it down, so a chair was used to to brace it. Paper was laid out, food and water too -- he had to grab Xu Ning's big bowls from the trash, clean them out-- the rawhide bag, too--

And lay them all out.

And then he released the puppies into the kitchen, and listened to them cry for their mother.

And understood.

"... I gotta go take a shower," he said abruptly, and moved away from the kitchen, away from Steph-- just-- away. The bathroom door was soon shut, bolted. Clothing hit the floor--

-- he inspected his hand. It was clean. No evidence of a bite, human or otherwise. Was he just going crazy? Imagining it in his fear?

No. He'd been bit. He'd healed already. Not a good sign.

He was in the shower a very long time.

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[alwaysroomforhope]

Steph waits, cross-legged on the kitchen floor, trying to comfort the puppies and reassure them they were safe.

She can't muster up much reassurance. Something's wrong, she can tell. Stupid fire prince - why won't he talk to her?

They're odd puppies. She doesn't know much about dogs, though. It bothers her more that they're drinking from Xu Ning's bowls. That's just - it isn't - well, there's no reason they shouldn't, it's just that ...

She hopes Zuko's nearly done in there. What's taking so long? The bigger of the puppies whines and nips at her hand, and she cuddles it absently, and waits.

[princeinexile]

He takes time.

Maybe too much time.

But eventually, the pipes squeak and rattle, and the water shuts off. He comes out a little while longer, and gets his swords from where he'd left them and a cloth and goes--

-- to clean blood off the blades--

--and then comes back, looking just a little ashen as he sits on the couch.

This has not been a good day.

[alwaysroomforhope]

She puts the puppy down, and then detaches the other one from her arm, and then puts the first one down again - they're determined to have warmth and love, even if they can't have their mother! - but eventually she's free.

The distance between them seems very large. She covers it quickly, leaves the puppies scritching at the kiddy door and comes to sit beside him, a hand coming to rest on his thigh.

[princeinexile]

He does not react; he has an elbow on the arm rest and his brow on his hand, and he is tired and thinking and really, he should say something, do something, maybe even hold her, reassure and be reassured, but--

He can't.

There are no words; no explanations to be offered or platitudes to be spoken. He can't say anything yet. He has no idea what to say.

[alwaysroomforhope]

She doesn't know what to do, either! Usually, Steph comes home from missions - dangerous or dark or whatever - and just wants to talk, or to hug, or to -

Well, it might be a solution. She shifts her hand a little up his leg, eyes still anxiously fixed on him. Does he want --?

Anything would be better than that look in his eye.

She wants to know what happened, damn it.

[princeinexile]

He flinches a little; no, he is not -- not right now -- he --

He is thinking something dark; would I infect her? Well, no-- no, he wouldn't, he? Wells has a wife, they still--

-- no, he --

-- it's not going to matter, is it? --

-- he looks at her, uncertain of how to bridge the gap.

[alwaysroomforhope]

She can't stand this. She tries not to show the hurt when he flinches, but ...

She doesn't know what to do or what to say, and she doesn't really understand - why is he so hurt? What happened out there? Misunderstandings are already starting; he won't say anything, so maybe nothing happened, maybe he just can't deal with a combat situation, and ... well, it doesn't make her think less of him, but it's ... something else to remember.

"Zuko..."

Her voice sounds harsh and loud in the quiet, and she trails off, uncertain.

What's going on?

[princeinexile]

"It's--"

Should he tell her? Worry her? No, no, he should--

He's a lousy liar she'll know; God, he should know better then to even think it, to plot or plan deception. He's no good at it.

"Wells bit me. He went into a seizure and I tried to help him and he bit me."

[alwaysroomforhope]

She doesn't get it, for a second, and she just stares at him blankly. She has a scar on her left calf, a crazy guy bit through the tights, and it didn't leave her like -

- Wells.

The werewolf.

Her hands tighten into fists. "Zuko, you - he - are you - ?"

[princeinexile]

He spreads his hands, and they're clean, cept for the regular calluses and says, as if it's a crime, "It's already healed, Stephanie."

Another pause, and a tense breath.

"The puppies are crying for their mother. I know because I can-- I can make it out--"

He's infected.

[alwaysroomforhope]

"But you - you -"

That doesn't make any sense. He's Zuko. He's not - he can't be! Doesn't he have enough to worry about? It just can't happen. It just - she can't even comprehend it.

They'll just - flick back time, or something. Just rewind a little bit.

Or they'll wake up.

She doesn't even realise she's leaned back, away from him - it's a motion of denial, of rejection. This can't be happening.

[princeinexile]

It's repulsion.

He gets up abruptly.

"I'm going home in the morning," he says simply. "If I get there, my world-- my world doesn't have these sorts of things. Maybe-- it'll stop."

It's a risk, but he's willing to take it.

"You'll have to watch the pups. I can't-- I can't take them with me. Not now. Not-- there." Not that they wouldn't be perfectly at home in his world, with pigchickens and wolfbats, but...

"I'll be back-- when I can be."

[alwaysroomforhope]

"No - stay." She reaches for him, wanting to catch his hand, keep him close, keep him safe - never mind that it's no good now. "There's people here - they'll - they can fix it ..."

[princeinexile]

"Like they have for Wells?" Zuko snarls; his hand is caught, but he sharply draws away.

His eyes are hard as he stares at her. "I'm going. I'll fix it there. It -- it'll stop. You'll see."

[alwaysroomforhope]

Steph yanks her hand back and settles back into the couch, tucking her feet underneath her. She only looks hurt for a second; then her face goes blank.

"Okay. Whatever."

Stupid fire prince.

[princeinexile]

"Fine!" Zuko snarls.

He doesn't know what to do -- so he settles on being angry at the nearest available person.

Stephanie.

[alwaysroomforhope]

"Well, what are you waiting for? Go!"

Why's he angry at ME?

She folds her arms and drops further into the couch.

[princeinexile]

What? NOW?

"Who lives here?" Zuko asks incredulously. "I'll leave MY suite when I'm good and ready!"

[alwaysroomforhope]

She wants to curl up into a little ball and cry.

"Fine. See you whenever you bother coming back, then." Steph jumps to her feet and starts for the door in a whirl of movement.

He's such a jerk!

[princeinexile]

He doesn't go after her. He won't. But he'll watch her walk out--
Everything I've done was to protect you.
He shakes his head a minute later, and turns away. He doesn't-- want to think about the future. He doesn't-- know.

The puppies cry, and he yells for them to shut up. It only makes them cry louder, scared and bewildered.

[alwaysroomforhope]

She slams the door behind her. It gives a very satisfying thud.