The Phoenix

Trade

"You think you can heal the sick?" Zuko allowed Katara to come into his room as he sat on his desk raising his brow.

"You said it couldn't be done," he frowned.

"Everyone said metal bending couldn't be done until my friend created it," Katara shot back. Zuko tilted his head to the side confused but looked at her up and down.

"Why do you suddenly want to?" He asked instead.

"It's a trade," Katara thought fast.

"A trade?"

"Yes, a trade for me learning to heal the sick for whatever you needed it for... to trade that for... for.." she trailed off seeing he wasn't buying it.

"What can I offer Princess?" Zuko smirked a little crossing his arms.

"You let me go if I heal whoever is sick," Katara inhaled a sharp breath. His smile dropped immediately.

"Oh so you think I'm just holding you prisoner for shits and giggles?" Zuko said sarcastically.

"Then why am I here?" She snapped.

Zuko opened his mouth but his heart dropped hearing metal crash in the back and Kataras eyes went over to the door she thought was a closet.

"we'll talk later, please get out," Zuko didn't skip a second to rush over to the door and opened it.

"Xan what happened?"

Katara stopped from leaving as his voice was soft and caring all of a sudden, it wasn't harsh and cold full of bitterness and sarcasm. She turned back around curiously seeing an older man in a second room that had a large window to the ocean. He was coughing into his hand as the captain handed him a handkerchief.

"I just wanted a damn cup of water," Xan scoffed as Zuko was cleaning up the pitcher that spilt all the water and the cup, using a towel to get the water soaked up.

"I thought you went back to sleep, I could've gotten you more water," Zuko sighed shaking his head a little as he was on his knees.

"The day I can't do shit for myself and can't even wipe my own ass just kill me then, I have pride still!" Xan groaned laying back on the bed.

"Yea yea I know, I'll the an anchor to you and let you sink to the bottom of the ocean," Zuko smiled a little.

"Damn right kid," Xan smiled back at him.

"Oh June is still here, you wanna try walking a little later? She got some herbs back that I can get together for your tea," he stood back up.

"Ah let her know First, I'm not going to cross her boundaries right now," Xan waved it off.

"She called you our father," Zuko sat on the bed.

"Including you?" The old man asked surprised.

"...yea," he looked down bouncing his leg a little while picking his nails.

"Bout fucking time, god she's like her mother with that stubbornness," Xan scoffed shaking his head.

"Oh yea she is nothing like you," Zuko said sarcastically but noticed Katara still there.

"Are you shitting me? I said get out," Zuko barked at her.

"Oi!" Xan kicked him. "Is that how I raised you?"

"You didn't fucking raise me?" Zuko looked at him confused.

"Oh so your mothers the one that taught you manners boy?" He asked flatly and Zuko wasn't amused.

"Xan,"

"Yes lad?"

"Eat shit,"

"I already do from whatever you fucking cook for me," Xan burst out laughing but suddenly went into a harsh cough as he held the handkerchief to his mouth.

Zuko made sure he was alright before going after Katara who looked guilty.

"Is.. that's who you want to heal," Katara pursed her lips understanding a little more now.

"... we don't know what he even has, there was a thing going around we all thought was a cold and got over but he has something worst and it... he's coughing up blood now," Zuko gave in nodding as he looked down.

"I'll need my bending back," Katara looked up at him.

"You know I will kill you if you try anything," he glared a little.

"Yea, I know, I've seen you," Katara glared back.

He crossed his arms looking back at the old man as Xan was trying to catch his breath. It hurt Zuko more than anyone seeing their strong captain who's killed for him and saved so many times now not even able to pour his own water.

"What do you need me to do?" Zuko asked quietly.

"I have some requirements before," Katara stopped him.

"I'm not going back in that cell," she stated.

"Only at night," he argued. Katara glared but nodded knowing why he wasn't budging.

"I want my bending back," she said curious to see if he would.

"You'll be handcuffed to ty Lee or me, your not going anywhere Princess," Zuko smiled the slightest in amusement seeing her disappointment.

"Is she your second in command?" She made a face.

"I don't have a second in command," he frowned.

"Not even June?" Katara scoffed.

"She's not apart of the crew," the man sighed shaking his head.

"So you sleep at the cell at night and if you want to bend you have to be attached to one of us, is that it?" He asked annoyed a little.

"What about my freedom?" She offered nervously.

She saw his eyes go down for a moment to think, did he even want her as a prisoner? What was the point?

"I'm sorry but this won't affect your freedom, you stay," Zuko shrugged.

"What?! How can I earn my freedom then?!" She yelled in shock.

"You don't," he smirked a little.

Zuko went to the bookshelf on the side and grabbed a few books, he set them on his desk before grabbing a different one but kept it to himself.

"These are about the illnesses we thought he had, we could've missed something, but if you want to read up on it and see what you think could be possible to heal," he told her before going back to Xan before with the book.

"Lee," she said softly as he handed the man the book.

"Why am I here, really? What did you kidnap me from the fire nation palace for?" Katara stood at the door as Xan looked at her calmly but the captains back was facing her.

"It's a lot more complicated than you think, sometimes I even forget," Zuko said in a low tone. She sighed annoyed not getting her answer but took the books with her before leaving the captains quarters.

"If it's complicated to tell her then what did you tell the crew? I know you didn't tell them it's because you don't want the rest of your family murdered," Xan sat up in the bed not looking at the boy.

"Ty Lee and Mai know, I told them that Ozai wanted to slaughter all of them, the water tribe, the fire nation, they know I took her so two nations leaders weren't killed, they know it was for a reason," Zuko sat on the bed with his hands clasped between his knees.

"It was selfish of me but I know he would succeed in killing my family, and I couldn't take lu ten because he'd know then, I'm selfish and horrible but I'm not... a monster," he whispered  touching the back of his neck where his burn was.

"Once ozai is dead, and his people, I'll let her go," Zuko nodded determined.