Too Close

home again

After a week of recovering at the hospital, Zuko was finally released and able to go home, he wore baggy clothes as he had dark circles under his eye as his bruise on his face was healed but he still could open his healing wounds from moving to much. He was tired and the doctors gave him some drugs to keep him calm for the first day back home. Zuko almost cried when they told him his cat couldn't jump, sit, crawl, sleep on him, and that he couldn't pick up the cat either.

Katara and Hakoda came to pick up the two since the car would be easier for Zuko to get in and out of.

Zuko slept most of the way back home as he leaned against his girlfriend and she held his hand gently with a smile at how out of it he's been with the surgery's and blood transfusions, but he was healing just needed to take it easy.

Hakoda stopped the car as close to the tea shops door and Iroh smiled gently at his sleeping teenager, he looked younger as he seemed calm for once.

The two men went to grab the wheelchair so it was easier to get Zuko inside as Iroh went to open the door.

"Hey wake up," Katara nudged him gently.

"Home?" He asked quietly.

"Yea sleepy head, your home," she giggled as she helped him out of the car and Hakoda had the wheelchair set and ready.

"Man my head hurts so much, those drugs aren't doing shit," Zuko held his head in his hand as Hakoda snorted pushing him while Iroh held the door open.

"It's not for pain it's for making your sluggish, to chill out," Hakoda told him flatly.

"Cant I get some for both? If I wanted to chill out i would've smoked a bowl," Zuko groaned.

"What's a bowl?" Iroh asked confused.

"Weed-" "ahhhh nothing!" Katara covered his mouth.

Iroh shrugged it off as Hakoda looked at his daughter suspiciously but she shook her head frantically.

Hakoda was the only one strong enough to lift Zuko out of the chair and helped him up the stairs to make sure he didn't fall as Katara pulled him with his good arm.

Iroh smiled gently as they made it to the top of the stairs and Hakoda went back down to grab the wheel chair.

"Surprise!"

Zuko blinked confused seeing Sokka, Suki, toph, aang and appa in the apartment with her well soon balloons.

"Welcome back to the living man!" Sokka waved excitedly as Katara and Iroh knew the surprise for him.

"Oh hey guys," Zuko smiled back shyly.

"How's my favorite pin cushion?" Toph gave a thumbs up.

"That's not funny!" Aang screamed horrified.

"Its a little funny?" Toph cackled.

"I'm alright, just tired, head hurts, got stabbed twice," Zuko gave a thumbs up back to Toph.

"I don't wanna hear trauma jokes for another month," Katara frowned at him.

"Fine but I'm writing them down for the end of the month, they're my best jokes," Zuko pouted.

"You look better than the pics Katara sent, so im guessing your doing better," suki waved the others off and walked to him.

"As good as I'll be for a bit," he nodded.

"Do you think we could just kind of hang out? Keep it quiet?" Zuko asked softly looking down. He didn't like being so small and vulnerable but he was so tired.