ATLA Whumptober 2021

02 when home hates you [1/2] 02

TALKING IS OVERRATED
garrote | choking | gagged

Just because they were in the Fire Nation didn't mean Zuko was safe.

Sure it was nice to be back in familiar lands, and even though he'd never been in this particular area of the country before, a sense of home still lingered. The humid air and stifling heat that he'd hated as a child was somehow comforting now.

But there were still enemies here. People who hated him and all he'd done were still around every corner.

It was almost worse. In the Earth Kingdom, people hated him because he was a symbol of the pain he'd endured, someone who'd previously benefited from their suffering. It was understandable. But here he was hated for his cowardice and treason. For trying to help his own people. That hurt in a way he couldn't explain.

When they needed to go into town, it was usually Katara or Suki who went. Aang was too young and drew attention because of that, ignoring the bright blue arrow on his head that sometimes peeked out of his headband. Toph was too recognizable and memorable if the wanted posters said anything. Sokka was a little too awkward and wasn't great at lying on the spot.

And Zuko... well, obviously the scar that took up a quarter of his face didn't do him any favours in subtlety.

But today Suki's tired from watch last night, and Katara's training with Aang. And really, if Zuko wears a patch over his left eye and combs his hair over it for good measure, it shouldn't be that bad, right?

At first it isn't. He goes through the list he's been given, negotiating for prices but not too much, never standing out and blending right into the crowds.

It's easy. He's at home, among his people and his culture. He knows what to do here, knows that you refuse three times before taking anything, knows how much haggling is too much. He's comfortable despite the stakes.

It goes well until the whispers start.

Someone or something must have set them off, and now wherever Zuko goes, the whispers follow. It's not good, but bolting now will only make things worse. He needs to act normal until he finds an opening, then dash into the forest and lose his future pursuers before returning to the rest of the group.

It's a good plan. Yeah. He'll be fine.

But then he crosses the threshold into the next shop and is grabbed by the hair.

Zuko hisses in pain as he's dragged backwards, his arms immediately pinned. There's panic racing through his brain because, Agni, if he's found out and captured right now, things will very quickly go south. He hears someone mutter about stubborn royal kids before there's a yell of "Just stick him!" and there's something sharp in his arm.

His entire body goes numb, and he finds himself unable to move almost instantly.

It has to be shirshu venom, and there's probably something else mixed in, because he feels his eyes going heavy. There's panic rushing through his veins as he tires to move, tries to stay awake, but he's helpless to the fluid in his system.

The world goes black, and he's falling.

*****

Zuko wakes up to jeering voices, filling his ears before he's aware of anything else. He's started to get some feeling back, but not nearly enough to put up a fight,

He takes a deep, shaking breath. Okay. He can do this. He can wait this out and escape once his body isn't working against him.

(But then again, isn't that what he tried in the marketplace? Isn't that what got him into this situation to begin with?)

Someone must notice his newfound awareness, because there's a laugh and a kick to his ribs. Zuko's eyes fly open, a swear in his breath. The kick isn't exactly gentle, and though it doesn't break anything, it's likely going to leave a bruise.

"Little prince is awake, is he?" a rough voice says, an amused lilt to its tone. Zuko twists to glare at the voice's owner, spitting up at the man as he crouches to grin at him. The cocky smile quickly turns into a grimace, then a glare as the man wipes the moisture off of his face and shakes his hand off.

"You think you're so invincible, don't you?" he mutters, smacking Zuko across the head before standing back up. Zuko feels rage bubbling up as he shouts.

"If you're looking for a fight then let me up!" he shouts. "Hand me a sword and I'll show you just how invincible I can get." He's answered with nothing but a cruel laugh.

"Kid, I'm not interested in an honourable fight," the man says, crouching back down with something hidden in his huge fist. "I'm interested in turning in a traitor to our nation." There's a pause in which the man considers something for a moment, then grins.

"Well, the money doesn't hurt either."

A bounty. Of course there's a bounty, probably placed by his father. Zuko almost wants to laugh because what kind of father puts a monetary reward on the capture of his own son? Hakoda would never do that, Uncle would never do that. But Ozai? In a heartbeat.

He's torn out of his thoughts by sharp pain in his arm, cursing as the man above him slams his foot down a second time. Agni, it hurts, but it's fine , he can take it, he's had so much worse. Zuko just shouts, for once grateful for the residual anger that still lingers in his mind. It's easier to shout profanities rather than beg for mercy.

There's fire on his breath, but just the barest sparks. The venom that's paralyzed him apparently affects his chi too. Great.

Apparently though, the man takes these embers to be more dangerous than they are, perhaps understanding that what are sparks now can turn into an inferno later.

"Nice trick, kid," he leers. "Can't have you doing that though." And then there's something being shoved in his mouth, muffling his indignant swears. He tries to bite at it, to spit it out, but must be cloth or something, because it stifles him and refuses to loosen.

"Gotta be alive for me to get the money, you're lucky for that one." Zuko watches, fear that was buried by anger sparking up once more.

"Never said anything about your condition though."