Wild At Heart (Zuko)

Chapter Twenty-One

Zuko sits on the ground of a derelict shack on a hill, across from him, Kali lays, unconscious on a bedroll. Her flowers and vines trying to comfort her, the floor of the cabin covered in a layer of grass and wildflowers, like an indoor meadow. But he doesn't care how beautiful it is. Or how nice it smells. His focus is on Kali. She hasn't woken up since Azula's attack. Not when he and Iroh dragged her up here, not when Iroh checked on her, not in the last two days. Two days. Zuko rests his forehead on his knees and closes his eyes. He's tired. He hasn't slept. He can't till he knows she's going to be okay. Till she wakes up. He snaps his head up when she groans. Twisting slightly in her unconscious state, frowning. Whatever she is dreaming about, it's nothing good. Zuko pushes himself up and moves towards her. He sits behind her, crossing his legs and pulls Kali's head into his lap. He touches her forehead and brushes her hair back from her face. Trying to calm her down. To comfort her.

"Shh" He whispers, moving his hand to her cheek. She grips to the hem of his trousers, whimpering. He moves his hand to her neck and jaw. Brushing his fingers over her skin. She shifts against him as she wakes. He holds his breath, watching her, waiting. Her eyes open to stare up at him. He tries to smile but she still looks like she is in pain, how can be happy about that. "You were unconscious," He tells her as her eyes flicker around, confusion swimming in them. "Azula did this to you" Kali attempts to get up but winces in pain. A bandage covers the left side of her chest and shoulder, she reaches for the bandage, a whimper in her throat. "Kali" Zuko tries to help her but she cringes away. He frowns. He doesn't understand why she reacted like that but he can see that she doesn't want to be touched right now. She cowers against the wall and lets out a soft breath as she gets comfortable. Zuko clears his throat and shuffles away, to give her her space. Iroh enters the shack behind Zuko who turns a look at his uncle, asking for help here, he has no idea how to do the whole bedside manner thing. He doesn't know how to comfort her. Iroh sits on the floor across from Kali who peers through her hair to watch him.

"How are you feeling?" He asks her. She has an arm across herself, touching the bandage on her shoulder. Her eyes flicker down and she pulls a face. In pain. Iroh nods. He knows she is. "It probably feels worse than it is," Iroh tells her. Zuko picks up a steaming cup and hands it to Iroh.

"I...I made tea whilst you were gone" Zuko admits. "I hope I made it the way you like it" Iroh takes a sip from the cup and his eyes widen. He lets out a cry of disgust, but manages to mask it. Zuko holds another cup out to Kali who stares at it before she uses her good arm to take it from him.

"Mmm, good" Iroh takes another drink and grunts, glancing at Kali. "That was very, uh... bracing!" She looks down at her cup, watching the steam rising from it. Zuko hands Iroh another cup and he tosses it out the window when his nephew isn't looking. Kali sets her own cup down without touching it.

"So uncle, I've been thinking" Zuko comments, watching Kali as she cringes and tries to curl around herself. To protect herself. "It's only a matter of time before I run into Azula again" Zuko continues, turning his eyes to his uncle. "I'm going to need to know more advanced fire-bending if I want to stand a chance against her. I know what you're going to say: she's my sister and I should be trying to get along with her"

"No, she's crazy and she needs to go down" Iroh argues. Zuko nods. Iroh grunts as he stands up again. "It's time to resume your training" They share a look, Iroh then lets out a breath and frowns, still feeling that something is off with Kali. He knows she's hurt, but she's very quiet. "Little Flower?" Iroh asks her. "Are you sure you're okay?" She glances between the two of them and frowns, something lost in her eyes.

"Who are you both?" Zuko and Iroh turn to her, alarmed and confused.

.......

Outside of the shack, Iroh and Zuko stand together, out of earshot of Kali, they don't want to talk about this with her listening. She already feels physically in pain, why add to her emotional and mental pain?

"She's still injured" Iroh offers. "Maybe it is taking her a moment for her mind to catch up" Zuko shakes his head and paces. He hates this. Hates all of this. She's hurt, by his sister. She's in pain, because of his family member. And now she has no idea who he is. All that time spent together. Gone. The conversations and moments shared. Just gone. All of it is gone.

"So her memories could come back?" Zuko asks.

"Potentially" Iroh answers, Zuko turns to him. "They also might not" Zuko groans and drops his head back. "I am sure she will fall in love with you all over again"

"That's not..." Zuko goes to argue. Iroh gives him a look and Zuko stops. There is no use arguing with Iroh about this it seems. "That's not what I'm worried about" Zuko finishes as he turns to Iroh. "She was free..." He reminds his uncle. "Not just physically, but she finally felt it....and all that's gone?"

"Maybe" Iroh answers.

"She'll go back to being that person..." Zuko tells him. "Before....before you...." Zuko looks down but Iroh smiles. He's showing that he cares about her, that he cares about something that's not his honour, or the Avatar, or his father. Zuko cares about Kali. Deeply.

"We're still here" Iroh argues. "And I did nothing" He points out. "That person she became, was because you were her friend..." Zuko looks down and scuffs his shoe on the ground. "Because you loved her too" Iroh adds.