tushanshu_logs | The Smoke That Consumes [Closed]

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The Smoke That Consumes [Closed]

Characters: Zuko, Katara, [Ask before joining]
Date: 2 Weeks after Evandau
Location: Wood Sector, streets
Situation: Zuko, due to his infection, has snapped and is chasing Katara
Warnings/Rating: Possible Violence and much tearbending

She didn't know how long she had been running. The scenery had changed--that much, at least, she had been able to notice while dodging the continuous blasts of fire that lit up the night washed streets. Her lungs, already strained from her failing dash for escape from the Fire Sector now burned from the smoke as he got closer.

It never took much these days to set him off, thanks to the infection. His nightmares had grown more intense, and, helpless, Katara had watched him slip further and further into the madness. She had done her best, watching over him, helping soothe the pain when she could, offering as much support as she could provide. Some days had been good; others had been much more trying. His nights were always rough.

And tonight was clearly one of his worst.

What had set him off was still unclear, though she figured it didn't matter so much now, not when he had snapped like this. His fits so far hadn't been this violent; she had always been able to find a way to calm him one way or another. Something inside him must have snapped and was very much not on its way to being mended by the water bender any time soon.

And so she ran, hoping to take his target out of the picture, hoping that he would calm on his own, hoping in vain. Unable to escape, she had tried to fight, but his rage, and whatever was driving it, refused to be quenched by the little water she carried with her.

The edge of the turtle. If she could just reach its edge, she'd have enough water to bring him down, to at least slow his attack until this wave had passed. And so it was there she ran, dodging and sweeping, not daring to mourn just yet.

Once this was over, she would help repair what they had marred. But until then, her only focus was getting him away from everything, and closer to the water. Fear cackled in her ears as the trees around her burned, but she refused to listen.

The moon, full and bright, watched over the girl and her pursuer as they wove through the street.

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[That crazed look he had earlier had at least faded and just nagged at him slightly in the back of his mind. However, he's not exactly calm, because he swats Wan's arm away.]

Katara! I hurt Katara! Is she okay?!

[Panic and worry edges his voice as well as his eyes, which look imploringly at Wan.]

[This time Wan's grip was not quite as kind as he put his hands on Zuko's shoulders and held him in place.]

Katara will be fine. Korra's already gone to see her and the other waterbender that showed up saw to her burns before I brought you here.

[Wan's grip is strong, but it's his words that finally get him to relax a little. He swallows hard and then looks away. What had he done? He had hurt his friend. The only one of his friends here that actually trusted him. But now there's no way she ever would again.]

[Once he relaxed, Wan's grip eased up and his tone softened.]

Please, lay back down. You weren't hurt as much as she was, but you were still hurt. You need to rest.

I'm fine.

[But his protest is weak and he lays back down anyway. Phyiscally he feels fine anyway, if not a bit sore. But mentally... that's far from the case.]

You're not.

[Wan said, shaking his head.]

You've been poisoned. It's been lingering for a couple weeks now.

Can you fix it?

[Zuko knows he's been poisoned, but Katara hasn't been able to heal him. Despite all her efforts and trying to take care of him, he'd just gotten worse. And now look what happened.]

[Wan shook his head.]

It's a darkness that I can't feel. Not the way I could feel it back in our world. Raava's light can shine on so much, but this... this isn't one I'm sure she'd be able to burn away. Not if we can't even feel it.

But that doesn't mean it can't be fought.

I've been trying to fight it for two weeks! And you saw what happened! What am I supposed to do? Being here in the hospital won't do anything. I'll just hurt someone else!

[Zuko is getting visibly upset again. If they can't fix this, then he was just going to hurt someone again. And he didn't want that to happen. They should have just ended it.]

You spent two weeks trying to heal a wound.

[Wan corrected as gently as he could.]

Fighting it is different. It brings you anger and hate and a need for violence. So you should fight that by finding a way to bring yourself peace and calm. You should meditate at the Great Turtle's Head. His presence brings a calm to the soul faster than anything I've ever felt.

[Zuko pauses as he hears that.]

I didn't know that.

[Maybe... maybe that could work? It's worth a try isn't it?]

Do you think it will help the nightmares too?

[He hasn't even been able to get a full night's sleep for the past two weeks. ]

I don't know. The waterbender that knocked you out was the one that told us what the poison was doing to you. It's the influence of the Great Darkness in the palace. But it's worth trying.

[Zuko nods.]

I'll give it a try.

[He had to try.]

[Wan finally cracked a smile.]

Good. We can go there right now if you'd like. See if it will help you sleep.

Yeah, let's do that.

[And now Zuko will be getting up again. Provided Wan doesn't push him down again.]

[This time, Wan will not be doing that. Since Zuko wasn't off in a rush to get himself worked up and hurt again. He stepped back and allowed the fire prince to stand before heading to the door of the room. They could let the staff know the room was unoccupied as they left the building.]

We have to go around the palace to get there, so if you don't mind, I'd rather fly us there than walk. It'll be easier to avoid.

Okay, that's fine.

[Just as long as they get there, he doesn't really care. Plus flying there would be faster anyway. He'll then follow Wan out of the room and the hospital, not really saying much.]

[Once they were outside, Wan created a cloud and put his arm around Zuko's waist to hold him while they traveled. He did so in silence and in silence they flew up and around the looming palace. Wan made sure to give it a very wide berth before coming down at the Turtle's Head. Once there and on the ground, he released Zuko to get his feet under him again.]

Pick a spot. I like that grassy place near the edge of the shell. The grass is soft.

[Putting his hand on Wan's shoulder to brace himself, Zuko was also silent as they flew to the head of the turtle. When they got there, he let go and stepped forward, looking around. The grassy place seems as good as any, so he walks over there and sits himself down. It's there he takes a deep breath and closes his eyes. Already he can feel the calming influence.]

[Wan sat down next to him and maintained the silence for a moment before giving a quick, soft cough.]

Do you normally sleep sitting up?

[Zuko opens his eyes again, looking annoyed.

How can I meditate if I'm sleeping!

[Didnt you tell him to meditate Wan?!]

Well, yeah, but... I thought this visit we were going to try and see if being here would help you sleep.

I thought you said I should meditate!

[Zuko huffs in frustration.]

Whatever, it doesn't matter.

[He doesn't know how this is supposed to work. So he flops back on the grass.]

If you want to meditate now, then meditate! I just thought we were going to try the sleeping thing first!

AAAGH!

[Zuko's hands go to his face in aggravation.]

Just forget it!

[He turns over on his side with his back to Wan, folding his arm under his head. He is pretty tired, so he's just going to sleep.]

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omg my html

It's okay. It happens to me too, lol.

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Stop copying his expressions Wan, gosh.

He was born first, Zuko's the one copying him, gosh.

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