Zuko remembered the boy who had been so curious about the visitors to his home, especially Zuko, who by virtue of being only barely older than he was just so interesting. He remembered the boy’s strange father begging them to pretend to be Earth Kingdom so his people wouldn’t find out about his collaboration. He remembered staring at the temple murals and reliefs, desperate for any clue on his hopeless search. He remembered watching the temple’s new inhabitants fly through the air, and feeling a ridiculous, intoxicating rush of hope, and he remembered it dying when he saw three of the flying girls playing rock tag after they landed. But Zuko couldn’t remember the boy’s name. “Oh.”
“It’s, um, nice to see you again.” The kid kept trying to smile. It wasn’t quite working.
“Yeah.”
He glanced at the crutch resting against Zuko’s good leg. “Your uncle told me about what happened to your leg.”
Zuko wrapped his hand around the handle of the crutch. “What about it?”
The kid leaned his elbow on the arm of his wheelchair. “My dad could help, I think, I mean, he’s really good with things like that.”
Zuko hated the crutch. “I don’t need any help.”
“Oh.” The kid looked down. “Okay then.”
The kid was the same age Zuko had been when he had gone to the Northern Air Temple, Zuko realized with a jolt. “What’s your name?”
“Teo.” He laced his fingers behind his head. “You’re uncle’s worried about you.”
“He doesn’t have to be,” Zuko said sulkily. “I’m fine.” Fine as he was going to get.
“Come up on deck with me.” Teo’s lips pinched together. “It’ll make your uncle feel better.”
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branchandroot
Zuko Hurt His Leg on the Run and it Won’t Heal: No Drinking, but There's Teo and Zuko Bonding pt 2
Date: 2010-10-13 05:40 pm (UTC)“It’s, um, nice to see you again.” The kid kept trying to smile. It wasn’t quite working.
“Yeah.”
He glanced at the crutch resting against Zuko’s good leg. “Your uncle told me about what happened to your leg.”
Zuko wrapped his hand around the handle of the crutch. “What about it?”
The kid leaned his elbow on the arm of his wheelchair. “My dad could help, I think, I mean, he’s really good with things like that.”
Zuko hated the crutch. “I don’t need any help.”
“Oh.” The kid looked down. “Okay then.”
The kid was the same age Zuko had been when he had gone to the Northern Air Temple, Zuko realized with a jolt. “What’s your name?”
“Teo.” He laced his fingers behind his head. “You’re uncle’s worried about you.”
“He doesn’t have to be,” Zuko said sulkily. “I’m fine.” Fine as he was going to get.
“Come up on deck with me.” Teo’s lips pinched together. “It’ll make your uncle feel better.”
Zuko closed his eyes and nodded.