Chapter Text
Katara immediately dropped onto her knees next to Zuko, “Sokka help me get him up!” She was already looping her arm under his shoulder to pull him up.
Sokka was frozen in place in shock for a moment, before he dropped his bowl and started helping Katara with Zuko. Which was surprisingly easy between the two of them, he really did need to eat.
“Dad, do you guys have a medical tent?” Katara asked.
He nodded, “Go find Anak, he was supposed to be reorganizing his herbs today.” Hakoda addressed the man who had served their food and then turned back to Katara and Sokka holding up Zuko, “Follow me.”
Sokka and Katara carried the unconscious Zuko between them as they followed their father. Aang looked ready to follow them, but Toph grabbed his arm as they left.
The medical tent wasn’t far, but it felt like a long walk even if they were hurrying. Multiple tribesmen eyed them worriedly, fair since he and Katara were carrying an unconscious body between them. One that’s strained breathing was very noticeable now that his body was pressed up against Sokka’s side.
No wonder Toph had been worried.
Hakoda held open the tent flap of a larger tent open for them as they dragged Zuko inside. It wasn’t nearly as big as the war tent, but it was big enough to fit three small cots, a low desk in the back and a small wooden chest comfortably. They laid Zuko down on one of the back cots.
“I’m sure your friend will be fine.” Hakoda smiled even though he clearly had worry in his eyes.
He was pushed to the side as a slightly older man ducked into the tent. Sokka remembered him as the healer who had set the various broken bones he had received as a child. He could admit he didn’t exactly think out many of his elaborate plans as a kid.
“Hello, I’m Anak- ah! Sokka, Katara!” He hurried over to kneel beside the cot, “Wow, you’ve both grown so much!”
Katara nodded, she seemed to remember him too, “Uh, hey, our friend kind of passed out? He wasn’t in the best conditions when we found him and it kind of seems like he has a breathing problem? So maybe something’s wrong with his lungs?”
“Yes, hmm… I’m sure it isn’t life threatening if he’s been fine so far. I’ve got everything covered,” He shooed Hakoda away with a wave of his hand and the chief left reluctantly, “You kids shouldn’t have to worry you can-”
“No. I can heal him, I learned healing in the North Pole.” She clenched her fists in her lap, “I could’ve healed him before but he wouldn’t let me. I can't not help now.”
Sokka placed a hand on her shoulder and she reached a hand up to rest on top of his, “He seemed pretty resistant to any healing.” He reassured her, “I don’t think he would have ever let you.”
Anak nodded, “Alright, then. If you’re sure.”
“Sokka, could you go get me a bucket of water?” Katara released his hand.
“We’ve been collecting fresh water from a waterfall and stream a bit further down the beach where the cliffs meet the woods.” Anak directed him, “It’s impossible to miss.”
Sokka left quickly, grateful for something to do. He left the tents behind and jogged through along the cliff face until it dropped away to the forest. The small waterfall fell into a large pool which trickled into a lazy stream further down. It was beautiful and Sokka would’ve enjoyed just relaxing on the smooth rocks around the pool it cascaded into if there wasn’t such an urgent situation at the moment.
He spotted multiple buckets sitting near the rocky bank for easy use. He stole one and filled it up with the running water near the fall, hefting the now weighted bucket along.
He made it slower back to camp with a full bucket, not wanting to spill it when he had no clue how much water Katara would need. How badly injured Zuko might be.
He carried the water into the tent, Katara looked grimfaced as he set it beside her. She was already anxiously swirling the water from her waterskin, while Anak was leaning over Zuko’s body.
They had already removed Zuko’s shirt and Sokka stilled at the sight.
Anak was hovering over a jagged gash running on Zuko’s side. It was wet with blood but it didn’t seem to be bleeding too much anymore, which suggested it was older. It was puffy red and there were sections of it leaking yellowing puss. Anak seemed to be worrying over those sections the most. He was dabbing at them with a piece of cotton that he kept wetting with a vial of something.
Sokka glanced over the rest of his body, his much too thin body. He could see Zuko’s ribs through his pale skin, some sections of his ribcage did not look at all how Sokka thought they should. It was like a dip or an indent where the bone cut off. There was intense dark bruising on those parts as well. He was actually covered in bruises in various stages of healing, mostly his torso and less so on his arms.
Underneath all the bruising he could make out multiple scars on his pale skin as well. Long thin ones and wide uneven gashes.
Sokka’s heart stilted for a moment he swore. He was not stupid enough to convince himself that all of those were all accidents. No, most of those had to have been intentional.
He tore his eyes away, “What’s he doing?” He whispered to Katara.
“I’m disinfecting the wound.” Anak said, and Sokka was a bit embarrassed, “Katara’s waterbending might be able to heal the wound well, but I don’t want to risk sealing any of this infection in and making things worse. I’m surprised it isn’t worse than this.”
Katara looked even more worried, “Why didn’t he say anything? It couldn’t have not been painful…”
Sokka didn’t know what to say to that.
Anak set aside the vial and cotton pad, “From the looks of it he has two broken ribs,” he furrowed his brow, “Neither pierced anything internal, he wouldn’t have made it this long if it did. That must be the cause of the weird breathing you mentioned earlier.”
Had… had Zuko been walking around with two broken ribs and just failed to mention it? Had he been fighting with two broken ribs?! Spirit’s, this guy must have the highest pain tolerance known to man.
“Katara, if you would?” Anak moved aside to make room for her beside Zuko.
She looked just as worried and anxious as he felt but she scooted closer wordlessly. Katara pulled water from the bucket Sokka had lugged here and coated Zuko’s torso in it. She held her hands above the large wound on his side, the water started glowing an ethereal pale blue.
Sokka would honestly never grow used to how beautiful it looked. He could barely grasp the fact that his little sister, who 6 months ago could barely hold a sphere of water together, was now a Master Waterbender and healer.
He was so proud of her.
Anak looked just as entranced as him. Sokka couldn’t remember how long ago the last raids had been before the one that had taken his mother. Anak definitely didn’t seem old enough to remember any Waterbender healers though.
The water stitched the large gash up slowly until it was just a long raised pink scar. The weird cut off looking ribs snapped back into place as well and the worst bruises faded.
Sokka could leave right now if wanted, it wasn’t like he was needed with two amazing healers here. He didn’t want to leave Katara though, neither did he want to leave Zuko. He'd only known the guy for like, 3 days, but he was worried. The situation they had found him in wasn’t exactly… reassuring. Now that he had seen the damage inflicted on him too…
Katara pulled the water away once she was done and dumped it back into the bucket. Anak seemed at a loss for words at the moment.
“Well.” He finally said, “You better not have me out of a job, Katara.”
She smiled but it was strained, “Thanks.”
Anak moved over to the small chest and started rifling through it. He pulled out a few rolls of bandages and returned, “Sokka, could you hold him up so it’s easier to wrap these?” Sokka followed his instruction and held Zuko up in a sitting position leaning against him, “I want to make sure his ribs are bound tight.”
Katara frowned and opened her mouth to say something but Anak cut her off, “I just don’t want to take any risks. I trust in your healing Katara, but broken ribs can be very serious if we don’t take precautions. I’d rather be overly cautious than have him break them again and stab something.”
Katara shut up at that.
Sokka laid Zuko back down again once Anak was finished with the bandages.
“He’s gonna be fine now right?” Katara asked.
“Of course, thanks to your healing. He would have to have been on bedrest for weeks otherwise.” Anak sighed and rubbed a hand down his face, “I’m sorry to ask this of you when you both just arrived, but could one of you stay here and watch him? Come get me when he wakes up. I just need to reorganize my supplies. Some of the men got everything all mixed up with the food when they were unloading and I’ve been putting off doing it for a week.”
Katara and Sokka nodded as Anak got up to leave and hurried out, “I can stay here, sis.” Sokka spoke to Katara, “You should go tell the other’s Zuko is fine now and go get some rest.”
“You sure?” She looked back worriedly at the unconscious Zuko.
“Yup! As long as you bring me dinner.”
Katara laughed a bit and Sokka was glad to break some of the tension at least. She stood up and brushed herself off, taking the sloshing bucket of water with her as she left.
-
Sokka wasn’t really sure how long Zuko had been passed out for, or how long he had been sitting here bored in this tent. He hated the silence but it wasn’t really like there was somebody here to fill it up with conversation with.
He was sat down on the cot nearest to Zuko’s as he glanced down at him. Sokka was practically burning alive with questions at this point. He knew basically nothing about this guy other than his name and the fact that he was a Firebender.
“Hey.”
Sokka nearly jumped out of his skin and spun around to face Toph, peaking her head in at the entrance to the tent.
“Holy crap, Toph!” He pressed a hand to his heart dramatically, “I nearly died of a heart attack.”
She scoffed but stepped inside fully and plopped herself down next to him. She crossed her arms and neither of them said anything for a moment, Sokka assumed she had something to say eventually.
“Is Zuko okay?” She eventually asked in a soft voice that was very unlike her, “Katara said he was fine now, but she likes to act like I’m some child who will throw up at the mention of violence sometimes. So is he actually alright?”
Sokka could see her sad expression even through her shaggy bangs. Toph might be incredibly defensive and boisterous, but she was only 12 years old. Aang might not have picked up on it in his own grief, but to Sokka it had been clear that she had blamed herself for Appa’s kidnapping.
Sokka knew why she was uncharacteristically quiet right now. He was a very tactile person and Toph was not, unless you count her punching her friends all the time, but anyone would probably enjoy some comfort right now right?
He wrapped his arm around her smaller shoulders, “Don’t worry, he’s fine. Katara wasn’t babying you, he was hurt but she healed him and he’ll be perfectly fine.”
Toph nodded tersely. Sokka was itching to talk but now that he had someone here to talk with he didn't know what to say. He didn’t really know if Toph would appreciate his rambling right now.
He didn’t want to be subject to a punch that would knock him out right now.
Toph didn’t stay for long, eventually shoving him off and leaving with a grumble that she ‘needed to get Twinkle-Toes back on his training’.
And Sokka was alone again.
He leaned back on his arms and stared at the arched ceiling of the tent, “You’re really weird y’know?” He muttered, finally deciding that an asleep person was better than no one to talk to, “I think I hate Long Feng more than I did before now.”
He swayed back and forth and was suddenly aware that he was very hungry, “I mean he had to be the one keeping you down there right?”
Sokka really, truly, despised that man. His stupid face and his stupid voice. He was the reason their whole invasion plan was upturned, the one keeping Appa hostage to keep Aang in Ba Sing Se, and presumably the one also keeping Zuko captive for however long he did.
Which Sokka really tried to push out of his head because some of those scars looked really old. Especially that big burn scar on his face.
Sokka looked down to get a good look at the scar on that thought and came face to face with two slim gold eyes staring back at him. He startled and wow did he need to get better at being aware of his surroundings.
He blinked blearily and Sokka stared back at him. Zuko abruptly pushed himself up into a seated position on shaky arms.
“Woah, hey! Maybe take it easy? You just woke up!”
Zuko stayed seated anyway and started pressing on his ribcage where one of the previously broken bones were. He was also picking at the edge of the bandages like he was about to peel them away.
Sokka grabbed his wrist to pull it away from doing just that, “Hey, those need to stay there, okay?” He warned, “Katara healed everything right up but those are so your ribs stay straight I guess. I’m not exactly a doctor uh..”
Zuko had stiffened when Sokka grabbed his wrist and was watching him with narrowed eyes now. Sokka dropped his wrist when he realized his mistake.
Zuko had lowered his other hand from pressing against his ribs and laid both his hands in his lap. He rubbed the wrist that Sokka had grabbed but didn’t take his eyes off of him and kept shifting uncomfortably.
Sokka should be grateful that now he had somebody to talk to. But his mouth was frozen and he couldn’t really think of anything to talk about to the guy who passed out 5 seconds ago from broken ribs that he had hid from them even when Katara offered to heal him.
“Why didn’t you tell anyone you were hurt?” Yay, great job Sokka way to be blunt and not even ask if he felt okay first.
Zuko shrugged and pulled his legs up so he was sitting with them crossed.
Okay, well that gave Sokka literally nothing and he still knew nothing about this guy. He also realized that he should probably go get Anak right now, but Sokka’s curiosity won out. He had to know at least a little more from this conversation.
“How old are you?”
Zuko fiddled with his hands a bit before answering, “Sixteen.” Then after a moment, added, “I think.”
Okay so maybe asking questions wasn’t the best course of action with this guy when he didn’t give straight ones. “What do you mean, ‘I think?’”
Zuko was quiet for so long, Sokka was about to ask a different question, “I…” He finally said, “I didn’t have a uh- good way of telling time. Down… there.”
Now Sokka felt like an asshole for asking that. That was probably the most Zuko had spoken combined over the last few days. And Sokka had gone and dug up what he assumed were probably not the best memories.
Sokka had been right at least, Zuko was only a year older than him. Even less than a year actually, since Sokka’s 16th birthday wasn’t too far away.
“Oh.” Sokka replied dumbly, “Um… are you feeling okay? Any pain? Or are you hungry?”
Zuko shook his head, which left Sokka with another dilemma of how to fill the silence. Spirit’s, this was the most awkward conversation Sokka had ever had.
“So, Firebender huh?”
Zuko glanced up at him and then back at his hands, “Yeah.”
Tui and La why wouldn’t this guy just talk.
He suddenly remembered that he had an escape excuse, “Uh, I have to go get Anak. He’s our healer here and he wanted me to get him once you woke up.” Sokka stood up, “Er… just, stay here for now.”
Sokka quickly stepped out, grateful to finally be out of that stuffy tent and away from the gaze of those burning eyes.
He asked a man sitting in the sand sharpening a blade where he could find some of the food supplies, he hoped Anak was still there even though the sun was much lower in the sky now. The man directed him towards the farther edge of camp near the cliffs. He found the crates stacked up along the rocks easily.
Anak was hidden behind some of them surrounded by open boxes and various bottles and herbs scattered everywhere mixed with different food supplies. He muttered some not very nice words under his breath as he sifted through a box and stuffed things away into it.
“Hey,” Sokka alerted him to his presence, “Zuko’s awake now, you said to come get you when he woke up?”
Anak jerked his head up, “Oh great!” He looked at the mess of supplies scattered around, sighed, shrugged, and then shoved the rest of them into one box. “I give up.”
He stood up with a creak of his old-man knees and Sokka followed him as they headed back into camp to the medical tent.
“Did he seem in pain?”
“Nope, he seemed fine and dandy!” Sokka answered. Which now that he thought about it didn’t really hold up well since he did in fact lie about being fine before.
They didn’t continue conversation as they had reached the tent and Anak entered first with Sokka in tow. Zuko was sitting in the same spot as before, he watched Anak kneel down near him with a suspicious eye. He supposed that was fair, Zuko had been unconscious when Anak was helping him so this was just some random man approaching him.
“Hello! My name’s Anak. You’re Zuko, correct?.” Anak introduced himself, Sokka realized he never really told him Zuko’s name but he guessed Katara probably did, “I’m the resident healer, but I can’t take any credit for your injuries being healed so fast, that was all Katara.”
Anak laughed but Zuko’s wary expression didn’t change, he wondered why he would be so distrusting of the guy who had literally helped heal him so he didn’t die.
“Sokka,” Anak addressed him standing near the tent entrance, “Could you go get a bowl of the soup I was preparing, I left it warming on the fire. It’s mostly just broth, not the stew made for everybody else.”
“Yeah sure.” Sokka could see Zuko glance at him for a moment as he left with an expression Sokka couldn’t decipher with the quick look he got.
He retraced his steps from earlier in the day towards the center of the camp and found the same campfire warming a large bowl of what he assumed was the camp’s stew. Sitting beside it was a smaller pot of thinner soup.
The same man that had fed Sokka lunch before was stirring the large pot of stew. He smiled at Sokka as he approached, “Sorry, kid. The food ain’t ready yet.”
Sokka was a bit offended that the guy would immediately assume the only reason he was here was for food. Even if that was exactly why he was here and if the stew was done he would have definitely taken some.
“Nah, I’m here for some of the soup Anak prepared?” Sokka laughed, “He sent me to get some for Zuko I think.”
The man nodded and pulled out a bowl to ladle some soup into, “That the one who passed out? How is he?”
He really should ask for his name. Sokka couldn’t for the life of him remember what it was.
“He’s doing fine now.” Sokka accepted the warm bowl he was handed, “Thanks.”
Sokka really wished that stew was done, he was so much more hungry now that he smelt the good food. He returned to Anak quickly and handed over the bowl to him.
“Apreciated, Sokka. Here, you’re malnourished so you need to get some nutrients in you.” Anak handed the bowl off to Zuko, who took it but didn’t make any movement to eat any, “I don’t want you eating anything heavy for a while, your body needs to adjust with lighter foods first or you’ll get sick.”
Maybe that was why Zuko hadn’t been eating? Did he know he shouldn’t be eating filling food and just opted to not eat at all? Meat wasn’t really a light food and that's all they had access to the last few days.
Zuko didn’t seem like he was planning on eating anything, just kept glaring at the bowl of broth. Anak nudged it a little further into his pale hands and that’s what instigated Zuko into finally lifting it up and taking a small sip.
“I know Katara healed your wounds well, but I want you to stay here for a day or two more so I can check if any infection has set in.” Zuko nodded wordlessly at Anak’s words, “You should probably get some real sleep now once you’re done with that. Me and Sokka can leave you be for now as long as you promise to finish that and then rest.”
Zuko nodded again and took another sip of the broth to emphasize that he would.
Sokka waved at Zuko as Anak pulled him out, “Bye, Zuko.”
Anak pulled him further from the tent and once they were a good enough distance from it he stopped and gripped Sokka’s shoulders tightly, “Where the hell did you find that kid?”
The reassuring smile that had seemed to forever rest on his face was gone, replaced with an anxious frown.
“He is severely malnourished, way past too thin for someone his age. I’m surprised he hadn’t bled out from the wound whenever he first got it. And those scars…” He drifted off, “You’re a very smart boy Sokka, you and I both know there’s no way all of those were accidental.”
He wasn’t really sure how to respond to that, Anak had just voiced aloud every concern Sokka had been trying not to think about.
Sokka swallowed hard, “W-we found him under Lako Laogai when we were looking for Aang’s flying Bison,” He saw Anak raise a questioning look, “Lake Laogai is this place in Ba Sing Se… the Dai Li, they watch over the city, were brainwashing people down there. We think he was a prisoner down there, but he’s not exactly very talkative so we don’t really know anything else.”
Tui and La had they brainwashed Zuko?
If he was being kept down there then probably… maybe they could get Katara to do that weird memory thing that she did with Jet and see. Why would they brainwash him and then keep him down there though? With Jet it seemed like they had just released him back into the city with weirdly altered memories.
Anak did not look comforted at this information, “Okay.” He released Sokka’s shoulders and rubbed his face, “Sokka he must’ve been there for… a long time. Those scars are very, very old. Especially that one on his face… I’m surprised he didn’t die from that one either.”
“...Yeah.” Sokka said quietly.
Anak looked conflicted and pulled his hand out from his hands to look at Sokka carefully.
“Look, Sokka.” His shoulders slumped, “I don’t want to put this pressure on you, but I want you to watch out for him. The psychological effects of whatever he’s gone through cannot be good. He needs someone his own age around, not some old man like me.”
Sokka nodded firmly. That wasn’t a big ask at this point. He was going to do so anyway, and he suspected Katara, Toph, and Aang were on the same page.
Zuko was a much better addition to Team Avatar than Jet anyway.