Rebecca Hb. (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
beckyh2112) wrote2010-04-07 09:08 am
beckyh2112) wrote2010-04-07 09:08 am
Entry tags:
[Jeeko Week] Fic: First Steps
Jeeko Week
Title: First Steps
Word Count: 500+
Rating: G
Summary: Thirteen-year-old Zuko boards his ship for the first time.
First Steps
***
Father allowed Zuko enough time to recover so he could walk under his own power to the ship Uncle had arranged. It was generous, Zuko knew, recalling dutifully memorized lessons in the history of the Firelords and Fire Nation. Many exiles had to leave straight from the Agni Kai, take ship with only what they had on.
The left side of his face was agony. He couldn't find it in himself to be grateful to Father, and he loathed himself for being even more dishonorable. Even if it was just in his head, even if no one else knew about it. He was shaming himself and Father both by not being grateful.
He hurt.
Uncle was with him. Uncle kept trying to offer his arm or grab his arm or something- Something that meant Zuko would be leaning on him.
Zuko wouldn't shame himself that way. He walked by himself. He could walk by himslf.
He almost walked by himself into a man wearing a lieutenant's uniform. Grey-haired, grey-eyed, all ashes and cinders. He scowled at Zuko, then his eyes flicked to someone in the prince's blind side.
"Lieutenant Jee! It's been some years."
Oh. Uncle.
"Sir," the lieutenant growled. It was... not very respectful.
People were supposed to respect his uncle.
Zuko couldn't follow that thought too clearly. This was the longest he'd been upright in days, and he was standing here when he needed to keep moving. He needed to get to his cabin, before he shamed himself by collapsing on deck.
The lieutenant was in his way.
'Move,' he started to demand, but he was hurting too much for it to rise above a whisper. And Uncle started talking anyway. Uncle Iroh could make his voice carry, and he seemed to know the lieutenant.
The lieutenant answered as little as possible.
That was rude, Zuko thought, before he stopped really being able to think at all except that he hurt. It was bright, and it hurt his good eye, and his other eye just hurt at all. He squeezed his eyes shut and tried to make the pain go down.
"General, the boy-"
Strong arms wrapped around him before he realized he was falling, then he was all but slung over someone's shoulder like a sack of rice. He cringed later at the memory, but at the moment, all he could think of was that he hurt and at least he didn't have to stand anymore.
He blacked out.
***
Zuko woke in a royal bed in a room with metal walls. He swallowed thickly and tried to remember how he got there.
"Ah, you're awake," Uncle said kindly, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "Here, have some tea."
Zuko dutifully sipped the tea. It tasted of ginseng, and it warmed his chest. It even distracted him a bit from the pain. He gritted his teeth and tried to focus on something else entirely. "That lieutenant..."
"Jee?" Uncle sounded surprised. "What about him, nephew?"
"I don't like him."
"... That is not unusual for an officer, Prince Zuko."
-End-
Title: First Steps
Word Count: 500+
Rating: G
Summary: Thirteen-year-old Zuko boards his ship for the first time.
***
Father allowed Zuko enough time to recover so he could walk under his own power to the ship Uncle had arranged. It was generous, Zuko knew, recalling dutifully memorized lessons in the history of the Firelords and Fire Nation. Many exiles had to leave straight from the Agni Kai, take ship with only what they had on.
The left side of his face was agony. He couldn't find it in himself to be grateful to Father, and he loathed himself for being even more dishonorable. Even if it was just in his head, even if no one else knew about it. He was shaming himself and Father both by not being grateful.
He hurt.
Uncle was with him. Uncle kept trying to offer his arm or grab his arm or something- Something that meant Zuko would be leaning on him.
Zuko wouldn't shame himself that way. He walked by himself. He could walk by himslf.
He almost walked by himself into a man wearing a lieutenant's uniform. Grey-haired, grey-eyed, all ashes and cinders. He scowled at Zuko, then his eyes flicked to someone in the prince's blind side.
"Lieutenant Jee! It's been some years."
Oh. Uncle.
"Sir," the lieutenant growled. It was... not very respectful.
People were supposed to respect his uncle.
Zuko couldn't follow that thought too clearly. This was the longest he'd been upright in days, and he was standing here when he needed to keep moving. He needed to get to his cabin, before he shamed himself by collapsing on deck.
The lieutenant was in his way.
'Move,' he started to demand, but he was hurting too much for it to rise above a whisper. And Uncle started talking anyway. Uncle Iroh could make his voice carry, and he seemed to know the lieutenant.
The lieutenant answered as little as possible.
That was rude, Zuko thought, before he stopped really being able to think at all except that he hurt. It was bright, and it hurt his good eye, and his other eye just hurt at all. He squeezed his eyes shut and tried to make the pain go down.
"General, the boy-"
Strong arms wrapped around him before he realized he was falling, then he was all but slung over someone's shoulder like a sack of rice. He cringed later at the memory, but at the moment, all he could think of was that he hurt and at least he didn't have to stand anymore.
He blacked out.
Zuko woke in a royal bed in a room with metal walls. He swallowed thickly and tried to remember how he got there.
"Ah, you're awake," Uncle said kindly, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "Here, have some tea."
Zuko dutifully sipped the tea. It tasted of ginseng, and it warmed his chest. It even distracted him a bit from the pain. He gritted his teeth and tried to focus on something else entirely. "That lieutenant..."
"Jee?" Uncle sounded surprised. "What about him, nephew?"
"I don't like him."
"... That is not unusual for an officer, Prince Zuko."
no subject
no subject
no subject
Of course Zuko thinks Ozai is being generous... I felt his pain while reading this and found myself putting a hand over my left eye. Which wasn't nice, now my glasses are full of fingerprints.
no subject
I love this, plain and simple.
no subject
no subject
no subject
Jee's PoV is fairly simple:
*almost run into by kid* *General Iroh babbling.* *FUCK, kid's fainting.*
Zuko has lots and lots of Daddy-issues. Would you like a subscription?
no subject
no subject
And aww... I like that Zuko is indignant (mentally, at least) on his uncle's behalf for Jee's rudeness... and that he was caught by Jee all the same. :3
An EXCELLENT first impression! ;) If Zuko starts off by disliking Jee for his rudeness, it means that he'll probably stay aloof, which explains Zuko's behaviour (and the attitude of his crew) throughout the first season until the Storm. :3 Nice setup.
no subject
This one was a lot of fun to write. *cuddles poor Zuko* He has so many issues, and he's socially awkward enough without all of his anger and pride issues, and- *babbles and pets his hair*
no subject
Pain perfectly personified...
TY!
no subject
no subject
I do believe Iroh and Jee have worked together before. In fact, I think Iroh grabbed Jee specifically for this mission because he knew the other man. I don't think they were close or even friends, but they're passing acquaintances, as much as such men can be.
*pets poor hurt Zuko*
no subject