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Now I'm walking in, walking into the fire;
[ It's been a long couple of months. Things had been alright, in the beginning, of course. Through all his travels, Zuko had wanted nothing more than to come back home and be welcomed by his father's side, to be accepted as prince and son, again. But despite that, despite the fact that he should be happy the avatar is gone and that everything is working in his father's favor...part of him is at unease. He feels unsteady, almost. Like the path he's walking is the one he shouldn't have chosen. Maybe it's his uncle's words finally getting to him--because he has been going to see him, down in the prison. He does care, even if he can 't always show it--but his mind keeps going back to when Azula found them, to the Avatar's death and everything that had followed.
Maybe that's why he asks about Katara when he does.
Honestly, he's appalled to hear of her condition. Yes, she's an enemy of the state. But that doesn't mean she should be treated like she is. She's still a person, enemy or no. But Zuko isn't really sure what he can do to change things. He tries reasoning with his father, but that goes nowhere very quickly. All it really earns him is a disapproving stare. So, he confides in his uncle. Iroh, frustratingly enough, doesn't give him a straight answer, but Zuko knows in his heart what his stance would be.
Not that that helps with the decision. It just leaves him feeling more divided than before. What should he do? Should he remain by his fathers side and support his decisions? Or should he go against everything he's worked for, to do what he knows is the right thing? He waffles, struggles with himself. He makes some minor preparations to aid in her escape and then does nothing with them.
It goes on like that until one day he just...ends up there, standing in front of where she's being held. He has no real plan and no idea if he'll actually be able to get her out and away before someone realizes what's going on, but in the time it took him to get from the palace to the prison, he's come to realize that he's got to try. He owes it to himself, to his uncle, and to his past. He makes sure there are no guards looking in his direction, and ducks through the doorway into the small space in front of her cell. He'd snagged the keys from the guardhouse earlier in the week, on a whim, so all he really has to do is free her and help her escape as subtly as possible. So far things were going well, so maybe it would actually work in their favor.
He stands there a long time, on the precipice of decision, caught between two halves. He can still turn back. He can still be a good son and act like this is fine, like he doesn't actually care what happens to any of the people outside his own nation....but would that be right? He would be making Ozai proud, but what about Iroh and his mother? What about himself?
He takes a slow step forward, and somehow manages to find his voice despite the knot in his throat. ]
Katara.
Maybe that's why he asks about Katara when he does.
Honestly, he's appalled to hear of her condition. Yes, she's an enemy of the state. But that doesn't mean she should be treated like she is. She's still a person, enemy or no. But Zuko isn't really sure what he can do to change things. He tries reasoning with his father, but that goes nowhere very quickly. All it really earns him is a disapproving stare. So, he confides in his uncle. Iroh, frustratingly enough, doesn't give him a straight answer, but Zuko knows in his heart what his stance would be.
Not that that helps with the decision. It just leaves him feeling more divided than before. What should he do? Should he remain by his fathers side and support his decisions? Or should he go against everything he's worked for, to do what he knows is the right thing? He waffles, struggles with himself. He makes some minor preparations to aid in her escape and then does nothing with them.
It goes on like that until one day he just...ends up there, standing in front of where she's being held. He has no real plan and no idea if he'll actually be able to get her out and away before someone realizes what's going on, but in the time it took him to get from the palace to the prison, he's come to realize that he's got to try. He owes it to himself, to his uncle, and to his past. He makes sure there are no guards looking in his direction, and ducks through the doorway into the small space in front of her cell. He'd snagged the keys from the guardhouse earlier in the week, on a whim, so all he really has to do is free her and help her escape as subtly as possible. So far things were going well, so maybe it would actually work in their favor.
He stands there a long time, on the precipice of decision, caught between two halves. He can still turn back. He can still be a good son and act like this is fine, like he doesn't actually care what happens to any of the people outside his own nation....but would that be right? He would be making Ozai proud, but what about Iroh and his mother? What about himself?
He takes a slow step forward, and somehow manages to find his voice despite the knot in his throat. ]
Katara.
no subject
So, he thinks about his Uncle, and imagines what he might say to him right then; Anger is like the ocean, nephew. It eats away the cliffs, but is only truly useful when it is able to embrace the calm. Or..something. He's not wise like Uncle is, he can't even really pretend to be. But he needs to try right now, for the sake of keeping his cool. ]
You don't have to trust me. But if you want to make out of the city, you're going to need my help.
[ He pauses, stepping a little closer to the door. ]
I just need to know you're not going to attack me as soon as I let you go.