(1) Augmentum | Zuko

Chapter Twenty

Zuko sets down the fresh tray of food and looks across at Rana who sleeps against the wall, the egg tucked into her chest, her arms around it, her tail brought around and up to cushion it. It still hasn't hatched. All-day. All night. And nothing. Zuko couldn't stick around to wait. He had duties to attend to and he couldn't let it be seen that he's spending time with their prisoner. It's bad enough he's bringing her food. He shouldn't be showing her kindness at all. But there is lingering nostalgia that forces him to give her something nice. To be kind to her. Even if he doesn't want to like it. He doesn't want to feel that nostalgia. It makes him feel like he is the one betraying the Fire Nation. He moves closer to her, grabbing the Fire Nation robes left for her to change into, which she didn't, opting to stay in her dress. He shakes out the robe, opening it up to use as a blanket instead as he drapes it over her body. He looks down hearing a cracking sound. Right there. Standing in the remnants of the egg. Is a little yellow rodent thing and it's staring at him. He leans back when it reaches out for him. This isn't meant for him. This moment was meant for Rana and she slept through it. He touches her arm and gives her a shake.

"Zu?" She mumbles, half asleep. He stares at her a little. That stupid nickname still gets to him and it shouldn't. It has no right to get to him any more. 

"Your thing....hatched" He points out, she hums, still waking up before she then seems to realise what he's said. She bolts upright, almost knocking straight into him, he grabs her arm to keep himself upright and shoots her an annoyed look, but she ignores it in favour of the creature sat in front of them. She picks it up and pokes the thing's cheeks with a soft sad smile. The others missed this. Missed welcoming a new brother or sister into their little group. Zuko watches her, feels an ache in his chest with her looking so....lost and alone. "What is it?" He asks when she doesn't offer it up, she shrugs.

"I don't know" She admits. "I usually just name them by what they say first, it's been right so far" She holds up the little thing and raises an eyebrow. "If I had my book it would be easier"

"What?"

"In my bag, there is a huge tome....has all their names in" He looks at the thing and then stands, heading to the door of the cell, opening it up to poke his head out. There is a soldier at the end of the hallway, stood guard.

"You" Zuko orders and the soldier looks at him. "In my quarters, there is a bag that belonged to the vastaya....bring it to me"

"A bag?" The soldier asks, wanting clarification. Zuko rolls his eyes a little.

"Her bag" He draws out and gives the soldier a look. "Are you slow?" The soldier walks away.

......

The soldier returns with her bag in short time but Zuko still feels like he took forever, just to annoy him. Zuko snatches the bag from him and then dismissive the soldier before he turns to the doorway. He opens up the satchel and sees the spine of the tome there. He takes it from the bag and sets the satchel down beside the door before he turns back to where Rana is now on her hands and knees, her rear poised in the air as her tail swishes around. She's pulling faces at the little yellow pokemon who pulls faces back at her. He holds out the book to her but she waves him off with her hand.

"You find it" She points out without looking at him. Zuko lets out an annoyed breath before he looks down at the tome, opens it up, flicking through it to look for the right page. The sketches help. There must be an entry for every single type of pokemon the vastaya have ever had contact with. It looks like an instruction manual for them. He finds the one that he thinks looks the most like this little thing and gives Rana a glance to make sure she's paying attention, but he's not sure she is.

"Pichu, the Tiny Mouse Pokémon" He reads for her as she continues to give her full attention to Pichu. "Despite their size, Pichu release bursts of lightning that can shock even a vastaya. However, Pichu are unskilled at controlling their lightning, and sometimes release it by accident when surprised, or when laughing, and shock themselves"

"Wait, what?" She asks and then Pichu laughs, letting out a bolt of lightning from his cheeks that hits Rana. She is electrocuted, violently. Zuko jumps back from her. Rana groans and leans back once it stops, her skin feels like it's been flayed, her hair sticking on end, along with the fur on her ears and tail. Zuko bites the inside of his cheek to stop himself from laughing.

"Pichu" Pichu offers apologetically, rubbing at his cheeks.

"Ouch" Rana comments dryly as she tries to flatten her hair and ears. She looks at Zuko. "Don't" She warns him, he gives her a look back.

"What?" He defends and sets the book in her lap. "I wasn't going to say anything"

"Yes, you were" She counters. "You were going to laugh" He scoffs and looks away from her. "Glad to know seeing me in pain makes you happy" She comments dryly, he clenches his jaw and looks at her as she pulls her food closer letting Pichu climb into her lap.

"It doesn't" He argues, her eyes flicker up to meet his. "I'll be back with dinner" He adds and then turns to leave, uncomfortable with the attention now. "And..." He stops and glances over his shoulder. "If it makes you feel any better, it looked wonderful" He teases leaving the cell, though he leaves the door open instead of locking it. She smiles to herself and looks down at Pichu who is helping itself to her breakfast.