[RL, Ursa & Zuko] Back into the arms that care

[honorandthrone]

He was nervous, honestly. Really nervous. This was all he'd wanted since finding out his mother was still alive, but as Appa carried him out of the Fire Nation and into the Earth Kingdom, he felt his stomach churn. And it wasn't from flying, he liked flying, even if the bison could be unbearably slow at times

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[willbiteback]

Ursa silently watched the bison's descent from inside the deserted house she had been staying in. Despite herself, she let out a tiny gasp as Zuko brought the animal to the ground and swung down from his back. She realized that her son wasn't a child anymore, and was perfectly capable of taking care of himself, but a part of her still saw him as the ten-year-old boy she had left so many years ago. How safe was that saddle? Did it have straps or restraints of any kind?

Shaking off such thoughts (as well as any lingering nervousness and apprehension) Ursa stepped away from the window and walked out the door-- and allowed herself to break out into a wide smile. "Zuko."

[honorandthrone]

His head jerked up and impulse took over. Rocking away from Appa, Zuko ran the few feet between them. Maybe she wasn't the only one seeing him as a ten-year-old boy. "Mom!" He didn't stop until his arms had wrapped around her waist, head bent to press his face - his scar - to her shoulder.

[willbiteback]

Ursa wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tightly. After only a moment or two, however, she pulled back and stared in horror at his scar. "Zuko. What happened to you?"

[honorandthrone]

He half lifted a hand toward his face before dropping it, frowning slightly. "Dad," he growled, shaking his head. "It was a long time ago." Not that three years was particularly long, but it was healed...as much as it would be, anyway.

[willbiteback]

"Your father did this to you?" Ursa didn't even try to keep the anger out of her voice.

[honorandthrone]

He had to remind himself that he wasn't a kid anymore, and didn't need to duck for cover at that tone. "It was an Agni Kai. Sort of."

[willbiteback]

"'Sort of'? Tell me what happened." This wasn't exactly how she had envisioned their reunion, but then again, she hadn't expected her son to have a searing burn scar across half his face.

[honorandthrone]

Zuko shifted his weight, frowning at his mother before his gaze slid to his feet. When he realized, he jerked his head upward again. He didn't like this story. He'd never had to tell it. "When - when I was thirteen, I asked Uncle to let me into one of Father's war councils. He brought me in and told me to stay quiet, but one of the generals - he was going to sacrifice an entire division of new soldiers in the Earth Kingdom just so he could have a distraction, and I objected. I...challenged him to an Agni Kai." He was trying to keep the chagrin out of his voice.

"But when the duel started, I wasn't - it wasn't the general, it was Dad. He said because I spoke out of turn in his council my challenge was to him - but it wasn't!" He scowled, jaw clenched. "I told him I wouldn't fight him." That had turned out so well.

[willbiteback]

Ursa struggled visibly with this news. At the moment, she wanted nothing more than to find Ozai and have an Agni Kai with him herself-- firebending or not.

"... You did the right thing, Zuko," she finally managed, pulling him into a hug once again.

[honorandthrone]

He lifted his arms automatically, holding tight as he hid his face again. It was good to hear, especially from her. He'd spent so long hating himself for making the wrong decision, for making his father disgusted. Hearing the opposite - well.

"I know," he said quietly, trying to put on some modicum of self-assurance.

[willbiteback]

"You should," she said firmly, tightening her grip. "I'm sure you've heard otherwise, from both him and your sister?"

[honorandthrone]

"Yeah. But it's okay. I know." Azula always lies. How many times had that gotten him through?

[willbiteback]

"I'm glad." Ursa pulled back just a little, examining his face (but not focusing on the scar; she had a feeling that he got a lot of people staring at it, and she wasn't going to make such an insensitive mistake). "But let's not talk about that, hmmm? Tell me how you've been doing."

Not that she was going to put what Ozai had done completely out of her mind, of course. But such talk could wait-- now, it was better to focus on happier things.

[honorandthrone]

Smart move, Ursa. Zuko's face cleared a little, and he ducked his head briefly. "I'm fine. I told you I was fine."

A yawn and a ground rumbling thumb behind them made him turn, eying the spot where Appa had flopped down to munch on grass. Zuko rolled his eyes before turning back to his mother. "And the ride was fine, too."

[willbiteback]

Ursa flushed just slightly, as if Zuko somehow knew of her worries about the safety of flying a bison through the sky. "And before that? I'd love to hear about your life." She looked around, wondering if there was a place to sit down around here. Inside it was so... stuffy.

[honorandthrone]

He scratched the back of his head and caught her searching look. He didn't mind prolonging what seemed like a very long story, and nodded back to the huge, furry beast. "He has a saddle we can sit on, if you want."