47 [Voice]

[innerfirewithin]

[At first, there's nothing on the network but ragged breathing, the slightest hitch of breath, as if the owner of the PCD is trying to catch his breath --

A cough. Two. Three.

And then, a voice, with the oh-so-familiar tinge of irritation and frustration, except without the usual energy.

Zuko sounds tired.]

Where are my swords?

Comments

[Video]

[kyasdaughter]

[.. he's back. Katara's eyes are a little wide, worried as she stares down the PCD.]

Where are you?

[Voice]

[innerfirewithin]

[No video.]

That's not what I asked.

[Voice]

[kyasdaughter]

[Fine. Be that way.]

Home. Where you should be.

[Voice]

[innerfirewithin]

[Shut up, he looks like shit. 8(

There's a shift, as if someone is getting up, before -- no, silence again.]

I'm not the one who didn't bring my body to the clinic.

[There -- should be some sort of irritation, attached to that statement, but it's still completely tired.

... okay, with a slight amount of irritation. What gives, people? Zuko drags your dead bodies to the clinic the moment they hit the ground. Why didn't you do the same thing for him?]

[Voice]

[kyasdaughter]

[And suddenly, she's glad there's not video. She isn't sure if she wants to cry or throw the PCD against the wall.

Instead, she just sits there in silence for a moment, before answering:]

There wasn't anything to bring.

[Voice] 1/2

[innerfirewithin]

[...what is she talking about?]

[Voice]

[innerfirewithin]

[...maybe they destroyed the body because it was infected. That would make a great deal of sense.

But something tells him that isn't the answer, so:]

What happened?

[Voice]

[kyasdaughter]

You don't remember? You don't -- Tyki. He showed it on the networks, when he -

[Katara makes a low sound of frustration.]

Tell me where you are.

[Voice] 1/2

[innerfirewithin]

[Silence, on Zuko's end -- because Katara said the magic words.

He showed it on the network.

So all you get, Katara, is the sound of clicking -- Zuko is going through the past week's archives quickly, because if no one is going to tell him the easy way, he'll find out for himself -- ]

[Voice] 2/3 actually fldkhg

[innerfirewithin]

[Then, silence, as Zuko watches it --]

[Voice]

[innerfirewithin]

[And then the sound of the PCD hitting the ground when he's through, but luckily for Katara, Zuko threw it just right so it sends out one last message before shutting off.]

[x,y]

[Offline]

[kyasdaughter]

[Those coordinates were probably accidental.

Katara doesn't care.

She heads toward the coordinates at a dead, flat run -- she's not sure if Zuko is going to try to get up, to try to leave, and she's out of breath, nearly doubled over with panting when she does arrive.]

[Offline]

[innerfirewithin]

[Zuko is something of a mess. He's pale -- ashen, even -- and he's managed to get himself standing, but he's leaning against the wall separating Adstringendum from the wastelands for support. When Katara shows up, Zuko doesn't look up, but he does push himself up a little straighter.

It's easier to hide the shaking if you're pressed against a wall.]

[Offline]

[kyasdaughter]

[She had planned on punching him. Hitting him. Railing at him for running off alone and getting himself hurt --

But seeing him like that, she couldn't. Conflicted: it was taking everything she had not to walk over, not to try to hold him and make it better, but he'd push her away, shove her off. That wouldn't be what he wanted.

So, instead, she moves to stand close to the wall a little awkwardly, pressing a hand against it.]

Zuko.

[Offline]

[innerfirewithin]

[For a long moment, Zuko doesn't say anything -- he'd rather be alone, anywhere but here, with Katara, but then, before he could stop himself:]

It wasn't bad enough that I died.

[It's a furious hiss.]

[Offline]

[kyasdaughter]

[Katara stares at him for a moment, before hesitantly pressing a hand to the small of his back.]

Zuko. It just-- that thing happens, here.