Chapter Text
The end of the war was the biggest relief that Zuko could shrug off of his shoulders- his father and sister were imprisoned where they belonged, the place of the avatar had been restored, and the nations were at peace. Peace. Zuko hadn't known a moment of it since the second he opened his eyes, so now that he had it- and had healed from his Agni Kai with Azula -he had no idea what to do with himself. He spent his days wandering his palace and painstakingly pouring over dull diplomatic issues- it made him feel as if his brain was melting out of his ears, but he did feel safe, at last.
He and Mai had gone their separate ways- he was just busy enough and she wanted to rekindle her friendship with Ty-Lee, who was halfway across the world. So, she left, they ended their relationship on good terms, and Zuko was left in the Fire Nation with just Iroh and his turtleducks.
Things were- well, they were boring. Zuko started feeling a bit under the weather as of late, but as they were moving into the winter months- and he was subject to mind-numbing lord duties half the time -he thought little of it and just asked his uncle to make him tea more often. He found himself walking back and forth through the halls of the palace nearly every hour of the day, both aimlessly and for reasons of importance, though the former was more common. Currently, he was being briefed on the way to a conference, the subject of which he knew little about, but most of the information was going in one ear and out the other.
"-and a representative from the Southern Water Tribe will be arriving soon to discuss some local matters,"
His interest piqued, and Zuko spoke suddenly. "Sokka? When will he get here?"
"Any day now, my lord,"
That warranted a sigh of relief from the Fire Lord- finally, something interesting, and he'd be getting to see an old friend again. It had been too long since he had met up with anyone from the old gang- Sokka and Katara were back in the Water Tribe, Toph was serving in the Earth Kingdom, and Aang was off rebuilding air temples; all of them were far too busy to get back together as a group, but having a few days to meet with Sokka would be nice, nonetheless.
"Good. Make sure his matters are prioritized," After a nod from the advisor who had been feeding the information to him, Zuko had the doors to a counseling room opened for him, which he strode in to and took his seat at the head of the table.
He had a conference with some local diplomats, and a fierce pounding in his head, either from the dragging on and on of the old geezers at his table, or at the horrible tasting leaf water that some inexperienced maid had brewed for the meeting. He wasn't sure if it was that tea that was too hot, but he felt some kind of warmth in his abdomen that was nothing short of uncomfortable. He could bear it, though- this meeting wasn't one he should pass up, even if he felt a bit nauseous.
The candles lighting the room seemed to have flames the size of platypus bear eggs, white-hot with red tendrils reaching up towards the ceiling. He could feel some warmth on his arms and chest, tingling and creeping across his skin. It was warm; no, the room was hot- excruciatingly hot. Zuko could feel the sweat dripping down the back of his neck. His robe was newer, so he pinned it on a different material used by his tailor that was too warm, even for winter; or perhaps the fires had been stoked especially hot due the cooler weather, but regardless, it was unbearable.
The feeling nearly reminded him of what happened in Ba Sing Se, that hot feeling that felt like it was eating him from the inside out- this was distinctly different, though. This made him feel faint, almost like he was floating- he knew something was wrong, and he needed to rest. Immediately.
"Excuse me," Zuko muttered, his chair squeaking against the floor as he suddenly stood.
"My lord?" There were mutters, odd stares both from the diplomats, and from Iroh, who had an immensely worried look on his face as he walked over.
Zuko felt an odd shudder run down his spine, heat started creeping up his neck and warming his cheeks. Something seized him, a fuzzy, static feeling- like pins and needles. He heard a distant call from his uncle, but it was muffled, almost sounding like it was from another room. Had his eyes closed? Something was hurting- his side. Something had slammed against his side.
He had blacked out. The Fire Lord was on the floor, sweating, quivering, and in heat, for the first time in his life.
===
Fire Nation waters accepted a foreign visitor that day, a ship flying the Southern Water Tribe's flag in white and blue colors. The esteemed guest that stepped off the ship was a young man, clad in white furs and a warm coat, with hair pulled up in a trademark wolf's tail.
"Master Sokka, welcome. Your arrival has been highly anticipated," An escort bowed to Sokka at the bottom of the ramp, since he was a sort of prince now, in his own regard. He had none of it however, only laughing and slapping the poor guy on the shoulder as he walked past.
"Don't be so formal- I'm just an old friend of the Fire Lord, no sweat," Sokka was clearly a bit cocky about the fact, but the awkward escort simply endured it and led him towards the entrance to the palace.
Sokka soon realized that he had dressed a bit too warm, even for the Fire Nation winter, so he was glad to be offered a place to store his coat when he got inside the palace, especially with how toasty it was inside. The air was almost thick, but not with the warmth- there were murmurs around him, servants walking too quickly, and even someone coming up to his escort to whisper in his ear.
Very obviously confused, Sokka made a face, and the meek escort stumbled over his words while he tried to accomplish what he wanted to say.
"The Fire Lord has taken ill," He finally got out, and Sokka was both relieved that was all it was, and now worried that Zuko could be really sick.
"Is he okay?? Is it- bad?" Sokka asked tentatively. It was clear from the way his brows were knitted together and the absence of his typical lopsided smile that he was worried, but the escort quickly assured him.
"No, no- it's not serious,"
Letting out a very dramatic sigh with his hand on his chest, Sokka wiped the worry right off of his face, since the feeling had dissipated. "Well then let's go visit him! Nothing like a good friend dropping by to make a guy feel better, yeah?"
The escort looked as if he wanted to say something, but Sokka was already well on his way towards the corridor that led out to the residential part of the palace. He didn't remember his way there exactly, but he figured he got close enough when he saw Iroh standing in one of the halls, exchanging hushed whispers with an attendant. There was an odd scent in the air, something of worry and confusion that he easily picked up on. His presence seemed to make the attendant's hair stand on end, bristling, but Iroh was calm, albeit a bit concerned.
Suddenly the escort's assessment didn't seem at all accurate, and Sokka got the feeling that something was gravely, gravely wrong. Iroh seemed to sense a shift in him, too, and quickly stepped in.
"Zuko is unwell, he is in no state to be accepting visitors," Iroh's voice was low, almost gravelly, but soothing. Possibly his beta orientation talking, but Sokka immediately felt a bit more at ease once he had the man's hand on his shoulder. There was still something tugging in his chest, however- an instinctual pull. He needed to see Zuko. He needed to see Zuko.
"I can't go see him, just for a second? I came all this way- can I just say 'hi'?" Though he was the dominant force of the group standing in the hallways due to being an alpha, he didn't feel like it, and the odd looks exchanged between Iroh, the attendant, and the escort just made him feel even less so.
Iroh seemed to think for a moment, glancing down the hall to where Sokka assumed was Zuko's bedroom, before he turned back with a silent sigh and gave Sokka's shoulder a squeeze. "Be careful, he is not himself,"
"But-" The attendant started, but Iroh gestured to quiet her.
Sokka couldn't think of anything but getting to Zuko- and the second Iroh's hand left his shoulder, he walked himself straight down the hall to Zuko's room. He didn't know how he knew which one it was- maybe it was just an instinct, or maybe it was the fact that it was the only door with gold trimmings, but regardless, he went straight for the handle of the door,
and what he opened it to sent him reeling back into the hallway.