Chapter Text
It’s a full moon tonight.
That’s the only thought Zuko’s mind could produce as he sank further and further beneath the inky depths. The left side of his face continued to burn, still all too fresh and tender. His limbs were cold and heavy as his lungs fill with saltwater. He kept his gaze upward, watching the full silver moon distort from the screen of water above him.
A dark shadow slowly encroached him, blocking out the faint moonlight.
Zuko closed his eyes.
~*~
He woke up coughing and spewing saltwater. Zuko gasped, greedily sucking air for his burning lungs. Slowly he regained his senses and looked around. He was inside a dark cave with the ocean water lapping just below the slab of rock he was resting on.
How did he get here? The last thing he remembered was sneaking onboard a ship after that disastrous Agni Kai against his father. Zuko shivered, flashing back to Ozai’s sadistic grin as he let the serious Firelord façade slip before burning him.
Zuko squeezed his eyes shut and focused on his breathing. He had to calm down and figure out where he was.
He lit a small fire in his palm.
The light illuminated the cavern, allowing him to catch a glimpse of something large quietly slipping into the water.
“Hello? Who’s there?” he called out hoarsely.
A figure rose out of the water slightly. Zuko moved his hand closer to get a closer look. He saw a set of large blue eyes reflecting his flame. Zuko’s breath hitched.
It couldn’t be.
“A mermaid…” He whispered.
Zuko’s heard several legends of the mythical creature. Huge, magical, half human half fish beings that dwell where no anchor ever rested. It is said that they controlled the ocean itself.
She continued to study him, eyes transfixed on the flame in his palm.
“D-Did you save me?”
Nothing.
“My name is Zuko. What do they call you?”
More silence.
“Can you understand me?”
Still nothing.
Zuko’s flame started to dim. He decided to try something. He extinguished his flame, letting the darkness consume them, before relighting it moments later. The mermaid loomed over him with her dark hair falling like curtains around her face and covering all his sides. He saw her face clearly, deep blue patterns decorated her rich sepia skin, making her cerulean eyes stand out even more.
He didn’t know how long they were locked in this trance, unable to tear their eyes away from each other, until she finally spoke.
“You carry a piece of the sun in your hand.” She leaned closer revealing many rows of sharp teeth. “And in your eyes. It’s beautiful.”
Zuko was speechless.
The flame grew dimmer and dimmer as energy leaked out him. The mermaid frown, noticing his shaking hands.
“Can you not hold the sun for long?”
“I… I’m tired.”
The mermaid’s expression softened.
She swirled the ocean water in her hand, causing it to levitate and dance around her webbed fingers until it began to glow. She laid a finger over Zuko’s wound. He was too stun to react or even flinch. The water soothed his burning ache and caused him to lose consciousness almost instantly.
“Rest, Golden Eyes. I will watch over you.”
~*~
Zuko’s eyes fluttered open as a sunlight poured into the cavern. He yawned and sat up, feeling strangely refreshed.
Was it all a dream?
It had to be. He probably just swam to the cavern then passed out from exhaustion. There’s no way any of that ever happened.
Zuko hesitantly touched his wound to be sure. Except it wasn’t a wound anymore. Rough skin replaced the tender oozing flesh instead.
That meant…
Zuko leaned over and stuck his head in the water. He only saw rocks and sand below. He pulled back and wiped his face clean with his sleeve. Zuko could barely contain himself.
He saw a mermaid!
And she healed him!
Mermaid encounters were rarer than spirit encounters. This was incredible! He had to tell Uncle!
Oh…
Right.
Zuko’s mood plummeted when he remembered he couldn’t return home. Ever. Maybe it would have been better if the mermaid let him drown. Zuko looked towards the cavern’s opening, watching the ocean calmly bob up and down with the breeze. A starch difference from last night. Whatever the reason his life was spared, Zuko decided not to spend the rest of it moping in a hole. He was given a second chance at life and he was going to make the most of it.
Lovely fanart by @mtjo on Tumblr