It hadn't been long since Kahn last saw Zuko—back when Zuko declared that he wanted to become a great Fire Lord in the future and had begun studying the Fire Nation more deeply.
But no one expected that the next time Kahn saw him would be inside a hospital room… like this.
Only he and Iroh were present. Iroh had been sitting at Zuko's bedside the entire time. Azula had brought Kahn here but left immediately.
Azula was Fire Lord Ozai's beloved daughter, and on the surface, she always stood on her father's side.
At a time like this, she naturally wouldn't stay in the room of an exiled prince.
Zuko's once-proud face was now mostly covered in bandages.
Burns of various degrees wrapped around his body, making him look almost comical—if the situation weren't so devastating.
Kahn felt absolutely no urge to laugh.
According to the doctor, the most severe injury was Zuko's left eye. Even after healing, it would leave a permanent scar.
Kahn couldn't understand how things had changed so drastically, all in a single day.
For him, today had been an ordinary day. He finished practicing Firebending when suddenly he received the shocking news—
The Fire Lord had ordered Prince Zuko to be exiled from the Fire Nation, forbidden to return unless he captured the Avatar.
And then he saw Zuko like this.
How had everything collapsed so quickly?
Iroh sat beside the bed, exhausted beyond words. The last time Kahn saw him look this broken was when he first met him—back when Iroh was lost in grief over his son.
When Kahn entered, Zuko happened to wake.
Upon seeing him, Zuko tried to speak, but the pain forced whatever he wanted to say into a strained groan and uncontrollable tears.
For Zuko, this day would become the deepest scar burned into his soul.
Kahn wanted to say something comforting, but no words came.
He didn't know the details. All he felt was frustration, helplessness, and a rising heat of anger.
Taking a slow breath, he finally asked.
"...What exactly happened?"
"It's… all my fault."
Iroh let out a long sigh and began recounting what had happened.
Earlier that day, Iroh went to the war council as usual. He found Zuko standing outside, wanting to observe the meeting.
Zuko said he wished to understand his country better. After consideration, Iroh brought him in.
During the meeting, a general suggested using new recruits as bait—sacrificing them to conceal the main force's true attack route.
Zuko couldn't restrain himself after hearing such cold-blooded planning and spoke out against it.
But inside the war council chamber, Zuko had no right to speak.
His outburst was considered disrespectful to the general, and by Fire Nation military tradition, such "disrespect" had only one solution: an Agni Kai.
Zuko accepted.
But Zuko had misunderstood from the very beginning. He thought he would duel the general.
He was wrong.
His words had not insulted the general—they had insulted the master of the war council.
Fire Lord Ozai.
Zuko's opponent in the Agni Kai was his own father.
And the injuries covering Zuko now were all burns from Ozai's hand.
Zuko had known Ozai disliked him. But he was still his father.
During the Agni Kai, Zuko didn't launch a single attack. He only defended, thinking that enduring the fire would calm Ozai's anger.
But he underestimated Ozai's cruelty.
After defeating Zuko, Ozai deemed his refusal to fight as cowardice and ordered his exile… the very news Kahn had heard.
"..."
When Iroh finished speaking, silence filled the room.
Kahn's expression didn't change much, but the rage rolling off him was unmistakable.
Ozai.
Maybe Iroh shouldn't have brought Zuko inside. Maybe Zuko shouldn't have spoken without permission.
But even if Zuko hadn't spoken, Ozai could still have accused him of intruding.
Even if Iroh hadn't brought him, Ozai could have accused Zuko of intending to intrude.
Their "mistakes" weren't the real reason.
The truth was simple:
They had no power.
No matter how careful they were, no matter how quietly they moved… Ozai could crush them whenever he wished.
If someone like Zuko could be destroyed so easily—
How would Kahn fare?
The Fire Lord.
Thinking of this, Kahn's anger slowly settled—not disappearing, but condensing into something heavier, deeper.
Soon after, Ty Lee and Mai arrived. The moment Mai saw Zuko's condition, she broke down in tears. Ty Lee tried to comfort her through her own discomfort.
Kahn and Iroh stepped out of the room, both silent, both lost in their own storm of thoughts.
After a long time, Kahn finally asked.
"Uncle Iroh… what will you do next?"
Iroh's voice was still thick with guilt.
"I plan to leave with Zuko. He's still young… and after what happened, I'm worried for him."
He paused, struggling with his next words.
"But you…"
"I'm fine," Kahn said softly. "I'm more worried about Zuko."
Kahn even turned to reassure him.
"And once I master Spiritbending better, we can meet in the Spirit World."
"Oh… right. The Spirit World."
Iroh said it, but the worry didn't fade from his expression.
He knew Ozai had already taken notice of Kahn. And without Iroh watching over him, Kahn would be in far greater danger.
Zuko and Kahn were both like sons to him. Choosing to protect one meant leaving the other vulnerable.
The decision tore at him, but Zuko—broken, scarred, emotionally shattered—needed him more urgently.
Kahn understood all of this. He held no resentment. Zuko and Iroh were his family in this world. He wanted Iroh to stay by Zuko's side.
Even though Zuko was older, Kahn always saw himself as the younger brother. And after such a devastating blow… how could he not step up for his family?
So he repeated, with steady resolve:
"Don't worry. I'll be fine. I'll be careful."
Iroh looked at him, eyes heavy with emotion, and finally pulled him into a tight hug. Kahn returned it with the same quiet strength.
Blood didn't matter.
Family was family.
...
Author's Note:
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