I still contend that Zuko needs a pet, and I plan on updating both of my stories about how he gets Druk soon. (The Dragon and the Wolf is post-war world-building and Love Amongst the Turtleducks is a soon-to-be find Ursa fic.)
Meanwhile, I landed upon @botherkupo‘s little gem of a story, I Don’t Speak Meow Language, in which Katara is a cat, and Zuko adopts her.
Zuko is most definitely a cat person, imho.
Katara seems like more of a dog person, though.
And since Zuko is a Katara person, he could be a dog person, too.
Or he could just be a dog.
Enter: the premise for my newest fic, All Bark and No Bite.
Zuko has no idea how it happened.
One minute, he’s running from the Dai Li and cursing the upper ring for its apparent lack of darkened alleyways to aid in his escape. Of course he doesn’t know the lay of the land, yet. They only just arrived yesterday.
He is also cursing himself for not heeding his Uncle’s warning. He should have stayed to help set up the new tea shop instead of going around snooping.
Zuko, you never think these things through.
The Dai Li know the whereabouts of the Avatar’s bison. He heard them talking about it. If they hadn’t caught him eavesdropping, he might’ve learned where the Avatar and his friends are staying, too.
But now he is running through this spirits-forsaken city, cursing his own stupidity and praying to some unknown deity.
Why couldn’t I just let sleeping dogs lie?
He’s never been one to run and hide, but he can’t fight the Dai Li without his swords or outing himself as a firebender. Opportunity strikes, and Zuko ducks down a shadowy pathway lined with wooden crates. He’s too big to fit inside, but that doesn’t stop him from trying.
Somehow he squeezes in, and so he waits, panting. His senses heighten as the agents’ footsteps grow closer. He can smell their sweat, their earthiness. He can also smell soap from laundry hanging on the clotheslines overhead and someone, somewhere is cooking meat.
“Where did he go?” says Dai Li number one, a few steps away from Zuko’s hiding place.
He chokes down the growl rumbling in his throat and stifles the sudden urge to bite.
“I don’t know,” says number two, kicking Zuko’s crate. “The only thing here is this mangy mutt!”
At this, Zuko finally breaks. “"I am Zuko, son of Ursa and Fire Lord Ozai, prince of the Fire Nation and heir to the throne!”
He shouldn’t have said that. An array of possible repercussions flash in his mind, the worst of which is how Uncle will pay for this.
“Shut your yapping, stupid dog!”
Zuko cocks his head to the side. That was not the response he expected.
The Dai Li leave without explanation. Zuko plops his head down, too exhausted to wonder why his arms are so soft and… furry.
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