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[found-myway.livejournal.com]

The medical care available on Stacy is far beyond anything that the Four Nations had, better even than the powers of skilled waterbenders to heal. Which is why Zuko is lying in discomfort now, not raging agony, as the burn on his back heals.

Because of the location of the injury, he's lying on his stomach on a specialized cot, with his arms supported by low rests below his body. The open welts on his back are not entirely healed, and have been left exposed to the open air to allow the heat to keep fading. Occasionally Zuko breathes out as he uses his own firebending to try to expel some of the burn's excess heat.

He could ask to be put to sleep while the healing process continues, but he hasn't. He has too much to think about.

Comments

[staturity]

Cassie looked over at Zuko and knew exactly how he was feeling. At least physically.

"Anything I can do?" She got out of her own bed and walked over.

And Zuko thought his scars were disfiguring. He only had about a quarter of one face scarred. And his head and neck weren't fused. Couldn't say the same for Cassie, but at least she'd swept her now brushed hair over to hide the fact that she was bald on the left side of her head.

[found-myway.livejournal.com]

"Thanks, but I'm all right for now."

Zuko doesn't recognize the voice, and he can't quite sit up on his bed enough to see who was speaking, but he has known there was another patient in the room since he got put in, so she doesn't surprise him.

"Who are you?"

[staturity]

"Cassie Lang. I had a bit of a bomb problem so I know a thing or two about burns. Like you're going to want to make sure that doesn't get infected." She kept her voice light as she came closer.

[found-myway.livejournal.com]

"I'm a firebender. I know a thing or two about burns."

He lifts up purposefully and turns his face towards her, so she can see - and his shock at her appearance registers clearly, but briefly, before he gets his expression back under control.

Yeah he's familiar with burns, but . . . woah.

People don't SURVIVE burns like that in the Fire Nation.

[staturity]

Cassie couldn't help but laugh a little at his reaction. Part of it was because of the swell of embarrassment and pain she felt at just how bad she must look and she needed some way to get the anxiety out. The rest of it was just how clueless Zuko had been until turning to see her.

"So you sure you don't want any help? Because they're not in an easy to reach place."