𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚃𝚑𝚛𝚎𝚎

┏━━━━━━━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━━━━━━━┓

The abnormally wet marshlands they had been travelling through was a much needed delight for La'kea. Not so much for Iroh and Zuko, who complained loudly everyone their shoes got soaked. But travelling along the road with no one else in sight gave her a blessed opportunity to hone her skills. She had managed to mold ice like it was a liquid, but still maintain it's solid state. At one point, she even swore some snow had formed.

Olianas words were still echoing in her mind, keeping her on edge. She had no reason to doubt the spirit that her waning strength was tied to her souls distance from the island. But what could she do about it?

Eventually, she had to put her practice on hold like whenever they stopped at small unknown Earth Kingdom towns for food. Which is what they were doing now, having stopped to sit against a wall to catch their breath from travelling.

Zuko hid his face out of embarrassment while Iroh pandered to the various passerby's. "Spare coins for weary travelers," He goaded a passing man into tossing some spare coins into the hat.

"This is humiliating," The prince insisted angrily. "We're royalty! These people should be giving us whatever they want." La'kea rolled her eyes, weighing the advantage of arguing with him.

"They will if you ask nicely," His uncle answered calmly, holding his hat out to a young woman walking by. "Spare change for a hungry old man," He pleaded.

The woman smiled sympathetically, and placed a coin in the hat, "There you go."

"The coin is appreciated," Iroh smiled widely, "But not as much as your smile." The woman giggled as she walked away and a man with broadsword across his back took her place.

He held up a gleaming coin with a sneer, "How about some entertainment for a gold piece?" The back of her neck tingled.

"We're not performers," Zuko snapped, leaning back as he glared at the man.

"Not professional anyway," Iroh amended quickly as he got to his feet and began serenading a tune. "It's a long long way to Ba Sing Se, but the girls in the city, they look so pretty!"

"Come on," The man hounded, "This is a gold piece! Let's see some action." Unsheathing his dual swords, he began striking the ground around Iroh's feet, making him hop to avoid it. "Dance!"

Iroh sang as he dodged the blades until the man finally stopped with a cackle, oblivious to the fists Zuko was clenching. "Nothing like a fat man dancing for his dinner."

To La'keas dismay, he began walking away. "Hey!" She called out incredulously, "You didn't give him the coin!"

The sword wielder rolled his eyes, throwing the coin haphazardly into the hat and squinting closer at the islander. A grin spread across his face, "Say, if you come with me and provide some real entertainment. I'll give you ten gold pieces."

Her stomach rapidly wound itself in knots as Zuko shot to his feet, practically spitting fire. Despite her skin crawling, she held her ground and glared up at the man, imagining how far she could stretch out his skin before the blood beneath it burst. "No," She hissed plainly, backing away.

The man shrugged, walking away despite the daggers being glared at him.

Late in that day, they set up a temporary camp made out of rough stone slabs placed over a cave. It certainly wasn't a home, but it kept them warm at night and gave them a place to store their limited supplies. Supplies that were rapidly increasing every time Zuko went "shopping." They all knew the prince was stealing, they had no money for any of this stuff.

La'kea returned to the cave from washing in the river, agitated that despite her soaking hair, she still hadn't managed to undo the worst of the knots with just her fingers. Stopping short at the sight of a gold teapot encrusted with jewels. She turned to the prince sitting against the cave wall, but he held up a gilded comb before she could open her mouth.

"I got you a comb, for your hair," Zuko sputtered, "Not that there's anything wrong with your hair! I just thought- That maybe you'd like it..."

Storming over, she snatched the glittering trinket out of his hand, "We have no money, your highness! I don't know if it's escaped your royal notice, but stealing is wrong." Iroh eyed them nervously.

"I got you a gift," He retaliated incredulously, rising to his feet. "And you can't even say thank you. Since when do you care about what's wrong and right?"

His uncle made a 'settle down' motion with his hands, "Now now, we're all a little tired. Let's just relax with a cup of tea and rest for the night."

She resisted the urge to shove the prince as they were nose to nose, "I forgot. You're still just a spoiled prince, who can't go a day without something shiny!"

Zuko bared his teeth, clenching his fist but looked away from the seething islander. He turned and stormed out of the cave, not giving a fuming La'kea one last glance.

Glaring after the prince until he disappeared in the line of trees, she clenched her shaking hands, sat down harshly and looked at the comb she still held. Immediately, her anger fell away and she shook her head with regret. Reflecting on it, she had let her irritation spiral out of control and had taken it out on the prince. Put plainly, she felt bad.

"Would you like some tea?" Iroh held up a cup.

Zuko sat at the edge of the riverbank, legs bent as he rested his forearms on his knees, staring bitterly at the bubbling waters. There was a rustle in the leaves behind him, and even though he didn't bother turning around, he knew it was the islander.

She sat down beside him on his blind side without saying a word, gaze on the water, and held out a cup of tea. Scrutinizing the cup and debating it, he finally resigned to accepting the gesture, and returned to staring at the river.

Hating how tense it was, La'kea finally broke the silence, begrudgingly saying, "I'm sorry..." He remained silent but didn't roll his eyes. She took that as a positive sign, and continued with a sigh. "I'm sorry, I was in a bad mood, which doesn't make it okay that I took it out on you. I know you're only trying to help..."

He finally faced her, putting out his hand behind him and leaning against it. The prince opened his mouth as he looked into the depthless void threatening to swallow him. He looked away hastily, rasping, "Did you really not like the comb?"

She batted her eyes, taken aback, that's what he was worried about? "No," She gave a small laugh, holding up the fine-tooth comb that was more accessory than anything. "It's not that I don't appreciate the thought but... This thing would snap in half if I tried to use it."

Zuko blinked in confusion. Smiling softly, she pulled all of her hair over her shoulder, the top curls tickling her cheek. At the sight of the wild mass of thick coils, his shoulders slumped, "Oh, sorry. It's just that your hair is..."

"Different," She finished helpfully, running her stiff fingers through the frizz only for them to snag on a knot. "I know."

He didn't know what came over him, or what he was even doing, but suddenly his hand was buried in the dark curls. Freezing, he waited for her to shove him away and storm off. The prince knew she was particular about her personal space, but she only looked up at him curiously. He swallowed thickly, was it even possible for a persons eyes to be that dark?

La'kea didn't know what Zuko was playing at, she knew her hair was different from the Fire Nations, but it wouldn't have hurt to ask first. Not wanting to undo their tentative truce from earlier, she didn't speak out and only waited curiously. This close, she couldn't help but notice the almost polished gold color his eyes were. It really was mesmerizing.

"Sorry," He murmured quietly, but didn't move his hand. It sounded like he was apologizing for more than just touching her hair.

She could feel his breath fan across her cheek, when had she scooted closer? "It's okay," She answered equally quiet, his thumb skimmed the bottom of her jaw.

"Zuko!" They sprung apart at the sound of Iroh calling for them, like they had been doing something they shouldn't be. "La'kea!"

The prince got to his feet, clearing his throat, "Coming!"

La'kea hid her very warm face away from him, "I'll catch up." He nodded and walked up the riverside to his uncle. As soon as he was out of sight, the islander splashed water on her face and inhaled slowly. What just happened?

Zuko was speaking when she entered the clearing, catching the last of his words. "... I need to find my own way."

She stepped forward as he reached for his pack, "What's happening?"

The prince walked over to her, "I've decided that my uncle and I should travel separately."

"You're leaving?" She echoed quietly, worry that she had done something wrong bubbling in her gut.

Those worries dissipated as he placed a hand on her shoulder, "You can come with me, if you want."

A different concern took it's place, she glanced between the prince and Iroh, facing the cave entrance. "But- We can't just split up. What if something happens?"

His brow furrowed slightly, and removing his hand, started walking past her. "Wait," Iroh suddenly called out, running over with an ostrich's rein in hand... and La'keas pack.

Zuko mounted the horse with ease, and looked down at her, carefully blank, not wanting to pressure her. Resisting the urge to crawl into a hole, she grabbed her pack and cast one last regretful look at the old man that had shown her great kindness. La'kea accepted the prince's help into the saddle, and they set off.

Leaving Iroh behind.

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