Chapter 18

Episode 18, The Waterbending Master

A few days passed and nothing really happened and Zuko gradually calmed down after his last defeat. Sometimes I think that’s bad karma, really. Maybe if he let me go, he would catch Aang for once.

Iroh invited me to the music night but I politely declined since I wanted to read the books about the biggest myths of the spirit world and what connection we can have to spirits. In addition, I didn’t want to see Zuko because I’ve been mad at him for being so mean to Kano and me.

With a big smile on my face I took the book of my nightstand and laid it on the ground before I laid on my stomach ready to read it. As I flipped open the first page, somebody knocked on my door. 

I groaned mentally but told the person to come in. When the door opened, I looked up from the book only to see ponytail coming in. I rolled my eyes and asked him what he wanted.

He fumbled with his fingers and cleared his throat before he looked at me, “I wanted to say sorry,” he mumbled so quietly I almost didn’t catch it. 

My eyebrows shot up and I small smile made its way on my face as I stood up from the ground. I really wanted to tease him about it but I’m sure that this must have been really hard for him to say that, so I let it be.

“Apology accepted,” I said, my smile getting bigger. He looked up from the ground with a slightly agape mouth and raised eyebrows. 

“Don’t look at me like that or I will take it back,” I chuckled and slapped his arm playfully. Zuko still didn’t say anything and just watched me sit down on the ground. I crossed my legs as I took the book in my hands.

Before I started reading, I looked up at him, “you know, if you don’t have anything to do, you could join me,” I said and blushed when he looked at me with confusion in his eyes. “I mean, I have a few more books here if you want to read something. Because I noticed that you don’t have a library here but if you don’t-“ 

“Yeah, sure,” he interrupted my rambling and took a book from my nightstand and sat down next to me on the floor. I blushed madly because I can’t stop talking when I’m nervous and that’s embarrassing. 

But I was quite relieved when he just ignored it and began reading his book. For a while we were just sitting in my room and reading in a comfortable silence and I could feel Zuko glancing at me every now and then but I ignored it.

When there was something about the Fire Nation’s royal family in my book, I put it aside and turned my complete body to face Zuko. 

“Hey, can I ask you something?” Zuko hummed without looking up from the book and I took that as a yes, “What is it like being part of a royal family?” at my question Zuko’s head snapped up but he didn’t look at me. Guess I caught him off guard with my question.

“Or would you rather be a part of a normal family?” he slowly closed the book and looked at me. I saw a glint of sadness in his eyes, “I don’t know, I’ve never really been a part of either,” he mumbled and looked into my eyes.

My face fell and his answer really got to me and I cursed myself for asking that but I really wanted to know what’s really going on in royal families because it certainly isn’t happy all the time like in the stories we read and hear.

“I’m so sorry,” I whispered and slowly reached out my hand to his scar. He didn’t move away or flinched when my fingers touched his scar, he just kept looking at me. 

I remembered the story Iroh told me and the crew about the scar and the Fire Lord and my eyes started to well up with tears. “You didn’t deserve that,” I whispered and connected my eyes with his. I really grew to like him during the time I was here.

It was completely silent for a few moments and Zuko briefly glanced at my lips before looking back into my eyes. We both started to lean in and I placed my hand from his scar on his cheek. 

Just when my eyes fluttered close, a knock on my door made us stop in our tracks. I opened my eyes and briefly had eye contact with Zuko before I realised what we were about to do. I quickly jumped away from him and cleared my throat before telling the person to come in.

With an uneasy look, Iroh came in and Zuko looked at him with slightly narrowed eyes, “For the last time, I’m not playing the tsungi horn,” he told his uncle but I was sure that he didn’t come to persuade us coming to the music night. 

“No, it’s about our plans,” Iroh said stepping into the room with crossed arms, “there’s a bit of a problem.”

I jumped up from the floor when another person entered the room. Zuko did the same when he saw that Zhao came in with a smirk on his face. 

“I’m taking your crew,” Zhao said with a smug look on his face. 

“What?!” Zuko exclaimed with wide eyes and took a step forward. I put a hand on his arm to stop him from charging at the Commander who only rolled his eyes at the Prince’s behaviour. 

“I’ve recruited them for a little expedition to the North Pole,” Zhao said and came closer to Zuko with his hands crossed behind his back. 

I looked at Iroh to see if Zhao can simply and will do that. The look in Iroh’s eyes was pretty clear. He’s taking the whole crew.

Zhao smirked at Zuko, “sorry you won’t be there to watch me capture the Avatar,” he sounded not sorry at all, “but I can’t have you getting in my way again.”

Zuko’s breathing became heavy and with an angry groan he shook his arm free and charged at Zhao. With a ‘no’ Iroh held him back and Zhao simply ignored it. 

“The only one getting in the way is you,” I said and he looked at me with a raised eyebrow. 

“Quiet, little girl, you don’t want to get into trouble, do you?” Zhao said calmly but with a threateningly undertone in his voice.

I clenched my jaw. “I would gladly get into trouble if I could punch your old face,” I mumbled and looked away with crossed arms. 

Zhao didn’t hear me and walked towards the door. “General Iroh, the offer to join my mission sill stands,” he said as he stopped in the doorway, not looking back, “if you change your mind,” he added and left the room.

“He can’t just take my crew!” Zuko exclaimed and threw his hands in the air.

“Actually, Prince Zuko, he can,” Iroh said, “he has been promoted to Admiral Zhao.”

I rolled my eyes. Which idiot with common sense would promote this man? 

“More like Admiral of stupidity,” I said and huffed out air of my nose.

Without any further word, Zuko stormed out of my room. This time I couldn’t even be miffed about it. I would have punched the man if he had taken my crew.

Iroh shot me a quick smile before he, too, left my room and closed the door behind him. 

A sigh left my lips and I plopped down on my bed. I would rather have Zuko catching Aang than Zhao. But I can’t do anything about it, my hands are bound, just like every other time.

After Iroh said goodbye to the crew, he asked me to join him for a walk and I declined and decided to take a long nap. I couldn’t believe that Zhao was so close to catching Aang. 

Just before I fell asleep, a creaking noise made me sit up. I knitted my eyebrows and swung my legs over the edge of the bed and walked towards the door. Nobody was here except me and Zuko.

A bad feeling started to grow in my stomach as I stepped out of my room and looked left and right but I didn’t see anything. 

I jumped slightly when Zuko’s door opened and he stepped out with a confused expression. 

“Did you hear that?” I asked when he looked at me. He only nodded and put his index finger over his mouth, signalling me to be quiet. 

I found it a bit ridiculous that someone would break into a Fire Navy’s ship. No one with the right mind would do that. 

Zuko started to walk around the ship ready to attack anybody coming his way. I was walking after him until we both reached the highest room on the tower, the helmsman’s. 

I released a breath of relief when there wasn’t anybody on the ship and leaned on the counter beside the steering wheel, looking out the window. 

My body froze when I saw an all too familiar green bird. My stomach tightened and I quickly turned to Zuko who saw the bird too.

Our eyes connected and without any word needed to be said, we both turned to the door. 

We were too late because under us the whole tower started to explode. I couldn’t believe that’s how I am going to die. 

My jaw dropped when I saw the fire of the explosion coming through the door. Zuko grabbed my arm and pulled me towards him. 

I bumped into his chest and he pressed my body against his with one hand on my back and the other held my head against his chest as he turned his back to the fire so that it would only hit him.

I closed my eyes tightly and the only thing I felt was that we were sent flying through the window and into the water. 

When my back hit the surface of the water, pain spread on the skin of my whole back and a gasp escaped my lips before I got under water. 

Zuko let go of me and he sank deeper into the water. I quickly came back to my senses and swam after him.

It was hard to see under water but I managed to get a hold of his wrist. With the help of water bending I got both of us to the shore without any further injuries.

I dragged Zuko’s unconscious body to the shore and sat on the sand, putting his head on my lap.

By slightly slapping his cheeks, I tried to wake him up but he remained motionless. I bent my head over his face and tears started to well up in my eyes. 

I shook my head slightly to concentrate and put my hand over his mouth to bend the water out of his lungs. 

The water from my hair dripped on his peaceful looking face and the tears in my eyes blurred my vision. 

I sniffed and continued to focus. A tiny laugh escaped my lips and the tears started to fall when water left Zuko's mouth and he coughed.

He sat up coughing and looked around confused. Zuko had a few scratches on his face but I probably didn't look any better.

I was so glad that he was alive and stood up when he did so too. 

He turned to me and knitted his eyebrows, "are you crying?" 

I froze for a second before looking away and wiping my face with my wet sleeve.

"No, my face is just wet," I mumbled and quietly sniffed. 

Zuko opened his mouth to say something but a crying Iroh interrupted him.

Iroh came to the shore with red eyes but he released a deep breath as he saw Zuko. 

He engulfed his nephew in a hug and a little smile played on my lips when I watched them.

I didn't know why I cried when I saw Zuko almost dying. It's not like he means something to me. But why did I cry then?

I replayed all the little moments we had like when he did something nice once in a while. 

Zuko looked at me and when our eyes connected my smile fell and I looked down on the floor. 

I'm in love with the Fire Prince.