Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender or any of the characters.
Hi there! This is my first fanfic series! *excited dance* it starts around the time of Episode 3.14 - "The Boiling Rock". After that, it doesn't follow the happenings of the show. There's too much Zutara out there so I decided to make my own pairing: Zuki! (that doesn't appear until much later, sorry!) Feedback is so appreciated I can't even explain. Even if you can write 'cool' or 'hate this', it's still better than nothing! :D So, without wasting more time. . . enjoy!
CHAPTER ONE
"Zuko!" I heard Sokka yell my name from inside the uniform chamber. I inched closer to the door without dropping my watch.
"What?" I hissed, my eyes still peeled for any sign or movement. If I got put in prison as well as being banished . . . i felt my pride shudder at the thought.
"Check out these uniforms!" Sokka said, emerging with a prison guard uniform and striking a pose I can only describe as. . . interesting.
"Stop that!" I ordered. This wasn't the time, or the place. "Where's my uniform?"
I heard Sokka sigh and mutter a rude comment I couldn't quite make out. I cursed my luck at being stuck with him. He handed me a prison guard uniform and took the hallway watch as I put it on.
It reminded me of my days on the ship. Back when I'd only been an exiled Prince, not a hunted fugitive. Back when Uncle Iroh. . . a sudden pang of guilt hit me, but I shook it off. If that idiot Zhao hadn't taken my crew and blown up my ship trying to kill me I might stil. . . I tried to trace the events from then until now but found the list far too long and confusiong. For now, I could just blame it on my least favourite dead Commander or Admiral or whatever his rank was by the end.
I slipped the freezing cold metal helmet over my head. Spirits, that was cold. I flipped down the mask.
Sokka and I wandered silently through the halls. I had a nagging feeling that he didn't know where he was going any more than I did. Curse him, I thought as I recognized a statue we'd already passed. I was about to call him off until I heard footsteps approaching.
"Someone's coming." I whispered, grabbing hold of his arm. He glanced behind.
"Um – pretend you know what you're doing." He said, trying to pull back. I tightened my grip.
"Do you know what we're doing?" I challenged, glaring at him through the mask.
"No, i don't, but we can't exactly stop and ask directions, can we?" I bristled. I wasn't stupid!
"Oh yes, I was going to stop for directions. We could at least-" I hadn't even the time to think of an idea of something we could do before I was interrupted by a man I could only imagine to be a guard.
"Hey! You two!" We continued to walk, picking up pace. Pretend you're supposed to be here. "The Warden said for all guards not on hallway patrol to be in the yard!" He shouted. Sokka turned to face him. I could almost see his brain trying to figure something out.
"Err- we're going there right now." He said. The guard looked impatient.
"You're going the wrong way. It's downstairs on your left." I could tell he was suspicious. I cursed our luck as we slowly walked past him in the right direction. I kept my scarred side turned away and chose to ignore his angry growl; "Newbies". Thank you for the help.
-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-
I scanned the prison yard for my father. He had to be here somewhere. As much as I could dislike Zuko, his knowledge of the Fire Nation was somewhat impressive. I'd assumed he was right about this. I glanced at Zuko now. He was also observing the prisoners.
"I don't think he's here." He said, running his hand along the back of his neck.
"You have to make sure." I answered. Then, something caught my eye. A petite but strong-looking, pretty redhead girl. Before I could stop myself, I grabbed hold of Zuko.
"Zuko! Look! It's Suki!" I exclaimed, my voice cracking. He opened his mouth to say something. "Let's go see her!"
"Sokka, no!" Zuko fought against me with half his strength as not to draw attention. He lowered his voice to a hiss "We're prison guards, we can't just-" I ignored him.
"Stay there." I ordered. His eyes flashed. I knew Zuko hated taking orders. . . or suggestions, or insults, or teasing, or jokes, or 'constructive' criticism. He hated most human interaction as far as I was concerned. Seeing Suki sitting there, alone, in a drab prison uniform made me want to hug her, hold her close and keep her as my own.
"Are you the leader of the Kyoshi Island Warriors?" I asked, masking my voice as gruffly as I could manage. Fire shone in her eyes.
"Yes, I am."
"I need to escort you to your cell.
"Why?"
"Um- err- Warden's orders."
She gave me a haughty glance and walked in front of me. I let out my breath and signalled for Zuko, who was leaning on a wall looking quite bored. We walked until I found a place where I thought we wouldn't be disturbed then flipped up my mask.
"Suki, it's me!" I said. Her look of disdain turned into ecstasy as she recognized my face.
"Sokka!" She hugged me tightly and I couldn't help grinning like a fool. "Why are you here?"
"Recuing you and my dad, of course!" I stated proudly. Her brow furrowed.
"Your father's here?" She asked. My heart sank. I shrugged. She looked apologetic. "How did you get here then? And who's your friend?"
"We flew here on a stolen Fire Nation air balloon." I just noticed how beautiful her eyes were, especially when she was impressed. Snap out of it, Sokka, you're on a mission. "Oh, and that's Zuko."
She daggers over my shoulder at the disguised prince. Zuko flipped his mask up. He caught her expression and raised his hands slightly as a gesture of surrender.
"I don't expect you to-" Zuko started. Before he or I could fully register what was going on, Suki had pinned him to a wall.
"You burned down my village and tried to kill me!" She accused. Zuko struggled to push her off.
"I didn't have a choice!" Zuko protested.
"He's changed." I offered, though even I wasn't so sure. Her eyes narrowed and flicked between us both.
"Do you honestly expect me to believe that?" Suki challenged. I shrugged.
"He hasn't betrayed us so far." It was meant to be a joke, but judging by the look on both Suki and Zuko's faces, they hadn't found it all too hilarious. Zuko spun on her.
"Considering this was my plan, I'd recommend that you show me some respect." He snapped.
"Oh! And now that you're here, what is your 'plan', Your Majesty?" She responded, matching the venom in Zuko's voice.
"Well," I said, stepping between their mass of clashing energy, "We still need to figure that part out." I gave a nervous laugh. Suki and Zuko maintained their glares. Suki smirked.
"That's what I thought." She said.
"Without me, Sokka wouldn't even be here right now!" Zuko pointed at her accusingly.
"Without you, I wouldn't be here either! It was your crazy sister that attacked me!"
"Azula has NOTHING to do with me!"
I spotted movement in my peripherals.
"Zuko, Suki, stop! We're drawing attention!" They stepped away from one another, but their eyes burned and their cheeks were flushed with anger. " I understand why you're angry, Suki, but don't express it now. Please. Zuko, meet me in the cafeteria in an hour; Suki, I'll lead you to you cell and we'll talk in the morning." They both nodded relunctantly.
I gently took hold of Suki's arm, which was still taut. I wanted to tell her to calm down, but had a strange feeling that we were being watched. Without warning, Suki turned back to Zuko.
"You look better with your mask on, young prince." She sneered. I cringed and braced myself. But Zuko didn't explode like I expected. There was no mistaking the deep hurt on his face. His hand instinctively reached up to his scar before he slammed the mask down and walked briskly away.
"I'm sorry!" Whispered Suki in horror. She looked guiltily at where Zuko had stormed off.
We neared her cell and I opened the door.
"Don't worry," I said, "We'll get you out of here. Trust me."
~RiseWithTheSun