Try Going North

Zuko had not been this hopeful in a long time. After two years of searching, he finally found him, the Avatar. He knew it was a mistake to underestimate him like he did, but he still had a prize, the Water tribe peasant boy.

He couldn't believe the left him behind, the boy was probably only a year younger than Zuko, he lay on the deck of the ship with a broken leg he was quietly hissing in pain but that was it. When Zuko's crew went to him he tried to shuffle away hopelessly, throwing his boomerang at one who dodged it only for it to swing back and hit one of his other crewmember who was encased in ice, it lodged into the ice right where it should have sunk into the man's rear. The poor man glanced back where his neck was slightly lose and paled.

Zuko sighed angrily, marching up between his soldiers to meet the boy on the ground. His blue eyes glanced up at him with pure malice, his mouth in a thin line while he gripped his injured leg but otherwise he had stopped fighting. Zuko admired the peasant's spirit, he didn't beg when he realized he was defeated, instead, the boy sneered, "What are you waiting for Ponytail? Just kill me! It's not like I can do anything to stop you."

Though Zuko's scowl remained consistent he felt a slight tug of sadness in his chest. He would never hurt the boy but he couldn't let him know that. "I don't plan on killing you." The water tribe boys eyes narrow as Zuko continues, "you're going to help me find the Avatar first." He turned to the nearest guard, "take him into the interrogation room."

The water tribe boy said nothing more as two soldiers hoisted him up so he could balance on his bad leg. They started a slow pace down in the ship. Zuko's uncle came to him with a pleasant smile on his face. "well good news nephew, the avatar is just a child!"

Zuko looked around, the ship was half buried in snow, most of his crew was encased in ice while the others were slowly melting them. "Uncle, that child just did this." He vaguely gestured to the mess before him. "As soon as we are free of the snow and ice we are to follow the Avatar, quickly!" his crew merely muttered, not dating to aggravate the prince further. Zuko helped his crew, as he did not want to wait any longer than necessary. Quickly melting the snow that buried the ship.

Two of his crew members came to him and sharply bowed, "the boy is where you requested, anything further prince Zuko?"

Iroh walked up beside his nephew quickly cutting over Zuko's orders, "Have the physician look over all who were frozen, they will need to be warmed up." He smiled gently, "they all need tea and a warm blanket. Also, once he's through, have him look over our guest's leg."

The soldiers bowed and left as Zuko sighed, "Guest? He's a prisoner, what is wrong with you?"

"There is no reason to speak of him lowly Prince Zuko, people on this shit will treat him poorly if we are needlessly malicious. We must lead by example, I feel like fear and hate will not get you what you need from this boy, anyway." Iroh thoughtfully looked at the now cleared ship, "Shall we set sail? I'm ready to leave this cold place."

"We have no idea where he could have headed, he may have gone to the village again."

"I doubt that he would endanger them again."

"Well then what do you think?" Zuko grinds his teeth, "I can't exactly track a flying cow!"

"Bison nephew."

"Whatever!" Zuko felt the heat build up in his hand before quickly extinguishing it. "I'll talk to that savage little peasant." He stormed off before his uncle could speak further, not that any of his advice was helping. A guest, really? Zuko pinched his nose in frustration, this Water tribe boy was just a simple savage, he'd probably spout out everything in fear of them breaking his leg clear in half. Fear was easy, his sister loved it and used it to get everything she needed, it must work on some simple peasant.

As he came to the door of the investigation room he seen that to door sat slightly open, his heart fluttering in a panic he flung the door open thinking the boy had escaped.

He hadn't, the boy stood in a chair looking down in frustration at the ship's physician, who was currently trying to splint his leg. "Why even bother? Since when did any of you assholes care about mine or any of my villages safety before this moment? You people would have burnt my whole village to the ground, but no, got to splint my leg!" the boy slung his hands in the air, before looking to the door being roughly opened. The physician jumped, startled at the sudden noise and appearance of the angry prince.

Zuko instantly regretted barging in in a blind panic, embarrassed, he turned to the physician, "what are you just leaving the door open for so he can just run out!"

The physician flinched at the outburst and sputtered, "Prince Zuko his leg is broken, I doubt he can walk much less fight all the way to deck."

"Yea Ponytail," the boy's sarcastic tone sent licks or fury to leave am acidic taste in his mouth, his blue eyes locked into Zuko's with little regard for anything. "Ever tried swimming with a busted leg? Gonna tell you now, you'll drown, idiot." He turned back to the physician, "can you finish tightening the damn thing if you're going to do it? It's pitching like a bitch."

Zuko's eyebrow twitched as he watched the physician finish setting up the splint. Saying nothing else but bowing to Zuko he quickly left the room. Zuko shut the door behind the man and continued to the table to sit across from the boy. For the first time he got a good look at him, his complexion and eyes were so obviously Water tribe, he had his hair pulled back in a small ponytail with it shaved underneath, he was so thickly wrapped in layers that the physician had struggled to pull up the pants sleeve to put on the binding. His appearance was everything Zuko expected, his disposition was not.

The boy had a bored look, his shoulders slack and his face relaxed, he looked around the room slowly before looking at Zuko. His face shown indifference up to that point. "What?" the boy looked Zuko up and down now, "You think I know where he went?"

"I know you know where he went." He crossed his arms, glaring, "just tell me so we can get this over with."

The tribe boy rolled his eyes, "even if I know where he might go that kid has an attention span of, well, a child. He also has a flying bison. Your guess is as good as mine, buddy."

"Don't call me buddy, peasant." Zuko narrowed his eyes. "Quit playing around and tell me."

"Try going north." The boy smirked.

Zuko slammed his hands on the table, a burst of flame leaving scorch marks on the metal, "I don't have time for this!"

"And I have all the time in the world."

Zuko stood and stormed out of the room, as he slammed the door he heard the boy yell after him, "just head north buddy!" before laughing as if he had made a joke for the ages. Zuko was furious but he knew he had no power to get anything out of him. He was too cowardly to force him to speak through torture. He couldn't hurt him and he was sure the boy knew it.

He sighed, taking a moment to lean against the wall of an abandoned corridor. He wanted to kick and scream, the one thing that could fix all his problems was long gone and all he had was some pathetic peasant to guide him. One whose voice was so laden with sarcasm at every turn he could almost punch him.

"What am I going to do?" he muttered to himself.