Zuko peered over the ship's edge, wincing as cold flecks of sea hit his face. The air tasted of salt, and the sun was directly ahead.

He turned in time to see his Uncle practicing fire-bending, beckoning his opponents for a second try.

"Uncle!" Zuko shouted, "When will we reach our destination?" The old man looked puzzled for a moment, then suddenly enlightened.

"When the winds take us there." He nodded wisely, gracefully ducking under a soldier's kick. They were headed towards a small island, inhabited by uncivilised fire-benders, who worshipped the resident volcano, which threatened to erupt every day.

Zuko scoffed, resting his hands on the ship's wooden hilt. Uncle had been happier than ever on his ship, a life of cruelty and seeing things that should never be witnessed by anyone sane had made him susceptible to moods, quiet times of contemplation.

Here, with the sea a deep blue colour, mingling with green, and the gulls flying over head, it was hard to think of anything with true meaning.

He suddenly caught sight of an island on the horizon, smoke lazily unfurling from the rocky depths. The sea's colour lightened to aqua, and they braced the ship for smoother waters.

He began shouting orders, hardly able to hide his excitement. He was going to capture the Avatar, right here in his own nation!

Zuko breathed in, smelling sharp salt and the clean sea air. He smiled.

The ship suddenly creaked and the wood made sounds of protest in collision. Zuko rushed to the side and looked over.

A small rowing boat splintered to the side of his ship, piercing tiny holes on the surface.

A boy, round about the Prince's age lay inside, trapped under many wooden beams. He looked as broken as his vessel. A series of cuts and bruises lingered on his face, blood trickling down his chin.

Zuko paused in shock. A tiny rowing boat had managed to stop his ship? He could not contain his suspicion, and ordered for the boy to be brought to him.

Iroh, shadows deepening the wrinkles on his face, whipped his arm in the reluctant soldiers' path, "Prince Zuko, the boy needs medical attention! I suspect a head injury at the very least! Broken ribs, sprained limbs, you must allow him sanctuary on your ship!"

"I mustn't do anything!" He snapped back, fury firing him up, "He could be a spy! What if this is a trap?!"

"Prince Zuko, please listen to reason! He won't be fit for your questioning even if he is a spy!" Iroh pleaded.

Zuko growled in frustration, knowing he had no choice.

"Fine! But make sure he stays out of my sight until he is ready for interrogation!" He stormed into his quarters, slamming the door shut.

Iroh sighed thankfully. He grimaced at the damage.

"Er...Would someone mind giving me a hand with the cleaning?"

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Sokka groaned, lifting his hand up to survey the damage. His head hurt like hell, as well as his left arm and his ribs. He opened his eyes, but was unable to dispel the darkness.

"Stop moving." An annoyed voice suddenly said, close to his ear. Sokka jerked away, surprised, and a hand encircled his wrist.

"You're that water peasant aren't you? The one who fights alongside the Avatar, the non-bending soldier, right?" The voice demanded an almost excited tone in his deep voice.

Sokka found this a bit much. 'Non-bending soldier? Well, at least I have a title,' he thought gloomily.

He found his voice and defended himself against the darkness, "I don't know what you mean." He said primly, pointing his nose in a different direction from the voice.

He heard a harsh chuckle, "As far as I'm aware, you're the last boy of your tribe. There is no way there are two non-bending water tribe males from the South Pole."

Sokka made one last attempt to shut the smug voice up, "What the hell would you know! You aren't Water Tribe, how do you know how many males there are?"

The silky smooth voice continued, "I'm looking at him."

Silence reigned, and for the first time, Sokka wondered where he was. This was obviously the fire nation, since the ignorance about other people was evident.

"Who are you?" Sokka asked curiously, still wondering why it was so dark in the room. A small noise, like breath being caught.

"You don't know who I am?" A hand was pushed against Sokka's sweaty forehead, "Have you forgotten everything? Who is the current Fire Lord?"

Sokka grumpily pushed the hand away. "Ozai, duh. Everyone knows that."

"Oh." There was a slightly exhalation of breath, like the other was relieved. Sokka moved to try and stand up, but was quickly thwarted, arms intercepting his shoulders and leaving him quite short of breath.

"Why don't you recognise me?"

Sokka huffed at this stupid question. "It's too dark in here! Where are all the lights?"

The other boy groaned slightly in realisation.

"I think...perhaps...you are temporarily blind."

Sokka's unseeing eyes widened. "Temporarily? Blind? How? What happened?" His voice grew shrill and frightened and he clutched at his face, feeling bandages instead of skin.

"I...wondered why your eyes never focused on anything. It must have happened in the accident."

Sokka lay back on his hard bed, feeling the material under his fingers.

"Damn, what the hell's going on? Where am I? Why am I here? Will I ever see anything again?"

"I don't know..." The voice sounded pitying, "Wait...you don't know who I am, right?"

"Obviously not." Sokka grumbled.

If he had been able to see, he would have seen a slow smile spread across the other's face...

Perfect.

xxxxxxxxx

"Zuko, eat up, your food's going cold!" Iroh put on his best mumsy voice as Zuko scowled. His uncle was crazy, he decided, crazy.

Nethertheless, he complied half-heartedly.

The boy was doing fine in the medical bay; he'd grown accustomed to feeling his way around quickly. If anything, he mourned the loss of his boomerang over anything else. Zuko was hard-pressed to find any affectionate feelings for the obnoxious younger boy, but, day-by-day, he slowly opened up and told Zuko more.

He obviously didn't let on to anything Avatar-related, though Zuko knew it was only a matter of time. He would slowly gain his trust, instead of trying to force the information out of him.

Zuko was forced to accept that he was attracted to him; the other boy had many appealing features. For instance, if Zuko said anything that embarrassed him, his cheeks would flush red, and his eyes would brighten, as though he could truly see again.

Also, Zuko liked his fiery nature. Above all else, the boy had spirit and a temper almost as bad as the Prince of fire himself.

Once, Zuko held his fingers up to the boy's cheek, admiring the contrast between their colourings. Despite the fact that, as opposing elements, they were natural born enemies, Zuko found himself growing fond of the boy, and would even go as far as to call him a friend.

"Boy! Are you ready to tell me your name yet?" He called, unlocking the medical bay and stepping in. The door was always locked, not only to ensure he could not escape, but also to trust that he was safe.

"Only if you tell me yours." Was the cheeky reply as Zuko made his way up to the bed. The boy was tired, and had even drawn the covers, so as to get some sleep. Zuko was obviously intruding.

He made some vague noise of apology and went to leave. He was stopped almost instantly by warm fingers on his arm. He turned incredulously to the boy, who had the good grace to look bashful.

As though sensing the other's annoyance, he let go and turned his dull eyes away.

"Sorry," He muttered, a hand pressed against his bare chest.

It's only then when Zuko realises the other's barely-clothed state and is horrified to feel heat rushing to his cheeks.

Irritated at this shameful reaction, his embarrassment turns to anger and he rounds on the other boy.

"Where are your clothes?!" He demanded angrily, though more angry at himself.

The boy flinches and coughs, licking dry lips. Zuko's eyes suddenly focus on the newly wet sheen of the softly parted mouth.

"I...c-couldn't find them." His voice filled with humiliation. Zuko looks at the floor in shame. Of course he couldn't. For a moment, Zuko had forgotten that the spirited, highly-strung other boy was blind.

He cleared his throat, disturbing the heavy silence.

"What's your name, boy?"

For a moment, the boy looks as though he will give the same old reply. Something rekindles in his dull eyes, and his mouth opens.

"Sokka. What's yours?"

Like the other, Zuko takes a moment before answering.

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Ooh! I'm back, ha ha!

What happened to make Sokka blind? Where is Aang? Who are the volcano worshippers? Will Zuko tell Sokka who he is? What will Sokka's reaction be?

You'll only find out if you review!

Read and review please!

Ja!