A Short Disclaimer: Kinda an alternate storyline. Everyone is two years older than in the original series. Aang was still discovered by Katara and Sokka, but Ozai's defeat has yet to happen. Katara has not traveled around with the rest of the Gaang (reasoning will be revealed later), and Zuko barely knows anyone by name yet. Takes place a little after the Season 2 finale, Crossroads of Destiny, but Katara was not in the catacombs with Zuko. Everything else should be cleared up eventually!

Spring

The irony of the whole situation dawned on Zuko as he fidgeted around in the heap of burlap sacs, trying to get comfortable. The metallic walls of the lowest floor of the Fire Nation ship called his name recognizably, but he was much too tired to respond. Memories of the day rolled through his mind as he slipped out of consciousness.

Unlike usual, it was not the sun that woke him, instead a terrible thirst scratched at his throat, and Zuko was forced to rise suddenly. He wasn't disappointed - it would've been stupid to wish for a more elegant alarm - but he was annoyed. Did none of his captors know how to keep a prisoner?

Either way, Zuko hoisted himself to his feet, which he noticed were clan in locked metal boots, and attempted to open the door. This proved difficult, as his hands had a matching pair of locked metal gloves.

After a rough fifteen minutes, and more than a few kicks that were definitely going to leave dents against the door, the Fire Prince had managed to open it to a point where he could squeeze through. Lucky for him, he noted, a few lanterns were lit down the long hallway, and there was just enough light for him to stumble down the passage.

Climbing the staircase, Zuko instantly made his way over to the galley, ignoring the clambering sound his footwear made. He grabbed for a loaf of bread and held out his hand to toast it before realizing his incapability to do so.

"You know this ship like the back of your hand," a low voice said from somewhere behind him.

Zuko, not bothering to turn around, snickered, "All Fire Nation ships were designed by my family. It would be dishonorable if I didn't."

"Having some trouble with toasting that bread there?" The voice pressed, matching his snarky tone.

"I'd be toasting you for dinner right now if it weren't for these cuffs."

Zuko was jolted with the sudden feeling of an arm around his neck, coupled with the cold edge of a knife. "My father wanted you alive," the voice snarled. "If it were up to me, your body would be rotting at the bottom of the ocean right now, severed head hammered above my fireplace back home."

Zuko laughed at the threat, although his forehead had begun to glisten with a layer of sweat, "Tell your father his kidnapping squad needs some work. You don't scare me."

"You're one to talk, Prince. You've been trying to capture the Avatar for a year, and look where that's got you."

His hold on Zuko's neck got tighter, and the prisoner failed at holding back a cough, "Let go of me."

"Address me as Warrior Sokka."

"Let," Zuko stammered, having trouble finding his breath, "go of me."

"Ask nicely."

"Please," the Prince begged, his vision becoming blurry, "let go of me, Warrior Sokka."

Sokka released him at once, walking steadily away from the scene. Zuko leaned over the counter, stabilizing himself against it as he heaved for air.

After he'd collected himself, the Prince stuffed the loaf of bread in his mouth, cupping his hands in order to drink from the sink. The water, or perhaps the metal of his gloves, left a lingering taste of rust in his mouth. Zuko coughed again, bringing a hand up to massage his throat. A shiver ran down his spine while the sound of Sokka's distant stomping echoed in his ears.

"Fucking savages."

For the most part, the rest of Zuko's day was uneventful; he wandered around the second and third tiers of the ship, took a nap, and failed at prying the metal caskets off his limbs. Shockingly, he felt a certain comfort aboard the ship, surrounded by his "mysterious" captors (a group of teenagers, he'd observed, that were oddly familiar to him). There was a level of nonchalance that had crept its way over the Prince's achy body as he stirred from his mid-afternoon nap. His sleeping conditions were far less than ideal, to say the least, but they left him with plenty of time to think.

And think he did. It felt good, almost relieving, being the victim for once. Zuko had recently underwent some deep seated guilt, what with his uncle and all. He didn't like to think about it much.

A knocking startled Zuko, and he stood up as his visitor stepped inside.

"Follow me," Sokka ordered, and Zuko only grunted in response.

They made their way up to the deck of the ship, and Zuko saw the light of day for the first time since his capture. He was taken aback for a second at his surroundings; vast arrays of icebergs as far as the eye could see. It was nearing dusk, and the sun reflected brightly off each icecap.

Sokka had disappeared somewhere into what seemed like the captain quarter's, so Zuko took it as his chance to take in the environment. He leaned against the port-side of the metallic vessel. No stranger to life at sea, he had to admit how much he'd missed it. Traveling by foot, be it in the Earth Kingdom or as the Blue Spirit, or as Prince back home had gotten old quite quickly. He sighed deeply.

"You seem content," a voice, this time feminine, said.

Zuko spun around, "The sun feels nice." She looked familiar, the woman, with short brown hair and painted lips. Dressed in all black, much like Sokka, she appeared more like a spy than she acted.

"You don't know who I am, do you?"

"Not a clue," Zuko said, matter-of-factly. Her gaze penetrated him, and he insisted to himself that the shiver running down his spine was because of the chilly air.

"Does the name Suki ring a bell?"

Zuko's mind raced for a second, but he responded roughly, "No."

She opened her mouth as if to say something, but shook her head instead. Zuko turned back towards the water, and the two were silent for a few minutes, until Sokka arrived.

"We are taking you to the Southern Water Tribe," he said, standing next to her.

"Yea," Zuko faced them, "no shit. I've been here before."

"Obviously," Sokka rolled his eyes, "that's where we first met."

Zuko squinted for a moment, and then a realization hit him; his captors were no strangers.

Suki cleared her throat, "Under the chief's orders, we've allowed you to roam free upon the boat."

"Not too free, of course," Sokka added. "The gloves and boots prevent you from bending at us."

"I can breathe fire, you know?" Okay, so this wasn't exactly truthful, but Zuko was working on it. "My Uncle's the Dragon of the West."

"Well, we weren't going to gag you," Sokka laughed, pinching the girl's arm. Zuko almost threw up. Stupid horny teenagers.

The girl blushed, punching her companion in the arm, "Though we did consider it."

"So, you trust that I won't try to escape?" Zuko asked, drily.

"We just know you wouldn't be able to," said Suki, crossing her arms as if to test him.

"Oh, really? Would the great Warrior Sokka stop me?"

Suki stifled a laugh, holding her head in her hand, "That's the 'totally sick' nickname you came up with? It doesn't even have a ring to it!"

"I liked it!" Sokka's eyes widened in embarrassment, "Plus, who says I wouldn't stop him, huh?"

Zuko allowed the two to bicker for a few moments, turning around yet again to get a look at the view. It wasn't that he minded too much being a prisoner, it was more that he felt like he was running out of time. A week ago he had fled the palace, ashamed in knowing that the Avatar was not dead, like his father thought, and that his Uncle wanted nothing to do with him. He had come to a crossroads in his life, a personal war taking place deep inside him. This particular war, a battle of morals, he wanted nothing to do with. Zuko, in fact, had been completely ignoring it. This, clearly, had failed, instead consuming his every thought, which was probably why he'd been kidnapped in the first place.

He thought back to the day before, after he had attempted to hide out at a marketplace in Caldera. Trying to conceal his identity, he claimed to be a simple Earth Bending merchant, leaving him useless when he was attacked. Thinking it a simple mugging, he hadn't retaliated with a fire punch or two, and was shocked at the feeling of a bottle slammed against his head.

Hours later, he awoke aboard his own family's ship. Quite an eventful day

The Prince turned back around, ready to taunt his captors once more. "Are you two done squabbling?" He said, his voice tinged with its usual annoyance.

"Spirits, you really are a whiner," another unfamiliar voice said.

"In Vaatu's name, how many of there are you?" Sokka and Suki had disappeared, leaving him with a girl of much younger age, with straight black hair and the palest gray eyes.

"Just three on board," the younger girl explained. "We're with the Avatar."

Zuko's brow furrowed, and he spit, "Where is he?"

"And you're just as angry as your reputation?" The girl laughed, tossing her head back. "You really are a legend, Sparky."

The Prince became infuriated, lunging at her in an attempt to strangle the information from her throat. But, before he had the chance to even make it a foot ahead of him, Zuko crashed straight into a wall of metal. He was shocked, watching the girl in awe as she returned the metal floorboard to its place on the deck. Grunting, he looked at his locked hands and feet, realizing that there was no chance of escaping.

"My name's Toph," the girl said, reaching her hand out. "I have a feeling we're gonna get along."

Begrudgingly, he returned the handshake, narrowing his eyes at the small girl, "I'm Zuko."

Toph nodded, turning away to join Sokka and Suki at the stern. With an air of exasperation, Zuko huffed, bringing a metal fist down on the side of the ship.

Encompassed by a foreign element, without a single friend or relative in site, Zuko felt unusually alone. He had found no welcome at home, was unhappy with a simple Earth Kingdom life, and, now, fighting alongside the Avatar looked bleak as well.

As he sulked, prisoner on his own ship, the Fire Prince was left with a single question: where did he truly belong?

I'll try updating as much as possible if people want to read more, depending on feedback!