~~~Next morning~~~
I wake up the next morning with Ru Ru on my head, attempting to smother me. I shove her off and sit up. Yawning and stretching my arms out, I slouch back down and look around the room. In the corner on a table is a pile of clothes. Curious, I get up and walk over to the table, picking up the clothes and unfolding them. I stare at them awhile before getting changed.
"How do I look RuRu?" I ask. She's a very good judge of fashion. RuRu tilts her head and twitters. I look into the mirror and stare at the outfit I was given. It was a pair of long, tight black pants with short two toned baggy red pants over them. It had a dark red vest, but no shirt. I used a piece of red cloth provided with the clothes to wrap around my chest.
*basically Zuko's outfit from Book 1, Episode 3.
"Do you think I should get more clothing on, or should I just leave it?" I ask RuRu.
RuRu runs out of the room leaving me alone in my room, irritated at her.
"Ok. Just leave it, good choice." I talk to myself.
I run up to the top deck, hoping that that's where Ru Ru ran off to. I get up the stairs to see Zuko practising his firebending while Iroh critiques him and drinks tea. RuRu hops onto the table that Iroh is sitting at. I follow Ru Ru to the table and pour myself some tea.
I stare at Zuko while he exercises. His bare chest sweaty and his muscles rippling as he goes through the firebending motions. Hot damn!
"Good morning Fira," Iroh's voice startles me. I feel my face heat up. "I see that you found the clothes I set out for you." Iroh greets.
"I did, thank you" I reply, trying to hide my blush.
"Would you like to practice?" Iroh asks.
I glance over at Zuko as he spins around on the floor. He should wear his shirt off more often. I look back to Iroh. 'I prefer to watch." Did just say that out loud. My eyes get big and I can feel the heat rush to my face again.
Iroh chuckles. "You shouldn't let your firebending get rusty." He says as takes a sip of tea.
I spring up to my feet. "You're right. I should sharpen my skills."
Ru Ru lifts her head up and tilts it at me. She knows! Could you shut up you little rat? Rat sticks out her tongue, then jumps on Iroh's lap and makes herself right at home. Like the little rat she is.
I start to walk over to Zuko when I hear Iroh call for him. He walks up to his uncle. My stare is drawn to his frustrated golden hazel eyes. I quickly looked down before he could see me. What's wrong with me! I never act like this!
Iroh pours Zuko some tea and hands it to him. "Fira would like to work on her firebending. Maybe you could spare together?"
Zuko grunts in response.
"I'll just take that as a yes." I say as I walk to the front of the ship.
Zuko follows me after talking to his uncle a little more. He stops two feet in front of me. This leads to a minute of awkward silence, and us both staring at the ground. I look over at Ru Ru, lying on Iroh's lap in the shade. That lucky rat! She gets to sit there pampered in the shade while I'm in the burning sun with this angsty boy who hates my presence! I untie a ribbon around my wrist. I flip my hair forward and pull it up to a ponytail.
Zuko's point of view~~~
I slowly lift my gaze up, discreetly looking at Fira's clothes. I know Iroh took some of my old cloths for her, but I didn't think she would look so weird! I glare at the middle of her shoulder blades. I stare at the black ink that creates a word, but before i could read the upside down word. Fira lifts up her head and squints her eyes a little. I glare at her hazel green eyes as she stares back.
"Are you ready to start?" Fira asks.
I clear my throat and step back to get the right distance. "Let's start."
We both nod our heads and step back into our stands.
I lunge forward, thrusting my fist to blast fire towards her. She blocks my fire with her own green fire. How is her fire green? While I'm distracted by the impossibility of her fire, she kicks with a flaming foot knocking me back. I proceed to do a handstand and throw my fire towards her. She dodges while lifting her foot in the air and then forcing it down on my head in an axe kick. It knocks me down to the ground.
Groaning, I lift myself off the floor. Did she really have to hit me on the head! Fira jumps while spinning with her foot out and blasting fire at me. I quickly block her attacks. She lands and then releases a small wall of green fire which is just big enough to act as a smokescreen. I circle around to see if I could spot her, but I couldn't find her. Wary, I move to the middle of the circle, waiting for her to attack.
Too soon, she leaps over the flames and dashes towards me. I flip forward right beside her, and she stops and turns before I could unleash my flames. She puts up her arms to block; I quickly act before she puts down her arms. I kick her, sending her down to the floor. She's done.
I walk over to her and squat down at her feet. She looks up at me and groans. I reach out my hand, offering to help her up. She grabs it, and I help her up to her feet. We both face each other and bow. The match was over.
"Good fight! We should do it again." She yells as she starts walking towards Uncle.
"Wait how did you do the fire wall!" I yell back at.
She shurges. Could't she talk to me. I slowly follow her. Finally, I reach the table and collapse down on the pillow, enjoying the cool spot of shade.
I take a sip of tea, gratefully. "I've never seen green fire before." I say curiously.
"Isn't it beautiful?" Uncle asks me.
"I guess." I quickly respond, so Fira could say something. I look at her for an explanation.
"If you are wondering, I have no clue where the green came from." Fira assures us.
Ru Ru sneaks onto my lap and nudges my arm. I lift up my arm, and she goes underneath. I start to pet her, relaxing slightly with her soft fur.
Fira puts her elbows on the table and rests her head on her hands. She seems unsettled. Could it be because of our fight?
"I haven't seen green flames like that in many years." Uncle says with that all knowing glint in his eye.
Fira's head peeks out from behind her hands. "Wait. You've seen green flames before?"
Uncle nods solemnly. "It's long story. I'll tell you another time." He says as he take a sip of tea. It's like he's trying to be really mysterious.
I glance back to Fira who slumped back over the table.
