He should be outraged. The Prince of the Fire Nation, spat on by a lowly water peasant, even after he chose to be kind to her. Yet he does not feel anger. He has betrayed this girl's trust, joined the side that killed her friend, and has captured her to go along with his sister's plan. Fire Prince or not, he knows she has every right to hate him.

Those sapphire eyes, filled with loathing and fire, staring straight at his own amber ones. An act of defiance, of self-worth, of wilfulness.

He should value his pride more than the safety of this girl. He should bind her mouth shut again, not caring if she cannot get help when men become intoxicated. Yet he wipes the spit from his face and turns, lips pursed, her gag still on his fist, and strides away.

—

Azula meets his eye when he exits the worker's area.

"Why is her gag in your hand?" She questions, her eyes flickering to his fist.

"Didn't I send him up to you? One of the workers tried to molest the girl."

"Yes, I confronted him, and punished him accordingly." She looks at him expectantly and repeats her question. "Why is her gag in your hand?"

"I took it off her."

Azula does not look pleased.

"Look, if I hadn't heard the man's yell, he would have raped her. Do you think a experience like that would make her more willing to cooperate with whatever you want her to do? Besides, I warned her not to make unnecessary noise."

"Very well."

The pair sit down, silence filling the room. It's been so many years since he was last in the Fire Nation, and the place does not hold good memories for him. What if father does not want him home? What if everyone sees him as a disgrace? What if this is all some trick planned out by Azula, like last time?

"Zuzu, don't look so sour. We're going home." Azula tells him, crossing her arms.

If they are going home, why does part of him not want to go?

The workers avoid looking at her.

After seeing the anger in Zuko's eyes, it's not surprise that they do not glance her way and stay seem to repel from the corner where she sits. She attempts once again to break the rock around her hands and ankles by banging it against the walls and floor of the ship, but it is a mere waste of her energy. Not that she will be using energy any time soon, assuming it will be at least a few days stuck here before they arrive in the Fire Nation, and even then, she will probably be locked away in a cell.

What at will they do to her? Will they interrogate her? Torture her? Use her as a slave? Maybe just keep her locked up as a war prisoner?

What's the point in guessing? She'll find out in a few days anyway. But if she doesn't think about something, her brain travels back to Aang.

Her mind cannot even begin to process what happened in those caves. Maybe her mind does not want to process it. He was her best friend. The incarnation of her hopes and dreams. He showed her how to have fun, to laugh. He showed her adventure and nature outside her icy home. She had seen him grow so much, his mind expand and his abilities increase. She remembers his pale, round face and his bright grey eyes and the lopsided grin that showed his teeth.

"Will you go penguin sledding with me?"

Until now, she found that tears would not come. Maybe it was a mechanism in her brain to prevent the extreme pain, that also prevented her crying. But now, saltwater streams down her cheeks and coats her face, her chest aching and her heart shattered.

Her hands are still tied, and she cannot wipe her tears.

He needs air. Memories of his banishment have begun to haunt his mind and his lungs feel trapped in the stuffy ship. He walks to the front, the midnight breeze tingling on his face. Even with the freezing wind, he can still feel the heat from the torches that lit up the arena and the sweat that gathered on his forehead. He can still feel his stomach drop and the bile at his throat when his father's golden eyes stared down at him. He can still feel the shame of kneeling down, begging his father not to fight him.

He can still feel the agony that exploded in his eye and clawed at his flesh. The blinding pain that stained the world red as the scream ripped from his throat.

"Aren't you cold?" Mai's voice inquires, snapping him out of his thoughts. His mind is still in the dark place, though, and he is pouring out his feelings before he can stop himself.

"I've got a lot on my mind. It's been so long, over three years since I was home. I wonder what's changed. I wonder how I've changed."

Her bored yawn reminds him that Mai does not want to hear his angst. "I just asked if you were cold, not for your whole life story."

He feels foolish for sharing his thoughts. He can't help but feel slightly hurt by her apathy towards his feelings, but he pushes it away. Why should she care, anyway?

She strolls over to him and cups his face. "Stop worrying."

As if it was that easy. She doesn't understand the trauma that the Fire Nation holds for him.

Her lips touch his, the cool air blowing his hair and a bad taste in his mouth from her previous disinterest to his emotions.

A nice discription for the kiss would be bittersweet, but her lips on his do not feel sweet to Zuko in the slightest.

A/N: Thanks for reading this chapter! This story might be a bit slow to start off with, but it will pick up soon. I really enjoy writing it! The maiko scene that I've included from the show is actually one of my least favourite maiko "moments" in the whole series (maiko is my Notp). But seriously, Zuko is going back to the fire nation, where his dad abused and traumatised him. He has legit worries about going back, and when he shares them with her, all she does is yawn and push his feelings aside! Argh!

Please review, fave and follow!

~Bri