Title Chapter 2

After several days of bed rest Indyira was back on his feet. He was plagued with sea sickness for about two days until he acclimated to the swaying of the ship. Zuko caught sight of him on deck. He scrubbed his hand over his now short hair. He then looked at his splinted wrist and put his hand over his midsection where his ribs were still wrapped. "How are you today?" Zuko asked and made a face at how awkward it sounded coming out of his mouth. A few crewmen noticed too and gave him a look as they walked by. He could almost hear them making snide comments about the Prince's new 'pet'.

"Less queasy. Feel like I got hit by a tank thanks to you." Indyira answered. "But it's also thanks to you that I am no longer a slave. I don't think I ever apologized for grabbing you the other night."

"No you didn't." Zuko pointed out and rubbed his wrist where it was still marked and tender. Indyira turned to him and looked him up and down. "Do you know who I am?"

"Took me a few days to place the face but yes… your majesty." Indyira answered and bowed slightly. Zuko noticed with some mirth that it wasn't the proper bow for addressing Fire Nation royalty. "Forgive me, my knowledge of current events is rather limited. But there's no mistaking your scar or your abilities."

"Now that I have liberated you, where do you wish to go? We are currently on a mission but the captain can drop you off anywhere you want." Zuko cut to the quick o their conversation. Indyira looked down for a moment.

"I don't know. I never gave freedom any thought. I don't know how far Heno's influence reaches. If I show my face and word gets back to him I'll be a sitting duck no matter where I go. I have no family, no friends and no money." Zuko looked down – he had more in common with the other boy than he realized. Indyira was stunted by his time under Heno's control – he probably didn't know what year it was or that there was a war going on. "I have no way to show my gratitude. Except with service." Zuko watched as he knelt down on one knee. "I hereby pledge my loyalty to your crown."

"You mean to the Fire Navy? Or the—"

"No, to you. Only to you, your highness. I will serve as your personal bodyguard until you tell me my debt to you is repaid."

"He accepts." Iroh answered for him. Zuko looked at him sharply. The last thing he needed was a babysitter. He'd never admit out loud that he enjoyed not having to answer to anyone – even though he had been disfigured and banished he never had to worry about the daily grind of palace life. There were some aspects he missed, like the garden and the pond of turtle ducks. He had a valet back home that micromanaged every minute of his day and the nitpicking was not missed. Indyira smiled as he stood up. He took Zuko's hand and leaned down. He touched his forehead to his knuckles before he let go.

"I'll be around if you need me." He walked off to do who knows what and Zuko whirled of Iroh.

"I don't need a bodyguard." He growled.

"He's nearly the same age as you right? If not a guard you can definitely use a friend." Iroh said. Zuko just glared at him. They both knew he'd never had any friends. They were always scared off by his title or his sister. Indyira knew who he was and didn't shy away. And he had no idea that Azula existed so maybe it wouldn't be so bad having him around.

After several weeks Zuko wasn't opposed to Indyira's service. He didn't hover like his childhood valet. And being away from the palace Zuko didn't need much. Someone to help him into his armor, brush his hair every couple of days and bring him dinner when he was feeling reclusive. He learned during their idle conversations that Indyira was actually nineteen years old and he was born on the third day off the winter solstice, which made him a water sign. On a particularly gloomy night Zuko asked about his lineage and Indyira confided that he was actually mixed – his father was a Fire Nation soldier and his mother was a prisoner of war from the Northern Water tribe. Indyira didn't know his father at all and he hinted that he might actually be the result of a nonconsensual relationship. After she got pregnant his mother was released into the town where he found Indyira and she made a living in one of the brothels after he was born. That's where Heno 'fell in love with her'. When she died he justified putting Indyira to work in the fight club by saying it was too expensive to raise a child without help.

Despite his background and slightly crass demeanor Zuko found that he got along with Indyira better than he did anyone else. Indyira wasn't undistinguished but he wasn't a snob either. His former life had humbled him but there was still a lot of fight left in him. Even when everyone and everything annoyed him - Indyira would smile at him and never tell him he was a brat. But that was not to say he spoiled Zuko. He encouraged him to attend music night and found a way to make him smile whenever he was brooding too much.

Zuko was staring out at the sea – glaring at the waves. The avatar had eluded him again and the entire crew was fed up with him and his supposedly selfish mission. He hadn't volunteered to be put to the task of capturing the avatar it was thrust upon him like everything else in his life. Zuko had no part in recruiting them for the trip nor was he responsible for keeping up moral but he was held responsible for their failures and injuries. What did he know about such things anyway – he was only sixteen. But they didn't see him that way. Since he had stood up and talked out of turn like an adult he was viewed as one even though he didn't have the capacity or knowledge to be one. It wasn't fair. Zuko felt a sudden sadness wash over him and contemplated jumping over the edge when he felt someone flick his ear. He whirled around – who would dare? He looked around confused when he found there was no one there. He felt a tug on his hair and swung back before turning around. Indyira just laughed as he dodged the strike.

"Oh-ho catch me if you can." he teased. Zuko was hardly in the mood to play tag after everything but Indyira had challenged him. Just like he did the night they met. Zuko swung at him and Indyira caught his punches and pushed him again. "Come on. Come on." He egged him on. Zuko didn't mean to fire bend at him but when it came out Indyira let out a whoop and dodged it. "No cheating!" He flicked Zuko's nose before he took off running.

"No running!" Zuko yelled as he followed.

"You get to change the rules – so do I." Indyira laughed as he led Zuko around the ship below deck. Zuko leapt forward and tackled Indyira to the ground in one of the boiler rooms. He was actually laughing as they rolled around. He didn't even mind when he lost and Indyira pinned him to the floor. "You need to train more." He said – barely out of breath. Zuko huffed and jerked to test the strength of his grip. Indyira just smirked. "You're at my mercy now." He suddenly leaned down and kissed him. Zuko was caught completely off guard. His thoughts raced a mile a second and he could think enough to do anything but lie there and breathe. Indyira slid his tongue between his lips and Zuko fisted his hands. Indyira let go of his wrists to cup his face – his middle finger brushed the edge of Zuko's scar and Zuko suddenly bit his lip. "Ah!" Indyira jerked back and Zuko pushed him back further. "Not so rough—" Indyira went sprawling back when Zuko punched him in the face. "What—" He scrambled to his feet and did it again before he stormed off. Indyira just sat there rubbing his aching jaw.

Zuko took a deep breath – he could feel the candles in front of him sync with his breathing. In and out – slow and steady. He relaxed his hands then his arms then his shoulders. He straightened his back and neck – felt the pressure run down his spine and out of his body. Now if he could get through ten minutes without thinking of Indyira he'd be at peace. Unfortunately his mind made him see dark skin and he felt strong hands on his wrists and the brush of moist lips.

"Damn it." He cursed as he opened his eyes. He looked over his shoulder when Indyira came in the room. He seemed completely unaware that Zuko was there, glaring at him from in front of his meditation table. Or maybe he could feel his gaze and he was just ignoring him as he put new linen on his futon. "How dare you!" he fumed as he stood up.

"Were you not done with these sheets?" Indyira asked as he held them up. Zuko smacked them out of his hands.

"You know damn well why I am furious. How dare you kiss me!?"

"You didn't like it?" Indyira asked and titled his head to the side like he didn't understand. His innocent act only made Zuko angrier. "Did I use too much tongue?"

"No. No!" Zuko and held up his hands. "I am royalty and you are… another man! You know it is forbidden—"

"So you did like it?" He interrupted. Zuko stared at him for a long moment not sure what to say to the other boy.

"Are you an imbecile?"

"No." He shrugged.

"Why did you do that?" Zuko asked. He was getting frustrated – he felt helpless and out of control right now and he hated that. He hated Indyira for making him feel this way. Who was he play with his emotions? It seemed like something Azula would do just to make him miserable.

"Because I like you. Isn't that what people normally do when they like someone?" Indyira stepped closer and Zuko stiffened.

"When a man likes a woman." He pointed out. "Two men can't… shouldn't… it's not allowed back home." Zuko was completely at a loss for words. The more he thought about it the more he realized he liked what happened. And the worse he felt for punching Indyira afterwards. His bottom lip was split and a little swollen. "I'm sorry." He sighed as he gingerly touched the corner of Indyira's mouth.

"I'm not." He smiled and leaned into his hand. Zuko's skin was so warm and soft; Indyira had never feet anything like it in his entire life. As he took Zuko's hand and brushed his lips against his knuckles an odd thought suddenly streaked across his mind. "Have you ever burned yourself with your own fire?" he asked. Zuko was snapped out of his revelry – he had been enjoying the feel of Indy's breath on his skin.

"No… actually." He pulled back from Indy and turned his palm up. Without so much as a muscle twitch fire appeared between his fingers and fluttered around his skin. He looked at it for a moment before he made a fist and extinguished it. "Once it leaves my possession is when I actually feel the heat of it. But even really hot things feel good to me."

"That's amazing." Indy said as he took Zuko's hand again.

"You can't bend?" Zuko asked. His anger over the stolen kiss forgotten in an instant. "You come from two lines of benders—"

"That's what Heno thought at first – that I'd be able to do both but when I try…" Indy did a few maneuvers that Zuko recognized and a few he assumed was water bending but nothing happened. "I can't at all." Zuko looked down at his hands when he held them out.

"Why do you like me?" Zuko asked. Indyira studied him for a moment.

"Do you want one specific thing or do you want to know all the reasons cause either way we'll be here a while." He joked. Zuko just shrugged and a voided his gaze. "Mm… why would I like the man that freed me? Something not shallow - that doesn't have to do with the fact your royalty or cute. Something meaningful that I like about you… oh! Despite the fact you're fire nation you're compassionate… when you want to be. There's this little thing you do with your nose that is for lack of a better description the most adorable thing I've ever seen." Zuko absently touched the tip of his nose and flushed. "I can't tell you what it is exactly but I can assure you it's not for your status and it's not for convenience. Is it so unbelievable that I just like you for you?"

"…" Zuko didn't have an answer for that. He had never been plagued with insecurity like this. He had never thought of being with anyone he had been so inwardly focused on regaining his honor. He wondered if any of the other men on the ship looked at him like Indyira did. Was his Uncle protecting him from their advances? Zuko shook his head; he couldn't delve into that right now. Indyira stepped closer to him and he looked up at him. Indyira had such dark—

"Your eyes are so beautiful." Indyira interrupted Zuko's thoughts. "It's like looking into a setting sun." Indyira cupped his face and Zuko flinched away when his finger tips touched his scar again. "Does it still hurt?" he asked as he tried a lighter touch.

"No, I just don't want anyone to touch me face!" Zuko suddenly screamed at him. He didn't mean to it was just the frustration of being burned had been building inside of him ever since he woke up with half his hair and a patch over his eye. It took him weeks to come to grips with the fact it was going to be on his face forever. He avoided touching it himself.

"I'm sorry." Indyira said and appeared to brace himself for another punch. Zuko felt horrible when he did that. After a lifetime of abuse he didn't want to add to it. Zuko knew he would throw himself over board if Indyira ever looked at him the same way he looked at Heno.

"It's okay." Zuko said. "I promise I'm never going to hit you again just... don't touch my face."

"All right." Indyira moved closer and put his hands on Zuko's shoulders. He stiffened at the contact but Indyira slid them up and kneaded his neck slowly. "Better?"

"Yeah."

"Can I kiss you?" He asked. Zuko looked down clearly conflicted with the question.

"It's against Fire Nation law for two men to be together."

"Well, I'm not fire nation. If I did claim it the fact of my mixed blood would be an automatic death sentence." Indyira shrugged. "And you're currently exiled so technically neither are you. Their laws don't apply to us." Zuko nodded like he agreed. Indyira leaned down and kissed him on the lips. This time taking it slower and letting Zuko deepen it if he felt so inclined. He soon felt Zuko's hot little hands grip the front of his shenyi. He pulled himself closer and inhaled deeply through his nose. His grip got tighter but they both pulled back when they heard a tearing sound. They looked down and the collar of Indyira's tattered robe had nearly come all the way off in his grip. Zuko looked at his clothes – they all seemed like hand-me-downs that were either two big or too small. They had long since lost their lustrous color and seemed to be a dingy washed out grayish red. Even the toes of his shoes were starting to form a frayed spot where his foot was clearly too big to fit in it. "It's okay." Indyira said as he patted Zuko's hands. "I can fix it with a needle and straw twine. Do you have any?"

"No." Zuko answered before he let go. "We'll get you something new." He then left the room – Indyira trotted after him and found Zuko telling the Captain to make port somewhere they could shop. The request caught the other man by surprise. Zuko rarely expressed a desire to do anything other than catch the Avatar. They were at a Fire Navy settlement within the hour. Indyira helped Zuko into his armor before they headed out with Iroh. Zuko watched as Indyira search through several clothing vendors – all the bins he went through were clearly marked down or sale items.

"Do you like this?" Indyira asked.

"No." Zuko answered and made a face at the robe – it looked nearly as old as the one he had on only this one had some kind of horrible pattern with moose-lions on it. He smacked the garment out of his hands and pulled him inside a high-end shop. The merchant inside greeted them with a bow and asked what he could do to help them. Zuko just pushed Indyira in front of him. "Dress him." He demanded. The merchant smiled and went to collect some things for him.

"What do you do for a living, sir?" He asked. Indyira wasn't aware that the man was talking to him – no one had ever called him sir.

"I fight." He shrugged. The merchant looked at him.

"He's a valet for my nephew." Iroh interjected and the merchant nodded as he took in their attire. He picked things with similar colors and some shoes.

"Try these." Indy shrugged, kicked off his old shoes and began to take off his shenyi. "In the fitting room!" the merchant added quickly. Indyira chuckled sheepishly before he took the clothes and went into a nearby room. He came out a little while later and Zuko looked him over.

"How does it fit?"

"Fine." Indyira answered almost automatically. Iroh approached him and tugged at the pants and sleeves.

"It's too small, son." He informed him. "The shoes too. You need two sizes up from this."

"My mistake." The merchant apologized and went to collect bigger sizes. After changing again the size was just right.

"You're tall like my brother." Iroh pointed out. "You're all legs and long arms. I took after the rotund side of the family." He chuckled and patted his belly. Zuko scrutinized the outfit. The sleeves and pants were fitted and the banbi was simple and sleeveless without looking frumpy or common.

"He needs two more like this, something formal, pajamas, three more pairs of shoes and something to swim in." Zuko said. The merchant just smiled and went about collecting what he wanted.

"That's too much stuff." Indyira said.

"You can't exactly be my bodyguard and stand out like a flaming thumb. You need to look like you belong by my side without drawing attention to yourself." He said.

"Four pairs of shoes – swanky." Indyira chuckled. Iroh just patted him on the back. Being around someone like him was humbling. He was willing to settle for things as long as he wasn't causing any trouble. He had lived without the most basic things for so long he had adapted and learned to want for nothing. At the same time Iroh felt a little bad for him – during his first week on the ship he seemed surprised to get dinner every night, to have a bed of his own to sleep on. It reminded Iroh of the way he heard Air Nomads used to live, few possessions if any and generally happy as long as they were free. The boy was so used to servitude that given the chance to be free he opted to stay with Zuko. Indyira walked around the shop as the merchant wrapped their purchases. Zuko came up to him as he was looking over a jewelry case. "Did you want anything in here?"

"No." Indyira answered quickly. "It's just I've never seen gold so shiny. People really wear it as jewelry? It's like wearing money around your neck."

"Yeah." Zuko shrugged. He didn't have the heart to tell Indyira he had several gold crowns back at the palace. Not to mention all the gold molded into their furniture, stemware, statues, trinkets, combs, brushes and weapons. He caught Indyira staring at a pair of bracelets – one was blue with silver etchings made to look like waves and the other was red with gold details made to look like dragon scales.

"Indyira do you want a sun cake?" Iroh offered as they headed out.

"What's that?" He asked and Iroh just chuckled. Zuko hung back and looked over his shoulder at the jewelry case.

He met up with them later and he looked at Indyira as he ate. His cheeks were full of food as he smiled about the taste. He had bitten into something that had a cream frosting and it was all over his face. "What?" He asked in a way that let Zuko know he knew there was something on his face. Zuko just wiped one side off with his finger.