For the next few days, the Zuko that we knew had come back at full force. He kept badgering me with questions to where the avatar was. Where he was going. I honestly didn't know where he was. It's not like we had mapped out a plan. All we knew was that we had to get to the Northern Water Tribe. But, I wasn't going to tell that to Zuko either. He allowed me to come outside for his training hour which, he did not let me participate after that last fight. I just watched as he kept thinking like a fire bender instead of listening to his Uncle about re-thinking his tactics. It was sad really.
Zuko let me have breakfast and dinner with them. He only stayed for a short while though as Iroh and I chatted up a storm and had several cups of tea. Nothing was ever different for me on that ship. It was always breakfast, badger, training hour, badger, dinner, and then sleep. It got a little boring at times but when I was in my room a lone, I focused on my meditating. I've never meditated as long as this before and it was calming, and refreshing to my mind's eye.
Over breakfasts and dinners, I would tell Iroh all these stories about my life in the fire nation, my life alone and with the traveling benders. I would tell him stories about my mom and how she had to teach me water bending in secret. My father thought that I was a fire bender but when I wasn't able to fire bend, he thought I was just another useless non-bender and let my mother take full care of me. I never knew if he found out about me being a water bender but I can say good riddance. I would never have to see him again.
There was a knock at my door. I didn't think it was time for training hour just yet. I had just eaten breakfast a little while ago. I put myself together and the door opened. It was a guard. Not Zuko, or Iroh. I thought this was strange. Only Zuko was really allowed to get me with the exception of sometimes Iroh when Zuko didn't want to deal with me.
"You're wanted on the deck," The guard stated as he opened the door all the way. "Come."
I did as I was told. I didn't question anything on this ship. If I did, Zuko would have made sure that I got punished. That never happened in my time on this ship. I knew how far I could push Zuko. Even if I pushed him a bit too far I had Iroh to back me up with everything. I knew Zuko's buttons and just how to push them.
As we got closer to the deck door, I could hear a man voice. It was different from Zuko's. It was deeper and sounded older but not as old as Iroh. When we got to the door, I knew that voice from somewhere. From deep in my past that I had no longer wanted to remember. The door opened and I stepped outside.
"This is my prisoner," Zuko huffed pointing to me.
"Oh, it so good to see you again. It's been so long," Zhao gave a little chuckle. "My have you grown into such a young lady."
I ignored him. I was't about to answer to a monster. I turned my cheek and looked towards the ocean.
"Now it that anyway to greet an old friend?" He asked coming towards me.
"I wouldn't say friend," I muttered still staring at the ocean.
He stopped about 5 feet away from me. He glared at me with his hot red eyes.
"How do you know her?" Zuko asked glaring at Zhao.
"How do you not know Admiral Katsu's daughter?" Zhao replied.
"Oh my father is an admiral now?" I sneered. "Good for him."
"You haven't been home in years have you?" Zhao asked turning to Zuko and Iroh. "If it wasn't for the fact that she had ran away, she would have been my wife by now," He turned his head towards me. "I shall be taking over her imprisonment."
"No Zhao!" Zuko exclaimed. "Finding the avatar is my mission that my father gave to me!"
"Yes, and you had him, but let him get away," Zhao responded coming up to me about a foot away. "You're father is going to be really happy to see you."
"Not if I can help it," I murmured as I jerked my arm back and punched Zhao square in the face.
Zhao stumbled back with his hand on his face. He stopped and looked at his hand. His nose was bleeding. He glared up at me. I was in stance ready to attack again. I was not going to be a prisoner on his ship. I would rather stay with this palace brat. He yelled and sent a wave of fire towards my face. I ducked and sent a wave of ice daggers at him. He easily melted them with a simple fire breathe but that gave me just enough time to run at him. I jabbed twice at his face, hitting him once, and then a round house kick to the neck. I froze some water on the floor beneath his feet and he started slipping. When he got his balance he melted the ice beneath him and punched continuous fireballs at me. I dodged and deflected as many as I could but they increased in number and strength and hit me one by one. I stumbled back trying to get my bearings together but he kept the fire coming. Move after move the fire came at me with such a strength that I had never witnessed before. I wasn't strong enough to deflect them as the water steamed up but the force would still hit me.
Now I was afraid. Now I had wished for Aang and the gang to come save me. I wish I had just ran instead of fought. I wouldn't be caught up in this mess right now if I had just listened to my own advice. As the fire kept coming, my body slowly gave up. I wasn't strong enough for this. My mind was thinking of all these different ways to get past this. I was in serious danger. Zhao ceased fire and I put my hands on my knees giving myself a much needed mini break. My mind wasn't where it should be. My body was tired. I felt a hand on my throat and I was brought up in the air. Dangling over the railings. With no strength to fight back I just dug my nails into his hand that was on my throat.
"Zhao! You need to stop!" Zuko protested coming towards us.
"Stay right there you traitor!" Zhao yelled at him tightening his hold on my neck.
"I am the rightful heir to the throne! I demand you to release her!" Zuko screamed.
Zhao ignored him but instead of tightening his hold on me, I felt his hand get hotter. He was going to burn me, and he was succeeding. I tried not to scream. I didn't want to seem weak but it got to a point where the heat was unbearable and I let out a murderous scream.
"Zhao, enough!" Iroh growled.
Zhao softened his grip and threw me across the deck, banging my back against the railings. My neck, it was unbearably painful. I could tell it was serious as Iroh came to my side looking very concerned. He tilted my chin up and grimaced. Oh yeah, it was bad.
"I will let Admiral Katsu know that his daughter is with the banished prince," Zhao snarled as he walked up the bridge to his own ship. "Water benders. They're all the same. Pathetic and weak."
I glared at his ship as it got in front of us. Frustrated and angry as I've been in a long time I got up, ignoring the pain from my neck. Focusing all the energy I had left, I ran to the end of the deck and jumped. Throwing my hands up, a huge wave came up just behind Zhao's ship. I yelled and pushed my hands down and slammed my feet on the ground. The wave went over his ship and into every nook and cranny there was. I stared at his ship as it slowed down and started to smoke. Multiple crew members where in the water trying to find a way to climb back on the ship. As we went past, I glared at Zhao as he was calling out orders to his crew. When we finally got past him fell to my knees, exhausted. Iroh ran over to me.
"Zuko, help me get her up and to her bed," It sounded like more of a demand than anything else.
Grabbing my waist, they pulled me to my feet. I stumbled forward and grabbed on to the rail to steady myself. The pain was coming back at full force. My legs wouldn't move, I couldn't lift my head anymore than an inch. Inch by inch they walked me across the deck. By the time we hand gotten to the door my legs were shaking. All I could focus on was trying not to cry. Everything had happened so quick, my mind couldn't keep up. As we slowly made our way down the hall, Zuko had to keep a grip on my waist as to not let me fall over my own feet. However, I was able to gain a little strength back as we came to the door of my room. I was able to walk to my bed without Zuko's help. I sat down on the bed and put my face in my hands.
"Zuko, get me a towel, a bucket of water and bandages for her burns," Iroh said.
Zuko nodded and went to fetch them. I couldn't hold back my tears and I started sobbing. This whole day had been just traumatic and I wanted it to be over. I didn't even care about the pain anymore. I didn't want to think about my father anymore. I didn't want to think about Zhao anymore. I just wanted to be with my friends who loved me and cared for me. I didn't want to be on this damn ship anymore with a prince who didn't show any other emotions other than anger.
"It's okay Annaisha," Iroh said softly pulling up a chair in front of me. That was the first time he had said my full name since I had been on this ship.
I calmed myself down, wiped my eyes and smiled at Iroh who smiled back. Zuko came back with the water, towel and bandages. He put them next to Iroh and looked around. I think he was looking for somewhere to sit? Why? Didn't he have better things to do than to stare at me with my eyes all red from crying while Iroh wrapped my neck up? I guess not, or he just wanted to see me suffer. That little brat. He took the cushion from the meditation spot and kneeled on it, watching his Uncle's every move.
"Now," Iroh began, dipping the towel into the bucket and squeezing it so it wasn't soaking. "This is going to sting a little."
I nodded and held my chin up. He pressed the towel on to my burn. I grimaced and gripped the bed, digging my nails into the mattress. Iroh wrapped the towel around my neck and held it there for a few minutes. The stinging died down and my face relaxed. He unwrapped the towel and dipped it in the water again, squeezed, and wrapped my neck again. The stinging came back and I gripped at the bed. I felt a warm hand cover my gripping hand. The hand was gentle as it squeezed the top of my hand. When the stinging had died, I opened my eyes to see an empathetic Zuko holding my hand. He didn't dare look up at me but I could feel that connection again. That connection of being in the same boat as I. This time, I could tell what it was. His own burn.
"Now, I'm going to wrap your neck in the towel," Iroh broke the feeling as he held the towel in place with one hand and grabbed the bandages with the other.
He had gotten a glimpse of Zuko's hand on mine and immediately Zuko took his hand away. Well, that was nice while it lasted. As Iroh wrapped the bandage around my neck, the stinging got a little worse but it was bearable. He finished wrapping and smiled.
"You just rest now. Someone will get you when dinner is ready," Iroh stated as they both stood up and walked out of my room, closing the door behind them. But not locking it.
I wasn't willing to run. I don't even think I had the energy for it. I laid myself down on my left side facing the wall, trying to fall asleep. The pain was back and it kept me up. But the rest of my body was comfy where I lay and I just stayed there, regaining my strength.
"Annaisha?" Someone said as my door slowly opened.
"Yes?" I replied wide away.
"Dinner is ready if you would like to join us," It was Zuko. At first, I didn't recognize his voice. It was gentle.
I sighed and slowly sat up. I stayed there a minute trying to get my balance.
"Do you need help?" He asked coming towards me.
"No, I just need a minute," I sighed looking down at my feet.
Zuko did this thing where he came and actually sat on the bed next to me. Was he aware that he was doing this? Was he sick? He actually looked concerned and upset. He looked at his feet which were way bigger then mine. Well, everyone's were. I was so much shorter than anyone except Aang since he was only 12. Well, technically he was 112 but you get what I mean.
"It won't hurt as much tomorrow," Zuko broke the silence.
I looked at him. His eyes looked sad.
"Uncle will have to change the bandage tomorrow morning," He informed me.
I nodded and got up from the bed, extending my hand towards his. He looked at my hand, and then up at me. I gave him my biggest smile without disturbing burn.
Zuko took my hand.
And smiled.
*Repost*
