Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender in any shape or form.
"Ameya…did you get in a fight again?"
The ten year old in question frowned, wincing as the older woman dabbed onto her bruise cheek with alcohol. Her blue eyes refused to meet the elder woman's olive green ones, staring at her hands almost guiltily.
"They started it," she finally mumbled.
"Oh? How so?" Her tanned hands reached under Ameya's chin, tilting her head upwards to wipe the dried blood from her split lip.
"They said I-I was a freak!" She exclaimed hotly, "They said Master Xiao is a fool to take me in."
"And do you believe them?"
Ameya faltered; confusion and doubt swirling in her blue eyes. She knew she was different from the children her age, she knew she was different from the older couple who had taken her in just six months prior—back when she was still stealing in the streets. Her pale complexion and blue eyes were uncommon in this small village.
"N-no," she answered quietly, her voice betraying her words.
"Xiao and I do not have children of our own; believe me, I've tried," Ameya grimaced at the older woman, "But he must have saw something in you when he took you in those many months ago. I do not regret his decision and I bet you he does not either."
Her words calmed the child and she smiled shyly back at the older woman, "T-thank you Lady Lu Jie."
Lu Jie applied a bandage on her cheek, pulling back and smiled to herself in satisfaction with her aid. "You do not always need to resort to violence to settle your arguments you know," at the child's confused expression, she continued, "Your wit and words can be just as effective as swords and daggers. If you encounter an opponent you cannot handle by yourself, sometimes you will need to accept the difference and surrender."
Ameya frowned at that.
"It is easy to underestimate a woman and there will be many opportunities for an opening but until then, you must hide your claws and wait for the perfect chance to strike." Lu Jie caressed her black hair fondly, "Stay strong until then Ameya."
She was roughly awaken by the sudden stop, her eyes flickering open to see a large navy ship on the deep blue sea. The scent of smoke and salt filled her nose and she realized she had fallen asleep against the prince's back. Ameya pulled away immediately, recalling the distant memory of a dream from the corner of her mind.
"Your Highness, General Iroh, welcome back. Was your trip successful?" An older man approached them, eyeing the new traveler with curiosity.
Zuko hopped off the eel hound, glancing at Ameya with a watchful eye.
"Just caught a common, lowly thief. Take her to a prison cell and search through her belongings," he ordered.
"Just her belongings, Lieutenant Jee. We do not want to make her feel uncomfortable," Iroh reinforced happily.
Ameya peeked at the older man and smiled, "Thank you Grandpa. I'd rather not be touch inappropriately again." Zuko redden in anger or embarrassment, she could not tell, but Iroh laughed heartily.
"Oh my, I may be old but not yet a Grandpa! Maybe when my nephew decides to settle down with a nice lady and have children of his own."
"Oh, that'll be the day," she stifles a laugh; turning away from the prince's angered face.
"Will you please not talk about my future right in front of me? With a prisoner no less Uncle!" He turned his heated gaze to the said prisoner, "And you! Stay quiet and behave yourself until I decide your punishment."
"Yes, yes, Your Highness." Ameya waved off, following the confused lieutenant with ease.
"What do you plan to do with her?" Was the last thing she heard Iroh say before she was marched onto the ship.
Under the ship was dark and warm, warmer than she normally liked and redder than she preferred. The lieutenant said nothing when he took the bag away from her, not noticing her slip of hand to grab something within when she hoisted it over her shoulders. He left her in a small prison cell, locking the gate and then closing the steel door behind.
She sat with her back against the metal, noticing the lack of…everything in the cell. No bed, no blankets, not even a table or chair for her capturers. She looked at the ceiling, eyes closing to the hum of the ship gears just a few doors down. She's been in prisons before but never on a ship. The narrow passage they pass did not offer much coverage, should she escape, and the man took the cell key with him.
All Ameya could do now was wait.
With Admiral Zhao keeping a watchful eye on the prince of the Fire Nation, Zuko could not hunt the Avatar as openly as before. That was why he had hired June and even that put a damper in his plans. It was not all lost, however, when he managed to capture the thief he met weeks ago with her sickly sweet smile that fooled him since the beginning.
He rummaged through the bag Lieutenant Jee has given him, frowning when he found nothing useful. The black outfit and fox mask she wore was in a corner, a coin pouch, a few weapons, a comb, ribbons, some blank scrolls, and other necessities were stuff together.
But no dagger.
He let out a frustrated sigh. This was useless—her items were useless. He wonders if he can just sell her off, maybe transfer her to another prison so he can never see her again but he would not be satisfied with that. He wanted to see her suffer just a little for all the trouble she caused him. Revenge may be petty but Zuko was beyond caring at this point.
A knock on the door brought him out of his planning, opening the metal frame to see his uncle on the other side. He had a smile on his face and Zuko immediately found it suspicious.
"I'm going to visit our lady friend, would you care to join me nephew?"
"Uncle it is unbecoming to associate with a prisoner," he sighed, "And we just saw her. Why must you go see her again?"
"I just think she might be lonely in a ship full of men. Besides, she looked so comfortable sleeping during the ride that I did not have the heart to wake her up." There was a special gleam in his wise eyes that caused Zuko to tense, remembering her unexpected weight against him that refused to lift up even when he attempted to push her off.
"Fine! Do what you want; I want no part of it." He slammed the door in Iroh's face, going back to formulate a plan to punish the prisoner.
Iroh walked away, a smile on his face. "My nephew is so shy."
The door to her prison open and Ameya cracked one eye open to her visitor. Surprisingly, it was not the angry prince she's come to known, but the older uncle that was always with him. She sat up when Iroh took a seat across from her, a friendly smile on his aged face.
"What is your name my dear?" He asked kindly. He briefly remembers that he seen her before, back in the pirate's harbor weeks prior.
"Who wants to know?" She responded just as kind.
"Iroh, uncle to Prince Zuko and retired General of the Fire Nation," he said proudly.
Ameya hummed in thought, looking over the old, fatten man with curiosity. "General Iroh as in the Dragon of the West?"
"Oho, so you know of my old nickname?"
"Anyone would be a fool to not know of the great general and his successful breach at Ba Sing Se's Outer Wall. You are very well respected—even if the siege was a failure."
"You know a lot for a girl such as your age. How old are you Lady…?"
"Don't you know it is rude to ask a lady her age?" She countered easily but smiled, "Meya. I will be sixteen of age in a few weeks. And most knowledge I know are fleeting rumors and Fire Nation history books. They sure love to promote their values."
"Do you abhor the Fire Nation, Lady Meya?"
She ran a hand through her hair, her face not revealing any negativity. "It is what it is. I've come to accept it long ago. The Fire Nation may have robbed me of my home but I am not the only child they have orphaned."
Iroh looked at her thoughtfully. He found it odd for her to be so casual and detached from the world. She didn't even look scared in her prison cell, as if she was used to this treatment. Her calm demeanor is so different from Zuko's fiery one.
"And yet you steal to ensure your survival?"
"If I say it was for my sickly mother, would you let me go?" Her voice was hopeful but Iroh could see her lack of devotion in her lie.
"No, I'm afraid not."
"Unfortunate," she sighed.
"There are better ways to live than become a thief Lady Meya," he chastised the young woman.
Almost the same age as Zuko but has no doubt had an easy life. This was one of the reason Iroh sought an end to the war; he was tired of seeing orphans and children killed for the glory of the Fire Nation. If only his nephew could see it too.
Ameya offered a mirthless smile, leaning towards the retired general, "Don't think I did not see you take a perfume bottle back at the Abbey, General. I only take what I need, not enough to harm, and only from those who have many to spare."
"You're an odd one, Lady Meya," despite his interrogation, Iroh chuckled. He hadn't realized anyone notice his sleight of hand in the Abbey.
"I've been called worse," she smiled.
"I'll see what I can do to help accommodate your stay at our ship. I do not know what you stole from my nephew to ignite such resentment from him but you are not a bad person," he looked at her with endearment and Ameya fought back the urge to trust him.
"Thank you General but I will be fine with whatever he plans to throw at me," she leaned back comfortably on the metal wall.
"It was nice meeting you Lady Meya," Iroh stood up.
"Likewise, General Iroh," and she meant it.
"She's an interesting one, that girl you decide to keep captive," Iroh stated as soon as he approached the brooding Prince on the deck.
Zuko glanced at his uncle, the frown etched onto his lips once more.
"I don't understand why you bother with her. She's a criminal Uncle, she does not deserve pity." He doubt Iroh would be as kind once he finds out she took his pearl dagger. Zuko just haven't the chance to explain it yet.
"Oh she's more than that, Prince Zuko, I can assure you. Did you know she is around your age? She has lovely eyes and a lovely name to match."
"I don't care," he replied dryly, ignoring how the bright blue skies suddenly reminded him of her eyes.
"It's Meya," Iroh answered regardless but he suspects it to be an alias. Noticing the prince to be more reserved than normal, he gently urged on. "What is wrong Prince Zuko? I thought you would be happy with the 'thief' in custody."
He tensed. "But it is not the Avatar. He is the one I must capture—not a peasant burglar. Is this really the extent of my abilities? How will I be able to face my father with honor when all I have to show for is just—that girl?"
He was frustrated, tired. He thought it would be more satisfying but after the long ride and no sleep, Zuko was doubtful. His mind was loud and blaring, keeping him awake and challenging his own abilities. It has been almost three years—very long, very tiring three years.
Iroh sympathize with Zuko. He had seen how this journey has marred his nephew, how his banishment had changed the innocent boy to someone more rugged, angry, resentful. There are some things Zuko refused to let go and he had entrusted all his hope onto the Avatar—the one who will restore Zuko what he had lost.
But honor is not something easily given or restored by another.
"I've come to accept it long ago."
Those were not the words of someone with hope, Iroh realized. She had not only accepted her fate, she had given up. Stealing and running was just her way to cope, to live-even if it meant being captured in the process.
"You will see the Avatar again, Prince Zuko," it may be minuscule but it was still hope, "You are the only one who has been close enough to encounter him continuously. It would not end here."
Zuko turned towards Iroh, his lips lifted upwards in a relieved smile. There are times when his wisdom shine through and Zuko appreciates the support when his uncle is not babbling about tea and Pai Sho. And Iroh, he did not want to see his nephew fall into the same state as the girl who looked so confident yet so lost in this world.
"And as for Meya—"
"No," immediately his mood was sour, "I am not letting her go. She needs to be disciplined."
"You will learn respect, and suffering will be your teacher."
Zuko shook those thoughts away from his mind.
Now it was Iroh's turn to sigh. It was hard to change Zuko's mind once he decides on something. "Why do you hate her so nephew? Is what she stole more important to you than her life?"
"She stole from royalty! Had she been in the palace and attempted thievery, her head would surely roll!" He all but lashed out. Iroh waited a few moments with a knowing eye for Zuko to calm down and he did, leaning on the rail frame dejectedly. "She reminds me of Azula."
Iroh barely caught the whisper.
"That girl is just—so full of herself, so arrogant. It's as if she could do things effortlessly with no consequences!" Iroh briefly wonders how Zuko knows so much about her from the brief interactions.
"If you spend some time to talk with her, I assure you she is not as…eccentric as your sister."
Zuko shot him a dry look in disbelief, shaking his head. 'Eccentric' is an understatement to describe Azula.
"I'm going to rest," he said with finality, putting an end to the conversation and walking away from his uncle with his mind cleared of the Avatar but filled with the prisoner instead.
Author's Note:
Not much action but mainly character development? Here's a small glimpse into Ameya's past and her interaction with Iroh. I hope I kept them in character! A little short this chapter but next one will make up for it. Check out my Tumblr for some sketches I've drawn!
Reviews are much appreciated!
Special thanks to Powerpuff for always reviewing! It makes me happy knowing you take the time to review the chapters so far.
Also as I am uploading this, I have already written to Book 2 with 10 chapters so far. I wanted to update at least once a week and I want to finish the story but I'm worried it is not well received…