Hey all, Sha here! SO sorry this took so long... inspiration for this chapter came few and far between, but I got through it and now we can move on to more fun! I warn you all the following chapter has a bit of Zhao/Sokka shipping to it but nothing too intense and they are not going to be an intimate focus in this story... I do see Zhao as the creepy molester type tho... so, lol.

To answer a few comments I received: Yes, I will be adding in the other characters as the story progresses. This story is more like a split plot from the original Avatar storyline so there will be key points when all the original avatar cast meet up! Also, as I received many UPDATE comments, I am so grateful to you all who read, fav, and love this story! It's truly an honor to write for you all! Please understand that I DO work a full time job with 12 hour shifts and do not have excess time on my computer BUT I do try to write a little more to a chapter each night! Some chapters come easier than others ( like ones with smut in it XD ). I appreciate your patience and understanding that some updates may take longer than others, but when I'm on a role, I will try to make up for it by posting 2 or so chapters at a time ( or making the chapters longer )

Thank you again~ Chapter 8 is already in the works!

-Sha

Ch. 7 - Monsters at Sea

Commander Zhao's battleship was in plain view now, looming ever closer like the giant black head of an unagi waiting for the right moment to lunge forward and swallow Zuko's smaller ship up with one snap of it's toothy jaws... It made the young Prince groan in distressed frustration and slam his palms down on the frame of his window, the mental glowing red from the heat of Zuko's hands.

As if his mission wasn't already delayed enough as it was, now he had to deal with the most ruthless snake under his fathers command! A man that would as soon shake his hand and pretend to be his friend as hang him as a traitor to the nation... Either way, it didn't bode well.

Sokka walked to the Prince's room and glanced through the slight opening in the door, peering at the back of his captor. It was strange... The image he saw was of both a man... and a child. Zuko's body was tense and rigid, but he trembled ever so slightly. Sokka had felt that way himself many times after watching his father sail off to war... Having to be the man, the soldier his father needed him to be... but still just a boy himself.

He pushed the door open and stepped inside, slowly approaching Zuko and reaching out to grasp his shoulder. His fingertips brushed the fabric of Zuko's shirt and suddenly his world turned on it's side, his body slammed down to the floor and the weight of the Prince's body pressing him down so that he couldn't move away. Zoku glared down at him, teeth bared, hair partially loose from his topknot and hanging around his fiery golden eyes. They were close... so close Sokka could feel the other teen's breath on his face.

A long moment paused with them locked in a staring contest; Zuko all silent fury, and Sokka startled uncertainty. Neither moved, nor spoke... Neither breathed.

Slowly, Zuko loosened his grip on Sokka's shirt and leaned up a bit, his voice ragged and low.

"... Do NOT feel sorry for me..."

Sokka swallowed slowly and shook his head a bit, his own voice low, but steady.

"... I don't... I just... GET you now." He furrowed his brows, shrugging halfheartedly. "Well, sort of..."

Zuko tilted his head slightly, still kneeled astride the Inuit's chest, keeping him pinned to the floor.

"Get me? What exactly is there to GET?" The fire bender snapped defensively, his golden eyes burning holes of hatred into the younger teen.

Sokka lifted his hands in defense, keeping his voice low. "...Take it easy! I just meant... we kinda come from the same clothe..."

The young Prince snorted a soft laugh, grabbing a fistful of Sokka's shirt and murmuring low as he leaned in closer to the younger man's face. "... Don't fool yourself into thinking we're the same, peasant... I tolerate you... Nothing more."

Those words ran Sokka through as sharp and cold as a blade. The past few weeks of cautious interaction and growing understanding for the older teen destroyed in the one breath it took Zuko to speak such hurtful words. He remained laying on his back, blue eyes wide as he stared up at the fire bender with his lips parted on a pained gasp that never quite made it past his throat. Shock quickly boiled into anger and Sokka grit his jaw, slapping Zuko's hand off his shirt and leaning up firmly so they nearly knocked heads. They ended up a breath apart, Sokka's cobalt eyes staring down the golden ones of his re-affirmed enemy.

"You... Stuck-up, high-bred, ASS-!"

He was cut off by a crewman suddenly pushing open the door, pausing a little stunned as he looked at the two young men in a half grapple on the floor. Zuko felt his face heat up with embarrassment and slammed his palms into Sokka's chest, knocking the wind out of the younger man and throwing him back flat on the floor once again.

" W-WHAT?" He yelled at the crewman who immediately jumped to attention.

"P-Prince Zuko! Commander Zhao has boarded our ship and wishes to speak with you! Should I... tell him you need a moment?" He asked with obvious discomfort.

Zuko snorted and pushed up onto his feet, brushing off his clothes to smooth them out.

"No need... I'll be there in a moment. Get him cleaned up and back in line with the rest of the crew..." Zuko muttered, stepping over Sokka and walking out of the room to get washed up and put on his uniform.

Sokka leaned up, panting low, his chest tight from adrenaline and rage. He glared after Zuko, shaking off the crewman as he tried to haul Sokka onto his feet. He stood on his own and turned to storm out of the room towards his own, small cabin. He was done trying to be nice... Shitty up-bringing or not, Zuko had no right to treat him as garbage and he'd be sure the High and Mighty Fire-Face learned that!

Zhao stood tall in full soldier regalia atop the smaller ship's deck, looking both impatient and mildly put off to be dealing with Ozai's banished heir once again... But, in truth, a majority of him loved these moments... Being able to push his rank around... push Zuko's buttons and rub verbal salt in his emotional wounds just to get a rise out of the young Prince who knew better than to fight back and risk further scorn from his father back home.

Ah, yes... It may have taken the Commander out of his way... but it was well worth it to see the Prince squirm 'under his boot' as it were.

The tall soldier turned as he spotted Zuko walking up the lower level stairs onto the deck in his own uniform, looking agitated and surly as ever. Zhao couldn't help but smile slowly. This was going to be too easy... Zuko was always such an easy target when he was in one of his 'moods'.

Zuko moved onto the deck with strong purposeful strides, his crew filing in behind him and bowing respectfully at the Commander. Sokka was the last one on deck, dressed in only a loose pair of red-clay colored pants and a white v-cut work shirt. It was not the best outfit he'd worn by far, but it kept him covered and looking like a low-ranked crewman at least. He stood at the end of the line, not bothering to bow and instead fiddling with his loose hair to tie it back up into it's usual wolf-tail.

Sokka's dark complexion and lack of respect did not go unnoticed by Zhao.

"Prince Zuko... It seems you've been picking up stragglers along your journey..." Zhao nodded towards Sokka who now stood glaring bitterly towards the Prince's back.

Zuko glanced over his shoulder, taking note of the Inuit's fierce gaze and snorting lightly. "He's just a prisoner I captured in the Southern Water Tribe... Pay him no attention."

Sokka overheard both firebenders and scowled, barely containing his urge to pick up a nearby mop bucket and wing it at the back of Zuko's head. How dare Fire Britches insult him!

Zhao arched his thick-lined brows and grinned a sly, dark grin, his voice low.

"I see... rather brazen of you... to allow a prisoner to walk about freely on your ship, Prince Zuko..."

Zuko tensed a bit, knowing that smile too well, and feeling a cold chill tip-toe up his spine at the crafty edge to Zhao's tone. "... He works with the crew... so that he's more useful to me than he would be rotting away in the brig..."

Zhao glanced back at Zuko before walking towards the darker-skinned teen. Sokka felt all the hairs on his arms and neck stand on end, instinctively not liking this man... He swallowed and stepped back a bit from the line of crewman, edging away from the approaching bender, his fists balling up, wishing he had his boomerang to defend himself with.

"Zhao!"

Zuko had turned, looking over at the Commander's back and doing his best to remain civil with one of his father's favored military leaders. Iroh had been standing by quietly, watching the interaction between his nephew and the boorish older bender. He'd never cared much for Zhao and his ruthless tactics... He was unbalanced and it showed in his short temper and merciless regard to those weaker than him... Still, Iroh knew better than to offend the Commander openly and make trouble for his young nephew, so, clearing his throat, he stepped forward to intervene.

"What is your purpose for boarding us on such a lovely day, Commander? I would hate to think you were so bored that you had to stop us simply to assess my nephew's choice in crew..."

The seasoned soldier laughed mildly, reaching out to grasp Sokka's chin and smirking with amusement when the water tribesman quickly slapped his hand away and glowered up at him like a cornered dog; both fearful and foolishly bold in baring his teeth. It was a bold move he'd soon regret dearly.

"I may choose to stop any ship whenever I please and for whatever reason... Your 'Prince' is a disgrace to the Fire Nation and was planning on sailing through one of MY blockades into the Earth Nation waters... If I were so inclined, General Iroh, I would be completely within my right to sink this miserable ship!" Zhao replied in a cold, smooth tone, glancing over at the aged bender and lightly clasping his hands behind his back to push his chest out and forward.

"You wouldn't DARE! My father would have your head if you harmed me OR my Uncle!" Zuko raged, formality forgotten.

Iroh merely frowned tensely, knowing better.

Commander Zhao laughed heartily, but it was a cruel, vindictive sound. "You're father? HA! You have no idea what your father truly thinks of you OR your uncle, do you, young 'Prince'?" He sneered the last word as though it left a foul taste on the tip of his tongue.

The older man turned his gaze back to Sokka, freely roaming his eyes over the Inuit's frame, sizing him up for more than just a fight or labor.

"Your father is the one that ordered you kept away... And he's commanded that order to be enforced by ANY means necessary... He would consider it a weight off his shoulders if he NEVER had to concern himself with your return to the Fire Nation..." The soldier murmured with amusement.

"Zhao, you go TOO far!" Iroh barked with anger, knowing that the Commander's words would wound his beloved nephew far deeper than any weapon.

Zuko stood, frozen in place, his eyes wide as his carefully constructed emotional and mental armor cracked under such blows. "... T-that... is not true..."

"No...?" Zhao smirked darkly, still facing the young prisoner. It made Sokka's skin crawl and he tried to step back again, his butt hitting the side rail of the ship, halting his retreat. Despite his own grievances with Zuko... he felt a strange need to defend him against Zhao's verbal assault.

"No father would ever order harm to his own son! Especially not a son as loyal to him as Zuko is!" Sokka growled, his blue eyes narrowed on the Commander.

Iroh and Zuko both seemed to be taken aback, staring at the water tribesman in surprise. Zhao, on the other hand, was hardly amused...

"... A prisoner should know when to hold his tongue... unless he enjoys gambling with his life."

Sokka felt himself swallow a lump in his throat; cold sweat trickling down the back of his neck and under the collar of his shirt. He knew this man wouldn't restrain himself the way Zuko had... but he wasn't about to back down to a pompous boar like Zhao.

"... Zuko deserves to go home... I'm sure his father wants him back!"

Zhao arched his brows at that and laughed low, the sound rattling in his chest like a snake's hiss. Sokka tensed further and glanced towards Zuko and Iroh, not sure what to do. Iroh still looked surprised, but grateful to the young man for his words. Zuko however... Sokka couldn't read his expression. He seemed wounded... or confused. His eyes were pinned on Sokka, staring at him like he didn't recognize him at all.

His line of sight to the others was quickly cut off as Zhao pressed into his personal space and grabbed him by the front of the shirt, making Sokka jerk and look up into the Commanders hard, ruthless eyes.

"... I like your attitude, boy... It's always the truly spirited prisoners that I take the most pleasure in breaking."

He hauled Sokka clean off his feet and tossed him with one arm alone several feet across the deck and into the hard armored chests of his men. "Take him to the brig! I'll deal with him once we're back on course!"

Sokka's eyes widened and he tried to leap from the arms grabbing him, managing only to bruise himself against metal chest plates and helmets then do any sustainable damage to his captors as he struggled. "LET ME GO!"

Fire erupted around the soldiers and several jumped back in surprise, looking over towards their source where Iroh stood, eyes narrowed and blazing with fury.

"Release him NOW!" He barked in a tone that proved the strong, powerful leader he had once been; a tone that left very little room for protest.

The soldiers hesitated, loosening their grips slightly as they fidgeted between obeying orders, and not angering the Dragon of the West. Sokka wrenched himself free as he felt the slight slack, moving to scrabble across the deck and crying out in pain as fire thrown from behind him danced across his feet, making the Inuit trip and crumble onto the ship's deck, gripping at his singed heels. There wouldn't be a scar... but they'd be tender for a day or two.

"Secure that prisoner!" Zhao growled from where he stood, opposite of Iroh and fist still smoking from the fire he'd thrown moments earlier. As his men quickly grabbed hold of Sokka once more and pulled him back, the Commander leveled his gaze on the disgraced General.

"You have a lot of gall, thinking you can command MY men over me..! You may have been a favored soldier in your prime, old man, but you no longer have the loyalty of the Fire Nation army... Nor the right to command them to do ANYTHING!" Zhao shouted the last part, his fuse lit and sparking on the edge of explosion.

Iroh remained collected and still, his voice even but stern as he spoke.

"You have no right to take the boy away, Zhao..."

"He is a Prisoner of War, just as your little Prince stated earlier... and all prisoners caught must be questioned for information on their tribe and war tactics. NOT allowed to roam around like a stray rat throughout your ship. It is obvious that Prince Zuko is unable to perform even the simple act of interrogating a prisoner, so I will take that matter into my OWN hands..."

Zhao motioned for his men to return to their ship with Sokka and prepare to separate. The Commander turned to follow, irritated, but satisfied with claiming the prisoner for himself... as well as leaving Zuko with some new 'wounds' that were sure to fester in the coming days as his self doubt consumed him.

Iroh took another step forward to go after Sokka but paused to look over at his nephew who'd said nothing to stop this.

"Zuko! Are you just going to let him walk away with that boy?"

The Prince was silently watching after Sokka...

Even against all odds... outnumbered by fire benders and trained soldiers in armor, he thrashed and fought like a cornered beast. Fought to secure his freedom... his honor...

Just as he did.

"ZUKO!"

The Prince blinked at his uncle's shout and looked over, brought out of his thoughts and breathing in a crisp, tight breath. Zhao's ship was already moving away, the distance between them growing. He swallowed and balled his fists at his side before looking over at his uncle, hard determination in his eyes.

"... Uncle... I want you to teach me the new set of fire bending steps..."

Iroh looked at his nephew, both exasperated and confused. "Why?"

Zuko glanced back towards the larger ship sailing away from them.

"... Because I have been insulted for the last time by that man... I'm going to challenge him to an Agni Kai."

TBC