Four days had passed since they left Zhao's Naval Base. Three days of open seas and nothing else. After their encounter with Zhao, Prince Zuko and Lori wanted to avoid stopping as much as possible, much to disappointment of the crew. Zuko could care less what the crew wanted, all that mattered to him was the Avatar.
Su's new life on board the ship took some time to readjust. She hadn't been on a Fire Nation ship in four years and with new faces came a new sense of uncertainty. Every face she saw walking down the filled her with dread and fear of their true intentions. Wether they were watching her with suspicion or with hungry eyes she wasn't sure.
Her cloak became her only safe haven when outside her room. Whenever a member of the crew walked by she would avoid their gaze not wanting to find the answer to her question, instead simply lowering her head and walking silently.
But when the General or the Prince himself was walking past she would always freeze in place from terror. She would quickly compose her self and stand still with her hood up and her head down to avoid their eyes and letting them pass and hoping they wouldn't yell or harm her. They never did but she still feared them.
The General was who she should have feared the most. The Fire Lords brother, The Dragon of the West, his exploits in the war were legendary, until his retreat in Ba Sing Se. Still though, Iroh was a man who she was meant to fear, which was why it surprised her the way she treated her. From all the tales she heard of him of his power and ruthlessness on the battlefield, she never expected him to be so kind. He was very welcoming of her and spoke to her with such kindness despite her being a slave and an Earth Kingdom girl. However that didn't stop her from being cautious around him. She had first hand experience what it meant when a master took a liking to you. But Iroh seemed different. She wanted to believe that.
Right now he was teaching her how to make tea the way he liked it. She tried and failed several, several times, but he never once snapped at her. Despite that she still feared the waiting lashing she was expecting for when she failed for the last time. Her hands shook from the thought, the tea cup clattering on the saucer as she served the tea to Iroh. He was quick to notice. "It's okay to make mistakes, so long as you learn from them." He said kindly as he discarded another failed attempt at Ginseng tea. She tried another batch, this time step by step the way he taught her. Her hands no longer shaking, and moved with confidence as she served a seventh batch. By the look on the Generals face it was the worst one yet as his eyes snapped open, one twitching, and he swallowed hard the God awful taste. "Ack, Ah yes. That was uh, that was... bracing." He cringed as he discarded the brew. Maybe Ginseng was to complicated for Su. "Perhaps we should try something else. Do you like Jasmine tea?" Iroh proposed.
She did like Jasmine Tea, however making it was whole different story. She tried three pots, all of them were failures. The first tasted too bitter, the second was burnt and the third, "It just... tastes like water." Iroh said. Sure enough when she looked in the pot, it was just water. She forgot to add the tea. She slapped her forehead for her stupidity. "It is alright dear."
Fourth time was sure to be the charm. This time she made sure to do it right. "I hope this is okay." She poured the cup and handed it to Iroh. He gave a small whiff before taking a sip. She held a breath as he drank the tea. After his lips parted from the rim of the cup he gave a satisfied sigh.
"Now that is a nice cup of Jasmine Tea." he said before taking another sip. It was good. Certainly nothing compared to Iroh's but still good. "You certainly have talent for Jasmine Tea dear." He said kindly.
Su managed a soft smile and bowed. "Thank you General Iroh." She said softly.
"In fact, I believe the rest of the crew would enjoy this as well." he said as he lifted the pot and made his way out of the kitchen
"Re, rest of the crew?" Su was caught off guard by this. She wasn't expecting for the General to want to share her tea. Truth be told she didn't like the idea of be surrounded by those men, even with him around. However it wasn't her place to question her superior. "Um I, I'm sure the rest of the crew are rather busy at the moment." She said as she followed trying to dissuade him from leaving.
"Non sense. Its still an hour until noon." He said as though this was common knowledge. "And its the sixth day of the week. Everyone will be on the main deck." He said waiting by the doorway and not leaving any room for an argument. She cautiously followed behind him. At least he wasn't taking her to his private quarters.
She could hear the sound of swords clashing before she even made it to the door. Iroh wasn't kidding, upon arriving on the main deck she saw everyone was here watching the sight with amazement. Prince Zuko and Lori were dueling each with a pair of duel broadswords. To the untrained eye they seemed evenly matched.
The first thing her eyes went to was Lori. Before now she had only seen her in her armor, but now she wore a dark crimson tight fitting sleeveless tank top which showed off her toned arms and midriff and a pair of fairly prominent breasts and a pair loose pants rolled up to her shins. But what stuck out the most was her right arm completely wrapped in bandages from her fingers to her shoulder. She hadn't seen Lori without her armor so she didn't know that she had an injury. However by the way she moved and fought, she didn't seem to be in pain, or at least didn't show it.
"I wasn't aware she had been injured. What happened to her?" She asked the general. He simply closed his eyes and gave a sad sigh.
"That is not my story to tell." He said in a melancholy tone. Su didn't bring it up again.
Zuko leapt back as Lori swung her sword downward. She just as quickly swung it back up keeping her Prince at bay. She brought her other sword and thrusted it forward but Zuko managed to evade it and swung for her arm but she caught it with her other sword. Both swords were locked and face to face panting rapidly.
"Getting tired?" Zuko mocked through each breath with a smirk.
"I'm not getting tired." She managed to pant out. "Your getting tired." She retorted. She slightly pulled back and swung her other sword, aiming for his head. He ducked, dodging it and brought his second sword to use his full force to push her back. She staggered from being thrown back but she was still standing.
Zuko leapt forward swinging both his swords downward. Lori crossed her swords to block the strike at the perfect time. She hopped onto Zuko's knee and backflipped off, kicking him in the chest.
As Zuko staggered Lori found her opportunity to strike. She bolted forward swinging her swords in quick succession causing Zuko to have to block not giving him time compose himself. She flipped her right sword upside down and swung for a downward thrust. Zuko saw his opening. He clashed his sword with her sword guard and pulled hard, forcing her to lurch forward and then clotheslined her with his forearm. She collapsed to the ground defeated and groaning from the pain.
Some of the crew cringed and groaned from the strike. That looked like it hurt. Even Su kinda winced when she hit the floor hard. "She's does this all the time." Iroh reasoned, but he still felt pity for her. "By the way, Su made a lovely pot of Jasmine tea everyone." he told the men with much enthusiasm.
The crew began to motion towards wanting some of the aforementioned tea. Su felt nervous as the surrounding men walked towards them. She could only find comfort in they non of them were starring at her. "She made tea?" Lt. Jee asked as he was poured a cup and took a sip. He hummed with satisfaction. "Hmm, not bad." He said. Other crew members shared the sentiment.
"Oh something tasty." Three Finger Fin came around padding her butt as he waited for his turned to be served.
Su nearly leapt at the sudden invasion of privacy, standing stiff and heart racing as he caressed her butt. After she composed herself, she nervously poured a cup and handed it to him, not making eye contact. He gratefully accepted his cup. "Thank you gorgeous." He said and walked away, but not before giving her butt a squeeze. She clenches herself feeling sick from being molested. She looks up and watches as Three Finger Fin returns to his previous spot and is then assaulted with smack to the back of the head.
"Ow!" He exclaims to the Lieutenant. "What the hell!"
"You were told to watch yourself." said Lieutenant Jee. He guessed he saw him. "The Warrant Officer told you!"
"Come on Jee. I was just-"
"-Just nothing! Your already useless with just three fingers. This time she'll take your whole hand, and then we'll have to come up with another name for you." Jee finished. "Can't be Three Finger Fin without three fingers."
"Okay I'm done." He exclaimed. "Honest. I swear."
"I don't know, One Hand Stan has a nice ring to it."
"Shut up."
Su heard them bicker, but she didn't look at them. Things were strange on this boat. So far he had been the first, to try anything on her, and was immediately reprimanded for it with the mention of Lori. Maybe she actually did have some sway on these men, which was once again odd since she was young, the youngest on the ship and was Water Tribe, enemy of the Fire Nation. She couldn't keep up with all of this, instead she chose to look out to the sea which had surrounded them for the past four days. Thats when she noticed a red bird in the sky and stopping by the bridge. She wished she could just fly away from her life just like that bird.
"You keep leaving your right side open." Zuko said through panting breath as Lori stood back up. "You need to watch your flanks."
Lori groaned as she got back to feet and took this break to catch her breath. "You said the same thing about my left last week." She managed as she rested on the ships railing. "In fact you mentioned my right the week before too."
"I wouldn't have to if you would just cover your flank. You have to remember your not as tall or strong as these men." Zuko coached.
"Wow thanks for the words of encouragement Zuko." She mocked in a sarcastic tone. She tried her best to look at his eyes and not his body. She swore he insisted on training shirtless as a means to distract her with his fit and tone biceps and chest. If it was then it worked, about sixty percent of the time.
He groaned. He hated when she did that to him. To others was fine (especially Zhao), but to him he couldn't stand it. "What I mean is you need to use your own strengths against your opponent. Your shorter, faster, and more agile. Use that to your advantage instead of just using force." He said and then brought his swords up. After another moment she took a deep breath and raised her swords as well. "Don't hit hard, hit fast, like before. You nearly had me that time."
A moment past, both combatants waiting for the other to make the first move. Zuko struck first charging forward and swinging his sword down. Lori spun out of the way, swung her sword to strike Zuko on the side, but he blocked it with his second sword. He brought his other sword but held on to her using his weight to pull her in and throw her to the ground. She skidded but rebounded on her knees. When she looked up Zuko was already charging at her and leaping and swinging both his swords in a downward spiral. She narrowly missed him but he kept pressing on her attacking before she could get back to her feet. He struck again, swinging his swords in a wide arc and she raised her swords to block, the clash making her hands vibrate and nearly drop her weapons. Exhausted she could barely keep her swords up as Zuko kept striking with her barely able to keep up. Finally Zuko spun around swinging his swords together in a powerful strike. The collision forced Lori reeling back and Zuko finished off with a roundhouse kick. Lori was thrown back and forced back on her knees panting heavily.
"Come on! Is that all you got!" Zuko mocked. Lori snapped her head up, panting now snarling with anger. She slowly began to rise up back to her feet feeling her second wind. "Thats right use that anger." Zuko advised
Lori cried out and charged at Zuko, jumping and kicking him hard, square in the chest sending him back. Before he could come back she charged forward swing her sword to strike which he was quick to block but she immediately followed it with her other sword. Zuko managed to block the next, but just barely. She was striking fast and hard, one after another after another. She would swing her sword, swing her second and then spin and come around with a swing again. She finally ended her flurry by spinning around and bring both swords down on Zuko. The clash forced Zuko to the floor on his back. She leapt forward and landed on top of him with her swords crossed on his neck. She was panting hard but she still smirked with victory. "I win." She said confidently through heavy breaths.
Zuko only smirked from her ignorance. Lori lost her smile when she saw his, realizing her mistake. She scoffed annoyed and looked down seeing Zuko's swords up to her neck too. "Damn it." She grunted, annoyed that she got too ahead of herself and didn't catch this. She huffed annoyed. "We'll call it a draw." She said.
"Its a draw then." Zuko agreed. She stood back up, extending her hand to help her Prince back to his feet.
The crowd began to applaud them as they approached them, however Su was in shock seeing Lori mercilessly attack the Prince with such anger and fury. What happened to her ten years ago?
The two teens walked towards the buckets of water and rags waiting for them to cool off with. They both picked up the rags and wiped off the sweat off their faces. They both sighed from the wet rag, the cool water soothing their aches. "You did good." Zuko said. "You did better when you were angry. You ought to utilize it more." He advised.
"Yes, anger is a powerful tool." Iroh said bringing everyones attention to him. "It is something that every Fire bender has been taught. Rage can be a powerful weapon, but it can also be dangerous. You must learn to control your anger, and not allow it to control you. This is a tenant that even master Fire benders have yet to learn."
They allowed the wisdom to wash over them for the moment. Lori always took her elders wisdom to heart. Its really whats kept her strong all these years. "I'll be sure to remember that Uncle." She said. Iroh smiled delightedly. Lori took the bucket and drenched herself in the cool water, all the aches suddenly relaxing as the water slithered down her body. Three Finger Fin couldn't help but notice and appreciate her fine and lean body. Lieutenant Jee once again smacked him in the back of the head.
"Ow!" He silently exclaimed.
"Your really going to pull that again." Jee scolded again. "After what happened last time."
"I didn't do anything." He claimed.
"Really?" Lori called out. "Don't think I didn't notice that moved you pulled on Su." She outed him all eyes on him now as he awkwardly sipped on his tea as he took two steps back away from the group.
"Alright." Zuko called grabbing the attention of his bodyguard. "Break times over." Lori took one last sip of her tea before returning the cup to her elder before picking up her swords and returning to her Prince's side a good few feet away from the group to continue their training. Lori twirled her sword ready for todays lesson, Zuko had been training her since they were kids.
It was after this that the group was joined by the nervous looking Helmsman. With message in hand he cautiously approached the Prince and his bodyguard knowing that when they read the message they wouldn't be happy.
"Uh, ma'am, this just arrived." He said and handed her the message "Although, I believe it might have been a mistake." He added and bowed before taking a step back.
Lori raised an eyebrow at the nervous Helmsman but didn't bother with it. She unrolled the message and began to read, her uninterested expression turning into an angry one as she read, her hands crunching the parchment as she grew angry.
"What is it?" Zuko asked. Lori didn't say anything just whipped the parchment toward him.
"I don't believe this!" She said under breath.
Zuko took the parchment unsure why she was upset. As his eyes scanned the message in his hands he began to figured out why as he too grew angry.
By order of Commander Zhao to all Fire Nation Personnel, any and all information regarding the whereabouts of the Avatar are to be directed to the Commander immediately. Secondary Priority is to prevent the traitorous Prince from apprehending the Avatar. Any deviation from these orders will be considered a crime against the Fire Nation and will be punished with extreme prejudice.
Zuko's anger flared and he burned the parchment in his hands turning it into ash. Zhao was now on the hunt for the Avatar and he going to use all his resources to get in his way. "Damn It!" Zuko shouted.
"What is it Prince Zuko?" Iroh asked his angered nephew, but he was to angry to answer.
"Its Zhao!" Lori answered with much venom when she spoke the name. He's trying to screw us over and is using half the Navy against us."
Without warning Zuko stomped his foot on the short table destroying it, Su panicked as he let out a terrifying cry. "Everyone get back to work!" Zuko ordered with fury. The crew all begrudgingly followed his order and returned to their duties. Su remained frozen in her terror, her mind yelling at her to move but her body to afraid to move. She was disobeying a direct order from the Prince of the Fire Nation, she was sure to be punished severely. Zuko starred at her dead in the eyes. "GO!" he shouted making her jump again. However Iroh gently led her away, asking her to return to the kitchen.
In all honesty Zuko was just letting his anger out and his crew were just caught in the middle. He couldn't be here right now. He didn't trust himself to not snap at others with the anger he was feeling. He walked back inside with Lori behind him.
A few hours had past since it happened. Within that time they had recently docked at a nearby neutral port for some extra supplies. Iroh insisted that it wouldn't take too long. Zuko honestly didn't care. Not with the situation they were now in that Zhao had created. He decided to retreat back into his room, hoping to find the answers he needed through meditation.
Lori as always stood guard by the door of his cabin, as was her duty as his bodyguard. She kept her eyes closed but she was completely aware of the area. She could feel the heat radiating from the room, her own breathing in rhythm to Zuko's. Breath in the diminished, breath out, the heat rose. In near perfect sync, it felt rather intoxicating. Between breaths she heard footsteps approaching from down the hall. They didn't sound loud and metal like one of the crew members and they didn't walk slowly and hesitate with fear, so it wasn't Su. "He's meditating Uncle." She said as her elder arrived. She opened her eyes and sure enough it was him.
"I have some news that he should know about." he said holding a rolled up map in hand.
"Maybe it'd be best if you came back later when he's calmed down." She advised however Iroh persisted.
"This is urgent." He simply said. Knowing she couldn't dissuade him any longer she opened the door for him and followed him in. Zuko was sitting on the floor of his darkened room in front of his desk with a set of candles in front of him. The flames rose and shrunk in tune with his breathing.
"The only reason you should be interrupting is if you have news about the Avatar." He said sternly.
"Well, there is news Prince Zuko, but you might not like it. Don't get too upset." Iroh said.
"Uncle, you said that keeping a level head is a sign of a great leader. Now whatever you have to say I can take it." He said more calmly this time. Lori was surprised, he was taking this surprisingly well.
"Okay then... we have no idea where he is." Or maybe not.
"What!" The flames from the candles rose with fury and scorched the ceiling as Zuko rose with anger.
Lori didn't really mind the sudden heat, her attention at the scorch marks on the ceiling. I wonder whose gonna clean that. She thought sarcastically until she suddenly remembered. Oh yeah, Su.
"You really should open a window." Her elder said as he pulled a fan.
"Give me the map!" Zuko snatched the map from his hands.
"There have been multiple sightings of the Avatar, but he is impossible to track down."
Zuko studies the map, looking at the X's that designate his previous sightings. "How am I gonna find him Uncle. He ks clearly a master of evasive maneuvering." He keeps his eyes on the map, moving between each X trying to find the pattern for each. What made these stops significant, because to him it just seemed as though the Avatar was jumping randomly from place to place. Maybe there was no pattern. Maybe the Avatar was just sighting seeing. Seeing how the world was after one hundred years. Maybe thats exactly what that Avatar wanted him to think as a way to deceive him. Thats why they couldn't find him. Diabolical. He thrusted the map into his uncles hands. "Don't interrupt me until you have actual information about the Avatar." He said and returned to his candles.
Iroh just sighed and stepped out of the room, Lori following behind him. "I did try to warn you Uncle." She said. Iroh just let out a short laugh.
"Yes you did." He said before turning around and walking down the hall leaving Lori.
"He didn't mean it to be so rude." She called down to him." "He's just in a difficult situation."
Iroh didn't turn around as he continued walking down the hall. "I know." He called back before rounding the corner. "Dinner will be ready soon."
After her elder disappeared she turned back to the door, opening it and stepping inside. She didn't really care that Zuko specifically said to not be disturbed. "I just said-" Zuko began when she stepped inside.
"Don't get snippy! Its me." She said. Zuko turned to her and then back to his candles. "You shouldn't have gone off on him like that." She told him disapprovingly.
Zuko sighed lowering his head. "I know. I'm just upset. The Avatar is screwing with me, I know it. He's trying to get me to follow a wild goose chase." He said with anger, the candles flaring slightly. "I know he's been toying with me since the beginning."
Lori stood at the door with her arms crossed and shaking her head. "Your overing thinking it. You saw the map, he's jumping around from place to place."
"Thats exactly what he wants you to think." Zuko said back. Lori just sighed.
"Okay. You've been breathing the incense a little to long." She said and approached him gently putting a hand on his shoulder. "Come on. Take a walk with me, its a nice day." she said with a small smile. After a second of deliberating Zuko stood up and followed her out the door.
After they made it outside they began walking side by side in a comfortable silence. They remained like this for over an hour, just the two of them with nothing but the sounds of the sea. Walking proved to actually help him. Just the two of them walking on the deck helped him clear his head much to his surprise. Afterwards they rejoined Iroh for dinner to be served and the one who had the honor of doing so was Su.
Su was nervous. When she accompanied the ship chief Po to the market to get some extra supplies, they heard some pretty interesting news from the market vendor. And she was the one who was supposed tell Prince Zuko. After Po had handed the plate of steamed fish he shooed her to serve it to the Prince and to tell him the news. Upon arriving she froze in her place at seeing the royals and Lori. The memory of being smacked around by her still present in her mind. She currently sat there along with the royals, with a slight smiling while making idle chatter as though the previous events never happened.
With shaky hands she cautiously approached the table and gently placed the steamed fish on the table, still fearing that they will snap at any moment. "Um, P, Prince Zuko?" She announced and all eyes were on her now. she tried to speak but the words were stuck in her throat.
"What is it Su?" Lori asked. Su remained silent. She wasn't comfortable being here with them.
"Uh... I..." Su tried again but she couldn't find the words. Lori looked confused. Iroh just looked hungry. But Zuko, he was growing more impatient with each passing second. It was only a matter of time till he snapped at her again. She finally decided the kneel down and whisper it into the Prince's ear. The others had no idea what she was saying but then Zuko's eyes went wide and he jumped to his feet.
"The Avatar is on Kyoshi Island!" He announced making Lori jump to her feet with shock at the news. The expression on her face turning serious frighteningly fast. Zuko turned around to leave to get ready as did she. "Uncle ready the Rhinos! He's not getting away from me this time!"
"Are you going to finish that?" He asked pointing at the steaming fish.
Zuko returned snatching it from the table. "I was going to save it for later." He said before marching away. Iroh just sat there grumpy and with his arms crossed.