Hello everyone! I would like to thank everyone who made a review! This chapter is really short, I'm hoping this chapter will kick start the next chapter.
This may have errors in it, is so I apologise!
…
Anyone who had known Zuko since his banishment would know that waltzing in to a fully inhabited town in broad daylight was not something he was particularly accustomed to. But – Zuko reasoned with himself – the others seemed to blend in almost perfectly with this foreign environment. Nothing could go too badly.
The Firebender felt an immense headache forming behind his eyelids as Sokka went on a mad shopping spree. He could hear the other's voice arguing with himself over the prospect of purchasing a 'manly' earth kingdom bag.
Aang was jumping around enthusiastically bombarding every person within a 5 metre radius with his rather overwhelming personality.
'They're all insane' Zuko heard himself mutter. 'Were all people outside the Fire Nation like this? All so… weird?
His eyes roamed around the market to find sanity in Katara only to find her in a heated argument with a flustered and irritated cabbage merchant.
Zuko found himself standing awkwardly among the chaos not knowing what to do with himself.
He knew that they had only ventured into this Fire Nation Colony for the sole reason of getting supplies and He had ventured into many towns himself but he was still adjusting to being so social and the Gaang's lively attitude.
He was amazed that a group of people could be so relaxed in their situation. No one was keeping a look out to alert them of possible danger so, Zuko, being the caring ex-prince he was, decided he'd keep watch.
Zuko's face remained stony with indifference as he glanced around the market looking for anyone he would regard as a potential danger to the Avatar.
Most people here were travellers, using the small town as a pit stop in-between their destinations to gather essential items.
He leant against the wall of a shop as a man of average height and build caught his attention. His body adorned a uniform that Zuko immediately identified as a Prison Guard's uniform.
Although uniforms of prison guards varied depending on the prison's location and the nature of the job within the building, Zuko could still identify the familiar patterns of the uniform.
He was unaware of there being a prison located in this area.
There hadn't been a prison here when he was still in the Fire Nation. It was possible for one to have been built since his banishment but it was in an odd spot. The town was small, painfully so. There was only one street of stalls and most of the stall owner's houses where attached to them. A few houses scattered behind the market street and were surrounded by crops. The other side of the street was the sea. A small coastal Fire Nation town that a prison?
The waves drifted onto the sand gently swaying the anchored boats. Boats were an easy escape route.
Zuko doubted they'd have the numbers for guards or even enough prisoners to put in there in the first place.
Plus Zuko hadn't seen a prison facility when they flew in on Appa.
The Guard picked up some fruit from the stall and Zuko caught wind of the small talk between the two men.
"We will be moving him off tomorrow, he's an old man but he's a dangerous Firebender. Used to be a general too, shame his talents are wasted on heating his goddamn tea."
Zuko's head shot up from the ground. He desperately tried to control himself from looking suspicious and keep himself from feeling any form of hope that threatened to ignite.
Zuko's initial thought was correct, there wasn't a prison here. They were transporting a prisoner. A prisoner whom he possibly knew.
Doubt began to flood his veins. There was no way it could be him.
He hadn't seen his uncle since they were separated in Ba Sing Se. They hadn't been out of the Fire Nation for very long at that stage.
Zuko had spent an entire year looking for his missing uncle with no such luck. Zuko had forced himself to forget about his tea loving uncle. He'd repressed every moment of actual happiness he'd experienced with the man he considered family more than anyone else.
Zuko had thought he'd been able to move on from on his uncle. But the burning hope that raged in his chest that refused to put out despite everyone's comments that had told him otherwise.
Zuko forced himself to listen and focus as the Guard put down his purchased goods and pulled out a worn parchment.
"A handsome price will be rewarded for any information you can give us."
The stall holder -an elderly man- gently took the parchment from the other's hand and stared at them for a moment.
"Arrows?"
Zuko blanched and subtly glanced around trying to locate the monk.
He zeroed in on Aang talking to a small child. He was partially hidden behind some crates and although Aang was wearing headgear to cover up his tattoos, his childish facial features would probably by easily identifiable. He silently prayed for Aang to stay where he was while the two men finished their conversation.
Zuko made a metal note of the direction the Guard went and promised himself to make sure it wasn't the man who he thought he was.
'I'll go tonight'
Zuko trotted over to the hyperactive 12 year old and roughly pulled him away from the small boy by the collar.
"Someone is looking for you, we need to leave the market as soon as possible." Aang's mouth opened and Zuko interrupted him before the avatar could assault him with verbal ammunition. "I'll explain later. Get the others."
Aang's eyes widened comically he began to vibrate in ignorant excitement.
"Wow Zuko! How did you find out! Are they still here? Is that guy over there? Do you have a plan? What should we do?"
Zuko groaned inwardly at the young avatar, amazed someone could have so much energy. He'd hoped he'd prevented Aang's onslaught of questions but apparently he had not.
Zuko's brows creased in irritation. The avatar backed up beckoning for surrender and took off to find Katara and Sokka.
….
So the next chapter hopefully have Iroh in it. I was thinking Zuko goes to see if the prisoner is Iroh and realises he can't free him by himself, he doesn't want to ask Katara because he feels like he needs to do it himself and that's how Toph comes in.
I'm not sure if throwing in two characters very suddenly is too much.
So if not that option I was thinking this could just be a Zuko only rescue oporation or something. Let me know what you think!
Thank you!
