Inspired by the prompt 'Water' for the Avatar 500 on live journal
Like the Seas
For three years, give or take the occasional stop at port, Zuko was surrounded by it; water. It carried him around the world, over and over again, as he searched for the Avatar. It caressed his dilapidated, out of date ship on a good day and when the weather was wild, the water tossed the metal hull about like a toy.
When it rained, and some of the storms at sea were unlike Zuko had ever see before or would ever see again, it filled their water reservoirs, letting them travel longer without stopping. The tides and the currents and the strength of the waves all affected his progress and sometimes the young Fire Nation prince cursed the sea and its fickleness.
"The sea is like a woman," his Uncle Iroh often stated, one hand stroking his beard, the other shading his eyes as he looked out upon the deep blue of the waters. Zuko always cringed when the man talked about women in any capacity. It usually led to some embarrassing discussion about love, or worse, sex. "One minute she's calm and reasonable, the next a seething mass of tumultuous waves. You'll learn, Zuko, once you get to know women a little better."
"Fat chance of that," the sixteen year old retorted bitterly.
"Now, now, nephew; that negative attitude will never attract a young lady." The brother of the Fire Lord grinned and gave the young man an encouraging pat on the back.
Zuko snarled. "I live on a ship, on the ocean. Where exactly are the girls?" He stomped off to the railing and looked down into the water's depths. "I wonder if there are any girls down there. Look, I think I see one. Oh, wait; it was just a big fish." His voice was angry and harsh sounding with a hint of sadness underneath. "Damn water. I'm so sick of it. I just want to go home."
"You need patience, Zuko. You'll make it back to the Fire Nation eventually. I'm certain of it. And you'll have a real home and a girlfriend and all the things other young men your age have. I know that it's difficult right now, and it's been difficult for three years. But you're strong, so very strong."
"Yeah, strong," Zuko muttered. "What a joke that is; if I was strong I would have found the Avatar by now. If I was strong, I would have fought my father. If I was…"
Iroh narrowed his eyes and shouted, "Enough!" He grabbed hold of the young man's shoulders and shook him. "You listen to me! You are strong, Zuko, much stronger than you know. You're like the ocean…"
"I thought women were like the ocean," Zuko interrupted, his anger dissipating a bit now.
Impatiently, Iroh waved his hand about. "Yes, yes, in one way they are, but you are relentless like the seas, pounding the shoreline day after day without fail. You wear down and erode all the obstacles before you. And you will, like the ocean does, claim your territory one day."
"I hope I don't die before that day comes." Zuko rolled his eyes and ran a hand across his almost completely bald head. He looked up at the sky then. Heavy, thick looking black clouds were beginning to form. A few seconds later, cold rain began to fall and it came down in torrents a few minutes after that.
Iroh ran below deck, heading for the warmth and relative comfort of his cabin along with a hot cup of tea. The prince remained on the deck, unmindful of his soaked clothing or the shivers that began to travel through his body. "Like the ocean," he repeated and stared once again into its mysterious depths. The water's surface was churning and the waves were wild and rough. "I couldn't just be like a volcano, could I?"
A/N: If anyone for any reason mistakes this drabble in any way for being pro Zutara or hinting at Zutara, you be very, very wrong. It is simply babbling that wanted to come out. I'm not even sure if it makes any sense. ;-)
