Author's Note:
Trombe: Ah, the Ember Island Players...Such an awesome episode, and yet so disappointing at the same time.
artsyelric: hey, ember island players is my most favorite episode EVAR! why disappointing? TT_TT
Trombe: This is where things start to divert away from canon folks. I mean if the story didn't seem to do it before its definitely going to now. We plan to introduce new elements that weren't really touched upon by the show. And as someone had gladly brought to my attention NO, Zuko is not going to be the end all be all hero of this story. What was told to me was that there have been a bunch of stories where it has the prince of the Fire Nation single handedly defeating his father and bringing peace to the land. That should not be the case. Zuko's story is of redemption. Of himself and his people. It is the Avatar's job to restore that balance. I concur one hundred percent with Bryan and Mike on this.
artsyelric: ps, i love our readers. those of you who review totally rock. just thought i'd tell you, you all make my days bright and writing fun. i love talking to all of you, so please, keep reviewing.
What I Don't Like About You
Chapter 37: Return to Ember Island
"Would you look at the sight of this place? Its sweet!" Sokka shouted from the top of his lungs.
"Pipe down you moron." Zuko berated the exhilarated teen as he walked past them, leading the way to their destination. "This is not a deserted island, you know."
"Does there have to be so much sand? I hate sand..." The blind earthbender grimaced, trying to fix her bearings from the slight vertigo she was feeling.
Zuko stopped for a second only to shake his head in disapproval. "It's a beach island. Chances are there's going to be sand."
Toph actually pouted - in a very grumpy manner.
Zuko rubbed his temple as he eyed the tiny, discontent child. These people were unbelievable! And this rag-tag group were suppose to be the saviors of the world? The prince scoffed and sighed, convinced that destiny must have not gotten the memo right.
"Look on the bright side, Toph," Suki suggested plaintively. "Now you have a chance to practice sandbending, and learn how to swim."
The glare Toph shot Suki's torso held the potential to kill with a glance, and very well may have, if the blind girl had simply aimed a bit higher.
Aang glanced at what would soon be an eruption of upset from his fellow twelve-year-old before speaking up loudly. "How much more further is it, Zuko?" The chattering of the Avatar's lemur companion joined in with his master's concern.
It was obvious the heat was getting to the boy. Zuko couldn't blame him. Summer in the Fire Nation was brutal if you were not cooling yourself off in the waters. The young Avatar had kept pace with Zuko for most of the journey. It took some convincing on Zuko's part to try and reason with the boy to leave his spirit companion behind. We're heading still towards Fire Nation territory. Even if it is summer's ends there's going to be a lot of people there. You're bison's going to give us away. He told him, But the Avatar child refused to leave the great beast once more, telling him he had parted with Appa once and he was not willing to do so again. Luckily Katara took on Zuko's side of the argument and convinced him it was for the best, for everyone and Appa. And so they rode on Zuko's war balloon with the sky-bison trailing not far behind.
"Not far." If his answer was vague, the prince didn't really care; it was the best and most simple answer he could provide, and he continued walking without breaking stride.
"Ach!"
The sudden yelp of Katara's voice made Zuko spin around, concern etched his face, his eyes scanning for any signs of danger automatically.
"Katara!" to his surprise Aang's voice beat his.
"Sorry," Katara had tripped and was now sitting upon the sand, unharmed but embarrassed. "I guess I wasn't looking where I was going." She stuck out her tongue in a befuddling gesture Zuko found surprisingly charming.
Which compelled the prince even more to offer his hand out to her.
"Here."
Only another hand shot out in unison with his.
Zuko eyed Aang, and the Avatar eyed him awkwardly in return.
"Uh..."
"Uh..."
The awkward silence stretched for a moment, tension starting to build. But before either could back down, the issue was suddenly diffused by the waterbender's confused smile.
"Well... Thanks, you two." Katara grabbed hold of both of the boy's hands simultaneously and they both pulled her up effortlessly.
"You should be more careful, Katara." Zuko coughed under his breath and used the excuse to released his hand from hers.
"Zuko's right, Katara," Aang agreed. "You never know if there are any lion-crab lying around anywhere." The boy looked far more excited about tripping over one of these than worried - obviously he had never been pinched by one.
"Uh, I was just going to say to watch out for sharp stones, but... yeah, let's keep an eye out for those too," Zuko humored the boy.
Aang's big grin returned as he began to scout the area for just such a menacing little creature and Zuko watched. At least the boy monk didn't seem as upset as he had the night before. Either that meant he was coming to terms with Zuko's question, or else blatantly ignoring it. Zuko grimaced as the Avatar bounded off. Yup. Probably already forgotten it on purpose.
The prince sighed angrily and turned his attention back to Katara. Truth be told, he was paying attention a lot more to the waterbender then normal today. Was it his fault he was a hot blooded young man? And who knew a change in wardrobe could have such an effect anyway? He had never seen Katara ware something other than the garb of the Water Tribes. He had never stopped to think that the red and exotic styles of the Fire Nation clothing would suit her so well. So... very well. With her well toned bare midriff, the bracelets she wore upon her slender arms, and the way that choker clung on her lovely neck, it took all he had to just stare. They had certainly gone all out on their Fire Nation disguises.
And it was somewhat a shock to see the object of his obsession dressed so suddenly in the outfits of his home land. It cast her in a different light, and if he was staring now, it had been nothing to the first moment he had seen her dressed so. Zuko reprimanded himself, remembering the encounter and his awkwardly muttered words too well.
You...you look nice...
Like she was just some piece of ornament. The prince did not know how his uncle could do it. Or even that babbling fool, Sokka for that matter. Sea pirates, facing corrupt Earth Kingdom troopers, Agni Kai's, and insanely evil siblings he could handle. But to charm a girl? Wasn't his encounter with Jin and his disastrous attempt to impress Mai proof enough? Courting women was something he was never going to be good at. He just hoped her halfhearted Thanks wasn't just something she had said out of polite etiquette.
Katara smiled at Aang's fading back and Zuko's scrutinizing gaze, grateful for the two boy's concern as she dusted the sand off her bottom. For a moment Zuko thought she was looking at him. He never had a chance to confirm it as he turned back around and soldiered on.
"Is that it?" Suki, who had gotten ahead when he stopped, suddenly pointed out a run down summer mansion ahead of them.
Memories of faded laughter and a family he once had resurfaced once more before Zuko could answer.
"Yeah...That's home."
"What a dump! You would think they would take better care of it," Sokka shared his opinion as he continued to stare at the giant cobwebs that had gathered around the corners of the front door. "You sure the Fire Lord lives here?" he added skeptically, running a finger distastefully over the dust coasted door frame.
"Sokka..." Suki smacked her ignorant boyfriend hard on the shoulder.
"Well, excuuuse me!" He rolled his eyes as he drew out the word. "What a royal dump..."
Which earned the boy another hard slap from the Kyoshi warrior.
"It's okay," Zuko assured them nonchalantly. "Nobody has been here in years. I'm not surprised that it's a little run down." He casually walked into the open doorway like he had done so for years and sat his things down upon a dust covered table.
"It looks like it's been ransacked," Sokka exclaimed, pointed at the messy area where Zuko's family portrait had once stood.
The prince flushed slightly. "No, that was me."
Fortunately, Katara interrupted before the stupid boy could open his mouth again.
"Well it's not too bad," she calculated, eying the place optimistically as she bent over to slide her finger across the wall, checking for dust. "We've camped in worst spots then this. I'm just glad to have a roof over our heads for once."
"That is if the roof doesn't cave in on our heads first." Toph snickered, followed closely by Sokka, and she had one palm out in the open, which Sokka readily slapped with his own as the two shared their quirky sense of humor.
"Ha ha, very funny. " Katara rolled her blue eyes drolly. "Seriously, though, it's actually a really beautiful place - just in need of a serious cleaning. Zuko you should-"
Katara glanced around and found the prince had disappeared. "Zuko? Where did he go?"
Zuko ignored the voices as he continued to walk upstairs, remembering the familiar creaks that each step made. He glanced around room for room, trying to find something. He wasn't looking for anything in particular but being here, in this house, made the prince relive nostalgic feelings. Feelings he had not confronted since the time he was here with Azula, Mai, and Ty Lee. Feelings he had run away from.
For a moment he felt a twinge of guilt come across his heart for burning all those possessions that had any connection to his past. But then again, what was left of those possessions besides empty memories? He had outgrown them, like a too small shoe, and they should be allowed to sink into his past now, forgotten, not dragged sharply to surface by useless, aging artifacts. He had left that life.
He found himself in front of a room that time and time again haunted his dreams. This was where his mother, Princess Ursa, used to sleep. Walking in, he found no trace of that warmth he often experienced from his younger naive years. On the contrary, there was no trace that this had even been Princess Ursa's room at all. His father had ordered all traces of his mother to be remove at once, and that included her possessions in their summer villa. Maybe it was better that way.
All that remained was an empty, hollow room. No bed, no drawers, and no familiar laughter.
Zuko closed the door and did not look back as he walked away.
Turning away, he found himself moving to rest on the nook of an open window space that overlooked the beach and held a magnificent view. In moments, he found himself settling into his favorite position, folding comfortably into the familiar setting as if he had never left. His right leg dangled outside while his left knee was tucked in as he leaned his left elbow against it. He was taller, now, he realized, and barely fit in the window, his hair almost brushing the frame. But it was the same too. Maybe he had been wrong to come. There were too many memories, and here they seemed... so real...
"You know, I distinctly remember hearing my father laugh before," Zuko spoke out loud. "It was here on this spot... He was with my mother. That seems so long ago..." His head hung, and he wondered if it was just childish impulse that had encouraged him to speak aloud, or if it was the sense that the house was somehow speaking to him, the desire to speak back.
There was a thump as Aang dropped suddenly onto the ledge next to him, and Zuko nearly swallowed his heart as it leaped into his throat. He had been too caught up in his thoughts to notice where the airbender had dropped from. But the boy seemed to have heard his outburst, as he hooked his arm through the window and stood on the sill beside Zuko, his head leaning just outside it, practically eye level with the lounging prince. "Doesn't that prove that your father is human? That he can love too?" Aang eyes were hopeful at the happy memory of Ozai though it was clear the boy was still hesitant from Zuko's rhetorical question the other day.
At least he's not completely forgotten it then, Zuko thought sardonically. Unfortunately, he had to disappoint the boy. "That proves only that people can change... and that my father is not the man he once was... or rather, he never was..." Zuko answered back with consideration, but assurance as well. "Why did you follow me, Avatar?"
Aang dropped suddenly, perching himself beside the Fire Prince and dangling his own, much shorter, legs. "I don't know," he admitted. "Something just told me to follow you."
"You have horrible senses, Aang." Zuko smiled sadly, the sarcastic tone almost getting lost in his voice. "Have you been thinking about what I asked you?"
The young Air Nomad nodded slightly. "Every waking moment."
Zuko ignored his haunted tone. He wasn't forcing Aang, but spirits help him, the child needed a push.
"Well?" he prompted when no answer came.
"I... I don't know, Zuko. I don't know how I'm suppose to just... kill the guy just like that."
Zuko leaned against the border of the window with his arms folded across his chest. "Well then I don't see how this is going to end happily for the world, Aang. What else do you suppose we should do? Ask the Fire Lord to kindly step down from his throne and halt this war?"
Aang's eyes glared at the scarred prince. "There's no need to mock me, Zuko."
"I think you're the one who's mocking me, Aang. All this time I've been teaching you to firebend and trying to help you fulfill your destiny, and you're not even willing to fight the Fire Lord?" Zuko raised one eyebrow in sheer annoyance.
"Who said I wasn't? I am willing to fight the Fire Lord! But-"
"A duel with him is a duel to the death." Zuko reiterated. "You're an ignorant child if you see it any other way, because, trust me, father won't."
Aang paled a bit, surprised either at Zuko's detached tone, or his purposeful use of the word father. But whatever the Avatar's reaction, he quickly controlled it, calmly seeming to revert to his preconceived decision stubbornly. Determined eyes rose up to meet his own. "I am not going to take his life." Aang defiantly stared Zuko down.
The prince sighed and looked away. "So that's how it's going to be." Zuko assessed the situation.
This was going to be harder than he'd thought. Talking with Aang was like having a physical bout with the boy. It always ended up in circles. He purposely ignored talking to the Air Nomad as he continued to watch the beautiful scenery Ember Island had to offer, hoping that it might help him forget the grim reality of their situation. Aang seemed willing to do the same as the boy mimicked what the prince was doing, his head band fluttered with the ocean breeze.
Finally Zuko had enough of sitting and hopped on back inside the window. "I'm done. If you ever figure out the answer, let me know." Zuko left the Avatar with his cryptic message behind.
Walking down the stairs he spotted his four other companions chattering it up.
"There you are! Where have you been?" Katara was the first one to spot him.
"No where," he answered wearily.
She eyed him with that special look. Zuko regretted saying that. He had promise her no more secrets.
"I was... Just looking around the house. It's been awhile. I was... reminiscing." He had answered honestly, and the waterbender seemed satisfied as she gave him a small smile. Concerned, he realized. Does she think I miss home that badly?
"I see," Katara softly murmured, and the thought of pity fled; it wasn't pity, it was support he saw in her gaze, and he forced himself to remember she still knew practically nothing of his home life after all.
It was then that Zuko had notice that Katara had a broom in her hand and a duster in the other. "Uh... What are you doing?"
"This?" Katara's cheeks turned pink for a second. "Oh, I just saw these lying around... and I thought I could... that is if you didn't mind... I mean, we will have to stay here for a while, you know..."
Zuko chuckled slightly under his breath. A stuttering embarrassed Katara was quite charming as well.
"No I don't mind. Please," Zuko gestured with his hand, "feel free."
Katara grinned widely at the prince's approval. "Alright, Well... Suki. Do you mind giving me a hand?"
The Kyoshi warrior looked slightly confused before smiling. "Well, ok. I guess I could help out. Sokka do you think you could-"
The boy stiffened sharply at the sound of his name used in relation to cleaning. "Well would you look at that?" he gasped overly fast. "The sun's close to setting. I should be heading into town and buy those supplies we need." The second the words were out of his mouth, Sokka had darted out of the house completely, leaving a bewildered Suki and a sighing Katara.
"...He left me..." Suki said in disbelief.
"He's always like this when it came to cleaning season back home," Katara assured the girl. "I'd expected no less..."
Zuko personally had no experience with cleaning, but suspected Sokka might have the correct idea about it. Taking his lead from the warrior, he quickly made his excuses. "Right... I'll be out for a bit, Katara. I'll be back by sun down," Zuko calmly told her as he began to make his way towards the door.
"Um, okay. " She bit her lip, trying to hold the sudden impulse to ask where Zuko was headed. But she seemed to shake if off resolutely. "...Take care," she said affectionately instead.
Just hearing her say those words made his ears burn. Zuko sharply bowed his head down, hoping the rest of the room wouldn't see such a change on his face. "T-thanks." He quickly took hold of his cloak and made his way out.
As he had left the house he heard small scurrying feet running through the sand. "Wait up!" Toph shouted after him.
"What do you think your doing?" Zuko asked in annoyance.
"I'm coming with you."
"And who said you were coming?" The Fire prince didn't even stop to wait for the blind girl tailing after him.
"What? And be stuck there cleaning your house? I don't think so. I'm coming with you. Besides everyone had a life-changing field trip with you. Why not me?" She grinned. "So where are we going, Zuko?"
"...The beach."
"Why?"
"So I can think."
"Awww... How come?"
"Because someone has to."
"I thought that was Sokka's job."
Frustration gnawed at the firebender to his very core. "What is with you and all these questions?"
Toph shrugged with those small shoulders of hers. "What? Didn't you offer Katara the same thing? That you'd answer any of her questions?"
Zuko rolled his eyes, as if regretting something he had done. "Yes but-"
"What? I'm not Katara? Is it cause she's pretty and I'm not?"
"Now you're just putting words in my mouth. I never said that-"
"It's cause I'm blind, isn't it? Isn't it?!" Toph dramatically shouted.
"No!" The prince rushed to clarify. "That's not what I-"
But before Zuko could finish apologizing he stopped himself. The blind earthbending master was laughing up a storm. "Haha, I got you," she snorted wickedly. "Your heart was going like a million miles an hour! Bu-bump, ba-bump, ba-bump." She tugged at her chest over her own heart to emphasize, obviously finding some sort of hilarity all her own in what she perceived as his plight.
Zuko's anger simmered silently. Toph had a way of getting under his skin when she felt like it. It was hard not to feed the rage after her constant nettling. Every day it seemed to be getting worse, as she figured him out. It was irksome. So he fixed her with a pointed glare, meaning her to feel it even if she couldn't see it, and prayed his eyes would bore into her. "You enjoyed that way too much," he declared with irritation, his words practically coated with venom.
"Oh, I sure did." The little girl was still giggling as she wiped away her tears of laughter. "C'mon, Princy, you had that coming. Don't think I forgot about your sand comment earlier. Now we're just even. Like before."
Zuko shook his head once more, amazed at her twisted logic, before tugging at the hood of his cloak. While he had confidently expressed the hope that he could walk around in broad daylight on Ember Island without someone recognizing him, he still didn't feel completely secure with the idea, despite the evident lack of recognition he and his sister both had received on their trip just weeks ago. Ember Island was, after all, a vacation spot for the rich and wealthy, the upper echelon who occupied his court. And just because no one had recognized him before - or yet - did not mean that they were not going to.
He was taking no chances.
Besides, he was comfortable with anonymity.
Now if only his petite companion would get the hint and stop talking.
"And then when I was nine I ran away again..." she continued on as the two of them walked.
"Uh-huh...." Zuko's answer was automatic and unresponsive; it seemed like she had been talking for a while now and somehow, he'd missed most of it.
"I know I shouldn't complain. My parents gave everything I ever asked for. But they never gave me the one thing that I really wanted... Their love. You know what I mean?"
Zuko had enough. If the girl came here with him to ruin his brooding and thinking time, then maybe he should ruin hers. The thought manifested immediately, and the words formed. "Look, I know you had a rough childhood and all, but you're just preaching to the choir. And frankly I'm in no mood to listen to your ramblings."
For once Toph didn't had a comeback nor a sardonic remark. She stood there watching Zuko stride ahead of her.
"...This is the worst field trip ever..." Toph blew the bangs that were hanging in front of her eyes.
Finally! She shuts up!
But the prince took no further than five steps before guilt hit him. Damn it. He regretted it even as he turned around. "Look... I'm sorry that was probably uncalled for..." Why is it always my fault? But the disappointed look in the unseeing eyes had him walking back towards the girl anyway. No matter how many times he did this, he was still bad at it. "It seems I've been apologizing a lot lately... But what did you want me to say? There there? You look like you could handle yourself well enough. You don't need me to remind you how strong you are."
Toph's gray mirror-like eyes gazed at Zuko before she spoke abruptly. "You know what, you're right. I don't need you to remind me how strong I am." She seemed to swell at the words and wave a bit of her unhappiness off, apparently now trying to excuse the whole thing. Perhaps it was her trying to put him at ease? "I just figured since you were sharing your history with us it was only fair I share mine with you," she surmised. "I'm sorry if you feel that way about your family too though." The comment was so innocent and dismissive, she was even about to turn around and leave before she felt Zuko's arm on her slender shoulder.
"...You are strong, Toph. And I'm sorry about your parents... Like I said... I can relate to something like that."
The blind earthbender didn't acknowledge his response and for an instant Zuko was afraid she was going to run away from him. She was certainly tense.
Then, to his surprise, the girl turned around and smiled as she punched him hard in the shoulder. If her frame had been any bit bigger Zuko knew he would have been in trouble, but it didn't mean her current punches didn't hurt.
"...Thanks, Hot-man... for listening..."
Again with the nicknames. But Zuko smiled on the inside. I guess I could let that slide this once.
"And if you ever tell anyone I shared my...'feelings' with you," the little blind girl cringed at the word, "I'm going to make you wish you were never born."
"Secrets, I can keep." Zuko assured her, now slightly amused they felt the same.
And so the odd pair continued on their trek across the beach, leaving mismatched footprints in their wake.
"So what were you thinking about? You know, before I interrupted you?"
Zuko paused for a brief moment, carefully thinking about how to answer her. There wasn't really a need to sugar-coat his words - after all, she was a much different twelve than the Avatar. "Aang's not going to win this war."
"Huh?"
"The Avatar chose principles over his destiny. He can't win against the Fire Lord with that conviction. And we're running out of time. The comet is on its way."
Toph kept her tongue silent, fidgeting in place. "Uh, Zuko... There's something I've been thinking over, about Aang and the comet-" But before she could finish she bumped into the prince's strong back. "What? Why'd you stop?"
Zuko's eyes were locked upon the bay, a massive destroyer class ship was tied and docked.
"Zuko what's wrong?" Toph continued to grow concern at the silence of her companion.
"Quiet," Zuko commanded, before waving a couple of young girls who were walking alongside the shore. "Excuse me..."
The two were dressed in the latest of Fire Nation swim wear, attires not modest at all and would have made the stoutest of monks blush. They let him approach, conversing in quick, hushed tones, before one stepped boldly forward (slightly pushed by her friend) and smiled dreamily. "Yes?" Her voice was unpredictably deep. "What can we do for you, dark and handsome?"
Abruptly, the two girls giggled and to Zuko's surprise so did Toph, but probably not for the same reason. He would never claim to understand half of what girls were thinking, or why these were laughing, but he did know shameless flirting when he saw it. Ember Island was full of it, if he remembered correctly. Zuko suppressed a growl, but was extremely tempted to tuck down the cowl of his hood even more. He opted to cough instead. At least if they liked him (or thought they did) they'd more likely be willing to help. "I was wondering if you knew whose ship this was?"
"Oh that." The girl spared it half a disinterested glance. "The Bladed Lotus."
Lotus? A tingling sensation made it's way up into Zuko's spine.
If Zuko seemed curious about it, the girl just seemed apathetic. "I think it belongs to an Admiral, or something." She blew on her finger nails out of boredom, obviously having expected more from Zuko's address than curiosity about a ship.
"Could you be more specific?" Zuko had no patience with superficial girls like her, but the prince hid his irritation well behind a smile.
"I think he's name is Chan," the girl's friend chimed in, her voice slightly more pleasant. "I don't know really much about him, but his son holds these awesome parties every once in a while. He stays over there." She pointed towards a familiar house that carried a beaten look as if it was still going under some repairs above the shore. The pleasant girl seemed to notice this as well, and frowned. "Except something happened a month or so back, so their still trying fix the place up." Zuko had to wry a grin. Oh this was just too ironic. "I guess parties are off until repairs are complete?" she asked her friend speculatively.
"Who knows," drawled the first girl, returning her attention to Zuko. "We could take you if you'd like. Chan and Ruon-Jian are friends of ours."
"That won't be necessary," Zuko declined, "but thank you... ladies." He bowed to bid farewell, just remembering his manners, and continued to walk on with Toph following closely behind.
His instincts were firing off all of his senses, as if he was close to finding something. It was all too eerily familiar, and he felt like he was missing something blatantly obvious, but... He could almost remember it, a specific image from that house... Something about it compelled Zuko to meet this Admiral. He didn't fully grasp the extent of it or why was he so adamant, but something told him... he was bound to find his answers there.
"What was that about?" the blind girl interjected.
"I don't know," he answered vaguely, answers to questions still half-formed, but materializing. He thrust his hand into his cloak, his fingers grasping, and they closed around the tiny item he'd been searching for. He wasn't sure, but at the same time he had no doubt. Then he was taking his hand out of his pocket, something held within his fist. Ideas were spinning fast now, and he definitely wanted to solve them. Toph seemed to share his curious urge, and he lifted an amused eyebrow at his sudden cohort. "How about we go find out?"
Opening up his palm he revealed a worn out Lotus tile.
Even through the thickness of the mahogany door Zuko could hear the voices talking amongst each other.
"Dude, answer the door!"
"Why me?"
"Cause it's my house, Ruon-Jian!"
"So shouldn't you answer the door then?"
"Just do it!"
"Sheesh! Alright, alright!"
The door cracked slightly to reveal a familiar face. The boy was handsome enough, if a bit conceited from the way he parted his long hair and that smug look on his face.
"Y-y-you!" he exclaimed.
"Hey, remember me?" Zuko smirked; the look on the startled teen's face was priceless.
"L-l-loserboy! What are you doing here?!" Ruon-Jian tried to close the door upon the unwanted guest but Zuko was too fast, wedging his foot between the door and its frame.
"Not so fast there, Ruon-Jian," the prince warned the teenage boy. "I've got business with someone in here."
"What business?! You've already wrecked Chan's house! Can't you see the damage you've done?! What more do you want?!"
"Whoah," Toph was getting a bit excited. "You've thrashed someone's home, Zuko? That... is... awesome!!!" Her face lit up like a spark.
"I'd rather not talk about that now, Toph." Zuko whispered to his companion. "Anyway, you're going to let me in."
"What in the name of the Fire Lord makes you think I'm going to let you in this house?!" Ruon-Jian was putting all his strength into closing the big door between them to no avail.
With minimal effort Zuko shoved the door open from his side, causing the teen to stumble down to the ground. Pretty-boys were always so overrated. "Who said I was asking?" Zuko grumbled as he walked over Ruon-Jian's dazed body.
"Pardon me." Toph followed the prince's example as she stepped over the downed teen - though for the tiny earthbender it was a bit of a jump.
"Ruon-Jian, who is it-" a well toned muscular boy about Zuko's age graced into the room but suddenly froze at the spot upon glancing at the two intruders. "N-no..."
"Hey Chan," the prince practically sneered. He realized, belatedly, he was actually having fun. How ironic. Chan seemed completely stressed. "Sorry about the mess. Your friend here was being a little rude in not letting me in." Zuko gestured at the door.
"N-no. Not again. You're not going to thrash my house again! Dad!" Chan shouted out loud.
Good. That was just what Zuko wanted. At least, he thought it was. Beside him, Toph was grinning madly. "Jeez, Zuko. What'd you do? Bully these guys into submission?" she inquired playfully, her blind eyes bright.
"Something like that." Zuko crossed his arms, leaving the mystery and waiting patiently for Chan's reinforcement.
An aged looking man was making his way downstairs. "Now boys, you know I don't like it when you disturb my studies-" The voice cut off abruptly as the speaker seem to realize he had guests. Nothing about him really stood out except for his eyes. Unlike the gold that many of the Fire Nation elite seem to have, his were gray, like Ty Lee's. They were now focused on his son. "Who are these people? Friends of yours, Junior?"
Toph tried to stifle a laugh. "Junior?"
"That's the guy I tried telling you about, Dad!" Chan accused, waving his arm madly at Zuko. "He's the one who wrecked the house! Him and his loony sister!"
Apparently the accusation had been made before and had not been believed, however now that his son had an actual culprit, the old man seemed to seriously contemplate the situation. "Is that right?" The authoritative voice made the old man seem larger in the light as he continued to make his way across the room. The gray eyes captivated Zuko's. "Is what my boy saying the truth, stranger? Are you the one who wrecked my summer home, along with my family's priceless heirlooms?"
Zuko placed a fist below an open palm, the Fire Nation greeting, and bowed, not at all concerned with his previous behaivor. "None other, sir. Are you Admiral Chan?"
The father raised an eyebrow in amusement. "You're an odd one, returning to the scene of the crime, apparently without remorse, I might add. However... yes. I am indeed Admiral Chan of the Eastern Fleet. Now you will tell me, my boy, why I shouldn't have you flogged right here on the spot?"
"Oh you're gonna get it now!" The younger Chan seemed excited at the chance for retribution against the boy who had ruined his party.
Despite the man's intimidating glare, Zuko did not fear him. He knew he was in no real danger of a flogging. Not today at least. He stamped out the thought and answered the man by pulling down his cowl to reveal his face. "I've got a feeling you're not that kind of Admiral." At least, that's what he was betting on, because it was immediately obvious the man had recognized him now.
He saw the widening look in the old Admiral's eyes and prayed to whatever spirit he could that this gamble of his payed off.
Fortunately, the surprised man did not reveal him. Yet. "I see," he considered. "Well why don't we continue this discussion elsewhere?" Admiral Chan hesitated for a moment before regaining his composure and gestured at the stairs.
"What?" Chan junior gasped, clearly ticked the situation had not gone as he expected.
Zuko nodded before glancing back to his companion. "Toph, stay here. I'll fill you in on the details later," he added as she opened her mouth to protest.
The blind earthbending master pondered his promise for a second before replying back with a thumbs up. "Well, it's not like I've got anything better to do. But don't take too long with whatever this is. I get easily bored, you know."
"You heard her, Junior," the Admiral prompted as Zuko followed him past his son and towards the stairs. "Entertain this young lady while I talk to your friend over here."
"But dad-" His complaints fell on deaf ears as the Admiral climbed the steps and disappeared from view. "Uhg..."
As Zuko assended, he resisted the sudden urge to hesitate and watch Toph's fun. As it was, her voice followed him up the stairs.
"Junior is it? Well buddy I got a feeling we're going to get along juuuuust fine..." The prince could almost see her wicked smile without turning, but he controlled himself and turned instead towards the door the Admiral was now opening.
The room beyond it seemed like a Scholar's domain. Maps of the Four Nations were sprawled everywhere, models of Fire Nation machination littered one table, countless books and journals were stacked like a bibliophile's wet dream, and then finally the flame of the Fire Nation etched into a finely woven tapestry. Chan was so at home it was obviously the old man's study. The man was still considering his visitor cautiously. "Usually I'd offer my guest a seat first... but I'm not quite sure what the protocol is with traitorous princes." Zuko tried not to wince, and the Admiral glanced at him once before finally lamenting and gesturing to a chair in offer of hospitality.
Zuko only sat after the Admiral such as custom would dictate it.
"Thank you, Admiral," he remembered his manners.
"You do know, Prince Zuko, that I am ordered by the laws of our nation to turn you in for your crimes. And I don't mean what you did to my home." Apparently the old man had a sense of humor as he chuckled to himself softly before returning an intense gaze.
This is it, Zuko. You better not have screwed this up.
Zuko eyed the room once more before spotting an object that guaranteed his gamble. "Admiral... are you fond of games?"
The question was obviously not expected, and the gray eyes blinked, as if contemplating an answer. "It depends on the games," the old man mysteriously replied.
"Well I see you have a Pai Sho board over there," Zuko suggested, feeling muscles in his stomach tighten. "How about a game then?"
If Chan suspected what Zuko was about, he didn't let on. "Another odd request?" The man sighed as if put out, and Zuko wondered if it was an act or if he was wrong. "Very well," he conceded. "I suppose one game wouldn't hurt before I turn you in."
So they began setting up the board, Chan with the calm and efficiency of one who had played the game a thousand times, Zuko carefully containing growing nerves. However, it wasn't long before Prince Zuko found himself sitting across from the Admiral, the round Pai Sho board placed readily between them. It was time to play.
"The guest always have the first move," the Admiral offered.
A sense of de ja vu filled the prince before he finally took the initiative, placing a tile he knew would hold deeper meaning if he was right about his opponent.
"...Hmm... The White Lotus Gambit? Aren't you bold." Zuko fought back a relieved grin. The Admiral's words fit. Zuko must be right! "And here I thought the old ways were dead," he added as he folded his arms across his chest.
Zuko found himself remembering the words his uncle had spoken many months ago in the desert waste of the Earth Kingdom. As the voice spoke clearly in his head so too did the words flow from his mouth. "Those that do can always find a friend. Right, Admiral?"
A smile crept its way over the Admiral's face and the gray eyes sparkled, as if finally revealing himself for the first time. "Then let us play, my Prince."
Tile after tile, the two moved with grace and efficiency that normally were not seen in a patient game like Pai Sho. Neither player was striving to win, after all, but rather following a ritual Zuko had seen played out only once before. Soon enough they had formed a blooming Lotus bud with the final lotus chip harmoniously placed in the middle.
Zuko paused. The only time he had witnessed a meeting like the one he was trying to create, the procedure had been interrupted by bounty hunters. He hoped he hadn't miss something vital. Thankfully, Chan spoke again.
"I thought there was something odd about you. It would seem your uncle has taught you well." Admiral Chan appeared surprisingly relieved. "Well then... The White Lotus always opens wide to those who know its secrets." He bowed in his seat, lifting his hands as if unveiling something within, and spoke with a sense of grandeur. It was not everyday that members of the White Lotus met in person. "Welcome, Prince Zuko."
Zuko bowed once to show his respect, mimicking the hand motions as he turned his palms outward. "I am honored..."
"Tell me, my boy, as I am quite curious... how did you know to seek me out?"
Zuko could only tell him what he had believed himself. "I just had a feeling. When I was here last time I got... quite a good look at the house." He hoped dearly he wasn't flushing. The crime which had bothered him none at all downstairs was suddenly thrown into a harsher light. But the Admiral smiled as if the joke had been all in good fun and the prince rushed on. "I don't recall exactly what triggered the thought, but I remembered seeing a lotus in your house, and I just hoped... Guessing that it was you once I arrived was just luck."
The old man grinned and chuckled once more. "Heh. Not luck," he corrected, still smiling. "Intuition. A fine trait in a fellow member." His small laughter died and Admiral Chan gazed at the prince with all the weight of his seniority. "I take it you have business with me then. What can I do for you?"
Zuko breathed a small sigh under his breath, feeling as if a heavy burden had lifted itself from his chest.
"Questions," he stated as calmly as he could. "Questions that need answers."