"Wow Zuko." Sokka blinked the next morning as he took a look at the young Prince. "It has been a while since we last saw you in red hasn't it? You know. That really suites you."
Zuko smiled as he stood. The clothes he had managed to find still was mostly earth kingdom fashion which meant it was loose fitting and had long loose sleeves. But by digging through the closets he had managed to find something looking outright fire nation red.
"Yeah. It looks good." Aang grinned.
Zuko smiled. "You know. Long Feng already knows exactly who I am. So there's no point to try and convince anybody that I am earth kingdom." he said. "I wanted to wear my nations colours. It felt right."
"That's great." Katara smiled as she put out breakfast in front of them. "And the boys are right. It does suite you a lot."
"I want to tell you that it suites you." Toph stated. "But I don't even know what red is."
Zuko smiled amused.
"So. We need to talk about what to do now." Sokka said. "Are we still going to try and find a way to see the earth king? Are we going to just move on?"
"We can't move on Sokka." Aang said. "Didn't you hear Zuko? The fire nation are definitely going to attack again."
"But Long Feng is such a jerk!" Sokka exclaimed.
"It's not about Long Feng or the earth king Sokka." Aang said. "It's about protecting the people who lives in this city. Right Zuko?" he asked in a grin.
Zuko halted. Then he smiled. "Yeah." he said. "You got it Aang." he said.
Sokka sighed deeply. "So when do you think your dear sister is going to attack?" he asked Zuko.
"How would I know?" Zuko asked. "I don't know what she's planning. But she will be planning something." he sighed deeply as he picked up a stuffed bun. "I'm thinking of going to the lower ring today. See if I can find Zhau-Li and the others."
"That's a great idea." Katara beamed. "I hope they are all right. Do you want any of us to come with you?"
"No that's fine. I could use a little time by myself." Zuko said.
"Are you sure?" Katara asked seriously. "We wont pressure you. I'm just saying. This city isn't exactly safe. And from what we saw in the lower ring. That place is definitely not safe."
"I'm sure." Zuko assured. "Don't worry I'll be all right."
"Zuko can definitely take care of himself." Aang grinned as he was stuffing his face.
"Okay then." Katara sighed deeply. "Just be careful okay?" she asked.
"I will." Zuko promised in a smile.
After they had all finished eating breakfast Zuko left for the lower ring like he said he would. All he needed was to remember the guest passport so he could be let back in to the higher ring.
As it turned out. Going to lower rings was easy. You could just work through. Getting to the higher rings required official passports stamped by guards.
Made sense.. These walls were to keep the lower class out of the high class areas. The high class were free to go where they wanted.
Zuko sighed deeply. Just like back home. Guards stationed around to keep the peasants out…
Though in the fire nation capital. The contrast wasn't this great. You would have to go to the villages on smaller islands or the colonies to find anything this bad. Not… Thirty meters away from the university. Just hidden behind a wall.
Another thing that wasn't lost on Zuko was that he was being followed. That was the least surprising thing.
There was no question that Long Feng would have his men follow everybody in the Avatars group when ever they left the house. There were probably multiple agents stationed around the house ready to follow them around.
In his mind Zuko debated if he should give his followers the slip. He would be more than capable of doing just that. But then decided against it. Right now there wasn't an immediate need and it was better that Long Feng knew as little about his abilities as possible. Right now it was just about not causing any trouble.
Instead Zuko calmly made his way to one of the distribution offices and kindly asked where new arrivals might be found.
He was given four different locations and then bowed in thanks. Acting like the perfect guest not out to cause any trouble.
He found the first location which could best be described as a large shelter and Zuko approached the front desk. "Excuse me." he said kindly. "I am looking for a large group which may have arrived here together the day before yesterday. Twenty-one people total. Lead by a young man who has a burn scar going from his right cheek and down his chin."
The woman at the desk shook her head. "I'm sorry sir. I am fairly sure I would remember such a distinct feature." she said then glanced at Zukos own scar and looked away embarrassed.
"That's okay." Zuko said. "Thank you." he nodded at her and moved on.
At the next shelter he was also fresh out of luck. How-ever the third the young woman beamed. "Yes! I remember them!" she said. "They all insisted they needed to stay together. Then the Dai Li arrived and informed that the group had been granted a house at the north-east side of the district." she smiled warmly.
"Oh… That's great." Zuko smiled a rather strained smile. The girl didn't know what actually had happened was that they had all put a place where Long Feng and his men could keep a strict eye on them… Hostages. Zuko thought back the urge to shiver and instead spoke as kindly as he could. "Could you point me in the right direction?" he asked.
"Sure!" The girl beamed and quickly rambled off directions that Zuko tried to imprint to the best of his abilities.
It took a few wrong turns and backtracking but finally Zuko felt like he was heading the right place and he was proven right when he heard the voice of a little girl calling.
"Cups, pots and bowls! Get your clay cups, pots and bowls!" Zukos face widened in a smile.
It was the little girl whom had given him some of her fire flakes! Rhina was her name and Zuko headed right over where the girl was sitting outside a run down house with the clay items which Zuko guessed Ming and Ying had already been making to make some money.
"Cups! Pots and bowls!" Rhina shouted waving her hands at bypassers that didn't even look at her.
Zuko how-ever headed directly towards her as he looked down. "What have you got?" he asked.
Rhina looked up and by the sight of him her eyes widened. "PRINCE ZUKO!" she shouted standing up and almost stumbled to reach him and give him a hug.
Zuko smiled as he padded her hair. "Hi Rhina. Have you been good?" he asked.
"Uhu." Rhina said. "They gave us a house. It's kind of small but we'll manage. I'm trying to help make some money!" she said proudly. "I sold three cups." she held up three fingers.
"Oh wow… Three whole cups." Zuko blinked then looked at the items on the home made counter. "That's great. So I guess the others are looking for jobs."
"Yup." Rhina nodded.
"So erhm. Where's your house?" Zuko asked.
"You're looking at it." Rhina smiled turning around to look at the small building right behind her. "Isn't it great?"
Zuko looked up at the brown block. Windows boarded up by worn out trees and it definitely looked like it could use a paint job. Also it was small…
Ones again Zuko was stricken by the unfairness of it. The house he and the others shared in the upper ring could easily have housed twenty one people which was their entire group.
This house how-ever? Looked like it could barely contain ten. They had to be squeeshed in there.
"Come on I'll show you!" Rhina grinned as she grabbed Zukos hand and pulled him inside. "This is the kitchen!" she introduced the moment they had stepped through the door. There wasn't any entrance hall just a worn down kitchen and an elder woman standing over a large pot. "Mrs Ten makes food for all of us!" Rhina grinned. "And everybody eats together every single day!"
"My prince!" The older woman gasped by the sight of him and then bowed.
Zuko bowed respectfully in return. "It's nice to see you again." he said and the old woman smiled. "I sleep in here!" Rhina gestured at a room and Zuko looked inside to see it all packed with blankets. "I get to sleep with my mom every night and… Most of the other women and kids. It's a little cramped but kind of cosy. Most of the men sleep in there." she pointed at another room. "And those who can't fit sleep in here in the kitchen!"
"I… see." Zuko replied.
"We have a backyward! This way!" Rhina pulled Zuko out through the backdoor and what he saw could best described like a small patch of dirt walled in by a tall wall.
The small patch though was occupied by Ying who was dutifully earth bending clay into shape and Ming not sitting far from him with Kulai on her lap. All of them covered in mud.
Ming looked up and she gasped. "Prince Zuko."
"Hi." Zuko smiled at them and bowed respectfully. "It's good to see you're doing well."
"We're getting by." Ying smiled. "It's not much. But as long as we're together it's worth it."
"I see you're back at making pottery." Zuko stated the obvious.
"We kind of have to. No one has any money." Ying pointed out. "We…. Don't have anything to glaze these with. But we know our craft! Even if.."
"What?" Zuko asked.
Ying swallowed as he waved Zuko over and Zuko lifted an eyebrow as he stepped forward and bowed down so Ying could whisper in a slow voice. "We have been informed that fire bending is strictly forbidden in this city. But we need to burn the pots so…. We have to do it inside and make sure that no one is watching."
"Ying. You don't have to burden the Prince with that." Ming said.
"It's fine. I would rather know than not." Zuko said. "I want you to tell me these things okay?" he asked.
Ming nodded though she looked nervous.
"You're not in trouble." Zuko assured Ming. "Are you okay."
Ying sighed. "We have been promised they will keep us safe. As long as we follow the rules."
"What rules?" Zuko asked.
Ying hesitated.
"You can trust me. I wont tell anybody what you told me." Zuko assured.
"I know." Ying said. "It's just… This house. We are being watched. Always."
Zuko nodded sadly. "yeah… that adds up." he admitted.
Ying swallowed. "The rules… We are not allowed to fire bend or tell anyone we have fire benders. We are not allowed to talk about the fire nation or that all except me is from the fire nation. And." he swallowed his voice becoming even lower, a whisper. "We are not to mention the war. Not one word. Not even among ourselves inside of this house."
"Do you know what will happen if you do?" Zuko asked.
Ying shook. "There was this boy. He… he saw Ming burning the clay through our window and… he started screaming about us being fire benders and about the war and then." he shivered. "The Dai Li came and they just took him away! That boy didn't seem more than sixteen. He was just a kid. And they took him." he said.
Wide-eyed Zuko looked at Ying. He couldnt' say he was surprised. They had taken Jo Dee. They would take people. Still. And he looked at Ming who was clutching her child.
These people weren't safe here… There had to be something else to do!
But then Long Fengs taunting words came back to Zuko.
"Of course. You could take them somewhere else. Any time you want. But of course there is no-where else to take them. Isn't that so?"
Zuko swallowed. "Listen." he said. "I just need you to… Stay safe okay?" he asked. "Don't get into trouble. We will defeat the fire lord and then… Then we can all come home. All of us." he said.
Ming looked up at Zuko.
"Just… hold on and stay safe okay?" Zuko asked. "I'll make sure that everyone here gets home. To the fire nation. Our fire nation."
Ming smiled lightly then nodded. "Okay."
"Prince Zuko." Zuko turned his head to see Zhau-Li standing in the door.
The young man was without a shirt and dripping in sweat. Looked like he had been out doing hard labour work. Then Zhau-Li bowed for him. "Welcome to our home."
Zuko smiled sadly as he stood up and turned to Zhau-Li then bowed in greeting. "Thank you for having me." he said as he stood up. "You've done well taking care of everyone. You should be proud."
Zhau-Li smirked. "Not much to do. I've made sure everyone stuck together and… I have reminded everyone that we need to just stay out of trouble. I know that if we get ourselves in trouble that would mean trouble for you. So… Follow the rules."
"Thank you. I appreciate it." Zuko said sincerely. "I'm sorry there's not much I can do right now. Except." he reached into his pocket and found a small pouch of coins then offered it to Zhau-Li.
Zhau-Li looked at the pouch then up at Zuko. "Prince Zuko. Don't you need that yourself?"
"This is for everybody in this group." Zuko said. "You need this. I order you to take it."
Zhau-Li halted. But then finally took the money. "Thank you my prince. Can I offer you a refreshment? We have…" he halted. "Gruel, water and tea."
Zuko smirked. "Tea is fine." he assured.
Soon they were seated in the little kitchen, having each their little clay cup which looked a lot like what Ming and Ying would be making. Both steaming with a rather thin tea… Zuko said nothing about it.
"How is the Avatar?" Zhau-Li asked in a polite tone.
"Well… good considering the circumstances. I suppose." Zuko said.
Zhau-Li lifted an eyebrow.
"You wouldn't believe the evening we had yesterday." Zuko finally said in a slight smirk. "The command structure of this city is kind of… ahem." he coughed into his hand.
Zhau-Li lowered his head as he whispered. "Sick." he whispered.
Zuko glanced up.
"This city is sick." Zhau-Li whispered. "People vanish… In the middle of the night." he shivered. "Sometimes they turn up again but they are. Different. And sometimes they are never seen again… and everyone is scared. It could be them next. It could be anyone next."
Zuko swallowed. It was indeed terrifying to listen to.
"And… There are people here who. They'll do anything to get into the middle ring. And they can earn their place by… Selling others out." Zhau-Li hissed. "There was a girl who sold out her parents and they took the parents while the girl got her ticket to the middle ring. You can't trust anybody in this city."
"I had no idea this city would be like this." Zuko replied in a sad whisper. "I'm sorry. If I had known."
"None of us knew. We don't blame you." Zhau-Li said.
Zuko closed his eyes. "We have to defeat the fire lord." he whispered. "So you can come home. All of you."
Zhau-Li swallowed. "That's all any of us wants in this house."
"I'm sorry. I have to ask you to just stay low." Zuko said. "It doesn't have to be long though. If we can defeat the fire lord doing the eclipse you can take everybody home. Just a few months where you lay low. That's all."
"I understand." Zhau-Li said. "And we are with you. It's hard though." he sighed. "We get so much unwanted attention. We're always being watched." he said. "And then there was the boy who saw Ming fire bend."
"Yeah… Ying say they took him away." Zuko nodded.
"Damn kid. Swinging around with his hook swords." Zhau-Li muttered. "And just this morning there was an old guy clearly asking for you."
"For me?" Zuko asked.
"Yeah he asked if we had seen a handsome young man with a scar covering the left side of his face. And would most likely be with the avatar. Clearly it was you he was talking about." Zhau-Li sighed deeply.
Zuko frowned deeply. "What did that guy look like?" he asked.
"Well." Zhau-Li chewed his lip. "He was short and erhm… Fat." he said. "Long grey beard and hair. And he insisted on making everybody tea."
At that Zukos eyes widened.
"That was really incredible tea though." Zhau-Li had to admit.
Suddenly Zuko launched over the table as he grabbed Zhau-Li's shoulders. "Where did he go? Do you know where he went?!" he asked in a rant.
Zhau-Li blinked. "Prince Zuko?" he asked.
"Just please! You said he was here this morning!" Zuko exclaimed. "Did he say where he was headed? Or where he was staying? Do you have any idea where I can find him?"
"Well erhm." Zhau-Li swallowed. "He did say about how he was going to the hills. Outside of the inner wall." he said. "He had some sort of appointment there later today… At least I think. But I don't know when that would be or if he's even there!"
"Where's the nearest gate to the hills?" Zuko asked urgently.
"East of here. It's not far." Zhau-Li said.
Finally Zuko let go. "Thank you." he said. "I… I'm sorry about that. I just." he gasped. "I need to go!" he exclaimed as he stood up. "Thank you for the tea! I'll come visit again soon I promise!" he said in a bow and then turned to storm out of the house and towards the gate in question.