Zuko felt honestly exhausted ones he caught up with his group again. But he stood tall and in front as he guided all of the former prisoners to the shore! There at the shore they sat up camp and started to hand out food while Zuko talked to his own people in their own little circle around a fire.
"That went so well!" Ty Lee cheered.
Piandao nodded. "Indeed. We are one step closer to overthrowing fire lord Ozai. If only all the rest has managed as well as us."
Zuko sighed deeply then suddenly one of the prisoners made his way towards them. The man with grey hair who had been next to Zhau-Li and he halted as his eyes widened.
"It… It really is you!" He gaped. "Prince Zuko!"
Zuko blinked… That voice. The man was wearing regular worn out prisons garbs. His hair was loose hanging around his face and his beard really not as well kept as Zuko was used to. But still Zuko would recognise this man anywhere and he gaped. "I can't believe it."
Zhau-Li blinked confused. "Sir?" he asked.
It was hard to tell what prompted this behaviour. Perhaps Zuko having spend months with team Avatar where touching and hugging had suddenly become the norm. Perhaps finally having realized he wanted to be more familiar with Iroh. Or perhaps it was just the sheer surprise and delight.
What-ever the cause. Zuko jumped forward and just plainly embraced the man as he shouted. "LIEUTENANT JEE! YOU'RE ALIVE!"
Jee stumbled backwards with a teenager now crushing him into a hug his eyes wide in deep shock and surprise.
"How?!" Zuko asked as he let go. "I… I thought you were dead! This is amazing! This.." then he halted as he looked up.
Jee was looking down at Zuko like Zuko had suddenly grown an extra head. He looked both deeply disturbed and just shocked.
"Erhm…" Zuko halted. Not really sure what to do with that look which just stayed the same.
"Who are you supposed to be?" Jee finally asked as he pointed at Zuko.
"Lieutenant?" Zuko asked. "It… It's me. Zuko." he said. "You know me."
"I know a Zuko." Jee said. "And sure you look like him! Except the less stupid hair, you're practically identical. Even have a voice very similar to him. But I'm not really sure I'm buying this."
Zukos mouth hang open.
Zhau-Li looked confused as well as he looked at Jee. "Of course this is Prince Zuko! Kind, thoughtful and passionate like he has always been."
At that Jee spluttered. "Zuko? You are talking of Prince Zuko!"
"Of course I am talking about Prince Zuko!" Zhau-Li huffed. "Who else would I be talking about! He's the only one who has really listened to the refuges of the fire nation! And fought for us."
Jee was silent. "What?" he finally asked.
"Errrh." Zuko held up a finger.
And then there was a pretty awkward silence. Jee looking like everyone had lost their mind, Zhau-Li looking annoyed and Zuko honestly not knowing what to say.
All the rest of their group had just elected to pretend like they were totally not listening into the conversation while they clearly were.
"So erhm. Lieutenant… We have kind of. Not seen each other for a while." Zuko hesitated. "How much… Do you know?"
"Absolutely nothing. Right after the north pole my men and I were arrested for treason. Because well, we abandoned the siege even before it began." Jee informed. "Then we were thrown in here. Heard nothing of the outside. And then suddenly, eclipse! We are being broken out. I wasn't about to complain about that! And then you were there! Right in front of me. And I still don't get how or why."
"Oh… Right… Ahem." Zuko coughed into his hand before looking up again. "So errh. There's been a lot happening. Like a lot."
Zhau-Li was about to open his mouth.
"Please don't." Zuko said holding up a hand holding Zhau-Li back. "Listen. I owe Jee and his crew everything. They were given a thankless job under horrible conditions with the worlds worst commander always shouting at them and never saying thank you. And still they remained loyal to the last. Even if I was being an ungrateful little brat."
Ones again Jee was gaping like he couldn't believe his own ears. And Zhau-Li too looked utterly confused.
"Excuse me? You being an ungrateful brat?" Zhau-Li asked. "Erh sir are you sure."
"Lieutenant Jee." Zuko bowed for the older man. With fist in palm of his hand and everything. "I truly and deeply apologies for my behaviour those three years. Prince or no, that sort of behaviour is unbefitting for anyone. The conditions you had to work under were beyond unreasonable. I owe you my life many times over and never even thanked you. So I will do so now. Thank you. Lieutenant Jee" he finished his formal bow and stood back up again.
There was silence… Absolute silence then Zuko looked up and Jees eyes were wide.
He looked like the entire world had just ended.
"Okay… I need to sit down." Jee staggered forward and finally sat down on a stone holding his head. Still looking highly disturbed.
"Right erm…. Can I offer you some tea to help you calm down?" Zuko asked.
Jee didn't reply so Zuko went ahead and tried to pour some tea then offered it to Jee.
Jee looked at the cup in Zukos hands and then up at Zuko. "What's that?" he asked.
"It's erhm… Tea…" Zuko said.
Jee squinted his eyes. "You're serving tea." he asked.
"Erhm… yeah." Zuko hesitated.
"He makes and pours tea for me all the time." Ty Lee smiled.
"And me." Zhau-Li said.
"And me." Piandao joined in.
"Wait you're making tea now?!" Jee asked Zuko who nodded slowly. "Who are you?!"
Zuko opened his mouth then closed it again. Before clearing his throat. "Well like I said… A lot of things happened."
"Apparently." Jee commented as he put the tea to his lip. "Can't wait to hear it." he said a little sarcastically taking a sip.
"Oh… Okay." Zuko swallowed. "So yeah… I joined the avatar."
At that Jee spewed out his tea. "You what?!" he asked.
"It's okay! He's my friend now!" Zuko said.
""You're friends with the Avatar?!" Jee asked.
"Yeah. His name is Aang. He's a really good kid." Zuko said.
"I… What… Why?… HOW?!" Jee asked.
"Erhm well erh…" Zuko said. "You see after the north pole. Uncle and I was blamed for the defeat of the fire nation fleet at the siege. So we were branded for treason not just banished… and then we ran. And then Azula came, and then Iroh was hurt and erhm… The Avatar offered to help and there was this spirit. And the spirit was really messed up and Iroh was left behind and I finally figured out… Ozai kind of sucks. And then one thing lead to the other. And yeah I am teaching the Avatar fire bending. Then Ba Sing Se… and we lost Iroh again. But it's okay cause he's going to break himself out…. And erhm… Erh."
Jee looked up at Zuko… Zuko looked down at Jee.
"Prince Zuko. Please forgive me my ignorance. But I have no idea what you just said." Jee informed.
"Right… erhm" Zuko hesitated. "So erhm… The Avatar and I are making an army to overthrow fire lord Ozai. Do you…. Want to help? I could use your expertize." he said.
Jee groaned as he rubbed his face. "Sure why not. It's not like I have anywhere to go." he groaned deeply. "Also it's not like anything makes sense any more."
"Right… That… Erhm." Zuko said. "We should talk more but… Later." he said. "Looks like you need a little time to you know. Let things settle."
"Since when have you been stumbling over your words like this?" Jee asked looking up at Zuko. And honestly right now he looked just exhausted. "Prince Zuko is not soft spoken like this." he shook his head.
"Well erh… So I was angry when we knew each other. Like all the time." Zuko said. "And now I'm not… Now I'm not angry any more. And I don't want to be honestly so erh." he shrugged.
"Prince Zuko not being angry. Heh, now I've seen everything." Jee smirked as he finally downed his tea. Then groaned deeply. "I really wish I knew what was happening."
Zuko quieted… He felt like there really wasn't anything to say right now to clean this mess up. "So erh, let's talk later. I would really like to know how to escaped the north pole as well." he said. "Later though. For now. Let's get everybody to safe." he said as he stood up. "The safety of the former prisoners are our first priority. We must get them to safety."