Jee was still in a kind of daze as he returned to his own group. The measly former crew of the Wani…. They were eight people total. Including Jee.

Still though. It had been Jee's duty to look after these people and he would be damned if he wouldn't continue until he wasn't able to any more.

For the last couple of months they had all been at that prison camp together. As a couple of them were fire benders they had been under extra lock and key with constant surveillance on them.

But Jee would never complain. At least they weren't dead. That was the only other alternative! So he would stand tall like he had always done. And lead his men as was his duty.

For ones though as Jee returned to the others. He was kind of lost of words.

"Well?" One asked. One of the younger soldiers who had mainly acted as muscle and sparring partners for the Prince. "Was it really… Him?"

Jee looked at them. "Well I…. Think so."

"You think so?!" the old Engine room engineer asked. "It should be easy to tell! Was it our dear royal pain in the butt or wasn't it?"

"Look it's not that simple." Jee tried. "If it looks like a turtleduck but doesn't act like a turtleduck. Can you really be sure that's a turtleduck!?"

Everyone blinked as they looked at Jee.

"Urgh I spend too many evenings with General Iroh." Jee groaned as he rubbed his forehead.

"Come now." The Engineer finally shook his head. "What can be so bad that it has you doubting whether it's him or not?"

Jee silenced. "When he realized it was me the Prince… He…"

Everyone silenced as they blinked, leaning in to hear.

"He… Hugged me." Jee finally admitted.

"WHAT?!"

"Are you sure?"

"Prince Zuko?!"

Jee nodded. "And he… He was smiling." he whispered. "He looked honestly happy."

There was stunned silence as all were wide-eyed looking at Jee.

"Then he… He served me tea." Jee said. "He served me." he said. "And bowed and apologized for his previous behaviour. He was being so…. Polite!"

"What?"

"No way. You're joking right. Tell me he's joking."

"So erhm… What are the chances that General Iroh died and his spirit possessed Prince Zuko?"

Everyone turned to the soldier who had come up with that theory.

"What?!" The soldier asked. "That makes at least as much sense at this! What is Prince Zuko even doing here? Why is he breaking out prisoners?"

Jee sucked in a deep breath. "Well…. According to what Prince Zuko said. Prince Zuko has…" he couldn't believe he was actually going to say this out loud. "Prince Zuko informed me that he has joined forced with the Avatar!"

Everyone was stunned silent as they looked at Jee.

"The… Avatar?" The soldier asked. "You mean. The Avatar we spend three years looking after mostly at the pole! And then the Prince dragged us across the entire world to catch him and wouldn't shut up about catching him. That Avatar?"

"Do you know any other Avatar. Cause I don't!" Jee exclaimed.

"But… Why?"

"I don't know!" Jee replied in a frustrated voice. "And apparently those two are building an army to overthrow Ozai!"

"You mean… The Prince's father?" The Helmsman blinked. "Fire Lord Ozai… 'Yes he definitely loves me and I will proof my worth to him' fire lord Ozai?"

"Do you know any other Ozai?" Jee asked in a shrug.

Well it was nice to know that Jee was not the only one whom was completely lost as everyone looked deeply confused and looked at each other.

And of course… That is when the object of their deep confusion finally came to join them. A familiar raspy voice sounding way to quiet and unsure. "Erhm… Excuse me... Hello... erh. Hi. Zuko here." he waved awkwardly.

The sound of his raspy voice seemed to make old habits just click back into place and startled everyone just sprung up to bow towards the young newcomer.

"PRINCE ZUKO!" they all exclaimed, hoping he hadn't caught unto their conversation which well… Last time they saw each other that would have made the Prince shout if he had heard them. But now… Jee honestly wasn't that sure and he looked at the young Prince who blinked.

Zuko looked… Oddly young. He had worn his hair in a top knot using a golden hair piece as well when fighting at the camp and after. But now Zukos hair was loose falling around his face in a unruly mop. His clothes was very simple silk and honestly, he looked one hundred percent unimposing. Even the scar didn't look the least bit scary. The young teenager most of all just looked confused.

"At… At ease." Zuko held up a hand. "It's okay."

They all blinked but finally stood up and relaxed… only a little bit though and then Zuko smiled… A soft smile as his golden eyes glistened.

"You're all okay. That's amazing." Zuko smiled a warm genuine smile which clearly made it run cold up the back of several crewmembers. "I need to know. How did you escape the north pole?" he asked.

"It was… General Iroh sir." Jee finally informed. "He called it a suicide mission and arranged for us to be able to flee the fleet even before the siege began. He said that's the least he owed us. To make sure we would be safe… So he covered for us as we fled in a scout vessel."

"Well… He wasn't wrong about the suicide mission part." Zuko sighed deeply as he glanced down holding his arm. Then he halted, nervously the Prince looked up to see the entire former grew looking wide-eyed at him. "Erhm.." Zuko hesitated looking very nervous. "Is there something I can… Do for you?" he asked.

"Lieutenant Jee said you had joined forces with the Avatar!" A soldier suddenly splurted and everyone's eyes widened.

"Oh… yeah." Zuko said. "I'm his fire bending teacher. Aang is a really good friend."

Everyone gaped then the engineer moved closer to Jee. "Okay I am starting to see what you mean."

"I erh… I can see how this probably looks." Zuko blushed deeply as he glanced down. Something else which was completely out of place on this guy. "That I turned traitor. Against the fire nation…" he bit his lip. "It's not like that… I just realized that. Ozai is trying to burn the entire world down. And everyone is suffering for it. Including the people of the fire nation. It has to stop." he looked up. "I'm not trying to usurp the throne… Well kind of. But I much rather that I wouldn't have to I just… People are suffering. So much. And they are dying out there. Our own people are suffering so erhm… I would appreciate it… Appreciate it a lot. If you would consider joining the Avatar and I. You don't have to. You can go if you want to. I already owe you my life many times over and I swear to you. You'll be taken well care off ones the war is over! No matter what you choose to do now. I owe you at least that."

Jee sighed deeply. "I can't pretend that I understand at all what is going on." he admitted. "But here's what I know. General Iroh is the one I swore loyalty to ones long ago when I joined the army. He was the one who asked me the favour of captaining the Wani and help look after the Prince. Explicitly did he ask me to look after and respect the Prince. I can't say I ever cared much about Ozai. But I still respect the orders given directly from Iroh." he said.

Zuko smiled a little shyly. "Iroh is going to meet up with us soon. He'll be happy to see you." he said. "Though. Not quite as happy as he is going to be when he sees you." Zuko pointed at the Chef. "Personally I am blaming you for Iroh being able to somehow gain weight on a three year exile."

There was stunned quiet…. Zuko having developed a sense of humour. Another thing to add to the list of absurd things going on here.

"Well… Sir." The Chef tried a nervous smile. "With how much you were training. You could eat like an Ostrich horse yourself."

Zuko smiled amused. "I suppose I can't deny that. To be honest, I could really go for some of your roast duck one of these days."

The others started to smile nervously trying to figure that out. That's when the engineer leaned in to whisper into the nearest soldiers ear.

"Seriously where's our shouty brat?" he asked and the soldier shrugged.

"It's really good seeing all of you." Zuko said very kindly. "I'm sorry I need to return to the others. If there's anything you need please say the word." he said as he put a fist into the palm of his hand and bowed respectfully. "If you got time later we can drink some tea. We'll catch up for real."

"Tea?" The old helmsman asked.

"I'm still not as good as uncle at making it. But I think I'm getting there." Zuko smiled such an innocent and warm smile. "I'll see you soon okay?" he asked as he finally headed away.

Then every ones eyes were drawn to Jee.

"See I told you all!" Jee exclaimed.

Slowly the others started to nod and mumble.

"So… You really intend to join him sir?" A soldier asked.

"Well." Jee sighed. "Look. Prince Zuko had many flaws when we sailed with him. That is true. He was impatient and short tempered on his best days. But it cannot be denied. He actually placed the safety of his crew before his mission. And he never asked us to do something he wouldn't do himself. Always walking in front when docking or going anywhere. Fighting his own battles instead of hiding behind crews men. Those were always the signs of a good commander. A leader who actually stands in front and not behind his men…. General Iroh always believed in Prince Zuko. That he could become someone better. Someone greater than he was. I had my doubts and still do. But General Iroh really believed. At least I want to see where this will be going. And it's not like I got anywhere else to go. So." he shrugged. "Beside I spend three years with the brat. Training every damn day and getting my sideburns burned a couple of times a year! At least I want to see the fruit of my labour here!"

The others smirked amused then all nodded.

"Well. What else am I going to do?" The engineer asked.

"It's not like Ozai will just invite us back." A young soldier nodded.

"I'm to old for this shit." The old helmsman grumbled. "Well then. At least I can go out with a bang." he commented. "And it would be nice having that bratty Prince make me tea. Then I'll be able to die happy."

Jee shook his head. Well… Looked like they would have at least one final adventure with their beloved angsty teenage Prince.