Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar the Last Airbender
Chapter One
His mind began to wander as he lay on the makeshift raft. Trying to tune out the constant ramblings of his uncle. Trying to concentrate on nothing, but he just couldn't get his mind to stop thinking about the battle with the water tribe girl. That dam peasant was a thorn in his proverbial side. He allowed a small smile to grace his lips. That sounded like something his uncle would say. He loved his uncle very much but sometimes he just wished he would just come out and say what he thought. Not cloud it in the mists of obscurity. But then again that is his uncle. And just as he thought he cleared his mind of all worldly thoughts he heard his uncle speak up.
"What a beauty." He simply stated. But he continues, "And very powerful, too."
I look over to him and see his gaze is looking out over the ocean at some blocks of ice. I say "There just big ice cubes. Hardly pretty." I state a little to coldly. Though I can see how powerful they can be. If they falter and crack they can create powerful waves that are felt for miles. Not to mention the danger of running a boat into one. I imagines that there are many fire nation ships at the bottom of the arctic sea.
He turns to face me and I feel his wise gaze fall upon me. "Prince Zuko, I was not speaking of ice cubes." And he turns back to the sea. My mind peaked and I find myself wondering what the old general is talking about. But at the same time I hesitant to ask as I know he will answer me with some flowery proverb that will just get me ticked off. But before I turn to look away I hear the works flow out of my mouth before I can stop them.
"What are you babbling about Uncle?" I slap myself mentally because know I've done it. He will no doubt have some wise reply.
But he only half looks at me as I hear him mumble, 'Nothing.' What where is the verbal retort he is so famous for? I am almost in a state of shock as he turns to continue his survey of the vast ocean. I look at him and I start to notice as if for the first time that he seams sad. I do not quite know how to take his unbearable silence. So I find myself speaking up. "Uncle, I asked you a question." I state as if he will listen to me. But he always listens to me right? He followed me when we both thought this was a fools errand. He will hear me now, right? But he just looks out at the ocean and lets out a heavy sigh.
Seeing as I can't get him to talk to me. I lay back down on the raft beginning to let my mind wander again when I hear that same long drawn out sigh again. This is going to drive me mad. I bolt up and find my dear uncle's eyes wide upon me and I draw back.
"Prince Zuko! I am an old man! Do not startle me like that. My poor old heart can not take the stress." He yells clutching at his chest. I can not help but roll my eyes at the 'I'm an old man" line. But I sit down crossing my legs and rest my elbows on my knees. I look up at him. Pleading him for forgiveness with my vacant eyes. But only silence passes between us. Great Agni above how I hate silence!
Minutes pass and I can not take the cold silence of him staring at me. And I find myself wondering what he is thinking, as I assume he is doing the same with me but afraid to ask. The pressure builds on our unsaid words. I have had enough. "Uncle?" I mumble. His only reply is 'Mmmm?' It starts my temper rising but I quickly push it to the dark recesses of my heart along with everything else. I ask again, "Uncle?" At this attempt he looks up at me.
"Is there something on your mind, Prince Zuko?" I find myself slapping my self again at the reply. But I simple state, "I was wondering the same thing about you, Uncle? What is with all the mumbling about? Not to mention the heavy sighs you let out are unnerving."
He just looks at me. And once more I feel silence envelope us again. But soon I hear another heavy sigh and I am about to lash out verbally against my beloved uncle. Until I realize it is me who has been sighing and that explains why my uncle has been looking at me so intently. "I'm sorry, Uncle." And I truly am. "What where you speaking of before?"
He looks at me with a smile brewing across his face. "You really wouldn't want to hear about what this old man thinks?" I nod my head in reply. Silently begging for the unbearable silence to cease. "Well, I was just thinking of.." He looks down and shifts into a more comfortable position.
"Yes?" I beg. Trying desperately not to show it.
"Of the days events.." We were all thinking of the days events of that much I am sure. So I ask if there was anything that stood out in his mind. "Oh, well yes, there are many things that stand out but one particularity." I sit in silence waiting for him to speak but he doesn't and it begins to bother me. I feel my eye start to twitch as I realize he is trying to draw me out to conversation.
So I begin for him, "I was thinking of the Dam water tribe peasant! How she is always there for the Avatar sets me aflame." No one would ever show that kind of loyalty to me, I say to myself. No one would ever run to me like she does to the Avatar. No one would lie there life down for me like she would for the Avatar. "She grates me for I feel my very skin tying to crawl off of me at the mere sight of her!" I look up in my frenzied zeal to see my uncle rolling in the fits if hardy convulsions. This only peaks me more. "Uncle? Why do you laugh at me?"
He grabs his side and tries to steady his breath as he looks at me with a twinkle in his eye. "My dear boy I am not laughing at you ." He simply states, "I am laughing because I find it very funny that we are thinking of the same thing but In very different ways."
I ponder this for a moment then find myself getting irritated. So I ask rather coolly even for myself, "What do you mean?"
He takes in a deep breath, then lets it all out in one large sigh and looks at me. "You are thinking how the girl is a thorn in your side, her loyalty to the Avatar really bothers you." He stated matter-of-factly. Almost as if he could read my mind. He paused before continuing. "You wish someone would show these things for you?" He asked but I knew it was not the kind of question you answer. "Other than your kind old Uncle, I mean."
His scope of things always blew me away but this was uncanny. How did know all this? Would I be as wise as he when I am as old as him? Who am I kidding? I will never live to half his age. And what scares me is I truly believe this to be true. But I would never let it be known. "What? You can't be serious? I do not nor have I ever needed anyone." I almost yell. But I am beginning to think he can see through the walls I built. I let out a incoherent scream and soon I hear it being sent back at me as a not to far off ice berg begins to crack. I look at my uncle and sigh letting my shoulders slump. When I hear his reply. "Maybe you don't need anyone, this might be true. But… want is another thing altogether." What was he saying? "She is very pretty after all." Silence. What he thinks she is pretty? She is nothing but a poor excuse for a peasant. Dirty and rude, hardly a women fit for a prince. Even if it is a banished on at that. "And very powerful too. She would have beet you if it we not for the sun rise."
I feel my anger brewing deep inside me. How could my uncle, my flesh and blood think I would stoop to the level of a mere peasant? How I wish I hadn't let myself get taken up in this conversation. But I was not going to let him have the last laugh at my expense. "But she didn't." I growl. "She could never beat me. I would never allow it!"
"Oh, my dear boy, you have a lot to learn about women." Was his only reply. As to which I really didn't have a reply. I really didn't know anything when I came to woman. The last women in my life was taken from me at such am early age. I hardly even remember her. Not wanting my uncle to see the tears threatening to fall. I torn away from him as if I am in a rage, but I know in my heart I am breaking down. And I thought I had built these walls to be strong. Felling a strong but gentle hand on my shoulder I turn to see his eyes tearing up too. "I miss her, too" How does he always know? I wipe my face free of the interlopers that streak my cheeks and invite the cold with them. As I hear him chuckle, yet again. I sniff and roll my eyes at him.
"We have been through much today. You should try to get some rest," He said as he leaned up against the post of the crewed craft that was going to home for a while. Closing his eyes letting the cold breeze take his thoughts with them. So I too laid down placing my arms behind my head and let out a small sigh. Just as I was letting my own mind begin to wander I spot out of the corner of my eye a white blob in the sky to sharp to be a cloud. I bolt upright and place a hand to my temple as I peer to see what is. But I already know what it is. As it passes over I swear I can see the water tribe girl looking at me. On instinct alone I raise my other hand and form a fire ball ready to send it as a token gift to the girl. Then swear I feel as if she is about to jump and land in my lap. How uncle would laugh if he saw this sight. So I close my fist and extinguish the small flame. Deciding to lay back down for now. 'Stupid girl,' I sigh closing my eyes.
The old retired general known also as Uncle closes his eyes once more sighing to himself, 'That boy has a lot to learn indeed.'