Zuko looked around for the guards that he had seen earlier. The largest of the five was still at the entrance, but he couldn't see the others anywhere.
Zuko heaved a great sigh and produced a fireball from his hand. He hurled it at the guard, who immediately started looking for the culprit.
Then, Zuko snuck back into the shop he had just left and waited by some rather odd looking 'potions'.
On queue, the guard charged into the shop and searched for Zuko, because he knew that he was the only Firebender here. He saw Zuko, but didn't recognise him at first, and then he looked at the armour and figured that it must be him.
He grabbed him by the arm and dragged him out of the shop. Zuko kicked and tugged, but the guard had a tight grip.
Well, at least I know this guy is pissed, he thought.
"Now look here, fire scum! I gave you a chance and you decide to be funny and attack me? Well now you're going to pay the price."
Zuko was still unsure whether his plan had worked or not, but if it hadn't, he still couldn't get away if he tried. The Earthbender was far too strong to escape from his grip.
He looked at the Avatar, hoping he was watching, but he hadn't paid attention.
However, the Avatar's twits for friends had seen the guard drag Zuko out of the shop.
Socca poked Aang. Aang looked up and saw the scene before them unfolding. He looked at Zuko, and his expression was as clear as rain- he was in trouble. Aang stood up and motioned the others to do the same. He walked over to the guard.
"What do you want, half-pint?" the man asked.
"Let him go." Aang said firmly. The man simply laughed and said,
"Are you crazy? I'm not letting a Firebender go because you tell me to. He's a threat and he's gotta be eliminated." The man continued walking, but Aang stepped in his path.
"I'm the Avatar. I am telling you to let him go. Unless he is charged with something, you have no right to arrest him."
"Sure you are."
"He is!" Katara and Socca chimed in. For some reason even Socca wanted to help keep the Firebender safe. This surprised both Aang and Katara. Katara looked at Zuko, but she didn't recognise him. Pity was in her eyes as she stared at him.
"If you're the Avatar prove it."
"I will." Aang created an air ball and zoomed around the man before stopping right in front of him again. He stared at the man's now shocked expression and said,
"There, I've given you proof. Now let him go."
The man nodded and let go of Zuko, who rubbed his sore arm. Then the man turned his attention back to Aang,
"I don't know why you would care about a good for nothing Firebender." He walked away, leaving the four of them standing in complete silence.
Socca was the first to break it though, "So, who are you and what are you doing here?" Socca glared at Zuko, waiting for his answer.
"My name is…Kozu. I came here on an errand for my sick…father. He needs this 'miracle cure' to help him get better, so I stopped at this port and purchased some. This is the only place that sells it. I didn't cause any trouble, but the guards just attacked me."
Zuko looked at Aang, who was deciding what would be the best course of action right now. Aang took in a deep breath and came to a decision. He looked at Socca, who seemed eager to go and get some food. Then he looked at Katara. She was focused on 'Kozu' and her face seemed to be concentrating really hard. Finally, Aang spoke,
"Kozu, I believe your story. You don't look like the type of person who could hurt anyone. Your face is innocent."
Socca gaped, but nodded his head in agreement. Katara snapped out of her trance and nodded her agreement too. Then the three of them turned and proceeded to leave the town.
Zuko thought for a second, then said,
"Um…You said you were the Avatar?" He said this as if he had no idea.
"Yes. So?" Came Aang's reply.
"Well, my…father is a master Firebender. If you need to learn any Firebending, then I'm sure he won't mind."
They all looked at him. Katara was first to respond this time,
"How did you know that Aang needed to learn Firebending?"
Zuko thought hard and lied,
"Well, from what I had heard, the Avatar hadn't mastered it yet. What do you think of my offer, Avatar?"
Aang looked at him, a smile spreading across his face.
"Aang, what are you smiling at?" Socca asked.
"Socca. I think I'm going to be able to learn Firebending after all. You know how difficult it is to find someone from the Fire Nation who isn't trying to kill me? Well here's someone who isn't."
Aang ran back to 'Kozu' and hugged him. This felt weird for Zuko, as he tried to push the Avatar off of him. Katara still eyed the Firebender suspiciously, which was odd because it was usually Socca who did that. Socca, on the other hand, was clutching his stomach, not caring about their current situation.
"HUNGRY! NEED FOOD!" He groaned. Aang laughed. Katara gave Socca her usual stare and Zuko was trying to contain his irritation.
That fool will have more to worry about soon enough, he thought maliciously.
"So, Kozu, where exactly is your father?" Katara asked, every hint of suspicion in her voice.
Zuko thought for a moment. If he told them he was on his ship, then they would surely go to the docks. But when they got there, they would know his ship straight away. Katara had obviously seen how baffled she had made the Firebender, because his face was screwed up in concentration. She walked over to him; a small smirk spread over her face, as his face continued to look frustrated.
"You know something," she said, as she turned to face the others, "I don't think he told us the truth. For all you know Aang, this could well be a Firebender trick to capture you. How do we know he's not working for that Zhao character, or Zuko?"
Katara's points seemed to hit the other two, as though they hadn't even thought that this might be the case. In all honesty, Aang hadn't thought about this.
Zuko stopped trying to think rationally, losing all cover in his voice, and blurted out his feelings in regards to what Katara had just suggested,
"How dare you insinuate that I am working for anyone! Especially that bastard Zhao! I'd sooner die!"
He was huffing and puffing, fire was issuing from his fingertips. It was a sight that they had seen before, but from Prince Zuko, so they were not expecting this temper from someone who had seemed so placid before.
"Calm down. Stop getting stressed out Kozu. Geez…typical Firebender temper." Socca said, holding his hands up to protect himself from damage.
'Kozu' had started to calm down, but an inferno was still being released from his hands.
Aang walked up to him and stared blankly into his face, for he too was curious about the sudden change in temperament.
Katara was slightly scared, but kept her cool all the while edging closer to him. As she looked at his face, she gasped. His expression was the same as Zuko's! She backed away from him, eyes wide. Aang saw her behaviour and asked her what was wrong.
"Aang, he looks like Zuko!" She cried.
Aang blinked at 'Kozu' and he saw the same thing that Katara saw. The look that 'Kozu' had on his face was exactly what Prince Zuko looked like every time they made him mad. Socca, however, hadn't noticed anything going on.
"Guys, can we all calm down. I don't know what's gotten into you. Look, I'm tired and hungry. So lets go get something to eat okay?" Socca had a point.
"Sorry Socca." Said Aang.
"You're right Socca. I guess I got a little paranoid, for once." Katara confessed.
Zuko's anger had subsided, finally, and he stared at the worry that was still visible on the Avatar's face.
"I'm sorry for my sudden outburst," he half-apologised, "but I can't stand anyone like him. That's why I left the Fire Nation, along with my father. We are not liked by them because we left, but they were all ruthless so we're better off."
Aang stopped looking worried and the goofy grin returned to his face. He turned to the other two,
"Guys, this is great! He really isn't with the other Firebenders, so we won't have to worry about a trap. Okay Kozu, let's go and meet your father."
Socca nodded in agreement, desperate for food. Katara still wasn't sure about 'Kozu', but knew that nothing too bad could happen.
Zuko blinked, astonished that they believed him, then led the three dimwits to the docks. Now I have to somehow make them think that all members of the Fire Nation that leave are given small boats. Then they won't think twice about it.
The four of them walked at a brisk pace, Katara on constant alert as she stood next to Aang; Socca still clutching his stomach, groaning; Aang smiling happily to himself. They approached the docks, but there was only one ship there. Katara could have sworn it was Zuko's; it was so small.
"Oh…sorry about the size of it. Most people who leave the Fire Nation receive small ships. It is big enough for you to stay on though."
Aang and Socca nodded in understanding, but Katara was looking hard at the ship. There were marks on it that Prince Zuko's ship had from previous encounters. It was also quite rusted. Then she saw the thing that gave it away. On board she caught a glimpse of one of the crewmembers. He looked like one of the people on Zuko's ship!
"Guys," she whispered as they walked closer to the vessel, "I think this is Prince Zuko's ship."
"Katara you're just being paranoid. I know what it's like. Just ignore what your gut is telling you, because it's wrong. This can't be Prince Zuko's ship." Socca declared.
Katara looked at her brother pleadingly,
"Socca I'm serious. I saw one of the crew and he was someone from Zuko's crew! And the marks that are on the side are the same one's that are on Zuko's ship!"
"Katara, I'm not gonna listen to this. I think you've got Zuko on the brain, which is disturbing. I'm sure that your mind's just trying to confuse you."
And with that, they stepped onto 'Kozu's' ship.