The pair made for the deck, where the others were. They stood a fair distance from each other and began the duel. Socca was the first to make a move. He charged at Zuko and attempted to punch him in the face, but Zuko easily dodged and kneed Socca in the gut. Socca stumbled and gasped for breath.
Aang, Katara and Iroh were watching the fight with shocked expressions.
"Socca, are you okay?" Aang asked. Socca looked up, but couldn't reply. Katara put a hand to her mouth.
Iroh shook his head at Zuko.
"Now Princ- Kozu. That was a little much. The poor lad didn't have a chance. You shouldn't have been so rough on the boy. I think you should apologise to him." Iroh gave him a stern look.
Zuko looked at his Uncle with an expression that practically said, "Are you joking?"
Zuko swallowed his pride and offered a hand for Socca. Socca shrugged and rose by himself.
"That was a cheap shot. I thought I said to fight fair?"
"You said no Firebending. You never said I couldn't fight dirty. Besides, I said I wouldn't hold back." Zuko smirked at Socca. Katara blinked as she saw him do this. She had seen that look before.
"Well, I'll just have to take it up a notch."
Socca reached for the small jar that he had bought from the medicine shop, and took a pill from inside it. He swallowed the pill and felt a strange sensation. He suddenly knew how he could've defended against 'Kozu's' attack.
"Okay, Kozu. I'm ready, let's go."
"Your funeral." Zuko said coldly. He waited for Socca to try an amateur move again, but Socca merely stood his ground. All right, I'll attack you. He charged at Socca and raised his fist. The hit was dodged almost too well. Next, Zuko tried to knock him off balance with a swoop kick. Socca jumped and kicked Zuko square in the jaw. Zuko hit the ground hard and blood dripped from his mouth. One of his teeth had been knocked out. He clenched his fists and started wildly throwing punches. Socca avoided every last one. Aang's jaw dropped. He had never seen Socca fight so well. Katara was gawking at Socca. She was just as surprised as Aang. Iroh stared with wide eyes. His expression went from amazement to worry. He saw Zuko's rage intensifying with every punch that was dodged.
"This could be bad." He muttered to himself.
"Hold still you peasant!" Zuko shouted, fists ablaze.
Katara snapped back into reality. 'Kozu' had just said something that a certain stuck up Prince would have said. Then she saw the flaming fists and panicked.
Socca was in trouble.
"Hey no fire remember? What are you insane?" Socca was panicking slightly.
He was having trouble avoiding the flames emanating from 'Kozu's' fists. He managed a quick jab at his opponent's face, but the hit glanced off and the onslaught continued. Zuko was completely lost in his own rage and had forgotten that he was undercover. He began hurling fireballs at Socca, who was having a slight problem trying to dodge so much.
"That's enough!" Iroh ordered as he dove in the fray. Zuko barely managed to avoid hitting his Uncle with a devastating flurry of fire, as he halted the attack. His temper rapidly subsided and he bowed his head.
"Sorry, Uncle." He murmured. Iroh smiled at him, but quickly pressed a finger to his mouth.
"How quickly we forget our plan." He whispered to his ashamed nephew.
Zuko swallowed hard.
Great! He thought.
He looked around. The Avatar didn't appear to have heard, nor had the moron on the floor. He looked at the Waterbender girl. She was not looking at them at all. She was watching the water again.
Could she have heard? He had to find out.
"Right. I am never sparring with you again. I should've just gone and fought with Prince Zuko. I don't think he would go that crazy!" Socca cried. He scrambled to his feet and walked over to Aang. "Aang. I think we should go back to Appa and get some sleep."
"But Socca! I haven't even learnt how to Firebend yet." Aang looked as if his favourite toy had been taken away. Iroh saw his opportunity.
"Perhaps you could stay with us for a while? I'm sure we have some spare rooms somewhere." Aang gleamed and gave Socca a puppy dog face.
"Oh fine. I hate it when you do that." Socca said.
Iroh motioned them to follow him inside and they did.
Zuko was still worried that the girl had heard. He marched up to her and waited for her to say something. He stood there for a few minutes, before he decided that she knew nothing. He turned to walk away, but she stopped him,
"You almost burnt my brother to a crisp. I thought something was strange about you. You were too good to be true. I know what you're doing, Prince Zuko. If you harm Aang, I will make you pay. Goodnight." She headed inside the ship to catch up with the others.
Zuko just stood there, frozen.