Author's Note: Hey everyone! It's been a little while since I updated this story, but therefore, here we go. I just wanted to give you a quick heads up and thank you for the continuing interest in this story. I hope you enjoy it. Reviews are very much appreciated. Also, one last thing, in this chapter we'll have some, uhm, let's say adult content. Nothing too explicit (and the story is rated M anyway), but just so you know upfront. Also, those tips are the opinions of a group of sailors, so don't judge me too hard on this. Qing Qing is a nickname, as far as I read, which could be wrong, but still, it means something like "wifey", or I found another translation as a verb which said it meant to love one another or to be attached to one another, something of the sort. I thought it would fit…
Port of a Fire Nation Colony, 100 AC
Zuko wouldn't have stopped at this port if it weren't for Ming to get some clothes. Not that he would mind her wearing his clothes, but if anyone, let alone her father, were to know about this, it would become quite embarrassing. Besides, what kind of prince couldn't even afford his wife some clothes of her own? He stayed at the ship though. His uncle had taken the job of accompanying his wife. He only hoped that the old man wouldn't spend all the money he gave them on useless junk, he had a thing for buying "rarities", and lots of them. While he was waiting his thoughts wandered to the night before. As they readied themselves for sleep, a thought had crossed his mind and so he asked, why she had cut her hair. He had always loved her long, black locks. She had explained to him that she would have shaved her head clean once a year, on the day of his banishment. It had been her way to show the world that she would reject any try to annul her marriage. He felt sad about it, but also proud of her and touched by the devotion she had shown.
A few members of his crew approached him. He tried to ignore them at first, but they seemed determined to speak with him. Among them were the cook and also Lieutenant Jee. It was Jee who cleared his throat finally, "Uhm, Prince Zuko, do you have a moment of spare time? We, the crew, thought we should have a chat, now that Lady Ming is travelling with us."
Zuko blinked twice, surprised and wondering what they meant, "Since we're just here to wait for Ming and my uncle to return from their shopping trip, I do have some spare time. Go on."
He noticed that several of the crew members blushed a little, but then again, maybe it was the sun. Again, Jee spoke, "Well, since you and your wife are sleeping in the same bed and we have some doubts that your uncle spoke with you about that we, uhm, we thought, considering your age, you could use some tips at how to please a woman.", Zuko just stared at him blankly, then at every other of the crew members.
The cook then took over, "Yeah, I mean, we're all grown men here and have our experiences. We know that it's easy to make mistakes, especially if it's your first time. And we all care about Lady Ming and don't want her to be miserable."
Zuko felt like his brain had stopped working for a moment. Where they serious? Why should he need tips like these from them?
He didn't react quick enough, so they all started to throw various tips at him. "Whatever you do, be gentle.", "Listen to her, do as she says.", "Try kissing her neck and collarbone, a lot of women like that.", "Work on her chest.", "Again, be gentle. And slow.", they continued until Zuko regained his composure and threw a loud, "Shut up!", at them. After a moment of shocked silence, the small group dispersed below deck again.
Suddenly he saw two figures round a corner, one slim, carrying a small bag, and one shorter and wider, carrying a larger bag. Both waved at him happily when they saw him. Zuko wondered if he should laugh or just slam his hand into his forehead. The two shoppers quickly made their way back onto the ship and the Fire Nation Prince tried to ignore his uncle's seemingly giant number of objects. At least the old man was capable of lifting them all at once himself. He still rolled his eyes, annoyed by the very sight.
Before he could turn around again, Ming approached him, threw an arm around him and kissed his cheek. "Hey there, Zuko. Did you have some fun while we were gone?", she asked in a tone, so bright, he couldn't help but smile at her.
He rubbed the back of his neck, "Not really."
His answer earned him a skeptical look and a raised eyebrow from her, then she smiled again, "Okay, then I'll go and change. I'll be back in a minute.", she said as she vanished in the direction of their room.
Zuko then began to order his crew around to set sail and get them back on track in their search for the Avatar. A few moments later someone tapped on his shoulder, and he turned around. Behind him stood his young wife, clad in a red robe with darker accents at the collar and hem. It was closed with complicated looking bows and the wide sleeves ended at her elbows. She wore white trousers and a white shirt underneath. All in all, it was simple and practical, but also quite beautiful. He smiled at her, taking her hands in his, "You look wonderful.", he complimented her, which made her blush.
"Thank you.", she said and came closer to hug him. Over her shoulder he saw one of the crew members from before smiling and raising his thumb at him. For a moment he thought of leaving him at the next port.
When he left their bathroom that night, he saw that she had also invested in sleepwear. She wore a short nightgown, consisting of a tight, black breastband with flowers stitched on it, and flowing, dark red silk, forming the rest of it, ending at the upper half of her thighs. For a moment he thought about approaching her and wrapping his arms around her. But he shook the thought out of his head. Then she turned around and he saw how her eyes lit up at seeing him like they often did. They smiled at each other, and she came closer, "Do you like it?"
Zuko's mind forgot in an instant how speech worked. For a long moment he just stood and blinked before his tongue decided to work again, "Uhm, yes, sure, of course.", he stammered. Ming laughed at him and hugged him, resting her head on his shoulder. Unsurely he hugged back. She put a hand on his face and pulled him down for a long kiss. As he opened his eyes again, he could see her smile with the most content expression he had seen on her in a long time.
All of sudden the ship rocked heavily, a large wave must've hit it, throwing both of them to the floor. Realizing what was happening Zuko quickly threw his arms around her and turned, so he would shield her from the fall. Both of them breathed heavily for a few moments, looking around and realizing what just happened. "Are you hurt?", Zuko asked, raising his head to look into Ming's eyes.
She propped herself up on her elbows, her arms and hands still on his chest, while her knees where at both sides of his hips. Ming looked quickly over her body, "I don't think so. How are you, is your head okay?", she asked, still regaining her breath.
The Fire Nation Prince quickly touched the back of his head, but there was no injury or anything. Checking on everything else, the only thing he noticed were his pants getting tighter. He laid his head back, "I'm fine.", Ming then moved to stand up, but was held down by a sudden arm around her waist. Zuko pulled her back down and shoved her a bit upwards so he could whisper in her ear, "Ming, would it be okay if we'd consummate our marriage tonight?"
Ming was surprised, maybe even a little shocked by this, so she blinked a few times, before a wide smile appeared on her face. As an answer she just started to kiss him as he picked her up and carried her to the crimson bed.
The next morning Iroh was surprised to find his nephew already at the training grounds and sporting a wide smile and a good mood that was rare in the banished prince for the last few years. He wondered what had caused this, since the Avatar was nowhere in sight.
A few days later they saw a smoking rig floating not far away from them. Curious about the situation, they stopped at it and Zuko, Iroh and Ming boarded it. Apparently, this had been a prison for earthbenders, but laying in ruins. According to the crew, the Avatar and his friends had paid it a visit and inspired the imprisoned earthbenders to riot and ultimately destroy the rig. The humiliated warden couldn't give them any information about the Avatar's next stop though. Ming and Iroh wanted to go back to their ship already when Ming noticed her husband picking something up from the ground.
Later in their room she asked him what he had found, and he showed her a blue necklace with an apparently hand-carved pendant on it. Ming had heard about these; it was a Water Tribe betrothal necklace. She raised an eyebrow at the banished prince and crossed her arms. "You should give it back to the girl it belongs to when you have the chance, Zuko. It probably means a lot to her."
The smile on her husband's face ran a short shiver down her spine, "I will, don't worry. But it might come in handy in the meantime."
A little more than a week later both teenagers found themselves looking for Zuko's uncle. They had called out his name repeatedly, but to no avail. "As if we'd search for a lost koala sheep.", Ming muttered under her breath, earning herself a chuckle from the banished prince.
Suddenly they heard a slightly distanced, "Over here!", from a nearby hot spring. Quickly they ran over to it.
"Uncle? We need to move on. We're closing in on the Avatar's trail and I don't want to lose him.", Zuko said commandingly.
Iroh for his part looked quite relaxed to an extent that it made Ming suppress giggling, totally calm he said, "You look tired, Prince Zuko. Why don't you join me in these hot springs and soak away your troubles?"
Zuko quickly retorted, anger and annoyance in his voice, "My troubles cannot be soaked away. It's time to go!", Ming laid a comforting hand on his shoulder to try and calm him down.
Iroh wasn't one to give up so easily though, "You should take your teacher's advice and relax a little. The temperature's just right. I heated it myself.", he said, breathing another steam cloud into the water.
"Enough! We need to leave now. Get out of the water!", Zuko yelled at him.
"Very well!", Iroh answered. As he began lifting himself from the water the smile on Ming's face disappeared. Obviously, the former general wore absolutely nothing. Zuko must've realized that too, since she was pulled into a tight hug, her face forcefully turned away from the sight, in an instant while her husband shielded his own eyes with his remaining free hand.
"On second thought, why don't you take another few minutes? But be back at the ship in a half-hour or I'm leaving without you!", Zuko offered, releasing his wife from his hug as his uncle slumped back into the hot spring.
As they made their way back towards the ship, Ming couldn't help but laugh at the whole situation. Catching her husband's gaze she said, "I'm sorry, I can't help it."
"Let's just hope he'll be on time.", Zuko said, unamused.
Of course, the old man did not return on time. Ming sighed as her young husband paced from one side to the other in front of her. "Maybe he slept in, or something else happened to him. We should go and search for him, what if he needs help?", she threw in, earning herself an angry glare from Zuko. Instead of answering her, he just grabbed her wrist and pulled her along towards the hot springs.
"Uncle! Uncle where are you?", Zuko yelled as they searched the forest around the hot springs. Ming just hoped that nothing really happened to the former general. She knew that Zuko needed his guidance, and it would be a huge loss for both of them.
One of the soldiers that accompanied them threw in, "Sir, maybe he thought you left without him."
As they finally reached the hot spring, Ming's eyes widened. The water was almost gone and replaced by rocks. She gasped as Zuko said, "Something's not right here. That pile of rocks."
The other soldier suggested, "It looks like there's been a landslide, sir."
"Land doesn't slide uphill. Those rocks didn't move naturally. My uncle's been captured by earthbenders.", Zuko cut him off. Ming's mind raced, earthbenders? That could mean that Iroh was off to a bad ending. She had heard stories about people getting their hands crushed and other parts of their bodies as well.
She turned to her husband, "We need to rescue him, immediately."
Zuko nodded and turned to one of the soldiers, "Get me a Komodo rhino.", Ming was surprised when he reached out his hand and pulled her in the saddle behind him. As they were out of the reach of the soldiers' ears, he said, "I'm not leaving you with a crew of sailors without anyone watching."
Ming blushed and hugged him from behind, resting her head on his shoulder, "You know, Zuko, sometimes you're really sweet.", and before he could protest, she added, "I like that.", and kissed his cheek.
He smiled and could feel his cheeks heating up, almost whispering he said, "Thanks, Qing Qing.", as he laid a hand on one of hers. Ming blushed a bit but didn't protest the new nickname. After a while they came across a small object laying on the street, it was a sandal. Zuko quickly jumped out of the saddle, picked the object up and smelled on it. Ming giggled at his grimacing face. "Yeah, that's Uncle Iroh.", he said, then he re-mounted and handed the stinking sandal to his young wife. Ming looked a bit flabbergasted. What should she do with it? In the end she shrugged her shoulders and put it into their mount's luggage, which was attached behind her.
Soon they came across the footprints of ostrich-horses and followed them as suddenly a large shadow flew over them. Both looked up in awe at the giant white animal. "The Avatar!", Zuko exclaimed. But then he looked back at the path, he didn't need to turn around, he could feel Ming's eyes staring two holes into the back of his head, he sighed, "You're right, Qing Qing. We've got to save uncle first."
As he drove the rhino down the ostrich-horse tracks, he felt her hands rubbing his shoulders, then she asked curiously, "So that giant animal belongs to the Avatar?"
A bit annoyed he answered, "Yes, he's travelling on it."
"Does it feed off his enemies?", he stopped for a moment to turn and stare at her.
"No, I don't think so. Where did that come from?", he asked.
She shrugged her shoulders, "Then I'm relieved. You know, at my age, I'm too young to become a widow, and there were already times I was close to it.", that actually made him laugh.
Ming grinned at him when he took the reins again, "Let's search for uncle."
A while later, the sun was just beginning to sink below the horizon and everything was bathed in a slightly rose-colored light, they heard a deep voice, "These dangerous hands must be crushed."
Shocked they looked at each other, before Zuko handed Ming the rhino's reins hastily and said, "Stay here.", before jumping off. Ming stared at the reins in her hands for a moment. She had no idea how to stir these animals, furthermore, if this little muscle package beneath her decided to move, what could she hold against it, if it came down to it? So she prayed inwardly, nice rhino, please be calm, good animal… All while trying to suppress her own panic. From her position she could make out the fight below. Zuko had kicked the rock away that the earthbenders wanted to use to crush Iroh's hands. Then her husband had destroyed the chain that held said hands tied together with his boot.
"Excellent form, Prince Zuko.", Iroh cheered, and Ming felt pride welling up in her chest.
"You taught me well.", Zuko answered, and Ming could swear, she could hear him smile.
The deep voice of the earthbender interrupted them, "Surrender yourselves. It's five against two. You're clearly outnumbered.", Ming wanted to raise her hand and say something, didn't she count as one? But she caught her husband's gaze, and her hand sank down and her mouth, already opened to speak, closed again. Maybe it was better this way, she was no warrior after all.
Iroh caught her attention, as he answered the earthbender, "Yeah, that's true, but you are clearly outmatched.", Ming smiled, together they seemed invincible at this moment. The green clothed soldiers began to throw rocks at the duo, but Iroh destroyed them with the remains of his chains, Zuko then took two of them out with fire blasts. Another soldier threw a rock towards his back and Ming wanted to scream and warn him, but quickly Iroh had caught the rock in his chains and threw it back at the attacker, knocking him out. Zuko then got involved in a tense fight with the captain and Ming's eyes widened as she saw the captain raise up a huge mass of rock, but the attack did not happen because Iroh threw his chains around the man's ankles and caused him to fall, the rocks he had raised falling on top of him. She heard the man groan under the rocks.
Since the fight was over, Zuko now turned to his uncle, "Now would you please put on some clothes.", Iroh just laughed and went to get dressed, but not without waving his hands towards Ming. She smiled widely and waved back.
Before they returned to the ship, Zuko decided to pay the nearby village a visit, since he had recently seen the Avatar's bison. They stopped in front of a building which seemed like a small gathering place and Zuko jumped off. Ming was honestly doubting that they'd meet anybody at this time. It was already deep in the night and she herself had trouble not sleeping in the rhino's saddle. To her surprise, a man walked out of the building. Zuko knocked him back through the door, asking, "Having trouble sleeping? Seen the Avatar lately?", she frowned slightly, there she had been really proud of him earlier, but of course he needed to destroy that feeling head on.
The next day they were back on the ship. Ming was standing at the railing, breathing in the cold, salty air, and relishing in the feeling of the wind in her clothes and hair, as she heard Iroh talk to his nephew, "Sailing into Fire Nation waters… Of all the foolish things you've done in your sixteen years, Prince Zuko, this is the most foolish!", her eyes widened in shock, what was her husband thinking? She hurried over towards them.
As she approached, she heard Zuko say, "I have no choice, Uncle.", there it was again, the desperation in his voice, that undertone she hadn't known three years ago.
Iroh was for once angry at his nephew, "Have you completely forgotten that the Fire Lord banished you?"
Ming laid a comforting hand on Zuko's shoulder, making him turn slightly towards her. Fearful she added, "What if you're caught?"
Annoyed and angry Zuko shook off the hand, "I'm chasing the Avatar! My father will understand why I am returning home!"
Iroh shook his head, "You give him too much credit. My brother is not the understanding type!"
Obviously ignoring both, Iroh and Ming, Zuko turned and looked into the telescope. Then he turned to some of his crew members. "There they are. Helmsman! Full steam ahead!", Ming sighed and shook her head.
The crew than raised their catapult on deck and loaded it with a steaming object, Ming didn't even want to know what this was made of. It reeked absolutely gross. She felt like she had to throw up any minute. Iroh seemed to feel similar, "Uh, really Prince Zuko, couldn't you shoot them down with something more fragnant?", Ming would've laughed at the comment, but her stomach got sicker and sicker, she felt like the world was turning around her. She felt cold sweat on her face as she watched Zuko lit the stinking whatever on fire. In the heat of the moment nobody noticed her disappearing quickly. She went to the other, now very empty side of the ship and stabilized herself, gripping the railing as firm as she could. She made sure nobody saw her, before she emptied her stomach contents into the ocean. Then she hurried over to her room and fixed her appearance a bit. As she reappeared on deck, she heard Iroh say something that made cold sweat run down her spine, "Please, Prince Zuko! If the Fire Nation captures you, there is nothing I can do! Do not follow the Avatar."
She saw Zuko standing on deck, obviously fighting with himself inside. Then his fists clenched, and she knew he made a dangerous decision, he said, "I'm sorry, uncle.", before he turned to the crew and yelled, "Run the blockade!", Ming's eyes widened in shock, he couldn't be serious. Hastily she ran over to Iroh.
Out of breath she grabbed her husband's shoulder, "Are you serious! You're putting all our lives on the line! Don't you know who commands this blockade?! That's my father there! Do you think he won't shoot at us, just because it's me? I don't think so."
Zuko grabbed her hands angrily, "Ming, I made a decision!"
As he had raised his voice, she did so now too, ripping her hands out of his grip she yelled, "And I should accept that just like that? Should let you run us all into a death sentence, just because you want to go home so badly? Tell you what, you can't go home when you're dead.", tears streamed down her face, never before had they have an argument like this.
Both of their faces were now red with anger, but none of the crew, not even Iroh dared to interfere. Zuko yelled back at her, "Ming! Would you just shut up! Just for a moment! You don't know anything about military matters, you're just here because you're my wife! So, how about you just go below deck and wait until it's safe again, huh?!"
They were finally interrupted by a fireball missing their ship by mere inches, making the ship rock heavily. In a second, Zuko's anger vanished as he caught Ming before she could fall. Then an explosion rocked the ship again as a fireball hat hit them. Zuko could feel Ming clutching to him and whimpering in fear. When he tried to make her stand alone again, an engineer ran up to him, "Prince Zuko! The engines are damaged! We need to stop to make repairs!"
Zuko turned away from the man and faced the blockade, "Do not stop this ship.", he could almost feel Ming's eyes burning holes into his back and turning to her he saw that this was exactly the case. She still stood a bit shakingly, tears in her eyes, but the angriest look he had ever seen on her in her eyes. She also seemed even paler than she usually way, but maybe that was because of her anger. But she said nothing.
They saw two of the massive ships that were forming the blockade moving towards one another, just where they were headed, Iroh called over, "We're on collision course!"
Zuko didn't want to step back, so he said confidently, "We can make it!"
Ming felt like she would throw up again any minute, clutching her stomach she said, "Spirits above.", but almost whispering, so only her young husband could hear. As they approached the blockade, she went over to him and held his hand tightly.
Suddenly the big ships stopped, so they could pass through. Ming grabbed Zuko's arm when she noticed the man standing on one of the big ships, staring down at them. It was her father, commander Zhao. Instinctively Zuko moved a bit in between the two as to shield her from whatever may come from him towards his daughter as the men shared a hateful glare with each other. It was deadly silent on the ship after they passed the blockade. Zuko hugged Ming protectively as Iroh stroke his gray beard, deep in thought.
While his uncle was thinking about the situation they were in, Zuko grew worried about his young wife. She didn't look all too well. He noticed that she was not walking straight, was paler than usual and from time to time clutched her stomach. Maybe she was sea-sick? Anyway, he couldn't leave her on deck in that state, so he picked her up without asking first and carried her to their room. She didn't protest, what worried him even more. He sat her down on the bed and looked at her worryingly. "Ming, you're not feeling well.", it was not a question, it was a statement, so she only nodded weakly, "Why didn't you say anything? Should I call the doctor?"
Ming shook her head slowly, "No need to, I'm just not feeling good. Maybe I ate something wrong, I don't know. But I think it'll be over sooner or later.", she looked at him with a weak smile. It did nothing to calm his worries though. He knelt before her and began undressing her. She was surprised when he did so, and even more when he dressed her into her nightgown. Without any protest she let him tuck her in. Zuko sat down on her bedside for a moment and stroke her face, "You should take some rest. Yes?"
She nodded, then she reached up and stroke his face as well, "Okay. But whatever you do, try to not make me worry so much, yes?"
He smiled down at her, "I'll try. Sleep well, Qing Qing.", then he kissed her forehead and left their room. His face went serious again when he stepped on deck. He went over to his uncle, standing at the railing. He couldn't help but notice the smoke coming from their machines. "What's he up to, Uncle? Why didn't Commander Zhao arrest me?"
"Because he wants to follow you. He knows you'll lead him to the prize you're both after, the Avatar.", the old man said with a stern expression on his face.
Zuko had an idea, "If Zhao wants to follow a trail of smoke, then that's exactly what I'll let him do.", the idea of outsmarting, maybe even mocking his father-in-law made him smile.
A little while later a small vessel was sled into the water, it contained only the banished prince, "Uncle, keep heading north. Zhao will follow the smoke trail, while I use it as cover. Oh, and if Ming wakes up, tell her she shouldn't worry so much. I've got this.", as an answer he only heard a doubtful grunt from his uncle as he began to steer his boat towards Avatar Roku's temple.
A few hours later Zuko turned around, shock evident in his eyes, as his father-in-law appeared in the temple and interrupted his interrogation of the Fire Sages, clapping. "What a moving and heartfelt performance. I'm certain the Fire Lord will understand, when you explain why you betrayed him." And ignoring the Fire Sages gasping, he continued, "And Prince Zuko. It was a noble effort, but your little smokescreen didn't work. Did you really think I would run after my daughter and not after the Avatar? Hmm, two traitors in one day, the Fire Lord will be pleased.", he said as Zuko scowled sharply, his arms being seized by two firebenders. The Water Tribe siblings looked at each other questioningly. Daughter? What was going on?
Zuko struggled against his captor and snapped at Zhao, "You're too late, Zhao! The Avatar's inside and the doors are sealed."
Zhao shook his head, slightly amused, "No matter. Sooner of later, he has to come out.", the commander then readied his soldiers outside of the door. They were standing in a half-circle formation around it. "When those doors open, unleash all your firepower!"
As the doors opened, it was not the airbender who stood in front of them, but Avatar Roku himself. He had no trouble bending all the fire that was thrown at him backwards. Zhao and his men fled the temple when Roku started lava-bending to destroy it. Zuko, now free of his captors looked for a moment backwards, seeing that Roku had transformed into Aang again, who was immediately helped by the Water Tribe siblings. For a moment he thought about capturing him now. But then Ming's voice echoed through his head, "Whatever you do, try to not make me worry so much, yes?", so he hurried off towards his boat.
Later that night he cuddled into their bed. His uncle had told him that Ming had been awake and asked where he was, and that she was of course, very worried. As he now snuck into their room, he didn't lit any light and tried to be as quiet as he could. Finally, under the covers he snuggled close to her and hugged her waist. Quickly she turned around and looked at him. She cupped his face with her hand, and he could see her smile in the moonlight. "You're back. I was so worried. Are you hurt?"
He just shrugged his shoulders and grinned nonchalantly, "Nah, just a few scratches. You know, as always from run-ins with your father."
She snuggled up to him, her lips almost touching his ear, "Hmhm, should I check?"