Anna Nalick
"In The Rough"
Troy was a bit surprised when he saw Luke and Alex come onto the deck, hand in hand. They let go once in sight, but he knew they liked each other. He smiled, he'd have a nice long talk with him later.
But them, just like he did, the crew noticed her fully. Few of the men whistled, and he wanted to smack them. She did look hot by guy standards. He looked over and noticed Zuko's face and felt a sickening feeling. That sick bastard better not look at his sister.
Alex laughed and Iroh smiled, "Why are you all standing there? Let's dance!"
The music was awesome, resembling what she had always thought of as her high school dances: pure fun. The music was loud and fast, and small lights were flying across the deck as the crew danced in the dark.
Alex was dancing close to Luke, feeling the heat between them. No one noticed them at all, and she was glad.
The music stopped and suddenly the spotlight was on her. She blinked into the light as Iroh's voice said, "I would like to request that Captain Alexa sing us one last song," he smiled, "Alex," everyone started to clap.
Alex and Iroh had agreed on calling her either Captain Alex or Captain Alexa. Obviously if they were around enemies they would want them to think she was male.
Nervously, she made her way to the front of the ship, not sure what she was going to sing.
Troy was trying not to laugh, his sister couldn't sing for her life. He had heard her before and knew this for a fact.
She looked to her left and spotted what looked similar to a guitar. As she held it to the curiosity of the crew, painful memories of sitting with Josh as he taught her came back, then she knew what to sing, and she did so quietly and softly, a slow, sad song:
"You say you feel while holding diamonds in your hand…it's your fault for running holding diamonds, I said. And I offer no sympathy for that… I hear that it was you who died alone. And I offer no sympathy for that. Better off I sparkle on my own," her strumming got faster and she sang loudly and sadly, "some day yeah yeah, love will find me, in the rough. Some day…yeah yeah, love will find me, be enough." She paused, "I turn around three times and wound up at your door. Now you say you don't know all you did not know before. And I offer no sympathy for that. I hear that it was you who died alone. And I offer no sympathy for that, better off I sparkle on my own…"
The crew was clapping alone to her voice, Troy was a bit stunned at what she was doing. Not only was her voice amazing, but she was playing that instrument that the entire ship had been unable to figure out how to work.
She was putting more passion into her words now, and Troy saw a sad and painful look in her eyes, a look that made him wonder what it was he had missed all these years.
"I got your love letters, and I threw them all away, I hear you think that I'm crazy. I'm driving ninety-five and I'm driving you away, I shine a little more lately…"
She started to finish, and Troy knew something was definitely wrong. So did Luke.
She finished strumming and the crew burst out in applause, but then it was time for bed.
JOSH'S LETTER FROM Alex, a week earlier:
Josh,
I'm fine, don't worry about me. I know what I'm doing, I have nothing to fear. I'm glad she told you about Luke, he's been a great help. but I do miss you, and the others of course, but you really. I hope you get this in time, I've invested in a carrier hawk who has done more to help me than deliver messages.
But I do admit, I'm terrified of what I'll do when I reach the north pole, I know I might have to fight Zuko, and I scared me because well…
I think I might just be falling in love with him.
I love you Josh, so much more each day.
Alex
Luke found Alex in her room, sitting on her bed, reading a letter (from Josh, who was outraged that she would think such a thing, and giving her all these reasons to reject him)
She smiled when he came in. he asked her if she was all right and she told him she missed her friends.
He walked over and she stood up and kissed him softly, he looked at her, "get some sleep, all right?" she nodded and he left.
Troy caught him in the hall, after seeing everything, grabbing him by the sleeve he hissed, "Come with me."
Zuko took this moment to rush into her room and close the door softly behind him. Alex smiled and turned, "Luke I— Zuko!" she gasped.
He walked over to her, "DO you love him?" he whispered,
She stared at him a moment before glaring at him and walking into her bathroom. She now had a private bath, "I don't feel like sharing."
When the door had closed he spotted the letter on the bed and picked it up, reading.
Alex,
Ok, you need to just sit down and soak your head in some cold water. Are you crazy? You can't love him! This is insane, you barely know the guy!
Zuko grinned and read on.
He's a monster Alex, a total loony. You need to clear your head and get some fresh air, maybe that Luke guy can help…
He stopped. Why did the sender mention Luke helping…wasn't Luke the one they were talking about?
I know I can't change your mind, but you know what you'll have to do don't you? When the time comes? You know what Tina will think? What do you think she'll say when she finds out that not only are you fire nation and working for the Prince, but that you're in love with him as well….
I love you Alex, be careful.
Josh
The letter fell from his hands onto the bed. What? She loved him? Then why had she been kissing Luke? To make him feel better? This was too crazy, yet too exciting.
He slowly took his shirt off and tossed it in the corner softly. He waited in front of the bathroom door, waiting.
When she opened the door she was startled to see him there, shirtless.
He grabbed her and kissed her sharply. She once again felt that frightening feeling of falling, but this time he caught her. He literally did.
He picked her up and took her to her bed, laying her down; he softly climbed on top of her. When she protested he swept her up in his kiss again.
She stopped fighting and kissed him back, not sure what was going on.
He kissed her for a few more minutes before rolling over onto his back, next to her.
She sighed and placed her head on his chest, relaxing as he wrapped his arms around her.
Maybe, just maybe, he thought, someone could love him.
