Zuko made a quick trip through the small mess hall. There were a handful of soldiers, either coming off of a shift or about to begin. As they noticed Zuko, they all stood and saluted him, only taking their seats after he waved at them. The group went back to talking, but seemed subdued. None of the people on this crew had been with him last time.
And there was a different feel. There was still the familiar deference, but none of the personal offence. The soldiers treated him as a prince and expected nothing from him. Zuko could come and go as he pleased, and was not begrudged his space or temperament.
Allegedly, his temperament had changed. From his own perspective, he knew he was more at peace than he had been last year, but in this timeline, he was changed from the person he had been from last week.
His cousin had attributed it to nothing more than time and distance away from the palace. Zuko hoped that cover would not wear thin too soon.
As if pushing himself, Zuko went to the small galley and startled their cook.
"Your Highness." The woman sputtered. "I could have sent along your meal, sir."
"Oh, uhm." Zuko blinked in confusion and felt heat brush across his face. "I was already walking around."
The woman laughed and Zuko felt more at ease.
"I wish we had stayed on land for a bit longer myself." She replied. "What would you like for supper, sir?"
"Just bread, please." He said and the woman coughed out a startled laugh.
"Please? Well goodness me, those tribals must have scared some manners into you." She replied and then turned away. While she moved, she repeated his "please" with a dry a few more times. Zuko wince and resisted the urge to rub his face.
He had to get away from all of these people who knew this Zuko. Subterfuge just wasn't his strong suit.
When the cook returned, she held out a large biscuit that Zuko took gingerly with both hands. He recognized it as the handheld meat pie many soldiers ate when pulling longer shifts. Thanking the woman, Zuko kept his head down as he walked out of the mess.
The fore of the ship held the mess and the hammocks where the soldiers slept. In the aft was the royal quarters. Sokka and Katara had been put in the fore, but as Zuko dipped into the sleeping area, he didn't see Sokka.
Carefully putting the pie in his pocket, Zuko climbed back onto the deck. Now he started to stroll, taking small bites of the steaming food that warmed his hands but burned his tongue. Katara, too, had disappeared.
At the center of the ship was the brig and cargo hold, only accessible with a winch. Perhaps they had decided to hide in there with the livestock.
Continuing on, Zuko had to eat carefully or else risk spilling the meat filling down his front. The last thing he needed was to ask his cousin for a favor while looking like a filthy child. This was how he ended up dropping the last large bite into his mouth as if he were a dragonkoi fish. Staring down at the next hatch, he wiped his hands on the back of his pants.
He knew a lot about Sokka. And the thing Sokka cared about the most in the world, was Suki. If Zuko could convince Lu Ten to stop in Kyoshi then he could introduce Sokka to her and win him to his side. Getting Lu Ten to agree might take some doing.
Zuko pulled open the hatch as he chewed and started his descent.
He could do what Uncle had done to him. Claim a desperate need to stop and see something, or replace something. An irritating distraction that could be planned for some other purpose.
Zuko paused partway down the ladder and squinted as he thought.
That wily bastard did all that on purpose.
Shaking his head, Zuko climbed down and walked quietly down the hall. The back part of the ship was far from quiet however; the massive network of steam pipes rushed and rattled all around him. Looking down at his feet, Zuko wondered if the massive engine was just below him. The thought made him step lightly.
Below deck was dark, and the thin red light of the sconces did little to aid his sight. So the light pouring from an open door was like a beacon and Zuko made a line for it.
Hearing voices, Zuko hesitated as he got closer. He did not want to interrupt something important and risk annoying Lu Ten.
"The wedding will go just fine." Lu Ten said, sounding as if he were trying to console someone. "And Zuko won't have any problems as long as his mother is there."
Zuko's heart stopped and his fingers immediately went cold.
"Can we even trust the witch?" A man's voice asked. Now Zuko burned, but Lu Ten spoke up quickly.
"You will not speak of my aunt in such a manner. She has done my father, and the throne, a great service." Lu Ten paused and shuffled some papers. "And I certainly don't want her on my bad side."
"I just don't think you're wise to trust her." A woman's voice now, sounding just as rough and miserly as the man's.
"My father trusts her and that's all that matters." Lu Ten replied sharply, ending their protests. "When will we reach the island?"
"In a day or so, Highness." The man said.
"Excellent. I'll need a landing team and a guard on the two tribals. We don't need them wandering off." Lu Ten said.
Feeling his heart hammering in his chest, Zuko squeezed his eyes closed.
My mother is alive.
He would see her again, and the painful yearning he felt to go to her had to be shoved aside. There would be time for that, and besides, this Zuko had grown up with her. It would not do to seem like he had mourned her.
After taking a few breaths to collect himself, Zuko stood up straight and knocked on the partially open door before moving around it. Four figures were in the room, with Lu Ten at a desk with an older man and woman. A younger person, more of Lu Ten's age, lounged in a chair with their legs thrown over one of the arms.
"Cousin!" Lu Ten greeted, discreetly straightening a group of papers. "Come to visit?"
Zuko glanced at each of the others, briefly meeting their eyes. Except of the figure in the chair who was cleaning their nails with a thin file.
"Actually, I was wondering if I could ask a favor." Zuko began.
"Of course. What's on your mind?" Lu Ten inquired.
"Can we make a stop? On our way to the North Pole?"
"I assume you mean outside of the ones already planned?"
The man chuckled and Zuko cleared his throat, feeling slightly embarrassed.
"That was what I was hoping for yes." He said.
"Where would you like to go?" Lu Ten asked.
"Kyoshi."
Lu Ten blinked at him and the man laughed again.
"Kyoshi?" Lu Ten repeated.
"Yes. As a, cultural sort of trip. Historical." Zuko added, fumbling over his thoughts.
"Zuko, there's nothing there." Lu Ten said.
"Well not," Zuko frowned as he thought. The village hadn't been much, certainly nothing compared to the temple the Fire Nation had kept in Roku's honor. But it wasn't nothing.
"Kyoshi was one of the first towns we razed." The woman snapped. "Don't those pampered tutors teach you anything of the war?"
"I forgot." Zuko said. He felt numb and couldn't focus on the room. Seeing the look on his face, Lu Ten came around from behind the desk and put a hand on his shoulder.
"It is still an important place. If you want to see ruins, dear Cousin, I will take you there." He said softly.
"And add two unnecessary days to our journey." The older man added gruffly. Lu Ten shot him a look over his shoulder and then turned back to Zuko.
"We'll be stopping in the colonies soon enough. I'm sure we can get some Earth Kingdom flavor there." Lu Ten said.
"Sure. Of course." Zuko shook himself and then smiled at Lu Ten. "Thank you."
"Any time. Now why don't you find something to eat? I need to go over some trip details with this lot." Lu Ten said. Zuko nodded and let himself be led out of the room by Lu Ten's hand. As he stepped into the hall, Lu Ten shut the door, slowly choking off the light.
"Now," Lu Ten said, speaking to his companions again. "What was the news from Zhao?"
The door shut, and Zuko stood in red stained darkness.