The Trouble with Fire
Ch.2: The Avatar
Zuko X OC
disclaimer: I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender. I own my OC
"I found the avatar as well as his hiding place.", Zuko said. His voice was so sharp that it could have cut through her skin. All the nerves that had been dispelled from last nights tea were now back. Nausea and fear crawled up her skin and filled her stomach.
She wanted Zuko to be happy but she was also scared that he might be defeated. Fang quickly ran down into the lower decks, she quickly put on a thicker robe and slipped into fur boots to shield herself from the cold. She hoped that things did not turn violent but if she had to.. then she would defend herself. She didn't like using her firebending powers to create violence.
She viewed fire a different way. It was warmth, it was life, it was the one thing that connected them to the long gone dragons. Fang made her way back up to the upper deck to see Zuko getting ready for battle. Two guards were on either side of him. They put on his chest plate, his armored boots, and his helmet.
She looked toward where they were headed. It was a very tiny village, it probably did not hold more then fifty people. She felt terrible about attacking such a small water tribe village, they would overpower them easily. How she wished there didn't have to be anymore bloodshed.
The helmsman drove into the ice, making the ship shake. A horrible creaking noise came from the metal scrapping against the ice, making Fang grimace. Zuko and a group of guards headed toward where the drawbridge would lower, allowing them to dock.
Zuko looked back at her. "Stay on board.", he told her. Fang frowned. "What? Why?", she asked a little surprised. "Stay here.", he said again and walked down toward the village. Fang stayed watching and debated on whether she should listen to him or not.
She watched as Zuko and five other guards followed him down. Fang sighed to herself, perhaps it was just better to stay and listen to Zuko. At least he wouldn't be mad at her later. She had been right about the number of people that lived within the village. There was only twenty to thirty people standing outside, watching in awe as Zuko and the guards descended the ramp.
She couldn't help but feel bad for this tribe, after all there were small children here. They must have felt so intimidated by the the large amount of Fire Nation army members. One lone warrior charged at Zuko, he quickly disarmed him and kicked him to the side.
"Where are you hiding him?", Zuko asked, eying each one of the water tribe members. She felt her stomach make a knot when she saw Zuko grab one of the older woman and hold her in front of everyone. "He'd be about this age... master of all elements.", Zuko continued to say. Fang could tell that his patience was thinning but the water tribe members seemed to not know what he was talking about.
Zuko let the old lady go with a push, making the poor old lady fall over but luckily one of the younger woman was able to catch her and keep her on her feet. Zuko shot a burst of fire over their heads, trying to intimidate them into giving him more information about the avatar.
Fang closed her eyes, she was having such a hard time watching her husband act like this. It was the complete opposite of what he used to be like when he was a young boy. "I know you're hiding him!", Zuko yelled at them. None of the tribe members said anything making Zuko even angrier.
Fang saw a snow cloud out of the corner of her eye, making her turn quickly. She couldn't see completely what it was but it was headed straight for Zuko. She watched as the cloud sent him up into the air, he landed back into the snow with a thud. She walked down a little closer. Was that the avatar? But how could he be? He was a young boy and the last of the air bender had been killed long before.
As she took a few steps closer she could see the blue marks on his head and hands. There was no doubt about it, that small boy was an air bender. The small boy shot a gust of wind towards the guards and towards Zuko. He was carrying some sort of staff in his hands that was bigger then he was.
"Looking for me?", the young boy asked, seemingly not afraid of Zuko or the Fire Nation in general. Zuko stared in astonishment at the young boy. "You're the air bender? You're the avatar?!", Zuko asked in disbelief. Zuko took a step closer to him and held up his hands, preparing to strike.
"I've spent years training for this encounter...training, meditating, you're just a child!", Zuko said, taking another step closer. The young boy held his staff in front of him in a guarding position. From what Fang could see... it didn't seem like this boy wanted to fight. How could this young boy be the avatar? It didn't make sense.
"Well you're just a teenager.", the young air bender said. Zuko clenched his fists together and sent a fireball towards the avatar. The boy blocked every hit by twisting his staff around quickly but Zuko didn't give him any breathing room and kept sending fireballs towards him. One of the fireballs got through slightly and almost hit some of the children.
Fang bit her bottom lip, she didn't want to see any innocent people get hurt. She knew Zuko didn't want to either but in his pursuit for the avatar... she knew he would put his morals aside if it meant gaining his honor back. The more and more she looked at the avatar.. the more and more she felt that it was not right.
How could she ever feel right about handing over a boy to the fire lord. Her conscious would get to her, she knew what Ozai would do to him. The poor boy would be chained up in one of the dungeon towers for the rest of his life, leaving Ozai to continue his quest to control the world. She felt as if she was going to be sick, this wasn't right. This isn't right!
She only hoped that the young boy could fend of Zuko so he had enough time to get away. The feeling of dread kept creeping along her skin like a spider. Now that the avatar was here, standing right in front of her.. she realized she didn't want to go back home.
Truly deep down inside her heart, she wanted to stay traveling around the world, not go back home and be Princess of the Fire Nation. Sure going back and regaining his honor would make Zuko happy but... he would always be scrutinized by his family.. especially his sister.
She was always trying to be better then him, no doubt she was vying for the throne. The avatar broke her though process by slamming his staff into the ground. "If I go with you.. will you promise to leave everyone alone?", he asked Zuko. Zuko stayed silent for a moment and then stood in a passive stance. He nodded slowly in agreement and two guards grabbed each of the avatar's arms.
Fang bit her lip and slipped inside the ship. She did not want to see the boy anymore, that feeling of dread was getting stronger and stronger. They had captured the avatar. Zuko had done it, he had restored his honor and now he could go home. Finally, he could go home.
"Head a course to the Fire Nation! I'm going home.", Zuko said. Fang could hear the relief in his voice as he said the word 'home'. The only good feeling she felt was in the fact that no one had been harmed in that small village.
The drawbridge closed and the avatar was now Zuko's. She could hear the ship creaking as the helmsmen turned the ship was thrown into a quicker speed. She stood against the wall and crossed her arms over her chest. She watched as they bound the avatars hands behind his back and took away his staff. Zuko took the staff into his hands and held it up.
"This staff will make an excellent gift for my father. I suppose you wouldn't know of fathers.. being raised by monks.", Zuko said. Fang frowned a little as she saw the Avatar furrow his eyebrows and glare at Zuko. "Take the Avatar to the prison hold and take this to my quarters.", Zuko ordered, motioning Iroh to take the staff.
Zuko walked toward Fang who looked up at him with a worried look on her face. He grabbed her arm and pulled her along with him toward one of the living quarters, it was a firm grip but not enough to hurt her. She looked back and saw the Avatar being taken to a lower deck. Fang put her hand over Zuko's. "Are you happy that we get to return home now, my prince?", she asked him.
Zuko waited till they were out of the sight from the guards to answer. "My honor is finally restored.", he said in a hushed tone. Fang sighed and walked beside him. "I am happy for you.", she said back, as they entered Zuko's cabin.
Fang smiled and sat on one of the floor mats, and set about making a cup of tea for both of them. She made a small fire with her hand and heated the tea in the pot. Zuko set about taking off his armor and set it on the wall hanger by his bedside.
Fang slowly stood and held the tea cup out to Zuko with both of her hands. She poured herself some as well, wanting to calm her nerves. She still felt a little guilty about imprisoning a twelve year old boy. "My father will restore my honor and we can go back home.", he stated, taking a sip of his tea.
Fang nodded and placed a hand over his scar. "I will follow you as you take your title as Prince of the Fire Nation and future Firelord.", she whispered, giving him a soft smile. One of Zuko's rough hands came up to hold hers, he gave a swift tug to pull her closer.
"And you will be my Queen.", he whispered back, in a deep voice that made her skin crawl. She felt his hands come up and unpin her hair. Her brown locks fell onto her shoulders and framed her face beautifully. She gave him a small seductive smile that she knew would drive him wild.
Fang felt Zuko's lips quickly press to hers, the kiss was a little bit forceful but she didn't mind, it was his dominant nature. She kissed him back submissively and wrapped her arms around his neck to pull herself closer to him, to make their bodies touch.
She could feel her heart beat starting to quicken and the heat from his body radiating against hers. She had missed this side of Zuko more then ever, their romance had faded over the tension of finding the Avatar, granted he had always been stern but in the privacy of their bedroom he had always been dominant but gentle. The gentle side had been a rare site that herself and only a few other people had ever seen.
She felt his rough hands come up to grab her small shoulders as his tongue glided across her lips. Fang could feel her body on fire as his tongue pushed passed her mouth and danced with hers. How she had missed being intimate with him, it had been so long since they had done anything affectionate together.
His ridged hands came up to undo her robe from the back of her neck and pulled her robe off her shoulders, exposing the soft skin along her neck and collarbone. A sigh came from Fang's lips as she felt his lips travel along her neck, planting kisses and little bites along her pale skin. She was brought out of their intimate moment by a shout from outside.
"The Avatar has escaped!", she heard one of the guards yell. Zuko turned sharply toward the door. "What?!", he yelled. There were shouts and the sound of metal shoes hitting the ships hull. Zuko turned to Fang.
Her eyes were clouded over with passion and her cheeks were flushed with a light pink color. Her red painted lips were turned down in a seductive pout that was driving him wild inside. He cursed his guards for interrupting his time with Fang.
"Go.", she said, pulling her robe around her shoulders again. Zuko cursed under his breath, stood from the pillows and ripped open the door to his chambers. Fang sighed and fastened the frog button that held her robe around her neck and picked her hair back up into a bun, fastening the Fire Nation hair ornament. She quietly slipped out of Zuko's cabin and made her way to her own cabin.
She could hear the guards running and yelling to each other still. It seemed that they had all underestimated the young Avatar. She was startled by a yell from Zuko. It sounded like it came from outside on the deck. Fear gripped her. Was Zuko hurt? She turned back, quickened her pace and made her way upstairs just in time to see Zuko and the Avatar falling onto the deck. They had jumped from the helmsman's tower it seemed.
Zuko slowly got up, no doubt he had hurt himself from such a large fall. She watched as the Avatar stood as well, holding onto his staff. She quickly made her way behind the Avatar and shot a fire blast at him. Fang did not intend to hit him, it was easy to dodge but she just wanted to distract the young boy away from Zuko for just a moment so he could gather himself together from the fall.
The young boy quickly turned around and shot a blast of air toward her which she quickly dodged. Fang had never been the most skilled firebender when she was in training but she had always been the fastest, even faster than her sister-in-law, and that is what gave her the upper edge in combat.
She rarely engaged in combat for her firebending skills were mostly in the art of dance and elegance however, now seemed to be a good time. She took off her robe quickly and tossed it aside, leaving her in a off the shoulder blouse and thin pants and rushed toward the Avatar.
He seemed like he didn't know what to do but he sent another gust of wind toward her. Being quick and nimble, she instinctively held her hands out and flipped forward to dodge the attack. As she landed back on her feet she sent another fireball at him. One he could quickly maneuver out of, though Fang had done what she set out to do.
Zuko had regained his composure and shot a fireball towards the Avatar. The strength behind the fireball was immense and it sent the boy flying backward. Fang took the time to bow out of the fight and returned to the sideline. She would only get involved if Zuko was in danger or if he specifically asked for her help, but she would not take away his pride of capturing the Avatar.
She watched as the Avatar made a ball of air underneath his feet and zipped around the deck. He was amazingly quick it would have been impossible for even her to catch him. Zuko sent a fireball at the ball of air under his feet making the airbender loose balance and fall across the deck. Zuko quickly made his way over to him but was stopped by what he saw in the sky.
Fang quickly followed Zuko gaze and stared wide eyed at a white beast floating in the air. "What is that?", Zuko asked, out loud. Fang was thinking along the same lines, she had never seen something like that before in her whole life. It must have been the Avatar's though as it had the same arrow markings.
"Appa!", the Avatar yelled, a big smile spreading across his face. Zuko didn't let the boy breathe for one second and shot another fireball at him, catching him off guard. He nearly dodged it and was sent flying back towards the edge of the ship.
Fang felt a pang in her heart as she saw him barely regain his balance at the edge. Had he have fallen, it might have killed him. She most certainty didn't want the death of a child on her conscious. Zuko kept throwing fireballs at him quickly, not wanting to give him time to defend himself.
It seemed that Zuko was gaining the upper hand until one blast sent the Avatar off the ship. Fang gasped and quickly made her way toward the edge of the ship. She peered down at the water to see if she could see him but the water was covered with tiny ice formations that it was impossible to see.
She was taken aback when suddenly a large tornado made out of water came straight out of the water. Had the Avatar created a typhoon? It was a beautiful sight to see as she watched it rise over the ship and start curling towards them. She quickly made her way towards the cabins, she had to find something to hold onto, the wave was going to hit them strong and hard.
She watched as the Avatar landed on top of the deck and was controlling the typhoon. The arrows on his skin and eyes were glowing a pure white, even though this Avatar was just a boy... she could feel the immense power that he was controlling. She grabbed a hold of one of the doors just in time to get hit with a wave.
The wave was strong and it soaked her clothes completely, her hair ornament was ripped off with the strength of the water and it took all her strength to hold on. She watched helplessly as Zuko was thrown from the ship, she only hoped that he had grabbed onto something on his way down.
Fang stood slowly and watched as the airbender passed out onto the deck. She quickly walked over to him and grabbed his wrist. There was still a pulse... thankfully. Had the force of that typhoon been enough to make him loose consciousness. She was startled by the large white creature landing on the deck and saw two of the members of the water tribe running toward her.
"Get away from him!", the girl yelled. Fang glared at her and did not stand, keeping a hold on the young airbender's wrist. The two members approached and grabbed the Avatar out of her grasp. The boy seemed startled by how she had not put up a fuss. His eyebrow stayed raised at her as he cocked his head to one side. Fang stayed staring at him and mouthed the word "go.".
Both members of the tribe seemed bewildered by her act of kindness but quickly took the opportunity to get Aang to his feet. "Hey Katara, hey Sokka.", the young boy said, looking up at both of them. "I dropped my staff.", he whispered pointing to it hanging off the edge. She watched as the boy named Sokka ran toward it and grabbed it, he yelled something back at someone underneath the ship. Zuko must have been there, he must have grabbed onto the anchor.
Fang quickly ran over to the edge and yelled for the guards to come help him. Iroh sleepily looked outside from beside the cabin. "Fang what is going on?", he asked, surprised by her yelling. She was always a quiet girl, whenever she yelled something was serious. "Zuko is on the anchor Iroh, please help!", she said, yelling back at him.
Iroh quickly made his way over to her and pulled Zuko up. She grasped onto Zuko to make sure he was okay. He seemed fine, only his clothes seemed to be soaked. "Shoot them down!", Zuko yelled at his guards. Iroh and Zuko both got into a stance and shot a fireball together toward the flying bison.
She gasped when she saw the Avatar deflect the fireball with a strong gust of wind and hit it against the ice walls. The strength of the burst of air combined with the fireball created a large avalanche of ice that rained down on the ship, covering the front of it and burying it completely.
Fang knew that the ship had taken extensive damage just by the look of it. Fang didn't say anything but placed a hand on Zuko's back. She knew his anger would be boiling to the point of no return from losing the Avatar, she could only hope her gentle touch would help even the tiniest bit.
"Good news for the Firelord.. the Fire Nations greatest threat is just a little kid.", Iroh stated. Zuko turned to him. "That kid, uncle, just did this. I won't underestimate him again.", Zuko said, the anger in his voice was immense. "Dig the ship out and follow them!", he yelled at the guards.
Zuko walked passed Fang and Iroh, she didn't protest as it seemed he just wanted to be alone. The Avatar had escaped and now they were in pursuit of him once again. Fang couldn't help but feel a sense of relief as she gazed up at the sky. There was finally hope of putting an end to this hundred year war.
The Avatar had returned.
End of Ch.2
