The Trouble with Fire
Ch.14: Distance
Zuko X OC
disclaimer: I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender. I own my OC
Fang rested her head on Zuko's shoulder, they had been traveling for so long after Azula's metal contraption. She seemed to be following clumps of white hair. This white hair probably belonged to the Avatar's flying bison.
Fang didn't want to have to fight Azula again. She was a very capable fighter and it always took all of Fang's strength to fend her off. She had to admit though... this was the best way to track the Avatar. It seemed Azula was on the hunt for him as well. Fire Lord Ozai must have given up on Zuko capturing the Avatar and was now counting on his other child to perform the task.
They finally reached a run-down town that looked like it had been abandoned for many years. Dust and wooden rubble was scattered in different places. Zuko slowly halted the ostrich and helped Fang off of the animal. He held his finger up to his lips, signaling her to be very quiet as they walked through the abandon houses.
They both could hear voices as they approached closer. Fang could hear Azula taunting the Avatar. "Do you really want to fight me?", she asked. Before Fang could react, Zuko rushed out and stared at his sister. "Yes.. I really do.", he answered her. Azula smirked. "I was wondering when you were going to show up Zu-Zu. Where's your lap dog? Or did she get tired of you as well?". Fang stepped out at the mention of her being a dog once again and held out her hands in an offensive posture.
"Ah, there's the faithful kept pet.", Azula said, still trying to provoke Fang. Fang kept her emotions in check and said nothing, wanting Azula to make the first move. "Leave this place.", Zuko threatened. "I'm not going anywhere.", Azula answered, holding two fingers up, ready to strike.
Azula finally made the first move, she shot a stike of blue lightening toward Zuko, pushing him back a little. Fang shot a fireball toward Azula who quickly dodged the attack. Her focus was on the avatar and hardly any on Fang. She shot a large string of blue fire toward the Avatar who was currently trying to fly away from the battle scene.
Fang followed after her, shooting fireballs at Azula from behind. She could hear Azula grunt in frustration as she had to take her focus off the Avatar and dodge Fang's attacks. Zuko had finally gotten up and joined Fang, shooting fireball after fireball toward her.
Fang watched as Azula lured the Avatar into a house. She was trying to get him in a closed area so he couldn't fly away. It was a smart plan but she could tell Azula was having a hard time with Zuko and herself always on her back.
Fang's head turned to the right quickly when she noticed the water tribe girl running toward them. She disappeared into the building after Azula and shortly ran out, luring Azula away from the Avatar. "Good to see you, Fang.". Fang's eyes widened as she heard the familiar voice. She couldn't contain the smile on her face of how happy she was.
Iroh stood next to Zuko, helping Zuko stand. "Thanks for coming Uncle", Zuko said. Fang smiled and ran toward Azula with the Avatar next to her, they were joined shortly by his friends. The plan was to trap her against a wall so she couldn't leave. Zuko came to stand beside his wife with his Uncle on his other side.
"Well look at this... enemies and traitors all working together. I'm done... I know when I'm beat. You got me. A Princess surrenders with honor.", Azula said. There was a quiet stillness and all of a sudden Azula moved. She was quick and before Fang could react a shot of blue fire went soaring toward Iroh. He grunted in pain and fell back making Zuko let out a shocked scream.
Fang quickly sent a fireball toward Azula but she was ready for it. She quickly blocked the fireball and created an orb of blue fire around her, acting like a shield to protect her. Fang could see the wide smirk on Azula's face as she orb exploded. Large clouds of smoke rose in front of all of them.
Fang tried desperately to see where Azula was fleeing to but it was no use, the Princess was gone. She heard Iroh grunt in pain again and knew that it was not time to worry about Azula at this moment. They needed to treat Iroh's wound before it the skin continued to rot from the burn.
The watertribe girl made a step toward them and Fang quickly put up her hands signaling for the girl to back off. "I can help.", she said, trying to take another step closer. "Leave us alone!", Zuko yelled, turning back toward them. Fang was surprised by Zuko's action. For once he had forgotten about the Avatar. For once it was his uncle that was the priority an not the boy.
Fang smiled sadly at the group and shook her head. "You should go.", she whispered, pointing to the forest. The water tribe boy didn't need to be told twice as he started heading in the way Fang had pointed with his companions slowly following him. A smile came to Fang's face as she saw the Avatar turn around and wave his hand toward her. She returned the wave and then turned to her husband and his uncle.
What a day it had been... she was exhausted. They needed to get Iroh to medical attention and they all need a comfy bed to rest on for the night. They had been on that Ostrich much too long. Fang helped her husband sit Iroh up. They were going to get him to the nearest facility just up the hill and take it from there.
"How are you feeling?", Zuko asked his Uncle as he sat up from the bed. They had made it to a run-down inn with only a few people. The bed creaked as Fang sat up, folding her robe over herself to keep warm. "Still some pain but I'll manage.", Iroh answered, holding his wound with his right hand
"Azula struck you with a surprise attack.", Zuko answered him. "Somehow that's not so surprising.", Iroh answered, folding his hands together. The comment brought a soft laugh from Fang. Something, she realized, she hadn't done in quite a long time.
"Uncle... It's inevitable that I will meet Azula again... please, I need you to teach me more advanced fire bending.", Zuko said, an almost pleading sound in his voice. Fang moved her red eyes to Iroh, unsure of how this was going to play out. She didn't want to be separated again. Iroh stayed silent and then slowly nodded. "I think it is time we resumed your training."
Zuko had been training for hours and he still was not able to produce any of the blue fire that Azula had. "You need to get rid of the hostility inside you. Your mind must be clear.", Iroh directed Zuko. "What hostility?", Zuko said, frustration coating his words.
"The frustration you harbor toward your father, toward your sister and to your life...", Iroh said slowly, frowning a little. "I'm not frustrated with my father.", Zuko retorted, trying to create the blue fire once again. Fang came to sit beside Iroh.
"He will never be able to create it if he doesn't clear his mind... I was afraid of this...", Iroh whispered to her. Fang frowned. "Perhaps.. there is a different technique that you could teach him.", Fang whispered, not wanting to let her husband hear.
Iroh slowly stroked his bear and contemplated. "Perhaps there is.", he said, more to himself than to her. He slowly stood and walked over to Zuko. "That's enough of this lesson. I want to teach you how to redirect lightening.", Iroh said as he slowly started to explain the process.
They had practiced the stance for hours and it seemed that Zuko was really understanding. "Perfect, my nephew. You have the technique down perfectly.", Iroh said, smiling with pride at Zuko. "Great! I'm ready to try with real lightening.", Zuko said, a rare smile appearing on his face.
Iroh's eyes widened. "What are you crazy? I'm not going to shoot lightening at you.", Iroh said, looking very shocked. "I thought that was the point... to learn to protect myself from it.", Zuko retorted. "Yes but I'm not going to attack you... if you're lucky you won't ever have to use that technique in your life.", Iroh said, turning to walk back toward Fang.
"Well if you wont' help me... I'll find my own lightening.", Zuko answered. Fang stood up quickly, she wasn't about to let Zuko leave again and separate their group. Zuko moved toward their Ostrich and Fang made a step toward him but Iroh quickly place a hand on her shoulder.
"Let him go, Fang. He needs to do this on his own.", Iroh whispered. Fang felt turmoil inside her, she was tired of Zuko being so difficult but at the same time she loved him more than anything. She watched as Zuko rode off further into the desert until he was out of sight.
Fang sighed deeply and ran her fingers through her short hair. "What am I going to do with him, Iroh?", she whispered, feeling a little desperate. Iroh said nothing but patted Fang's shoulder. "There will be times when you will have to make big decisions Fang... it could effect your marriage... your life.", Iroh said as he walked back toward a large tree to find some shade.
"I would like to just be a normal couple.", Fang said, turning to look at Iroh. For the first time Fang really felt as though her marriage with Zuko was not going to withstand the stress of being in exile. A chuckle came from Iroh at her comment. "I don't think that will ever be possible with my nephew."
It had been four days since that incident and Zuko seemed to be in a slightly better mood. They had all boarded a large ferry where many refuges were sitting and mingling amongst themselves. There next stop was Ba Sing Se where they would hide as refuges from the Fire Nation.
From what Iroh said, it would be the safest place to be and a place where they could be seen during the day and not be questioned. She had never been to the Earth Kingdom Capital before but had always dreamed of it.
She couldn't help but feel a little excited to hear the magnificent city Iroh always talked about. Once they arrived they would need to find a job to make some money and find housing. The warm sea breeze hit Fang's face as she breathed in the salty air.
She had missed the sea a lot more then she had thought. She had put some distance between Zuko and herself even if she felt a little guilty about it. She hadn't taken his hand or stood by his side in quite a few days.
Fang had felt torn about it but perhaps putting some distance between her and her husband would make him appreciate her a little more. Her heart was starting to ache from always being considered second to the Avatar or beating Azula in a duel.
"Who would have thought after all these years that I would return to the scene of my greatest military defeat... as a tourist!", Iroh said, smiling big. Zuko scowled. "We're not tourists.. we're poor refuges.", Zuko muttered, smelling some of the food he had been given.
It obviously didn't smell good as he didn't care to taste it. "I'm sick of eating rotten food and living in the dirt...", Zuko whispered, banging his fist on the railing of the ferry. "Aren't we all..." a voice came from behind Zuko, making him turn around.
The man took a step toward Zuko. "My name's Jet and these are my 'freedom fighters', Smellerbee and Longshot.", the man said. "Hello.", Zuko said turning his back toward them. Jet's eyes traveled to Fang who was looking at the ocean. "And 'Hello' to you. May I say you're very beautiful", Jet said, taking Fang's hand and placing a kiss on it. Zuko frowned as he watched but decided not to say anything.
Fang eyes the young man, that was probably around her husband's age or a little younger, smiled and gently pulled her hand away from his. "Fang, nice to meet you.", she said, smiling and bowing her head politely. Jet turned to Zuko.
"Here's the deal.. I hear the captain is eating like a king while us refuges have to eat off his scraps.. doesn't seem fair does it?". Jet asked, pointing up to the Captain's cabin. "What sort of king is he eating like?", Iroh said, holding his empty stomach. "The fat happy kind.", Jet answered.
"You wanna help us.. liberate some food?", Jet asked, smirking big. Fang felt a shot of worry go through her. Something wasn't sitting right in the pit of her stomach. This man, from what she could tell, was not to be trusted. He had an aura about him that was just... uncomfortable.
Zuko stared down at his bowl for a little while before throwing it into the water. "I'm in.", he answered making Jet smirk wider. . "Great. We'll strike at nightfall.", Jet said, walking off toward another end of the ferry. Fang frowned and looked at Zuko. "I don't think you should get involved with him, my prince...", she whispered, shaking her head slowly.
"Don't worry about it, Fang.". Zuko said as he turned back to look at the ocean. Almost as if he was tired of her giving her own opinion. Fang let out a sigh. He was going to do what he wanted anyways so there was no point in wasting her breath.
Once night had fallen, Zuko and Jet disappeared to rob the captain's cabin. Fang bit her bottom lip and leaned her arm against the railing of the ferry. "How are you doing? You two seem distant.", Iroh said, stroking his beard. Fang stayed silent for a moment. She didn't know exactly how to answer that question.
"I... I don't know... I guess it's finally hitting me that... he'll never be the boy I knew when I was younger. We'll never have that perfect marriage that every girl dreams of having... Iroh, I don't want to get used to the fact that I will always be second to the Avatar and Azula. I want to be the most important thing in his life like he is to me...", she whispered, wrapping her arms around herself.
Iroh said nothing but patted her shoulder. "He is very confused right now... I will agree that he takes you for granted but please, give him some time.. I know he cares about you very much.", Iroh assured her. Fang nodded slowly and turned her gaze back to the ocean. She could hear Zuko and Jet's voice from the other side of the ferry.
It seemed that their mission had been a success and they were now passing out food to other refuges. She felt a hand on her shoulder, she turned expecting to see her husband but instead it was Jet. Her red eyes looked up at his face as she took a step back, realizing how close he was to her. "Here.", he said, smiling at her and holding out a rice bowl to her.
He lifted the lid to show her what was inside, the smell of roasted pig and rice filled the air. It smelled delightful and made her mouth water. It had been a long time since she had eaten a good meal. "Thank you.", she whispered and gently took it from his hands.
He smiled and placed both hands on her shoulders. "You must be cold with that thin cloth.", he said. Fang shook her head. "I'm fine, thank you.", she whispered taking a step to the side and getting out of his grasp. "Well if you need any warming.. I'll gladly help.", Jet flirted, turning on his heels and walking back to his friends.
Fang shook her head and set the bowl on the railing beside her. She wasn't particularly hungry even though the food smelled so good. Perhaps she was just being defiant and stubborn but she didn't care. Zuko was sitting with Jet but kept stealing glances at his wife from time to time.
As he finished eating his food he noticed that she hadn't even taken a bit from hers. He slowly stood and walked over to her. "You haven't eaten.", he stated, making her turn her back toward him. "Oh... I forgot about it. I suppose I'm not that hungry.", she answered him.
Zuko frowned and wrapped his arm around her, pulling her closer to him. He could feel how cold her skin making him increasingly worried. "You're cold.", he said, wrapping his arm around her tighter. She nodded slowly but said nothing. "Eat.", he instructed her again. Fang said nothing and reached for the bowl and opened it, smelling the roast pork once again.
She slowly took a bite and savored it. It was rich, sweet and salty at the same time. It was the best thing she had ever tasted..though that might have been exaggerating because she hadn't had a good meal in months. "What's wrong, Fang?", Zuko asked, looking down at his wife. "Nothing my pr-" Zuko squeezed her arm to remind her not to call him that for fear that other people would hear.
"I mean... nothing..dear.", she said, correcting herself. She smiled up at him softly. "I suppose I'm just tired.", she said, taking another bit of the roasted pork. Zuko frowned but decided to just leave the issue alone. "Come sit with me when you're ready.", he said, placing a kiss on her cheek.
Zuko walked back toward the group where Jet looked up at him. He scratched the back of his head. "Sorry... I uh.. didn't know you two were together.. If I knew I wouldn't have said.. some of the things I said.", he said. "It's okay. You didn't know. Actually, she's my wife.", Zuko stated, not wanting to have any awkward tension. Jet eyes grew wide and then went back to normal. "You're a lucky guy then."
End of Ch.14
