Recap: That afternoon you all filed out of the ship so they could make repairs.
Iroh began to talk of the avatar. Zuko got cross. "Don't mention his name on these docks! Once word gets out that he's alive, every firebender will be out looking for him and I don't want anyone getting in my way!" he exclaimed.
"getting in the way of what, prince zuko?" a voice asked from behind them.

You all turned around. Behind you, you saw a fire bending solder, obviously high ranked. He held his head too high for your liking. You stubbornly thrust your chin forward to make a show of bravado.

"captain zhao," zuko growled. You had to admit, you liked when he did that. Then you scolded yourself; you cant like anything he dose. He is the enemy! Right? But, he did agree to let you and aya go.

"actually, it's commander now," zhao said smugly, jolting out of your thoughts. You scowled; he was more arrogant than zuko.

"and who are these pretty things?" zhao inquired looking over you and aya. You noticed that his eyes lingered over your chest.

Zuko stepped in front of you and aya. "they're my new maids."

"oh really?" zhao said, cocking an eyebrow.

You stepped forward, your stubborn pride taking over your quietness. "We needed jobs," you said with a scowl. You wanted to tell him you were a fighter and could kick his fat ass, but then he would probably take you prisoner, so you held your tongue.

Zhao smirked. "I'm sure. And here's general iroh., the great hero of our nation."

"retired general," iroh corrected in a cheerful voice. You wondered how he could be so calm. You were fighting off yelling in the guy's face and you could tell zuko was doing the same. You could tell aya was scarred of zhao.

"You are always welcome to this port. So, what brings you to my harbor?" he asked.

"our ship is in need of some repair," iroh told him.

Zhao looked over to the ship. "That's quite a lot of damage," commented Zhao with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes, you wouldn't believe what happened," said Zuko uncomfortably.

"Try me," challenged Zhao slyly.

"well…we were in the south pole, and these giant fishy thingys were there," zuko started.

You raised an eyebrow in zuko's direction. He gave you a glare as if to say "just go with it".

"actually, I'm not familiar with what you speak of," zhou said shortly.

"it looks like there is quiet a bit of damage. You'll probably be here for awhile. Perhaps you could tell me about these fishy thingys over a drink," zhao said. You noticed he was looking over you again. You stepped back slightly hiding behind zuko, not wanting zhao's eyes on you any longer.

"sorry. We have to go though," zuko stated shortly.

Iroh turned to zuko, "now zuko, show commander zhao some respect." He turned to zhao. "we would be honored to join you."

You reluctantly began to follow zhao. Aya used one of her hands to cling to your clothes and the other to her teddybear.

Zhao talked and talked. It went on and on about how great he was. You wanted to stuff something down his throat and tell him to SHUT UP!!! You and aya were getting restless. You could tell zuko was getting annoyed.

A loud crash caused aya to jump into you. The force caused you to fall back. Zuko caught both of you and steadied you until you were seated. You nodded him your thanks, he nodded back.

"my fault entirely," iroh said as he began picking up the weapon display he had knocked over.

"so," zhao continued. "how is you search for the avatar going?"

"we haven't found him yet," zuko said hurriedly.

"Did you really expect to?"asked Zhao scornfully,"He died with the rest of the airbenders." He studied zuko, who tried his best to stay calm. You looked down, nervous about what was going on. "Unless," Zhao said, "you HAVE found evidence the Avatar is alive."

"no, nothing," zuko mumbled, looking away. "we have to go, NOW." You stood up and helped aya to her feet.

a guard came in, reporting to Zhao. "Commander Zhao," recited the guard, "we had the crew interrogated, as you ordered. They confirmed that Prince Zuko did have the Avatar in his custody, but he let him escape."
Zhao turned to the four of you with a sinister smile and said, "Now remind me...how, exactly, was your ship damaged?"

zhao had you all restrained by guards. You knew aya was very scarred right now and you wished you could get to her, but the guards wouldn't let her. You looked at zuko, genuine fear in your eyes. What would happen if zhao took them prisoners. You didn't think he would let you off his ship without scars.

Aya suddenly bit one of the guards. He cried out in pain and released her, running over to you. Another guard stood in her way, so she swiftly turned and ran to zuko, clinging to his leg. You gave him a look as if to say, please protect her- shes scared.

Zuko glanced down at her, unsure. Finally, he patted her head. Zhao smirked. "these 'maids', I think they would be better off on my ship," he said.

Your eyes went wide; you did NOT want to be on zhao's ship. You could only just imagine how cruel he would be. You looked around the room. Both iroh and zuko looked extremely worried at zhao's statement. You could understand why iroh was so worried; he genuinely cared about you. But you were surprised zuko was worried. Though, it actually made extremely happy that he cared. Why it made you so happy, you did not know.

Zhao walked over to you and stroked your cheek with a rough hand. You jerked away. He smirked and walked to the door. "I will be back. Don't let them out of this room," he told the guards and left.

You watched him leave as the guards loosened their grips enough for you and zuko to break free. They stood in front of the door to keep everyone from leaving.

You hurried over to aya to hug her. She clung to you, obviously scarred. "I don't like zhao at all," she whispered.

"it's ok," you told her. "I don't like him either."

Zuko stepped forward. "don't worry, I wont let him take you." You looked up at him and saw genuine concern in his eyes. "he will hurt you and I don't want that to happen."

You stood up. "thank you, prince zuko. That is very kind of you." He smiled at you. You smiled back.

Aya tugged you hand. "what if zhao dose take us?" she asked.

"I said I wont let him, and I mean that," zuko said firmly.

Iroh came forward. "zuko's right though. Legally, zhao has no right to take you. I tghink he was just trying to make us nervous" You nodded and hugged aya again.

"good. I don't want to be his ship. He scares me," aya said. Then she turned to zuko and iroh, "thank you."

Iroh smiled and ruffled her hair, "your welcome little one." Zuko just stood there, seemingly in deep thought.

Zhao returned at that moment, glaring at them. "My search party is ready, "he informed him smugly, "Once I'm out to sea, my guards will escort you back to your ship and you'll be free to go."

"Why?" Zuko asked defiantly, "Are you afraid I'll stop you?"

"You?" Zhao asked laughing, "Stop me? Impossible!"

"Don't underestimate me, Zhao!" Zuko exclaimed angrily, standing up, "I will capture the Avatar before you!" iroh stood up, trying to stop Zuko.

"Prince Zuko, "he interjected hurriedly, "That's enough!"

"You can't compete with me," Zhao stated to Zuko, smirking, "I have hundreds of warships at my command and you...you're just a banished prince. No home. No allies. Your own father doesn't even want you."

You looked at zuko. You knew he was banished, but surely zhao was lying when he said that. you never knew a parent who would not love its children. Zhao laughed at your expression. He walked over to you till your faces were inches apart. You winced. "he didn't happen to tell you how he got his scar did he?" zhao smirked as he said this.

You glared at him. Zuko stepped forward. "perhaps you'd like one to match?"

Zhao smirked, stepping away from you and towards zuko. "is that a challenge?" he asked smugly.

"an agni kai at sunset," zuko spat out angrily. Your eyes went wide. You never saw an agni kai before. You knew little about them except for the fact they were fire duels. Aya clung to your leg. She knew all about agni kai you guessed. You smiled to yourself; it was ironic how much she knew compared yourself even though you were nine years older. You weren't jealous of her; after all you're the one who made her study so much.

"very well," zhao said and left them in the room with the door locked firmly behind him.

"prince zuko," iroh broke in. "do you remember the last time you challenged a master?"

Zuko looked down, "I will never forget." Then he sat down, grabbing a candle and placing it in front of him. "I must meditate."

You sat down in a corner of the room. Aya sat in front of you watching zuko intently as he meditated, apparently fascinated by it.

You were, well, bored. You were one of the people who needed to be doing something all the time. If you sit still for too long you get restless. Finally you got up and sat next to zuko.

"what do you want?" he growled, not opening his eyes.

"ive never meditated in my life. Teach me."

He opened his eyes and starred at you like you were crazy. "please," you added.

He sighed as if annoyed. "fine, close your eyes." You heard iroh cough, obviously trying to suppress laughter. Zuko glared at him. You closed your eyes as zuko told you to.

"now clear your mind. Concentrate on you breathing. In. out. In. out. In. out. Good," he told you. You did what he told you, happy to have something to do. You were surprised at how hard it was, but continued trying to concentrate as he told you.

at sunset

You walked on the deck where the angi kai would take place. once you got there zuko prepared to fight. You couldn't help but look at him as he took off his shirt. He looked REALLY good. Like, uber good.

"don't forget you basics," iroh told him. Zuko nodded.

A gong sounded. You quickly stepped forward and gave him a peck on the cheek. "good luck," you whispered, before hurrying over to side with aya and iroh.

Zhao stepped forward, "this will be over quickly."

Zuko fired the first shot to Zhao's left, starting the fight. He fired another blast that passed Zhao's right side. Zuko continued to fire shots, one after the other, at Zhao. The last one was blocked by Zhao who cleared the flames away with a look of satisfaction on his face. Zuko was already becoming frustrated and out of breath. Then, Zuko ran forward, shooting fire out of both his hands and feet. Suddenly, Zhao crouched and shot a streak of fire at Zuko's feet. Zuko reeled, losing his balance, as Zhao shot more and more fire at him. Then, Zhao shot a blast at Zuko using both hands and knocked him to the ground. Zuko skidded across the arena and finally stopped. Zhao jumped and landed right at Zuko, ready to hit him with another blast. Just then, Zuko used a sweep kick that knocked Zhao down and propelled Zuko up to turn the tables. Zuko leaned in, ready to deal the final blow.

"Do it," Zhao ordered defiantly. Zuko watched him for a moment longer. Then, he fired a blast onto the ground just above Zhao's head. He stood up and looked down at Zhao.

"That's it?" Zhao asked mockingly, "Your father raised a coward!" you starred at zhao angrily. What kind of asshole could say that to someone who just pardoned him?!

"if you get in my way again, I promise I wont hold back," zuko told him emotionless, turning to leave. Zhao jumped up and used a kick to propel fire in zuko's direction. "ZUKO!" you screamed, not wanting him to get hurt, but iroh was already there, gripping zhao's foot. He pushed him back easily.

"this is how the great commander zhao acts when losing. Disgraceful. Even in exile, my nephew has more honor than you," iroh told him, shaking his head. "thank you for the tea. It was delicious."

You hurried over to them with aya.

"wait," zhao said. "I am higher ranking than you. I can take the girls as my prisoners."

You looked from zhao to zuko with scarred eyes. Zuko saw this and stepped forward. "theyre not prisoners; theyre hired on my ship. Therefore, you have no right to take them."

Zhao scowled. "fine. Keep your whores."

You didn't like the fact that he had just called you a whore, but you at the moment you didn't have to go on his ship, and you weren't going to do anything that would cause you to become his prisoner. Instead, you followed zuko and iroh out and onto zuko's ship.

Zuko turned to his uncle. "did you really mean that uncle?" he asked soflty.

Iroh smiled. "oh course. Ginsing tea is my favorite."

You smiled to yourself as you walked onto the ship. Everyone was tired so you went back to bed.

You tucked aya into bed.

"is she better now?" zuko asked.

You nodded. "are you going to make us go back into the prison?"

He shook his head. "no, I wont. I don't want either of you to get sick again."

You smiled and turned to him. "thank you." You crawled into your cot. "By the way, you fight very well. I'm glad you showed that bigheaded asshole off."

He actually laughed. "thanks," he said, getting into his own bed.

You turned to face him. He was starring at you. You blushed. "you know, that's the first time I heard you laugh." He blinked. You giggled. "don't worry, its not a bad thing. You should laugh more often; its healthy for you."

He rolled over. "whatever."

You sighed; he didn't have to be so rude. All you were trying to do was make pleasant conversation. "goodnight prince zuko."

You got no response as you drifted off to sleep.

Zuko's POV

Miri tucked aya into bed. "is she better now?" I asked, concerned.

She nodded tiredly. "are you going to make us go back into the prison?" she asked.

I wasn't planning on making them go back. I really enjoyed theyre company; especially miri's. for some reason, she made me feel happy. I scolded myself. I couldn't get attached to her. They would be leaving soon enough. Yet I still shook my head, making up an excuse in my mind to have them stay here. no, I wont. I don't want either of you to get sick again."

Miri turned to face me, smiling; gosh she looks pretty when she smiles. "thank you," she said. Then she crawled into her cot, obviously tired. "By the way, you fight very well. I'm glad you showed that bigheaded asshole off."

I couldn't help but laugh at that. "thanks," I told her. I got into my own bed, exhausted from the angi kai. I couldn't help but stare at her.

She rolled over to face me and noticed I was watching her. She blushed. I hoped the darkness hid my own reddened face. "you know," she began. "that's the first time I heard you laugh."

What the hell is she talking about. She giggled slightly. I had to keep my self from smiling at her. "don't worry, its not a bad thing. You should laugh more often; its healthy for you."

I didn't want her to know I thought what she was saying made me happy, so I rolled over and blew her off by saying "whatever."

I heard her sigh and eminently regretted it, but I knew it was for the better. I have to keep myself from falling for her.

"goodnight," I heard her whisper. Not after long, I heard her steady breathing, indicating that she was sleeping. I couldn't help rolling over to look at her. Eventually, I dosed off watching her sleeping form.