HELLO DARLINGS,
I'm so excited you guys liked the last chapter! I was a little worried cause it was so serious and not really so funny as my other chapters, but to make up for it, I added a lot of ZuLi steaminess. I know I'm not the only person that wants to undress Zuko. If I were then you guys probably won't be reading this.
So I have a few huge shout outs/thank you's to make!
1: To my two awesome beta's that help me edit my terrible grammar and give me helpful opinions when part of the story is a little lacking, the truly radiant 0rchidd and his royal hotness Drmethilon! Thank you both for making time to go through my chapters and edit for me you're awesome!
2: To my guest reviewer (of whose name I sadly do not know) whose lucky number is 18 this chapter is for you :)
And last but far from least! To my new friend Lissypineapple112 who is quite literally my doppelganger from down under. I didn't know if you would want me to tell everyone your real name or not, but trust me guys she's more of a Felicity then probably I am haha
OK so on with the show!
HAPPY READING!
FELICITY'S POV
I wasn't on Zhao's ship fifteen minutes before I started to regret this whole plan. He and Uncle Iroh were walking toward Zhao's private quarters talking about "the attack" when Zhao directed me to the room that would be mine. When I walked in two young woman, who I think might have been the Joo Dee drop-outs, were there to wait on me hand and foot. I know most girls dream of being a princess and having ladies' maids, but I was never that kind of girl, and for one key reason, princesses have to do what they are told. They have to be modest and graceful, but I'm rebellious and I don't mind getting dirty.
These two women, who I later learned were named Lin and Lan, go figure, had a bath, clothes, tea, and food prepared for me when I walked in the door. That was all well and good until they tried to help me get undressed and put my clothes back on after my bath. One: NO! Two: NO! And three: Do I really need to say it? This took uncomfortable to a whole new level. I felt like I needed to bathe myself, AGAIN! It was all just way too Ba Sing Se for me.
After bathing and putting on the way too fancy clothes Zhao had bought for me, Lin and Lan tried to brush my hair and put in up in the "fire nation" bun thing, only to have me pull it back down and braid it over my shoulder. Zuko was the only person who I was willing to change my hair style for, not that I would have told him that. Other than that the food was….well it was way too spicy, and the tea…it wasn't Uncle Iroh's. Honestly, I was just so ready for this to be over. The prim and proud life didn't suit me, and yet I am falling for a prince.
Falling? I'm not falling! I just like him a lot.
Oh, whatever! You're falling and you know it! He's kind, honorable, handsome, and no matter what you say every girl has wanted to be a princess at some point in their life.
I don't want to be a princess. I want to be a Jedi! And I'm not falling!
Denial in the first sign of love!
Stop it, just shut up!
"Why am I arguing with myself?" I finally asked myself out loud. "I'm going crazy!" Yet even though I was talking to myself in the mirror Jin and Jan or Lin and Lan, whatever their names were, were still poking and prodding at me trying to fix my hair and makeup! "Stop it, just grrrrr….. I will bite you!" I slammed my hands on the vanity.
They both jumped away quickly and Lin smiled at me, "But, my lady, Admiral Zhao wanted to be sure you received every comfort…."
"….and it is our job to make sure you look like a princess." Lan finished with her own smile.
They complete each other's sentences? Really? "Well, I don't want to be a princess, not Zhao's princess at least!" Once I realized what I had just said I couldn't believe I had actually said it.
They looked at each other before Lan asked, "Then whose princess…."
"….do you want to be?" Lin completed.
They asked again together this time, "The Banished Prince Zuko?"
"PRINCE Zuko! Banished or not he is still your prince!" I hated that word, banished. "Your Crown prince."
"You really cared for him?" Lan asked sitting down on her knees next to me.
Lin sat to the other side of me, "But he's dead."
He almost was because of me, "You don't have to stop caring for someone just because they are gone." I clinched my fist and pressed my eyes tightly shut. Luckily my guilt over telling Zhao about the pirates looked like grief.
"Don't cry, my lady…." Lin tried to comfort me.
And Lan soon followed suit, "….you will be alright. The whole Fire Nation morns the loss of their Prince…."
"….but Admiral Zhao won't let anyone show it. He didn't like the prince very much." Lin handed me a silk handkerchief.
"Thank you, I'll be fine." I didn't need it but I took it from her anyways. "Fine you can do my hair in that bun thing, but leave most of it down. I don't want a Princess Azula hair-do, just half up and half down."
They seemed to like brushing my hair. It really wasn't that big of a deal, it's just dirty blonde. Lin started to pick up a makeup brush.
"Oh no, sorry, Lin, but I do my own makeup. I'm kind of picky about that." I stood up and walked over to my new bed where my bag was setting, and pulled out my makeup bag. When I move closer to the door I thought I heard someone walking around. Probably just a patrol, "Don't worry, if Zhao asks you can tell him you did it, but this is the part of being a girl that I love the most."
While they finished with my hair I started with my face. Just then I would have sworn I heard someone moving around in the hall just outside my room, again. I looked up at the two of them, "Did you two hear something?"
Lin shook her head, "No, my lady…."
"….we didn't." Lan added.
Of course they didn't. Oh well, it's been too long since I've had my red lip. Let's see just how much Zhao likes seeing what he wants but can't have. It's been a long time since I've hit him anyways.
ZUKO'S POV
Zhao and Uncle where having tea together ashore, and while Uncle kept Zhao busy I snuck aboard. Felicity already had found me a firebenders uniform so I managed to follow the other soldiers that were carrying supplies for the journey north. Felicity had been right; Zhao thought she was going to be brought to him by the pirates. So he already had clothes and other luxuries that were to be brought aboard for her.
This had been much easier than I thought it was going to be. I used the patrols to find my way around the ship within a few hours. It was built just like any other Fire Nation ship, but finding the rooms Zhao had set up for Uncle and Felicity was the hard part. Uncle had a room on the office's hall, but Felicity, Zhao had her room on the same hall as his private quarters. I didn't like that at all. Why did he have her so close? What was he planning?
I could hear her from outside in the hall. I'll have to tell her not to talk to loud or so freely. What if it was Zhao listening to her conversations?
All of the sudden I heard Felicity raise her voice, "Well, I don't want to be a princess, not Zhao's princess at least!"
Shortly after she said that I heard another voice asked, "Then whose princess…."
An then another voice added,"….do you want to be?"
At first I thought it was one other person she was talking to. The voices sounds just alike and spoke almost in unison.
But when they spook again it was at the same time, "The Banished Prince Zuko?"
"PRINCE Zuko! Banished or not he is still your prince! Your Crown prince," Felicity sounded angrier than before.
"You really cared for him?" One asked.
Then the other added, "But he's dead."
Felicity's voice got quieter to where I almost couldn't hear her, "You don't have to stop caring for someone just because they are gone."
I wasn't sure how she meant that, but I liked the sound of it! I couldn't hear them as well any more. They were speaking too softly and the ship's engines had just started. Uncle and Zhao must be on the ship already.
For a moment, I was so focused on trying to hear what Felicity and the other voices where talking about that when the ship began to move I lost my footing and almost fell.
Felicity heard me, "Did you two hear something?"
It probably won't be a good idea for her to know I was eavesdropping so I hurried down the hall and continued to patrol. I needed to find Uncle Iroh. If he was back on the ship he would know more about Zhao's plan.
It took a while to make my way back to the officer's hall, but as soon as I reached it I saw Uncle walking down the hall. I stopped next to him while he spoke.
"Our plan is working perfectly. Zhao doesn't suspect a thing." He assured me in a low tone.
I removed the mask plate of my helmet, "You didn't have to do this."
Uncle looked over at me, "No nephew of mine is going to stow away on a ship without some back up."
"Thank you, Uncle."
"Someone's coming," He lowered his voice to a whisper. "Stay hidden until we get to the North Pole, and the avatar will be yours. Good Luck."
Uncle left me and went to his room. I needed to find somewhere to sleep where no one would find me. It was at least a four day and night voyage to the north, and unless I found a good hiding place to rest it wouldn't be a comfortable voyage.
'Zuko?'
As I walked down another dark hall I heard Felicity pop into my head.
'Come on, fussy pants, where are you?' The more I walked down the hallway the louder her voice seemed to get in my head until I finally found her.
"You shouldn't be out alone, my lady. Admiral Zhao wouldn't like it," I said as I walked up behind her.
"Admiral Zhao can choke on a water spirit for all I care," She turned and smiled at me.
I tried not to laugh, "You shouldn't say things like that, my lady."
She took a few steps closer to me and slid one arm up around my neck, "Your lady, huh? I like the sound of that."
"I….umm…you shouldn't be so forward with a solider, my…."
"Oh, calm down, fussy pants, I know it's you," Felicity whispered then laughed as she pulled the mask plate down.
"How did you know?" I caught the mask plate from her.
"Please, fussy pants, I would know your voice anywhere. Have you found a place to sleep?" Felicity's face changed from a carefree smile to concern.
"Not yet, but there is still a lot of the ship I haven't searched, and…." Before I could inform her on the rest of my plan we heard the booming sounds of someone yelling coming from one of the connecting halls.
"Well, where is she? I ordered that she was to go nowhere without a protective escort," it was Zhao yelling at someone.
"Crap, what does he want now?" Felicity complained. She stepped quickly away from me, and I slid the mask plate back into place. "Just play along, but don't say anything, ok?" As Zhao's voice moved closer towards us Felicity raised her own. "I don't care what the Admiral said, I'm going to see General Iroh and no one can stop me. Now leave me alone."
"Ah, there you are, Lady Maili. I see at least one of my men knows how to follow orders," Zhao grinned as he came around the corner.
"How dare you Zhao! Keeping me under lock and key as if you had any right to do so, and having your goons follow me everywhere I go. The only reason I'm on this ship is because General Iroh is as well, but don't think for one moment I won't tell him who is really responsible for the death of Prince Zuko!" Once the words left her mouth Zhao's face turned hard and angry.
"Leave us, now!" Zhao ordered me and the other soldiers.
I had to force myself to leave her with him. I know Felicity was only doing it to keep him focused on her long enough to let me find somewhere to hide, but the last time Zhao was alone with her he tried to burn her.
'Just go, and hide! I'll find you.' She seemed to whisper in my head, and I reluctantly continued down the hall to find somewhere to sleep.
FELICITY'S POV
I knew I was about to open a huge can of worms, but if that's what it took to keep Zhao distracted and let Zuko find a good place to hide it would be worth it. Plus, I had more than just a bone to pick with Zhao about what exactly was going through his tiny, moronic mind when he tried to have me kid-napped.
He turned back to me after the hall was completely clear, "Why don't we talk somewhere more private…."
"No! We will not talk, you will just listen," I straightened my back and stared coldly up at him. "Do you know just how stupid you are, Zhao? I warned you from the very beginning to stay away from me, and what do you do? You keep pushing yourself into my path."
He tried to speak, but I held up my hand in protest then continued, "I know you sent those pirates to kid-nap me. I heard them say it, but they messed up. Zuko was still on the ship, and because you were so blind in your ignorance he is dead." I had to stop myself and turn away from him. One: because it would look as if I were in mourning for Zuko's "death." Two: I needed to keep myself from laughing.
He took this moment to plead his case, "You don't understand, Maili. Prince Zuko had betrayed the fire nation. I had to get you away from him before the Fire Lord found out so you wouldn't suffer."
"He betrayed the Fire Nation? How could he betray the country he was fighting to return to?" I jerked back around to face him, "You plotted the death of their Crown Prince. How do you think the Fire Lord will feel about that?"
"He was the Blue Spirit! Because of him the Avatar escaped!" He hissed down at me. "The Blue Spirit helped the Avatar, remember? If not for that the Fire Nation would have had the Avatar and this war would already be won."
"Oh, Zhao, you have just proved how stupid you really are," I laughed in his face. What that over grown monkey didn't know is I know this story better than he could even dream. "Of course the Blue Spirit was able to get the Avatar away from you!"
He stared at me confused, "I would watch what you say to me, Maili. You are on my ship after all."
I laughed at him even harder, "You are a perfect fool, Zhao. Do you honestly thing Maili is my real name? All I had to do was tell you some sob story about being in danger that day! Do you really think I would be separated from the Prince so easily? Why else would I have been there near the fort when the Avatar escaped? All you thought about was how you now had a chance to steal me away. You fell for it so easily, but now you've killed Zuko out of blind spite and jealousy. Did you ever stop to think I might be the Blue Spirit?"
He laughed once, "You, the Blue Spirit? Why would you have any reason to betray the Fire Nation, Maili? You are a skilled firebender and a citizen or the Fire Nation….."
"You moron! Why would the Nation's own Prince have a reason to betray it? Zuko loved his country, and he fought to return to it." I stared at Zhao in utter disbelief, and it was a rather good act if I say so myself. "My name isn't Maili, and I'm no citizen of the Fire Nation."
Zhao's smile faded as he stared down at me, "But there is no way you could be the Blue Spirit….."
"Is that so?" I chuckled and turned away from him, "By the way, Admiral, it really was a lovely speech you gave that night, but you got one key part wrong. Fire is not the superior element." I turned back towards him with an evilly, cunning smile as his face slowly drained of all color. "For example: what happens when you kick earth over fire, pour water on its flame, or even block off all air to that fire. It dies!"
As my words sank into his thick skull he struggled to find the words, "B…but you are a fire…bender."
"Yes, I am." I tilted my head to one side. "But I'm so much more than that." I reached into my coat and slowly pulled my evidence into the light. "You should have never angered the spirits, Zhao!"
His eyes widened, "How did you….?"
I held up the Blue Spirit mask and moved it in front of my face, "You will pay for taking him from me." In a smooth, counter clockwise motion I moved the mask away from my face again, "But don't worry, Zhao, I will not be the one to punish you. I warned you that your fate would be watery, did I not? My brother spirit will see to that for me."
I turned away from him as he stood there completely dumb-founded, and made my way down the hall.
As I walked away I heard him call out, "Make all the threats you want, Maili, or whatever your name is. I will not be stopped, and before I'm through with them the waterbenders will never waterbend again."
Just to add to my creepy implication that I might just be a spirit, I turned around to faced him, 'Is that so, Admiral?' I made my words echo inside his head, 'I wouldn't be so sure, if I were you.'
OK, so maybe I over did it just a little, but seeing all the confidence and color drain out of his face while my voice whispered in his head gave me more pleasure than anything I could put into words.
Now that that was done I didn't think Zhao would be coming by my room, and tweedledee and tweedledumb could be easily locked out of my room until we reached the North Pole. Come to think of it with Zhao too freaked out to come near me, I had the perfect place for Zuko to hide.
ALICE'S POV – NORTHERN WATER TRIBE
"Ahh-choo," ewww, I hate the cold! That was the sixth time I had sneezed since I woke up this morning, and I think I chipped a tooth in my sleep from my teeth chattering so much. Why did I have to be a waterbender? Why can't I be a book bender? That would be nice.
"Wow, Katara is getting great!" Aang admired her as he sat next to me, "I'm so glad Master Pakku decided to train the two of you in waterbending." Just then Katara threw a kid to the snowy ground on the other side of Aang. "Ouch, that's gotta hurt!"
"Yeah," I didn't even look up I just sat there staring down at the ground, snowbending lines in the snow, "Pain, love it."
"What's wrong, Alice? Aren't you happy you get to train in waterbending? Don't you think this is much more exciting than just learning how to heal?" Aang held his arms out towards Katara and Pakku as he showed her a form.
Once the question sank in my inner gamer nerd jumped forth, "Honestly, what's so bad about healing? I don't know why Katara was so mad about just learning how to heal. I mean, do you know how hard it is to find a good healer in a dungeon raid? Impossible! And have you ever had to fight a healer? You think you've got them beat and BAM they heal themselves!"
"Uh, Alice," Aang just stared at me confused for a minute, "Are you ok? Did you have something weird for breakfast?"
Without thinking I blurted out, "Cactus juice."
"What?"
I laughed to myself for a second, "Nothing. How's your training going. I know you're the Avatar and you're a natural, but you are trying hard to learn right?"
"Uhh, yeah," He flashed me a goofy grin, "You know it!"
"That's right, Aang." I wanted him to know I was serious so I returned his goofy grin with a stern look, "I do know. That's why I'm going to tell you this. The Fire Nation is coming. They know that you are here."
"I know that," He groaned and laid back on the snow covered ground.
"No, you don't, Aang. They are going to be here sooner than you think." I stared up at the sky, "I'm not completely sure when, maybe tomorrow, maybe even today, but they will be here soon. You have to learn all you can before then."
"I know," He looked sad all of the sudden, "I just don't know what I'm to do when they get here."
"You'll find the answers," I patted his leg, "I'm sure of that."
"Really?" Aang sat back up. He looked happy and hopeful again, "Thanks, Alice." He smiled, but then went back to playing in the snow with Momo
"No problem." Well, at least I tried. Man, where was Fili when I needed her? She is way better at this kind of stuff, like talking to people.
I knew a lot was going to happen in the next few days, but honestly, all I could think about was seeing Felicity again. I knew that was selfish, but we have never really been apart for this long. The only thing I could do to take my mind off of everything with Felicity was by doing something that required me to focus.
"Hey Aang?" I stood up and brushed the snow off my pants.
"Yeah," He rolled over his pill of snow towards me.
"Why don't you and I spar a little," I held out my hand to help him up.
He didn't look all that interested, "Well…"
What would Fili say, "Please, I could really use the practice, and who better to practice with than the Avatar, right?"
"Ok, I guess you're right." Aang took my hand and stood up beside me.
Huh… that wasn't so hard.
FELICITY'S POV
The ship was pretty quiet the only people awake where the soldiers on guard duty and Zhao. Who was in his room trying to figure out if I was a spirit or just toying with his mind. I was listening out for everyone at this moment. It was loud and pretty annoying, but listening out to everyone's mind let me know exactly where they were. It made it one hundred times easier to sneak around without being seen.
'Zuko? Can you hear me?' I wasn't sure if he had found a place to sleep or not. If Zuko hadn't I was just going to sneak him to my room, rebellious teenager style. It was really the perfect place for him to hide and both Uncle Iroh and myself could rest easy knowing he wouldn't be found. 'Zuko?'
'Felicity?' There he is, in the sixth hold where the food and water supplies were kept, 'What do you want? I'm trying to sleep…'
As he started to complain I opened the storage door, "How can you sleep in here?"
"What are you doing down here?" Zuko jumped over the crates hiding him from the view of the door. "What happened with Zhao?" He grabbed me and pulled me inside the hold then closed the door.
Oh, now he acts worried….Wait… "Why… were you worried?" I looked up at him for a moment.
He let go and backed up for a moment, "Well, I…I knew you could handle yourself so…why should I be worried."
"You shouldn't," I answered quickly.
"Alright then," He snapped back.
"OK!"
"Fine!" He growled then signed, "What are you doing here?"
"I was making sure you were safe, and that you found a place to hide. Now that I see that you have, I can sleep easy," I crossed my arms and said very matter-of-factly.
"Because you're worried?" He said in a somewhat sly tone.
"Yes," I nodded before I thought about it, "No!"
Zuko fought back a grin, "Yes, I found a place. Is everything alright with Zhao?"
"Oh, it's more than alright. I think I might have made him cry, just a little bit." I lifted my chin slightly.
"Right…"
"You don't believe me? My vast well of knowledge in terrifying, Prince Zuko," I poked his chest when I said his name, "You would do well to remember that. I am a force to be reckoned with. Nobody puts Baby in a corner!"
He just chuckled at me for a moment, "Whatever you say."
We stood there quietly for a moment longer until I finally broke the silence, "Well, I have a better place for you to hide."
"What do you mean? This is a perfect place to hide." He snapped back at me in defense of his hiding place.
"Yeah hiding behind the food, that people visit every day at least three times a day, this is the perfect place," I gave him my "really" look. Zuko crossed his arms and looked away from me. "Well, I have the perfect place."
"Where?" He looked at me from the corner of his eyes.
"My room," I smiled.
"What?! Felicity, Zhao would find me. Your room is four doors from his." Zuko looked down at me like I was crazy, which I probably was.
"Think about it Zuko. If Zhao knows what's good for him, he will stay as far from me as possible, and in the words of Pippen, "The closer you are to danger the farther you are from harm.""
"That makes no since, Felicity. Zhao doesn't know how to stay away from you, and the closer I am to danger the closer I am to harm. Who is this Pippen, anyways?" He seemed not to like my plan.
"Pippen is a brave hobbit whom traveled with Frodo to destroy the One Ring!" I rubbed my forehead, "There is still so much you have yet to learn, my young Padawan."
"Don't start that again," He pointed his finger at me. "I know the story. I'm no longer a padawan."
I pushed his finger down, "Say you do, but know, you do not." My Yoda impression is getting good. "Will you just trust me? I mean really, you'd rather sleep there?" I pointed over at his one blanket laying on the cold metal floor, "Or you could spend the night in a warm room with wonderful company? By the way, that company is me." I smiled again.
"Do you really think it won't put you in any danger?" Zuko looked over my head then back down at me with a sigh.
"Trust me, after the mental beating I just gave Zhao, he won't be coming anywhere near me if he has half a brain." I grinned evilly.
Zuko gave me a strange look, "You're really reminding me of Azula right now."
"I got to hand it to Coo coo for Cocoa puffs," I picked up his bag, "She does know how to mess with someone's head, but Azula doesn't have anything one me."
"What are you doing? I didn't say I was going with you," He reached for his bag, but I shifted it behind my back.
"Funny, I'm sure you did," I smiled and picked up his blanket. "Let's go, fussy pants, we've got plans to make." I opened the door and started listening as I snuck down the hall.
"Felicity!" Zuko whispered behind me, "Felicity, come back here!"
'Hurry up, Fussy pants!'
I heard him growl then quickly and quietly ran to catch up behind me. As happy as I was that he was coming I was even happier to finally be going back to my room. All this listening was wearing me out. It was beddie-bye-time for Fili!
THE NEXT DAY
As requested I met Uncle Iroh and Zhao on the main observation deck, overlooking the rest of the ship. Zhao and Uncle were already talking to one another when I made it on deck.
"This will truly be one for the history books, General Iroh." Zhao stared out over the sea as he spoke to Uncle, "Just think, centuries from now, people will study the great Admiral Zhao, who destroyed the last of the Water Tribe civilization. You're lucky you're here to see it."
"May he rest in pieces," I muttered under my breath. I knew they must have both heard me, but Zhao seemed to be trying to ignore me.
Uncle Iroh glanced over his shoulder at me, "Be careful what you wish for, Admiral. History is not always kind to its subjects."
Zhao smirked, "I suppose you speak from experience, but rest assured. This will be nothing like your legendary failure at Ba Sing Se." He moved towards the railing.
"At least he's speaking. You on the other hand….."
'Felicity! Please be more careful. We are still on his ship." Uncle warned me, "I hope not, for your sake."
'But we both know better than that. I know you're worried about me, Uncle, but don't be. I promise I know exactly what I'm doing!' I turned back to the door and walked back towards my room. I wasn't going to stand there and hold my breath. His ship or not, I wasn't afraid to show Zhao just how unafraid I was of him. Besides I had more important things to do, like getting supplies together. We were not going to have a ship for a while, and we were going to need everything I could get my hands on.
We were so close to the Water Tribes' walls, and they had already begun to attack. I hoped more than anything that Ally was somewhere safe from the fire.
I wonder?
I picked up my phone and dialed. It barely rang twice before there was an answer, "Fili?"
"Ally! Are you ok? Are you somewhere safe?" I pressed the phone tightly to my ear.
"I'm fine; Aang is fighting off most of the blasts. Are you on one of the ships?" She paused, "Wait, of course you are! You are going to come ashore when its time right?"
"Yes, you remember everything that happens right?" I asked her quickly.
"Mmhm, most of it, the really important stuff at least," She seemed sad all of the sudden. "Felicity is there any way we can save Yue? She's a good person! She doesn't deserve this!"
"I know, but we don't know what we will change if we do." I tried not to think about what was going to happen to Yue. "I wish there was a way we could save her but…. We can't change the story. It has to happen the way it happens."
Alice sighed, "I know. I was just….just hopping…."
"I know," I sat down on the bed in my room, "I'm sorry. Just keep in mind she's not dead. She is the Moon Spirit and she saves her people."
"Yeah," Ally still sounded sad, but it was the only thing I knew to say. "I have to go. They need help putting out fires. Bye Fili, see you when you get here."
"I'll see you soon, Ally Cat. I miss you!"
"I miss you too!" She hung up before I could say anything else.
I sat there on the bed, listening to the sounds of the catapults. There were still a couple hours until dusk. I wasn't sure what to do with myself until then, but sitting here listening was going to drive me up the walls.
I pulled my headphones out of my bag, "Ok phone give me something to get me through the waiting." I pulled up my music and shook the phone so it shuffled. I really think my phone is a Jedi or a droid because Twisted Sister's "We're Not Gonna Take It," boomed in my ears.
"Well, met, phone! Ok, now let's get some stuff done!"
A FEW HOURS LATER
It took me forever to find the lowering dock where Zuko was going to sneak off the ship. I had to get into his head twice, and I knew he was sick of me by this point.
He stood next to the canoe like boat with his back to me and loaded it with just the basics to get himself in and out of the city, "Is there anything I need to know before I go in there?"
"When you get lost don't worry, I'll find you," I answered quietly. Zuko looked over his shoulder at me. I knew he wanted a little more to go on than that, "I can't tell you too much, but I'm trying to remember all the details. Just keep working, when something important comes to me I'll tell you."
It wasn't long before Uncle Iroh finally made it here. He looked from me to Zuko and I could tell without a doubt just how worried he was for his nephew. He played it off well, however, with one of his proverbs, "If you're fishing for an octopus my nephew, you need a tightly woven net, or he will squeeze through the tiniest hole and escape."
Zuko didn't turn to face him, "I don't need your wisdom right now, Uncle."
I stayed back out of the way. They needed this time together.
"I'm sorry. I just nag you, because, well," Iroh's voice broke slightly as he fought back the painful memories, "ever since I lost my son..."
Zuko's shoulders relaxed and his voice softened, "Uncle, you don't have to say it."
Iroh moved towards his nephew, "...I think of you as my own."
Zuko turn and faced his uncle. I could tell by his face that Uncle Iroh's words meant a lot to him, "I know, Uncle. We'll meet again." Zuko bowed his head, respectfully, but Uncle Iroh reached out and hugged Zuko. Zuko quickly pulled away, "After I have the Avatar," then he turned away and started to get on the boat.
"Oh, oh Zuko?" I jumped in quickly.
"What is it, Felicity?" He turned toward me.
"Follow the seal-turtles or turtle-seals… whatever you call them." I shrugged.
"What?" He looked completely confused.
"They look and sound like seals, but they have a turtle shell…."
"I know what they are, Felicity," Zuko groaned.
"Hey, don't get testy!" I poked his shoulder, "I'm giving you my future-knowing wisdom here."
"But what does it mean?" He groaned again.
I sighed and rolled my eyes, "It means just what I said. Follow the seal-turtle things." I crossed my arms and grinned, "Trust me, you'll thank me."
He shook his head as he turned back to the boat.
I jumped forward again, "Oh yeah, and Zuko?"
He snapped as he jerked back to face me. "What do you want…."
I grabbed ahold of his collar and pulled his head down. In one swift motion, I curled my fingers around his neck and shot myself up on my tip toes. I moved so quickly he didn't have time to think or push me away. I had been waiting and wanting for this for the longest time, since even before the time in the cave, and no one was going to stop me now. I pushed my lips to his and held him to me for a moment. Just before I closed my eyes and relaxed against him, I could see the shock in his widened eyes.
Behind me, I heard Uncle Iroh gasp quietly. I didn't care. Too many times, we had been interrupted, so this time I wasn't going to give anyone the chance to stop me.
It didn't take too long before his month began to soften against mine and I heard him sigh. I slid my arms around his neck and pulled myself up to him. Zuko helped me slightly by, finally, wrapping his arm around my waist. I was a bit surprised and disappointed that it was only one arm. As I started to pull my lips away from his and lower myself back down I felt his fingers slide into my hair.
He tilted his head a bit to change to angles of our mouths slightly. For a beginner, he was a fast learner. He still had a lot to learn though. He kept his month closed and his lips weren't completely relaxed. Zuko, however, did do a great job of taking control of the kiss. I felt his fingers slide from my hair to my neck and his thumb grazed my jaw line. I never wanted it to stop, but with Uncle Iroh behind us and the sun going down I had to pull away.
"That…That's just something for you to…" I looked up at his face, "to think about when you get cold out there." I did my best to try and get control of my breathing, but it wasn't enough.
His hand fell away from my neck and the cold, northern air took its place. I laid my head on his shoulder and squeezed him to me. "Be careful and don't let anyone see you. I'll come find you when you get lost. Just stay safe and stay warm."
Zuko nodded, "I will." He let go of me just after he returned my hug. "If you see your sister… you can go with her….if you want."
I reached up and touched the scarred side of his face, "You need me more, and I can't leave you now. Not after that," I smiled up at him.
Zuko placed his hand over mine and nodded once more, "Thank you." He finally pulled himself out of my reach and got on the boat.
"Remember, follow the seal things," I reminded him again.
"I know, Felicity," Zuko answered.
Uncle Iroh then added, "Remember your breath of fire. It could save your life out there."
"I will," Zuko replied before he began to lower himself down.
As he did Uncle Iroh and I watched him slowly creep closer to the water. Uncle Iroh called out to Zuko one last time, "And put your hood up. Keep your ears warm!"
"I'll be fine." Zuko continue to lower himself farther down.
I put my hand on Iroh's shoulder, "He will be fine, I promise." I reassured him.
"I trust you," But he was still worried, "And he trusts you. Thank you for being here for him."
I laughed slightly, "Yeah, sorry you had to see that."
"What do you mean? I didn't see anything," He smiled quickly at me then looked back out at Zuko. "We should go back. As much as I would rather stay here, Zhao will notice if we're gone too long."
"You're right," I agreed. "Thank you, Uncle Iroh, for giving me that moment with Zuko."
He smiled again, "Thank you for being there for him. I know it's not easy, but he has goodness inside of him."
"I know," I quickly agreed again, "I know." I watched Zuko's boat move out of sight. Be safe, Zuko. I turned to the door to follow Iroh back inside. I froze in place for a moment when my worries started to take ahold of me.
'I will,' Zuko's voice entered my head and melted away my every concern, 'I promise, I will.'
I have one more thank you to make to the amazingly talented 0rchidd, whom is the artist on my new cover for You Are Fire: Book One! I love it so much and thank you so much for taking the time to make it for me! I'm so happy to have gotten to know you, and I'm honored to be able to call you my friend! You are the best Beta any writer could ask for and your art is beyond compare!
Thank you all for reading and I hope you enjoyed the newest chapter of YAF1 and the long awaited 1st kiss! I know you all have been demanding it and I'm sorry you had to wait so long. However, I have had this kiss planned since I started this story. If I wasn't sure of anything else I was 100% sure on how they would kiss for the first time.
Until next time…. Happy Reading!