Playing With Fire
Chapter 5 - Sealed By The Sun
Amira had awoken slowly, lazily opening her eyes to the sunlight that had usually shimmered in. She, however, was not where she usually was. Looking around curiously at her new environment, she brought herself to a sitting position. She was still naked, but she lay on a grassy, twiggy, forest floor that seemed to have been a path leading to another place far beyond here. She looked around at all the tall trees with their leaves hanging just as high above her, only allowing some sunshine in. "Lee," she called out. An eerie silence was her only answer, and so, she rose up from her state on the ground and walked along the path, looking around at all the trees, bushes and flowers. It was a rich forest, one with many diverse flowers and bushes. She'd never wandered through a forest such as this before in her travels. It was beautiful, astonishing even. "Lee," she called out once more to the silence. Again, only silence answered her. Then, from the corner of her eye, she thought she could see a bush eerily rustle beside her as if someone had run past. "Hello," she called out. As much as she had tried to stop, her feet kept her moving forward; it was almost as if they were under a spell, one which had instructed her feet to walk to a destination unknown to her. The rustle came again, yet Amira's bewitched feet hadn't ceased their walking. "Hello," she called out to the silence once more; this time, however, instead of an eerie silent response - voices were heard up ahead, one threatening and one defiant. Nearing the end of the path, Amira could see that she'd made her way out of the forest-like grove. Although her initial feeling was to be relieved, the sight before her had left her in tears. Before her battled Zuko, bloodied and scarred from battle and Long, still standing strong. Both battled near a cliff, each trying at various points to push the other down. "Lee," was all she managed to croak. In a suddenness, the mere sound of his name had alerted Zuko, and he'd stopped. In one second, the vision of Zuko had disappeared, with a swing of his sword at Zuko, Long had turned him into dust.
Amira let out an ear-piercing scream; tears streamed down her face at what she'd caused. Then suddenly, Long had sprung at her, seized her by her arms struggling, shaking her. Amira shook her head fearfully. Then, in an instant, her eyes had flung open. She stared into the amber eyes that she'd grown to rest in. Still beneath the blankets, and still on his perspiring chest, Amira glanced around at her surroundings with the hope that everything was just as familiar as it was before she'd fallen into her slumber. She felt Zuko's hands slide to her tearstained cheeks. "Amira," he rasped to her. Amira's eyes glanced back over to him, bearing that terrified look that she'd possessed ever since she'd woken up. Zuko's eyes searched for some meaning behind this frightened appearance that her once serene face now held. "What's wrong," he continued on. Propping herself up on her forearms and then sitting up, she looked toward Zuko who had also brought himself to a sitting position, leaning against the wall. Amira's chest still heaved as the dream or nightmare played itself over and over again in her head. Suddenly a hand had grasped onto her arm, jumping out of the drowning pool that was her recent thoughts and now into reality, Amira looked back at Zuko who pulled her closer so that she now rested in his lap, her chest against his. Looking into his eyes, her lips quivered to a part.
"The man Long, he was there and you … you and he were fighting," her voice had cracked as her throat had tautened at the dream now vivid in her mind. Zuko's hands gracefully and soothingly ran themselves up and down her back. "H-He… won," she finally managed to stumble out. The vision of Zuko becoming a little more than air had induced tears to sting her eyes. Thoughts and more thoughts ran through Zuko's mind as he tried to decipher all the possible meanings behind this dream. Did she feel as if they were coming for her once more? Were they coming for her once more? Couldn't he protect her, keep her safe? … Did he want to? Of course, he did … right? It had never occurred to Zuko why he felt the way he felt about this girl. He'd not understood it at all, and at times, it worried him. The lack of knowing what these emotions were had driven him mad. He didn't know why he cared so much about her or why he allowed her to do all that she had done. It was strange, but he felt as if he were called to protect her. As if by some way, this was his obligation at the moment. He must help her. He must defend her. Unable to form words of comfort simply because it was not his nature, Zuko merely pulled her into his chest allowing her to bury her face in his neck as he soothingly stroked her back. The two stayed like that for more than two minutes; neither spoke, for neither knew what to say, what could make the situation better. The reality was she was being hunted, and having defended her at first, he was now being hunted as well, by a new face. They were both in danger, and no optimistic, 'We'll get through this', could hide that fact. They both knew it.
He could feel her shiver a bit as he ran his hands across her back to hold her tight. A small smile then played on his lips for a second at this. The way she reacted to his slightest touch or even the mere presence of him amused him. Her crying had slowly died down and picking her head up off of his shoulder, Amira looked up into his unfeeling amber eyes. Reaching for his lips, Amira merely brushed hers against his. Zuko, in turn, followed hers, mimicking her actions. He watched as her bottom lip slid itself under her teeth only to slip out slowly from its clutches. Zuko leaned in slightly once more only to receive another brush on the lips. "We should go," Amira whispered, her lips, every word she'd spoken, moving against his lips. Zuko, mesmerized by her lips, merely gave a slight nod while she engaged in her next course of action, grazing his jaw line so steadily with her lips and only placing two pecks of affection at intervals. Slowly, Amira rose up out of Zuko's clutches, letting his arms run down from their place on her back. Stepping off the mattress, Amira picked up her kimono and placed it around her shoulders, slipping her hands into both arm sockets. Zuko had too risen off the mattress and clutched at his kimono, throwing it around his shoulders as well. As he'd been about to reach for the sides of his kimono, a presence had situated herself behind him. Already dressed, Amira tugged at Zuko's arm to face her, and he did so obediently. Stepping very close to him and without a word, Amira slowly secured his kimono, looking back up at him after her task had been completed. Zuko looked down at her, his face as emotionless as ever. Her eyes shifted themselves between his lips and his eyes, unsure whether to kiss him or not. Although she'd greatly lusted for his lips, a small voice tugged her backwards. It whispered, "Don't", "traitor", and "danger". Her relationship with Zuko, whether it was a relationship or not, had greatly put him in danger, and Zuko's life, although she hadn't realized it, was dear to her. She'd in no way hinder a chance at him living. Involuntarily it was as if the mere existence of him, had pushed away all guilt of leaving, all insecurity about herself and her past. It was as if she was re-invented with confidence and sense of belonging when she was with him, but for what price?
She noted his lips moving towards hers in a steady and slow way, and just as she'd done before, steadily she'd avoided them. Gracefully walking out of the room, Amira had left the person she'd held dear to her standing by himself, curious as to why the sudden change of heart in her. Zuko's eyes narrowed, suspicious as to why she'd simply leave when last night and as it appeared, this morning, she'd wanted nothing more than … him. Girls, he simply thought. Still, he dismissed any further thoughts and proceeded to follow her lead. Outside Amira had already busied herself with taking orders. Zuko easily swept into the teashop, unnoticed and still bearing that emotionless and bothered look. He'd noticed, however, after several side-glances at her that Amira had looked quite pensive, as though her thoughts had been far away from her, and she mindlessly proceeded on. It was unusual for her especially. She'd always seemed to be in control of herself, or at least have some sense where she was. Still, Zuko pushed it out of his mind, as he watched his uncle near him suddenly. "So how was your night," his uncle asked nonchalantly. The air of coolness had suddenly thrown Zuko on alert. His eyes widened for a second at the question, and his brain racked itself for several answers that he could possibly use that wouldn't let on too much to how he really felt about his night with Amira.
"Fine," he mumbled as he piled teacups onto a tray and prepared to make his way outside to the customers awaiting their jasmine teas.
"Just fine," his uncle persisted; Zuko stopped in his tracks. Had he known? Had he heard, Zuko pondered to himself. Still, he left no trace that he'd been hiding something. Again, he simply mumbled his answer to his uncle.
"Yes, just fine," he stated; as he was about to make his way out, the door had swung open suddenly, and the tray had nearly been knocked off of Zuko's palm and crashed onto the floor. "Why don't you watch where you're going-" Zuko began loudly only to realize he'd been standing in front of Amira. Amira's cheeks turned a nasty scarlet colour as she directed her eyes away from Zuko once more. Zuko, externalising nothing, proceeded back out into the back room to the customers. Iroh watched both teenagers with a sly smirk on his face. Several hours had passed, and Amira and Zuko busied themselves around the teashop, without a glance at the other. Finally, the sun had begun to set behind the horizon, and night had begun to crawl into the sky. After dismissing himself and allowing the younger people to clean up, Iroh trudged on to bed. Just as she'd reached for a cup on the table, a hand had placed itself over hers. In a sudden, Amira had looked back at him. Amira glanced around the teashop before fully turning around and facing him. The two locked eyes immediately as though all the words needed to be said had been communicated in that stare. Amira could feel the warmth of Zuko's lips nearing hers. It sent a series of chills up and down her spine as she revisited the feeling of his lips crashing against hers. Something hadn't felt right though. The guilt and the vividness of her dream had come back to haunt her all of a sudden. She didn't want to be responsible for anything happening to him. She knew why they chased her, and she knew that if she were to stay here long enough they would find her and Zuko, and take no prisoners, but simply carry out their jobs as delivery men, delivering the runaway princess back to her father.
Zuko looked down at her, and in a raspy voice whispered, "What is it?" Amira looked up at him; her eyes melting into his amber ones as they stared unfeelingly yet meaningfully into hers. Amira had finally broken the stare, fixing her eyes on his chest. "What's wrong with you," he asked once more. Amira's eyes shifted almost immediately back up to him. Slowly, her hands had slid themselves onto his arms. Zuko positioned his hands onto her back, rubbing it just as slowly as he had done earlier. Amira sighed once more and brought herself closer to him, resting her head on his shoulder. Zuko watched her, bearing that same bored expression, but with the feeling of curiosity filling up his inside.
"I'm scared," she whispered to him, "I'm scared that I'm putting you in danger." Looking back up at him, she continued, "I care for you too much to put you in danger's way." Zuko's face still possessed that unfeeling look it always managed to keep despite the situation. Still, he continued to rub her back soothingly. Then, suddenly, a voice inside him had egged him to confess that everything she'd thought was truth was a lie. He wasn't in danger, she was, and gravely so. He was a firebender, not a tea maker. His name was Zuko, and not Lee. He wasn't just some other refugee; he was a banished prince on a mission to regain his honour. He wanted to tell her all of this, for she'd told him a great deal of truth, something he was sure wasn't exactly the easiest thing for her either. She'd made him feel different as if he wanted to be a better person. As if for a second, finding the avatar hadn't mattered as much and he was able to recognize exactly what he'd wanted. He wanted Amira to feel safe, to feel comforted. He wouldn't wish the sense of paranoia that he'd suffered with for so long due to his past on anyone, especially not her. She was special to him in an odd way that he hadn't known. "Amira," his voice rasped to her once more. Amira looked up at him curiously, sliding her hands onto his chest. Zuko opened his mouth to speak once more, but just as he'd done so the couple had pushed against one another forcing distance between them. In the split of the second, Uncle Iroh had traipsed in, looking quite smug and clearing away two cups on a nearby table.
"Don't mind me," he stated, hopping back off to his quarters. Amira and Zuko stood a distance from each other. Zuko opened his mouth once more to speak, "Amira," he rasped to her. Amira had drawn closer, allowing her body to be wrapped in his arms. "I-" he began before being interrupted again this time by a series of raps on the door. Amira looked up at Zuko, frightened in her place; were they still hunting her? Zuko's grasp loosened from around her as he proceeded to make his way to the door. Amira, though, as if the realization that the fabrication of her dream may be coming true, hung onto his hand, disallowing any chance for her dream to come true. Zuko looked back at her and simply raised a finger to his lips before wriggling his hand out of her grasp. Amira stealthily crept toward the darkened part of the teashop, desperate to remain out of sight. As Zuko crept forward, he peered through a small crack in the wooden door at the stranger standing on their doorstep. He appeared to be a regular civilian carrying about a dozen scrolls in his bag and bearing one in his arms.
Zuko opened the door slightly and stared coldly at the trembling civilian. "Good-goodn-night, s-sir," the civilian spoke attempting to ignore the chattering of his teeth due to the cold. Zuko gave no reply, but his cold, bored, unfeeling stare. The man seemed to shiver once more, whether it was because of the cold or because of Zuko was unknown at the time. Continuing, the postal officer stated, "I-Is there a M-Mister Lee here?" Zuko's eyes narrowed.
"No, but he's dropping by later tonight," he stated. The postal man gave a slight nod and handed Zuko a scroll; bowing respectfully, the man shivered away down the street. Zuko closed the door disallowing anymore of the icy, cold breeze to sweep into the teashop. Unravelling the scroll in his hands, he held it in front of him, his eyes scanning the symbols briefly. Amira noticed his brow furrow from time to time as he scanned the contents of the scroll. Revealing herself from the shadows, she stepped out towards him, taking her place at his side. Placing a steady had on his arm, Amira induced a slight flinch out of Zuko as he directed his eyes towards her, rolling the scroll back into its original shape.
"What does it say," Amira asked. Zuko, quickly stowing the parchment under his arm, turned to her and shook his head.
"Nothing that should concern you," he stated coldly, while returning to the backroom. Amira stood there confused at his recent words. First, it seemed as if he'd had something important to share, but now … it seemed as if none of that had happened. Shaking all thoughts from her head, she rested herself at a table, gazing out of a crack in the boarded window at the slipper of moonlight that illuminated the street. Something, however, seemed very familiar about this moonlight. It was then that her mind had once more slipped back to several years prior to this moment.
"Amira, do you trust me," a boy's voice called out as Amira tugged her hood closer to her.
"I can't even see you," Amira called back, looking around for the boy she was once following. Suddenly, a pair of hands had placed themselves over her eyes from behind.
"You don't need to see me to trust me," he whispered to her. A chill had run down her spine as a small smirk had played on her lips. Letting his hands slide from her face, allowing one to grab hold of one of her hands, the young boy smiled at her a most comforting and trusting smile. Amira let out a small sigh and gave him a confident smile back. "Come on, then," he whispered almost as the confidence radiating off her smile had verbally offered him her assurance. Amira gave a slight glance back, she could barely see the palace at this point. Looking forward once more, a smile had come over her. There was no greater feeling than this. "Alright, you've got to close your eyes first. We're getting near," he told Amira. Amira did as she was told.
"Will you at least tell me where we're going," she asked, holding onto his hand a bit tighter.
"You'll see! I wouldn't want to ruin the surprise for you," he responded. Several minutes had past with Amira cautiously making her way across the snow lain ground of the North Pole. Amira could feel a greater sense of cold as they'd continued to walk and the strong sense of sea water had induced her to crinkle her nose. Just as she'd opened her mouth to inquire again as to where they were destined, the young boy's hand had left her own; however, a tighter grasp had located itself around her waist from behind. "Open your eyes," his voice whispered in her ear. Amira's eyes lazily batted themselves opened, and what she'd seen next had moved her almost to tears. There they were standing on what seemed to be the tip of a snow-laden escarpment gazing out at the beautiful pink and yellow sky. This common feature had been so very uncommon to Amira; the palace was located several miles from this escarpment and was surrounded by towering trees, making it impossible to enjoy nature's beauty.
"This is beautiful, Kota," she breathed, awe-struck by the magnificence of this moment. A small smile had come over Kota's face; it's nice to see her happy, he thought to himself. Kota had always been banned from the premises of the palace due to the fact that he'd been believed to have lured Amira into becoming a radical. Seating herself on the edge of the escarpment, allowing her feet to dangle off the edge of it, Amira closed her eyes, allowing the cool, wintry air to thrash her hair about as the open sea lay just beneath them. Kota seated himself beside her, taking hold of her hand once more. Amira's eyes opened themselves once more and focused on the great brown eyes of Kota. Resting her head on his shoulder, she breathed in a strong sense of the sea air, but an even stronger and more intoxicating sense of serenity and freedom - something that she'd not smelt much less tasted before, something that in this one moment had been given to her and treasured by her as it was a great gift by a boy that had grown up not nearly as esteemed and wealthy as she was, and something that she would be eternally grateful to this young man for. "Kota," she began in an attempt to express her gratitude, but was cut off by his voice.
"Amira," he whispered to her; looking up into his big, brown eyes once more, Amira listened carefully. "I need you to know something," he continued. Amira drew herself closer to him, hanging on his every word. "All this … this mini-adventure that I've taken you on is my way of somewhat proposing to you," he whispered. Amira's spine had drawn her upright as tears filled her tear-ducts.
"But-but Kota," she tried at speech but failed. Kota shook his head and released his grip on her hand; now, he'd wrapped his arms around her, holding her close to him.
"I know. You're two years short of marriage, but this is what my proposition entails … if you're willing to listen," he whispered. Amira contemplated on his words for a second, and then looked up at him, her eyes still swimming in her tears, and gave him a small nod. A charming smile had broken out onto his face as he helped Amira and himself to a standing position. Taking hold of both her hands, and holding them between both their bodies, he looked down at her hands and then back up into her eyes. "Amira," he began, "I know it's too soon for any of this to happen or to even consider, but … I love you, and I don't care about what any law or rule or parental figure may say. I want to be with you for the rest of my life; I want to save you from the life of solitude and loneliness that you've been living, because you deserve so much more than that." He'd paused for a second and brought her hands to his lips, kissing both lovingly and warmly. Tear after tear had gushed out of Amira's eyes. "In two years, we will be able to wed, but for now," he paused again to take a look at the pink and yellow sky that brought Amira her sense of freedom before continuing, "I make you this promise. When those two years have passed and the day identical to this has arisen, I want you to run away with me. We can catch a boat and drift to furthest ends of the world together." Amira's body shook a bit, overwhelmed with joy and anxiety. Looking up at him, she nodded. Placing both hands on her cheeks, Kota delivered a small peck to her lips before stating once more, "This sunset, then, Amira shall be the binding of our promise." Amira nodded once more. "That is … if you accept," Kota asked, with his hands still resting on either of her cheeks; Amira nodded again, and at this, Kota gave a small chuckle, "Are you just going to nod the rest of the way back or …" Amira chuckled a bit, returning a kiss to his lips.
"I'd be crazy to disobey the law, but I'd be insane to deny love," she whispered to him. At this, Kota's broad smile had turned into a meaningful smirk. The two embraced as the cold, wintry and sea-salted air blew past them, inducing neither a shiver nor a shudder from either as the sense of need emanating off of each for each other had warmed them enough.
Nights turned into days, days into weeks and weeks into months. Several had passed, and finally, Amira had reached her boiling point. She couldn't take the seclusion, the isolation. She wanted to be with Kota, she wanted to be freed of the prison palace she'd lived in. She needed to leave, and she needed to leave now. Taking nothing with her but a simple black cloak, she stole out of her window, careful not to make a sound. She was nearly fourteen now, and things still hadn't shown a sign of improving; this was the right thing to do, she assured herself. She needed to do this. Making her way out of the gates, sneaking past guards and careful to cover up any footprints, she'd made her way to the market. The road was a sliver of moonlight. She continued on down this sliver, past the market to the docks. A local fisherman had fallen asleep just on the pier beside his boat with his bushel load of fish beside him. Seating herself in the fishing boat, Amira pushed and pulled the water, allowing her to sail forward. Glancing back at the North Pole, which steadily became smaller and smaller every five minutes or so, a tear had slipped from her eye, not for the fact that she'd left a dynasty behind, but because she'd left something far more valuable behind … her love - her Kota.
Suddenly the clatter of a spilt teacup had shaken her out of her recent daydream. Without her knowing, she'd tipped over the teacup, she hadn't been conscious had been set on the table for her. Rising from her place, she'd politely pushed the chair into its placed and bended all the spilt tea back into the cup before disposing of it. Making her way into Zuko's quarters once more, she'd taken note that there was no sign of the scroll; however, there was a considerably large space beside Zuko, no doubt set aside for her. Removing her shoes, Amira occupied the space set out for her. Turning her back to him, Amira closed her eyes, hoping to push all recent thoughts and guilt away, and perhaps sleep soundly even dreamlessly tonight.