Playing With Fire
Chapter 6 - Revelations
Amira shuddered as the cold air had blown in through the window; despite all her attempts at blocking everything out of her mind, she was still unable to sleep. Opening her eyes, however, she'd discovered it was morning; she'd also discovered she'd been alone in bed. Turning her back to the door, she hugged the blanket even closer to her as she tried to keep away the cold in hopes of finding some sleep. Voices from the neighbouring room, however, had prevented her from doing so. She'd originally thought it was a customer requesting to state a complaint directly to the tea brewer about, perhaps (and more than likely) the service. As she'd listened keenly, though, she'd heard the distinct mention of her name. "Does Amira know," she heard Uncle Iroh ask in an unusually solemn and hushed voice.
"It does not concern her," a cold, completely recognizable voice replied. Amira raised an eyebrow. Didn't concern me, eh, she wondered to herself. Well, it certainly does now, she thought once more, a smirk protruding onto her face. Silence had fallen upon the room outside and Amira wondered whether or not she'd thought aloud or not. In seconds the door leading to the teashop had closed, and at this, Amira had taken it upon herself to rise up out of bed in hopes of concerning herself with what, "did not concern her". Having checked whether another presence had graced the area or not, Amira strolled outside into the teashop. Stepping out of the backroom, a hand had touched hers in an immediate second. Looking around in an expectancy to see either Zuko or Iroh, Amira jumped a bit as neither of their faces appeared in front of her. It was a rather old man, one with a long, greying moustache that seemed to blend right into his rather long beard. "May I help you, sir," Amira asked almost breathlessly. Instead of the expected request for tea, the elderly man surprised Amira once more as he'd taken hold of her arm and pulled her near enough for a message to be whispered into her ear. "The ones you think you know are not who they appear to be," the old man said cryptically. Amira's brow furrowed. Those who she knew? Whatever could the old man be speaking about. "They know who you are Princess Amira, but you may not be the only runaway heir to a throne in this teashop," he whispered once more. Amira's eyes widened at this statement. How did the old man know who she was? Was she being spied on? Who were these 'they' people he mentioned? Nothing made sense. Perhaps he's just crazy, she thought to herself. Right, right! Just cryptic and senile, that's all. Amira withdrew her arm, and in seconds, without even a courteous bow, the old man had departed from the teashop.
Amira's eyes scanned the teashop quickly; perhaps trying to find the other runaway heir that may have stumbled into the teashop at that moment. All the customers ever to step foot into the teashop looked regal, however, none bore that paranoid look as if to check if anyone had noticed them yet. In fact, the only people in the teashop at the time were Zuko, who'd been arguing with a departing customer, and Iroh who'd attempted to clean up that mess. Amira had shaken all thoughts from her head and continued on with her tasks at hand. Perhaps the old man truly was cryptic and senile. He didn't know her. He'd probably just thought she looked like a princess. It wasn't too long before another hand had taken hold of hers. This hold, however, was an accustomed hold. One that she'd found serenity in and grown to rest in. Slowly she turned toward Zuko who had been the only other person in the teashop besides herself, as Iroh announced he would be gone for most of today and left without giving a proper reason. "We need to talk," was all Zuko spoke to her. Amira raised one eyebrow. Him, too? What was with all of this mystery?
"About what," she asked just as sullenly as Zuko had questioned. Zuko's grip on her hand had loosened considerably, and her hand was now freely slipping from his and sliding its way onto her side once more.
"There are … things you need to know," he spoke mysteriously once more.
"Lee, what are you talking about," she asked annoyed. She had had it with all this cryptic language and mysterious messages.
"That scroll I received yesterday … it was -"Amira had leaned forward so suddenly she'd almost knocked into Zuko himself at the mere mention of the scroll she was "not to be concerned with". Zuko would have continued his speech had it not been for an interruption by a mass group of customers lining up at the counter, readily awaiting their orders to be taken. This was expected, though, large amounts of people were known for flocking into The Jasmine Dragon, as Iroh decided to name it. At this moment all essence of conversation and other activities were to be abandoned. Once the flocking had started there was no way it was to finish immediately. Hours passed and Uncle still hadn't returned from his voyage to where he had ventured. Amira hadn't bothered to question Zuko anymore than she needed to. He appeared to be on-edge more so than regular, which could have been thought of as impossible up until this moment. During the course of the day, despite her attempts at reasoning it out, the old man's words wrapped themselves around her thoughts. They seemed to devour her entire thinking process during the day. She couldn't take this; if someone she was close to was indeed deceiving her, where would she stay? How safe would safe be? Having seen the customers in the shop lose their mass numbers, Amira quietly slipped back into Zuko's quarters pacing at first and finally deciding upon her course of action. She needed to escape once more. She gazed out of the open window at the magnificent orange colour the sky had become. A sense of familiarity filled her up, and in an instant, she'd shut her eyes. Guilt and confusion mixed inside her. These feelings, the mixture of everything was overwhelming. She needed to escape, if only for now. In a brash and sudden movement, she'd thrown her black cloak over her and escaped through the window careful not to make a sound. She slipped off through the shadows down to the place where she'd been able to find the most peace in this busy city.
The sun had almost completely set now, and the light reflected off the pool so beautifully, just as they'd done the time before with Zuko. Amira made her way over to the edge of the pool. The cool breeze lightly coated her face as she closed her eyes. "I'm sorry, Kota," she whispered out into the quiet. Reopening her eyes, she glanced behind her. No one was there. Heaving a small sigh, she bended the water into dousing the lanterns nearby. Nothing illuminated the pool except for a small slipper of the moon. Amira glanced around at her surroundings once more before finding her core and slowly bending the water out of the pool. Up it went, and as she guided it, changed course as though it were flowing through midair. She thought of how much Kota would be surprised at the progression of her bending. A small smile had broken out on her face as she imagined showing him her 'talent'. Then, just as kindly as the thought had come to her, it slipped away and was avenged by a nastier, bitter thought. The thought of her leaving, the guilt she'd felt washed over her once more. The cooling air of the breeze was familiar to her too. She was sure tonight was the night they were to be wed, and at this, a sudden hatred for herself stirred up. The water splashed on the floor. How could she leave him? How could she so selfishly leave everything behind? She only had one more year to endure!
I had to leave, she tried to justify her actions to herself. One can only take so much seclusion, so much isolation. She tried bending the water in the pool once more in order to draw a sense of calm back into her. Nothing worked. Imagine what Kota must've felt. Your promise, that which was sealed by the sun, was broken by the moon. Work, you stupid water! Bend, she persisted. Ignoring all feelings of guilt. Just then, two hands had taken hold of hers from behind. Amira jumped instantly, and looked back in fear that it might've been the men trying to capture her once more. As she'd begun to make out the person's face, however, a sense of calm had washed over her once more. "Need help," his raspy voice asked. A small smile had appeared on Amira's face for an instant none too long. She turned back to the pool, Zuko still in possession of her hands. Slowly, he guided them, side to side at first, and the water had begun to rise greatly. Amira was astonished; she'd never been able to master anything like that.
"Lee," she said breathlessly. "Shh," he whispered to her, continuing the swaying of her hands, while he stepped closer to her a smile appearing on his face. The water rose higher and higher taking on many shapes as it continued to be bent. Then gracefully, it settled back down into the pool. Zuko released her hands, and Amira stood in awe. Turning back towards him, she glanced up at his face. "How did you …" her voice trailed off. Never before was she able to accomplish anything of that nature.
"Uncle taught it to me. He worked with the water benders some time before," Zuko stated. Amira smiled up at him.
"You're a bender, aren't you," she asked. The small smile on Zuko's face disappeared. He looked down at their feet. "I've noticed you. You have this fire inside of you. The way you strike things when you're angry, but also, the way you gracefully move across an area. Your stance itself is enough to indicate some type of bending ability," she continued. Zuko's eyes remained fixed to the ground. Should he tell her? He'd contemplated this moment for a long time, but what if she misunderstood? For so long he hadn't believed the Fire Nation to have hurt as many people as it did. Venturing out in hopes of finding the Avatar, he'd discovered this to be untrue. Turning his gaze from the cobblestone ground to her eyes, Zuko heaved a deep sigh.
"There's something you need to-" he began before being interrupted once more by a cackling laugh.
"Well, well, well if it isn't the illusive Princess Amira," the familiar voice stated. Amira's heart had stopped, and in an instant, Zuko took a stand in front of her, keeping her behind him. The streets were pitch black, for the moon was now hidden behind a neighbouring cloud. Amira clutched onto Zuko's kimono, frightened. "He won't save you," the man's maniacal laughter sounded again. Then, in an instant, the clutch on his shirt was gone.
"Amira," Zuko shouted, but only muffled sounds were emitted from deep within a corridor. Zuko raced off towards the sound only to be tripped by an invisible object. Boiling with anger, Zuko rose from his position on the ground. "Show yourself," he shouted out angrily; his hands balled up into fists. The man's laughter rang out through the air once more as the voice of Amira rang through the air with several instances of 'Let go of me!'. "Amira," he called out again. Silence answered. It was only then that at the moment the moonlight had shone through the cloud, illuminating the square-like area Zuko had located Long and struck at him only to miss.
"Foolish boy, do you honestly think you could beat me this time? I know your secret, and I know exactly what you don't want her to know. Yes, I think now it will be a fair fight," Long stated with a menacing smile on his half-burnt face. Zuko's eyes, now glaring in anger, glanced around the area for any sign of Amira. There was none. "Perhaps I'll strike you a deal, seeing as you are of some diplomatic importance. Leave now and neither you nor Amira get hurt," Long growled. Zuko's eyes narrowed even further as his nails now made half moon shapes in his palm from the balling up of his fists. An ear-piercing shriek sounded from the alley. Zuko's heart pounded against his chest. "The little brat's put us on a hunt for far too long. We're bringing her home dead or alive," Long snarled under his breath. At this, Zuko had seemed to lose it. He struck fiercely at Long, some strikes he'd dodged, others had impacted him greatly. The two duelled fiercely, and after a moment, another shriek was emitted into the air. Zuko's stance had weakened at this. The sound of her shriek, of any implication that she may have been in danger or in pain had desolated all plans of attack, all will to fight. Long ceased his opportunity, delivering a proper blow to Zuko's face, sending the weakened fighter to his back. There, Long laughed another maniacal laugh. "I'll kiss your girlfriend goodbye for you," he snarled deviously as he walked away in triumph. Zuko's temper boiled. The fire inside him burned. In an instant, Zuko had swept up to his feet, flames dancing all around him. At this Long had paused in his tracks, his eyes widened in shock and fear.
Zuko let out an angry shout and directed all flames towards him. Long tried to out run it, but the flames were far faster. They slipped under his feet, burning his soles and causing him to fall to the floor in agonizing pain. Amira, from the alleyway, gagged with the sleeve of the elder man, watched unbelievingly at the sight. How? How could … no, she was seeing things. Zuko wasn't a fire bender. He just wasn't! He couldn't be! He was anything but a fire bender, at least, that's what she'd thought. Her eyes filled with tears as she watched him continue to rain flames down beside Long, keeping him terribly afraid, and therefore vulnerable to his bidding. "Leave this place," Zuko shouted. "Never return." Long's eyes narrowed; despite his fear, Long was not one to go down without a fight.
"And who instructs this of me? A mere boy," he asked in a disgusted tone. The flames around him grew to twice their size.
"No. The Prince of the Fire Nation, Prince Zuko, decrees so," Zuko replied. Long's fear was now evident in his trembling. "Leave," Zuko repeated once more. Long, staggering to his feet, only to slip down again due to the burning, scurried away down the street followed closely by Amira's gagger. Zuko's chest heaved as he watched Amira's enemies flee down the street howling in pain and fear. The flames had died down as did Zuko's breathing; it was now of a calmer type. Zuko spun around on his heel in an immediate search for Amira. As he had done so however, he'd realized his search had come to an end, for standing quite a distance away from him was an angered Amira. No words could be said; neither had chosen to voice any, anyways. Zuko approached Amira cautiously. Amira, too shocked and angry to move, simply glared at the heroic figure.
"Amira," he whispered, reaching out to touch her hand. Amira withdrew her hand immediately, staring up into his face disbelievingly. "I was only trying to defend you," he whispered again. Again, Amira did nothing but stare up into his face. At this Zuko had grown angry. "I just saved you! What did you want me to do? Sit there and let him take you away," he asked angrily, reaching out to grab at her arms. Amira shook his grip off of her.
"Get off of me," she screamed, drawing further away from Zuko. "Don't ever touch me again," she breathed to him threateningly, tears streaming down her cheeks. Away she ran from Zuko, down the cobblestone street into the darkest alley she could find. How could he? How could he not tell her who he really was? She'd told him everything about her. Why couldn't he do the same? Her body shook as the feeling of heartbreak had come over her. He was not who she thought him to be … he was worse. She drew her cloak closer to her as she stared up at the slipper of the moon. She felt as if a gaping hole was in the middle of her stomach; everyone could see through her. She'd allowed herself to become so vulnerable, to lower her defences so much only to get hurt, only to be deceived by someone she cared for greatly, and she was sure that the severity of the pain of going back to the prison she'd escaped from or even the pain of dying couldn't be any worse than the pain of this recent revelation.