The Fire Prince and the Water Maiden: Chapter Five
"I didn't think that the Water tribe girl was your type, Prince Zuko," Iroh says conversationally as he reached for another helping of duck.
At his words, Zuko spits out a mouthful of half-chewed rice and fish.
"What are you talking about Uncle?" he splutters.
"But I suppose she is very pretty," Iroh continues as he takes a sip of tea.
"Uncle," Zuko breathes in deeply, doing his best to resist the urge to set fire to something. "I do not have any romantic feelings for that peasant."
One grey eyebrow rises. "Is that so? You really seemed to enjoy speaking to her just now."
"I was interrogating a prisoner," Zuko spits.
"If you wish to put it that way," the old man replies. Absolutely serene, and apparently utterly oblivious to his nephew's distress, he takes another sip of tea. "You know Zuko, you won't win her affections by tying her to a tree. Why not give her some nice flowers instead?"
"GAH!"
XXXXX
"Katara."
Sokka sounds very serious, and Katara guesses he is in overprotective big brother mode again.
"Did those pirates do... Anything to you?"
"Well, they obviously captured me and tied me to a tree."
"Not like that!" Sokka snaps.
Her cheeks flush when she realises what he means.
"No! Ew. No! I mean, Zuko got a little weird at one point - "
"That two-headed rat viper got what at one point?" he shrieks.
"He didn't do anything! He just siddled up along the tree - " looking very hot doing so – no I can't have such thoughts "and tried to make me sell Aang out for mom's necklace. It's not a big deal."
She immediately realises it is the wrong thing to say.
"He WHAT? Does that guy have a bondage fetish or something? That is... GO TO YOUR ROOM YOUNG LADY and STAY THERE!"
"What the - you're not my dad Sokka!"
"If you hadn't stolen the scroll you wouldn't have gotten yourself in danger!"
"I said I was sorry! And no one got hurt in the end!"
"That doesn't excuse what you did! You put us all in danger and you risked our lives! You risked Aang's life! You risked yours! Did you even stop to think about what you did?"
"Okay, I admit I was irresponsible. But - "
"No buts! You were extremely stupid and you need to be punished!"
"What, listening to you trying to act like dad isn't punishment enough?"
"You watch your mouth young lady!"
After all the previous angst-ridden chapters, it was so fun to do this one. I loved writing Iroh's and Sokka's dialogue, and I could really see this happening in my head.