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Chapter 3

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Zhu still didn't know why he seemed to attract the crazy fire benders, or why he always seemed to run into them no matter where he went. He was still journeying north, albeit at a leisurely pace, but it seemed he couldn't go a week without running into patrols of crazy bandits. It seemed that he had gotten a reputation or something, because they were calling him Blue and saying they had heard of him.

He was definitely honing his fighting technique, since he couldn't seem to go more than a week without using it. To be fair, more often than not he retreated, let them wear themselves out trying to follow him, and he had acquired a skill for tree climbing. He wasn't stupid, no matter what his little sister used to say, and knew better than to stick around for fights he couldn't hope to win. He was just lucky that that group of four was the largest he had had to face yet.

And then there were times like this, when he came across a handful of bandits doing their thing and couldn't help but get involved.

He hadn't expected to see anyone on the road since he hadn't seen anyone for four days, but when Zhu saw the overturned cart and the limp body laying on the ground he almost saw red with anger. What made it worse was the two women and a child being held off to the side at sword point as the other two armed men went through their belongings. "Hehe… I like this one." The one with the sword was saying, pulling one of the women, barely more than a girl, towards him and caressing her through her tunic.

"NO!" she shouted, struggling to pull away even though the rest of the men just laughed, and Zhu growled in anger, knowing that there was no possible way he could just wait and cut the women loose when the bandits camped. Those pigs weren't going to wait that long to claim their 'prizes', and Zhu wasn't stupid enough to be blind to what they wanted.

Still, he hesitated a moment, knowing he would have only one chance at this if he was to help them and he would need to think it through. That was something his mother and tutors, and even Xing had sometimes had to drill into him. Plan carefully so that he would only have to act once, because all too often there would only be one time to act. There were three bandits total, and he didn't know how they had managed to overturn the cart, but it looked from where Zhu hid like they had ambushed the travelers and taken out the man first. And earth kingdom women weren't like fire nation women… they weren't trained to fight along side their men, and to teach their children how to fight.

Planning carefully, Zhu crept around, ignoring the struggles between the man and his captive for now, even though she was pleading and he was all too focused on her. The other two were still by the cart, though they had stopped going through what looked like household goods to watch the other. The other woman and child were sobbing, and she set down the little girl before running forward and trying to get the man off of the older girl. Zhu almost cursed out loud as the other men began to move forward to pull her away from their friend so he could do whatever he wanted. Suddenly he didn't have the time to sneak around and get into position, and he drew his Dao as he darted forward, catching all of them by surprise as he cleanly sliced into the arm of one of the bandits, making the man yell and stumble away even as Zhu moved to attack the others.

He had caught them by surprise, but that didn't make it too easy on him as the other man bought his sword to bear on Zhu while his friend pulled his pants up. The one he had wounded already was coming back though, and Zhu had to duck and dodge before he could score another hit, leashing his anger tightly and trying to think, to turn this fight to his advantage. He wasn't doing very well, and he was more busy dodging knife and sword than he was paying attention to the landscape, and he stumbled over a fallen box with a curse as one of the men laughed, lunging at him, sword leading, and it was all that Zhu could do to keep from being skewered.

That was when he heard one of the men scream out in surprise, and both of the ones that Zhu was fighting turned, startled, to see their friend fall to the ground, gurgling his last breath. The woman had dug what looked like a kitchen blade into his back, and though there were tears running down her face and blood on her hands and torn dress. There was sobbing, and Zhu couldn't understand their words, but when both of the men he had been fighting darted forward, the masked youth lashed out, catching another slice along the first ones arm, making the man cry out and stumble again. Though that didn't last long as they turned to him again, and Zhu pressed the advantage, not thinking of the dead man, or the other limp man on the ground. He couldn't let up right now, and he was gratified to finally disarm the one with the sword and score a hit on him.

It was then that the two surviving bandits decided to cut their losses and run, shouting something, and Zhu didn't follow. He did sway on his feet though, the world suddenly wavering as he looked down, noticing that not all of the blood belonged to the bandits. He stumbled over to a patch of grass by the road, wiping his blades before putting them away and turning to the women, the younger of whom was watching him while the elder and the little child had darted to the fallen man.

Zhu swallowed, lifting his mask out of his face as he approached them. "Is… is he alive?" he asked, his voice shaking as he tried to ignore the other unmoving body further away.

"Yes… Help… help me stop the bleeding…" The older woman sobbed, trying to wrap the wound on the mans chest, and Zhu obediently darted forward even as the woman began giving commands that the other girl started following.

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The man was alive, but he hadn't woken up yet. Zhu had helped right the cart and get the man into it. Thankfully the ostrich horse that they had had pulling the cart hadn't gotten far, and the mother, madam Laolin, had managed to get it back back into place pulling the cart.

"Get in the back… Make sure my husband doesn't stop breathing." The woman had said to Zhu, and when the masked youth had hesitated, she had growled the order again so fiercly that Zhu knew he had no choice but to obey. That was how he had found himself traveling with them, though he had no idea where they were going.

"What… what were you doing out there?" The younger woman asked, also sitting in the back, holding her little sister and watching Zhu as he kept an eye on her father.

"Traveling." He stated simply, pale and nervous. He was lucky that he hadn't firebent in front of them, he was certain that they wouldn't have been nearly so forgiving if they knew he was fire nation. Each of them was dressed in the green and brown of earth kingdom.

"Where are you from?" she asked, and Zhu looked up at her, realizing that the little girl in her arms was asleep now. There was something demanding in her tone, and Zhu bristled at that without answering. "What? Mongoosecat got your tongue?" She demanded, even more harshly.

"No." he growled, glaring at her before leaning back and pulling his mask, now a familiar, comfortable weight, over his face.

"So where are you from then?" she demanded again, and Zhu scowled at her but still didn't answer.

"That's enough Nali." The man coughed, groaning as his eyes fluttered open, and Zhu nearly jumped out of his skin as he realized that the man had awakened.

"Father… are you alright? Mother, Father woke up." Nali would have said more, but the little sister in her arms stirred, and she stopped, trying not to wake up the little girl who had been screaming and sobbing until not long ago.

"I'm in pain… but I seem to be alive for now…" The man said with a chuckle, and Zhu heard Laolin chuckle from the front of the cart. "What happened… last I saw…" He stopped, coughing as he tried to sit up, and Zhu hurried to help him.

"You were attacked… they seemed to be bandits. There was a fight." Zhu stated simply, sitting back against the side of the cart even as he considered jumping out and making his own way now. He rolled his eyes when Nali started sobbing, throwing herself against her father as she babbled out the whole story and how scared she had been. Zhu was still shell shocked after having seen the girl kill her would be molester.

"I see…" the man said, wincing as he wrapped an arm around his daughter and closing his eyes for a moment before turning to Zhu with a puzzled look. "And who might you be?" The former prince was startled by the honey color of the mans eyes, not used to seeing anything but dark brown and green for so long.

"I'm… I'm Blue…" He stated, pulling his knees to his chest and watching the others warily. Yellow eyes… yellow eyes were fire nation, though this mans weren't the bright gold eyes that Zhu had been used to at home.

"I can see that young man… I asked for your name." The man stated, and even Nali looked at him, curiosity in her eyes.

Zhu continued to hesitate, before lifting his mask off once more, looking at the other clearly. "Zhu… I… I was with the Armadillolion troupe." He stated, feeling this stranger probably deserved to know.

"This young man saved our lives." Came the words from the front of the cart, Laolin turning to look at her husband fondly. "He's good with those swords of his."

"I see. Its an honor to meet you Zhu of the Armadillolion troupe." The man stated, eye narrowing at Zhu for a moment before he shook his head. "I'm Gin. Thank you for helping my family."

Zhu shrugged, pulling his mask back on and looking away. It wasn't like he could have done nothing when he came across that particular scene. They were extremely lucky that Gin had only been unconscious and the slice to his chest hadn't been as deep as it had looked.

"We're almost to town." Laolin said, and Zhu looked up, wondering exactly where they were.

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He found out soon enough as they came into the walled town, guards swarming the cart and everything bursting into action as they got medical attention for Gin and Nali who was still sobbing. Zhu took the opportunity to slip away while the family was distracted, though he didn't get far before being stopped by one of the guards.

"You, kid. Where do you think your going?" The man demanded, scowling as he grabbed Zhu's shoulder, and the firebender was too tired to pull away from him.

"I… don't know…" Zhu admitted, looking back at where Laolin was speaking with someone else, sobbing into the womans shoulder. He looked away again quickly. "I don't have the money for an inn room…" He growled, flushing brightly. His mask rested atop his head, and he ducked his face, hoping the other didn't see his shame. "Madam Laolin was… kind enough to let me ride with them… but…" His words got quieter and quieter till he was mumbling.

"You would run off then and sleep… where exactly?" The guard asked with a snort. "That won't do, I know Laolin and she'll have my hide if I just let you run off. Get over here and we'll get some hot food in you while they catch up and calm down so we can figure out exactly what happened." Left without much choice, Zhu followed the guard back towards where Laolin and the other woman were.

"This is the young man who saved our lives." She said as they got closer, and Zhu flushed deeply at how she phrased it, ducking his head again before reaching up to pull his mask once more over his face. "He's quite good with those swords, don't let his small size deceive you.." She was saying, drying her face as she looked around, and Zhu bristled as she called him short.

"I'll get bigger." He said, indignant even as the guard who had retrieved him started laughing, and he scowled, crossing his arms and looking away.

"Lets get inside and get dinner while you tell us what happened." The man stated, and Zhu had no choice but to follow them into the house and sit down where the man directed him.

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Hours later Zhu was slumped against the wall of the tiny guest room they had given him despite his protests. He had been terminally embarrassed at how much praise madam Laolin heaped upon him during the explanation, then stuffed by the guards wife who seemed to be her sister. Zhu was more confused than anything else, and he was definitely nervous as anything, especially the way that they kept looking at him when they thought he wasn't paying attention. The guard had suggested at one point that he take off his mask and get comfortable, but Zhu found himself relying on it more and more when he was uncomfortable, and had instead pulled it over his face and moved away from the table, much to the mans amusement.

They had asked him questions too, and Zhu had told him that he was from a theater troupe, but had disagreed with the troupe leader about something before going his own way. There seemed to be a flash of sadness in madam Laolins eyes as he said that, but he hadn't elaborated. He was no good with lies after all, that had always been Azulas area of specialty.

Now he was just considering slipping away, because she had said he was welcome to stay with them for a while. He didn't want to stay though, only to be kicked out again when they found out he was a bender. It was all too tempting to try to though, and he firmed his resolve before carefully gathering up his things, his small bag and his Dao. Years of sneaking around when he was younger came back unbidden as he crept through the house, making his careful way down the stairs and towards the door.

"So you would leave without letting us repay you for all you've done." A quiet voice said just as Zhu reached the door, and the youth nearly jumped out of his skin as he turned to see Gin, seated at the table in the darkness, easily missed.

"I… didn't do it for repayment." Zhu managed when his heart started beating again. "And I don't need sympathy." He added, growling softly under his breath.

"Its not sympathy, its gratitude, and you would do well to learn the difference boy." Gin stated, a sharp tone to his voice and Zhu inhaled as the man stood up, suddenly all but harmless. "Give me your bag." Growling again, Zhu complied, giving it over and watching the man carefully. The last thing he wanted to do was fight the injured man after having gone through so much to help him and his family earlier. He was surprised though when instead of setting the bag aside and telling Zhu to go back to bed, Gin started filling the back with simple foodstuffs, easy to make while traveling with the boy's limited cookware.

He accepted the filled pack with another flush of embarrassment that he was glad was hidden by the darkness. "Th.. thank you." He stated clearly, confused.

"No… thank you lad. I know all too well what its like to run and keep running until you find somewhere you belong… I hope you find it soon." The man said, grinning. "Now… unless you want Laolin to convince you to stay, you should probably get going." He stated, motioning to the door, and Zhu nodded, grinning himself as he opened the door and disappeared into the night.

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Whelp… I had no idea where this was going when I started writing this morning. I knew I wanted him to help someone in the middle of being attacked… so… this is what came out. Laolin wanted to keep Zuko.. silly lady. Next chapter, Zuko will meet Jet and the young freedom fighters, and I'll try to give a look in on what Iroh is up to. Its not going to be very interesting yet, and things aren't going to deviate too far from canon until gaipain so a bit of it is going to be skipped over. Funny thing, and to borrow a quote, "extreme coincidences are strangely enough cannon in ATLAB." So its not going to be that hard to get Zuko to meet up with everyone so the real story can start…

Somewhere in the back of my mind, I've got a constantly running track wondering what the hell I've started…