Chapter 17: Happy Accidents
"Prince Zuko…Prince Zuko…"
"hmm?" Prince Zuko grumbled as he felt a warm hand shake gently at his shoulder.
His eyes cracked open and a man's concerned face swam quickly into view.
"Uncle…" he yawned wide. "What…what are you doing here?"
"I was going to ask you that" Iroh smirked as he gave his nephew some space to straighten up.
He had been leaning on the wall, his behind seated on one thin cushion with a blanket draped over his shoulders as he had sat next to the bedroll before him.
In it Jade was still sleeping, her brow sweaty but her face much calmer than it had been when he'd drifted off to sleep.
However the wet towel he had placed on her head was now lying on the floor as she had rolled onto her side.
Sighing he leaned to pick it up only for his uncle to stop him.
"It's alright prince Zuko. She won't need it now"
"Ok….good…" Zuko leaned back in his spot only to groan as Iroh pulled him back to sit upright.
"You should have a good long bath and a hot meal. Trust me it will help you rest easier."
"But uncle-" Zuko began but Iroh shook his head.
"I will stay with Jade in the meanwhile. It won't be difficult now I assure you, especially since with your efforts her fever's finally broken. Now off with you. Bath, food and then you may come back, or better still, get some sleep" he ordered gently and in spite of his many grumbles Zuko complied.
Iroh meanwhile, sat in lotus position as calm and as still as a statue as he waited for his nephew to finish bathing, dressing and leaving the room.
Once he was gone he sighed heavily.
"Jade, you can stop pretending now"
He watched as a pair of green eyes slid open with a sigh.
"How did you know?" she groaned softly as she turned over to her back to see the older general smirk softly.
"Because a normal person with a fever would not be lying so still"
"My fever broke" Jade mumbled but bit her lip as she saw Iroh see straight through her lie as sharp as a knife through butter as he helped her gently to sit up.
"I know it did…" Iroh murmured softly as he handed her a cup of steaming tea from a tray beside him.
He carefully helped her shaky hands bring the cup to her lips, his gaze not straying from her sweaty anxious face as she took a tentative sip.
Jasmine
She sighed with relief as she quickly made to gulp the rest of the soothing drink down her dry throat.
When she had finished Iroh took the cup from her carefully but quickly his eyes hard as he said.
"You were the one that cut the Water Tribe girl's bonds weren't you?" he added when she chanced a peek up at him.
Jade nodded meekly, eyes cast downwards.
She knew she probably should have denied it, but she of all people knew she was a crap liar. And besides it would take a truly cunning mind to fool the Dragon of the West when he had set his mind to something. His pai-sho games were proof of that.
As was the piercing golden amber stare he fixed her with now as he asked quietly:
"And it was you who helped cut the two boys free?"
Jade shook her head.
"No only the girl's brother. The Avatar got himself out. He's a pretty smart kid"
"I see" Iroh stroked his beard grimly to himself.
Jade sighed.
"Lord Iroh…I know I have no right to ask this of you but-"
"I won't tell anyone" Iroh finished for her and a small smile appeared onto his face.
Jade stared at him so astounded that she was completely lost for words.
At the look of her stunned expression, Iroh's eyes twinkled gently and he put a consoling hand on her shoulder.
"I know why you did it Jade."
"You…you do?" Jade gulped.
"Yes" Iroh nodded "And I know that it was a very difficult decision. But also a brave one. There are not many people who would risk their very lives to fight for what they believe in."
"But…but what if my beliefs hurt people I-I care about? People like-"
"Your father and your brother?" Iroh finished and she nodded quietly only to look up her eyes wide with sudden fear.
"W-wait. Y-You aren't going to tell-to tell-" she trembled, but Iroh's smile only softened as he shook his head.
"It is not my place to tell my nephew other people's secrets. Though admittedly if he does find out about this one even I might not be able to stop him from acting out in anger. But who knows… time will pass and maybe one day he'll accept the truth and understand."
"But what if he doesn't? What if he hates me?" Jade blurted out before she could stop herself.
She clapped a hand over her mouth as Iroh's eyebrows rose in astonishment.
"I-I-mean…that is…I uh…" she trailed off again her cheeks flushing such a deep crimson that they matched the shade of Zuko's bedsheets.
Zuko's bedsheets?
Jade blinked as she looked around. Though she had been awake before she had still been too tired to look around at her surroundings and check them out for herself. However, now that she was fully awake she was quickly drinking in every detail of the fiery memorabilia on the walls the expensive looking twin blades that hung on the wall opposite her, the mat on the floor.
She then remembered the feeling of a warm hand holding hers when she had first stirred. At first she had shrugged it off as the residual effects of her dreams, but now that she came to think about it, the hand felt a lot like…like…
"Oh spirits" Jade ran a hand over her sweaty face, tears streaming down it. "Oh spirits"
She barley heard the calm soothing voice of the old lord, nor felt his consoling grip as he made to wrap a pair of comforting arms around her.
But none of that mattered now. Not when the thoughts in her head swirled around ominously, one question prevalent over the rest.
What mess have I gotten myself into?
Prince Zuko was not someone who liked to feel confused. It was a state of mind that often left him feeling angry, fidgety and altogether miserable.
So whenever he was confronted by these horrible feelings he did what he always felt inclined to do when frustrated.
Practice his firebending.
Or rather…just blast fire as hot and as hard as he could on deck whilst the other officers made to skulk away to leave him in peace.
He let out a great roar of pent up frustration as he sent a great jet of flame straight over the port side of the deck where it dissipated into a large plume of dark smoke.
Why. Isn't. This. WORKING!
He had eaten, washed, bathed but still nothing was working to relieve him of a tormenting thought that took form in a pair of green eyes.
He mentally tore at his hair whilst physically continuing to just aim fiery punches and kicks left right and centre, only to trip over his own feet as the ship rocked ever so slightly.
"Oww" he growled rubbing his bruised behind as he stood up, looking around quickly as he did so.
He winced as the light of the dawn hit him as the sun crept up over the horizon line, illuminating the rest of the deck and the one person standing by the stairs that led down to the galley.
It was Ruishi and he was looking as stern as ever as he stood only in his red tunic and dark pants.
Zuko couldn't help the burning feeling in his ears as the older man strode up to a few feet before him and gave him a bow.
But it was not the respectful dutiful bow of a soldier. No. This was the bow a combatant gave his opponent.
Zuko took a deep breath, steadying himself and quickly bowed in return, straightening up just as the older lieutenant took a fighting stance.
They waited, each one of them assessing each other sharply from feet to head until brown and gold amber orbs met squarely.
Then they both lunged.
Dear Diary,
Sorry it's been such a long time. Shen only brought you up to me an hour ago and I've been waiting for him to fall asleep before I started writing.
I'm still staying in Zuko's room. I wanted to return to my own room, but Lord Iroh and Chan think it might be safer for me to sit tight here for one more night where it is closer to the medical quarters, just in case I feel sick again.
Zuko in the meanwhile…well I'm not sure what he's gonna think about this arrangement. All I know is he's currently up on deck training with father.
Honestly I don't know whether I should be jealous that father's giving him a lesson or pleased that the prince will most likely get his butt kicked.
I know I sound like I'm being pretty ungrateful but still, old habits die hard…
Like my habit of constantly betraying my nation and helping the Avatar whenever I have the chance.
In my dream, choosing my own path seemed like such a simple decision.
But now I'm awake and have to think about it, it just seems impossible. Life isn't simple. I mean I can't have my cake and eat it too.
Oh Spirits I sound like a total idiot don't I?
And the worst thing about that is I can't tell anyone about it. No one would understand, not my father, my brother, nor even Lord Iroh (even though he is still much wiser about these kind of things than anyone I've ever met).
I can't just betray the avatar…but neither do I want to betray my nation…or the prince for that matter.
But still, maybe if he weren't trying to be such a jerk all the time…
He's nothing like Jin-Lee. Oh man now that was a guy any girl could melt for.
Oh…yeah I should probably explain about him shouldn't I diary.
Jin-Lee was this guy from my home village. He was the son of the magistrate and just a year older than me. Really smart, really, really good looking guy. And when I say good looking I mean, hot damn! And by hot damn, I mean tall, dark rugged smokin' fan yourself with anything you can grab because you will blush.
I guess the hotness fits since he was a fire bender. But it wasn't just his looks that were nice. Jin-Lee was also very sweet. He was good with kids and liked to read and he was a great actor in the theatre troupe, which is how I got to know him. Well…more like me and the other dancers. I swear diary he could make some of the girls' faint with his impeccable manners.
Not like prince grumpy ass that I have to deal with. Though to be fair, Zuko's actually not that bad looking. Or at least the part that's not scarred is nice, but even then its not actually as bad as it looks from a distance. It just looks worse because he keeps his head shaved weirdly. I bet if he grew his hair out he might actually look somewhat decent. Oh well…at least he's got nice eyes, if only he'd stop using them to glare at everything all the time!
I know, I know! I sound crazy. If I'm helping the Avatar then I should logically be against the prince right?
I should hate him, I should do everything I can to make his life a living hell, I should…I shouldn't want to stay…to help…to…to…like him…
Not that I like him in the romantic way! Oh-no-no-no-no-NO! NO! I do not see him in that way at all!
Oh spirits this is turning
I honestly do not know what to do anymore diary. I really don't…
And I don't know if I ever will…
Zuko scowled wiping his sweaty brow as he sat up from his spot on the deck floor.
He had been sparring with Ruishi for half an hour. No actually that wasn't true. He'd been losing all his sparring matches whilst the older lieutenant easily swept him down, with nothing but a calm stare or a small smirk that accompanied a small piece of advice.
Like the one he heard just now as the older man towered over him, arms folded and an eyebrow raised.
"Tired you're highness?"
"No" Zuko spat but even so he struggled to his feet. Sleep deprivation and ten times of being knocked to his backside were certainly not doing him any favours.
Ruishi could clearly see that, for he put a hand on the prince's shoulder to steady him as he swayed a little.
"There is no shame in admitting what your body needs, because at some point or other, it's going to admit it for you"
Zuko would've snapped back only he was too tired. Besides, he admitted grudgingly, the man had a point. He felt like he was going to drop at any moment.
"You really should get some sleep" Ruishi said before he could stop himself. Damn, his parenting instincts were automatically kicking in.
But if Zuko noticed the concern he didn't show it, nor did he seem to care as he nodded, groaning like an undead zombie before slouching off to go below deck.
Ruishi shook his head with a small smirk. Boys would be boys, even if they were princes.
Even though day was creeping into being above deck, Zuko found his quarters completely dark and empty when he entered. But he didn't mind. He actually preferred it this way.
With a wide yawn he silently stalked over to his bedroll, stripping off his sweaty shirt as he did so and sliding under the covers.
He was pleased when his body was engulfed in warmth at once and sighed softly. His eyes shut as he rolled over onto his side doing his best to find his comfy spot. He was quick to find it, along with something rather warm and…solid?
Eyes still shut, Zuko frowned as he placed his hands on the object in his bed. It was soft and smooth, some parts of it covered in cotton and some others bare.
Intrigued he ran his hand over the side of the object and found it curved nicely under his fingers.
Unconsciously he snuggled closer to the object and buried his nose close to a curved bare area of smooth skin. It smelled faintly of Jasmine tea.
Wait…jasmine tea? SKIN?!
And even as the thought crossed his mind his ears picked up in the darkness a small soft sigh that was definitely not his own.
Zuko's eyes snapped open just in time to see the sleeping form of Jade Shi turn over to face him, a small smile playing on her lips.
The prince couldn't help but stare for a moment.
It was that same little smile she'd given him when he'd asked her to join him for the ship's music night. It was the small smile that she always gave whenever her brother and her joked with one another. The smile in short was the one that she wore whenever she had truly been happy.
And those moments had been few and far between. Zuko couldn't help but feel his gut churn uncomfortably as he remembered the kitchen maid's screams from the night before.
But why was she crying for help? Who was she trying to help? What on earth could've made her so…scared…
Jade wasn't the type to truly be frightened easily, if his recent observations of her were anything to go by.
She had not been afraid to stand up to him, to stand up to Akan, to fight the pirates, nor those earth bending soldiers, nor even of the volcano…
But she is scared of Zhao…
A small voice in the back of his head whispered only for another voice to proverbially shake its head.
No…she's just scared of what Zhao would do to her if he found out about her.
And what would've the Commander done if he had known?
He'd probably have locked her away in a coal mine for the rest of her life…or worse…
Zuko frowned as he absentmindedly made to brush a lock of hair from Jade's smiling face.
This girl in a coal mine? Had he not seen proof of her unwavering stubbornness or resilience the thought that she would survive in such a dangerous environment as a prison mine was almost laughable.
Even so it was still a grim image to him and a wrong one.
Pain in his but though she may have been sometimes, she had still been loyal, if not to him then at least his uncle and her family.
Such faithful allegiance was hard to come by even amongst other fire-benders.
And she was an earth bender.
For some reason that thought no longer made his insides crawl as they once did.
Maybe it was because in spite of all that bending power, she still wore the red of the Fire Nation with pride.
He wondered faintly if there were people in the Fire Nation's Earth Kingdom Colonies like that. And then he began wondering what the colonies would truly look like?
Was everyone Fire Nation or were there people of the Earth Kingdom too? Was it possible for the blue of the Water Tribe to join them too?
Would it actually be possible four all the nations to co-exist together in-
His thoughts were wiped out by the sound of a soft giggle.
Oh crap…
Zuko tried his best to scramble away but Jade only giggled harder her eyes still shut with sleep as she snuggled into his bare chest.
"hmm…warm…"
not good not good!
He squirmed as the girl next to him suddenly decided to roll so that she was resting on top of him, her legs on either side of his waist and her head resting on his chest.
Zuko gulped as he felt her soft curves press against his own tense body. Oh man, this was worse then when they'd ridden the rhino together.
Or is it better?
A small sneering voice that was his own egged him on urging his own hands against his will to settle on the girl's back
"Jade…jade wake up!" he hissed softly, shaking her slightly.
This however did not still her. Instead she frowned slightly in her sleep and proceeded to snuggle herself further into his hold.
The prince flushed so red he was matching his scar and his sheets, and quickly grabbed at her hips only to groan a little as he accidently pressed her a little too close for comfort.
Instead he chose to grab her waist doing his best to pry the sleeping girl off of him, but only succeeding in tickling her sides instead.
Jade's small smile widened, completely unperturbed by her bedmate's struggling as she sighed softly.
"Oh Jin"
Zuko stopped in his tracks his fingers still hovering tantalisingly over her waist as she continued to giggle.
"Jin stop that it tickles"
Zuko didn't know who this "Jin" person was, but the sound of the name oddly enough sparked something hot and angry in the pit of his stomach.
I'm not Jin! Who the hell is Jin? Why would he be tickling you?! Why would he even be touching you?
These were all the horribly burning questions surging in the back of Zuko's partially sleep deprived flustered mind, however instead he said out loud:
"Jade wake up! you're dreaming. You gotta wake up."
Oh spirits please hear my prayer and get this blasted girl off of me!
Instead she giggled again and before Zuko could even think of scrambling away, she had leaned up to his face and pressed her lips against his.
MUAHAHAHAAHAAA! evil cliffhanger strikes again!
yeah so here's just a little taste of the drama that's due to unfold. Zuko and Jade aren't really together together yet (an probs won't be for a while) but they are beginning to take those (wonderfully amusing) steps.
took me a while to find out why Jade would kiss Zuko at this point in time, because he seems to be making most of the moves not her. But then i thought "Hey what if she had a guy she liked before him" i mean she is sixteen and like Zuko has Mai, she probably had someone who she at least had a crush on before she went to sea. and before i knew it this Jin-lee was born! *sigh* poor Zuko, you still have a ways to go...
Hope you guys enjoyed and Keep R&Ring