Chapter 32: Too Good to Be True
When Jade awoke, it was to find a wall of heat pressed right up against her back.
What the? Shen? When did i…
But even as her fuzzy brain began to slowly clear she heard someone mumble close to her ear.
"next set…must get to next set…"
Jade flushed crimson.
Zuko?! What is he doing here in my brother's ro-oh…right…now I remember…
She face-palmed quietly to herself as memories of the night before came flooding back.
Her father getting drunk, going to the kitchens, talking with Zuko…putting on his clothes…laying down beside him…in his bed…
She flushed deeply as she reached for her collar only to feel the unfamiliar texture of smooth fine silk under her fingers and smell the familiar warm, musky but spicy scent, so distinct for the prince.
She felt something press against the back of her neck and stiffened as a voice murmured close to her ear.
"Morning Lucky"
"Morning Zuko" Jade gulped as she turned round to face him.
She had never seen the prince look so relaxed. His face was calm, even the scar was not furrowed in a glower.
Instead he smiled lazily at her, his lips forming a slant that had her cheeks flush, if possible, even darker than before.
This when added to his bare chest reclining backwards into the soft pillows, gave him the look of a dragon. A very regal, sinewy dragon with lean muscles and pale smooth skin…
"Liking the view Lucky" he smirked and chuckled softly when her hand lightly slapped at his chest.
"Shut up." She groaned turning her back on him only to gasp as she felt a pair of lips press gently against her earlobe.
"Zuko"
"Hmm" Zuko hummed into her ear, the deep sound sending shivers flying up and down her spine as he pushed his body against her back.
At once warning bells in the back of Jade's head began to go off.
No…this was…well it was nice but it was too close for comfort.
"I-I I should go soon" She mumbled, scooting a little away.
Now Zuko did scowl, though it was marred by his soft tones as he leaned in once more to whisper.
"Stay. It's still early"
"Early for you maybe" Jade rolled her eyes "But Dango might-"
"I'm sure Dango can last for one morning without you" Zuko smirked, his lips tantalizingly grazing her neck which he nuzzled with his nose. "Stay"
"My brother might come looking for me" Jade whispered, trying desperately not to melt back into the mattress as a pair of lips lightly suckled the skin of her neck.
"not if he has your father to look after." Zuko hissed as he leaned his body over, trapping hers beneath it before she could move away. "and I doubt your father will be in any fit state to come looking for you any time soon."
"maybe not but your uncle-" Jade began only to whine softly as teeth nipped hard at her pulse.
"-my uncle likes to sleep in. He won't mind me taking my time getting up." Zuko grunted before pulling her around to look her in the eyes.
His own were dark and hooded, the pupils blown up wide. Jade felt almost entranced by the slim sliver of amber that barely glimmered down from those depths, even as he leaned in to press his mouth against hers. "Stay"
The kiss was slow but ferocious in its intensity, just like Zuko's hands, which Jade couldn't help but notice, were gripping her waist very tightly as he pulled her flush against him.
Warm
Zuko groaned as he felt her curves press against him.
Warm and soft…and mine
"O…Okay" she mumbled timidly into his lips.
Zuko smirked as he pressed against her again, only to be stopped when she quickly tore her mouth away and blurted out.
"I want to see Ji"
"Ji?" Zuko blinked. Then suddenly he remembered and sighed heavily. "Oh right Ji…"
"Sorry…" Jade mumbled as she caught sight of the slightly disappointed look in his eye "it's just…after what Kira did to him...when he tried to…to"
"I know" Zuko murmured gently as he cupped a hand against her cheek. "We can go later. Chan might want him to continue resting for a while."
"You're probably right" Jade smiled. "Zuko?"
"Yeah?" Zuko flushed red, a colour that only deepened as she leaned in to kiss him softly again.
"never mind it's nothing"
Zuko grinned.
He could really get used to waking up like this, every morning.
But even as he deepened the kiss, he missed the small gleam of sadness flicker in her jade green eyes.
Something's not right
Lord Iroh frowned as he stared up at the ceiling of his quarters.
The first rays of the sun were only just peeking through the window…but his nephew had not come barging in demanding him to wake up for training.
Maybe he's taking a break? Maybe Kira's attack finally has taken its toll
The old lord tried to reason, but his brain just point blank refused the logic. After all, tigerdillo's don't change their stripes.
But his nephew was not a tigerdillo, he reasoned in his head. No his nephew was a young man…a reckless and headstrong young man who had almost risked everything for the life of one girl.
Hmm…I wonder…
The old lord silently rolled over out of his bedroll, slipping on his dressing gown in one smooth slide before he had even had risen to his feet.
With a surprising amount of stealth and silence for a man of his now bulky build, Lord Iroh crept out his quarters and slunk quietly across the hall, to the door to his nephew's quarters.
It was to his surprise still very much locked, but the large keyhole was unobstructed, or so the old Lord found out when he chanced a peek through it.
What he saw nearly made his heart stop with surprise.
Near the wall opposite the door on a silk and soft bedroll, Prince Zuko sat. In his arms and over his lap a girl with long brown hair and bright green eyes wrapped her arms around his neck smiling softly as he muttered:
"-are you ever going to stop calling me princess?"
"Not a chance" Jade snorted, her giggles growing louder when she caught sight of the small disgruntled pout sent her way. But it wasn't the same grumpy pout Lord Iroh was used to seeing.
No. The prince was peeved but his eyes still shone, as if a light or a bright spark had been ignited. Not a spark of true fury, but a gentler and, dare he even think it, joyful one.
Joyful…
Iroh stopped dead where he crouched, his breath catching in his throat. His nephew was…was happy. Really truly happy.
The thought was so astounding that it brought a tear to the old Lord's eye as he chanced another glance through the keyhole.
Sure enough his nephew was still sitting there with Jade in his arms, a triumphant smirk now replacing his pout as he teased her blushing cheeks.
Perhaps we could take a breather from training today
Iroh mused quietly as he straightened himself up.
Yes…best not ruin the moment for them.
He spared the locked door one last glance before quietly turning his back on it, a wide grin spreading across his face.
Ah to be young and in love.
Dear Diary,
This morning was…well…oh who am I kidding it was wonderful.
Yeah I mean sure I thought it would be awkward, seeing as I did spend the night sleeping next to Zuko again. But thankfully this time, the door was locked and no father (or brother) of mine could come barging in, so when we both woke up we really could chill out and relax…and kiss.
By spirits diary I still can't believe Zuko and I are together…if together can be the right word. I-I mean don't get me wrong I'm really happy with the way things are between us, but something still worries me a bit.
…
Okay it actually worries me a lot.
It's not that this relationship is bad, far from it. But I just can't help but feel that maybe too good to be true. Maybe my father's cynical wit is rubbing off on me, but no matter how much I try I just cannot shake this niggling feeling at the back of my mind that all this wonderful good stuff between me and Zuko…might not last.
Okay hear me out before you start yelling (though I don't know how you can do that if you're an inanimate book but I digress). Zuko is a prince. The prince of an entire nation. Whereas I'm just the dishonoured earth-bending, kitchen cleaning daughter of one of the Fire Nations biggest enemies.
You see where I'm going with this Diary?
I mean yeah sure Zuko has been exiled from his own kingdom, but at least he has the opportunity to regain his honour and return home. And when he does royal protocol will dictate that he will have to marry a girl from the higher up aristocratic circles. One who is beautiful, ladylike and definitely NOT disowned from their own family clan.
In essence what I'm trying to say is that no matter how much I care for him and don't want to go he and I…
"Jade? Chan's sent a message. Lieutenant Ji is up" a voice called through Jade's room door, making her jump and her still sleeping father roll over with a grunt and a snort.
"Coming" she tried to call as quietly as she could as she packed up her gear and straightened out her new clean uniform.
As she did, she chanced a glance at her brother's prone form snoring by the side of her bed.
Maybe after Ji I should get some tea and some snacks for them. Goodness knows how much they'll need them.
She smiled in spite of the small sting in her chest.
"He's heading North. The Northern Water Tribe" Admiral Zhao Shi glowered as he turned to face his audience.
Six of them were top naval officers of their regions, all of them listening intently as their ambitious superior sneered down at all of them.
"The Avatar needs to master water bending. He's looking for a teacher."
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go get him!" one of the closest Admirals cried out loudly, fist clenched with determination.
"Patience Captain Lee. This isn't some little Earth Kingdom Village we can just march into" Zhao hissed and the abashed captain fell silent at once, a shudder running down his back as the Admiral made to circle around his and the other captain's backs.
"The water tribe is a great nation. There is a reason they have survived a hundred years of war. The frozen tundra is treacherous. The landscape itself is an icy fortress. We're going to need a massive invasion force"
"Forgive my candor Admiral" one of the other captains piped up nervously form his seat "but how are we going to amass such a force? True our combined presence here" he gestured to himself and the room at large "is already quite a force to be reckoned with. But as you said the Water tribe is a strong nation. To take on a nation we would need a fleet close in size to the one Fire Lord Sozin had at his command when he first occupied the Earth Kingdom"
"And so we shall Captain" Zhao smirked calmly as he pulled out a scroll "From today, as ordered by our beloved Fire Lord Ozai, all Fire Nation naval vessels have been conscripted to the fleet of Admiral Zhao to assist him in the siege of the North Pole-Do not worry"
Zhao's eyes glinted maliciously as he took in the ashen faces of the captains seated on the floor.
"I have already pardoned some of our lesser forces to maintain a guard over the Colonies. After all what use would the siege of our enemy be if we did not have anyone to protect that which we have already gained"
"O-of course sir. Very well thought out" Captain Lee mumbled, but Zhao could see the almost frightened glances being passed around the room.
His smirk widened into a leer.
That's right you fools. I'm in charge now. And should you betray ME, the fire Nation will be the last of your worries.
And speaking of worries.
Zhao's lips curled as a hand poked its way through the flap of the great tent and a nervous private stepped in, quaking in his boots.
"Um…Admiral Zhao sir. S-Sorry to interrupt but your father General Shi requested your presence in his tent"
"Very well. Tell him I will be along shortly." Zhao waved the boy off before turning to his underlings.
"This meeting is adjourned for now. We will meet just before dinner to discuss the finer points."
And with that he followed the young private out of the tent and into the camp.
The winter air had a biting chill, but at least the midday sun gave some relief for all the firebenders' in the camp.
Just a few more ships and my armada will be unstoppable
Zhao grinned to himself, only to cough and straighten himself up as he came to a very large dark red tent with two guards flanking the entrance.
Both of them gulped and bobbed their heads in respect as he brushed past them his voice low but carrying as he addressed the older man that turned to face him from where he sat meditating.
"You wished to see me father?"
"Yes boy. I did" Ryutaro Shi grunted as he gingerly made to stand up. "I have received orders from the homeland. Apparently the Avatar has been sighted yesterday at the Northern Air Temple. If sources are to be trusted, he and his two young friends have helped the refugees living there defend themselves against our forces using a new and untested weapon."
"I take it you will be leading the search for this weapon" and the avatar, Zhao added in his head but Ryutaro shook his head with a small sneer.
"Do not worry boy, I will not impede upon your hobby of chasing down long lost airbenders. Besides the Avatar and his little friends are all long gone and probably halfway over the seas to the North Pole. No my mission is merely to oversee the safe transfer of this new weapon back to the mainland before the Earth Kingdom can get their hands on it. From what the commander at the North said, it is quite a piece of technology. One that might even be able to help us win this war once and for all. Hence why my men and I leave tomorrow at sunrise"
"Then allow me to extend you good fortune for your mission's success father" Zhao nodded but Ryutaro's eyes narrowed as he caught sight of the spark in his son's eyes.
"There is no need for hopes or wishes. After all, a weapons transfer, even one of such importance, is but child's play for a man of my experience. But you boy, you truly have a hard task set for you. Yes, you have trained long and hard for this moment all your life, but a siege of a nation, especially one as powerful as the Northern Water Tribe, is not something any man is capable of, alone that is."
"What exactly are you saying father?" Zhao hissed.
His father's eyebrows rose.
"I am saying that if you are to win this fight, you will need what every great war lord has by his side. An advisor."
"An advisor? Really father?" Zhao snorted shaking his head, but Ryutaro's eyes narrowed to slits.
"Yes really boy. An advisor. Someone who can see the battle from a different angle. Someone with military experience necessary for the task at hand. You see boy, a good general can lead and win a battle. But a great general knows how to utilize the minds of others so that they can win the war."
Zhao stayed silent pondering the wisdom of his father's words until said man stopped at the tent flap his scowl deepening as he turned to address his son again.
"Speaking of advice, I have given some thought to our family affairs concerning that girl." He murmured quietly "Obviously your foolish actions of ridding her from the family tree have neither worked or gone unnoticed. However, there still might be a way of salvaging the situation. If you are temporarily willing to swallow some of your pride"
"I'm listening" the corners of Zhao's mouth twitched upwards as he eagerly leaned in to listen to the voice whisper into his ear.
A voice as cunning as a snake's hiss.
"J-Jade"
"Hey Ji" Jade smiled tremulously as she sat down on the edge of the medical cot.
Finally, after all those hours of waiting, the ship's doctor Chan had allowed Jade and Zuko to visit Lieutenant Ji in his sick bed.
The man looked worn out, pale but his smile was wide as Jade reached out to give his hand a tight squeeze.
"How are you doing?"
"Well, with all the stabbing pain in my gut and the watery soup and Chan's fantastic sense of humour, yes I feel loads better." Ji snorted, glancing at Chan who rolled his eyes.
Zuko meanwhile just stood back in a corner of the room watching as Jade smiled and shook her head fondly.
"I take it you just love one another's company then" she giggled and was not disappointed to see Ji pout.
"Oh yeah, because I absolutely adore sitting in a bed with nothing to do all day except listen to updates about how my body-agh!" he grunted and cringed an arm clutching to his midriff.
"It's alright it's not bleeding" he hissed as Chan strode forward and examined his bandaged stomach. Thankfully Ji was right and no red patches seemed to have appeared over the bandages.
Chan pursed his lips and tutted.
"How many times do I have to tell you not to excite yourself, lest you-"
"Lest I want to remain here for the rest of my life? Yeah I already know the drill MOM!" Ji scowled but nonetheless allowed both Chan and Jade to carefully lay him back down carefully on the pillows.
As he settled his eyes fell upon the scar on Jade's cheek. It was now a thin line of brown.
"That bastard" the older Lieutenant growled as he beheld the wound. "How I wish I could've burnt his face off"
"You and me both" Jade smirked but it quickly fell as Ji asked quietly.
"What happened after I blacked out?"
"Um…" Jade glanced around at both Chan and Zuko.
The doctor was looking stern but nodded all the same. Zuko on the other hand was interested, or at least his eyes were, for the rest of his face betrayed nothing but his usual grumpy mask.
Jade sucked in a deep breath and turned back to Ji.
"After Kira attacked you, he knocked me out on the back of the head. By the time I awoke, he had already gotten us away from the ship. He'd even bound my hands, blindfolded and gagged me for good measure."
Through the corner of her eye, Jade saw Zuko bristle in his corner, his fists clenching tighter as she continued to speak.
"As I started to come back to my senses I realized he was trying to make a run for it with me on a rhino on the mainland. I didn't know how far in I was or if I could even get back to the ship but I did know that if I could just get down to the ground I might be able to at least get away from him."
"And how did you get down?"
It was Chan who spoke this time, his brow furrowed with interest as he took a seat on the other side of his patient who likewise was listening raptly.
Jade felt herself blush deeply under the proverbial spotlight as she mumbled.
"I…I uh…I kicked the rhino in the neck"
The doctor, the lieutenant and the prince all cringed.
They, like so many other Fire Nation officers, knew for a fact that touching a Komodo rhino's neck was dangerous. To kick one in such a sensitive spot was perhaps almost tantamount to suicide and Ji stated as such.
Jade nodded, her blush deepening.
"Yeah I know. Crazy but it worked. When the beast was thrashing about I rolled off and was able to cut my bonds against a sharp rock. Then I just ran for it through the Shindayama ruins. I took shelter in some of the old buildings until Zuko found me. Then…"
She glanced at Zuko quickly, only to see him shake his head ever so slightly.
"then Kira found us and we fought him and then he…he fell off a cliff…"
There was a pause as Jade hid her face behind sheet of her hair as she looked down into her own lap.
Thankfully Chan saw her quietness as a sign of fear and trauma and began fussing over Ji again as he cringed once more from the pain in his gut.
With a swift dismissal from the doctor, Zuko led Jade out, only to stop halfway down the corridor in surprise as he caught sight of her face.
Her green eyes were blazing hotly.
"Jade?"
"I almost killed him" she murmured softly through clenched teeth. "Kira…I almost killed him with my lava bending"
"But you didn't" Zuko's hand was warm as it squeezed hers tightly. "that's why you beat him. That's why you're alive."
She looked up at him and in spite of the ache she felt looking into those fiercely caring amber eyes, she felt herself smile and lean in to touch her forehead against his.
In the distance they both heard the distant sound of a gong going off down below.
"the lunch bell" Zuko murmured, trying his best to ignore the growling of his stomach.
"I should probably go down and help Dango"
"do you have to?" Zuko groaned or rather whined, but he would never admit it out loud, much to Jade's amusement.
"No I don't have to go but I really want to."
"Okay fine. Go leave me for your stupid job see if I care" Zuko waved her off sarcastically and she giggled.
"Oh don't be so melodramatic. I'll still see you this evening."
"You will?" Zuko' blinked.
"It's music night remember? And we both promised your uncle we'd be there this time"
"Oh…right yeah…" Zuko gulped only to turn redder than his uniform as her lips pressed against his cheek.
"See you tonight princess"
But before he could even get a word in, she was trotting off with a wave to him down the corridor
"Damn that girl" Zuko grumbled as he held a hand to his scarred cheek. Why she always did so he did not know.
Perhaps he could find out later tonight.
And perhaps she'd kiss him properly then too.
"I'm very impressed. You all seem highly qualified for the mission I have in mind."
Clink!
"mm! that's some tasty gold."
Slap!
"Ow what? Oh…"
"What do you need us to do?"
"I believe you are acquainted with Prince Zuko?"
The crew of the Prince's ship had never before known a day, any to be as happy as the one they'd awoken to after Kira's abduction.
Better still, they'd never even known any time in their entire voyage where both prince and Jade had ever looked or acted so happy. Or at least Jade glowed unabashedly with joy while Zuko tried and failed to mask his happiness with his usual grumpy scowls…at least when he was around the crew.
When he and Jade were alone together, it was a completely different story.
If someone had told Jade two years ago that the angst-ridden grouchy prince could actually be as caring as he was now she'd have thought them mad enough to be locked in an asylum in a straitjacket.
But now she found herself almost every night after her shift sitting with the prince in his rooms, talking, bickering playfully, sometimes she even practiced his fire-bending forms with him, especially after one of his less than progressive training sessions with his uncle.
In short Jade's life aboard the ship was almost perfect.
Almost.
There was just one thing stopping that perfection from existing, and that thing was her father.
True, Ruishi had apologized to his daughter about his drinking incident, but the walls he'd erected up around himself were now higher than ever, with less than satisfactory results on his health.
He looked tired all the time, and Jade was sure that he was sometimes going on for two days straight without sleep. His firebending was also strained, an ominous sign, one that could only mean one thing.
The nightmares were coming back again.
But he refused to talk to anyone about it, not even to Lord Iroh who was one of his oldest friends amongst the crew.
During their evenings together Zuko did his best to keep Jade from fretting over her father's condition, though he himself was growing more and more anxious with each passing day.
No news of the Avatar had been heard of since the reports from the Northern Air Temple had reached them. That could only mean the young Airbender was avoiding civilization, OR (as his uncle had theorized) that he was already searching the northern seas for the Northern Water Tribe.
And so the days passed, the crew slowly falling back into their routines, the only sign of passing change really determined by their thickening garments as the cold wintery air chilled the further North they travelled.
By the time two weeks had passed all the crew needed at least two layers of thermal wear under their uniforms.
Even Jade and Dango and the engineers who all worked in the warm lower decks needed to layer up beneath their uniforms.
It was such thick layers Jade was wearing as she shut the door to her bedroom.
"by spirits I'm pooped" she announced to no-one as she slipped off her gloves and boots and collapsed into her bed.
That day had been exhausting. Not only had she prepped two whole meat carcasses, but she had had to prepare hot stew too for those on night shift and music night on top of serving and cooking the regular evening meal.
Definitely not able to make it for music night
She sighed as she snuggled into her pillow and catching a whiff of a musky scent a souvenir of the prince from the night before.
As a break from tradition, Zuko had come to visit her in her room for the evening. He had meant to actually ask her to sit with him on deck and look out over the ocean, but upon catching sight of her tired face, had instead chosen to hang out in her room. They'd ended up playing pai-sho, and Jade was proud to say that she had beaten him every single game.
In the end they'd played so far into the night that they both ended up crashing in her tiny cramped little cot.
Who'd have thought the grouch would like to cuddle?
She smiled fondly as she remembered the sound of his small soft snores echoing in her tiny room as he clung to her tightly on his si-
A knock jolted her out of her fond reminiscing and she sat bolt upright, scowling as she tried to settle her hair back to normal.
"Who is it?" she called as cheerfully as she could.
"It's me…Dango." The voice of Dango was more strained than she'd ever heard it in her life "could you please open up? I need to talk to you…urgently"
Though she knew she had done her job down in the kitchen's perfectly, Jade felt the old fear that every pupil gets when their mentor wants to talk in that tone of voice.
Carefully she opened the door and there Dango was standing in his stained apron, his tanned skin as grey as his long beard.
"Dango? What's wrong? What's happened?" Jade asked, all tiredness forgotten as she looked her boss over.
Dango gulped, as if what he was going to say next were going to be his last words at the gallows.
"Jade…it's Zhao. He's come back aboard. Tonight"
Jade felt her heart still in her chest.
Now…after all this time…but why? Grandfather made it clear that he was to leave us well enough alone…
But even as she thought this Dango held up something and pressed it into her palms.
A scroll with the official Fire Lord's seal.
Oh no…oh no-no-no-no-no
With trembling fingers Jade opened up the seal allowing the scroll to curl down, revealing a message in black and red ink.
"As of today, as ordered by our beloved Fire Lord Ozai, all Fire Nation naval vessels have been conscripted to the fleet of Admiral Zhao to assist him in the siege of the North Pole. Those that fail to comply with these orders will be court martialled and punished accordingly as traitors to the Fire Nation unless they are pardoned by said Admiral as will all crew members who dare to desert their posts"
"They're including kitchen staff in there as well" Dango's eyes were wells of sympathy as Jade looked back at him wide eyed. "even those not of military rank or bearing like us"
"But he-he…he can't do this" Jade spluttered, her lip trembling. "He-he just can't. This is the Zuko's I-I mean the Prince's ship-he just can't"
"It is the Prince's ship. But it's his uncle's crew" Dango shook his head sadly "And as his uncle still holds a military position he is obliged by law to send Zhao aid for his siege…this includes providing him with more manpower."
"But this ship is meant to be searching for the Avatar" Jade began but once again was cut off by her mentor with another shake of his head.
"Your uncle also seeks the avatar, and as the Avatar is also now most likely headed for the North Pole where the siege is to be held. The General has no choice Jade"
But she barely noticed his words as her eyes began to water.
"Jade" Dango reached forwards but she snapped him off.
"No!" she blubbered. "No I won't go. Not now! And not back to him! I can't! I just can't!"
"Jade you have no choice"
"No choice? The bastard hired an assassin to kill my mother and me-"
"And he will do so again if you don't follow through with this"
There was a silence as the last small echoes of Dango's cry fell away around Jade.
She looked up at him her eyes still streaming.
"D-Dango" she whispered. "I…I can't leave him…not like this"
Dango sighed heavily, his eyes now just as misty as her own as he wrapped her arms around her in a tight embrace.
"I'm afraid Jade that you must. For your own sake as well as his."
When Admiral Zhao had strolled cavalierly into his quarters, demanding to take his crew Zuko had not known what to think.
With all the crew getting back to normal and how good things were going with Jade, he had almost forgotten that there was a real much darker disgusting world outside of his ship.
But now the realization hit him full force as he stormed up to the older Admiral who smirked as he looked bewilderedly at his uncle.
"Uncle is that true?"
"I'm afraid so" Lord Iroh's shoulders sagged dejectedly "He's taking everyone even the cooks. Both of them"
No…no…not her…
Zuko's eyes widened with horror and Zhao's smirk widened.
"Sorry you won't be there to watch me capture the Avatar. But I can't have you getting in my way again"
Zuko lunged forwards, only not connecting with his target by his uncle's strong grip but he did not care. In fact, it only made him angrier.
Zhao was going to rip everything he had right out from under him. Everything! His honour…his happiness…
She won't go with him! She can't! She'd never let herself be taken away by this sick bastard after what he's done to her!
He tried to reason in his head as he shrugged his uncle off.
But Zhao wasn't paying him anymore attention.
His eyes were instead drawn to the two long shiny broadswords hanging on the wall.
Curiously, he picked one off from the wall and swung it experimentally in his hands, testing the weight.
"I didn't know you were gifted with broadswords Prince Zuko"
"I'm not. They're antiques…just decorative." Zuko gulped, doing his best to hide the nervous shiver that slid up his spine as the sword was once more swung, it's silvery blade catching the orange glow of his room lights.
Zhao however was not deterred for a second.
"Have you heard of the Blue Spirit General Iroh?"
"Just rumours" Lord Iroh said as calm as a cucumber, as if he were merely discussing the weather outside "I don't think he is real"
"Oh he's real alright. And an enemy of the fire nation. But I have a feeling justice will catch up with him soon" Zhao spat as he handed the weapon to the older lord who took it and quickly wiped the hilt on his robes as he made to walk out the room.
"General Iroh, the offer to join my mission still stands if you change your mind"
And with that he shut the door, leaving Zuko to stare at the lock, his face drained of all colour.
"Zuko…" his uncle said softly. But Zuko put up a hand to silence him.
"I'm going to"
"Zuko-wait-"
But already Zuko had stormed out of the door and down the corridor out of sight.
As he walked he could see people rushing around trying to collect their belongings from where they'd been scattered around the ship. Down one corridor close to his quarters, Zuko had had to wait for Chan and several other guards to move Lieutenant Ji and the doctor's various medical equipment out onto the deck before he could even get a step down.
By the time he had reached Jade's room, most of the other areas of the ship were vacant.
No…she can't have
He felt his heart race frantically as he reached out a hand and pushed open the door…
Muahahahaha! and that cliff is where i will leave you all :D
sorry i know you guys probs hate me for dropping off at such a crucial moment, but i'm really, really tired and want my bed. I admit i do kinda feel pretty bad for Zuko here, (i'm pretty much ripping out his heart when he needs it most :P) but i personally think this is will be necessary in the long term (oh yes there is a long term plan for this fic ;). hopefully he and the other characters weren't too OOC and the changes to the episode plot (the Waterbending Master) weren't too off (i just rearranged them to fit better).
So you guys know the drill by now. Review if you like and all that jazz. In the meanwhile i'm gonna catch some Z's