Author's Note: Here I am with another chapter! Thankfully, you guys didn't have to wait too long. Enjoy!
Kai closed her eyes as Zuko ran his fingers gently through her hair, a small sigh escaping her. It had been a few days since the incident at the island and now the young couple was lying in their bed, resting after a long day at sea. Kai traced her fingers in small shapes on Zuko's shirt, her head resting on his chest. She could hear the steady beating of his heart beneath her ear as they lay in a comfortable silence. The only sound filling the room was the soft lapping of the waves against the side of the ship.
"You okay?" Zuko whispered in a voice that sounded loud in the quiet of the room.
"Mhmm…" Kai hummed in response, opening her eyes and tilting her head back slightly to look up at him. His golden eyes searched her face for a moment before she shifted to rest her head on his shoulder. His movement was a little stiff as he wrapped his arm tighter around her and she studied his profile before lacing her fingers with his and looking down at his arm, her eyes sweeping over the fading bruises on his pale skin.
"Are you okay?" she asked softly, returning her blue eyes to his.
He took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Yeah, just a little sore."
Kai ran her thumb over his hand, chewing thoughtfully on her lip. "Zuko," she said after a moment, waiting for him to look at her before continuing. "We could have died."
He looked away and silence fell between them again for a few heart beats. "I know." His voice was barely audible when he spoke and she sat up to get a better look at his expression. He was staring at the wall with eyes hard with an emotion she couldn't place. He briefly glanced at her before rolling onto his side, his back to her. She sighed and cuddled up against him, resting her chin on his shoulder. She tried to keep her expression neutral although her blue eyes filled with concern.
"This is a fool's chase if our lives are at risk," she said gently, trying not to set him off.
"My honor is at risk," he retorted.
A frown settled on her lips. "Are you willing to risk my life to gain something you haven't lost?"
"Just go to sleep," he said sharply.
"I'm-"
"I don't want to talk about this right now."
She sighed in frustration and pulled away from him, turning onto her side so her back was to him. She stared at the wall as her mind refused to let her sleep. Closing her eyes, she tried to focus on something else. She listened to Zuko's breathing, but she couldn't hear his soft snoring, which meant he was still awake. She snuggled deeper into the pillow, trying to sleep as an uncomfortable silence took over the room. After what seemed like hours of struggling to fall asleep but what could only have been minutes, the sheets rustled and she felt Zuko's arms move around her. His warm lips pressed against her neck and his breath whispered across her ear.
"I will never let anything hurt you."
She shifted in his arms so she was facing him and buried her face in his chest, taking comfort in his familiarity before she finally fell asleep.
The bustle of the market place was a nice change after so many days trapped on the ship. Iroh was like a child as he scurried from stall to stall, looking over the merchandise and picking out different things. Kai followed along, her eyes also studying different things, although she didn't buy anything. Zuko was sullen as he trailed behind them, arms crossed and a scowl on his face. Iroh stopped in the middle of the path, turning to face the teenagers.
"I've checked all of the shops on this pier. Not a lotus tile in the entire marketplace," he said, although he didn't sound too disappointed about his failed search.
"It's good to know this trip was a complete waste of time for everyone!" Zuko shouted in exasperation.
"Quite the contrary. I always say the only thing better than finding something you're looking for is finding something you weren't looking for at a bargain," Iroh said pleasantly. A few soldiers walked by, laden with the things Iroh had bought. Zuko huffed in frustration and Kai giggled.
"Lighten up. We haven't been off that ship for days," she told him, a lighthearted smile on her lips as she took his hand and began to pull him along after Iroh. The older man led them onto a ship laden with goods and Kai instantly grew wary as she noticed the sketchy looking men on board. She kept close to Zuko as Iroh sifted through the items, her blue eyes scanning their surroundings. It had to be a pirate ship, what with the poorly groomed men and surplus of treasures being pawned off. She caught one of the men watching her intently and Zuko nudged her along, shooting the man a dirty look.
"We lost the water tribe girl and the little bald monk she was traveling with," someone said in a hushed tone near by and Zuko tensed beside her. He led her over to the two men in a discussion, his expression growing serious.
"This monk, did he have an arrow on his head?" he asked, his grip on Kai's hand tightening in excitement. They had lost the Avatar's trail after escaping the island and Kai knew Zuko had begun to think the boy had managed to get away.
"What's it t' ya if he did?" the pirate asked, eyeing Zuko.
"I can help you obtain whatever it is you want."
The pirates looked at each other, their faces breaking into toothless grins.
"Uncle, Kai, I believe we have a heading."
The cutter craft moved smoothly on top of the water alongside the pirate ship as they followed the river away from the marketplace. Kai stood beside Zuko as he and the pirate captain conversed. She was uneasy about teaming up with a bunch of filthy pirates in their search, especially with the way they kept eyeing her like she was a piece of rare meat.
"Shouldn't we stop to search the woods?" the captain asked. Kai rolled her eyes at the idiot statement, her hands holding on tightly to the edge of the boat.
"We don't need to stop. They stole a waterbending scroll, right?" Zuko asked.
"Uh huh."
"Then they'll be on water."
Kai looked up at the dark, star-filled sky, her eyes flitting repeatedly to the man sitting near her. She kept feeling his eyes on her and it was making her uneasy, especially when Zuko wasn't paying attention. Not that she couldn't protect herself. It was unnerving to any woman to have a filthy scoundrel watch them like that. The man caught her glance and gave her a grin, causing her to quickly avert her eyes.
The sounds of a girl's voice echoing across the water caught everyone's attention and they fell quiet as she ranted at the water. The voice sounded familiar to Kai, although she couldn't quite place it. Zuko gave a signal and the cutter craft slid onto the beach, making a loud grinding noise as the pebbles scraped against the metal. A few pirates slid stealthily into the darkness, Zuko with them, leaving Kai alone with one man to watch the boat. A tanned face poked through the bushes to investigate and Kai recognized the girl from the Fire Temple. That was why her voice was so familiar. The girl's blue eyes widened in surprise and she turned to run. Kai could hear struggling and then Zuko's cold voice echoed across the water.
"I'll save you from the pirates."
Kai glanced at the pirate left on the boat with her and tried to keep a steady expression when she met his hungry gaze. "Mind the boat," she ordered before hopping out and reaching Zuko where he was tying the girl to a tree.
"Tell me where he is and I won't hurt you or your brother," he was saying as she walked up.
"Go jump in the river!"
Kai suppressed a smile at the defiant words, secretly admiring the girl's bravery in her situation.
"Try to understand, I need to capture him to restore something I've lost. My honor. Perhaps in exchange I can restore something you've lost," he negotiated, pulling out a necklace from his pocket.
"My mother's necklace! Where did you get that?" Kai glanced at Zuko curiously, wondering the same thing.
"I didn't steal it, if that's what you're wondering. Now tell me where he is!"
"No!"
Kai looked at the girl with pity, a slight frown on her lips. She was so loyal to the Avatar that she was risking her life by angering the prince of the Fire Nation. Aang must be truly important to her if she would go this far. Was he that important to everyone on the opposing side of the war?
"Enough of this necklace garbage. Ya promised the scroll!" the captain interrupted, stepping forward.
Zuko scowled and pulled out the scroll. Flames danced in his hands as he held it over them, a dangerous gleam in his golden eyes. "I wonder how much money this is worth..."
The pirates gathered in the clearing let out a collective gasp.
"A lot, apparently. Now you help me find what I want, you'll get this back and everyone goes home happy. Search the woods for the boy and meet back here."
"Fine," the captain said reluctantly and Zuko put out the flames. The pirates dispersed, leaving the firebenders alone with their prisoner. Kai looked up at Zuko as he stepped forward, handing her the scroll.
"Take care of this for me," he said, folding it into her hands. She nodded and he walked past her, calling out for his Uncle as he moved toward the boat.
"Why are you doing this?"
Kai turned towards the girl, her eyes widening in surprise at the question. "Excuse me?"
"Why are you doing this? We haven't done anything wrong."
Kai glanced around, unease filling her at the question.
"Because the Avatar is a threat to our nation," she answered automatically, looking back at the girl.
"Is that what they tell you? What are you anyway? Some kind of concubine?"
Kai scowled at the question. "No! I'm…" She trailed off, at a loss for words. What was she? It had never really occurred to her where she stood in this. What was she to everyone? She knew she was like a daughter to Iroh, but the royal family didn't adopt anyone or it might taint their pure lines. Zuko said he loved her but she felt it slowly slipping away between them as they continued on this journey. What was she to them?
"I'm a companion, I guess," she finally answered, although she was unsure if that was true or not.
"Are you sure about that? Shouldn't you know where you stand?"
"I do!" she said with a scowl.
The girl was quiet for a moment as she studied Kai. "Are you a bender?"
"Why do you ask?"
"I know this isn't the most ideal time to ask this, but Aang needs a firebending teacher. You don't seem like you fit in here. You should join us! You'll have a place in our little group and you can help save the world."
Kai was taken aback by the proposal and she struggled to find words. The girl was trying to convince her to join the Avatar and go against her own nation. To go against Zuko. She glanced away, her mind reeling. That would be the highest form of treason but…the girl was right. Kai had no place on the ship or in the palace. She was just there, a mere companion to Zuko. He didn't listen to her and their relationship was beginning to fall apart at the seams as it was.
"We have him!" a voice exclaimed, breaking into her thoughts and cutting off anymore conversation with the girl. Two men walked into the clearing, dragging two nets behind them. In one was the Avatar and in the other was the boy from the temple.
Zuko appeared through the bushes, a thin smile spreading on his lips as he approached the captured Avatar with Iroh trailing behind him. "Nice work."
"Aang, this is all my fault," the girl said.
"No, Katara, it isn't," the Avatar replied.
"Yeah…it kind of is…" Iroh cut in. Zuko shot him a look and he fell silent.
"Ya have the boy, now give us the scroll," the captain said.
"You're really gonna hand over the Avatar for a stupid piece of parchment?" the other boy cut in, his voice filled with shock.
"Don't listen to him! He's trying to turn us against each other," Zuko growled, glaring at the boy.
"Yer friend is the Avatar?" the captain asked, ignoring Zuko.
"Sure is, and I'll bet he'll fetch a lot more on the black market then that fancy scroll," the boy replied as he shook off his netting and stood up.
"Shut your mouth, you water tribe peasant!" Zuko hissed.
"Yeah, Sokka, you should shut your mouth," Aang said from his stand point still on the ground.
"I'm just saying, it's bad business sense. Just imagine how much the Fire Lord would pay for the Avatar. You guys would be set for life!" Sokka continued. Zuko's fists clenched in anger and Kai frowned at how quickly things were turning out of their favor.
"Keep the scroll! Give us the Avatar back. My men caught 'im fair and square," the captain ordered.
"No. We have what we both want. Let's go Kai," Zuko retorted, grabbing Aang by the arm and pulling him out of his net. The captain stepped forward and grabbed Kai roughly, putting a knife to her throat. She gasped in surprise at the sudden feel of cold metal on the vulnerable flesh of her neck.
"Give me the Avatar," the captain growled. "Or yer girlfriend loses 'er head."
Zuko froze in place, his eyes locking with hers for a moment before he slowly lifted his gaze to the captain. "Let her go," he said darkly.
A malicious grin spread on the captain's face and Kai gasped in pain as the knife began to cut into her skin only a fraction of an inch. She could feel the sting of the weapon as it drew blood, making a red line along her throat. She whimpered softly in pain, unable to hold back the fear for her life that suddenly filled her.
Zuko's gaze flickered with panic momentarily before he looked away, his golden eyes landing on the Avatar he was holding prisoner. They returned to her and she could see him weighing his options. Was he really contemplating letting her die so he could return home with the Avatar? Was his honor that important to him? What about all those sweet words he had whispered to her? He had told her he would always come back for her, that he would never let her get hurt, yet here he was contemplating between letting her die and keeping the Avatar or losing him.
"I'm runnin' out of patience," the captain threatened and Kai couldn't help crying out as the knife sliced a fraction of an inch deeper and blood began to slowly drip down her neck.
"Zuko!" Iroh hissed in disbelief.
"Okay, let her go!" the prince relented, pushing the Avatar into the arms of one of the pirates. The captain removed the knife and pushed Kai onto her knees in front of Zuko. They laughed and took their prisoners away, leaving only the firebenders in the clearing. He crouched beside her as she covered her bleeding throat, resting a hand on her back. She angrily shoved his hand away and got to her feet, falling into Iroh's arms as sobs escaped her. He had almost let her die. He had to think about whether her life was more valuable than the Avatar.
"Kai, you don't understand-"
He was cut off by a sharp look from Iroh, who was clearly disappointed in his nephew. The older man began to slowly lead her back to the cutter craft, leaving Zuko on his knees in the clearing.
A/N: Wow, I surprised myself with Zuko in this one. He's starting to lose his grip on everything with how desperate he is with this chase. I always felt like the show wasn't showing how affected he was by his need to capture the Avatar(for obvious reasons with ratings and such), so he's definitely going to be a little darker in this. Give me your feedback on whether you're liking this Zuko or not.