Hey guys. So, my goal is to update every other week, probably on weekends. I meant to upload this Friday but to be honest it just completely slipped my mind! Sorry you had to wait. Also, I'm not entirely sure how I feel about the meditation room scene in this chapter. You'll see what I mean when you get there. Anyway, here's the newest chapter!
Asuni sighed as she sank into the steamy water of the hot spring. The closest place to the Water Tribe where they might have been accepted was an occupied stretch along the western coast of the Earth Kingdom. The So Oku River was a convenient opening to the frigid water and, on top of that, the village there boasted a luxurious spa resort.
Iroh had been delighted when he realized this. Despite Asuni's protests that they should stay hidden, he had insisted that they stay.
Now, as Asuni soaked in the water she was glad that she and Zuko had submitted to the older man. The moment the owner of the spa had seen Iroh and Zuko they had been welcomed with open arms and treated to anything they wanted. Banished or not, they were royal, and the most high-profile clients that the inn had ever seen.
Asuni had easily slipped into the role of retainer, weapons and armor hidden in her bag, her uniform traded for a slightly worn red dress snagged from a clothes line. As a servant she was expected to deliver the noble's meals and tend to them, but the hospitality of the resort also extended to her.
That brought her full circle, to where she sat now, lounging in the hot spring and allowing the steaming hot water to wash away some of the tenseness in her muscles. She sighed in contentment, allowing herself to loosen up for a moment.
She was wary of separating from Zuko and Iroh for very long though, so it was with reluctance that she kept her soak to a strict ten minutes before climbing out. Casting a quick glance around to make sure she was alone, Asuni pulled the water from her hair and body, drying herself instantly. She pulled on her underwear and breast bindings before swaddling herself in the red robe she'd brought the pool with her and tying the sash. It gaped open a little, exposing the very top of her bindings, but she wasn't overly concerned.
Parting her hair and braiding it down her back as she walked, Asuni ventured from the hot springs. She had to admit, she was enjoying the resort. Not just for the small moments of relaxation it allowed her but because it was on a river and almost the entire place was over the water. This gave her a unique advantage if anything happened – she could move undetected around underneath the resort in an instant, burst through the floorboards, and drag an attacker into the water or one of her charges into a protective bubble of air.
Asuni padded barefoot across the boards until she reached the massage section of the resort. Potted cherry trees were scattered all over, their petals drifting lazily in the breeze and the calming scent surrounding her. Iroh was the only one there with two men working on his shoulders, back and arms. Zuko sat against the wall in loose cotton clothes, a straw hat pulled low over his face as he glared at the ground.
"You're not getting a massage?" Asuni asked, settling herself next to him. She bent her right leg and left her left stretched out straight, leaning back against the wall.
As if to support her, Iroh let out a loud, luxuriant whimper as his back popped. "This is what I've been missing," he said happily. "Who knew floating on a piece of driftwood for three weeks with no food and sea vultures waiting to pluck out your liver could make one so tense?"
Zuko remained quiet and Asuni looked at him worriedly. He'd been quiet all day and even angrier and tetchier than usual, which was saying something. She would have to be a fool not to have realized why thought. Iroh sighed, waving away the attendants and getting up, shrugging the top half of his robe onto his shoulders. He slid off the table and walked over, sitting down on Zuko's other side.
"It's the anniversary, isn't it?" Iroh asked quietly.
"Three years ago today I was banished. I lost it all," Zuko growled. "I want it back. I want the Avatar. I want my honor, the throne. I want my father… not to think I'm worthless."
"I'm sure he doesn't!" Iroh said jovially. "Why would he banish you if he didn't care?" Iroh paused, blinking, and Zuko scowled. Asuni huffed, giving the retired general a dark look. Zuko stood up angrily and stalked off in the direction of the meditation room.
Iroh winced. "That came out wrong, didn't it?"
"You think?" Asuni sighed, standing up and hurrying after Zuko. As she'd expected, he'd made for the meditation room that the spa boasted – a room with separated small sections for personal, private use and a cabinet full of materials for whatever sort of meditation a person might want to use. All of the rooms were open and waiting for an occupant but one.
Asuni moved to the door, cautiously sliding it open. Zuko was sitting cross-legged in front of an altar of candles but none of them were lit. His hat was tossed aside carelessly. He wasn't meditating, he was glaring at the candles and fisting his hands on his knees.
"Zuko," Asuni said softly, stepping inside and shutting the door behind her. The room was small, made to be long, not wide. There was no room for Asuni to sit beside Zuko and she didn't want to sit in front of him and block his view of the candles in case he decided to meditate for real. She knelt behind him.
"If you're here to tell me about how I'll get all of those things back, I'm not interested," Zuko said softly. "Words and promises aren't enough right now…"
"I know," Asuni said simply, and she really did understand. "You need something you can hold in your hands, but I can't give you that right now. I wish I could, because I know it would make you happy, but I can't."
"Happy…" Zuko said thoughtfully. "I don't think I've been that in a very long time."
"You haven't," Asuni agreed shamelessly, drawing a small, bitter 'ha' of laughter from Zuko. "But I continue to serve in the hope that one day I might be able to make you happy," Asuni admitted quietly, fighting down the urge to flush.
"And why would you care about my happiness?" Zuko countered swiftly. He was lashing out not for any real anger at her but simply because she was a convenient outlet for his rage. Asuni had been around him long enough to know the difference and she knew better than to respond angrily.
Instead, she let herself talk from her heart. "Zuko, you stopped being an assignment a very long time ago," she said quietly, failing in her battle to keep the pink from her cheeks. "I have lived and worked near you for two years. You can't spend that much time around a person and not become fond of them… if only for the sake of your sanity," she tacked on with a wry smile. "I want you to be happy because that would make me happy."
Asuni watched as Zuko's fists released, his palms resting calmly on his knees. His head dipped lower.
"How do you always do that?" Zuko asked. "You always know what to say to calm me down, even when I'm so angry I just want to… to burn…" his fists clenched again, but they loosened once more just as quickly, the momentary flash of temper gone.
Asuni smiled. "I've spent the past two years perfecting the art," she said with a smile, raising her hands and placing them on Zuko's shoulders. He stiffened, but almost immediately relaxed as she began to knead and pluck at the muscle there.
"What are you doing?" Zuko demanded, but he didn't sound angry.
"Perhaps Iroh is right and you should try to relax?" Asuni suggested as she dug in harder. The prince's shoulders were a mass of knots, unsurprisingly. He spent most of his time angry and tense and the rest of it asleep.
"Aren't you supposed to tell me to be alert?" Zuko disagreed, but he arched a little bit into her touch. He was enjoying it, and Asuni smiled proudly.
"That's my job," Asuni corrected. "For now, you're in a spa resort where the staff are at your beck and call. It's a tiny kingdom, but for now, it's at your whim," she offered.
They were silent for a while, Asuni continuing to rub the prince's shoulders and neck, occasionally letting her finger's skim up and rub at his shaved scalp. Zuko luxuriated in the soothing touches. This was the life he'd been born to live – pampered and tended to. That Asuni was the one slowly kneading and stroking away the tension in his shoulders only made the moment that much more wonderful, for reasons he'd think about later.
Asuni hit a particular knot along Zuko's shoulder blade and scowled, kneading it harder. Zuko couldn't help himself – he let out a low moan that surprised them both. Asuni's hands stuttered in their movements as the sound sent a rush of heat through her and Zuko winced, embarrassed that the sound had crept past his iron control.
"Is masseuse one of the covers the Royal Guard are trained to hold down?" Zuko asked quickly, trying to cover his slip and unfog his mind a little bit.
Asuni chuckled softly, grateful for the topic to latch on to. "No, but we study the human body extensively. Not just the weak points but also how every bit of it works. Muscles, ligaments, bones, organs, pressure points – every bit of it can be used to either hurt or heal, so we are all required to have a thorough and intimate knowledge of the body."
The words 'intimate' and 'body' sent a torrent of less-than-pure thoughts through Zuko's mind that he hastily pushed away.
"Mostly it's applied to martial purposes, setting bones, or making sure guts are all put back in the right place, but it can be applied in more pleasurable ways," Asuni continued, glad to have a subject that she could speak clinically and knowledgeably about to distract her from what she was doing and the lingering prickles Zuko's moan had left her with.
Zuko had to keep himself from shuddering at the way Asuni said 'pleasurable.' Maybe it was the lack of physical contact he'd had with a woman, maybe it was stress, maybe it was just her, but Zuko couldn't remember ever being strung this tight before.
He actually whimpered when Asuni said, "Take off your shirt?"
Zuko was grateful that Asuni didn't seem to hear the sound. He took a deep breath, steadying his voice before croaking out, "Why?"
"Because you have a knot on your back that's the size of a dragon and if I'm going to do this I'm going to do it right," Asuni insisted. "Take off our shirt and lay on your stomach."
Zuko contemplated just telling her that he had some reason he needed to leave and fleeing to get his whirling thoughts under control. But the thought of stopping her now was nearly intolerable. He hadn't felt this relaxed in years and just like on the raft, Asuni's fingers on his skin was a feeling he didn't want to give up.
Giving in, Zuko reached down and untied the sash holding his shirt closed and tossed it aside, shucking the garment. Asuni held her breath to keep herself from letting out a girlish squeal as broad shoulders and a smooth, sculpted back were revealed. She was starting to seriously question whether she could keep it together dragging her fingers across all of that – but she honestly did want to make Zuko feel better and the massage seemed to be working decently thus far. Iroh was right after all. As per usual.
Zuko lay down on his stomach. There was a moment of awkward shifting Asuni stood to let him stretch his legs out. He had expected her to sit back down beside him. He hadn't taken into account the fact that the room was too thin to allow her to do that and still have an easy angle to get at his back. Zuko stiffened up, even his scar blushing as Asuni sat down across the backs of his thighs.
"There's no room," Asuni explained, although she was suddenly very aware of the fact that Zuko was shirtless and she was wearing nothing but a robe and underwear. Suddenly this had gotten a lot more intimate. But she refused to let herself get things out of hand – her feelings for the prince were secondary to helping him relax.
Zuko, meanwhile, was fighting the urge to dig his nails into the floor as Asuni's weight shifted across his thighs. The only thing separating his skin from hers was the thin cotton fabric of his pants – and that meant some very interesting things about Asuni's state of dress.
One thing was for sure – he was no longer thinking about his father.
Asuni leaned forwards, drawing some water up through the floorboards of the resort and covering her hands in it. They glowed with healing energy as she continued to knead and rub, her hands now sweeping all over Zuko's back, shoulders, neck, arms… anywhere she could reach really. The pair of them both tried their hardest not to give away how very much they were enjoying the feeling. Asuni was convinced Zuko was simply enjoying being the pampered prince he was born to be and Zuko was firmly telling himself that Asuni was just doing what she always did – looking out for him.
As Asuni slowly finished up the last of the knots she allowed herself to switch from hard presses and twists to gentle, random strokes. She told herself that she was allowing Zuko to get used to not being massaged but in reality she was selfishly indulging a long-held dream to explore the prince's torso with her fingers.
Zuko felt the moment the touches changed. In a moment it had gone from a massage to something far more intimate as Asuni's fingers trailed down his shoulder blades, sweeping across his lower back dangerously close to the edge of his pants and feathering strokes down the backs of his arms. She trailed two fingers from the base of his skull down the length of his spine and that's when he couldn't take it anymore.
Zuko levered his torso up off the floor. Asuni immediately slid off of him, kneeling by his knees as Zuko flipped onto his back, staring at her. Asuni's eyes widened slightly as she took in his burning eyes. The normal gone had turned, deeper, richer, and warmer in a way she'd never seen before. Her breath caught and she was trapped by the prince's gaze, noting that his pupils were dilated.
Dilated… Is he… Did I… Did I do that?
"Thanks for that," Zuko said brusquely, reaching for his shirt and tugging it on. The cotton felt almost rough after Asuni's hands and he scowled at the thought, jerking his sash tight. He took one look at Asuni, his eyes trailing over the calf that had been exposed by her robe when she slipped aside. That was it, he had to leave before he did something he couldn't take back.
Zuko stood sharply and all but fled the room. Asuni watched him go. Her fingertips tingled, her palms warmed by Zuko's body heat. She trembled as she sagged sideways against the thin wall, all but shaking. That was…
"Mmm," Asuni hummed, smiling slightly. Heavenly, was the answer.
Zuko, meanwhile, was panting and trying his best to calm himself down. It was Asuni. His cook, his bodyguard, his friend, his… well, whatever the hell else she was, she was so many things to him that he'd lost track at this point. But what she was not was something for him to drool over no matter how beautiful she was and when had he decided that was true even though it completely was and he had no right to be this… aroused when she'd been doing something totally innocent and he was a pervert for even thinking half the things currently spinning through his head…
"Nephew?"
Zuko looked up. Iroh was standing in the hall, looking at him in confusion.
"Are you ill?" Iroh asked, confused. "Did Asuni find you after you left?"
Zuko's voice was strangled as he said, "She gave me a massage."
"Oh." Iroh's eyes widened and a sly smile spread across his face. "Oh."
"It's not funny," Zuko protested. "It's not… I shouldn't be… She didn't mean…"
Iroh shook his head, laughing. "My dear nephew, believe me when I said that yes it is, you should be, and she completely meant."
Iroh was still laughing as he walked away, leaving Zuko to contemplate that rather confusing statement.
After the incident in the meditation room that Asuni couldn't think about without blushing she'd returned to her room, fixed her hair, and donned a simple red dress the servants had provided for her. Still a bit jittery, Asuni headed to the kitchen to begin preparing the evening meal for Iroh and Zuko. She steadfastly refused to let them eat anything she hadn't overseen the preparation of.
Asuni stepped into the kitchen and retrieved a large soup pot, placing it on the stove and filling it was water. She dropped in chicken bones to make a base for soup and retrieved several vegetables and a knife. She set up in a corner of the kitchen, listening in without really thinking as two of the kitchen girls gossiped over a large pot of rice.
"So it's true then? That boat that pulled in today?"
"Yes, that's right! My brother-in-law works on the docks. It's Princess Azula, she's here them speak with her brother and uncle!"
Asuni choked on air and nearly sliced off her thumb. She quickly tossed the chopped vegetables into the pot and stirred, keeping her head down and remaining inconspicuous while she listened.
"She requested the use of an empty room to meet with them," the girl continued, obviously proud that she had all the information. "You know, the one on shore with the sea view?"
"I wonder what they're saying?" the second girl mused.
"Probably family reunion stuff," the first girl shrugged carelessly. Asuni scoffed as she abandoned the soup to put on hot water and fetch tea leaves, moving quietly so that she could still hear and didn't distract them from their conversation.
"Well whatever it is, can you believe it? Three royals at once! The only thing that could be better is if the Fire Lord popped up!" the second girl continued.
"Who cares about him?" the first said slyly. "I'm perfectly content staring at his son!"
The pair gave tittering laughs and Asuni purposefully clanked the tea cup against the tray as she set out the tea service. The two girls looked up and paled slightly when they saw her, obviously not having given her any mind.
"Do you mind stirring the soup every now and then for me while I take tea to the royals?" Asuni asked sweetly as she poured the hot water into a tea pot and collected the tea things.
"O-Of course," stammered the second girl.
"Thanks!" Asuni called behind her as she picked up the tray and headed from the kitchen. She walked down the hall a little faster than she would have normally. That the princess was here… that wasn't good. She'd sent a letter off with one of the resort's pigeons letting Lo Shen know where they were, but the timing meant that Azula had headed out before even knowing exactly where her brother was. That did not bode well.
Asuni hurried over to the shore and the room the girl had indicated. Through the door she could see Zuko and Iroh. Azula was there as well, standing in front of Zuko with her arms crossed.
Asuni knocked at the frame of the open door. "Pardon me, but I heard the princess had arrived and I brought tea," she said demurely, keeping her eyes low and steadfastly avoiding looking at any of the royals. Her act would be even harder to keep up with Azula around. Not only had she grown used to being looser with her servile demeanor around Zuko and Iroh but Azula was too clever by half –she'd notice anything amiss.
"What a well-trained servant you have, Zuzu," Asula cooed, uncrossing her arms and beckoning Asuni inside with two fingers.
"Don't call me that!" Zuko snarled as Asuni entered and set the tea on the table. She went about fixing Iroh's tea.
"To what do we owe the honor?" Iroh asked, although his tone indicated he thought it anything but.
"Must be a family trait," Azula sighed. "Both of you so quick to get to the point!" She crushed a shell between pointed nails. Iroh made a small sound of annoyance and Asuni quickly passed him a cup of tea to make him feel better before getting started on Zuko's. "I've come with a message from home: Father's changed his mind. Family is suddenly very important to him. He's heard rumors of plans to over throw him – treacherous plots. Family are the only ones you can really trust. Father regrets your banishment. He wants you home," Azula said carelessly, glancing out the window. She slanted her eyes back towards her frozen brother.
"Did you hear me?" she demanded, annoyed. "You should be happy. Excited. Grateful. I just gave you great news."
Iroh inserted, "I'm sure your brother just needs a moment to-"
"Don't interrupt!" Azula snapped, cutting her uncle off. Asuni wanted to grit her teeth but she didn't. Even a gesture that small could give her away. She was angry though, angry at the princess for speaking to her uncle so disrespectfully.
"I still haven't heard my thank you. I didn't have to come all this way. I'm not a messenger," the princess continued in annoyance.
"Father regrets?" The wary but desperate hope in Zuko's voice made Asuni's heart ache. "He… wants me back?"
"I can see you need time to take this in… I'll come to call on you tomorrow."
With that Azula turned on her heel and started for the door. She paused just inside of it. Asuni turned so that her back wasn't to the princess and bowed at the waist respectfully.
"So much you've been through," Azula said thoughtfully, eyes roaming over Asuni. "And yet this one servant girl is still here?"
"I'm afraid I just can't live without Asuni's cooking!" Iroh said, but even his usual joviality was strained.
"Hmm… Or perhaps the rumors are true," Azula said, a disgusted sneer curling her lips as her eyes flicked from Asuni to her oblivious brother. "Isn't that interesting?"
With that parting comment, Azula took her leave.
"We're going home! After three long years! It's unbelievable!" Zuko said, pacing the room excitedly as Asuni packed his and Iroh's bags. With the princess there, even in private facades had to be observed.
"Yes, it is," Iroh said suspiciously, clearly as wary of Azula's offer as Asuni was. "I have never known my brother to regret everything."
"Did you listen to Azula?" Zuko countered. "Father's realized how important family is. He cares about me!"
Iroh rose to his feet, retorting, "I care about you! And if Ozai wants you back, well, it might not be for the reason you think."
"You don't know how my father feels about me!" Zuko snapped, turning to the window. "You don't know anything!"
Iroh's face softened. "Zuko… I only meant that in our family things are not always what they seem."
Zuko whipped around, infuriated. "I think you are exactly what you seem! A lazy, mistrustful, shallow old man who had always been jealous of his brother!" With that Zuko spun away, storming across the floor. Iroh closed his eyes and lowered his head.
"I think I'll get some tea before bed," Iroh said quietly, taking his leave from the room. Asuni watched him go, biting her bottom lip.
"You shouldn't have said that," Asuni said softly.
"And why not?" Zuko snarled at her.
"He cares about you, my prince," Asuni said, shuttering her expression. This wasn't the time for Zuko and Asuni. This was the time for prince and guard. "I don't like this either. Something as big as welcoming you back? I should have been informed that this was happening, yet there's been no word from my contacts. I didn't even know Azula was coming."
"Maybe your people just didn't hear," Zuko tried to counter, but before he'd even finished what he was saying Asuni was shaking her head.
"Not possible. Zuko, I'm not trying to rain on your parade, I'm really not," Asuni assured him. "I'm just saying… be cautious?" she offered. "When something seems too good to be true… it usually is."
Zuko scowled. "Thank you, lieutenant. I'll keep that in mind."
Asuni flinched, hurt more than she'd expected to be addressed so coldly, especially after the meditation room.
"Of course, my prince," Asuni demurred, and turned back to packing Zuko's belongings. Zuko stared at her back, hesitant despite himself. It had been a long time since he'd been that… that royal to Asuni and he'd known her long enough to be able to see that it had hurt her a little bit even though it was appropriate. While he didn't want to believe her or his uncle, he knew that neither of them had ever given him bad advice before.
But hope had risen up and seized a hold of his heart and it wouldn't let him go.
Asuni had her pack thrown across her shoulders, carrying Zuko's wrapped belongings in her arms as she followed him down the stairs to the docks. Her head was low and she walked several paces behind the prince, as befitted her station.
"Stop it," Zuko said shortly as they walked down the stairs.
"Stop what, my prince?" Asuni asked softly.
"Stop… being a servant," Zuko spluttered, frustrated. "It's been so long since you've been like that and I… I don't like it."
Asuni smiled faintly, her eyes flicking up. Zuko saw the soft grin pull up the corners of her mouth.
"I know, Zuko," she said soothingly, and he was gratified that she'd used his name. "But I'm not doing it for you, I'm doing it for whoever is on that boat."
"But what does it matter?" Zuko protested. "They already think we're… you know…" He blushed against his will.
"Yes, but confirming that could be dangerous to both of us," Asuni disagreed, shaking her head. "For now, I am your retainer and your cook." She inclined her head. "Nothing more."
"Wait for me!"
The pair of them paused on the stairs, looking up as Iroh came hustling down after them, his belongings thrown over his shoulder and a smile on his face.
"Uncle! You've changed your mind!" Zuko greeted, relieved despite himself to have his uncle by his side. Iroh placed a hand on his shoulder comfortingly.
"Family sticks together, right?" he asked bracingly.
Zuko smiled. "We're finally going home." With that, he turned to continue on to the ship.
"And I don't trust Azula as far as I can throw her," Iroh murmured under his breath.
"Ditto," Asuni replied quietly as she took Iroh's pack as well and tossed it over her shoulder. Iroh looked at her worriedly.
"Is that too heavy?" he asked. Asuni gave him a pointed look. Iroh chuckled. "Ah, of course it's not."
When they reached the dock, it was to a real royal welcome. Soldiers lined the dock and flanked Azula where she stood at the top of the gang plank. Azula was smiling. Asuni didn't trust that smile. She'd seen that same poisonous grin years before when Azula burst through the bushes and threatened to have her killed for shouting angrily when the fireball came at her head.
"Brother, uncle, welcome!" Azula greeted graciously as the two men paused at the end of the gangplank. The royals all bowed forty five degrees to each other. Asuni bowed ninety. "I'm so glad you decided to come with us," Azula continued as they straightened up.
"Are we ready to depart, princess?" asked the captain, stepping from his spot by the end of the gangplank.
"Set a course for home," Azula said graciously, and Asuni was even more on guard as they all headed up to the ship. The princess did not talk like this. The princess was not this kind. The princess was not this generous.
"You heard the princess!" called the captain. "Raise the anchor! We're taking the prisoners home!"
… The princess was a traitorous bitch.
Azula's face contorted with rage as she stared down at the captain.
"Y-Your Highness!" he stammered desperately.
Iroh sprung into motion and so did Asuni. The pair of them kicked backwards, knowing the two soldiers flanking them over the side into the ocean. Iroh kept other soldiers rushing forwards at bay with a burst of flame as Zuko advanced onto the ship.
"You lied to me!" he roared at his sister.
"Like I've never done that before," Azula sneered shamelessly. She turned onto the ship and flicked her wrist carelessly. The soldiers flanking her stepped forwards, draining their fists back for a fire punch.
Asuni surged forward, swinging her free arm in an arc. Water rose up and swatted the two soldiers aside like they were dolls, hurling them into the water and clearing the way for Zuko. He charged forwards with fire daggers in his hands, heading for Azula.
"Zuko, let's go!" Iroh roared from the dock as he struggled with the soldiers down there.
"My prince, please!" Asuni called as Zuko lunged at Azula, trading blows with her. The prince ran on rage, making short, sharp motions. Azula flowed around him effortlessly, playing with him.
"You know, father blames uncle for the loss at the North Pole!" Azula shouted maliciously. "And he considers you a miserable failure for not capturing the Avatar! Why would he want you at home, except to lock you up where you can no longer embarrass him?"
With a roar, Zuko lunged at her again, redoubling his efforts.
"Damn it," Asuni cursed. "Iroh, drop!"
The general didn't question her. He simply dropped to his hands and knees. Asuni set aside Zuko's belongings and raised her hands like a conductor. A wave of water rose up on either side of the dock beside Iroh. It crashed together against the planks right in front of the retired general and surged the length of the dock, sending soldiers flying into the drink.
"Nicely done," Iroh praised as he levered himself to his feet with some difficulty.
Asuni looked over her shoulder just in time to see Azula toss Zuko back, three scratches from her nails bleeding n his forehead. Asuni screamed in wordless denial of the minor injury as Zuko charged at her again. Azula shifted around and grabbed his arm. Zuko went flying back in a desperate attempt to avoid a blast of fire from point-blank range. He hit the deck of the ship and looked up, his eyes a little unfocused.
Asuni wished desperately to attack Azula, but she couldn't. Attacking soldiers she could justify – she was a simple cook who feared getting caught in the crossfire. Attacking the princess? Forcibly interjecting herself into a fight between royals? There was no explanation for that one.
"Iroh!" Asuni called. He was the only one who could do anything. The older man surged onto the ship past Asuni as Azula began dragging her fingertips through the air, her hands sparking with electricity. Asuni's eyes widened. She knew the princess had learned to use lightning – she hadn't realized she was willing to use it so openly.
As Azula turned to strike at her brother Iroh stepped in front of her, seizing her fingers. The lightning poured through him harmlessly and shot from Iroh's fingers, slamming into the cliff side and shaking loose boulders. With extreme prejudice, Iroh kicked Azula over the side of the boat.
"Zuko!" Asuni cried worriedly, rushing to his side. She helped him to his feet. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Zuko growled out, although the bitterness and betrayal in his voice said anything but.
"We must go!" Iroh called, gesturing for them to follow him down the gang plank.
"I've got a better option," Asuni disagreed, grabbing Zuko's belongings and tucking them awkwardly under one arm. "Grab onto me!"
Neither man questioned her. Iroh wrapped his arm around her shoulders, Zuko around her waist. Together they leaped over the side of the ship, Asuni swirling on arm around to encase them in a bubble of air as they fell beneath the surface of the sea. She thrust her hand back and sent them shooting along underwater.
"Say it," Zuko panted, adrenaline still pouring through him. "You were right. Both of you."
"Now isn't really the time for bragging," Asuni disagreed as she propelled them up the river. She glanced around, judging the distance that they had come. Travelling underwater, propelled by bending was much faster than simply walking. They'd already come a great distance.
Asuni directed them into a tributary and pushed them along it a little ways until the water became too shallow. She let the bubble fall away until they were standing on a little dry patch of river bed, the water flowing around them. In their circle of dryness they moved to the riverbank.
Immediately, Zuko dropped to his knees, panting less with exertion than with emotion. Iroh fell beside him, the fight against so many enemies having taken its toll. Asuni alone stood, still clutching their belongings.
From within his shirt, Zuko pulled out a pearl-handled dagger with engravings on it. Wordlessly, he raised it to his hair. Asuni's hands clenched into fists. Zuko and Iroh would have to abandon the topknots that marked them as nobility, something both of them had worn since infancy. She couldn't imagine how that would feel. Like being forced to discard her Royal Guards necklace, perhaps?
Zuko sliced the ponytail away before wordlessly passing the knife to Iroh. Black strands and an iron-grey knot fell into the water and were carried away swiftly by the current. In silence, Iroh passed the knife back to Zuko, who tucked it away into his shirt.
"I'm sorry," Asuni said quietly, not knowing what else to say.
So the massage thing... I was writing and then once again Asuni and Zuko were doign their own thing without me really telling them to? I don't know, when that happens I usually decide to go with it and say that's just the characters speaking to me or something cheesy like that.