Chapter 3: The Great Boy Fiasco

Zia's POV

I walk into the bathroom and instantly felt a difference in the temperature. I started to sweat right away and took of my cloak. Lee had escorted me to the bathroom and still hadn't left me alone. So, I just stood there awkwardly while he started at me intently.

"So, I don't mean any disrespect or anything, but can you please get out?" I asked as politely as I could. He was really starting to get on my nerves; he was already past the creepy level and is already midway through stalker mode.

The creeper just nodded and flashed me a smile that showed his perfect white teeth, "Sorry, I was just distracted by your beauty."

I snorted, "Beauty? What beauty? I am covered in dirt, sweat, and not to mention I probably smell."

Lee shook his head and said smoothly, "That might be true, but I can see through all that. I have never seen a more beautiful woman in my life."

I can feel my face burning and I know I have that shy smile on my face. I just bend my head down and look at my bare feet. I hear him walk over to me and I suddenly feel a rough, calloused hand gently grab my chin, pushing my head up. His face is just a few inches from mine and I try to take a step back. The hand on my chin gets tighter and I am roughly jerked back forward.

My hazel eyes stare into his amber ones and I am suddenly too scared to move at all. He has a hard look in his eyes that I usually only see in drunk soldiers. But I can feel his hot breathe on my lips and it doesn't smell like fire whiskey. His head dips toward mine and I can feel my body temperature rising with my anger.

His lips touched mine and they are hard but warm and wet. They crushed my lips for a few seconds and I finally unfroze. I stared at his closed eyes and tried to think of a plan. He licked the bottom of my lip and I unwillingly opened my mouth for him. When he slipped his tongue into my mouth, I bit down hard. He yelped and stumbled back. I turned my head away and spat into the corner of the room.

"And this is why I don't talk to guys. If you would have gotten to know me, then maybe I would have liked you, but no." I told him angrily. Lee looks at me and opens his mouth to talk to me.

"I thought you liked me." He said at last.

I shook my head, "No. You're first warning was when I stepped back. You knew I didn't like you." My fist clench and I could see the smoke coming out of them. "I suggest you leave me alone and I won't kill you."

The teenager slowly crept to door and as he was closing it, Lee said, "The kiss? Did you like it?" He quickly shut the door after, when he saw my fire aimed at his head. The green fire hit the door and left a big scorch mark on it.

I walked to the door and quickly locked and bolted it. I walked to the shower and turned on the water. It didn't matter if it was hot or cold; my temper would make the water hot. I took of my clothes and jumped into the water. The water was cold and it felt good on my hot skin, so I just stood in the water for a few minutes, soaking in the feeling of the cold. The water was soon turned warm and I had to get out and wash.

I start to smell all the soap for the least girly, but least manly, too. Just because I don't want to smell like a flower doesn't mean I want to smell like a man. When I finally smell one that smells like plain soap, I hear someone banging on the door.

I groaned, hopping out of the shower and quickly wrapping a towel around my body. I cursed quietly when I saw how short it was on me; it ended only a few inches below my butt and was showing off my tanned long legs.

I walk over to the door and pull it open. I gasped when I saw who it was. I was suspecting a random soldier or Lee, and maybe even Uncle, but definitely not the Fire Nation Prince.

"Hey Prince Hot Head. You better have a good reason for interrupting my cold shower," I said, blushing slightly at his expression. He looked like he had just run 50 miles for at how red his face was right then, and to add to that, he was gaping like a fish out of water. I snickered slight and then leaned up against the door, waiting for him to answer.

It takes Zuko a minute but he finally nods and raises his hands up. In them were a bundle of clothes that, I think, were for me. I take them with my left hand, which wasn't occupied at the moment with keeping my towel up.

"Thanks, and if that is it, then goodbye," I say softly as I stop leaning on the door and start to close it with my right foot.

The prince shakes his head and tries, key word tries, to clear his throat. "Uncle, ahem," he starts back up in a slightly deeper voice, "Uncle said that lunch will start in an hour, and he said not to be late."

I nod and start to close it again, but he stops me with his hand. I look at him and he doesn't meet my gaze. His eyes are looking to the right of me, which was the door.

"Uncle also said for me to apologize for not thanking you for helping me up earlier," Zuko's voice rose a few pitches at the end of that sentence and he quickly cleared his throat again. I know that he was lying about Uncle telling him to apologize. Zuko would never listen to his uncle about apologizing. I wonder what has gotten into him. "Erg, um I am sorry for not thanking you and thank you for helping me up."

"It is fine and your welcome, I guess?" I laugh nervously and I know that my face is light pink. "So, can I go back to my shower now?"

The Fire Nation Prince moved his head up and down in a yes with his face still a bright red. I study it for a second and finally close the door, deciding that it was more of a deep pink color than a red.

When the door is locked and bolted, I put my back against it and let out a breath of air. That was one of the most embarrassing and awkward things ever things ever.

I removed the white towel from my body, and I set it down on the bar next to the shower. Quickly getting in the shower, I immediately wet my hair again and washed up. About thirty minutes later, I turned off the shower and just stood for a few seconds, remembering these past few days. A sudden thought hit me and I think about the Earth Kingdom town I was just in. I wonder what happened to it. Did they send someone after me when I didn't show up? Did the Red Dragon burn down the village? Or was it all not real? Did they make it up just to send me away?

I shakily step out of the shower and grab my towel. Although it was still wet from earlier, it did its job and I was soon dry. Trying to get those thought out of my head, I grab the clothes that Zuko gave me and took a look at them.

The top was a small, blood red long sleeved tunic, the head hole would be too small for my head and the black pants were going to be tight, too, but I could work with. Along with those, I was given a long, blood red silk belt, black flats, and white bindings. I put on the bindings, which were surprisingly the perfect size, and stared at the shirt.

An idea suddenly came to me and I jumped up from my spot on the floor, to my old pile of clothes. I grabbed my old pants and felt along the waist seam for my father's small knife. When I finally felt it, I slid it out and ran off to my new outfit.

I seized my shirt and cut off from the top of it to the armpits. I pulled on the tight, newly sleeve less shirt and looked at it. I looked at my tan arms and tattoo, thinking that I was showing way too much. Seeing the sleeve part of the shirt, I slipped them over my arms, practically covering the entire tattoo. I looked down again and saw that the shirt covered down to a little below my belly button. I snorted, took the knife and cut it off near the middle of my stomach. Much better, I thought to myself.

I slid on the tight pants and pulled them all the way up, so the pant legs part didn't drag on the floor. Pulled all the way up, they went above the bottom of my shirt and I laughed at the look. I took the silver knife and cut the waist part in a slight slant, on my hips. The pants were perfect now, but they needed a flash of color.

I grabbed the belt and folded it in half. I knotted the belt around my hips, but it didn't look right. I untied it, unfolded the silk cloth, and tied it back around my waist. Perfect. I put on the black flats and thought that I was already girly enough, taking them off. I grabbed my black combat boots and slipped them on. I was glad there was some familiarity to the new look.

I walked slowly to the mirror on the other end of the room, trying to bring up my courage to actually look at myself. When I finally reached it, I gradually slid my gaze from my feet, to my legs, my stomach, my chest, and finally, my face. I gasped, looking at all of my reflection in the full length mirror. My long wet hair flowed in small waves all the way down my back. All the red I was wearing brought out the red in my hazel eyes and I looked, dare I even say it, pretty.

There was a bang on the door and I slid the small Fire Nation knife into its spot in my combat boots. I grabbed the red cloak and tied it around my neck, slipping up my hood. When I was sure I was completely covered, I opened the door a crack.

Uncle stood there looking at me and I called out, "Hey Uncle."

He nodded and said, "I thought I would stop by to see if everything is okay."

"Everything is fine. How much time do I have until lunch?" I asked.

"Fifteen minutes, Zia."

I nodded goodbye and he walked away, whistling. When he rounded the corner of the hall, I opened the door a little wider and poked my head out. Seeing no one, I ran quietly down the hall to the deck, cloak flapping soundlessly as I made my way up. When I finally reached the deck, I walked quickly to the other end of the ship. I reached the railing and sighed, sitting down into a meditation pose. I closed my eyes and relaxed, taking in the feeling of the sun. The cloak still covered all of me, so I most of looked like a red blob siting on the railing.

A few minutes later, I heard the sound of footsteps coming toward me before the person spoke. This time, I wasn't surprised when I heard Zuko's voice asking, "What are you doing, peasant? Making an attempt to escape?"

So we were back to Grumpy Hot Head. Not even opening my eyes, I answered, "If I was making an escape attempt, I would already be gone. Not here meditating on a railing."

"You meditate?" he asked, sounding surprised. I was about to nod, but I remembered my hood was up and I answered aloud.

"Yes. It's a way to calm the mind and soul. It is to keep my firebending running on purpose, not anger." I answer calmly.

"Who taught you that?" the prince asked, sounding actually curious this time.

"I can't remember. I have been doing this ever since I left my home..." I abruptly cut off my words when my voice cracked at the word home.

I opened my eyes and turned away from the ocean to look at Zuko. He had a faraway look in his eyes as if he was remembering something.

"Prince Zuko, would you like to meditate with me?" I asked him softly, not letting him know that I had seen that sad look in his eyes.

He nodded and we sat down, side by side, with our backs touching the railing. I created a red fire in my palm and Zuko copied the move. I pulled my hood down to feel the sun on my head and closed my eyes.

Speaking aloud, I said, "Close your eyes and picture your flame in your mind. Let everything else float out of your mind. Focus only on that flame. When you are truly focused, your breathing should match the flame in your mind and palm. Only then are you completely calm. "

I stopped talking to picture my bright red flame. I focused intently on it, letting all my thoughts float away, my thoughts of my parents, of my old friends, of Lee, of Prince Zuko, of Uncle, and of the Avatar. My breathing slowed down and matched my flame.

Only when I felt completely calm did I stop meditating and open my eyes. I saw my flame and noticed that it was completely still, no flickering at all. I glanced to my left and saw Zuko trying to calm himself. I could tell by the way his flame was flickering and growing. A few minutes later, Zuko's flame was only flickering every once in a while but it still matched his breathing.

I closed my eyes again and sat there, feeling the heat of the bright sun on my head, for a few more minutes until I heard Uncle come onto of the metal deck. "Prince Zuko, Zia, our lunch is ready."

I open my eyes with a sigh and unfold my legs, rubbing some feeling back into the numb parts; Zuko stands up and holds his hands out for me to grab. I grab his warm hands and he pulls me up. "Thanks," I say to him as we walk to the other end of the deck.

He nods and walks faster to catch up to Uncle. I can hear them mumbling from where I was but I ignore them for a moment. My thoughts are rushing back to me like a tornado, quick and harsh. I immediately groan and grab my forehead, stumbling a little because of the huge headache that came all of the sudden.

When I arrive at where Zuko and Uncle are, my head feels like it has been hit a thousand times with a rock. I moan quietly, hoping neither of them heard my unmistakable cry of pain. Unfortunately they both did and looked at me. Even a few of the crew members glanced at me. I guess I was louder than I thought.

Zuko's look was more of one of annoyance and Uncle's was one of worry. "Are you okay, my dear? No offence, but you look horrible." Uncle asked me, his voice was calm but had a small hint of worry in it.

"I'm fine, I just have a headache. That's it." I tried to say reassuringly but it came out a mumble, which was way too loud in my head. I whimper and rub my head with two of my fingers. "I'll think I'll go rest after I eat though," I whispered barely loud enough for them to hear.

Uncle nods and says, "Well, let's not waste any time. Let's eat." He sits down at the table that magically appeared and someone immediately puts a huge plate with an enormous pile of food on it. I sit down next to him and someone sets down what I had for breakfast in front of me. Only this time, there is a small piece of bread nest to the gruel.

I grab the bread and tear a small piece off. Stuffing it in my mouth as ladylike as I could be, I swallow it whole and take a huge bite of the piece of bread this time. I chew and try to savor the taste of it. I will never know when the next time I will be able to eat decent food.

I finished my bread, grabbed my apple and stood up. "Thank you, I will be going to my room now."

But before I could even finish my sentence, a whistling flare was sent up in the sky and Zuko yelled "Get me a telescope, now!" A servant ran up to Zuko and handed him one; he opened it and followed the trail of the flare down to an old, abandoned Fire Nation ship. "The last airbender, he is quite agile for his old age," he then turned slid his scope sideways and after a few seconds, he backed it up and saw something in the ice desert. "I have finally found the Avatar, as well as his hiding place."

Through my headache, I registered it and asked Zuko, "May I see please?"

Zuko whips his head around and contemplates this for a few seconds. He finally seems to come to an answer and hands me the telescope, "Fine, but only for a few seconds."

I put it up to my right eye and squint, trying to see what the Fire Nation prince saw. I finally saw to figures, one in orange and yellow, and the other in blue. I slid the scope to the left, looking for the 'hiding place,' and there it was in its small glory. It had one small smoke stack and I could see some small tents behind the snow wall.

Shaking my head, I hand the telescope back to Zuko and he hands it to one of the soldiers. With that, I turn my back to the tiny tribe and tell Uncle to come get me when we arrive there.

I walk to my room, passing Lee on the way, and glare at him; daring him to talk to me. Luckily, he doesn't take the dare and leaves me alone. Opening the door with a sigh, I drag my feet to the cot with a feeling that something very bad is about to happen.