I don't own A:TLA.
When I awoke again, the pounding had returned. I sat up too quickly and instantly regretted it. I groaned and clutched my head. i was still human. I looked around slightly and saw that I was in a cell like room. I frowned. Bastard, I thought bitterly. The door suddenly slammed open and I saw a guard.
"Come with me." He said. I stood shakily and followed him out warily, ready to attack if necessary. He led me into a hallway and I was hit with the smell of sweaty men. I followed the guard to a room and he knocked. I heard screaming from inside. I smirked slightly. Without waiting for a reply, I slammed the door open and strode over to where Zuko lay paralyzed on his bed.
"I told you I wasn't kidding." I said. I sat on the edge of his bed.
"Everyone, out. Or he stays like this." I said. They left. I cut my pointer finger with my nail and leaned over Zuko. I held my cut finger to his parted lips and let the blood drip into his mouth. After a few seconds, his screaming stopped. I held my hand there a moment longer before pulling my hand away. He sat up a stared at me.
"Your blood contract works." He said, awed. I rolled my eyes.
"I hadn't noticed. Thanks for pointing that out." I said sarcastically. I winced slightly and looked down at my hand. I had cut deeper than intended.
"You okay?" He asked. I nodded and stood.
"If that is all..." I said, standing to leave. Zuko lashed out and grabbed my wrist. I turned, wide eyed, and stared at him.
"I-I... Uh... Never mind." He said. I quirked my eyebrow and tugged on my hand slightly. He let go off my wrist and I went to walk away again.
"Wait!" Zuko said. I turned.
"Yes?" I asked.
"Stay. I want to talk to you." He said. I quirked an eyebrow. "That's an order."
"Riiiight." I said. I looked to the door and said, "I know you're standing there, Iroh! Go away!"
"How-"
"I'm a shirshu. Enhanced hearing." I said. I sat on the ground and cradled my sliced finger.
"What is it?" I asked.
"Explain to me how you are part human and part shirshu." Zuko said.
"I don't know. And even if I did, that is none of your business." I said. Zuko frowned.
"How don't you know?"
"Do you know why you were born a boy? Or why you were born into the Fire Nation? Or why you were born a prince?" I looked him in the eye. "Do you know why Azula was the lucky one? Do you know why you are lucky enough to be alive? Do you know why your father-"
"Stop!" Zuko said. I dropped my gaze to the floor with a guilty expression. "How did you know about all of that?"
"I could hear you discussing while I was unconscious. I heard you muttering in your sleep from my prison cell. 'My dad said Azula was born lucky. He said I was lucky to be born.' and then you said something about the avatar." I said. His good eye widened.
"And while were discussing personal matters, how'd you get that scar?" I asked. He frowned.
"That's none of your business." He snapped harshly. I shrugged.
"Okay." I said.
"What?" Zuko said.
"What? You said it wasn't my business, so I stopped asking. Simple as that." I said. "Besides, you answered with the hurt in your eyes. Your father gave you that."
"How do you know that?" Zuko asked. I shrugged.
"I've always been good with people and their emotions. It's an animal thing." I said. I looked at him again.
"Why did you really want me to stay?" I asked. Zuko shrugged. I smiled slightly.
"I understand." I said. He looked up in surprise.
"What?" He asked.
"There's a certain comfort in the presence of another. Your uncle never stops making noise and every one else is a cranky drunk or is actually working. You want peace and quiet for once but you don't want to be alone." I said. He actually managed to not look grumpy or confused, which was a big step towards a smile. I nodded and stood a bit.
"...What again is your name?" Zuko asked. "I know the bounty hunter called you Nyla but-"
"I'm Avery. Can I get some food, something to drink, and possibly something to fix up my finger?" I asked. He nodded.
"My uncle should be on deck. Look for him. He'll fix you up and get you something to eat and drink. I think you two will get along well enough. Tell him I'm going to bed and to not disturb me." Zuko said. I bowed and went to leave the room. "Oh, and put some actual clothes on."
"I might." I said. Zuko sighed and slapped his forehead.
"I'm going to regret this..." He muttered.
"Take one of my shirts." Zuko said. "Just cover up. I don't need my crew distracted."
"Oh... Okay..." I said. Truthfully, I hadn't though of it that way. I grabbed a black shirt from the floor and slipped it on. It came down to my thigh and slipped off my shoulder. I noticed that my shoulder wounds had reopened but ignored it. I ran out the door and up the stairs. I opened the door and ran out onto the deck, breathing in the fresh air. I smiled slightly and looked around for the uncle. I spotted him sitting at a Pai Sho table with a cup of tea and some biscuits. I walked over a cleared my throat.
"Would you mind if I sat with you?" I asked. The man smiled.
"Of course. Would you like some tea?" He asked. I nodded and bowed.
"Yes, please." I sat across from him and took the tea cup. I sniffed it before taking a sip. I gasped and smiled.
"I love it!" I said.
"I take it you never drank tea before?"
"Just cold whiskey and filthy luke-warm water." I said with a sad smile. He frowned.
"You really lived as a shirshu for all those years?" Iroh asked. I nodded. "Why?"
"I'm not sure why, really." I said. "I... I felt... I... I don't know why..."
"You don't have to talk about it if you don't wish to." Iroh said. I sighed.
"As long as you're okay with it, I feel that I need to tell someone. Oh, speaking of someone's, Zuko said he's taking a snooze so don't bother him." I said. Iroh nodded.
"Noted. Go on." He said. I sighed and sipped my tea.
"I think I might have had a crush on her when I was little. I guess that's why I started. I felt like I owed her something for caring for me when I was little. I was also afraid of being discovered. I don't know what she would've done, but I wasn't and still am not very fond of the whip." I said, putting down the cup to move the shirt, exposing my scarred and bloody shoulder. Iroh cringed when he saw it.
"Do you want to clean that? We have a medical center." Iroh said, staring at the angry red blood. I shrugged and covered it with the sleeve again.
"I can wait a bit. Anyways, I lived as her shirshu out of fear and respect. Like I said, I felt I owed something." I winced as my shoulder rubbed against the cloth painfully.
"Okay, the medical center would be a blessing right now." I said. Iroh stood and held out a hand to help me up. I took it and pulled myself to my feet. I swayed slightly and looked to my shoulder. Blood was dripping on the floor. I stumbled slightly as I took a step before collapsing.
"Lieutenant Jee! Come help!" Iroh called, kneeling at my side. Said man came rushing over and picked me up. I curled into his chest and gritted my teeth in pain. "Quickly, get her to the medical bay."
"You mean the infirmary?" Jee asked.
"Yes, the infirmary. I'll go get Zuko. Go!" Iroh said. I blacked out.
Yup, Avery is bisexual and you gotta deal with it.