Zuko pulled open the tent flap and proceeded into the Captain's tent. His neck hurt from his poor attempt at sleeping last night and his head ached from a little too much wine: altotehter he was not in a good mood. A steward stood blindly staring, his quill forgotten pooling ink on whatever he had been documenting. He quickly stood up knocking over the chair he had been using in the process. The Prince rolled his eyes at his lack of social decorum and addressed him politely trying to ignore the rudeness of his open mouthed stare.
"Is the Captain here?" Zuko asked tersely surveying the tent.
"No. N-No my Lord Prince. Your Highness. Sir. Your Grace." The young boy was completely at loss as to what to do with the scowling royal and stood fidgeting with his hands clasped tightly in front of him. Zuko sighed and sat in the Captain's chair steepling his fingers while he looked at the terrified servant.
"Are you going to tell me where he is or just stammer through my titles?"
"The recruits Sir. Yes he is outside with the men," the boy squeaked pointing through the opposite side of the tent.
"Good we're getting somewhere. Go and fetch some wine, I'll need some refreshment before I begin my training." The steward scurried off happy to be out of the Prince's presence while Zuko moved out of the chair and peered out the flap at the training soldiers. The Captain stood hands behind his back walking back and forth in-between the pairs of sparing Elites. Before he could move to the next group the young servant rushed to the Captain most likely babbling about the Prince's sudden appearance. Zuko stepped into the sunlight, momentarily blinded, and began walking to meet the Captain. They met half way and clasped forearms smiling.
"Well if it isn't Prince Zuko. To what do I owe this pleasure Sir?"
"If you don't stop that incessant way of speaking I'll turn right back around."
The Captain guffawed, "I've been practicing that shit for weeks and the first high born I get to try it on wants to push aside his social etiquette. Figures!"
"You've been practicing sucking up to Nobility?" Zuko asked incredulously.
"Yes believe it or not. Your father is newly requiring the Elites to be present at all the royal functions as body guards. As their Captain I'll be present as well which means I'll have to blend in, or at least not stand out quite as much."
"You are going to be at court? Bowing and addressing royalty and nobility alike? I never thought I would see the day when the army would be dragged into the throne room. Leave it to my father to be paranoid that everyone is trying to kill him."
"You shouldn't talk that way about him, Zuko, he's your old man even if he can be a bastard." The Captain grasped Zuko's shoulder firmly giving him a reassuring smile. The Captain had been overseeing his training since he was a little kid and Zuko knew nothing but fondness for the rough, older man.
"I had heard rumors you'd come back to the palace, wasn't quite sure if they were true or not."
"I ran out of leads, the men were tired and quite frankly so was I. I needed to regroup, get some more information and brush up on my fighting skills. I heard you've been working with the new Elites, it wasn't an opportunity I wanted to pass up."
"You'll be wanting to train with them then?"
"Of course, why else would I be here?"
The Captain turned and looked towards where Kabuto and Soliel were sparing. Damn it. That girl is going to make this difficult. I doubt she expected to meet her lover on the battle field.
"I'll tell you what kid. I've got a reputation to uphold with these men and I don't want anyone saying that those who trained with me didn't earn it. I want to see that you're not going to slow us down."
"So you want me to "try out" to train with you?"
"All you have to do is hold your ground while fighting the team leader got it?"
"That's it? I just have to beat the leader? Fine, no problem."
The Captain shook his head chuckling. If he had to beat our little spitfire he'd never make it on the team. Zuko walked forward determinedly until he came to the edge of the arena where the men were sparring. The Captain reached out and pulled the Prince back and stepped into the middle of the men. He let out a shrill whistle and everyone stopped turning expectedly towards the Captain.
"Bring it in men!"
immediately the Captain was surrounded by the 14 Elites who had been sparring. Zuko turned and saw a young man tiredly making his way towards the group. Upon seeing the man coming the Captain shouted angrily at him,
"Did I say you could get your ass off the track Tamaki? You keep running until I tell you to. The next time your feet stop running you better be dead, you got that?"
The man ran back to the track and once again began running laps. Zuko's eyes followed him for a little bit as he struggled to keep a steady pace. I wonder what he did to piss off the Captain so much? When Zuko looked back to the Captain he was motioning Zuko to join him while dragging a recruit behind him. It took him a moment to realize that the recruit was blindfolded and incredibly short, barely reaching the Captain's neck. Zuko came to a stop in front of the Captain as he pulled the recruit to stand beside him. Zuko's mouth nearly fell to the ground. The blindfolded recruit was actually a woman. A very well built woman wearing training pants, a sash around her lower back and bright red bindings around her chest and one shoulder. No doubt to keep them from slipping from the weight of her…Zuko's thoughts were interrupted by the Captain announcing what was happening.
"This here is the leader of my Elites. If you want to train with these brutes you're going to have to fight Sunshine here without being knocked out of the ring. The men here will serve as the boundary line." Then men moved quickly forming a near perfect circle standing a little more than a foot apart. Soliel stood confused but mildly amused by the string of events. The Captain had said there was a man from the Palace who wanted to train with the Elites while he was home from a mission. Now apparently he had to prove himself by fighting her and judging from the men's silence he was somebody important. Probably a noble's son who think's he cut out to be an Elite. This actually might be fun…but why am I blindfolded? Soliel's lips were pressed into a hard line, she wasn't sure she was liking where this was going.
"Sunshine here will be blindfolded during the match. She'll have to use her other senses determine where her opponent is and where she is as well. First person to be knocked out of the ring or unconscious looses. If Sunshine loses she gets to give lover boy over on the track a cool down massage." The men snickered as Soliel's hands came up on her hips obviously ready to protest but was cut off by the Captain.
"If you say one word you'll do it, win or lose, blindfolded. Consider this as punishment for this morning." Soliel's hands slowly moved from her hips and back down to her side, it was obvious the Captain was enjoying her complacency. Zuko watched her intently and she scowled straight ahead. How on earth did a woman make it into the Elites? A woman like her no less? And she's the leader–their best fighter? The uncertainty swirling around in Zuko's mind was easily noticed by the Captain. Even amidst his shock he had the vague feeling he had seen her somewhere before.
"She may not look like much but she knows her way around a fight. Now all of you onlookers your hands are to be kept behind your backs and your pie holes shut! Depending on how this goes you all might be doing this tomorrow, so pay attention."
The Captain moved his hand to direct Soliel into the circle but she moved slightly so his hand missed her shoulder reaching into thin air. Her triumphant smirk caught Zuko off guard as she sauntered into the ring. She tied the blindfold tighter and stretched out her arms bouncing around to get her blood flowing.
"Tell me Captain, does my opponent's appearance after the match hold much wait?"
"Do what you like sweet heart just makes sure he's in one piece after the match."
Soliel smiled and practically purred out her response, "Perfect. Shall we begin?"
Zuko walked into the ring a look of displeasure across his face. The Prince shed his shirt revealing his pale porcelain skin throwing it to the side. His hands came us into a basic fire bending position and then stopped.
"I'm guessing fire bending is out of the question."
Before the Captain could respond Soliel quickly answered her hips cocked to the side and arms crossed about her chest,
"You can use it but it won't help you any."
Watching the girl smirk as she regarded him with blinded eyes was enough to make Zuko's blood boil. The men around the circle were shifting uneasily, they knew that the Captain didn't want to give the Prince any special treatment but this was ridiculous. Soliel had no idea who her opponent was and if she had known then they were quite certain her snide remarks would have been saved for a later date. The Captain was already regretting putting them in the ring together, all it would take would be one slip up and then she would know. He shuddered to think of the consequences, he may be her superior but she was the superior fighter. If she were to challenge him to a fight he would give her a run for her money but in the end he was quite certain of who the victor would be. Finally he broke the tense silence,
"Cut the chit chat Princess. There will be no fire bending during this round and that's final. Begin!"
Without having to be told twice Zuko zipped towards the girl anxious to get the whole thing over with. Soliel focused her mind on her target. Surely enough he was clearly visible thanks to his intense chi patterns. Holy Hell this guy is a fire bender and a half. His chi is glowing so much I could see it a mile away! Soliel shook her head and cleared her thoughts just in time to move slightly to avoid the mans left fist. With deft movements she met his right wrist with her own and the dance of limbs began. Zuko had not expected her to be able to respond so quickly and accurately to all of his attacks. It was mind blowing that she was fighting blindfolded. She met each of his blows with just enough force to stop him but she refrained from landing any blows herself. Maybe she can't see as well as I thought.
Soliel however was busy learning her opponents movements and fighting style. He's very direct, not the kind for plotting out his every move. He has a lot of strength but he doesn't seem to be pacing himself. He knows what he's doing though, he probably had a private tutor. His moves are out of a textbook. He's rigid though and completely engrossed in his own thoughts. He lacks the fluidity of his element, however he's dedicated. I imagine he would make a good Sun Warrior. Soliel moved a little quicker and finally she placed a blow on her opponent. Or she tried to. He avoided it? But how he's been using the same pattern, I couldn't have missed could I?
Zuko could feel her surprise when her attack failed. He couldn't help but gloat
"Didn't expect that did you? You're not the only one studying their opponent's movements Miss Know-It-All."
"What are you nine? I expected a little more Mr. Hot shot."
Zuko didn't have time to respond to the girls remark. She had begun to move much quicker than before and it was getting harder to follow her movements. She was landing little hits and kicks here and there but they weren't forceful. It's like she's testing where she wants to land a blow, or she's teasing me. The thought didn't sit well with Zuko and he lunged at her, hoping to end the match by knocking her out of the ring.
Soliel was quite tired of waiting for the man to make his move. She was exposing all of his open points but he wasn't changing his form. I've hit him in the same spot four times! Man, he's a dull as a board. Finally she saw his chi patterns shift. The man lunged forward at full speed. He's aiming for my upper body, the idiot. Soliel back bended placing her hands on the ground lifting her knee into his gut just as his fist passed through the space her head had been just a moment before. With swift movement she was in a handstand spinning back down onto her feet.
"You're impatient and foolish. I guess you are a nine year old."
Zuko glared up at the girl's figure from where he had fallen. Her blow had knocked the wind right out of him, but he wasn't about to give up. She's right though, damn it. I am impatient but I'm not a quitter. Zuko began to rise and reached out to stop the girl who had turned her back to him and began to walk away. His hand grabbed onto the red sash around her lower back and he pulled.
Soliel was disappointed in her opponent he had barely been a good warmup. Kabuto or Mori could have easily taken him out, why did the Captain insist it be me? She turned to walk away when she felt a tug at her lower back. She quickly spun out hoping to loose his grasp but it was too late. The red sash gave way causing Soliel to stumble forward, her lower back exposed.
Zuko eyes widened as the girl stumbled forward as her sash slid off. His eyes came to rest on a bright red dragon that graced her lower back right above the edge of her training pants. It was a Fire Nation dragon for sure, but that kind of artistry dated back to the time of his grandfather Sozin. His heart stopped, he had seen that mark before.
Soliel could hear the mummers and she knew her tattoo was now out in the open. She drew herself to her feet and whipped off her blindfold. She was facing the rest of the men now and they stared back at her in confused silence. Finally Kabuto moved forward and threw his arm around Soliel drawing her out of the ring.
"Gosh Soleil, you've always have to one up everyone. Now Mori's dragon looks like a kid drew it!" Mori was quick to shout out a defense for his dragon that wound its way around his bicep and soon all of the men were surrounding their leader asking questions about the match and the tattoo. Zuko gripped the red sash in his hand and stormed past the Captain and into the officer's tent. With a heavy sigh the Captain turned and followed slowly. Grasping the back of his neck he looked up to the sky, praying that Agni would show some mercy.
"Where'd you get it?"
"It's a sweet design, did you draw it yourself?"
"How long have you had it?"
"The details are amazing! It's like they're real scales!"
Soliel pushed past the men and away from their curious stares.
"Ok ok you've had your fun now get back to sparring. I'll be back in a bit."
With a few murmured complaints the men fell back into their sparring. Only Kabuto hesitated a moment wondering what on earth had happened during that fight. With a shrug of his shoulders he turned back to join one of the pairs until Soliel returned from whatever it was she was about to do.
Zuko stood in the corner of the tent shrouded in shadow as the Captain leaned uneasily against his desk. Neither spoke and the silence grew heavier until a certain Sun Warrior brushed through the tent's door. The Captain shot up from his desk alarmed.
"What the hell was that if you don't mind my asking? A blind fold? What kind of masochist game are you playing?"
The Captain shifted uneasily his glance taking in the Prince's scowl. He had to get her out of here as soon as possible.
"Damn it Soleil, why can't you just do as your told?"
"Told? I wasn't told anything. You just wrapped a blindfold around my head and put me in a ring. Who the hell was I fighting and why was it such a big deal? The men don't hold their tongues for just anyone."
"You really should leave the swearing to me my dear, it doesn't become you in the least."
Soliel was on the brink of boiling over. Her glare seared into the Captain as he moved to sit behind his desk.
"Listen Sunshine I don't have time to lay everything out for you. Go finish your training and we'll hash this out after, ok?"
Soliel stood a moment and then nodded turning to walk out.
"By the way, nice tattoo you got there. Where did you get?"
Soliel turned with a smirk as she stood in the tent's door way,
"My father."
With a swish of the flap she was gone and the Captain let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. He turned to where the Prince was leaning against a bookshelf glowering.
"For someone who just fought blindfolded she's not very observant, is she?"
"Listen your Highness I'll tell you exactly what I told her. I'm a busy man and I've got fifteen soldiers that need to be beaten into shape so lets just cut to the chase."
"Do you know who she is?"
"You think I let that spit fire in without a background check?"
"She's not a soldier."
"Are you sure you didn't wear a blindfold too? She's damn straight a soldier, and one of the best ones I've seen too. If she was really fighting you, you would have been knocked out cold in the first three minutes. Didn't you notice her holding back?"
"She wasn't holding back, she just wasn't utilizing her opportunities."
"Don't give me that crap. She highlighted all your openings within the first few movements and she gave you the chance to fix them. I know you noticed it."
"Why did you have me fight her when you know what she is."
"what she is? She's the best damn fighter I know!"
"She's my concubine damn it! She's a water tribe girl that was captured by my men who thought she was the Avatar's companion!"
"That girl might be your concubine but there is no way in hell she's a water bender. The red snake on her back should have given you a clue."
Zuko glared at the Captain. Her tattoo had been the one thing that he couldn't reconcile. What water bender would have a dragon from the Fire Nation's golden age tattooed on her back? Her mannerisms were not at all like a water bender's either–she was far too direct and cunning. Turning back toward the Captain Zuko sank into the chair in front of his desk.
"So this isn't the first time you've seen her?"
Zuko shook his head glumly pressing his for head into his hands,
"I've seen her a couple of times before. When she was first brought into the throne room after her capture and then while she was recovering in the infirmary. I left shortly after, I was told there was a high chance the girl wouldn't recover." He left out having found her sprawled out on his bed upon his return. No doubt the Captain would take the opportunity to further tease the girl.
"Why did you blind fold her?"
"She didn't need to know who you were to fight and you didn't need to know who she was either. That you found out was just by sheer luck. Listen Zuko, Soliel has put her heart and soul into training for the Elites. She bested every man I put against her and has brought these men together in ways I never could have imagined. On behalf of the Elites I ask you to let her continue."
"Continue? She never should have joined in the fist place! How did you get the men to follow a concubine so loyally?"
"They don't know."
"Excuse me?"
"I'm the only other person who knows you're Sunshine's employer and I intend to keep it that way. The men love her and would gladly die for her. I'm not saying that they still wouldn't do that if they knew she was a concubine, they'd still follow her to the grave."
"Then why haven't you told them."
"Because I fear they would turn against you and the royal family. Soliel has the ability to make people believe that there is a better reality, a better world than the one they've been forced into. She gives the men the power of choosing their own destiny when they are with her and that is something that no man in his right mind would want to give up. The Fire Lord is a man to be feared and therefore obeyed, but Soliel is leader to be respected and loved. I think it's pretty obvious who they would choose if the choice was given to them."
"So she's going to lead a rebellion?"
"Ha! No. Soliel couldn't give two shits about the Royal Family or power. All she wants to do is go back to her precious mountain. If you stick around you'll hear some of the craziest stories about that place."
Zuko stood and began to pace the room uneasily. A million questions were racing through his head but the loudest of them all was what now? As if sensing the Prince's confusion, the Captain rose and placed his hands on Zuko's shoulders.
"Don't run from her your Highness. She's a sassy little thing with a mind of her own and a will bent on following it, but she's worth the trouble. She'll teach you a world of things if you let her, and not just about fighting either. And if you do end up bedding her I'm sure she'll make it worth your wile."
"You make it sound like I want her to be my concubine."
"The hell you want her boy! Every man with a dick wants her so don't pretend you're any different. The body on that girl wasn't just made for looking!"
"You're drunk Sir. That or delusional."
"In all seriousness Zuko you can't run forever. Whenever you come back through those palace gates Sunshine will be waiting for you. It's better to face it sooner than later."