Okay last one for the night, I haven't written anymore, so I hope tomorrow will bring me enough inspiration, otherwise the day after that. Enjoy!
Chapter 4 – the market
The morning after she held herself a healing session again and bent the water out of the ocean onto her body. Her muscles ached from the day before and her blistered arm seemed to improve again. From a distance, Zuko was watching her with his hands behind his back. He was enjoying the early sun and was surprised to see that Milah had woken up before he had. Usually, it was the other way around, but today she seemed to do her best to avoid him at all cost. This made him frown, not liking the way he had treated her. She may be an enemy, but she had been kind to him even though he had attacked her village and her family. This proved that her heart was in the right place and that she was able to look past his mistakes, but he was worried that she wouldn't be so forgiving now as before.
The days that followed were dull as usual and Zuko and Milah spent most of their time avoiding each other; Zuko mostly training on the deck while Milah was meditating in their chamber. Currently, Milah was having dinner with Amim in the dining area while several other crewmembers sat on another table. They were eating in silence, enjoying the delicious soup the cook had prepared. When Amim had finished his, he told her that the Captain had announced they needed more engine fuel to continue their journey, so he would anchor at a nearby harbour. Milah was excited for this since it meant that they would stay there for at least one day and night, making it possible for her to stand on solid grounds again. Amim told her there was a nice market there where she could pick up supplies if she wanted to and she was glad to hear it. She was in desperate need of some new fresh pair of clothes. She couldn't keep wearing Iroh's extra set and her Water Tribe clothes had been torn during the battle with Zuko. She could only hope that there would be a stand that sold clothes.
After having finished her soup she wished Amim goodnight and made way to her chambers. She was feeling fatigued and wanted to get enough rest to explore the town tomorrow. When she opened the door she noticed that Zuko was having a meditating session with his back towards their beds. They hadn't had a real conversation in over a week, he hadn't even asked her how she felt after their fight. Sure, she had healed herself properly, but a simple 'are you okay' wouldn't kill him, would it?
Anger flared through her, but she tried her best to suppress it. If she got mad at him now, he probably wouldn't let her go to the market tomorrow. And that was the last thing she wanted.
That night she had another nightmare. A man with a scarred face and a ponytail was burning her entire body, blackening it and making her scream in agony.
''N-no, please don't!'' she screamed. ''I'll do anything! J-just please, n-no more!'' She cried her eyes out, trashing in her seat. Ropes were wrapped around her to hold her in place. The man only snickered sinisterly.
''I don't think so,'' he whispered and burned her again, making her cry out.
Zuko woke up from an antagonising scream that penetrated his soul. He woke up with a gasp and noticed that Milah was having the second nightmare since she got on his ship. He quickly ran towards her bed to wake her up from her terror and could make out some of the words.
''P-please,'' she cried out softly, tears running over her cheeks, ''don't hurt me. Don't burn me.'' He grabbed her arms to shake her awake and it did the trick. Her eyes shot open and her body came up quickly. She grabbed his arms and tried to fight him off.
''Milah,'' he called out to her, but it seemed like her dream had spilt over and became her reality for a second. ''It's me, Zuko.'' It didn't do the trick this time and she kept punching him, screaming at him to let her go. He decided to take drastic measures and pushed her arms down against her bed. He used his legs to pin down hers and called out to her again.
''Milah! Wake up!'' he shouted harshly. Slowly her trashing stopped and she came back to reality. She saw Zuko on top of her, pinning her down with his arms and legs. She realised that the man in her dream had a face like Zuko's, but when she saw him on top of her now, a concerned look in his eyes, she understood that although he had heard her in their match, he wouldn't hurt her for sport, not like the man in her dream.
Her heart rate calmed down and Zuko gently climbed off of her. She averted her gaze from him and closed her eyes. She didn't know what to say or what she felt at that moment, only knowing the wisest thing was to ignore everything and to go back to sleep as soon as possible. Zuko on the other hand had different ideas on that.
''I'm sorry,'' he said to her softly. ''I'm sorry for hurting you.'' She opened her eyes then, giving him the respect he just gave her and looked in his eyes. There were no lies, she noticed, but a well-meant apology. She gave him a little smile. ''Are you okay now?'' She nodded slightly and showed him her arm.
''It healed well,'' she told him in a soft voice. He felt relieved.
''Are you going to town tomorrow?'' he asked her. She nodded again.
''I need new clothes,'' she explained to him and chuckled softly. ''My old ones look like I ran through a forest on fire.'' He snorted as well, glad she was able to laugh about it for now. She didn't want to fight him. It was complicated enough for her and to protect the Avatar and her siblings, she needed him to trust her. It didn't feel right to betray someone, but she would do anything to protect her family.
''Well, I'll order Amim to go with you,'' he announced to her. ''I wouldn't want you to get hurt.''
Other words for, I wouldn't want you to escape, Milah thought but didn't let her thoughts show on her face. Instead, she gave him a fake smile that showed appreciation.
The morning after Zuko was already gone from his bed, Milah waking up alone in the room. She quickly washed and changed into her borrowed clothes. She made way to the deck to see if they had already arrived and was pleasantly surprised to see that most of the crew had already gone ashore. Amim was waiting for her in front of the walkway and smiled when he saw her approaching him. Secretly, she was glad that he was coming with her to town. This way she had great company on her little journey.
But when she opened her mouth to greet Amim, Zuko stepped in front of him out of nowhere with his back towards her and said something to the kind boy. He looked grim and serious and left after a couple of words from the Prince. She watched him descend down the walkway and out of her view when Zuko turned around to meet her. She gave him a confused look.
''I'm going to accompany you today,'' he simply and went down the walkway in front of her, expecting her to follow him and giving her no room to argue him. She was aggravated by him. Why couldn't Amim go with her?
''What's wrong with Amim then?'' she asked him when she caught up with him on the dock. He gave her a sideways glance. ''Why couldn't he 'protect' me?'' She quoted his words sarcastically.
''There's nothing wrong with him,'' he told her. She raised her eyebrows, demanding a more elaborate explanation. ''My uncle needed his help.'' She gave him an annoyed grunt as an answer and silently walked beside him on the way to the market.
After a 10 minute, silent walk, they arrived in the town. Several stands were placed here and there and Milah immediately spotted one with clothing. She became enthusiastic and gave Zuko a grin, forgetting their little row. He was glad he saw her smile at him and followed her towards the stand. The old woman behind it wore green robes, signifying her Earth Kingdom roots. She had a kind face and smiled at the approaching Water Tribe girl.
But when she looked behind her to Zuko, the old woman cowered away and averted her eyes. She had recognised him as Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation. Milah, however, was clueless about this change of atmosphere and was looking through the clothes excitedly, looking for something blue. But it turned out that the woman only sold Earth Kingdom clothes, and Milah became disappointed.
Meanwhile, the old woman was regarding Zuko carefully. His eyes squeezed together when he thought she was eyeing him up, but turned to Milah when he heard her sigh in a disappointing way.
''What's wrong?'' he asked her. She looked up at him with two large, blue eyes.
''I was looking for some blue coloured clothes, but there aren't any,'' she softly answered. Zuko turned towards the woman behind the stall.
''Do you have any Water Tribe clothes for the lady?'' he harshly asked her. Milah turned to glare at him, telling him with her eyes to be nice to the woman.
''I'm sorry, lady, but I only sell clothes from the Earth Kingdom,'' she told Milah with an apologetic smile. ''But, I think…'' she wandered off behind her, going inside the house she was placed in front of. Milah gave Zuko a questioning look which he replied with a shrug. Milah looked hopeful.
The woman came out with a pair of dark red velvet trousers and a dark red belly top to match it. They looked amazing, Milah thought but grimaced at the thought of having to wear Fire Nation clothes.
Zuko looked surprised. He knew from the look on Milah's face that she wasn't too happy about the clothes, but even she couldn't deny that the pair of clothes were beautiful. The fabric looked almost royal, he noticed. The stitching was golden and eccentric patterns were moving around the material.
''I'll try it on if that's possible, please,'' Milah asked the woman who smiled at her and nodded.
''You can use my house, dear,'' the woman told Milah. Zuko was startled and quickly recomposed himself after he accidentally drifted off with his thoughts.
''I'm coming with you,'' he declared to Milah who looked at him, frightened.
''Err,'' she began, ''excuse me?''
''I said, I'm coming with you,'' he said once more with annoyance. Was she deaf?
''I think not,'' she chuckled with a hint of unbelieve. ''You are not going to watch me change.'' He understood her thinking and knew he sounded like a jerk, but she could try and escape.
''I am not going to watch you, Milah,'' he told her. ''I am just going to make sure you won't do anything… rash.''
Unbelievable, she thought. Of course, he didn't trust her. She didn't trust him either. But to stand guard while she was changing? Outrageous!
''I promise I won't look,'' he tried to convince her. She shook her head but turned around to leave anyway. He blew out the air he had been holding, relieved. They entered the little house of the woman. It consisted of basic furniture and was neat, although obsolete. Milah turned around to face Zuko and gave him an angry look. He gave her one back, eyebrows furrowed.
''Well,'' she stated, ''turn around then.'' He gave her one last look but did so in the end. He didn't want to invade her privacy, although part of him wanted to turn around and watch anyway. He heard the ruffling of clothes and felt uncomfortable. In front of him hang a mirror on the wall that allowed him to watch her if he only shifted to the left for a little bit.
He shook his head to clear his thoughts. What was he thinking? He didn't want to be that person.
''What do you think?'' she suddenly asked, startling him. He turned around to take a look and was amazed. The red belly top showed her shoulders and hugged her body nicely, showing her curves. The trousers hung low and loose on her hips, being a little too big for her. She did a small pirouette to show off her back and he couldn't help but take a look at her backside that was accentuated. Zuko felt hot and a blush appeared on his cheeks.
Milah was, as usual, clueless about the way the Prince was looking at her. Secretly she felt beautiful in the outfit, but she wondered what the price would be. She hadn't even thought about that. She didn't have money on her.
She sighed. ''This is useless,'' she said softly, eyes down. ''I don't have any money.''
''Don't worry about that,'' he told her. She looked up at him and saw that he had taken coins out of his pouch. Her eyes became big and she quickly shook her head.
''No,'' she almost yelled. ''You don't have to pay for me.'' She did not want to be indebted to him.
He gave her a rare, small smile. ''I'm going to anyway, whether you like it or not. I have enough of it anyway,'' he joked then said in a softer voice, ''besides, it's my way to make up for everything.'' Milah eyed him warily. He understood that money wasn't the way to apologise, but he hoped that he could convince her this way. She sighed but nodded eventually. Together they walked out and Zuko paid the old lady. Her eyes lit up when she saw his well-filled pouch.
''Wait!'' the old woman screeched at him. ''My Prince, wouldn't you be interested in some fine jewellery for your girlfriend?'' Milah almost choked. Girlfriend?! she thought.
''Err,'' Zuko could only say. He was shocked by the woman's blunt words and was about to say no, thank you, when she had already got out a tray of sparkling necklaces. They were silver and golden with gem-filled pendants of all sizes.
Milah gasped at the beauty of one particular necklace. It was simple and elegant, the string being golden and the pendant containing a little ruby. Her hand went towards it, but she retracted it in the end. There was no way she could pay for it.
''No, thank you, miss,'' she said kindly to the woman who simply smiled at her and nodded. ''Have a good day.'' Milah turned around and walked away from the stand, content with her new clothes. She would have to find a way to pay Zuko back, somehow.
Zuko stared after her, not yet following her. When she was out of hearing range, he turned towards the woman and pointed at the necklace Milah clearly found mesmerizing.
''I'll take it, please,'' he told her and she grinned at him. She missed one of her front teeth. He scowled at the woman's neglect of her self-care and quickly paid her to be done with it. She handed over the necklace in a small pouch and without caring to say his goodbyes, he left to catch up with the bright blue-eyed girl.
Due to her new red clothes, he could spot her easily in the crowd of the town's citizens. ''My uncle told me he's organising music night for tonight,'' he told her. She looked up at him while keeping her pace steady.
''What does that mean?'' she asked him. He folded his hands behind his back, slowing his own pace so she wouldn't trip over her own feet.
''On music night the crew comes together to play instruments, dance and sing songs with each other,'' he told her. ''I don't usually participate, but you should.'' He had a frown on his face.
He always has a frown on his face, Milah thought to herself.
''Well,'' she cleared her throat, ''if you want me to participate, you also have to yourself.'' And with that, she ascended the walkway they had walked to in front of them. Zuko watched her leave and let out a breathy chuckle. She was absolutely impossible to deal with.
Milah stood in front of the mirror in their room. It was a small one placed on eye level. She was doing her hair as she would always do but put in some extra effort in for tonight. She understood from talking to Iroh in the afternoon that music night was considered a 'big deal', for so far it could be. She wanted to present herself at best and even got a red tie ribbon from him that he usually used for his own hair. At first, she had declined, but he insisted. It matched her outfit well.
She pulled up her hair and wrapped it around itself at the back of her head. She carefully tied the ribbon around it and tied it at the end to keep it in place. She looked at herself in the end and was satisfied. The colour of her clothes brought out her roots even more than blue. Her olive skin shone in the candlelight and her brown hair flowed around her shoulders towards her waist. She gave herself a small smile and felt like it was ready to go. She could hear the first drums of the instruments on the deck.
Zuko had already left before she arrived in their chamber. He wanted to give her privacy to ready herself for the night and left for the Captain's hut to discuss their course. After he felt like the discussion had met his end, he left for the deck of the ship. Currently, he was watching some of his crewmembers tune their instruments and grimaced when his uncle came towards him, holding his tsungi horn in his hands. He let out an annoyed sigh.
''Please, Prince Zuko, you would do the crewmembers a favour,'' his uncle tried to convince him. He simply looked the other way. Iroh's excited face fell and sullenly walked off, head down.
After a while, Zuko heard a door open and out came Milah, looking absolutely gorgeous. Her skin was shining in the moonlight and her hair was flowing in the soft breeze. She smelled like roses and jasmine tea and her plump lips were upright in a small smile. The crewmembers turned around to face her and he noticed that he wasn't the only one mesmerized by the Water girl. They all greeted her with blushes on their cheeks and a flare of emotion went through his chest. His face fell into one of slight anger.
''Milah!'' his uncle greeted her with joy. ''You look wonderful.'' She grinned at him and let out a chuckle, her cheeks becoming a faint pink.
''Thank you, Iroh,'' she answered softly and tucked a fallen piece of hair out of her eye and behind her ear. Iroh gave her a wink and turned around to the group. They took their seats around the small campfire that was made. Zuko didn't join them, simply standing against the railing and watching the ordeal from afar. His uncle, as usual, opened the night with his favourite song, Four Seasons. All crewmembers knew it by heart and started playing along to it. He could see Milah's face beaming at the sounds that were made around her. Zuko couldn't argue with her, they indeed sounded nice.
After Four Seasons, several other songs were played, one among them being Girls from Ba Sing Se, Amim's favourite, Milah noticed. She laughed along with some others when he stood up to dance. He made silly moves and stomped around with his feet. After a while he held out his hands to Milah, wanting her to dance along with him. She shook her head vigorously, but some crewmembers pushed her to dance along with him. Together they made pirouettes and danced around the circular group. Milah could honestly say that this was the most fun she had had ever since her capture in the Southern Water Tribe.
Zuko couldn't keep her eyes off her. He didn't blink the entire time she was dancing with Amim, one of his crewmembers. The look on her face hypnotised him. It was one of pure joy, her eyes sparkling and her lips stretched out into one of the largest grins he had ever seen. Her laugh was loud and sweet and innocent like nothing was wrong with the world. Like she wasn't a prisoner on his ship. His heart swelled with something he hadn't ever felt before and his hand reached towards the spot unconsciously. Her hips swayed with the music and her breasts bounced in her tight belly top.
He was startled by a torch that flared dangerously, bringing him out of his trance. It immediately died down. No one had noticed.
''Milah, you dance amazing!'' Iroh exclaimed and gave her a pat on the shoulder. She laughed. ''But, the question we all want an answer to, is if you can sing as well?'' Her laughter died down, suddenly becoming nervous.
''I… I do know one song,'' she said softly, her face flushed from excitement. ''My mother used to sing it to me whenever I had a nightmare.'' Iroh smiled encouragingly, nodding at her to begin.
Milah took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and began, ''rose up this morning,
Smiled in the rising sun.
Three little birds,
Stood by my doorstep.
Singing sweet songs,
Of melodies pure and true.
Saying, this is my message to you-ou-ou.''
It was quiet when the break began. No one dared to breathe, afraid the magical moment would end.
''Baby don't worry,
About a thing.
'Cause every little thing,
Is gonna be alright.
Baby don't worry,
About a thing.
'Cause every little thing,
Is gonna be alright.''
Silence met her when her song ended. Her eyes were filled with tears. She hadn't sung that song in years.
Zuko had later understood that that evening began something irreversible. A feeling deep within his soul had taken its roots, tying itself to him in a way he didn't know was possible. He would realise that that particular night she had taken a piece of his heart in her hands, hers to keep. But since the angry Prince, possessed by restoring his honour and pleasing his unloving father, shook the feeling off his shoulders, he didn't feel the need to explore the meaning of his swollen heart and fluttering stomach. He didn't feel the need to find out what she meant to him. And soon, he would realise that it was too late.