The Other Airbender

11

I'm sorry for the late update :( I've been really busy because I'm painting my grandma for her birthday and it's taking a while aha

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I was sitting between two soldiers, who were watching me intently. It was unnerving, especially when all I could see was their helmets. They had brought me to a storage room on the ship. Which wasn't in use, much to my dissapointment. 

I lowered my head in defeat, staring at the thick chains that bound my wrists. They were heavy, and a dull ache was spreading from my hands. 

Anger bubbled inside me. Anger at Him. The Prince. He was the reason I was chained up. Him and his stupid ugly face and his stupid ugly burn. He probably burned his own face with his stupid firebending. And anger at the Fire Nation. If they hadn't gone to war with the other nations, I would be living in a temple, with other airbenders. I wouldn't have to be forced into hiding. I wouldn't have to be alone.

Yet here I was. Alone. Chained up. Again. 

No, Miko, this is your fault. You got yourself captured. You got yourself in these chains. You brought this on yourself. And now you're paying the consequences. 

Maybe if I hadn't airbended just now everything would be fine. Maybe if I hadn't tried escaping everything would be fine. Maybe if I hadn't gotten myself caught on the earthbending ship everything would be fine. Or if I hadn't even left the island in the first place. 

But then... Haru. That's right, this all happened because of him. I had gone to rescue him. In vain of course, because I had never found him. But if he had just kept his earthbending a secret, like he always had done, this wouldn't have happened. I wouldn't be here. In chains, on a firebending ship, in the middle of who-knows-where. So was this his fault then?

No. It's yours. You could've been smart about it, you could have found Haru some other way, or escaped better, or just not airbended in front of the whole damn shipful of soldiers, including the Fire Nation prince. 

I frowned, the anger burning harder inside me as the chains in front of me became blurry, vision obscured by tears. Don't cry now you idiot. Try to escape. You're already in deep, it's better to leave now before the prince comes back. 

I blinked a couple of times, trying to erase the ache in my throat and the stinging in my eyes. Get it together, don't lose it. I took a deep shuddering breath, before looking up again and realising that the soldiers were still staring at me intently. I flashed them a big smile, looking at where I thought their eyes were. They didn't move an inch, so I just settled back into the uncomfortable silence, embarrassment turning my cheeks a pink hue. Well done, Miko, they just witnessed all of that.

"Sooo are you guys gonna let me out anytime soon, or..." Of course, they didn't respond. I sighed, trying to think of a way to get out of this mess, and lay down, my back getting uncomfortable in my sitting position. I stared at the ceiling. There were dozens of pipes running along it, and I could hear gas coming out of a few. Wait, gas? Maybe I could cause a distraction by bursting a pipe, and then I could break out of the chains before the soldiers could firebend at me. 

But was there any use in trying? I was completely overpowered by the Fire Nation soldiers on the ship, and I hadn't stood a chance. I couldn't fly away immediately or I could have gotten burnt, and they were all against me. And I was weak. If I attempted escaping again, would it really result in my freedom? Or would I just be put back into chains or behind bars? 

Before I could even give the idea another thought, the door to the storage room burst open. I sat up at the sudden noise, intrigued. My stomach sunk and all my worries intensified as I saw the Prince and his uncle, Iroh in the doorway. There was definitely no escaping now. Stupid, you should have saved the mental breakdown for later and tried to save your own sorry ass.

I gulped and lowered my head to avoid making eye contact with either of them, as though that would somehow get me out of this. I willed myself to disappear. Anywhere but here would be perfect right now. 

"So you're an airbender, according to my nephew here." Iroh states matter-of-factly. I chuckled nervously in response.

"I, um, no, what do you mean an airbender," I faltered when I saw the scowl on the prince's face, and knew that lying would get me no where. "Alright fine, so what, um please tighten these chains they're uhhh- too loose on me."

"Too lose? Why would even complain about that?" The prince asked incredulously, but he motioned for the soldiers to tighten the cuffs on my wrists. The soldiers actually moved for the first time since I had been in here. A plan to escape was forming in my mind, even though chances of succeeding were low, I realised it was probably now or never, but my thinking was cut short. Iroh was laughing as he looked at me. 

"Miko, I already used that excuse to escape today," He chuckled. I stared at him in shock. How did he see through that? Escape? What does he mean?

"E-excuse? What are you talking about, uhh, my cuffs really are lose, why don't you come and tighten them for me." I flashed the prince a smile, trying to act natural, even though my head was swirling with confused, desperate thoughts. He frowned harder at me, but the soldiers approached me, as no one ordered them to stop. When they were near enough, I brought my hands together in a swift motion and sent a gust of air towards them, sending them backwards. However the prince and his uncle held their ground, much to my dismay. The prince got into a firebending stance, glaring at me, whilst Iroh just stood there, still laughing.

"Oh, Zuko, how did you fall for that." He snickered.

"Enough, Uncle," He growled in annoyance. I was grateful that I hadn't gotten hurt, as they hadn't actually started attacking. 

"That was impressive, Miko," Iroh started, before he was interrupted by Zuko;

"I thought the whole Air Nation was wiped out," He spat, the confusion from before still laced within his words, "How was it possible for you to survive?"