DEAR DICTATOR → zuko

╸six : blowing smoke

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❝ blowing smoke ❞

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     "REMIND ME WHY I decided to help your sorry ass, again." Nari pulls at her nail beds, dividing her care between pushed-back cuticles and Zuko. "Because I was under the impression that it was a safer bet than Hengying. It seems like I've been lied to."

     "You haven't been lied to," Zuko hunches over, looking into the skyglass though Nari is sure he's rolling his eyes. "We're doing exactly what I said we would. We're going after the Avatar."

     Sure, they're following the Avatar's trail. But they're following it right into the Fire Nation. It raises a few questions:

     Why is the Avatar headed into the one territory that wants him dead? Not just dead, but completely obliterated? And why does Zuko think it's a smart idea to follow him? Why does Nari not jump off this ship and take her chances getting sucked under the boat or drowning?

     It's a better bet than heading into the Fire Nation.

     Nari may or may not be wanted there. She doesn't know her current standing– criminal, runaway, child-gone-missing, traitor, the list goes on. And wherever they head depends on how on edge Nari needs to be.

     It's less of a hassle to stay put. It's less of a hassle to find the quickest route back to Hengying.

     But, curse the spirits, Nari has a conscience. And she told Zuko she'd help him out of both pity and prior friendship– the promises he made aren't bad either. Money and spite, spite and money. Who could ask for more?

    Zuko is pretty down on his luck, right now. He's failed countless times to capture the Avatar, but he's been able to track him down every time. It's the 'getting and keeping' that's the problem. And if Nari helps him, then he returns to the Fire Nation and redeems his honor that much faster, and he loads her up with golden coins and excuses of why people need to keep their mouths shut.

     She'll be set for life, if she can help him capture the kid. She'll never have to worry about money, and she'll never have to worry about what her old nation thinks about her.

     It's a fair deal. So Nari sent a letter back to Ryo saying she's been recruited for a very well paying mission, and that she'd return with a lump sum in compensation for her absence. The promise is enough to keep her out of trouble.

     With Ryo, at least.

     She still has to worry about the approaching borders of the Fire Nation.

     "You couldn't have thought this through," Nari says, walking beside Zuko and swiftly pushing the spyglass from its position.

     He catches it when it spins away from him, pulling it back to the sky-bound Avatar. "I did."

     "Not." Nari crosses her arms. She's got less to worry about then him, and already can see every flaw in this plan. Zuko's banished. Perhaps he forgot what that means. "Banished, exiled, extradited. Forbidden. You do know what those words mean, right?"

     Zuko sends a blank stare her way. Of course he knows what it means.

     "I'll keep it simple, just in case. Fire Nation equals no-no." Nari rests her elbow on the spyglass, keeping it still at the base so she can set her face right next to Zuko's without getting bonked in the head. She speaks slowly, her eyes widening. "You're old man sent you away as a punishment. Do you need to go in time out?"