Blades and Fans

The Firebender Part 1

"Hello, traitor."

Zuko groaned as he was pinned to the ground. Dirt spilled through the holes in his mask and stung his eyes. He tried his best to look up and shift his weight but was only met with a strain in his neck and a sharp knee shoved in his side. Suddenly, two figures grasped and twisted his arms behind his back as he tried to resist.

"Hahaha, who knew it would be this easy to capture the infamous Blue Spirit. Haha, I should get promoted for this," a familiar voice spoke with a sinister chuckle. Zuko could hear the man now standing in front of him. He watched the silhouette of his broadswords twirling in his captor's hands.

"Lift him up," the figure commanded and the soldiers yanked and stretched out Zuko's arms, forcing him to sit up on his knees. He then looked up to meet the man's gaze, and he was met with his own twisted reflection.

"Missed me?" Akechi smirked as he knelt in front of the Blue Spirit.

Zuko didn't answer as he glared daggers at the Fire Nation commander, only a low growl escaped his throat.

"Nothing to say huh?" Akechi chuckled softly as he stood up. He then placed a hand on the Blue Spirit's shoulder before quickly ramming the pommel of the Dao swords straight into his gut. The pain sent Zuko wrenching forward. "That was for giving me this lovely souvenir back at Chong Sheng," Akechi said gesturing to the comet-like scar on the right side of his face, before delivering another blow to Zuko's gut.

Zuko could taste his own bile rising up in his throat, with each blow to his stomach. He gritted his teeth and did what he can to prevent himself from throwing up in his mask. But with each hard strike, it became harder and harder as welts and bruises formed on his skin. Akechi finally ceased his attack and watched the masked warrior quiver from the pain. Zuko then craned his neck, arching his head to meet Akechi's gaze and showed no weakness.

"Anything to say now, traitor?" Akechi asked grabbing Zuko by his neck. "Huh come on now, say something," he said, curling his fingers tighter around Zuko's neck.

"Fine, maybe I'll see if your little girlfriends would be more inclined to talk," a wicked vile grin crossing his twisted lips made Zuko's eyes burn with rage. He tried to leap to his feet and lunge at the scarred commander, but the soldiers restraining him quickly holding him back.

"Haha, he's a feisty one!"

Zuko couldn't let him get to Suki or the Kyoshi warriors, he had to warn them, and he had to protect them. Then it dawned on him, Suki was on her way back and if he didn't do something quickly they will ambush her just like they did him. He couldn't let that happen. No matter what, he needed to keep her safe.

"Tell you what, Blue Spirit... you tell me where the residents of Chong Sheng are, and maybe I'll let you and your little girlfriends go," Akechi grins as he steps back releasing Zuko's neck. Akechi then started to inspect the twin swords in his possession, checking their sharpness as he ran his thumb over the edge. "That's a fair deal, is it not?" he asked flicking his tongue over his teeth. "I wasn't sent to kill you, just them, and you just got in my way," he says confidently as he gets back in the Blue Spirit's face. "You are of the Fire nation are you not? Time to prove you aren't the traitor I think you are."

Zuko met Akechi's eyes and saw the familiar glint of his sister's gaze staring back at him "Azula always lies," was his only thought, knowing full well this man's words meant nothing, they were as hollow as his soul. Without even flinching, Zuko collected the saliva in his mouth and spat directly in Akechi's eye, making him reel back in pain.

"Fuck!" he growled as he wiped at his scarred eye with his sleeve. The saliva burned as he kicked the Blue Spirit's chest in retaliation, easily cracking a rib. But even as Zuko felt the crack and his body wrenched forward, he smirked.