Growing Pains (Zuko/OC)

Chapter 4: Agni Kai

It felt like they had been waiting for hours by the time that Commander Zhao finally returned, and when he did it was with utmost confidence. His ego was clearly inflated by his earlier slight against the prince, and as he preened before them, Kona felt her hatred for him rise. If a man had to resort to picking on teenagers to feel good about himself, he was surely no man at all.

"My search party is ready," he bragged. "Once I'm out at sea, my guards will escort you back to your ship and you'll be free to go."

Kona couldn't help but wonder why he was letting them go at all. Surely, it would be better to keep them under his thumb until he could capture the Avatar. For all he knew, they could go out and spread the word of his return anonymously, ensuring roadblocks from both the Fire Nation army looking for reward or rebels looking to protect him.

This was too easy. Her instincts screamed in protest, but she did her best to ignore them. She had promised both Master Iroh and Prince Zuko that she would not speak out of turn anymore and she intended to keep that promise.

"Why make us wait? Are you worried I'm going to try and stop you?" Prince Zuko taunted. Kona wasn't sure if he was just trying to push the man's buttons or if he was as suspicious of the man's intentions as Kona was.

The commander simply laughed, as if the idea was the most hilarious and outlandish thing he had ever heard. "You? Stop me? Impossible."

The young prince, half the commander's age, stood and stared defiantly. Zuko knew that he needed this more than the commander did and that was why he was confident when he said, "Don't underestimate me, Zhao." The commander glared at the disrespect. "I will capture the Avatar before you." My life–my throne depends on it.

General Iroh stood abruptly. It was one thing to use veiled words and threats in the Fire Nation (that was just politics) but it was another to insult an officer in as bold of a manner as ignoring their title. It was to strip them of their honor, and Prince Zuko knew that. "Prince Zuko," the old man scolded. "That's enough."

"You can't compete with me," Commander Zhao said as boldly as if it were fact. "I have hundreds of warships under my command, and you," he paused, disgust clear on his face as he looked down at Zuko. "You're just a banished prince. No home. No allies."

Kona felt a fury burning in her chest that nearly rivaled that of Zuko's. To bully someone who had lost their home was inexcusable and if she had the power, Commander Zhao would struggle in poverty for the rest of his miserable existence. Her murderous thoughts were cut off by the worst insult that the man could have delivered.

"Your own father didn't even want you."

Kona saw red. Her fists clenched and she tensed for the fight that was sure to ensue, but she was shocked to see that Prince Zuko was mostly calm. Angry, yes, but no more than usual.

"You're wrong," he denied. "Once I deliver the Avatar to my father he will welcome me home with honor and restore my rightful place on the throne." He had to. After all, his Father had been the person to send him off on the mission in the first place. It was, arguably, the most important job in the Fire Nation. The Fire Lord wouldn't assign Prince Zuko to that mission unless he trusted him to complete it and return home.

"If your father really wanted you home, he'd have let you return by now, Avatar or no Avatar, but in his eyes, you are a failure and a disgrace to the fire nation."

Prince Zuko's face hardened and Commander Zhao knew his words hit their mark.

"That's. Not. True."

"You have the scar to prove it." The man basically cooed, staring at the feature that had haunted the prince every day since he had received it.