The loud click from the opening of the trapdoor woke you from your sleep. You scooted back, tucking behind a box nearby as you hear two men descend down the ladder to your temporary living space.
"I don't know, Prince Zuko just said he wanted it." One spoke to the other, you tucked your knees further into your chest, squeezing your eyes tightly closed.
"He wanted this one?" The other voice spoke, slapping the box you were hiding behind. You held your breath, praying to all spirits that whoever the prince was, that he didn't want this box.
"Yes, I think so." The first spoke out again and the box began to rise, "No, it was this one." The box was carefully put back and you dared to let out your breath, it came out shaky and quiet. The two men began to leave, somebody on the higher deck opening the trapdoor and taking the box from them. As the first began to ascend back up the ladder, you dared to peak over the top, just to survey the type people you might have to deal with whilst making your escape. Unfortunately, you had had no idea how long you had been below deck, and sunlight wasn't something you saw everyday now. You were practically blinded by what little sunlight did flood from the trapdoor. You scrambled back, and (to just your luck) you hit your head off the back of a stack of boxes. Biting back the string of curses that want to burst from your mouth you freeze, your hands starting to tremble slightly as you hear shouting.
"HEY, WHO'S THERE?" Firelight spreads through the room as the man sweeps around. He creeps around one box and stares you dead in the eyes before jumping.
"Come on, how long does it take to fetch one box? I asked for it ages ago, it will help us track him down, but not if you idiots can't do your job properly." A younger voice spirals into the hull and the firebender extinguishes the flames, killing the light which consequently killed your view.
"Sorry sir." He mumbles, breaking eye contact and climbing the ladder once more, leaving you shaken and alone.
After taking a few calming breaths, a sharper pain erupts from your stomach, and you groan quietly. How long has it been since you last ate? You decide to stand, looking around for any sign of food.
You could only find a couple of boxes worth of cabbages, you thought you might as well take what you could. Scrunching up your nose, you took a tentative bite, adjusting to the raw flavour. You ate what you could and with no better way to spend your time, your curled back up on the cold floor, lulling yourself to sleep with the discordant sound of the engines.
3rd person
Hearing rumours of a stowaway on a royal ship, Iroh had no choice but to take a peek. Hidden by the blanket of night, he made his way down the passage he knew to the storage of the ship, armed with nothing but a cup of steaming cup of nutritious tea. If a stowaway was true to be on this ship, they must need a nice, warm, calming cup.
Upon arriving in the bottom of the boat, he took a couple of strides around before finally finding the sleeping body. A stranger. He frowned, setting down the tea close to the person. One must truly be in need to sneak onboard the ship, especially coming from the fire nation. Perhaps, he thought, perhaps it's better to keep this from his nephew, after all, what he doesn't know can't hurt him. It would be clean, leave the sleeper here, encourage his nephew to dock in the morning, knowing it had been around 5 days since they had touched land, the nearest Earth Kingdom Island would work fine. He could then help the sleeper off the boat. If things turned sour, or even worse, if Zuko did find out, Iroh knew he could help ease the anger. He just hoped the boy looked on you with favour, despite all that he had been through recently.
He left the tea there and made his way to Zuko's chambers.
"But the crew is tired, just one day, please Zuko." Iroh had argued with Zuko for the past 30 minuets, but Zuko didn't relent, wouldn't relent, he was set.
"Uncle, it is hard enough trying to find a man who has been lost for 97 years already, you don't need to add to that by slowing me down." His tone was harsh, but Iroh could see through it. His nephew had seen too much and been treated too rough, honour was all he cared about. Maybe that's another reason Iroh stuck around, he himself had been treated like he lost his honour at Ba Sing Se, but in reality, he lost much more. It wasn't his honour Zuko wanted back, it was the stability, the normality, family, love. Zuko knew, his sister and father were back home, back where he should be. He believed his honour was lost but in reality, it was much more.
"Fine, but we need to stop soon, only because-" Iroh was interrupted by the knocking coming from outside the door. He stood up and opened it, his eyes widened as he saw what was about to be laid out Infront of him.
"Sorry sir, I just... believed it was my duty to tell you... um well... I believe we have a stowaway."
And that's how Iroh found himself nervously stood beside a fuming Zuko as the trapdoor to the hull opened up.
Your Pov
You had woken up less than an hour late finding a cup of tea placed at your side. You drank it down in large gulps, not particularly caring about the temperature or how it got there, placing it down to the soldiers and unexpected actions of kindness. You figured it couldn't be much longer till they stopped, and having already had your due course of action, you bet it wouldn't do any harm to get up and walk around. As you stood up, blood rushed through and away from your head, making you sway, large ringing noises sounding around your ears. Unfortunately for you, this caused you to miss the crucial sound of the trapdoor opening.
"Well, well well, what do we have here? A little stowaway?" That younger voice sounded behind you, you spun on your heal, coming face to face with a pair of amber eyes. A rush of adrenaline gave you effort to a sharp come back.
"Little? You're not much taller than I am, pft, what are you? Ten?"
"I AM NOT! I AM THIRTEEN" Fire poured from his body and you took a step back, smirking slightly. An older man took your place Infront of the boy, encouraging him to find the next steps, to calm down. You took a deep breath; this was it right? Your death.
"How do we get rid of you? Throw you overboard?" The boy turned to the older soldiers, who showed hesitation.
"Sir, we are encouraged not to throw children overboard." One muttered out, saving you from a watery death. "But we can abandon her, we would just need to make a stop a-"
"NO STOPS..." The boy takes a similar breath to yours, "Fine, you will just have to stay. For now. You can be.... my.... my personal maid. Yes. My personal maid. You will do what I say, when I say it, no matter the time of day." The boy finishes, clearly pleased with himself for finding his own solution. The older man looks sceptical but relived, he must have shared similar... deathly thoughts with you.
"And how am I supposed to do that? I know nothing about you, nonetheless who you are."
"Given your close position to me, I will allow you to call me prince-" He paused, cringing at the word. "No, just Zuko. You will address me by name. Now will somebody please find your new clothes and a bath, you stink." And with that, he left, leaving you utterly confused. A boy, your age, commands this ship? And just made you his personal maid? This was not how you imagined your escape.
A.N
Don't worry, only the first two chapters are aged down / in the past. The others will be back to 16 and definitely longer x
YOU ARE READING
His Amber Eyes
RomanceY/n doesn't know why or how she is in the Fire Nation, all she knows is that she wants to get out. Little does she know, the very boat she escapes on will lead her down a rabbit hole of adventure. Is she able to float with all the newfound pressure...
