Avatar the Last Airbender: The Admiral's Daughter Zuko and OC

The Southern Air Temple Part 2

Azari could hear Zuko's cry of furious anger at Zhao and she was suddenly worried that she would hear the sounds of a fierce battle between Zuko and Zhao.

"Let her go," Zuko said fiercely. Azari felt relief at Zuko's voice, she wanted to call out to him, to tell him she was okay, but she couldn't, and that made her more panicky than ever.

"Prince Zuko, you have no right to order me around," Zhao said smoothly. "You have no honor, you're a banished prince begging for a watertribe slave, you are hardly of higher rank than she is."

"Just let her go and no one gets hurt," Zuko said softly but coldly. Azari wanted to warn Zuko not to mess with Zhao, he couldn't start a fight with a caption, or whatever rank her father was, he was banished.

"As if you can hurt me," Zhao scoffed, Azari could hear Zhao's even breaths, Zhao was trying to lure Zuko into something.

"I'm warning you Zhao," Zuko said, Azari wanted to warn Zuko, but she couldn't, she was helpless.

"Your offer is declined," Zhao said, Azari knew that that would make Zuko tick.

And right on cue came Zuko's grunt and then she could hear him lunge at Zhao. Azari threw herself to the ground just as a fireball whizzed over her head, it was likely Zuko's but it wasn't confirmed till she heard Iroh's voice talking to Zuko.

"Zuko, don't be foolish about this!" Iroh warned. "Don't make things worse for yourself."

Azari heard silence, she knew Zuko was contemplating what to do, she knew that whatever he said he was falling into Zhao's trap.

Then Zuko's voice came out hoarse and quiet, "I challenge you to an agni kai, at sunset. If I win then Azari goes with me."

"If I win?" Zhao asked, Azari could hear the smile in his voice, it made her want to scream. Zuko had done exactly what Zhao wanted, she was being used and she hated that.

Zuko turned his back and Zhao.

Azari tried to get up from the ground but couldn't manage, her blind fold fell off and she saw Iroh's worried face looking at her. Azari promised herself that she would never let this happen again.

Zhao walked swiftly to her and grabbed her by her right arm, yanking her up and hauling her away. Azari thrashed but to no avail.

"Keep struggling and you'll have a scar to match the princes," Zhao threatened.

Azari stopped struggling and went limp, she would have done anything to punch Zhao in the face right now.

As Zhao pulled her outside, her eyes were blinded by the light, it was nearly sunset, everything was red and orange. She was on a dock full of ships and soldiers, tents lined up just beside the dock, every tent was bright scarlet red and very large.

Azari was taken to what she assumed was Zhao's tent and hauled inside by Zhao, it was brightly lit in the tent. There was a desk, bookshelves, a table, and a curtain which probably led to his private quarters.

Azari was thrown into a small metal cage at the far end of the tent. Zhao took out a ket and locked her in. Azari fumed as Zhao stared at her intensely.

"Why didn't I just kill you like your mother," Zhao muttered to himself.

Azari glared at Zhao, he walked over to her and yanked the gag off her.

"Now tell me," Zhao said. "How did you get the prince to think so highly of you, a watertribe peasant. And how can I use you to get at the prince?"

"You can't use me," Azari spat. "I'm more like Zuko's personal servant than anything," she lied. "He's just worried that you'll take away the only person that cleans his room!" Azari would've laughed at her lies if it was anyone other than Zhao.

Zhao's brow deepened, "But you like Zuko, don't you? Isn't he your friend?"

"Friend?!" Azari screamed. "He's more like my capture than anything else, I'd do anything to get away."

Zhao began to smile and Azari realized her slip too late.

"So," Zhao said. "If you hate him so much you should just come with me, I'm of course going to win the agni kai so you won't mind, will you?"

Azari's eyes went out of focus as she realized that Zuko would not win the agni kai. Then what? He wouldn't rescue her would he? Would that be too dishonorable a thing to do? He will leave me, Azari realized, I'm just going to have to get out of here myself.

"Well I'd rather be Zuko's servant than your slave," Azari said, coldly, trying to keep the quiver out of her voice. "Why do you even want me? I have no value to you, I just remind you that you, the great Zhao, made a mistake," Azari said, smirking.

"You have my smile," Zhao said unfazed. "But your hair is just like your mother's," Zhao reached inside the cage and stroked her long curls. Azari tried to bite his hand, Zhao snapped his hand back and then slapped her.

Azari flinched back as her cheek began to sting.

He turned away from Azari and began to pace. "You're just like me, I like that."

Azari glared, I'm nothing like you, she thought fiercely.

"Plus, you are just what the firelord has been looking for," Zhao said, turning to look at her and observe her like someone would a necklace they were going to buy.

Azari was confused, "Why would the firelord want a waterbender girl aside from making her a slave?"

Zhao turned away from her and began to walk away. He finally got to the end of the tent and opened the tent flap. He turned back to give her one final look, "I guess you'll just have to find out," he said, giving her the fakest smile she had ever seen.

Sorry I couldn't publish this chapter on Monday! I hope you like it though! Sorry for any spelling/grammar mistakes!