The Water Bender and the Fire Prince//Zuko Fanfiction

25 ~ The Play

Enyo fell backwards, settling down on the warm concrete. They had left the Western Air Temple after being attacked by Azula and were now hiding in the Fire Lord's beach house. The warm summer sun was making her sleepy as she rolled onto her side to watch Zuko and Aang training. Katara and Toph were nearby, also melting in the sun.

"Is this the best place to hide from the Fire Lord?" Katara asked. They were all wearing red and black clothing-- loose linen, although it didn't do much to protect them from the brutal heat.

Zuko nodded, not taking his eyes off Aang's posture. "Yes, this is the last place my father will think to look for us."

Enyo rested her chin on her arm, watching Zuko move. His arms were exposed and she hated the way that she was staring. Since the Boiling Rock, she couldn't help thinking about the kiss in Ba Sing Se. She wanted to bring it up, but she didn't want to start something that wasn't there.

The door burst open and Enyo flinched, twisting to look as Sokka and Suki came through the doors. Her brother was holding a poster.

"Look," He unrolled it. "I know what we are doing tonight,"

Enyo narrowed her eyes, reading the poster. The Boy in the Iceberg by the Ember Island Prayers. She twisted to look at Zuko. "Aren't those the guys you complained about all the time?"

Zuko groaned, confirming her suspicions. "Yes, my mother used to take me to see Love amongst the Dragons. They are so bad."

"It'll be fun," Sokka cheered. "We are famous enough to have a play made about us. We are going."

~~~

Enyo settled next to Katara in the front row, leaning back against the cushioned wooden bench. It was a little risky to be out in public, but Aang had covered his arrows. It was most likely that Zuko and she would be identified first.

Zuko sat next to her and Enyo tensed briefly until he was down and settled. Aang sat on his other side, Suki, Sokka, and Toph filling up the seats behind them.

The play started quickly, and Enyo crossed her arms, watching as she saw a dramatized version of how Katara and Sokka found the Avatar in the iceberg. 

The scene switched to Zuko's ship and Enyo nearly laughed out loud. Not only was Zuko stalking the deck like she remembered, but the scar was on the wrong side. Enyo's actor was standing next to Iroh, looking annoyed-- which was probably accurate.

"I look so stiff and humourless," Zuko grumbled.

Enyo shrugged, nudging him with her elbow-- maybe in an attempt to provide comfort. "I think they were pretty accurate," She joked. 

Zuko slouched lower in his seat, his eyes gleaming. 

The first act of the play passed quickly, Enyo enjoying the awful depictions of all of them. She had only heard stories of her siblings' adventures, so the imagery was great. Even when Jet came in briefly and Katara was infatuated with him.

The intermission was brief, and spent mostly by people grumbling over their character portrayal before they were shuffled back in for the second act.

Immediately Toph was introduced-- much to her pleasure-- and played by a muscular screaming man. More memories passed by, including Jet's supposed death, which she and Zuko exchanged a glance at. Neither of them had apparently put much thought into Jet after he was dragged away by the police.

The scene cuts to Zuko and Zula's betrayal in Ba Sing Se. Enyo let out a sigh of relief. It seemed the Ember Island Players didn't know everything that had happened. 

Zuko leaned over, his voice quiet enough that only she could hear. "I'm glad they didn't put our kiss in there,"

Enyo bristled, straightening up. "Yeah, thank goodness. I don't think I could watch that again." 

Her anger caused her to ignore the way that Zuko blinked in surprise and shuffled slightly closer to Aang. What a bad thing to say.

The play quickly caught up with the present day and Enyo frowned as the play continued. An actor, playing the Fire Lord, came out. There was a brief battle and Aang's character was quickly defeated. 

Enyo's eyes widened. Her anger at Zuko's comment was momentarily squashed by a wave of fear. Did the Fire Lord have something they didn't? 

She didn't get a chance to ask anyone, because the cast came out to bow and the crowd soared to their feet.

Her heart pounding, Enyo joined the others and stood to go.

~~~

Enyo walked near the back of the group as they made their way back to the beach house. Sokka and Suki were just in front of her. Her brother's arm was resting on Suki's shoulder as he commented on the play's effects.

They began to descend a sandy hill when there was a hand on her arm. Enyo quickly moved to attack but stopped when she realized it was Zuko. His finger was on his lips. 

She waited until the others were out of earshot before she spoke. "What?"

There was a pause where he just stared at her face. She blinked a couple of times before gesturing for him to continue. Her anger from earlier had faded into annoyance, but it flared back up.

"I wanted to apologize if I made you upset earlier."

Enyo straightened up. That was the last thing she had been expecting him to say. "Why?"

He shrugged, and his hand that wasn't holding her arm went up to rub the back of his neck. "I don't want you to leave, I've already done that to my uncle and I don't want to do it to you too." 

Enyo scowled and tried to pull away. "Good to hear that I spent all that time following you is finally appreciated."

Zuko pulled her back. "What are you talking about?"

Enyo frowned. "Nothing, it's not important. I'm going."

"Enyo," He stopped her again. "I know you've been following me for a long time, and part of the reason I'm here now is because I want to be someone that you want to follow."

Enyo stopped, stunned at the admission. She wasn't sure she wanted to follow him before, and now she was even more confused. 

"I will follow you to the ends of the earth if it means I get just one more minute with you," Zuko admitted. There was a distinct flush to his face now. Enyo could feel her own heating up. "I will spend my entire life trying to become someone who deserves to be near you, even if I die doing so."

Enyo swallowed before she grabbed his face and pulled him down to kiss him. There was a brief pause before he reacted and his lips were curling upwards against hers. 

They pulled apart, and Enyo rested her forehead against his, pausing for a moment. "I will stay if you keep trying."

Zuko smiled. It was silent for a moment until Toph and the others reappeared up the hill. They quickly stepped apart. The last thing Enyo wanted was to be harassed by her siblings. 

"Are you guys coming?" Sokka asked. 

"Yup," Enyo responded, ignoring the quiver in her voice as they joined them again in walking down the hill. Zuko's fingers brushed against hers and she took his hand gratefully.

They had almost made it down the hill when Toph finally spoke.

"Why are your hearts pounding so hard?"