Only you

The Siege of the North

Song ~ Inside Out by Duster

ZEN'S POV

I sigh quietly before standing up from my bed. It had been a long few weeks. Zuko really pissed off some pirates and they and my dad tried to kill Zuko, but we got away and are now pretending to be soldiers on my dad's ship.

I'm pretty sure my dad tried to kill me too. I wouldn't put it past him. Zuko kept saying he didn't know I'd be on the ship with him, and that it was probably a mistake. But I've seen him in the halls he doesn't look fazed at all at the fact that his own son is dead.

Today, the Fire Nation was planning to attack the Water Tribe, so I had to get in quickly before it would look too suspicious. Uncle Iroh had set up a boat for Zuko and me. We would leave after breakfast, which was now. I usually don't feel this nervous or show it at least but today I felt like throwing up 3 times.

After so much time, I'm going to see her again. She had been actively avoiding me for years. I remember the night my father dragged me along to this event for the promotion of the army and everything was just war talk. I was bored out of my mind since I didn't have Zuko by my side anymore. I swiftly made my way over to a waiter and swiped a few crab cakes and I heard a familiar voice it sounded deeper, more worn in. I turned to see her walk by without noticing me. I had changed over the 3 years since we'd seen each other.

I lost my baby fat, gotten taller and had some muscle, but she was different. She had grown a few inches and looked more like a Fire Nation girl, acted like it too, but I could see her true personality shine through sometimes.

When I placed my eyes on her every moment, we shared every kiss we had popped up in my mind and I found myself keeping my distance the whole night but still watching from afar.

She was gorgeous. The dress she was wearing was a long red dress that fell off the shoulder showing her gold necklace. I wanted to go and see how she was and after I got the confidence and finally made my way into her eye rage she looked over and saw me. She started coughing on the drink she was sipping causing the person she was talking with to stop and ask if she was alright. She nodded and tried going back to the convocation, but she looked upset now. She quickly said her goodbye to the lady and went off somewhere away from me but not before giving me one more look. That look was devastating for me, she looked more than hurt and it made me want to explain myself even more, but I knew she wanted nothing to do with me.

The rest of the night I kept looking for her, but she was nowhere to be found. It was close to the time my dad and I had to leave and as I looked around for him, I could see him chatting to Dee's Dad. I hated that man for what he did to her for how he separated us like that.

I couldn't stay there a minute longer, so I decided to head home myself. My dad would've probably forgotten he'd taken me with him and come home himself sooner or later.

After that night it looked like everything was going to be okay but Dee's father ruined everything. He ruined us.

Suddenly I heard a knock at the door taking me out of thought. I get up and open the door. "Hello." I say in a deep voice.

"It's just me, no need to worry." Iroh whispers from the other side of the door. I opened the door and let him in quickly. "I've got you a boat, but you must go alone." I didn't expect that.

"But-but the plan. Zuko and I were meant to leave together how am I meant to get in now?" I started to ramble.

"Yes, I know however Zhou has him doing duties. I tried to get him away, but he won't let him leave his side." I let out a huff. This is going to be a disaster. "You will follow the plan...without Zuko."