Rules Of The Road (Zuko X OC)

In Which There Is A Second Chapter, Where Things Happen

🍵 Italics are indicating dreams or memories 🍵
Thanks to AbbyFilsinger for giving me the kick in the pants I needed to get this chapter going!

Jack's POV

"Hold her down!"

"Girls aren't tough at all, see?"

It's dark, can't see, can't fight back, hurts, stop that get off of me don't touch me let go why is there fire go away don't call me that fire fire why burns stop let go of my hair fight back fight back fight back fight back they'll be sorry they ever came near me they'll regret this

I bolt upright, my arms flying up to shield my face. I can't breathe correctly. I try to take in desperate gasps of air, but I can't get calmed down enough to do so properly. There's a hand resting on my shoulder now, and I jolt again.

"Jacqueline, calm down, please- Jackie, breathe, breathe! In through your nose, out through your mouth. That's it, keep them steady- in through your nose, out through your mouth. There we go, it's okay. It's okay." Iroh's steady, calming voice brings me back to, well, wherever this is.

The room is dark, and the only color around besides black is the signature deep red of the Fire Nation. I'm on a bed. The walls are made of metal, giving me an indication of where I've ended up. However, I'm very confused as to the how, as well as the why. "Um, what?" I ask Iroh.

"You've probably realized that you're on the ship, right?" He says wisely. "I told Prince Zuko that taking you here would only serve to agitate and confuse you further, but we really didn't have any other place to take you. So, here you are!"

"I- um. Thank you, General Iroh." I reply shakily. I look up in order to meet his eyes. "I can't go home, can I?"

"I'm afraid not, dear." The older man answers, a frown beginning to rest on his features. "The whole place was burned to the ground. I'm sorry we couldn't get there sooner."

"No, it's okay." I say. "In fact, I owe you guys for helping me get my important stuff out before the dinner special was roast Jack." Not one of my better attempts to lighten a situation, but it gets Iroh to smile anyway.

"Oh, I almost forgot. Zuko said that he was going to come see you as soon as you got up. I'm sure he's ready for one of his investigations already." Iroh says suddenly. I silently thank the man for another comedic opportunity.

"Would you say that he had some burning questions to ask me?" I pipe up from the bed. Iroh chuckles.

"If you never get your business back up in the air, I'm sure that you would excel as a stand-up comedian." He says, standing up from where he was kneeling next to the bed. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll go fetch the ship's commander- he's been worried about you." He leaves the room, leaving me even more confused about the situation that I've landed in.

I take the moments I have alone to pull back the covers from my body, swing my legs over the edge of the bed, and try my luck at standing up. It doesn't go spectacularly, as I stumble before I manage to grab the edge of a nightstand. I could have landed on the floor instead. I think to myself.

There's a mirror on the mentioned nightstand, and, when I glance at my reflection, I'm relieved to see that I have not, in fact, mutated into a slimmer monster or grown an extra arm. To be perfectly honest, I don't look any different from yesterday, save for the fact that now, the darker and more pronounced bruises have been covered by bandages. The bandages on my arms have also been changed.

"Up already?" A voice asks from the doorway, and I turn around top face its owner. It's Zuko, looking as intimidating as always in his armor. Does he ever take that stuff off? As I'm taking in his appearance, I realize that it's been half a minute and I haven't answered him.