Hi everyone, I’ll keep this one quick.
Just to say, thanks to everyone who’s read I’m In Trouble and please keep commenting!
Your reviews and suggestions are very helpful.
-Ellie
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The man watched the Avatar, his growing disdain for the boy evident in his fiery eyes.
“Look at me, Katara!” Aang exclaimed, proud of the flame dancing across his palm.
“Hm?” The Water Tribe girl looked up, distracted. Her mind was on other things.
Noticing Katara’s pained expression, Aang extinguished the fire in his hands. His silver eyes watched as her delicate fingers traced the smooth skin of her neck, and he yet again wondered what it would feel like to have his lips pressed against hers, if they really were as soft as they looked…
Behind Aang, Jeong Jeong cleared his throat.
Heat rushed to the Avatar’s cheeks as he avoided the firebending master’s gaze. Jeong Jeong chuckled to himself. He might be getting on in his age, but he wasn’t blind yet. Not to anything physical, or to anything emotional.
“You know we’ll get it back, don’t you?” Aang asked.
Katara sighed as her friend came to sit next to her. She still had no idea how he immediately knew what she was thinking.
“I know,” she said. “It’s just – it feels like a part of me has been ripped away.”
She turned to face Aang, determination sparkling in her sapphire eyes.
Aang gulped.
“I need it back, Aang.” She told him. “I’ll do whatever it takes.”
***
Hidden by bushes, Prince Zuko watched the Avatar and the girl sitting on the riverbank.
His golden eyes narrowed in recognition of the tall white-haired man standing in the river.
Jeong Jeong.
The Deserter.
The Fire Lord would not be pleased to know the old master was still alive. Zuko began to plan the man’s capture, but quickly remembered his purpose. He was not here to arrest the Fire Nation fugitive, despite how easy it would be to do so.
Clenching his jaw in frustration, the banished Prince looked away from Jeong Jeong. He hated letting someone go like that. It went against everything he stood for.
Zuko returned his gaze to the two figures talking side by side. When he overheard Katara’s comment about her necklace, the Fire Prince smirked. He’d been right all along. There was no way the Water Tribe girl would forget about her trinket.
Every instinct Zuko had screamed at him to take advantage of the Avatar’s turned back, but Zuko kept himself in check. Three benders - including a master- to one were not good odds. He’d have to wait for the right moment to strike.
“Prince Zuko,” a gravelly voice said behind him, making the teenager jump.
He turned to face his uncle, fuming at his loud voice.
“Shhhhh,” Zuko hissed. They could not be given away now; not when the Avatar was within his grasp.
Iroh rolled his eyes and motioned for his nephew to accompany him back to the ship.
Knowing there was no arguing with his uncle, Zuko reluctantly followed Iroh back through the forest.
Before they were out of sight, however, the Fire Prince looked back at his enemy.
The Avatar was exactly where Zuko wanted him to be, and would be there for some time if he was to master firebending.
“Soon, young Avatar,” Zuko promised, “You will be begging for mercy at my feet.”
***
His opportunity arrived sooner than planned.
