The Blue Spirit ღ (Zuko x OC)

Chapter Ⅰ: Strangers in the Swamp

Zuko had heard the Avatar had been spotted flying over the bog where he had taken up camp. He was determined to get to the Avatar before Zhao did. It was playing on his mind as he tossed and turned in his tent. The anticipation made it hard to sleep. He had gotten so close several times, and yet the boy kept slipping through his fingers. He could hear his Uncle's loud snoring in the tent beside him and decided to give up on sleeping, and take a walk instead.

The night was cool, and the sound of frogs croaking rang about. He walked along, hoping that maybe he would get lucky and find some sign of the Avatar. Just something that would allow him to capture him and be victorious. He needed it desperately and longed to have his honour restored and to take his place beside his father once again. As he thought of everything he had lost, the young prince fell to his knees beside a tree.

'Dammit.' He thought as his eyes began to sting. He felt a rage bubbling in his throat, a hopelessness.

Suddenly, a strange feeling washed over him as he heard the crack of twigs to his right. Someone was watching him.

"Who's there?" He bellowed into the trees as he jumped to his feet, moving quickly into a defensive stance, ready to attack. "Show your self!"

The moonlight glinted off metal as a figure emerged from the shadows. Without a second thought, Zuko shot a bolt a fire at the figure. He heard a clang as they hit a tree and slumped to the ground, a mask falling off. He edged closer, his hands still upright ready to fire another shot when the mask caught his eye. It seemed familiar ... like the one he had heard described by locals and soldiers when picking up supplies in the towns.

"The Blue Spirit ..." He breathed as he lifted up the mask. He looked over to see who had been beneath it and noticed it was an intriguing looking girl. Zuko didn't let his guard down.

"Who are you? What do you want?" He demanded. "Why were you watching me?"

The girl didn't speak, she stayed on the ground, only opening her eyes slightly and wincing. Blood trickled down her eyebrow and from a graze on her cheek. She slowly picked her self up to her hands and looked up at him with grit teeth. He watched as she got to her knees and reached behind her to the dual swords strapped to her back. He readied himself again for an attack, was she really that stupid?

Instead, the girl pulled the swords out one by one and laid each blade carefully on the ground, then looked back up to him. She didn't want to fight him. Zuko kicked the swords away further just to be sure.

"Why were you watching me?" He asked again, much more calmly now. Still, the girl didn't respond. She steadied herself, unravelling some of the wrapping that covered her arms and dabbing it gently over the blood running down her eye. 

"Speak! I order you." The Prince was at a complete loss. Could she be entirely incapable of speech? He combed the moment he'd struck her to remember if he'd heard her make a sound but was caught by the azure of her eyes set in contrast to the violent red from her wounds. Her looks were almost otherworldly; narrow, defined and dark.

"Y-- ..." His mind swirled trying to discern her nationality, but he could not put his finger on it.

Reality hit him like a bolt of lightning as he realised he'd been standing agape, half-words falling from his mouth. He felt a shock of embarrassment, blaming this girl's dumbfounding silence for making him look like a fool. He moved to raise a fist, but felt it swiftly blocked before he could generate heat. It was lightly and effortlessly tapped away.

He stared at her completely flabbergasted. She stared back. A smile seemed to dance on her lips. Was she ... no ... it couldn't be ...

Zuko went to strike at her again, a warning strike, which was just as swiftly blocked as the last time. If he didn't know any better, the movements in her wrists when blocking almost seemed ... lazy ... too effortless. Another sign of a smirk glinted in her eyes.