Spark [Prince Zuko - Book One]

❃Chapter Eleven❃

A small flame flickered in the near darkness, casting dark shadows where the light didn't quite reach. Asake flexed her fingers and watched as the flames bobbed in and out, light and dark, life and death. She peered at the orange and red flickering above her palm, enjoying the way the warmth spread from her fingertips all the way up to her shoulder. Then, she closed her hand, extinguishing the flame.

When she was younger, Asake heard someone describe fire as the breath of life. Fire was the first element given to the very first Avatar, so it had to be special, right? The warmth provided security for humans, and the heat cooked their food for them. Darkness was expelled by the first flicker of a flame, and the sun was even made out of the hottest fire. With it, humans would be lost.

Asake couldn't help but disagree.

Fire burned and consumed everything in its way, getting so out of control that humans couldn't conquer it. Instead of giving life, it took and continued to take until nothing was left. Fire would never be stopped unless someone stopped it themselves. Most importantly, fire hurt people, and Asake was one of those people that got hurt.

The fire in the pit of her stomach flared in retaliation, but she stomped it down. No amount of sympathy or enjoyment would make her change her mind about fire.

A clanging alerted Asake that someone was outside of her room. She straightened her back, turning her gaze to her door. The floor creaked again, almost as if the person out there was pondering whether or not they should knock. Her heart hammered in her chest at the thought of someone wanting to talk to her. She had spent the past few hours meditating, trying to calm her racing mind after leaving Kyoshi Island.

Who wanted to talk to her? For a moment there, she thought about Zuko, that he wanted to ask her why she froze back there. Her heart skipped a beat, but she shook her head. Zuko wouldn't come to her room to talk. He'd wait for her to come around first before trying to strike up a conversation. She stood up from her spot on the ground, stretching her arms above her head. Then, she ran a hand through her hair before throwing the door open.

"Daza," she said, surprised at who was standing at her door. He smiled at her sheepishly, holding a tray of tea cups and a steaming kettle. "What are you doing here?"

"Hello, General Asake," he said, bowing his head slightly. "I was wondering if you wanted to have a cup of tea with me."

She blinked at his tall form. "Tea?" she said, her eyes zeroing in on the cups again. She sucked in a deep breath. "Actually, tea does sound good right now." She moved over and allowed Daza into her room. Then, she pushed the door all the way open. She didn't want to be in her room alone with a crew member with the door shut. "What kind did you make?"

"Lychee tea," he said, gently setting the tray on her small table. He crossed his legs beneath him, and she quickly followed suit. "It's my favorite kind of tea, but I know it's not the favorite here on the ship." He chuckled, shaking his head.

"I like lychee tea, too," she said as Daza poured her a small cup of tea. She gladly took it and sipped from the rim of the cup, sighing happily. She cocked her head to the side, staring at Daza as he took a sip from his cup. "Where do you get this? Because I've been searching for the two years since we've been on the ship, and I couldn't find it anywhere."

Daza winked. "I have my ways."

"Would you mind telling me your ways?"

"I would, but then I'd have to kill you."

She laughed, shaking her head. "Fine, if you won't tell me, at least share more of it with me," she said. Asake took another sip from her cup, allowing the sweet taste to improve her mood. "So, why were you pacing outside my room?"