Courting a Prince: Book 1 (Complete)

ch. 29: "For you, I would..." pt. 3

I wait on the ship for about as long as my patience could let me. Which isn't long because I'm an antsy teenager and anxiety is a bitch. I am sticking it out fairly well. It's already dawn and I haven't done anything.

"Kai, let's go after them now!" I stare at my precious spirit guide that just shook his fluffy head.

The bird creature was sitting upright on the deck of the ship, staring at the sky with their three shining eyes. Night time is special for him, for a reason I don't know or care to explain. I mean, it should be obvious.

I can only sigh, knowing if absolutely get lost if I went on my own and decided to play the unfamiliar board game with the crew members. They try and teach me the basics while having a conversation amongst themselves.

"He doesn't care about us. We might as well be dead weight to him." The shortest member of the crew, and definitely the grumpiest, grumbled like a troll.

The man to drives the skip, or stirs it or what ever, a kind old man who is a veteran at his job, talks to the grumpy troll. "General Iroh tries to defend him, but there is only so much abuse I am willing to tolerate from that banished prince!"

"He's going to end up getting us all killed!"

"Did you see that stunt he pulled in front of the commander!? Who dies he thing he is! Even if we find the Avatar, the fire Lord would never let the useless prince back into the fire nation."

There's only so much a person can take before their breaking point. Of course, getting to that point is easier if you attack the weak spots. Now, the crew is fully aware of my relation ship with Zuko, but they still freely talk like this about him in front of me. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad they feel safe and have enough faith in me to talk like this about their boss in front of me, but goddamn.

I eventually I decide to speak up, just to give my two cents, "Zu has gone through so much and so have you, I know that. Talking behind his back like this, in front of his childhood friend... Really guys? I'm like... His bodyguard, or something. I'm his best friend. How do you think I feel with this crazy kid little shit basically going on a suicide mission to regain something that he would've lost one way or another? He wouldn't actually sacrifice any of you, at least, I think he wouldn't."

One if the animal carers sighed. "You're bias because you're basically his lo-mph!?" His mouth was covered by one of the other crew members and he wasn't allowed to finish his sentence.

I thought everyone looked really tense for a second, which makes me so curious. What was he gonna say? I'm not about to push it, since they obviously want to hide it, but damn I really want to know.

"Well, whatever. I might be bias. He might only be nice to me or somethin', because we grew up together. Or because he pities me. Shit, it might be because he's sympathizing with me. I don't give a flying fuck though." I sighed and got up from my spot at the little table. "I want my freedom! I've always wanted my freedom and he said he would give that to me. He promised me. I ran away, not with him, but even when I escaped I still wasn't free. I'm not free just yet, so I'm gonna follow him until he makes good on his word. He wouldn't do anything to compromise that, I'd fucking kill him."

The animal carers sigh as they stare at me, their faces are just a little pink which is so cute I kind of want to pinch them, but I doubt they'd let me. I make my way back to the deck, because the sun is already rising and that damned hot head isn't back yet.

It's not like I'm worried about him, he has our Uncle, so he's definitely fine, but it would be so much better if we had cell phones in this world. Instead of giving me these damned crystals, give me a phone with everyone's stats on it like a video game! Ugh! I mean, I am totally thankful, but man, this is killing me.

"Hm, May, you're up rather early." A familiar voice said and I turn to see my uncle smiling at me, with my depressed looking friend.

"I could say the same to you, Uncle." I turn to them, putting my hands on my hips. "So, wanna tell me where the hell you guys went?"

Zuko sighed and steps up on the ship, sending the few guards that went with them. "The waterfall. Another Avatar situation you don't need to worry about."

Shit... They're here too....

"Soo, what happened?"

Zuko got all quiet, so our Uncle spoke for him, "They got away again, but that's okay. I'm going to go to sleep now, you two should get some rest as well." He yawned while walking into the ship.

I sigh for what seemed like the 100th time today. "I should've went with you."

"It's better that you didn't. The stupid one got the pirates to betray me in favor of selling the Avatar on the black market." He rolled his eyes and walked over to stand next to me. "Did you even sleep? You look terrible."

I feel my eye twitching out of anger, how dare he say that to me. My beautiful face. My gorgeous, God given, face. My appearance that has been blessed by the heavens, my cuteness that I wholeheartedly requested.... Terrible!?

"Uh... May? Are you okay?"

".....Just... fucking...peachy." I tried to smile, but I'm pretty sure it's obvious I'm pissed. Who could insult my adorable appearance!? Whether I'm sleep deprived or perfectly healthy, I am absolutely stunning! Is he blind!?

"Huh. You don't look like you're okay."

"Well, when you tell a person they look terrible to their face, what do you think they'll look like?" It's taking everything for me not to punch him into the ocean.

"Wait, I just meant you look tired, you have bags under your eyes and since your skin is pale it's obvious." He pokes just under my eye which had me whining.

"Heeey! I was up all night worrying about you, ya idiot!"

"Yeah, I figured..." He got a little quiet and took something out of his pocket. "If it makes you feel any better, I got these." He opened his hand to show the charm I was staring at while shopping with Iroh.

I stare at it for a minute, then look up at him. "Hey, you didn't have to. What is it even for?"

Zuko rubs the back of his neck and sighs. "You wanted it right. You didn't get it earlier because you didn't want to ask Uncle to buy it for you."

I narrow my eyes and tilt my head to the side. "How did.... Well... Whatever... Thank you, Zu. I'll treasure it." I take the charm and out it in my pocket with the plan to attach it to my sword later.

Zuko got all quiet again and wouldn't look me in the eye. I could tell what he was thinking even without him saying it, so I got closer to him and wrapped my arms around him to give him a hug. He didn't push me away or anything, of course, I knew he wouldn't.

I love being close to him, I'm the only one who can get this close to him, other than our Uncle. It's something only I can do without pissing him off. I feel like I'm cheating at this. I have an advantage in this world since I remember bits and pieces of the cartoon and comics, and I was reborn here at a very optimal time. I love reincarnation! I mean, I hated it at first, but now I love it!

"You know... For you, I would swear to capture the Avatar, regain my honor, and become the fire Lord.."

I giggle at this and rub his back. "Zuko. For you, I would... Maybe... Give up... On my freedom. Well, correction, I'd give up on the promise you made about giving me my freedom, in favor of something else."

"Like?"

"Hm.... I wonder.."