A Prisoner

Book 1; Chapter 4

Legends

When Zuko finally decided to leave and do what was right, he wasn't expecting joining the Gaang to be so easy; granted, it was hard, but in hindsight it could have been a whole lot worse. No, if Zuko had to name the hardest task about being in this group it would have to be trying to teach Aang firebending when it was like he had forgotten everything he had ever learned. What was hard, was flying on Appa when he felt like no matter what they did they were going to lose anyways. What was hard, was trying to save the world with the thought of freeing you from prison, and having no idea what he was going to say to you when he finally saw you again. 

Would he kiss you? Would he tell you that he loves you? Would he yell at you for leaving him so confused? Would he cry?

"Oh God..." Zuko trailed off, groaning and rubbing his face. 

"What's wrong Zuko?"

"I'm sure you don't want to hear my problems."

"You'd be surprised." Aang flew back to his friend, "What's going on? Maybe I can help."

"Well," Zuko trailed off, "there's this girl that I knew as a child and she got into some trouble doing what she knew was right. She was a general for my father's army and she was the most talented and skilled firebender that I have ever known, but in her first raid as general she betrayed my father and fought to protect the Earth Kingdom."

"Wow." Aang said, "She sounds like a really good person."

"She was." Zuko gasped, "I mean, she is. She's the best."

"So, what's the problem?"

"Well, I only recently found out that she's in prison."

"...that's rough buddy."

"Yeah." Zuko agreed, "And the thing is, I've been in love with her for as long as I can remember, but I don't know if I'll ever see her again and if I do, I don't know how I'm even going to approach her."

"Do you think she feels the same about you?"

"I mean... the last time I ever saw her, when she was telling me good-bye, she kissed me." Zuko said, "And that could mean that she felt the same then, but I'm not sure about now."

Aang nodded wisely, which Zuko found to be extremely out of character, but he did suppose that he was a monk...and he had lived dozens of lives. The younger--older?--boy didn't answer for a few minutes, thinking about how exactly he should word his response, "I think you should do whatever feels right in that moment, Zuko."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, it's kind of like when I go into the Avatar State; I don't plan it, it just happens whenever I get overwhelmed by my emotions. If and when you see her, don't you think it'll be kind of the same?"

Zuko considered this when Appa started his descent, he really was an intelligent creature, and when the sky bison landed the two boys got to their feet. 

...

It had been almost a month since you had learned from the dragons the true nature of firebending and four months since you had escaped from the 'inescapable' prison--that thought made you laugh. You weren't sure where to go from there, though, as you had done what Iroh asked of you, so when you heard that the Avatar was a master of all of the elements but one, you decided you would find him and teach him what you could about firebending. 

But, before you did that, you wanted to perfect a new technique you had been working on since you left the Sun Warriors' city. It had to with making your fire so hot, that it could turn water to steam, it involved a lot of meditating to get your fire burning that hot, but you didn't mind the quiet. This was the only time you allowed yourself to use your fire, away from people, so you wouldn't be reported and arrested; though, you did doubt that the warden even reported your escape, given how he wouldn't want to tarnish his perfect record of manning his post in this war. When you traveled through towns, you used a Kabutowari you purchased with the money you made betting, and it was how you defended yourself if you ran into trouble, which was rare. You had a very intimidating aura and most strangers knew to stay away. 

So, you seated yourself beneath a large waterfall and took a deep breath, closing your eyes as you inhaled and as you exhaled flames erupted on the stone around you. You took another deep breath and focused, only working on keeping the water from putting the flames out, and once that was accomplished you started increasing the temperature of your flames. Sweat beaded on your brow, but the waterfall washed it away, "Wow, it's really hot over here. I didn't know there were any hot springs over here!"

A boy's voice reached your ears, "No way, look at that fire!"

You immediately opened your eyes and let the water put out the fire, and you looked around; there was a small group at the river bank about fifty yards from where you were sitting; three boys, two girls, "How were you doing that?"

You pretended to be unable to hear them due to the sound of the water rushing around you, so one of the women suspended the waterfall above you, "Look, I don't want any trouble."

You said, putting your hands up slowly, "I didn't know anyone else was out here."

"You haven't answered the question." The boy with dark hair was speaking, "I've never seen anything like that."

You narrowed your eyes at him when you recognized the fire nation colors he was wearing, "Who's asking?"

You asked, eyes flicking up to what you could see of his face, which was horribly scarred on the right side. You weren't prepared for his answer, "Former crown prince of the Fire Nation, Zuko."

You felt like you were going to be sick, "...Z?"