The Assassin [atla]

chapter one

Kai smirked as she effortlessly evaded another fire blast that was sent her way. She immediately spun around, collected a large amount of water creating a water bullet and sent it towards her target. The banished prince threw another blast towards the water canceling both out, not before creating a small blast that sent him to the ground. Zuko scowled as he got up from his spot, he then created a fire whip aiming it at Kai's legs. She quickly somersaults over it before charging at the prince, she bended water from the pouch around her waist creating multiple small ice spikes, she pushes her hands forward sending them straight towards Zuko. He manages to dodge a few, but some make their mark, creating small razor like cuts up his arms.

Zuko lets out an angry yell as he sprints toward Kai meeting her head on. She quickly dodges one of his punches before sending one his way. They continue this for a while, before Zuko manages to get a solid hit on her jaw. She winces in pain as she hits the ground, before she gets up. She fakes an attack before performing an aerial flip over Zuko using his shoulders to push off of, with lightning speed she sends a kick to his side, he grunts but spins around aiming for a counterattack only to be met with a dagger at his neck. 

"Your move princess"

He frowns. "Didn't I tell you to stop calling me that?" he asks.

Kai only smiles in response waving her hand, "You did, but I think you should know by now, princess, that I don't exactly follow your orders very well" she says as she makes her way toward the tea loving general.

His frown deepens (if that was even possible) and stalks towards her making her spin around. "Last time I checked Scarlett Saber, you're the one who takes orders from me, so I suggest next time you think about what will happen if you don't"

Kai scowls, all the teasing from her face vanishing instantly only to be replaced with a murderous glare. One that if the prince were any other person, he would be shaking in his boots.

"Call me that again and I swear will take this dagger and shove it right up your-!"
Iroh takes this moment to diffuse the two friends' squabbling.

"Children, children please, it is too early for all this negativity"

Zuko bows his head slightly. "Sorry uncle" he mutters.

"SoRrY uNcLe"

He whirls around to face Kai again who now wore a wide grin on her face. He huffs in annoyance and crosses his arms making his way towards the edge of the ship. Kai happily plops down on one of the pillows and pours herself a hot cup of tea, she sighs in satisfaction as the soothing drink travels down her throat.

Iroh, who had been playing his favorite game throughout the entirety of their fight, moves a piece before looking at the water-bender.

"Kai, you know how much I care for my nephew, but even I know pushing his buttons like that will only lead to disaster" he says as he takes a sip from his own tea.

Kai only strugs in response. She stopped being intimidated by him a long time ago and she wasn't gonna start now just because of his annual temper tantrums.

"He's my best friend Iroh, if I'm not gonna annoy him then who is?" she asks as she moves a piece on the board signalling that she's ready for a rematch. Kai has yet to win a game against him, but she's been close.

He only chuckles in response moving his own piece. "I suppose that's true, but I still wouldn't use that to your advantage, Prince Zuko can be intimidating if he wants to be"

She snorts. "Yeah, he's about as intimidating as a turtle duck."

Zuko having heard their whole conversation immediately hurtles a small pebble towards the assassin, without looking up from the board she raises her hand catching it mid air. Kai moves another one of her pieces, before finally facing him.

"C'mon Zuko, just because you're cranky about not catching the Avatar, does not mean you can take your anger out on me and your Uncle" she says as she flicks the pebble successfully hitting him in the chest.

"I am not cranky"

"That is exactly what a cranky person would say, Prince Zuko" Iroh chimes in, causing a loud laugh to come from Kai, making her almost spit out her tea. Zuko quickly turns around trying to hide the small smile that appeared on his lips, a smile that fortunately didn't go unnoticed by the assassin. She smiles softly to herself, happy that she made her friend smile for the first time in years. The heartfelt moment was quickly ruined by the ship shaking from a celestial like light in the distance.

"Finally!" Zuko shouts as he turns toward his uncle, "Uncle do you realize what this means?" he asks as he points to the light.

"I don't get to finish my game?" Iroh asks.

'The world is finally ending?!" Kai asks excitedly at the same time.

"It means" he says exasperatedly. "That my search has finally come to an end' Zuko looks towards Kai. "We can finally go home"

Iroh sighs and puts down his tea. "Or it's just a celestial light, we've been down this road before Prince Zuko, you don't want to get too excited over nothing." He then moves another game piece, "Why don't you sit down with us and enjoy a nice jasmine tea hmm?"

Zuko whirls on him with a glare "I don't need any calming tea, what I need is to capture the Avatar, helmsman, head a course for the light!"

Kai rolls her eyes at her friend's theatrics before turning back to the game. She looks the board over before placing a piece down, her eyes wander across the board before they widen in surprise. She perks up immediately.

"I won, oh my spirits! I won!". Her eyes go up to meet Iroh's, She grins smugly as she points her finger at him.

"Ha! In your face old man!"

She freezes as soon as the words leave her mouth.

"I mean, uh, good game?"

It's Iroh's turn to laugh loudly.