Best Friends Forever?[SPORATIC UPDATES]

10: Back In The Fire Nation

Right.

Left.

Back.

I toss and turn in my bed before staring at the ceiling with a huff. I can't sleep. It's this ship. Been a long while since I've been on a ship. Let alone a Military Fire Nation ship. Makes me think about him. My father. If I can even call him that. I wonder how he's doing. He was horrible to me, but I still wonder if he's alright.

"No point in unpacking that right now." I say with a sign.

Sitting up, I stretch my tense muscles. Getting up to leave my room. Maybe some fresh air will help me relax.

I make it to the deck just in time to see Mai give Zuko a kiss before walking off. Huh. Are they a thing now? When did that happen?

Good for Mai though. I remember her really liking him.

I walk up to the railing, a few inches from where Zuko stands. 

"What do you want?" Zuko grumbled at me.

"Air. Or is that all yours?" I ask, with a dark eyebrow raised.

"You think I'm cold too?" he asks me. What does that mean?

"No. I think your hot." I respond. Moving the fingers of the hand closest to him.

"What?" he sputters while turning towards me.

"Your body temperature. It's warmer than mine. Must be nice to be a fire bender." I say as I look out to the water.

I'm going back. To the heart of the Fire Nation. The place I left all those years ago. To the people I left behind.

"Are you ready? To go back I mean." I say after a short silence. I heard from Ty that he was banished for disrespecting his father or something like that. I got out before that happened.  I can't imagine what he must be thinking right now.

Zuko turned away from me slightly, then walked away completely.

Guess I'll have to use my imagination anyway.

Staring out at the water, I can't help but think...

Am I ready?

♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️

Almost immediately upon arriving in the Fire Nation, Azula and Zuko were swept up to prepare for their great 'Welcome Home'.  

I must admit. It was a rather grand welcome. Very powerful and inspiring. Neither Mai's, Ty's, nor my names were mentioned. As expected I suppose. Not like I NEEDED to be recognized, I didn't do much, but it still would have been nice to be acknowledged. At least as a group. 

♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️

I was given a room to stay in the palace. A 'reward' for my part in Azula's- I mean Fire Nation's concurring of the great Ba. Sing. Se. I don't mind it. Got lucky really. Not like I had anywhere to go when I got here. I haven't even really stepped foot in the ACTUAL nation for years. Smart thinking Azeala. Real smart.

I decided to go to the pond for a little practice. I have fond memories of practicing there. The few times I was invited to the palace.  

Though I had intended on being alone, to try out some new skills I didn't want Ty to know about yet, I found the Prince feeding turtle ducks.

"Every time I see you, you seem to be in such a down mood." I say as I walk up to him. "Don't you ever smile?"

He stays silent. 

"Fine by me." I say as I stretch out. Falling into a back bend,  "I like you better when you don't talk."

"What is that suppose to mean?"

"And, he speaks." I say as I come up from the bend. Moving all the way forward to touch my toes. 

"What do you want, Azeala?" I pause in my stretching. He remembers my name? Didn't expect that.

"That's twice now you've asked me that." From touching my toes, I press into a handstand. "What could I possibly want from you, Zu?"

He stays silent for a moment. Thinking.  "You're friends with Azula. And Azula's always up to something."

I think on that for moment. "Fair enough." I say while lifting 1 hand.

"So."

"So..."

"What do you want?" He yells as he throws bread into the pond. To which the turtle ducks swam up to consume.

My feet land on the opposite side of where they started. And my lips release a burst of air as I come up with the momentum.

"So angry." I squat in front of him. "Is that a fire bender thing? Or just a you thing?" I ask with a tilt of my head. Gold on gold eyes.

"I don't-"

"You seem so downcast. Has Mai gotten to you already? Or perhaps Azeala is bothering you?" The voice of Azula brings me straight onto my feet. She's so light on her feet. I didn't even hear her coming.

"I'll run into you some other time Zuko." I say before giving a bow to the Princess.

Last time I was around the pair of them, I ended up soaking wet. I'm not to keen on walking around in wet clothes, again.

Shame. I barely got a stretch in. A light pout crosses my face.

"I know." I say to myself, stopping in my tracks. "I'll take this time to practice and explore this place."

I smile. Getting a running start, I skip and do a full layout down the hall.

Honestly, who knows how long I'll get to be here?