The Dragon's Guard

II. Night Life

(Thanks to all of you who have read, added and voted this so far!)

Sorry - Writer's block is a nightmare and I've written about 30 drafts of this before it seemed alright. I'm still not completely satisfied with this... Sorry.

Warnings: Bit of Swearing and Violence/Blood

. . .

"HEY - ZUKO - YOU'LL DO GREAT."

SITTING ACROSS from her in the open top carriage, Fire Lord Zuko twisted the end of his hooded Cape around his fingers. His face was shielded by the hanging hood, to obscure his identity as much as possible, but Indah could still tell he was panicking about the up coming public speaking. Last time- aha, last time had been... disastrous.

There had been an attack on Zuko's life which had only been narrowly missed, with Officer Rangi having to hurl herself infront of the arrow and Suki taking a shot to the thigh. Indah - to her endless regret - had been back on Kyoshi Island that day, making arrangements about the absence of the Warriors for the next few years. Ever since then, Zuko had been a bit more attentive and - well - worked up about Public speaking.

The Kimodo Rhino pulling the carriage snorted a great cloud of yellow mucus as it clawed around a corner, scratching and scraping at the stones underfoot as it went. The streets were now entirely lit by subtle lamplight. Flickering orange light made all the gold fittings on the carriage shimmer like miniature suns, tracing patterns on Zuko's hooded shroud.

"Thanks," Zuko drew the heavy koala-sheep wool around himself, not that he needed it with the warmth of the evening. He just felt much safer with it shielding his utterly recognisable face. Indah didn't need one - she was just a Kyoshi Warrior and not the one to be likely targeted. 

He sighed heavily and and tilted his face away to watch the lanterns bobbing by. Indah felt her stomach drop - Zuko was usually confident and sure of moves he was making (even if some of them were questionable). It physically hurt the Kyoshi Warrior to see him so... fragile. She ran her tounge over her lips and leant foward slowly.

"Zuko," Indah ignored the fan digging into her abdomen and leant across to touch Zuko's knee with a hesitant hand, "It won't be like last time. We have plenty of plain clothes guards - Suki triple checked in her letter to me... trust me... Anyway you-" She forced a smile through the heart-wrenching worry "-You have me. And- and I'm never going to leave you bec- because I-"

Indah snapped back and her spine with horrifically stiff as she decided against finishing the sentence. She wasn't even sure if should even think it. FIVE FREAKING YEARS and she still couldn't (mustn't!) tell him.

"-I am a Kyoshi Warrior. And it's my- my duty."

Indah felt like a terrible, terrible coward, keeping it all bottled up inside of her. But it's the only way that both or either of them (Zuko - Indah didn't care) could maintain reputation and- oh, who was she kidding. She couldn't care less about what people would think of her... but of Zuko? He needed to marry someone of higher standing... Argh - Fuck it!

She stuffed her fists under her armpits and stared rather dejectedly at her sandled feet. They were made of woven reed soles and fraying red fabric; Suki's old pair. Indah wiggled her toes about on the reed, sighing as she did so.

Zuko drew his hood back slightly, his golden eyes flashing beneath like mini torches, and gave Indah a gentle (but bloody beautiful) smile. Indah could feel her insides melt but somehow maintained a stiff upper lip. All she could think about was how it be like kissing him - which was absolutely inappropriate and, not to mention, creepy.