(Zutara) Hold it Gently; My Heart Burns For You

Captured

Where is the Avatar?"

The waterbender glares at him across the table. She wants to chew on her lip, he can see it in the way it begins to press against her teeth, the tips indenting through the dark skin before she reaches the split lip, winces, and stops. Whatever the Warden allowed his men to do to her, Zuko mentally adds it to his list of charges against the man.

Instead of answering him, she gently prods the wound with her tongue. His eyes flick between the motion and her stubborn, blue eyes. He should have guessed as much. Good luck moving the tides to a ship's whim. Good luck getting this waterbender to talk.

She hasn't been allowed to leave the table since he brought her onto his ship. The chain connecting the metal caps over her hands thread through an iron ring. He had the manacles tailor made for the Avatar. Nothing can bend metal, not even the human tie to the spirit realm, power and destruction incarnate. The cell, stripped of all ornament, decoration, and, most importantly, water, lies deep in the bowels of the ship. Four tons of metal stand between her and the ocean. Zuko's only just made his presence known, announcing it with the question as he strode in and parked himself directly in front of her. She sneered as he joined her, having no choice but to share the space with her hands shackled to the table.

She sneers now, the hatred ugly even on her exotically charming face. "Where is the Avatar?" he repeats.

She shrugs boyishly. "How would I know? He has a flying bison, and I haven't been let out of this box for hours."

"Days," Zuko corrects, and takes pleasure in the way her face falls. A day and a half, technically, but the more alienated she feels from her friends the better.

"Days," she practically spits the words. "Then I'll clearly be of no help. Good luck, you can drop me off at the next port."

"Drop you off for him to find?" Zuko raises his lone eyebrow at her. "Why add an extra step? If I hold on to you long enough, won't he eventually find his way to me?" Zuko leans back in his seat. "Might be nice for a change. I can save my energy."

"Won't be enough to beat Aang," the waterbender snarls. "Rest all you want. The Avatar won't be beaten by the Fire Nation, and he definitely won't fall for your slimy, dishonourable tricks."

Zuko stands, swift and sharp strides taking him to the door. Before he's finished slamming it behind him, his uncle's voice is admonishing him. "Prince Zuko, it is rude to speak to a woman so inappropriately."

"Some woman," he mutters, stalking away down the corridor.

~ ~ ~

The next time he approaches the cell door, hours later, Iroh stands between him and his captive. He moves to go around his uncle, but his way is barred by the stern expression and teapot pressed into his stomach.

"She's been in there almost two full days, Prince Zuko."

"And she'll stay in there until I find out where the Avatar is."

Iroh rolls his eyes to the ceiling. "She doesn't know."

"She says she doesn't know." Zuko fights off the impulse to make the same eyeroll. "Honestly, uncle, how did you interrogate your prisoners?"

Iroh proffers the teapot. "By starting a dialogue, not through parched throats."

Zuko practically guffaws in his uncle's face. "I am not bringing a waterbender tea."

"You have the manacles on her, what damage could she do? Meanwhile you deprive that poor young woman tea because you fear what she could do with it?"