Water's Will

Zuko awoke. Mouth agape in a silent scream, he felt every second as the names burn into his skin. A fiery brand down his spine.

Praying to any spirit that would listen for blissful unconsciousness, Zuko lay on the floor of his cabin. His ragged breathing the only counterpoint to the curious silence of the rest of the ship.

---

...and the unremarkable sound of someone stepping off the bridge rang through the utterly silent corridor outside his room. His blood chilled within him and he knew with sudden certainty where and when he was.

He hit the water hard but further ahead of the explosion this time, earning himself fewer bruises and battering from the shrapnel...