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☽𖤓
"𝐏𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧," Touka jolted as a bundle of fabrics struck her head. She quickly sat up, the clothes falling as she tried to blink the sleep from her eyes.
She leaned back against the cool wall of the cell she was still confined in after what felt like days, though it was probably only a day or so.
"Hurry up, I don't have all day," Zuko grunted, standing just a few feet away with the cell doors open.
Touka blinked up at him before lifting the clothes from the floor. Her brows furrowed and her nose scrunched. "These are Fire Nation clothes."
Her lips curled into a frown as she tossed the clothes at his feet. She stared at him as his face contorted in anger and he stomped over to her. "You will put these on." He spat, holding the pieces of cloth closer to her face.
"No." Touka said simply, her voice so monotone it made Zuko's body burn with rage.
Touka leaned back as the boy knelt down in front of her, his thumb and index finger gripping her chin. "If you don't want to end up in a worse place than this or dead, you will put these on."
She frowned, confusion evident in her eyes. "Where are you taking me?" It baffled her why he was so insistent on her wearing these clothes. Her snow-white hair and blue eyes marked her as a war prisoner, and he had kept her locked away until now. What was different this time?
Zuko huffed, releasing his grip and standing up, crossing his arms. "My ship needs repairs. We're heading to the nearest Fire Nation harbor." His voice was strained, as if giving her this information was a heavy burden. Turning his back to her, he added, "If any other Fire Nation soldiers or generals see you, you'll be killed on the spot or taken somewhere that will make you wish for death."
Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves, Touka picked up the clothes. Complying seemed like the best option. Staying with Zuko offered a sliver of hope for reuniting with her family, a far better fate than a Fire Nation prison or death.
When the Prince didn't leave as she stood, she raised a brow and waved her hand towards the cell door. "I can't change with you standing there."
If her eyes hadn't deceived her, a red hue appeared on his cheeks before he walked out and slammed the cell door, huffing as he locked it. Under different circumstances, she might have smiled at his flushed figure avoiding her gaze as he stormed off.
Nearly half an hour later, Zuko came and retrieved her, grabbing her arm and tugging her from the cell, causing her to narrow her eyes. His golden gaze scanned her, taking in her new red clothing—a stark contrast to her water tribe attire, which she had neatly folded in the corner.