Dancing With Fire | Prince Zuko [Ɗiscontinued]

Chapter 9: To the Northern Water Tribe

Their arms and legs worked frantically as they slowly approached the shore. Zuko pushed the girl out of the water and got out himself. They coughed and panted heavily, trying to catch their breaths. Zuko groaned and dropped on the ground. A cramp started quickly piercing the muscles on his leg. Lu crawled towards him and felt his leg. The muscles felt rock hard. The prince gritted his teeth. She pushed back her wet hair and concentrated on his leg. She was nowhere near as good as Ty Lee with human body knowledge, but she knew several simple techniques. Lu pressed her index and middle fingers together and hit Zuko's leg in several spots. The muscles relaxed, and the pain quickly faded.

"Thank you," Zuko got up and helped her up. "Are you okay?" he questioned. Lu nodded.

"We need to find father," she said.

"LU, ZUKO!" Iroh ran towards them with a worried look on his face.

"Uncle!" Zuko called. "We are okay, but the ship..." he closed his eyes and looked away.

"Who would do something like this..." Lu mumbled giving Iroh a hug.

"I can think of one person," Iroh narrowed his eyes and motioned for the two to follow him.

***

"Who could have done such a thing?" Zhao asked sounding devastated.

Lu shed a tear. "We know who it was," Iroh said.

"You do?" Zhao raised his eyebrow.

"Pirates," Iroh replied.

A small smirk crossed Zhao's lips, but it faded as soon as it came.

"We've made up our minds." General Iroh said seriously. "We shall join you Admiral Zhao."

"Very well." Zhao smirked openly and raised his cup of tea before bringing it to his lips and consuming the hot liquid.

***

"Everything is going according to our plan." Iroh said as he passed by one of the Fire Nation soldiers. They stopped next to each other. "Zhao doesn't suspect anything. Keep your face covered until we reach the Northern Water Tribe, then you can capture the Avatar."

"Thank you, uncle."

The soldier moved his mask from the face to reveal a large scar and numerous facial wounds.

"Do not take off this mask or uniform." Iroh repeated, wanting to make sure that it really sank into Zuko's head.

"I know," the prince pushed his mask back on his face.

"How is Lu?"

"Almost completely recovered. Zhao is surprisingly generous when it comes to her. He ordered the doctors of the ship to do whatever it takes to nurse her back to her health."

Zuko fell silent for some seconds.

"Uncle tell her to meet me at midnight in the wine cellar."

Iroh sent him a long studying look but nodded. "Don't blow your cover."

***

Lu sneaked from her room and made her way to the wine cellar. Earlier that day the cook showed her where it was for a couple of sweet words and a bribe from General Iroh. Like a shadow she moved down the long corridor almost admiring how big Zhao's ship was. The thought of Zhao made her cringe and clench her fists. She wanted nothing more than to punch his well fed smug face. She was almost savouring how could it would feel if her fist connected with his face. She opened the door and slipped into the cellar. It was dark and somewhat humid, but she assumed that the correct conditions for wine storage.

A small light twinkled in the corner. A masked fire soldier turned to face her. The masked slipped off to reveal Zuko's wounded face. Lu almost sighed with relief. She sat down and opened of bottle wine. She took a hearty sip and handed the bottle to the prince. Zuko took it but didn't drink. They sat in silence for some time, enjoying each other's company. After travelling together for two years neither of them realized how attached them got to each other.

"How are you?" she finally asked.

"Fine. You? I heard Zhao is treating you well," he stated finally drinking from the bottle. Lu took the bottle from him and played with it. The dim light from his hand reflected on her skin.

"I cannot complain," she responded.

Zuko snickered and grabbed the bottle out of her hands. "Hey! I haven't had any yet!" she pointed her bony finger at him.

"Too bad," Zuko gulped down the leftovers of the bottle. Lu pouted but did not dare take another bottle.

"You know, I've realized," she started looking at her hands. The moment felt somewhat intimate. "I haven't actually thanked you,"

"What are you talking about?"

"Thank you for turning the ship around that time. You did good." She stood up and touched the scarred side of his face.

Zuko pulled his face away misreading her action. She furrowed her eyebrows.

"You always touch that side of my face. I don't need you to feel sorry for me," he hissed quietly.

"You think I feel sorry for you?" her eyes widened before twitching. Her hand landed on her stomach as she burst out in a heartfelt laughter. Zuko looked at her shocked and confused. "Prince Zuko, you are something else," she panted and wiped the tears from her eyes. Lu cleared her throat. "I always touch this side of your face, because I like it," she replied simply.

"What is there to like about this shame?" he questioned annoyed.

Lu just shook her head. "It's okay if you don't believe me. I must go now. Please don't seek another meeting with me until we reach the Northern Tribe." She pushed her hair behind her ears. "Take care," she made her way to the door, but Zuko was faster. Lu found herself pinned to the wall, trapped between his hands. Without a word Zuko leaned it and touched her lips with his. It was a quick and innocent kiss which lasted only a couple of seconds, but they both savoured every moment of it. He released and pushed her to the door.

"I will see you at the Northern Tribe," he whispered, and the darkness swallowed the room.