"Uncle, I want the repairs made as quickly as possible. I don't want to stay too long and risk losing his trail." Zuko spoke as he Iroh and Nalina made their way off the boat
"You mean the avatar?" Iroh questioned only for Zuko to get in his face "Don't mention his name on these docks. Once word gets out that he's alive, every fire bender will be out looking for him, and I don't want anyone getting in the way"
"Getting in the way of what Prince zuko?"
"Captain zhao.." zuko crossed his arms and the older man placed his arms behind his back "it's commander now. And general Iroh, great hero of our nation" he bowed, choosing not to acknowledge Nalina
"Retired general"
"The fire lords brother and son are welcome guests at any time"
"Hey, you didn't greet Nalina." Zuko frowned as he stepped forward, Nalina who had paid no mind to this act eyes widened
"Zuko its quite alright" She spoke as the Prince shook his head, giving Zhao a questioning look
"Nalina." he nodded
"Commander zhao" she bowed as he turned his head towards Iroh
"What brings you to my harbour?" He asked as Iroh gestured to the hunk of metal behind them "Our ship is being repaired."
"That's quite a bit of damage" Zhao raised an eyebrow as zuko tried to think of a lie "yes, you wouldn't believe what happened..uncle! Tell commander zhao what happened!"
"Yes, I will do that" Iroh nodded "it was incredible. What, did we crash or something?" He asked Nalina who looked around before nodding "Yes! Right into an earth kingdom ship" she said with a nervous smile
"Really? You must regale me with all the thrilling details. Join me for a drink?"
"Sorry, but we have to go." Zuko mumbled as Iroh placed a hand on his shoulder "Prince zuko, sho commander zhao your respect. We would be honoured to join you, do you have any ginseng tea? It's my favourite" Iroh smiled as whispered something into his ear
"And camomile tea!" He grinned as she walked away with Zhao, zuko letting out a frustrated huff and fire came out of his fingers prompting Nalina to grab his collar and pull him along
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"And by years end. The earth kingdom capital will be under our rule. The fire lord will finally claim victory in this war."
"If my father thinks the rest of the world will follow him willingly, then he is a fool." Zuko stated as zhao took a seat down next to him whilst Iroh and Nalina looked at his spear collection
"Two years at sea have done little to temper your tongue" Zhao noted "So, how's your search for the avatar going?" He asked as a loud crash was heard, Nalina having accidentally tipped the spears over prompting Iroh to step infront of her and take the blame "Uh..my fault entirely" he said with a cheeky smile
"We haven't found him yet." Zuko answered, "Did you really expect to?" Zhao frowned "the avatar died a hundred years ago. Along with the rest of the airbenders" He stated as zuko and Nalina shared an uncomfortable glance
"Unless you found some evidence that the avatar is alive." Zhao suggested as his expression morphed into one that was similar to that of a mischievous spirit "no, nothing" zuko said in a half firm tone
"Prince zuko, the avatar is the only one who can stop the fire nation from winning this war, if you have an ounce of loyalty left, you'll tell me what you found"
"I haven't found anything. It's like you said, the avatar probably died a long time ago." Zuko concluded as he stood up "Come on Nalina, we're going, you too uncle." He spoke only for two guards to block him
"Commander zhao, we interrogated the crew as you instructed. They confirmed Prince zuko had the avatar in custody but let him escape."
"Now remind me, how exactly was your ship damaged?"
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"So a twelve year old boy bested you and your fire benders? You're more pathetic than I thought." Zhao scoffed
"I under estimated him once, but it will not happen again" Zuko stated as he and Iroh sat down, Nalina being told to stand by the guards which she did so begrudgingly
"No it will not. Because you won't have a second chance."
"Commander zhao, I've been hunting the avatar for two years and I—"
"And you failed!" The man yelled as a wave of fire was created "capturing the avatar was too important to leave in a teenagers hands. Hes mine now." Zhao concluded as zuko kicked a table
"More tea please."
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"You can sit down too zuko" Nalina spoke as she stood up from her chair, the pacing fire bender shaking his head
"I don't want to. And you won't be allowed to sit once zhao comes back so sit down for now" he said as a small smile spread across Nalinas face
"Thanks, but I can hear his footsteps" she hummed as zuko huffed and took a seat, the firebender making his way into the tent "my search party is ready, once in our to sea my guards will escort you back to your ships and you'll be free to go"
"Why? Are you worried I'm going to try and stop you?" Zuko asked as zhao let out a heart laugh "You? Stop me? Impossible."
"Don't underestimate me zhao, I will capture the avatar before you" zuko declared as he stood up
"Prince zuko, that's enough" Iroh protested as zhao raised an eyebrow "You can't compete with me. I have hundreds of warships under my command, and you. You're just a banished prince"
"No home, no allies. Your own father doesn't even want you."
"You're wrong. Once I deliver the avatar to my father he will welcome me home with honour and restore my rightful place in the throne"
"If your father really wanted you home, he would've let you return by now, avatar or no avatar. But in his eyes you are a failure and a disgrace to the fire nation."
"That's not true." Zuko frowned
"You have the scar to prove it" Zhao stated,
"Maybe you'd like one to match" Zuko stated
"Is that a challenge?" Zhao spat back
"An Agni Kai at sunset"
"Very well, it's a shame your father won't be here to watch me humiliate you. I guess your uncle will do." He said as he walked out
"Prince zuko" Iroh began "have you forgotten what happened the last time you duelled a master?"
"I will never forget."
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"Even in exile my nephew is still more honorable than you zhao" Iroh spoke after the guards and Nalina watched the agnikai, zuko choosing to spare the defeated commander "thanks again for the tea, it was delicious."
"Embarrassingg" Nalina whispered as she twirled around, following zuko Iroh and the rest of the crew back into the ship
"Did you really mean that uncle?" Zuko asked as Iroh smiled "of course, I told you ginseng tea is my favourite"
YOU ARE READING
𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐁𝐔𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐍 𑁍 ZUKO 𑁍
Romance"You without sin, are like the sun," "Even with your sins, you are like the sun" I do not own any avatar the last airbender characters!
