Guidance (Chapter II)
Series: Avatar: The Last Airbender
Characters: Zuko, Sensu, Earth Kingdom war prisoners
Disclaimer: Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko own Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Title: Guidance (Chapter II)
Rating: PG
Genre: General, family
Summary: While overseeing an operation to free the war prisoners, Zuko's gaze falls upon a familiar yet unrecognizable face -- the face of a man whose brother he'd saved in the Earth Kingdom. Zuko plans to meet him as an Earth Kingdom escort under another name.
He was fortunate. No one approached him during the voyage to the Boiling Rock, and he preferred it that way. He wasn't particularly fond of small talk when it held no significance, with a few exceptions, but this was not one of them. Instead he took to meditating, evening out his breaths and attempting to stray his thoughts from the Earth Kingdom war prisoner. Sadly, most attempts were futile and he constantly wondered back to pondering. Pondering over who this person was to have triggered such an odd feeling in him -- this awkward feeling that had prompted him to leave a nation behind for a good week or so for the sole purpose of quashing his curiosity.
On second thought, Zuko questioned his motives. He'd been careful to not act on impulse, but, in hindsight, he already had. Leaving Mai to do his job so that he might be rid of this feeling, he was truly spoiling himself with the power in his hands. But he was set on going through this and fetching answers, and that required him to approach the war prisoner in an acceptable manner. Surely the man would gain wrong first impressions if he were to approach him as the Fire Lord. The disguise was absolutely necessary for the meeting to be effective.
He almost felt like Jet. (Had he really died? He did not fully trust the play -- satire, the whole story.)
There was another jerk from the ship and he quickly placed a hand on the ground. Once he regained his balance Zuko stood, the rocky walls of the Boiling Rock meeting his gaze. There was a large group of men assembled in front of the docking area: The released war prisoners, no doubt.
The ship slowly approached the dock, and the guards threw down a wooden plank for their esteemed "guests" to walk up. There was a ripple of murmurs and shows of hesitation before one group of five Earth Kingdom men -- formerly soldiers, whether of their own volition or not -- stepped forward and up the ramp to the deck. Numerous escorts flocked to them instantly (they were very enthusiastic about their job), a handful already having made their minds in choosing to guide those men. Zuko kept his eyes forward, searching for the man whose appearance alone clawed at his subconsciousness. The prisoners had had their original attires returned, and it suddenly turned out harder to find one person of the majority.
There.
There he was, centered with three other men - two of whom looked to be around his age, the other a full grown man - and, strangely enough, a woman. He hadn't seen a woman when he first visited a week earlier. When she'd entered the picture he did not know, nor did he particularly give a care. Still it was question to consider: Women were rarely part of any army that didn't belong to the Fire Nation, let alone allowed to be. They were expected to stay and fulfill their duty as housewives, rather than participate in the gruesome war for years to follow. And this was a female Earth Kingdom war prisoner. It was mind boggling.
Nevertheless, none of them gave off the same vibe as the first. There were like the other prisoners. Their presence didn't faze him in the manner that one prisoner's did. So he ignored them, instead focusing on the original target as he watched him lead the four up the ramp. Zuko neared the pathway as they ventured up, though he came to realize that, in the midst of his confusion upon seeing a woman, he'd moved too slowly to be able to reach them in time. From where he stood, at least three other escorts would get to the five before he did.
Fate seemed to enjoy playing with him. And it wanted him to suffer from frustration for the rest of the day.
Stifling a sigh, he resigned to his misfortune as he watched an Earth Kingdom guide, the same man that had talked to him with a slang earlier, nab the familiar face and his companions. He was the supposedly mighty Fire Lord -- and he'd failed to do something so simple. For the rest of the short afternoon he lingered by the ramp, idly waiting for all the split prisoners to come up and crowd the deck until the last group surfaced, and Zuko, being the only remaining escort, was automatically obligated to take care of them.
"This way," he half-mumbled, gesturing to a spot on the deck that was wide enough for the five former prisoners to sit around. They followed suit as he walked in front of them, turning and moving to the side to let them spread out however they wished onto the floor.
"Say," a middle-aged man started, "you're from the Earth Kingdom, aren't you?"
Zuko nodded stiffly. He refused to look the man in the eye.
"What's your name?"
Before he could voice an answer, the Warden's own overrode anything that started coming out of the Fire Lord's mouth, effectively cutting him off. They were setting sail. Zuko merely shrugged at the convenient timing and changed the subject, avoiding the question of identity. "Is there anything each of you'd like before we reach Earth Kingdom territory?" It was like serving tea all over again.
After the five men requested what they wanted he was off. Entering the room that served as the kitchen, he found that the area was rather crowded. Briefly he wondered if the Warden had even bothered to properly feed his temporary guests, or if he had skipped out on some meals and drinks out of spite. He'd find out. In the meanwhile, Zuko navigated through the tiny kitchen, spotting a free cook and reporting to him what the five men had asked for. The cook was quick to oblige, whipping up the food and getting the drinks in a fairly short amount of time. As he turned to give everything on a tray to Zuko, though, he paused when he saw the boy's face. As he continued to stayed that way, Zuko raised an inquisitive brow, only to receive a shake of a head and the tray.
On his way out he spotted the all too familiar war prisoner he'd been obsessively tracking from the corner of his left eye. All he wanted was a name and an answer.
He loitered, taking the opportunity to steal a glance before turning back.
When he returned he was thanked for the little ration he brought, the five Earth Kingdom prisoners gingerly taking what they'd requested. Zuko watched as they ate carefully, almost warily, as if they would lose what they had if they were to relax marginally. Despite their attempts at being lax their shoulders were tense, betraying their paranoia. He could only continue to stare as they finished the food and drinks, again thanking him as they piled the dishes and cups back onto the tray. Before he could return the objects to the kitchen, however, he was stopped by the same man that had asked for his name.
"If you don't want to share your name, that's fine, son."
He must have visibly tensed, for an awkward silence followed. Then he caved.
"Lee," he said, feeling the pairs of eyes glaring holes into his back.
"Hm?"
"That's my name."
"Another Lee," another man in the group piped up. "Half the world's population is named 'Lee.'"
He was right. And that was precisely why Zuko had chosen to take up the name again. A unique name would have served in making him stand out more -- choosing something common. He'd come across a handful of Lee's in the past few years: Ty Lee, that boy from an Earth Kingdom village, himself. The list went on. It ensured his cover up, and he knew hiding his true identity would be easier in the long run this way.
A chuckle escaped from another prisoner's lips, "Don't pick on the boy."
Zuko shrugged. "He's right. There's . . . many of us."
If any of them picked up on his hesitation, they did not say.
- - - - - - - - - -
"Looks like you have an admirer," the woman proclaimed in a sing song voice.
The boy she'd addressed looked up. "Who?"
She pointed to the retreating form of a youth dressed in Earth Kingdom garbs with a tray. "That one." Their escort followed her finger, immediately recognizing the boy as he walked through the kitchen door.
"Ah, he's got ta be the youngest escort on board. Talked ta him earlier -- mighty solitary, that one," he remarked.
The fact that he seemed to know the watcher caught the woman's attention and she turned to him, putting on a small smile. She was curious, and he supposedly had some answers, no matter how vague they might be. Some answers were better than none, after all. She could piece the parts together later when she gathered more. "Really."
"That's right. Wouldn't talk ta the others and just sat there by his lonesome self."
"Perhaps he's looking for a friend in Sensu," she mused. A skeptical glare was sent her way as he leaned back against the side of the ship, blowing a loose strand of hair away from his face.
"You're really convincing." He looked up at the sky, watching the murky clouds that slowly passed by. "He could have been looking at you. You're the only woman on this ship."
"He wouldn't have been looking at the back of your head if that were the case. Your haircut must have been awfully intriguing."
"You lie."
"I never lie."
The middle-aged man spoke up then, a sigh escaping his lips. "Enough, you two."
They exchanged glances at each other before nodding obediently. She took a sip from her cup of tea, tapping her index finger against it as her eyes darted back to the back beside her. Sensu was far too easy to bait and tease, she'd learned over the months. And she always made sure to let him know she knew. He was looking right back at her, challenging her to start up a playful quarrel again, a flicker in his eyes that informed her he would be ready any time. Yet, she mused, he never seemed to win any of their so-called arguments.
"Did you want some tea?"
He waved a hand. "No, Yi-Min. You know I don't like tea."
"You told me you didn't like ginseng tea when it was offered to you. This is jasmine." She gestured to the tea in her hands to emphasize the point. "Not a very good brand, I admit, but jasmine nevertheless."
Sensu had the sudden urge to snort then. But it was against his better judgment and he decided not to. She was constantly poking at his nerves for her amusement, and he more often than not retaliated. Yi-Min had a way with words, however, and he constantly got lost within them. Now she was attempting to confuse him with the use of tea. It was true he didn't like tea; he preferred plain water over any special drinks. Tea was, in a way, too strong in their own right for him to handle.
Either way: Tea was tea. "Same difference."
"They're very different."
He had nothing to say to that. Rather, he decided that he would let the older woman's opinion of tea be left unexplored as he resumed their previous topic. " . . . I'm certain he must have been looking at you."
"This again?" Yi-Min cracked another smile. "You're too modest." With that said, she turned back to her tea, ignoring the protests that followed after her claim.
When the two fell silent their escort stood, clasping his hands together. He was certainly enthusiastic in a sort of way only he could shine. Offering a lopsided smile that felt contagious, he looked at each and every one of his "guests." "How 'bout a game? The ship has a few stocked up in the lower deck for the soldiers ta make use of; they'd be generous enough ta lend us a board."
"A game of Pai Sho would be great," Yi-Min suggested. "What say you, Bae?"
The middle-aged man that had stopped her earlier play with Sensu nodded. On the other hand, Sensu sighed and resumed to studying the sky.
« Chapter I x Chapter III »
Characters: Zuko, Sensu, Earth Kingdom war prisoners
Disclaimer: Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko own Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Title: Guidance (Chapter II)
Rating: PG
Genre: General, family
Summary: While overseeing an operation to free the war prisoners, Zuko's gaze falls upon a familiar yet unrecognizable face -- the face of a man whose brother he'd saved in the Earth Kingdom. Zuko plans to meet him as an Earth Kingdom escort under another name.
He was fortunate. No one approached him during the voyage to the Boiling Rock, and he preferred it that way. He wasn't particularly fond of small talk when it held no significance, with a few exceptions, but this was not one of them. Instead he took to meditating, evening out his breaths and attempting to stray his thoughts from the Earth Kingdom war prisoner. Sadly, most attempts were futile and he constantly wondered back to pondering. Pondering over who this person was to have triggered such an odd feeling in him -- this awkward feeling that had prompted him to leave a nation behind for a good week or so for the sole purpose of quashing his curiosity.
On second thought, Zuko questioned his motives. He'd been careful to not act on impulse, but, in hindsight, he already had. Leaving Mai to do his job so that he might be rid of this feeling, he was truly spoiling himself with the power in his hands. But he was set on going through this and fetching answers, and that required him to approach the war prisoner in an acceptable manner. Surely the man would gain wrong first impressions if he were to approach him as the Fire Lord. The disguise was absolutely necessary for the meeting to be effective.
He almost felt like Jet. (Had he really died? He did not fully trust the play -- satire, the whole story.)
There was another jerk from the ship and he quickly placed a hand on the ground. Once he regained his balance Zuko stood, the rocky walls of the Boiling Rock meeting his gaze. There was a large group of men assembled in front of the docking area: The released war prisoners, no doubt.
The ship slowly approached the dock, and the guards threw down a wooden plank for their esteemed "guests" to walk up. There was a ripple of murmurs and shows of hesitation before one group of five Earth Kingdom men -- formerly soldiers, whether of their own volition or not -- stepped forward and up the ramp to the deck. Numerous escorts flocked to them instantly (they were very enthusiastic about their job), a handful already having made their minds in choosing to guide those men. Zuko kept his eyes forward, searching for the man whose appearance alone clawed at his subconsciousness. The prisoners had had their original attires returned, and it suddenly turned out harder to find one person of the majority.
There.
There he was, centered with three other men - two of whom looked to be around his age, the other a full grown man - and, strangely enough, a woman. He hadn't seen a woman when he first visited a week earlier. When she'd entered the picture he did not know, nor did he particularly give a care. Still it was question to consider: Women were rarely part of any army that didn't belong to the Fire Nation, let alone allowed to be. They were expected to stay and fulfill their duty as housewives, rather than participate in the gruesome war for years to follow. And this was a female Earth Kingdom war prisoner. It was mind boggling.
Nevertheless, none of them gave off the same vibe as the first. There were like the other prisoners. Their presence didn't faze him in the manner that one prisoner's did. So he ignored them, instead focusing on the original target as he watched him lead the four up the ramp. Zuko neared the pathway as they ventured up, though he came to realize that, in the midst of his confusion upon seeing a woman, he'd moved too slowly to be able to reach them in time. From where he stood, at least three other escorts would get to the five before he did.
Fate seemed to enjoy playing with him. And it wanted him to suffer from frustration for the rest of the day.
Stifling a sigh, he resigned to his misfortune as he watched an Earth Kingdom guide, the same man that had talked to him with a slang earlier, nab the familiar face and his companions. He was the supposedly mighty Fire Lord -- and he'd failed to do something so simple. For the rest of the short afternoon he lingered by the ramp, idly waiting for all the split prisoners to come up and crowd the deck until the last group surfaced, and Zuko, being the only remaining escort, was automatically obligated to take care of them.
"This way," he half-mumbled, gesturing to a spot on the deck that was wide enough for the five former prisoners to sit around. They followed suit as he walked in front of them, turning and moving to the side to let them spread out however they wished onto the floor.
"Say," a middle-aged man started, "you're from the Earth Kingdom, aren't you?"
Zuko nodded stiffly. He refused to look the man in the eye.
"What's your name?"
Before he could voice an answer, the Warden's own overrode anything that started coming out of the Fire Lord's mouth, effectively cutting him off. They were setting sail. Zuko merely shrugged at the convenient timing and changed the subject, avoiding the question of identity. "Is there anything each of you'd like before we reach Earth Kingdom territory?" It was like serving tea all over again.
After the five men requested what they wanted he was off. Entering the room that served as the kitchen, he found that the area was rather crowded. Briefly he wondered if the Warden had even bothered to properly feed his temporary guests, or if he had skipped out on some meals and drinks out of spite. He'd find out. In the meanwhile, Zuko navigated through the tiny kitchen, spotting a free cook and reporting to him what the five men had asked for. The cook was quick to oblige, whipping up the food and getting the drinks in a fairly short amount of time. As he turned to give everything on a tray to Zuko, though, he paused when he saw the boy's face. As he continued to stayed that way, Zuko raised an inquisitive brow, only to receive a shake of a head and the tray.
On his way out he spotted the all too familiar war prisoner he'd been obsessively tracking from the corner of his left eye. All he wanted was a name and an answer.
He loitered, taking the opportunity to steal a glance before turning back.
When he returned he was thanked for the little ration he brought, the five Earth Kingdom prisoners gingerly taking what they'd requested. Zuko watched as they ate carefully, almost warily, as if they would lose what they had if they were to relax marginally. Despite their attempts at being lax their shoulders were tense, betraying their paranoia. He could only continue to stare as they finished the food and drinks, again thanking him as they piled the dishes and cups back onto the tray. Before he could return the objects to the kitchen, however, he was stopped by the same man that had asked for his name.
"If you don't want to share your name, that's fine, son."
He must have visibly tensed, for an awkward silence followed. Then he caved.
"Lee," he said, feeling the pairs of eyes glaring holes into his back.
"Hm?"
"That's my name."
"Another Lee," another man in the group piped up. "Half the world's population is named 'Lee.'"
He was right. And that was precisely why Zuko had chosen to take up the name again. A unique name would have served in making him stand out more -- choosing something common. He'd come across a handful of Lee's in the past few years: Ty Lee, that boy from an Earth Kingdom village, himself. The list went on. It ensured his cover up, and he knew hiding his true identity would be easier in the long run this way.
A chuckle escaped from another prisoner's lips, "Don't pick on the boy."
Zuko shrugged. "He's right. There's . . . many of us."
If any of them picked up on his hesitation, they did not say.
- - - - - - - - - -
"Looks like you have an admirer," the woman proclaimed in a sing song voice.
The boy she'd addressed looked up. "Who?"
She pointed to the retreating form of a youth dressed in Earth Kingdom garbs with a tray. "That one." Their escort followed her finger, immediately recognizing the boy as he walked through the kitchen door.
"Ah, he's got ta be the youngest escort on board. Talked ta him earlier -- mighty solitary, that one," he remarked.
The fact that he seemed to know the watcher caught the woman's attention and she turned to him, putting on a small smile. She was curious, and he supposedly had some answers, no matter how vague they might be. Some answers were better than none, after all. She could piece the parts together later when she gathered more. "Really."
"That's right. Wouldn't talk ta the others and just sat there by his lonesome self."
"Perhaps he's looking for a friend in Sensu," she mused. A skeptical glare was sent her way as he leaned back against the side of the ship, blowing a loose strand of hair away from his face.
"You're really convincing." He looked up at the sky, watching the murky clouds that slowly passed by. "He could have been looking at you. You're the only woman on this ship."
"He wouldn't have been looking at the back of your head if that were the case. Your haircut must have been awfully intriguing."
"You lie."
"I never lie."
The middle-aged man spoke up then, a sigh escaping his lips. "Enough, you two."
They exchanged glances at each other before nodding obediently. She took a sip from her cup of tea, tapping her index finger against it as her eyes darted back to the back beside her. Sensu was far too easy to bait and tease, she'd learned over the months. And she always made sure to let him know she knew. He was looking right back at her, challenging her to start up a playful quarrel again, a flicker in his eyes that informed her he would be ready any time. Yet, she mused, he never seemed to win any of their so-called arguments.
"Did you want some tea?"
He waved a hand. "No, Yi-Min. You know I don't like tea."
"You told me you didn't like ginseng tea when it was offered to you. This is jasmine." She gestured to the tea in her hands to emphasize the point. "Not a very good brand, I admit, but jasmine nevertheless."
Sensu had the sudden urge to snort then. But it was against his better judgment and he decided not to. She was constantly poking at his nerves for her amusement, and he more often than not retaliated. Yi-Min had a way with words, however, and he constantly got lost within them. Now she was attempting to confuse him with the use of tea. It was true he didn't like tea; he preferred plain water over any special drinks. Tea was, in a way, too strong in their own right for him to handle.
Either way: Tea was tea. "Same difference."
"They're very different."
He had nothing to say to that. Rather, he decided that he would let the older woman's opinion of tea be left unexplored as he resumed their previous topic. " . . . I'm certain he must have been looking at you."
"This again?" Yi-Min cracked another smile. "You're too modest." With that said, she turned back to her tea, ignoring the protests that followed after her claim.
When the two fell silent their escort stood, clasping his hands together. He was certainly enthusiastic in a sort of way only he could shine. Offering a lopsided smile that felt contagious, he looked at each and every one of his "guests." "How 'bout a game? The ship has a few stocked up in the lower deck for the soldiers ta make use of; they'd be generous enough ta lend us a board."
"A game of Pai Sho would be great," Yi-Min suggested. "What say you, Bae?"
The middle-aged man that had stopped her earlier play with Sensu nodded. On the other hand, Sensu sighed and resumed to studying the sky.
« Chapter I x Chapter III »