Chapter Text
Chapter 4: the world’s most awkward tea party
Sokka watches as the looming metal ship pulls away from the shore, and then turns to Katara. Her eyes are still wide, and when Sokka pulls her into a hug he can feel her shaking. After a second he pulls back and gives her a confident grin that he doesn’t feel.
“So, we’re totally following that ship, right?”
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Zuko glares at the completely unbothered (and NOT!!! OLD!!!) airbender sitting across from him. He looks like he’s the same age as Zuko, but he has master’s tattoos. He’s also very excitedly talking about pai sho with Uncle.
“-Always thought that the chrysanthemum tile was only good for defense! That’s really clever, Mr. Iroh.”
The old man smiles, and bows his head slightly. “Please, call me Uncle.” Zuko chuffs, annoyed, and stands up, intending to go and gather blankets for his nest. Unfortunately, the movement catches the ai- …Aang’s attention, and he turns the full force of his exceedingly cheerful energy to Zuko.
“You’re Zuko, right? It’s nice to meet you!” Aang’s smile softens, and he glances around the well lit, homey room. “Honestly, I was expecting a lot more doom and gloom everywhere, but you’ve made this ship really comfy.”
Zuko can’t help but puff up in pride. It’s nice to have someone around who appreciates his clearly superior taste in decor, even if that someone is a prisoner(?) The standard design for fire nation cruisers is dark and sharp and cold, and absolutely intolerable for anyone with even a modicum of self-respect.
His preening lasts about three seconds, and then he scowls. “Don’t think that flattery will get you out of this. You’re still in custody, even if someone can’t resist making every new person he meets a pot of tea.”
He sits back down, still glaring. It wouldn’t do to leave his uncle alone with the 'prisoner'. Besides, if he stays, he might get some valuable information out of Aang. The few remaining airbender settlements he’s visited heard about are very understandably wary of firebenders, but they might appreciate any word of other survivors.
Uncle pushes a cup of green tea towards him and he takes it, still annoyed. He slowly sips from it over the course of the next half hour as Aang and Uncle chat about the most random things.
Aang seems incredibly calm, which is baffling. Most airbender descendants they’ve come across are understandably wary of them, and avoid as much conversation as they can until the Wani reaches one of the safe ports and they find out where they’ve been taken.
Aang is also, shockingly, incredibly young. When Zuko saw the blue tattoos he had assumed that the airbender was old, at least seventy, like all the other masters they’ve found. They tend to be the children of the original evacuees, and are the most wary of all. Aang, however, is not only actively and animatedly chatting with Uncle, he’s following traditional fire nation manners. He sets his cup in the right place, folds his hands and his feet correctly, and even bows his head when accepting a compliment.
It makes something uneasy settle in Zuko’s stomach. He knows they’re doing the right thing, and that Aang will be able to contact his friends after he’s settled in one of the hidden villages, but the way that alpha had reacted… It reminds him of how Uncle got the first time a hired mercenary got a hold of him. He can’t shake the feeling that they’re making a mistake.
He shakes his head, growling. His stupid heat is right around the corner, and it’s making him sappy. He needs to control himself better. Still…
Aang glances at him, and a soothing scent fills the air. It’s like sandalwood and pine, and a bit of cypress. It reminds him of the mountains. With a start, he realises he’s purring, and his face floods with heat. He huffs, and practically flings himself off his seat, stomping back to his room.
How dare! How dare! Who cares if Zuko was maybe freaking out a little and Aang’s scent was calming and pretty and- and- ugh! He doesn’t need comforting. He’s fine and not upset at all and everything is fine! It’s fine!
A few minutes later, he hears a gentle knock on his door. Only three people bother doing that, Uncle, Usaki, and Shao. Even then, they knock loud and short, trained by years of being at sea. When he doesn’t answer, the door creaks open, and the monk pokes his head in. He looks a little embarrassed, which soothes the hissy part of Zuko that’s still mad.
“Hi! Are you okay? You seemed really upset back there.” Zuko scowls, glaring at Aang, and burrows further into his many, many blankets. Despite the very obvious fuck-off-and-leave-me-alone vibes Zuko is attempting to emanate, Aang opens the door fully and steps into the room. Thankfully, he takes off his boots before stepping onto the carpet that Zuko got. It’s one of his favorites, and it’s the only one he hasn’t accidentally scorched yet.
Aang sits beside him on his bed, and gives him a lopsided smile. It’s gentle, and the airbender looks a little bit like he’s been crying “Your uncle explained why you guys came to the village.”
Zuko pokes his head out of his blankets, brows crinkling in confusion. “You set off a fire navy flare. It’s regulation to stop all operations and find any ship that’s put out a flare.”
Aang shakes his head, chuckling sheepishly. “Ah, yeah. We did do that. Haha. But, um… I was talking about- about how you guys act like you’re capturing airbenders and then instead you bring them to hiding places.” His voice cracks, and he’s- Oh fuck. He’s crying. Zuko sits up fully and before he can stop himself, lets out a soft, worried chirp.
Aang wipes his face and smiles. It’s bright and it makes the worry that Zuko’s been feeling fade a little. “Oh. Well, I just- There’s already enough people being hurt by the war. Might as well try to help out a little. We don’t actually do much, since we’re- well.”
Zuko gestures to the dark iron ship, face twisted in an awkward grimace. Aang snorts. “Yeah. Not exactly a friendly aura when your ship is made of doom and gloom.” He glances up at the ceiling, and sighs.
“I wish I could see those villages.”
“You can. We’re en route to one right now.”
Aang shakes his head, and curls in on himself. “I can’t. I have a duty to the world. I have to restore balance.”
Zuko tilts his head, eyebrow furrowing in confusion. That makes no sense. Aang’s what, fifteen? He starts to say so, but Aang shakes his head again.
“You don’t understand. I’m-”
“The avatar.” Zuko’s voice is quiet. He knows that the Avatar has a duty to the world, but- Ugh. He doesn’t know what to do. He thought he was making the right choice in bringing the Avatar to one of the villages, but now everything’s wonky. The avatar is fifteen, not over a hundred, and he’s already befriended two of the water tribe people. Zuko’s beginning to think he fucked up, bad.
Aang nods, but before he can say anything, there’s an awful commotion up on deck. People are shouting and there’s clanging, and then a second later the bell rings out. They’re under attack.