Fireproof

Kelani hears Iroh knock on the door to her chamber. 

“Would you like some morning tea?” 

Knowing she would feel guilty for ignoring him and going back to sleep, she hoists herself out of bed and over to the door. 

“Good morning,” He greets with a warm smile. He’s holding a tray of fresh hot tea. “I brewed this myself.” He gestures to come in and she moves out of the way to let him through. “Did you sleep well?” 

Kelani frowns. It’s a complicated question, even if it seems like a simple one. On one hand, the soft bed and warmth of the room made Kelani feel the most comfortable she’s felt in years. On the other hand, she’s in a new place, with mostly strangers, all of whom are Fire Nation. She would have slept well if she wasn’t wracked with anxiety and bombarded with her worst memories of being captured by Captain Aimo. 

Iroh notices her hesitation, and decides to pour her a cup of tea before she answers. 

“It’s definitely the most comfortable place I’ve had to sleep in a long time.” Kelani starts. 

A lump forms in her throat reliving her feeling of abandonment once she realized after the first month at sea with Captain Aimo that no one was looking for her. This situation isn’t as bad. She has Iroh, and the comfort of knowing that she will run into Katara, Sokka, and Aang again. But, the familiarity still drudges up the pain. 

“But it’s still new, so it’ll take time to adjust.” She decides to say, forcing a smile. 

“You’re in a lot of pain, emotionally. You don’t have to pretend with me.” Iroh offers with a sad smile. 

His kindness breaks Kelani, and she chokes on the lump in her throat. A few tears fall from her eyes and she wipes them away quickly. A sob escapes her mouth. She made a habit of not letting others see her in distress a long time ago. It’s a weird feeling to be open and vulnerable with someone, even if they’re as understanding as Iroh. 

He pats his hand on top of her hand. 

“This might not be at the forefront of your mind, but I will propose we dock somewhere to find you better fitting robes. My nephew may protest, but I want you to be comfortable.” Iroh explains, pouring them more tea. 

Once the pot is empty, Iroh excuses himself and invites her to the top deck for some fresh air before lunch. She nods, thanking him for the tea and company. 

On the deck, Zuko is watching the waves, barking orders, and scowling. The men around him scramble to follow orders. Iroh waves at Kelani as she emerges into the morning sunlight. She takes a seat near him at the ship’s edge, watching the water lap against the sides as they sail. 

“Uncle!” Zuko calls. “Did you find any information on where the Avatar is headed?” He looks between Iroh and Kelani, but doesn’t acknowledge her. 

“I did not, Prince Zuko. She is not just a tool at our disposal. She is a person in need of stability. Perhaps we dock the ship to find her some more comfortable clothes, and then at dinner she can share information with us if she wishes.” Zuko huffs, but doesn’t protest. Zuko walks off to study the map and find a dock for them to visit. “That was easier than expected.” Iroh chuckles. 

Kelani smiles at him, but doesn’t say anything. Despite his stark differences from Zuko, he’s still helping in finding Aang. It’s not clear to Kelani why they want to find Aang, but she doesn’t want to endanger her friend. 

They dock at a small village surrounded by a moat, and a volcano in the distance. The air of the town is warmer than the air at sea. It smells of volcanic ash, and Kelani wonders if the distant mountain of magma had recently erupted. 

Everyone looks friendly, and greets the travellers with smiles. Kelani notices Zuko’s face staying firm in a scowl. Iroh politely returns greetings to those on the streets. Kelani keeps her eyes peeled in search of a clothing merchant. 

“Hello!” A small girl greets, prancing up to Kelani, and offering her a flower. Kelani takes it and puts it in her braid. 

“A panda lily. Very rare,” Iroh admires. 

“I’m Meng!” The girl replies with a large smile. 

“Hi Meng, I’m Kelani! We’ve stopped in to-” 

“Are you here to see Aunt Wu? She would love to see you!” Meng takes Kelani by the hand and pulls her in the direction of the town’s fortune teller. 

Zuko huffs, impatient and unamused. 

Kelani is about to object when she walks into a quaint, beautifully decorated salon. Meng excuses herself and returns with a tray of tea. Kelani and Iroh take a seat on the floor. Iroh insists that Zuko do the same. He rolls his eyes and sits, slouching, with his arms crossed over his chest. 

“Ah, yes, I was expecting visitors.” Aunt Wu admits, greeting her new guests. 

Kelani smiles, and Iroh compliments the tea. 

“You, there, would you like to go first?” Aunt Wu asks, gesturing to Kelani. She shrugs and stands, following Aunt Wu into the back room behind a sliding door. “Welcome, dear. What brings you my way?” 

“Well, we actually docked nearby to find me some better fitting robes. These are mens’ robes, and they don’t fit well.” Kelani explains, waving her hands slightly to show off the long, drooping sleeves. 

Aunt Wu nods. 

“We have some lovely clothing around the corner. You’ll surely find something you like there. Would you like me to read your palm?” 

Kelani extends her open palm without a word. Aunt Wu follows the lines of her palm, slightly tickling Kelani. 

“Ah, here. The strongest reading I can give: you will fall in love in robes of green. It will be a bright, warm love, and it will last a lifetime.” Aunt Wu beams, and Kelani mirrors her happiness. 

Kelani never allows herself to think about things like love or anything about her future for the most part. Knowing something will turn out well in the end is reassuring. 

“And here, I see you will be a very powerful healer. Congratulations.” Kelani brightens even further at that. 

“Thank you so much, Aunt Wu! I really appreciate your generosity.” Kelani pats herself for her gold pouch and tips Aunt Wu in four gold pieces. 

“Oh, thank you, Darling!” 

They return to the front room. Zuko’s position hasn’t changed, and Iroh is enjoying more tea, encouraging Meng to never give up hope in herself. Aunt Wu smiles at the old man. 

“Would you like your fortune told, handsome?” Kelani gawks at the bold flirtation, and looks over to Zuko in disbelief, while he looks disgusted at the display. His expression makes Kelani giggle. 

“No, thank you, at my age there’s only one thing left to be surprised by, and I want to keep it that way.” Aunt Wu nods, turning to Zuko. 

“Whatever,” Zuko huffs, standing and following Aunt Wu. 

Iroh goes on about the tea, and Meng asks Kelani about her fortune. Kelani goes into detail, and Meng gets excited for her. 

“Do you think your boyfriend is that long-lasting love?” 

Kelani freezes, and Iroh laughs. 

“Who? Oh, no, Zuko isn’t-” 

Aunt Wu pulls the door open and she leads Zuko back to the group. He looks more displeased than when they arrived. 

“Guess he’s not your true love. If he was he would be smiling at such a happy reading.” Meng whispers before scampering away. 

Kelani’s face gets hot, and Iroh wipes his eyes free of tears. 

“What’s so funny?” Zuko demands, walking past them, back to the center of town. 

“So, Aunt Wu said I could find some new clothes around the corner.” Kelani says, carefully changing the subject. 

The three search for the stall of women’s robes. Once they find it, Kelani gets excited at the sight of her many options. Zuko rolls his eyes, watching the children run around the square instead. Iroh excuses himself to a stall selling fruits and fruit cakes. 

Kelani walks up to the stall and gets the attention of the merchant. She beams back at Kelani, insisting on helping her find a good set of robes. After a good bit of time, Kelani settles on light pink robes similar to some she saw in the square. The woman again insists on picking at least one more, and Kelani goes for orange, and then a pale blue. Each one has different flowers as embellishments. Kelani pays for her new garments and thanks the woman for her help. 

“Finally. Can we go now?” Zuko gripes, searching for his uncle. Kelani spots Iroh feeding the ducks. “Let’s go.” 

Kelani silently follows Zuko, and the three head back to the ship. 

At dinner, Kelani joins Zuko and Iroh in her new pale pink robes embellished with plum blossoms that remind her of the last time she saw Aang. That flower has long since wilted, and the panda lily takes its place in her braid. 

“Well, you look wonderful Kelani! Doesn’t she, Zuko?” 

Zuko looks up from the bowl of noodles he’s slurping, and chokes. Her new clothes fit her perfectly and compliment her complexion well. The floral detailing makes her look more feminine than he’d ever seen her before. The panda lily draws his attention to her eyes, and they shine brighter, he notices. The grey sparkles back at him with specks of blue. His eyes  go to her smile, and his heart stops. 

In the time she’s spent on his ship, he’s never bothered to pay attention to her, or take in any of her features before. Now that he has, she’s beautiful, and he’s angry at himself for not taking the time to appreciate her beauty. He had been so preoccupied with how he encountered her, and what the next plan of action would be, that he completely ignored her. It had been at least a week, if not two, and he barely even spoke to her. 

Afraid he’s been staring, Zuko says nothing and averts his eyes back to his bowl of noodles. Iroh sighs, gesturing for Kelani to join them. She obliges, and thanks them for taking her into town to buy new clothes. 

“I’m starting to feel like me again.” She says. 

It feels silly to say. She hasn’t felt truly like herself since she was taken away from the Northern Water Tribe, but this made her feel more comfortable at least. 

“These noodles are delicious.” 

Iroh chuckles. 

“I will tell the chef you think so.” 

“Where is the Avatar headed next?” Zuko asks, breaking the conversation. 

Kelani pauses. 

The last thing she wants to do is give away Aang’s plans in case Zuko wants to hurt him. However, if she does tell Zuko where they’re going, she has a better chance of seeing them again. And, they were going to her home. It would be her only chance to return home for the first time since she was eight. 

“Zuko, perhaps she does not want to share that with us. Do not pressure her.” Iroh warns. 

“No, it’s okay. Um… Well, he has to learn waterbending, so they’re going to find him a teacher.” Kelani says, keeping it as vague as she can. 

“What about the girl?” Zuko asks. 

Katara. 

“She’s not a master. She can only teach him so much.” Kelani explains. 

“So they’re travelling North.” Zuko concludes. 

His heart flutters at the realization that she’s helping him, but he ignores it and tries to choke down the feeling with a cough. 

By nightfall, almost everyone has retired to their chambers. Kelani struggles to sleep, and decides to go to the deck and watch the stars. She would do this sometimes when she was with Captain Aimo, but only when she was sure no one would catch her and berate her for it. 

She stands at the edge of the ship, watching a few stray clouds drift across the sky. The waves lap at the sides of the ship in a calm rhythm. Kelani takes a deep breath, breathing in the cool sea air. 

A board of the deck squeaks and Kelani turns around to see Zuko in his night robes. 

“Oh, I’m so sorry, I didn’t think anyone was awake. I couldn’t sleep.” She rushes, pulling away from the side of the ship and briskly making her way to her chambers. 

“What? No, you’re fine. I couldn’t sleep either.” Zuko explains, taking up next to where she stood before, watching the waves. 

Kelani breathes a sigh of relief and joins him, returning to her spot. She watches him as he looks down at the water, but says nothing. 

“Would you quit looking at me?” He nearly barks. 

“Sorry, I just… We’ve never really had a conversation before. I wasn’t sure where to start.” 

Zuko can feel his face burning. Both at shame in himself for not simply treating her like a person before tonight, and also at the idea of her staring at his scar. He hates his scar, it reminds him of his failure, and makes him feel disgusting. 

“I’m sorry.” He admits, still not looking at her. 

“For what?” 

“Avoiding you- or,  I guess, um-” 

Kelani laughs. 

“If you were avoiding me I didn’t really notice.” 

His chest and his heart deflate. 

“This adjustment has kind of been hard for me.” Kelani confides. “And I just assumed you were busy commanding an entire ship.” She adds with a shrug. “I didn’t want to get in the way of anything, or bother you. Your uncle has been keeping my company, so it hasn’t been all bad.” 

Zuko chuckles, remembering his uncle’s kindness towards her. He’s always so kind to everyone. Zuko wishes he could be more like that. 

“Hard how?” Zuko tries, daring to look at her. 

Her eyes soften at his words, and she looks up at the sky. For the second that they share eye contact, his heart lurches. 

He barely even knows her and can’t help the bubbling in his chest when he’s around her. He hadn’t noticed it until dinner tonight, but she puts him on edge. He assumed his nervousness was a result of his fear that Zhao would come looking for her, or to hack Zuko in two. But really, she made him nervous. The simple presence of a beautiful girl made him nervous. The realization makes him feel pathetic and weak, like his father was right. 

“It’s just more of the same readjusting to a new situation. It gets tiring after a while. And I had started to get comfortable with Aang, Katara, and Sokka.” Kelani smiles, remembering her budding friendships. Then she laughs. 

“Poor Sokka. The last time he saw me, he was mad with an illness and thought I was an Ice Princess.” Kelani continues to laugh. “I wonder if he ended up swallowing one of those frozen frogs…” 

Zuko tenses. Sokka, the Water Tribe boy. The way she talks about him, it sounds like they’re close. To Zuko, it sounds like maybe they’re more than friends. That would make sense, he thinks, considering she’s most likely from the Water Tribe. His face pouts and he glances up at the sky. 

“Sorry,” Kelani continues. “You don’t care about them. Why do you want the Avatar, anyway?” 

Zuko grips the side of the ship so hard his knuckles turn white. 

“For my father. He wants the Avatar.” 

“Why can’t your father find Aang himself?” Kelani asks, looking at Zuko again. 

Though she tries not to, her eyes linger on his scar. 

She remembers the crew on Captain Aimo’s ship whispering about the Fire Lord and an Agni Kai, but that was years ago, and even now she doesn’t know all of the details. 

Zuko’s jaw clenches. 

“Because I was banished, and made a fool. And I have to return to him with the Avatar to be accepted back as his son and the Crown Prince.” 

Kelani freezes. 

“Oh…” She whispers. 

The last thing she ever expected was to feel sorry for the Crown Prince of the Fire Nation. But now, standing on his ship, learning about how he came to be here, Kelani’s heart aches for the boy. She can barely remember her parents. And the Chief was never really like a father figure to her, more of an obligatory guardian. 

Still, she could never imagine a man harming and banishing his own son. Or being the child who had this much pain inflicted upon him. 

She reaches out and puts her hand on top of his. His head snaps to look at her, and she’s looking at him with tears in her eyes. Her eyes glisten in the moonlight as her tears brim at the bottom, threatening to spill onto her cheeks. Zuko’s face softens and for a microsecond he wants to kiss her. 

Then it hardens into a scowl. 

“Don’t pity me.” He orders, ripping his hand away. 

He starts to turn but she grabs his hand quickly. 

“No, Zuko. I’m not pitying you. I’m just trying to imagine your pain. I’m sorry.” Kelani offers, wiping her tears away from her eyes. 

Her empathy and honesty warm his heart, and he feels it rise to his face. She drops his hand just as quickly as she grabbed it. 

“I never really had a father.” She says. “I don’t even remember how my parents died, just that I was left without them.” 

“Where did you grow up?” 

“The Northern Water Tribe. The Chief had to take me in after I was orphaned. And then the pirates showed up one day and snatched me out of thin air. No one was around to hear me or anything because they were all too distracted by the fleet of Fire Nation ships that showed up right before I was taken. So, in a way, I understand what it’s like to be on your own and without the family you thought you had, or that you needed.” 

Zuko frowns, remembering that the raids of the North were disbanded a number of years ago. She must have been taken in one of the last northern raids. 

“I’m sorry, too.”