Here We Go Again
South Pole
100 AG
Aboard the Wani
08:00 AM
Zuko had expected the South Pole to be colder. Sure, there were icebergs everywhere and glaciers galore but it really paled in comparison to what he'd been taught as a boy.
The cold didn't immediately freeze his limbs and he felt closer to Agni now than ever before. Sure, the winds were harsh and bit at his cheeks, but those were few and far between at this time of year. His scar ached at the cold but then again it ached at anything moderately resembling weather. Storms were the worst, but as time went on the pain dulled to more managable levels. Or his pain tolerance grew. At this point it was hard to tell.
He'd been awake for about 2 hours now. Rising from his nest on the floor and wriggling free from his blankets. How he got to the floor was unimportant. Nobody had to know that he rolled off the bed again, or that this was a regular occurrence. He just had to quickly make his bed and hide all evidence of his floor becoming his new bed.
Zuko quickly shuffled his pillow back onto the bed and flapped his blankets onto the matress as well, taking care to smooth out the creases and tuck the edges beneath the bed. He looked up from the bed at the giant tapestry hanging over his bed, depicting the symbol of the Fire Nation. Zuko grimaced in annoyance. "I really wish I could get a different tapestry. He glanced around his room. "And a whole new colour scheme. Maybe purple?" He mused, sitting on the edge of the bed and began to more closely examine his room.
His quarters had remained mostly the same over the past 3 years, only changing a little to reflect his age. His swords had been changed out for bigger ones with his 16th birthday and he was less private about his hobbies and studies, so he had a few books out on his large desk, as well as several dozen vials, beakers and packages of various compunds.
Next to the desk sat a large safe inside the wall, fire proof, waterproof, and most importantly, he was the only one who knew the combination to open it and unlock it. After he'd caught that crew member (What was his name again? Oh right. Kamo.) lurking near his chambers he'd upped the security of the safe and changed the lock. Maybe it was paranoid of him, but after his mother disappeared and his banishment he really didn't think it was such a stretch to think the Fire Lord sent spies onto his ship.
As Zuko looked around the room he noticed with growing clarity that the Fire Nation regalia that was everywhere felt suffocating. A reminder of the home he'd lost to the greed of his own flesh and blood.
Looking now, he counted 3 tapestries. A large one overlooking his bed, a smaller one over his desk, and the third covering the bookshelf inside the wall. The one over his desk was tasteful, and the one over the shelf was a necessity, but, he mused looking over his shoulder at the larger tapestry. The big one was a little over the top.
The decision was then made to take it down, and replace it with that beautiful tapestry Uncle Iroh had gotten for him a while back. It was about the same size and depicted a large map of the world with scenes from history and folklore winding all around the border. It was tastefully multicolored and to anyone who asked Zuko could answer that he wanted a beautiful map, and he also didn't want Uncle to feel ignored. And so, nobody would be the wiser of the prince's own dwindling patriotism.
Of course that all happened about an hour ago, around 7. It's 8 now.
And Zuko is struggling to get the tapestry's beam back into place. He was standing on a stool and trying to get it into the hook farthest from him, but it was proving impossible from this position. Zuko was beginning to think that he would need to stand on his bed.
A few more tries and he knew he had to.
He stepped onto the bed carefully, making sure the tapestry didn't get underfoot. He lifted the bar the tapestry was hanging on up, lining it up with each hook. Once the bar was in place he smoothed out the creases of the fabric and made sure it wasn't bunched up. Upon stepping down from the bed, he appraised his work.
As he'd thought, the tapestry added colour to the room that really didn't clash as much as he'd thought it would. Now he turned his redecorating mind to the rest of the room.
There wasn't much he could do, except roll back the shade from his window. Why every Fire Nation ship had red windows to go over the windows he'd never know. It may be for the intimidating aesthetic, Zuko mused, but then again it could have a forgotten purpose.
He pushed the red glass to the side, into the wall. Zuko glanced around the room and immediately noticed the jarring change in atmosphere. "No it's definitely to be scary," he muttered in awe. His room looked much more pleasant now, with the soft blue light streaming through the window and illuminating the substances in each vial and beaker in much more pleasant hues.
He was snapped out of his reverie by a knock on the door, and the subsequent opening of said door. He turned to snap at the intruder but the words died on his tongue when he saw who had entered.
"Prince Zuko!" Iroh smiled kindly at his nephew, taking in his appearance. His phoenix tail looked a little disheveled, as though hastily put up by tired hands and his eyes were worried. A glance at the room surprised Iroh and he smiled even wider. "I see you have taken the time to redecorate, nephew. What brought this on?"
Iroh's eyes locked onto the tapestry over Zuko's bed. He was surprised. He'd assumed Zuko would see the large tapestry as a sign of his greater patriotism and loyalty to his father. So seeing it replaced meant one of two things. Either he viewed the tapestry as not but a piece of fabric, or-
"Oh! Uh, well, you see uncle, I uh...I wanted to have a better idea of the world and uh...thought my own map would help!" Zuko said quickly, clearly put on the spot. "And then I remembered you got me a tapestry a while back and I didn't want you to think I didn't like it and-"
Click. Iroh closed the door and stood in front of it, barring entry and exit.
"Uncle?" There. That worried tone. He's hiding something.
"Nephew, you are a very bad liar," Iroh started, reappraising the young man before him. He looked like a dearmouse caught in the light of a lantern. Frozen in place and fear written on his face.
"Uncle it's not-"
"Are you having doubts about your father?"
"What? No! Why would I ever-" a pause. A chewing of a lip. Glances to the sides. Stiff posture. "No, you've got it wrong," quiet. Meek. Scared. Iroh noticed it all.
Iroh smiled and shook his head. "No nephew, I don't believe I do," he closed his eyes, feeling tears begin to well. "Nephew, you are having doubts, no?"
Zuko's shoulders slumped. He looked defeated. "I admit I have been having...Treasonous thoughts," he said carefully. Licking his lips nervously, he continued. "But I also know that the impossible mission my father has given me is my only way home,"
"And what is home, dear nephew?" Iroh prodded, concern evident in his voice.
"Home...home is...." Zuko started, struggling to find the words. "Home is the Fire Nation?" He didn't sound sure.
"Not the palace?" Iroh asked, careful to not show how eager he is for the answer.
"I just miss my people," Zuko attempted, turmoil evident in his golden eyes.
"You want to help them, yes?"
"Of course! Banished or not I am still their prince!" Zuko straightened at this declaration, confident in his words.
"Zuko, please, sit down. I believe we need to have a talk," Iroh shook his head slightly with a smile. He turned around and locked the door before sitting on Zuko's bed. "Sit, you're not in trouble dear nephew. Quite the opposite," he patted the space next to him, smiling kindly.
Zuko didn't move for a minute, frozen in place, eyes locked onto Iroh's face, looking for any kind of deceit. Finding none, he relaxed his stance and sat next to Iroh in the spot previously pat. His movements were sluggish and stilted out of a nervous fear. Iroh stopped himself from shaking his head. 'Ozai really did damagr you nephew,' Iroh thought, watching the boy's careful and hesitant movements.
"Nephew, please, be honest with me," Iroh began, choosing his words carefully. "Do you believe your father is fit for the role of Fire Lord?"
A small pause told him all he needed to do.
Iroh smiled kindly.
"No, I don't," Zuko quietly rasped, looking away in shame. "I don't believe he is fit for the role,"
End of chapter 1.