Chapter Text
Hakoda stared at the unconscious boy on the cot, tied up so he wasn’t as much a threat. He didn’t like keeping the Prince of the Fire Nation on his ship (even if his father had banished him and he wasn’t technically a prince anymore), but he didn’t want to send an unconscious, injured, starving, and dehydrated kid out to sea for an inevitable and horrible death.
“Oh, by Tui and La, will you stop worrying, Hakoda?” Their healer, a man by the name of Sovraq, snapped. He was cranky and impatient, but skilled enough with herbs and medicine and whatnot to be onboard.
“He could wake up at any minute. Who knows what he’s capable of? For all I know I’ve just sentenced our entire fleet to death! I’d like to at least keep an eye over our…” Hakoda hesitated for a moment before nodding and continuing, “prisoner. That way if he tries to burn down my ship, I’ll be here to stop him and put out the fire! And if he decides to be smart, I’ll be able to question him as soon as possible,” he reasoned with confidence, crossing his arms. Sovraq just rolled his eyes and turned back to his desk.
Zuko woke up with a start, thrashing wildly in a vain attempt to break free of the rope tying his wrists down.
“Settle down, sir. So long as you cooperate, my crew and I will ensure you with safe passage to wherever you need be,” a low, assertive voice boomed out.
Zuko only saw two large hands reaching for him. He thrashed even harder, turning the left side of his face towards the man. “Don’t touch me!!” He demanded, gritting his teeth. The hands pulled away immediately at his request, and, begrudgingly, Zuko decided to cooperate.
“I am Chief Hakoda of the Southern Water Tribe. My crew saw you floating alone on a piece of debris out in the ocean. Why?” The supposed Chief asked. Though he was trying to be tough, Zuko could tell Hakoda was not. At least, he wasn’t tough in the way Fire Nation people were.
“Because some crazy lunatics blew up my ship, and I’m willing to bet I know who it was!” Zuko snapped, blowing steam out of his nose. Zhao was the exact kind of person to blow up his ship just to get him out of the way. A quiet part of Zuko hoped that no one else had been on board, and if anyone had, that they’d survived.
“Alright, calm yourself. If you were to cooperate with my staff and me, we’d be willing to provide safe transport, as I said earlier. So, Prince Zuko, will you cooperate with us?”
Zuko huffed and rolled his eye. “Fine,” he growled, a deep scowl on his face. “But don’t expect me to join you in Music Night!”
Hakoda gave him a perplexed look, but shrugged and continued with his questions. “Alright, can you see out of your left eye?”
“Why do you need to know that?!” Zuko snapped, mildly offended. He couldn’t see well out of that eye, but he was still plenty capable.
“To make sure we can adjust accordingly to you while you’re on board.”
“Fine, no, I can’t see out of my left side! Satisfied?” Zuko practically yelled, upset. He thrashed around on the bed once more; the bindings were hurting his wrists and were making him stressed out. He hated how he could barely see Chief whatever-his-name-was, it made him anxious. That man could be holding a weapon and Zuko wouldn’t know until it was too late. And that fact alone was enough to stop him from simply firebending his way out.
“Prince Zuko! Did you hear me?” The chief suddenly said, snapping Zuko out of his thoughts. Zuko shook his head, annoyed. He didn’t want to listen to the Chief and answer his stupid questions. He wanted to capture the Avatar so he could go back home.
“Alright, I’ll repeat my question. Where would you like to land so you could return to… wherever it is you were before your ship got destroyed?”
Zuko turned his face away, thinking of his uncle. He didn’t remember where they had landed before Zhao blew up his ship. Iroh probably thought he was dead. He would’ve returned to the Fire Nation.
“Zuko!!” The Chief snapped, seemingly irritated.
“I don’t remember,” Zuko mumbled sullenly.
“Well, do you-“
“NO!!” Zuko yelled, angry. He didn’t want any more questions. “Leave me alone!!”
The Chief sighed, but dipped his head slightly in respect. “I’ll have one of my men come in later with breakfast. Sovraq, please see to it that our guest drinks something before he sleeps.” With that, the Chief left the room, plunging him and Sovraq into silence.
“Have some tea,” Sovraq offered, holding a cup towards Zuko’s scowling face.
“No. I hate tea.”
“Would you prefer water?” He asked flatly. Sovraq wasn’t particularly skilled with children. Especially not annoying, grumpy ones who had no respect.
“I’m not thirsty.”
“I’m under Chief Hakoda’s orders to make you drink something. Take the water or I’ll open your jaw and dump it down your throat!” Sovraq wouldn’t really do that. Mostly because he doubted he’d beat Zuko in any sort of struggle.
“Fine!!” Zuko snapped, scowling at Sovraq. He merely rolled his eyes in response, drank Zuko’s tea, and got him a cup of water with a straw. He held the cup near Zuko, staring out the window as he drank.
Sovraq still didn’t like sailing. The air was too salty, the climate was too warm. He missed when the wind smacking his face was as cold and bitter as him. Even worse was the constant stench of fish. At home, they had fish, but it never smelled so bad. And there were plenty of other, better things to eat. But out in the open ocean, day after day, they ate almost nothing but fish, and Sovraq hated it.
Sovraq turned to see if Zuko was finished with the water, only to realize he had fallen asleep. Good. At least now he didn’t have to talk to the boy anymore. Not that he had to in the first place, but Hakoda would’ve made him, for ‘good hospitality’.
He thought trying to be all buddy-buddy with the enemy was stupid, but Hakoda was too nice to treat Zuko exactly in the way he deserved, with harshness and resentment.
Zuko, as always, dreamt about the Agni Kai. He still remembered the horrible smell of his skin burning off. The cold, uncaring look on his father’s face.
“Wake up!” Someone yelled while shaking him roughly, jolting Zuko out of his nightmare.
“…Uncle?” He mumbled groggily, forgetting for a moment what had happened a couple days ago.
“No. I’m Opakka. And I have your breakfast,” the man standing above him said.
“I’m not hungry,” Zuko grumbled, turning to face away from Opakka.
“You’re about as thin as a fishing pole. Eat.”
Zuko shook his head. He had no appetite, not when Uncle thought he was dead. He remembered all the things Iroh had taught him, everything his uncle had ever told him. Of course, he never understood Uncle’s proverbs, but… without his nonsensical wisdom, he felt strangely alone.
Opakka must’ve decided Zuko was too stubborn to be worth arguing with, because he turned to leave and said, “Fine. Hakoda will come in to talk to you shortly.”
Zuko ignored Opakka. He didn’t care if Hakoda came in just to call him an ash maker and throw him overboard. He didn’t care if Hakoda asked more questions he didn’t want to answer. He wanted to be back on his ship with his uncle.
Hakoda hesitated for a moment before opening the door and walking into the medical room.
“Zuko?” He whispered, looking at the still figure on the bed. Zuko almost seemed… upset.
That’s silly, one part of him thought. Fire Nation doesn’t get upset. They destroy and take everything away from everyone else. They don’t have feelings.
But a greater part of Hakoda couldn’t ignore the fact that Zuko was still a child.
Hakoda sat down in a chair near Zuko’s bed, glancing at the untouched, and cold, meal on his bedside table. “Zuko, you must eat something,” Hakoda said with a sigh.
“You eat it. I’m not hungry,” Zuko grumbled, his form tensing.
“Zuko, what’s the matter with you?”
“I didn’t do anything wrong!!” He snapped defensively.
“I’m not saying you did anything wrong, but you won’t eat and Sovraq told me he had to threaten you just to get you to drink. Now, I’m not too sure what the Fire Nation considers normal, but in the Southern Water Tribe, children don’t act like you.” Hakoda’s voice was steady and calm, trying in vain to get Zuko to settle down.
“Im not a child and nothing is wrong with me!!” Zuko yelled, his nose crinkling.
“Well, I disagree. You’re 16 and still growing. You should eat.”
“Stop talking to me like this!! I’m your prisoner, not your friend!”
“You may be a prisoner, but I’d rather have you alive than dead. I’m sure the Fire Nation wouldn’t be too happy to learn their Prince starved to death on a water tribe ship,” Hakoda responded with a light chuckle.
Hakoda noticed the gleam of bitter disagreement in Zuko’s eye. Poor kid, he thought with a frown.
It had been several days since Zuko had first been taken onto the ship. Hakoda and Sovraq were the only two who had any interest in looking out for the boy. Everyone else wanted him off the ship as soon as possible, but Hakoda knew there was more to the Prince than he let on.
“Zuko,” Hakoda called into the room as he entered, “Sovraq says you’re doing well. Well enough to walk around. Would you like to come with me up to the deck?” Hakoda was hoping to get Zuko to help around the ship. Hopefully it would prove to his crew that Zuko wasn’t as bad as they thought.
Zuko squinted at him but nodded. Hakoda gave the kid a smile and walked over to help him up. They’d untied his wrists from the bed yesterday, but still kept them tied behind his back as a precaution. Though, Hakoda was starting to wonder if it was even necessary anymore.
Zuko breathed in the fresh air, the sun warming his pale skin. He hadn’t realized how much he had missed being outside until he was actually out. He looked around at the open ocean, the sun glistening off the dark blue water.
“Zuko, I was thinking. How would you like to help around the ship in exchange for letting you walk freely?” Hakoda said suddenly, causing Zuko to jump.
“Letting me… walk freely?” Zuko repeated, squinting up at the Chief. No one would possibly let a firebender roam free on their ship willingly.
“Yes. On the condition that you don’t firebend, unless we explicitly tell you to,” Hakoda responded, staring out into the ocean.
“But how am I supposed to help around? I’m a Prince, my servants did everything for me! And I never had any chores to do on my ship,” Zuko huffed. He still wasn’t used to being treated so kindly when he was supposed to be a prisoner.
“That’s okay, we’ll teach you,” Hakoda replied with a smirk. Zuko groaned in annoyance, but begrudgingly agreed. He didn’t see a way out of doing work, and the promise of freedom did sound nice.
“Great! Washing the dishes in the kitchen sounds easy enough for you to do. I’ll get Dako to teach you tomorrow morning,” Hakoda said chipperly, smiling. “But how about we enjoy being out here for a while? Besides, you look like you could use some sun.”
Zuko chose to ignore Hakoda’s comment and stood quietly, watching the waves hit against the sides of the wooden boat.
“All you have to do is scrub the dishes with this rag in the sink. Got it, ashmaker?” Dako spat at him. Zuko glared in response, but turned his back and got to work on the dishes.
Zuko immediately knew Dako didn’t like him. He didn’t care. He was there to wash dishes, not make small talk. Matter of fact, he preferred the silence. Then he could think about what he was going to do once the Water Tribe made port.
I could try to send a letter to Uncle… but where would I send it to? I have no idea where he is. Zuko’s train of thought was short lived. He couldn’t think of anything other than writing to Iroh. Zuko sighed and decided to just stare at the dishes as he scrubbed.
It took hours for Zuko to finish. He wasn’t that fast, and it seemed that every time he put a dish in the drying rack, three more would be added to the mountain of dirty dishes. By the time he was done, it was well into the afternoon, with heavy clouds hanging over the sky.
So much for sunbathing, Zuko thought with an annoyed frown as he stared at the gray sky. He leaned on the railing, clasping his hands together as the wind whipped around him. He stood there alone for hours, trying to come up with a plan for when they landed. He wasn’t great with planning ahead.
“You really should get back inside. It’ll rain soon,” Hakoda suddenly spoke, spooking Zuko. When did he get there?
“I’ll be fine,” Zuko grumbled in response, turning his face away from Hakoda. “You sound just like my uncle,” he added under his breath, gritting his teeth.
“What was that?” Hakoda asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Nothing.”
“Well, I figured you’d like to know we’re making port in two days for supplies. If you’d like to head off on your own, no one’s stopping you. But, if you choose to stay-“
“I’m staying on board,” Zuko interrupted, his brow furrowed.
Hakoda looked at him with shock. “If I may ask, why?”
“Because I… don’t have anywhere else to go…” he grumbled, his face flush with embarrassment.
“Well, just know you’re welcome here.”
Tell that to your chef, Zuko thought angrily. Large droplets of rain started to splatter onto the dark wood of the deck, not that he cared. Although, he was curious how the wood didn’t rot in the water.
“How about we head inside?” Hakoda suggested once more.
“Mmmm, fine,” Zuko agreed, if only to keep him from asking again. He followed Hakoda into his study, looking around in awe. The Chief had several items on his wall, parts from Fire Nation ships and what Zuko assumed to be gifts from villages they visited.
Hakoda pulled a sword down from the wall and held it out for Zuko to look at. “This is one of my favorites. A lovely blacksmith gave it to me as a gift in one of the Earth Kingdom villages.”
“I have a Pearl dagger that was gifted to me from my uncle,” he replied, reaching for the pocket he kept it in. His face soon paled when he realized it wasn’t there.
“You took my dagger!!” He accused angrily, tears welling in his eye. “How dare you! That was- I- it was very important to me!”
Hakoda held up his hands as a gesture of surrender. “I assure you, we didn’t take anything of yours. Matter of fact, we… didn’t even think to search you.”
Zuko thought despairingly of his dagger. If Hakoda was telling the truth (which Zuko believed he was, the Chief seemed too honest), then his dagger was probably at the bottom of the ocean. He thought for a moment of the irony: a Pearl dagger reclaimed by the ocean. Uncle would’ve laughed. Then would’ve told him it was alright even though it really wasn’t.
“…I’m sorry you lost your dagger,” Hakoda said awkwardly, putting the sword back on the wall. Zuko didn’t respond.
“How does your ship… not rot?” He finally asked, gesturing loosely to the wood.
“Oh! We protect it from rot with a special kind of sap that’s produced by the trees in the tundra,” Hakoda responded with a grin.
“Cool.”
Zuko watched as the village dock came closer and closer. He didn’t really want to leave the ship. Something in his gut was telling him that that village wasn’t safe. And, considering what Zhao had tried to do only a week ago, Zuko was inclined to trust his gut.
“You seem nervous,” Hakoda said, leaning against the deck railing next to Zuko. Surprisingly, he and the Chief had somewhat become friends.
“Something about that village is… I don’t know, unsafe, I guess,” he replied with a shrug. “Have you ever visited here before?”
“No, this village is new for us. I guess you better hope your gut is wrong. But, if it would make you feel any better, you could come with me to pick up rope? I could always use an extra set of hands.”
Zuko nodded as the ship docked. He followed Hakoda off, glancing around as they walked through the village merchants. He kept his head low, praying no one would recognize him, and he wouldn’t recognize anyone.
But, of course, luck wasn’t on his side. The pirates that had blown up his ship were there. Zuko went around to Hakoda’s other side, hoping the pirates wouldn’t spot him. He followed Hakoda a little closer, watching the pirates closely.
They found a merchant with rope swiftly enough. Hakoda bought a couple bundles of rope, and Zuko helped carry it back to the boat. After that, Hakoda left to wander through the village.
Zuko sat alone on the deck for hours, watching as day turned to night. When Hakoda still wasn’t back, Zuko decided to go look for him.
He didn’t make it far into town before a net was thrown over him. Before he could even attempt to escape, he was knocked out.
Hakoda returned to the ship well into the night. He was about to give the orders to leave, but something in him told him to stop. He realized Zuko wasn’t on the deck.
“Has anyone seen Zuko?” He asked, the hint of worry refusing to leave his tone.
“Maybe he decided to find his way back to his crew,” Sovraq suggested with a shrug.
“No, he… said he didn’t have anywhere to go. I’m gonna do a quick sweep of the ship.”
Hakoda searched every single nook and cranny of his boat, but Zuko was nowhere to be found. He would’ve believed Sovraq on any other occasion, but his gut was telling him something wasn’t right.
Zuko was gone.