Chapter Text
There were a lot of advantages to living on a boat, Kei found. She has always been curious about the world and now every day she is somewhere new. The rough waters that they sailed through helped her improve her balance and in turn her fighting. The waves became the lullaby that rocked her to sleep, and most nights they kept her nightmares at bay.
Most nights.
Kei wakes from her nightmare with a strangled scream. Brow damp with sweat, eyes wide in panic, it takes her a moment to remember where she is. The familiar scenery of her room comforts her. The walls around her were lined with maps that she collected at every port they stopped at. She stares at the map of Ba Sing Sei and the cities surrounding it. Flashes of her dream racing through her mind.
The small orphanage she grew up in. The markets where she would bend the ear of anyone who was willing to tell her about their travels. The dirt alleyway where she and her friends would play. The darkness that had descended over her city when the fire nation invaded and the dragon of the west took up camp in her little village. The fire nation soldiers that captured her. The heat of fire in her palms. The look of betrayal on her friends' faces when they realized what she was. There was something else though, something new. Darkness she had never faced before, being surrounded by nothingness, but somehow, she could sense she was not alone and it terrified her
Kei dresses slowly. Wrapping her chest in a red wrap so worn it was more brown than red and slipped into loose black trousers. She considers her robe for a moment. The shining silk was bright red and inky black, a very clear indication that she was Fire nation. It repulsed her, but they were sailing through the South Pole. She slips into it reluctantly before heading down to the kitchens.
She is greeted by the familiar sight of the cooks bustling about preparing breakfast. She grabs the nearest clean tea kettle and sets it over the fire to boil. She turns to grab some food but is stopped when two bowls of fluffy rice are held out to her. She takes them with a forced smile.
“Good morning, Huan.” She greets the lanky boy before setting the rice bowls onto a serving tray. She would forever wonder how he managed to be so happy and full of energy all the time.
“Morning! Do you have time to play Pai Sho today?” Huan asks with a puppy dog smile.
Kei flits around him as she adds chopsticks and orange to the tray. Noting the kettle is about to boil.
“If we don’t make port soon we’re going to run out of fresh produce,” Kei mumbles sadly.
“We still have jerky!” Huan beams as he holds up the food in question proudly. Kei manages to keep herself from rolling her eyes as she snags the jerky, sticking it into her bowl of rice before turning just as the kettle begins to scream. She adds it to the serving tray beside the bowl full of tea leaves.
“I could carry it for you. I’m already done with my breakfast prep.” Huan tries to take the tray but Kei snatches it up before he can.
“It’s my duty, and I enjoy the routine. Besides, it looks like you have plenty of cleaning to do here.” She forces a smile, nodding to the kitchen sinks that have begun to overflow with dirty dishes. Huan pouts at her but she pays him no mind as she makes her hasty escape. Praying to the spirits that he would learn to take a fucking hint.
The halls of the ship are familiar to her as she navigates them with ease. She had spilled several batches of tea in the early days but she is used to being at sea after two years. It doesn’t take her long to make her way onto the deck.
Kei finds Iroh where she always does, playing Pai Sho on deck and watching over his irritating nephew.
Zuko stands at the helm of the boat, telescope in hand. His stance is rigid and serious. Kei wonders if there has ever been anyone in the world who had a stick more firmly shoved up their ass than the prince.
“What troubles you, Kei?” Iroh asks the moment he spots her. Kei, still jumpy from her dream, startles as she whips her head round to face him.
“Huan.” Kei tries to deflect with a strained smile, knowing that Iroh doesn’t believe her for a second. Iroh is well aware of the boy's harmless but persistent crush on Kei and how exhausting it could be for her.
Kei sets the tray in front of them, quickly pouring their tea and splitting their orange. She tears into her jerky viciously hoping that Iroh will spare her any more questions while she is chewing. She has no such luck.
“It was a nightmare again wasn’t it?” He prods casually as he tucks into his rice.
“There was something different this time,” Kei admits, sipping her tea in an attempt to avoid Iroh’s gaze.
“What was it?” He asks, his intense attention beginning to show. If Kei wasn’t worried about her dreams already she sure was now.
“I can’t remember. It faded as soon as I woke up.” Kei lies. Iroh eyes her suspiciously but makes no effort to further his line of questioning.
They share the rest of their meal in pleasant silence for which Kei is grateful. Since the day she had come into his care, Iroh seemed to possess the uncanny ability to know when to push and when to leave her alone.
Their pleasant breakfast is interrupted by a bright beam of light in the sky. It glows with pure power that Kei can feel even from such a distance.
“Finally,” Zuko says from the front of the boat. Kei groans inwardly.
It has been over a hundred years since the Avatar was last seen. He is certainly dead and this entire mission was doomed from the start. Everyone knows it, everyone except the prince.
“Uncle, do you realize what this means?” Zuko turns towards Iroh with a familiar twinkle in his eye. Kei had realized early on that look was one of pure insanity.
“It means I won’t get to finish my tea,” Iroh tells him a picture of calm, doing his best to keep Zuko from getting riled up about yet another possible Avatar sighting.
“It means my search is about to come to an end.” Zuko corrects him and Kei can’t help but roll her eyes.
“That light came from an incredibly powerful source. It has to be him.” Zuko insists. Kei huffs in frustrated amusement and Zuko glares at her. Kei glares back.
“Or it is just the northern lights. We have been down this road before Prince Zuko. I don’t want you to get excited over nothing. Please sit. Why don’t you enjoy a cup of calming jasmine tea? Kei has prepared a perfect batch.” Iroh invites Zuko to join them but Zuko is having none of it.
“I don’t need any calming tea, I need to capture the Avatar! Helmsman set a course for the light!” Zuko roars.
“Spoken like someone who could really use some calming tea,” Kei notes. Zuko growls at her as he marches over to stand above where she knelt. Kei blinks innocently up at him, unphased by his temper.
“I hate you.” He bites at her. Kei smirks.
“Hate you too.” Kei sing-songs. Zuko doesn’t move. He scowls as he leans more aggressively over her.
“Is there something you need, Zuko?” Kei asks with a sly grin on her face, goading him.
“It’s Prince Zuko.” He corrects her.
“Of course, Zuko,” Kei tells him with mock politeness. No matter how many times he corrected her she refused to use his proper title. He leans into her space all the more, still futilely attempting to intimidate her in some way.
“Really Zuko, is there something you need from me? Though I don’t know what I could do for you on my knees like this.” Kei’s tone is innocent but her wicked grin gives away that she knows exactly what she is implying. Iroh sighs with disappointment as Zuko’s cheeks light up bright pink. Kei can practically feel the heat of his blush. His mouth opens as if to counter but he can’t find the words and he closes his mouth with an audible click. Turning on his heels he marches back towards the bow, telescope clenched tightly in his hands.
Kei laughs loudly at the reaction she managed to pull out of the prince. Messing with him is her favorite pastime on their never-ending journey. Iroh fixes her with an exasperated gaze, she only shrugs. Iroh has taught her a lot since taking her on as a tea apprentice. Meditation, bending forms, the legends of the spirit world, the cultures of other nations, and of course how to brew the perfect cup of any and every tea that there was. One thing he has never been able to instill in her is manners.
The only person Kei respects in the fire nation is Iroh. He has proven over time that he is worthy of the respect she gives him. That he is a good man who cares for her no matter how hard she fights him. When she had accompanied him back to the palace after he retreated from Ba Sing Se she was anxious and afraid. Until he had introduced her to Zuko. At the time she didn’t know he was the prince and they spent the day playing in the gardens and feeding the turtle ducks.
It had barely been a day but already Kei felt less lonely in the monstrous palace. However, before they could play again there was a war council meeting. The first that Zuko was ever allowed to attend. Kei had been in Iroh’s room preparing a cup of tea when he returned. She was startled when Iroh entered the room. It was the first time she had ever seen him truly angry. And when she was invited to the Agni Kai by Azula the next day she understood why.
There had been talk in the servant's quarters that the Fire Lord had challenged his own son to an Agni Kai, she just didn’t realize that the playmate she had met the day before was who they were referring to until she could hear his screams as his father burnt his face. Clenching her fists so hard her nails cut into her hands and blood dripped from her palms.
Truth be told she was grateful that they left the fire nation to sail around the world on a pointless quest. She hated the fire nation and had always been eager to see the rest of the world. She had thought that after giving Zuko a week of space she might try to talk to him. Maybe get him to play another game like they had in the garden. But the boy she had met then and the boy she sailed with now, they were like night and day. Sometimes she still mourned the friend she could have had but annoying the hotheaded prince was as good a substitute as any. Iroh called it riling the prince up for her own amusement and she called it humbling the prince of tantrums. She knew to some extent Iroh agreed with her because he had never truly tried to stop her. Only gently chastised her, and more for her crass language than her actual actions. She guessed it was because she was the only one on the ship his age that wasn’t a servant.
Zuko isn’t the only fire bender Iroh instructs. Although his teachings are more theoretical when it comes to Kei. She also refuses to learn fire-bending forms. So he taught her the other nations' bending styles. The strong stubborn stances of the earth benders. The fluid graceful movements of the water benders. And her favorite, the free and gentle movements of the air benders. Air bending forms are the most versatile when it comes to her fire extinguishing. A rare fire bending ability. That and air bender forms irritate Zuko, considering they are on the hunt for the last air bender.
“Time for bed,” Iroh announces a couple of hours later. After a filling meal and several rounds of Pai Sho.
“Try telling Zuko that.” Kei jokes as she helps Iroh up.
“You’re right we should.” Iroh agrees to what Kei had obviously meant as a joke. She grumbles but follows after him as he heads back towards the ship deck.
“I’m going to bed now. Yep. A man needs his rest.” Iroh announces once Zuko is in earshot, playing up his yawn as if such a subtle approach could ever work on the stubborn prince. Sometimes Kei felt that his stubbornness had to be a result of a hidden earth bender in his bloodline.
“Oi! Princess! Time for bed!” Kei calls out using the mocking nickname that she knew would get him worked up, but he didn’t so much as turn around. His eyes were glued to the horizon.
“Prince Zuko, you need some sleep. Even if you are right and the Avatar is alive, you won’t find him. Your father, grandfather, and great grandfather all tried and failed.” Iroh reminds him.
“Because their honor didn’t hinge on the Avatar’s capture. Mine does! This coward's hundred years of hiding are over.” Zuko declares. Kei groans at his irritating predictability.
Iroh huffs in defeat, turning his gaze on Kei he sends her a pleading look. She tried to shake her head but Iroh’s puppy dog face is the only one she had no defense against. So she rolls her eyes but nods at him reluctantly.
Kei trudges over to the bow to stand beside Zuko. It occurs to her as she stands at his side that she would rather be anywhere else, but Iroh loves Zuko and Kei loves Iroh so sometimes helping Iroh meant attempting to talk the prince into taking care of his basic needs like a normal human being.
Kei checks over the horizon once and finds absolutely nothing interesting. She turns her back on it leaning against the railing so she can study the prince.
“You’re staring.” He tells her, never once taking his eyes off the horizon.
“So are you, and at bright snow. It would be a shame if the first time you caught up to the Avatar he managed to escape because you strained your eyes. Or even more embarrassing, what if you collapse from exhaustion at his feet. I think I would pay good money to see that.” Kei chuckles at the mental image. Truth be told if the Avatar was alive she would be on their side, not Zuko’s.
“I’m not tired.” Zuko insists.
“I get that over the years you’ve developed a habit of lying to yourself, but you must know by now that I can see right through your bullshit.” Kei reminds him.
“I have to regain my honor.” Zuko spits.
“You use that word a lot. I don’t think you actually know what it means.” Kei leaves him, satisfied that she had tried her hardest to help Iroh. Well, maybe not her best effort but still.
The next day is much like the last. Sailing through the frigid landscape towards the mysterious light they saw. Though it is long gone now. Zuko is sparring against two guards on the deck as Iroh watches and coaches. Kei proudly presents Iroh with his lunch of steaming fish that she had caught just that morning.
“It looks marvelous, thank you,” Iroh tells her as she takes her seat beside him and tucks into her own fish. Watching Zuko fight as she eats. His fighting style was just as annoying as he was. His vicious counters and aggressive attacks have been a staple of his fighting style since his banishment.
“Again.” Iroh orders, unsatisfied. Zuko repeats the movements, somehow being even more aggressive.
“No! Power in fire bending comes from the breath, not the muscles. The breath becomes energy in the body. The energy extends past your limbs and becomes fire! Get it right this time.” Iroh instructs. Kei snorts at the dressing down he gives Zuko.
“Enough. I’ve been drilling this sequence all day. Teach me the next set, I’m more than ready.” Zuko demands more than asks. This time Kei can’t help but laugh out loud. Zuko glares at her.
“No, you are impatient. You have yet to master your basics. Drill it again.” Iroh commands. Zuko growls in frustration, the guards he had been training with begin to move away. They are not fast enough as Zuko sends a powerful kick, knocking them both flat on their backs with his flame.
“The sages tell us that the Avatar is the last air bender. He must be over a hundred years old by now. He’s had a century to master the four elements. I’ll need more than basic fire bending to defeat him. You will teach me the advanced set.” Zuko orders as he invades Iroh’s space. The older man doesn’t flinch.
“Very well.” Iroh concedes.
“But first I must eat the delicious fish Kei caught for me. Why don’t you two spar together while I finish.” A delighted grin spreads across Kei’s face at Iroh’s words. She shifts her gaze to Zuko raising a challenging eyebrow, daring him to back out. Kei’s already standing, sliding her robe off her shoulders and stretching as she bounces around the deck to get her blood flowing.
The guards that were sparring earlier have been dismissed but were hanging out on the deck to watch. Kei was certain as word spread there would be an even larger audience. Kei was keenly aware that she was the best fighter onboard other than Iroh, and Zuko had never once managed to defeat her. Kei supposed the other members of the crew enjoyed watching the prince put in his place every now and then.
Zuko strikes first, as he always does. Kei dodges with a teasing smile. His blows come hard and fast and every time she manages to slip out of the way just in time using basic airbending forms to evade him.
“Come on Zuko, at least try to make it hard for me,” Kei begs sarcastically. Zuko’s fire starts to fly faster and more ferociously. Kei actually has to try now and she savors it. Loving the feeling of a good fight. As Zuko launches a particularly large fireball at Kei she races towards it head-on. Zuko’s view of her is obstructed by his own attack. She falls to her knees sliding gracefully under the fireball and between Zuko’s legs. Spinning back to her feet she launches herself on Zuko’s back, using her own momentum to force him to the ground. She cages him with her limbs, his hands facing his own back and chest, his legs unable to move. She’s taken away every opportunity for him to use his bending. He struggles helplessly for a while before finally going limp in her hold.
Kei untangles herself from him and stands triumphantly. She holds out a hand to help him up but he slaps it away like always. Kei shrugs and trips him as he attempts to stand, sending him crashing back to the floor before turning on her heel to finish her lunch.
“That wasn’t very sportsmanlike.” Iroh chastises. Kei shrugs.
“He started it.”
Unable to sleep, Kei finds herself wandering back onto the deck around midnight. The sun still shines brightly. Never setting. Zuko stands at the front of the boat telescope in hand. A sleepy smile appears on Kei’s face. If she wasn’t able to get any rest then at least she could annoy the prince. Quietly, Kei approaches him. Trending softly so as not to alert him to her presence. When she reaches him she mercilessly jabs her fingers into his sides. Zuko jumps and lets out a very high-pitched yelp. Kei shakes with laughter.
Zuko turns to face her, cheeks bright red, mouth open in preparation for a lecture she is sure to ignore when a red light shines on both of their faces. They turn and spot the signal flare shooting into the sky.
“The last Airbender.” There is awe in Zuko’s voice and the slightest tint of hope. Kei squints against the bright snow to try and make out what he’s looking at.
“Quite agile for his old age,” Zuko notes as Kei tugs the telescope from his hands. Zuko hardly seems to notice as he turns to the guards.
Kei spots the old fire nation boat and the two figures jumping off of it. One is definitely using airbending but they look more like a child than a hundred-year-old man. Kei can’t take her eyes off the figures as Zuko orders the guards to wake his uncle.
“Tell him I found the Avatar and his hiding place,” Zuko commands before ripping the telescope from Kei’s hands. She smacks him on the back of his head for his rudeness but leaves him on the deck to head back to her room. There are too many thoughts running through her head and she needs to sit down and work through them.
The Avatar is alive. The Avatar is alive and Zuko is hunting him. Kei feels sick. She can’t be a part of this. The Avatar is hope incarnate. The only one who can end the fire nation's tyrannical rule across the world. She has to protect him. Help him, somehow. Kei thinks of leaving. Of finding a way to the Avatar and running with him. But the thought of leaving Iroh left her heart aching.
There had to be another way. If Zuko was the biggest obstacle between the Avatar and the end of the war then she would stay with him and get in his way whenever she could. It was the best plan she had. It was the only plan she had.