White Hot Flames (ZukoxOC)

10

Iroh shuts the door quietly. Rezalia marks her page and places the book aside before setting herself rightside up. "Do you want me to stay or go?"

"I'd like to be alone, please," Zuko murmurs in response. Rezalia nods and follows Iroh's lead, saying a quiet goodbye before closing the door behind her.

"Uncle Iroh! Wait up!" Rezalia calls. Iroh stops and waits for her to catch up with a grin. "So, tell me about the new tea you got."

Iroh and Rezalia walk along a beaten path in the woods, talking about the newest tea that Iroh picked up at the last market they stopped at when they're stopped by the sound of an explosion. Both of them whip around to see the endings of their ship blowing up. "Zuko!" Iroh shouts. Rezalia takes off running back to the ship.

She skids to a stop at the edge of the water. The ship was completely destroyed. On fire, parts missing, and sinking. And no sign of Zuko. Rezalia sinks to her knees. "No no no no no."

Not long after that, her and Iroh sat in Zhao's office with tea in front of him. Rezalia's face was blank, which unnerved Zhao. Not that he'd ever admit that. "I'm devastated to hear about Prince Zuko. Just devastated."

Rezalia doubted that. Zhao had never liked Zuko. But her tongue felt leaden so she said nothing at all. "The Fire Lord will not be pleased he learns who was responsible," Iroh says, eyes downcast. Zhao tenses and studies the two of them carefully.

"You know who... was behind the attack?" he asks.

"Yes," Iroh says before slamming his fist on the table. "Pirates!"

"We had an issue with them a while back," Rezalia speaks up, voice little more than a whisper.

"They wanted revenge!" Iroh adds. Zhao hides his smrk behind his cup of tea.

"So," he starts after taking a sip. "Have you reconsidered me offer?"

"Yes, we accept. It will be an honor to serve as your general." Iroh raises his cup in a toast. "To the Fire Nation!"

"To victory," Zhao says, lifting his own cup. Rezalia lifts hers as well before taking a sip to hide her growing distaste. She hated that man. They remain in Zhao's office for a while, exchanging empty words before Rezalia and Iroh are finally allowed to leave.

As they walk through the corridor, the stop next to a guard. Rezalia moves to lean against the railing, looking out. Iroh stands next to the guard, each of them looking past each other. "Our plan is working perfectly. Zhao doesn't suspect a thing," the older man reports.

"But we'd better make this quick. I don't know how long I can stand to be around him without punching him. Again," Rezalia says. Zuko removes his guard mask.

"You didn't have to do this," he says quietly. Rezalia glances over his injuries quickly. A black eye and multiple scrapes.

"No nephew of mine is going to stow away on a ship without some backup!"

"Yeah, Z. Like hell would we let you do this alone."

"Thank you," Zuko murmurs. A sound is heard and Iroh instructs Zuko to put his mask back on. Rezalia twirls around Zuko to return to Iroh's side.

"Stay hidden until we get to the North Pole and the Avatar will be yours!" Iroh whisper shouts.

"Good luck!" he and Rezalia tell the prince in unison. With that, the three once again go their separate ways.

The next morning, Rezalia stands next to Iroh and Zhao as they look out and onto the open ocean. "My fleet is ready. Set a course for the Northern Water Tribe."

A little less than a week after that, Rezalia could see the Northern Water Tribe in the distance. As of now, her and Iroh joined Zhao on the bridge of his ship. "This will truly be one for the history books, General Iroh."

Over the past couple of days, Zhao had gone back to more or less ignoring Rezalia. It was clear that inviting her was to get on Zuko's nerves. "Just think, centuries from now, people will study the great Admiral Zhao who destroyed the last of the Water Tribe civilization. You're lucky you're here to see it."

Rezalia lazily swirls her tea around. "Be careful what you wish for, Admiral. History is not always kind to its subjects," Iroh warns. Rezalia shifts her weight and sips her tea, barely listening to the conversation. Really, why was she here at all?

"I suppose you speak from experience? But rest assured, this will be nothing like your legendary failure at Ba-Sing-Se," Zhao says, making a not-so-subtle jab at the older man.

"I hope not, for your sake," Iroh replies. Zhao grunts and orders Rezalia to tell the captain to prepare the first strike. The teen grumbles under her breathe but leaves anyway, if only so that she didn't have to sit there any longer. On her way, Rezalia runs into Zuko. Literally.

"Ow! Shit, my bad," she says, rubbing her arm where she had collided with the wall.

"Sorry, Zali. You okay?" Zuko asks quietly, looking around the hallway.

"Oh, Z, it's you. We're gonna land soon, so I really hope you have a plan," Rezalia says, putting her hands on her hips. She knew full well that he more than likely didn't.

"I'm working on it," he replies.

"Working on it? Z, you've had days to work on it. What the hell have you been doing?"

"Trying not to get caught."

"Fair enough. Just, don't get yourself killed out there, Z. Scare me like that again and I'll lose it."

"I won't Zali. Promise."

With that, the two of them walk away from one another. Rezalia makes her way to the captain to relay Zhao's message while Zuko goes to do whatever the fuck it is he does. During the attack itself, almost everyone leaves the boats. The only people who remain are the crew, Rezalia, Iroh, and Zhao.