I waited and waited,
It was quiet...far to quiet. I stayed low, chained and scared. I knew I should have stayed on the ship... I shook my head. I needed to find a way out of here. Hopefully Zuko would come... but I didn't know how long that was going to take. They had taken my mask.. they had taken my cover. I was vulnerable. Suddenly I heard a creak at the doorway a red glean shot through my eyes.
Zhou.
He wasn't alone he had a another man with him... one of the YuYan archers I presume. The archer looked young around Zuko's age probably. His eyes were just as bittered as the banished Prince. Zhou stepped forward
"You know why we're here... tell me everything... who you are... who you were with and what business you have saving the Avatar."
I shook my head
"What the hell do I say...?" I thought... staying silent my eyes clouded by fear.
"I assure you that we have ways of making you talk... I would suggest you tell me everything now...unless" the archer stepped forward our eyes meeting "you want to become target practice..."
I pretended to be scared I mean I was...I was horrified but I pretended like his threat broke the truth out of me. Lies swept forward through my tougue.
"My name is... Daiyu... the only reason I had anything to do with this plot is that blue mask told me he would pay me if I helped him get back the Avatar... I don't know his name... he never told me one... but I know he just wanted to Avatar to sell him back to the Firelord for Thousands... I'm sorry I don't know anything else"
Zhou smirked trying to decide whether he believed me or not. Sweat dripped down my cheek as I prayed he wouldn't recognize me from Zuko's ship. Zhou stepped back.
"You guard her... I won't let another fugitive escape... I need to find out where there is room for a permanent prisoner in the Firenation mainland"
I gulped... it was just me and the archer. Yet again silence stirred the room. Hours passed... silence lingered. My mind had gotten over the initial shock of being captured. But still my options weighed nim. The archer hadn't moved in hours I'm not entirely convinced he even blinked. He just stared at me... making sure I didn't try to escape. Suddenly I thought of plan... it wasn't good but I could try. It's not like I had anything to lose...
"My-my name is Daiyu Sung..."
He gazed at me confused... great.... I must look like a crazy person.
"And... look... I know your job is to guard me but... this silence is unbearable...I'm already captured I'm not leaving... so please... can we talk... I just don't like silence"
He looked hesitant
"My name is Fai..." he said barely above a whisper.
A confused glance narrowed my brow.
"My name is Fai" he said louder.
"I'm sure I'm the first prisoner to ask for a polite conversation" I chuckled trying to lighten the tone.
His stonic expression then changed... a soft smile crossed his mouth. The first time in hours I had seen this man exhibit any real emotion
"I guess you are..."
"So Fai... how-how did you become a archer exactly?"
"The YuYan were formed in-"
"No how did you become an archer"
"No one's ever asked me that before...since-" he paused looking away what was he thinking? Our eyes met and I could see pure trauma before me"I've been an archer ever since I was young... It was a way to defend my village from the Firenation... but it didn't work and one day they-they" he paused clearly emotional.
"You don't have to..The Firenation has taken things from us all..." my glance softened... had I gone to far? I'm taking advantage of someone whose clearly been through something.
"They...they gave me a choice... join the Yuyan or be killed with the rest of my Village... I should have died with honor not work for the very nation that destroyed it"
"This may not mean a lot coming from a criminal but.. you did what you had to do.... never be ashamed of that"
"Thank you...." he said through muffled tears.
And that is how I became friends with the very person meant to guard me.
Over the course of 3 days we continued talking. He snuck me food and made this place a lot more barable. I did feel bad for lying... "Daiyu" wasn't real (Y/N) was. But he trusted me... of course I felt horrible... but there was nothing else I could do. I needed to get back to Zuko... anyway I can.
"Daiyu"
"I looked up from my chains
"Fai" I smiled
"I got you some bread... I know it's not much but I'm assuming you're hungry"
"You're right about that..."
"But I found a way we could get out...together"
"What do you mean?"
"Midnight tonight... there's a hole in the security... some of the guards were needed elsewhere... their replacements are coming Tomorrow we don't have a lot of time"
"Fai I-"
"Daiyu.. I know we haven't known eachother long but-but you're the first person I've trusted in years... we can run away from this place... we can run away from the Fire Nation... we could a new life... together" he took my hand and his cheeks grew with color.
I staggered... these lies had gone to far. But.. no harm in letting it go a little bit farther...
The 12th hour struck... Fai freed me from my imprisonment and suddenly we were on the run. I could here the choas roaring behind me. We were being chased... I could feel it. I didn't know where the hell Zuko's ship even was... did-did he leave without me? No...he wouldn't do that. I was going to need to lose Fai too... but how? Because there was no way Zuko was going to allow a ex-YuYan Archer who wanted to start a new life together with me on his ship. Suddenly... we neared the shoreline and I saw an outline of a ship. Could it be? I ran towards the water
"Daiyu where are you going?" Fai shouted.
I ignored him.. I didn't know what else to do. I felt horrible... my stomach was churning from anxieties.
"Zuko! Zuko!"
~☆~☆~
(Y/N) had been gone for days, the ship wasn't the same without her. Even Uncle was in poor sprits. I had held off my hunt for the Avatar to devise a plan to get her back. I was a mess... dammit why did I lose sight of her? She could be anywhere in the Firenation by now. Perhaps with Father... or worse Azula. I sighed letting off steam. I need you (Y/N)... please... come back. I walked up to the ship's deck. It was cold and dark.... the wind howled a distant tune. I could almost hear her voice reaching out to me... I looked out to the shore
"(Y/N)-"
I stopped
"stop the ship...STOP THE DAMN SHIP!" I yelled.
I woke up nearly the whole ship.. but I didn't care... she was so close. We parked the ship. I could see her.. getting closer and closer....
"(Y/N)! Behind you!"
One of the Yuyan archers grabbed her hand.. they were saying something but I didn't know what.
"SECURE THE SHIP FASTER"
I stormed off the ship
"Get away from her..."
I grabbed my swords and rushed toward the archer.
"What do you want you FireNation scum..."
(Y/N)'s Pov
I tried to escape from Fai's grasp but his grip was tight.
"Daiyu... step away I'll handle this"
"Who's Daiyu?" Zuko questioned.
"Zuko I-"
"You-you know this scum?" Fai stirred
"Fai let me go..."
His grasp tighened,
"I trusted you..."
"She said let go" Zuko urged
I kicked Fai's leg escaping his grasp and running towards the ship. He chased after me.
"Get back here you traitor!" Fai yelled
I shot some fire blasts back at him.
Zuko ran after me as we rushed towards the ship. We were almost there when Fai grabbed Zuko holding his bow up to Zuko's head.
"We could have been something Dai-(Y/N) now you will know what it feels like to lose someone you cared for..."
"Get away from him GET AWAY FROM HIM" my hands lit on fire and through my anger I took Fai flipping him over causing burns to engrave on his skin. I then caught his bow lighting it on fire. I laid one last ruthless turn of the eye on him.
"Don't you ever try to touch Zuko again"
I walked away from the man paralyzed with fear. Zuko and I boarded the ship and I watched as Fai faded in the distance
"(Y/N)... I never knew you had that in you" Zuko said shocked
I smirked laying a kiss on his cheek
"3 days in Prison can change a girl..."