Avatar The Last Airbender Fan Fiction ❯ Nothing But Your Servant ❯ Calling a Truce ( Chapter 23 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

~Zenaida~

" Zenaida, what the hell was that about?" Aida scolded in my head as I went up to the deck. I was disappointed that I couldn't get through the moment. I was embarassed that I embarrased him. I was angry because I couldn't do one thing with Zuko without his father coming into my thoughts!

" I don't know...." I said lowly and shut her out of my thoughts. Aida was becoming more cooperative these days so I wasn't worried that she would come back in. I'm so embarassed.....even the word ashamed will describe me at the moment. The night sky seemed to look down poorly upon me and suddenly, I didn't want to be outside. Turning around, I bumped into the Avatar who was standing behind me.

" Oh!" I exclaimed when we collided. He chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. Such a little kid still.

" Sorry. I didn't mean to startle you. I wanted to tell you that dinner is ready." he said as he pointed toward the cabin with a smile. I nodded and followed behind him into the cabin and through the winding hallways. Glancing over back at me as we walked, he asked, " So how long have you been traveling with Zuko?"

" Well, I've been his servant for about 2 and a half months. We were on the boat for a good 3 months, so about 5 months in total." I replied with a smile and he nodded. Seeing an unlit torch in the hallway, Aida made my hand point at it and a flame shot out to light it. The Avatar jumped in suprise and turned around to face me while looking at the violet fire.

" I thought you were the earthbender?" he asked as he squinted his eyes up at me and leaned up as if he were examining me. I chuckled at the expression on his face and nodded.

" I am the earthbender. But if I allow it, Aida may control a part of my body if she wishes to use to firebend." I say and point to the torch that had the only ultraviolet flame. It also was the hottest, so just being a few feet away from it was making us extremely hot, so we made our way down to the smaller dining hall where everyone was already eating except us. Katara gave us a meaningful glance before going back to eat her rice and vegetables. I awkwardly sat next to Zuko, who seemed as if the last moments in his bedroom didn't occur. Well, maybe he was because he didn't greet me or anything like that.

So, the dinner was silent for the most part. Well, that is until Aida came up and took over.

~Aida~

" So, does everyone just have a voice for decoration or are they really going to use it?" I asked the table with a chuckle before leaning back in my chair and holding my hands behind my head. Crossing my legs, I looked over at Zuko. If I want Zenaida to convince Zuko to allow me to spar with the waterbender girl, Katara, because she's really getting on my nerves with all of her dirty looks and shit, then they have to be talking and in a good relationship. Shit, so how do I do this.

" What, Aida?" Zuko asked as I stared at him. Clearing my throat, I tried to think of something good to say about Zenaida. I blocked her out of my thoughts now so she didn't know what I was trying to do.

" So......." I started, and never felt less confident in my life. The table looked at me, waiting for what I was going to say." I just wanted to say...how...uhm....that....Zenaida really likes your hair like that."

Ugh, what the fuck was that, Aida! "Zenaida really likes your hair like that"? C'mon! Shit, that was such a fuckin' lame line! Damn! Damn! Damn!

" I bet....." Toph said with a chuckle that joned the other's chuckles. I slapped my forehead and glanced at Zuko who was burning me with his eyes. Okay, I've never been afraid of this little hot-headed prince, but I think I'm afraid of what he's going to say. Shit, I so screwed up. C'mon, maybe I can still save it from complete destruction.

" And...she wanted me to tell you that she...uhm...loves you! Yeah! She really loves you. Really." I said, and winced when I heard how sarcastic I came off. The table stopped chuckling and looked over at Zuko unsurely, not really knowing how to act. But damn, how could I screw up that line? Huh? How could I screw that up!? Shit!!! Now I'm never going to be able to spar with that little water peasant and put her in her place.

" Yeah.....tell her I love her too." he said low enough for only the two of us to hear before he turned back to his food, misery laying behind his eyes. My anger subsided when I heard this and was replaced with ultimate........disgust! Ew, this is too mushy! I'd rather be beating myself up than hearing him say something that mushy...to me! Well, not directly to me. More of a messenger type of thing, but still! Ew! Ugh! Barf! Zenaida, get your ass back in here!

~Zenaida~

I don't know why Aida pushed me out, but I didn't mind and began to eat again. I helped Katara collect the dishes, but she pushed me away like usual when it came to washing them. I walked back to the room I shared with Prince Zuko and sat in a chair miserably as he layed on his bed, staring up at the cieling. The silence was getting unbearable.

" I'm sorry for pushing you away, Master. It just felt...uncomfortable. I'm sorry." I said and was about to bow when he sat up in bed and scooted over to make room for me. Zuko shows his affection in the most affection-less ways sometimes but when I layed down next to him, he wrapped his arms around my waist and took in my scent, which I found kind of wierd but didn't mind much.

" I'm not going to push you past your limits until your ready, Zenaida. It's okay." he said lowly as he pulled the blanket over us. Our lips met, and they didn't actually break apart until we fell asleep.

~Aida~

Ugh, I wish there were guards on this boat because I can't sit here and watch Zenaida get her fuckin' kicks with Zuko while I don't get shit!

-Next Morning-

After Zenaida gave her morning kiss to her man -ew- I walked onto the deck to find no one up yet. Smiling, I found this the perfect time to let out the fire in me. One thrust here, another there and flames roared to life out of my body. It was a release. Being the other half of somone comes with a lot of stress. You share only one body, one group of emotions, but seperate thoughts. The emotions is what put the pressure on me the most. When Zenaida is out, whatever feelings she isn't feeling is what I get. So if she is feeling happy and joyful and all of the positive emotions, I get anger and sorrow thrown at me with all of the negative emotions. Zenaida is more of a plus and I'm more of a negative. I'd love to be a plus, truly I would. But she is the main person in this body and she gets to call the shots on what feelings she wants. I just get the leftovers.

" Woah, watch it!" Toph called from behind a flame. I immediately stopped, the command making me not put her in my harm's way. Groaning, I tried to let out a flame toward her but it wouldn't fly out of my hand. Damn, stupid command.

" What the fuck do you want, kid? I'm trying to bend here and I can't do it if your in the fuckin' way!" I yelled at her, but she just chuckled and hauled herself on a crate. Who the hell does this kid think she is? if I could bust her lip again, I would. But for now, I might as well mess around with her since I can't do shit!

" Too bad." she said with a smirk and chuckle. I flipped her off even though she was blind, but smirked at how sly she could act. Jumping on the large crate next to the one she was sitting on, I poked her large bun and chuckled.

" How do you get your hair to stand up like this?" I asked menacingly and without turning around, she grabbed my wrist tightly and threw me against the wall. Damn, that kid is strong! Rubbing my back, I got up and smiled. Hm, I think I'm taking a liking to this kid.

" Don't worry about it and don't touch my hair." she said sternly before laying completly out on the crate, one leg over the other as she soaked in the morning sun. Gosh, what if I were to take this kid under my wing? She'd be a perfect little me!

" Your a snotty little kid, aren't you?" I asked, disgusted with her attitude as I sat on the crate next to her and leaned back on the ledge's railing. She chuckled and looked over at me.

" And your not?" she asked with a disbelieving shake of her head. I frowned when she said that and kneeled in front of her with my hands on my hips.

" Well, number one smartass, I'm not snotty. Number two smartass, I'm not little. And finally number three smartass, I'm not a kid!" I yelled down at her only for her to grip her gut and start laughing even harder.

" So what you just said doesn't prove that you still act like a snotty little kid?" she asked with a raised eyebrow. I clenched my jaw and wanted to punch this little kid who was doing away with my good temper.

" No, it doesn't! Are you fuckin' stupid?" I yelled and she just sighed and sat up. Stretching her arms up in the air, she patted my shoulder with a teasing smile.

" I like you." she said and hopped off the crate. She liked me? Like what? Ew, I hate little kids who make me think too much. She turned around at me and cracked her neck. " Your just some big bully who had nothing else better to do than kill, hm?"

" Listen, kid. I'm not going to waste any more energy on you. I'm not a bully and I'm not allowed to kill unless that fuckin' hot-headed prince lets me!" I yelled before laying on the crate myself. I hated being controlled but I didn't mind it as much as I thought I would because he wasn't too controlling. Walking over to the crate, Toph leaned back on it with her elbows and looked down.

" Look, I'm willing to make a truce with you and you better take it because I don't offer this to many people. I mean we should anyways since we're on the same team and all that." she said lowly and I chuckled, not sure whether to take this seriously or not. But it had rained last night and the air was lighter and crisp, putting me in a better mood than usual. So I decided to amuse her.

" Sure kid." I said, but found myself telling the truth. Whatever, I guess. It wouldn't hurt to have a little kid as a friend, right? She's not too bad either. So.....whatever.

" Good. Now go get me some water." she commanded as she turned to me with a small grin. I laughed and sat up.

" Only Zuko can control me, not you!" I reminded as I chuckled. She grinned slyly before turning toward the cabin.

" Zukooo! I tripped on Aida's foot and hurt my leg!!! She won't even get me a glass of water!!!" she yelled and I threw my hands around her neck, but they stopped right before they touched her. She grinned up at me as she waited for his answer.

" Aida!!! Go get her a glass of water!" Zuko called out of the window of the captain's tower. I groaned as the command began to take action, but smiled to myself at how clever that little girl was. We'd make a good team.