The Name of the Game

By Ammie Hawk

Disclaimer: If only, if only…

AN: Okay, so this chapter fought me so hard and I'm not exactly sure why. But anyway, I finally finished it and here it is for all you lovely people to enjoy, or not, your choice.

Chapter 3

Zuko made his way back to his ship, angry and soaking wet. Not only had he failed to capture the Avatar, again, but the smug little brat had doused him and his soldiers on his way out. As soon as he reached the ship, he left his komodo rhino in the stable part of the hold, designated for their use, in the capable hands of their handler and began making his way to his quarters.

His only thoughts as he crossed the ship were of getting out of his wet clothes and setting a course after the Avatar. Once he gained his room, he began stripping off his armor and letting it fall to the floor, he'd pick it up later. He had just discarded his shirt and was untying the waist of his pants when he heard an undignified squawk come from behind him.

In a single move, he secured his pants and whirled around, his hands raised, ready to firebend if necessary. His stance faltered, however, when his gaze landed on one of the female warriors from the village they'd just come from. Though what this girl was doing on his ship, much less his bed, was beyond him. He paused again as gold locked with startling blue.

"What are you…?" he started to ask when his pillow came flying across the room, aimed at his head.

He caught it before it made contact, but it was enough of a distraction for the intruder to make it to the door. Before he could react, the door was open and the other was out in the hall. Zuko let out a growl of frustration as he turned and gave chase. He tore down the hall and made it to the deck, where the other was being restrained by one of his crew, Lieutenant Jee.

"Let me go, you fucking assholes!" the intruder yelled, the voice distinctly male.

Wait, he recognized that voice. That was the Water Tribe boy! Why was he dressed like a girl? More importantly, what was he doing on his ship? He didn't want that boy here. True, they were technically betrothed, but he had planned to deal with that after he'd caught the Avatar and restored his honor.

"Enough!" he commanded sternly, causing everyone to stop, even the still struggling prisoner, allowing Jee to shove a cloth into his mouth and bind his hands behind his back. "Now, someone tell me why he is on my ship?"

"As your betrothed, it's only fitting he take his place on your crew," a soldier the prince didn't recognize spoke up, and his words caused the rest of the crew to scrutinize the boy more closely. "This is the will of the Fire Lord. To do otherwise would be treason, would it not, Prince Zuko?"

"Who are you?" the one good eye narrowed suspiciously.

"I'm a member of this crew, Prince Zuko," he smirked slightly. "Don't you recognize me?"

"No, I don't," the prince shook his head. "And that's the problem. I know every man on this ship, at least by face if not by name. And I've never seen you before. So I'll ask again, who are you?"

"Huh, Commander Zhao gave you too little credit," the imposter scoffed. "He assured me you wouldn't notice for several months."

"Commander Zhao sent you to spy on my ship? I see," he nodded and then turned to look at someone behind him. "Uncle, how far away from shore are we?"

"About a mile," the old man answered.

"A feasible swimming distance, is it not?"

"Yes, nephew," Iroh nodded, cottoning on to what the younger man had planned. "Especially for a member of the Fire Navy."

"Good," Zuko nodded decisively. "Throw this man overboard. And if I find out anyone else is a spy on my ship, I will drop you at the nearest port."

He waited until his orders were followed before turning on his heel and headed for the lower decks. His uncle caught up with him before he disappeared, giving a pointed look over his shoulder. Zuko gave a quiet groan of frustration, he really didn't want to deal with this right now.

"Bring the prisoner…"

"Our guest," his uncle interrupted quietly.

"Our guest," he amended through gritted teeth, "below, I want a word with him."

The soldier still holding the ridiculously dressed Water Tribe boy was joined immediately by another and they began marching him after the prince. He led them to an empty room next to his own, and the not so subtle urging of his uncle. As they entered the room, the retired general sidetracked into his nephew's room. Once they were safely inside, he motioned the two soldiers out.

"Let's get one thing straight, peasant," Zuko snarled as soon as the door was closed, "you may be my betrothed, but until you tell me everything you know about the Avatar, I will make your life a living hell. Do I make myself clear?"

Blue eyes narrowed into a hate filled glare, as his mouth worked furiously around the cloth that had been tied there earlier. The prince rolled his eyes in annoyance and stepped over to the bound teen. He removed the cloth from the other's mouth with a none too gentle flick of his hands.

"I'm not telling you anything about Aang, you arrogant bastard!" Sokka pulled his head back and spat directly in the scarred eye.

Long, tapered fingers rose and removed the offending mucus from the marred flesh. He pulled the hand away from his face and seemed to study it for a moment, his jaw clenching. He flicked his fingers clean and then, in a move the other didn't quite expect, grabbed his collar and pulled him close so their noses were almost touching.

"You'll pay for that, peasant," Zuko snarled dangerously.

"That is enough, Zuko," Iroh's cold voice sounded from the doorway, disapproval laced in every syllable. "That is no way to treat a guest, much less your intended. Now, go finish changing, then do your rounds and check on the crew. I'll be up shortly and we'll work on your forms."

The mismatched gold gaze held blue for a moment longer, the earlier threat still burning in their depths before the prince released him. He turned on his heel and stormed from the room, smoke billowing from his clenched fists. The old man watched him go, shaking his head sadly, before turning his full attention on the remaining teen.

"I apologize for my nephew's actions," he sighed tiredly. "He has been very stressed recently."

"What?" Sokka scoffed. "And that's just supposed to excuse him?"

"No, you're right, it doesn't," the old man shook his head and helped the teen to his feet. "I know you'll find this hard to believe, what with your recent history with him, but Zuko is actually a very kind hearted young man, just a little misguided at the moment."

"Yeah," blue eyes rolled sarcastically, "and the Fire Lord is just a fluffy otter rabbit."

"Oh no," Iroh shook his head gravely, "my brother is more of a piranha whale. Absolutely nothing fluffy about him at all. You'd do well to remember that, young Sokka. Zuko, on the other hand, there is still hope for him, with a nudge in the right direction."

"Riight," Sokka said skeptically. "I'll get right on that. And on that note, I think I'm just gonna go."

He began edging around the old man, keeping him within his sight as he tried to make a break for the door. The former general just watched his antics, a brow raised in amusement.

"Unfortunately," Iroh shook his head, "I cannot allow you to leave. While he may have been a spy, the soldier who captured you did have a point. Now that the crew knows of your position, allowing you to escape would be seen as an act of treason."

"That's not my problem," he crossed his arms over his chest.

"It would be your problem, though," the old man sighed. "As it would be your act of treason. You have seen Zuko's face. If that is what the Fire Lord did to his own son for speaking out against him, just imagine what he would do to an outsider who actually defied him."

Blue eyes widened in shocked disbelief. He hadn't known that the Fire Lord, Zuko's own father, had been the one to do that to the other teen. He always assumed it had been a training accident, fire being a volatile element and all. God knows how many of those Katara had, and she only played with water.

"So, young Sokka," the former general's voice startled him out of his thoughts, "for the time being, I suggest you make yourself at home. Oh, and here," he held out a small bundle of red and brown, "you may want to change, unless of course that is some sort of Southern Water Tribe training gear that I know nothing about. Or perhaps it's to help you adjust to being the prince's consort."

"What? No!" Sokka protested, he would never willingly accept that role, not ever.

With that thought firmly in mind, he snatched the proffered clothes out of Iroh's hands. The old general gave a wry snort as the teen began stripping off the armor before taking his leave to see what his nephew was up to.

Once the uniform was off, he used one of the sleeves to remove the make up from his face. He stood for several long moments in his underclothes, staring in disgust at the obvious Fire Nation garb he had been given. Well, there was nothing for it. It was either that, the uniform that made him look like a girl, or starkers. And as neither of the latter options sounded appealing on this ship full of enemies, he reluctantly pulled the clothes on. The shirt was too big in the shoulders and he had to roll the sleeves up to have the use of his hands. The pants were too long and were in danger of sliding off his narrow hips at any moment. He managed to fix the last issue by using the belt off the discarded uniform. He then slipped the boots he'd been wearing back on, as no others had been provided.

When he was fully dressed once more, his azure gaze turned to the small window the room sported. He couldn't see much, as dusk had fallen and it would soon be full on night, but he was sure he knew which way land was, and they couldn't have gone that far in the time he'd been below deck, right? If he tried, he was sure he could make it, and besides, anything was better than staying aboard an enemy ship.

Nodding decisively, he made his way to the door and tried the latch. He was actually surprised to find it hadn't been locked. As quietly as he could, he left the room and headed for the upper deck. Once again, he was surprised there weren't any guards posted around the long hallways. Oh well, better for him.

He paused briefly at the door to the upper deck, only to assess the best route for his escape. There were a couple of soldiers patrolling along the far end, and what was obviously a Firebending lesson on the port side. He could easily avoid all of that if he was careful.

He had barely stepped out of the doorway when a shout rang out from below. Throwing caution to the wind, he sprinted across the deck for the starboard rail. A call sounded across the deck, followed by running feet. He didn't dare look behind him, not wanting to waste precious time, his pants kept tripping him up as it was. But somehow, he managed to make it to the railing without being caught.

He scrambled up the iron railing and was about to dive into the dark waves below, when strong arms wrapped around his waist and pulled him back aboard the ship.

"Let me go!" he screamed, kicking and flailing against his captor.

A grunt came from behind him as his heel connected with a shin. After that, he was unceremoniously turned around and tossed over a shoulder. He continued his struggles, his fists pounding against the bare back that was now directly in his face. None of it mattered, though, as he soon found himself below deck once more, and dropped onto a surprisingly soft surface.

"Are you suicidal or just plain stupid?!"

Cerulean orbs rose to meet the mismatched amber of the Fire Nation prince.

"I'd rather die in a bid for freedom, then stay here as your prisoner," Sokka sneered.

"It wouldn't be a bid for freedom," pale fingers dug into the mostly hairless scalp. "We are miles from shore now, it would've been suicide. If the waves didn't take you, the sea creatures would. It's sheer idiocy. If you're going to try and escape at least be smart about it."

"Are you encouraging me to escape?" the Water Tribe teen asked incredulously.

Smoke began tendriling out of the now closed fists, and Sokka shrank back, afraid the other might start Firebending. Zuko's eyes closed at the sight of the other's fear. He wasn't trying to scare his… betrothed, he was just shaken. He'd never seen anyone be that reckless with their own life before. He took a deep breath and counted to ten before slowly letting it out, feeling his fire settle inside him.

Pale eyes snapped open and narrowed slightly in thought as he regarded the other teen.

"You are confined to quarters," he nodded with a note of finality.

"Wh-what?" Sokka stuttered slightly.

"It means, you will not be leaving this room," the prince crossed his arms over his chest. "The door will be locked, and a guard will be posted outside the door."

"B-but… but what if I have to pee?" he protested.

"The levorotary's through there," Zuko pointed over his shoulder to a door the other hadn't noticed before. "With that being said, I have things to oversee. Please try and refrain from destroying my room."

Ammie: So, Sokka is now a prisoner in Zuko's room... That does not sound fun for our poor little Water Tribe... Anyway, there's the next chapter, hopefully the next one won't be so hard to write, but we'll see. It would always help if my muse aka Zuko, wouldn't keep leaving me. Anyway, please let me know what you think.