Y/N's POV

          The first thing Y/N was aware of was the rocking. Back and forth, back and forth. It was soothing, but she also felt nauseous, like she just threw up. She reached for Sokka's hand, and missed, the water getting closer...

          Y/N sat bolt upright in bed, eyes wide and lungs gasping for air. She stared at the metal walls around her for a few moments before throwing the sheets off herself, swinging her legs over the side of the bed and throwing the door open with a sharp bang.

          She quickly ran up the stairs, stepping barefoot onto the main deck, sprinting to the side, and jumping.

          "What on earth are you doing? You're supposed to be resting!" Moments later, Y/N hung above the water, Zuko holding onto her by the back of her shirt. She looked up at him.

          "I'm not staying here." She said simply with a smile, and Zuko rolled his eyes, pulling her up and plopping her on the deck. 

          "That's not for you to decide. There was a change of clothes on your bedside table, go change out of those nasty Earth Kingdom rags, they're worse than your tribe furs." He commanded, attempting to push Y/N up and gesturing towards the stairs. 

          "I'm not staying here, flameboy." Y/N repeated. "I can jump overboard if I want." 

          "I save your life, twice, and this is the thanks I get?" Zuko asked, crossing his arms and glowering down at her. 

          "That's your mistake, not mine."

          "Enslaved in a factory, or dead at the bottom of a river?"

          "I had it under control."

          "Yeah, the rattling chains and lack of pulse were really convincing." Zuko studied her eyes for a moment, then went on. "You also have a concussion. Don't stress yourself out, and stay in your room."

          "Oh, I thought the headache was from being less than 3 feet away from you." Y/N grumbled, still sitting in the deck. "And I already had a concussion, thanks to you, now it's just worse. Let me go or I'll shoot an ice spike right through your eye socket."  Zuko watched as she tried standing up, and fell back over.

          "You're too disoriented to even bend." He commented, and she growled, getting up again, and falling over, Zuko lazily catching her this time. "And I'm assuming the bad attitude is from the concussion as well, or the headache. Either way, you need to rest."

          "Bad attitude?" Y/N growled, looking up at him as she tried pushing herself off of his outstretched stabilizing arm. "I guess that'll explain it, you must've been dropped on your head as a child." 

          "Okay, time to sleep. Grab her." Zuko ordered a soldier nearby, who picked Y/N up, throwing her over his shoulder and following Zuko's down the stairs.

          "You think saving my life is supposed to make me trust you!?" Y/N snapped, unable to escape the soldier. 

          "Yes." Zuko said bluntly, opening the door to her room.

          "You threw me against a rock!"

          "You were being difficult!"

          "We had a deal!"

          "I have neither broken nor fulfilled my promise yet." Zuko pointed out, waiting in the doorway as the soldier plopped Y/N on her bed and left.

          "I'm not working with you anymore, ponytail! You've lost my respect, and you have no honor! Why did you even save me, anyways, it's so easy to-"

          "I DON'T KNOW!" Zuko screamed, cutting off Y/N and effectively shutting her up. "I DON'T KNOW WHY I SAVE YOUR SORRY HIDE WHEN YOU CLEARLY CANNOT HANDLE YOURSELF. YOU SPEAK OF HONOR?! LOYALTY?! WHO TEAMED WITH THE FIRE NATION AGAINST HER SIBLINGS, WHO STABBED ME IN THE BACK WHEN I WAS TRYING TO FULFILL MY PROMISE, WHO DOESN'T EVEN THANK THE PERSON WHO SAVED HER LIFE?!"

          Zuko stood there for a few moments, panting from yelling so loudly, fists clenched. He composed himself, standing up straight and taking a deep breath.

          "You're the first person I've ever gotten to know from another nation, and I consider you as a friend when I put the war aside." He said, quieter. "I hope that, even given the situation, you would do the same for me, even if it means simply repaying a life debt." He paused for a moment, then set down a pouch next to Y/N's bed, closing the door as he left her in stunned silence.

          Y/N sat there for a few moments, still, before reaching out to grab the pouch, the contents clanking softly inside. It was the water containers, with a new, less worn belt. She held the two metal objects softly, turning them over in her hands. Something caught her eye, something that hadn't been there before. 

          There was something new engraved underneath the symbols saying watertribe scum, but written smaller. —Nuclear Holocaust, I think it was your most creative yet, even if you were delirious at the time. Y/N snorted as she read the next part, unable to do anything but smile.

          Is my hair really that bad? Was engraved in tiny symbols underneath the main message. Did I seriously comment on his hair in a delirious state?  She thought, turning and opening her bedside drawer, digging through the random items inside until she found a sharp metal tip, turning back to the container.

          It's horrendous. She scratched into the surface, still smiling, then her face dropped as she thought back to just a minute ago. His words rang in her head. She needed to sleep, clear her mind a little. And eventually, apologize.

                             —|〰️〰️〰️|—

          Y/N woke up to almost rolling off the bed. The ship listed to port, making her roll across her bed and smack into the wall. It then went back to starboard, Y/N barely catching herself before she hit the metal floor. 

          She quickly changed into her Fire Nation silks, realizing they were the same one from beforehand, freshly washed and dried. Stumbling out into the hallway, she quickly got her sea legs under her, easily swaying with the ship.

          Y/N's first instinct was to go to the main deck, but when she's went up the stairs, creating her little water umbrella with some difficulty, no one was on deck, a raging storm overhead. Lightning flashed across the clouds, and thunder vibrated in her chest. She checked one last time to make sure a certain sulky prince wasn't out in the rain before heading back inside. 

          "Y/N! Come and join us, we have tea!" Y/N stopped at the sound of Iroh's voice, seeing him and some soldiers sitting around a fire in a open room connected to the hallway. A small smile grew on her lips, and she sat down next to him, taking the cup of jasmine tea offered to her.

          "Thank you." She said into her cup, sipping lightly, as it was still scalding hot.

          "We were just talking about Prince Zuko's awful attitude, and how it's gotten impossibly worse today. Who does he think he is?!" A man said, probably a lieutenant judging by his different armor and older age than most the young male soldiers sitting with them.

          "Now, Jee, would you like to know?" Iroh asked, looking straight at him over his cup. "He wasn't always like this. His scar was no accident."

                                —|〰️〰️〰️|—

          The group had fallen into a comfortable, but contemplative silence after Iroh finished the story, the only words uttered were asking for more tea, passing the kettle around, and passing small snacks every now and then.

          Y/N sipped from her tea, eating only a little bit since it was almost around dinner time anyways. The calming silence mixed with the rain pounding overhead was quickly interrupted with a loud crash, the sound ringing in Y/N's eardrums as the ship jolted to one side, the power in the ship flickering.

          The ship didn't stop at the jolt, almost completely listing to one side before Y/N acted, bending the water outside the ship as they slid across the floor. She righted the ship, the concentration it took was painful, making her headache feel like it would split her skull.

          Still, she got up to hurry after the crew, who all ran up to the main deck, Y/N too unstable to use her energy on keeping herself dry as they all came out into the howling wind and sleet.

          "Where were we hit?" Zuko yelled over the wind, looking slightly frazzled, but steady on his feet as the boat listed dangerously. Y/N looked up, and yelled to get everyone's attention, pointing towards the crow nest of the ship, where a helmsman clung desperately to the ladder coming down. 

          Zuko and Lieutenant Jee didn't hesitate, both climbing up the ladder towards the helmsman, who was screaming in fear as the ship tilted, making hanging on a lot harder. 

          Y/N planted her feet on the deck, holding both arms out like she's was walking on a tightrope. Every time the ship listed to one side, she would push the opposite way, trying to keep the ship as stable as possible. 

          Her head screamed from the amount of concentration it took, but she kept it up, watching Zuko just barely catch the helmsman before he feel to his death, passing him down to Jee, who nodded up to him, making sure the crewman was safe. 

          Y/N kept up her work as Zuko helped a second down, before climbing down himself, urging everyone to get inside. Once everyone was off the ladders, Y/N let the boat rock as it pleased, glancing to her right as she saw Iroh taking a defensive stance. 

          What is he doing? The thought had barely crossed her mind before a flash of blinding light hit him, then bounced off the ship and into the ocean, leaving Iroh smoking a little, but otherwise untouched. The lightning went through him. That's incredible. 

          "Everyone belowdecks! Move move!" Zuko yelled, opening the door to the stairs and making sure each of his crew was inside, helping those who stumbled or slipped on the wet metal. Y/N started to move towards him, but then felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.

          Yelping in sheer terror, she bent a large volume of water from the ocean,  making a ball of water around her as the lightning struck, the energy snapping loudly in her ears, heating up the air in her little ball fast. She clapped her hands over her ears, her mind going black with terror, and dropping the water around her in the process.

          Only a little bit hit her, most dispersed into the deck and rain, but the small shock caused her muscles to involuntarily seize up, making her collapse for a second. Then arms were around her, hoisting her up and bringing her to the door. 

          Y/N and Zuko clung to each other tightly, stumbling across the slippery deck towards the stairs. She felt it coming again, and quickly bent more water up from the sea to block the strike and channel it into the ocean. 

          Miraculously, they made it to the entrance, fumbling with the door and holding onto each other tightly for balance and stability as they closed it, walking down the stairs. Zuko tripped at the bottom, and Y/N barely caught him, dragging him a few feet before collapsing next to the crew, breathing hard.

          "Is everyone alright?" Zuko asked breathlessly, receiving only nods from the equally exhausted crew. "Good. Dry off and go to dinner early, I'm sure this will pass soon enough." The crew slowly recovered, helping each other up and going their separate ways.

          "Y/N, what in the 7 sages were you thinking, going up on deck? You're supposed to be resting." Zuko sat up, flinching as all the water leeched from his clothes, as well as Y/N's. Her head hurt like crazy, but she managed a lopsided smile. 

          "What were you thinking, climbing a wet metal ladder on a tilting boat being hit by lightning?"

          "Helping my crew."

          "I was helping, too."

          "You were getting struck by lighting." Zuko leaned against the wall, finally recovering. "And you seem to be in a better mood." He commented, standing up with Y/N. He tilted to one side, but caught himself.

          "Careful." Y/N warned with a laugh. "Geez, you're more unstable than the girl with two concussions. Might want to see one of your medics." She began to walk down the hallway, gesturing for him to follow and taking on a more solemn expression and tone. "And I did want to talk to you... about that."

          "Maybe not in the cafeteria?" Zuko suggested, catching up to walk beside her. 

          "You want to stand in the rain again so it's more heartfelt, angsty, and alone?" Y/N deadpanned, glancing over at him. 

          "You know that's unsafe."

          "I was kidding. We can talk in here, if his Majesty would find it fitting." Y/N led him to the room she had just been in, the fire still going in the center with the kettle, but all of the soldiers gone. They sat down against the wall closest to the fire, Y/N grabbing the kettle to pour them some tea, handing the fresh cup to Zuko while she used her old one.

          "You can breathe, if you'd like." Y/N commented, indirectly pointing out how tense the prince was. He relaxed a bit, taking a sip of tea and leaning against the wall.

          "I don't need your permission."

          "I never implied otherwise. I took some time to cool off, and I wanted to apologize." Zuko didn't look at her as she spoke, resting his tea in his lap, while watching it to make sure it didn't spill as the ship tilted side to side. Y/N could only see the scarred side of his face from her side, making her think about the story Iroh had told.

          "To start off, I do want to say I still don't trust you, your methods, or your nation." She clarified, taking a sip of tea.

          "Wow, that's a great way to start." Zuko interrupted, scowling down at his cup.

          "Shush. Let me point out the war, and the fact that you burned an innocent town, and are trying to catch the Avatar, our only chance for real peace as of now." Y/N reminded him, resisting the urge to splash her tea on him. "But I'm willing to give you multiple chances, because you don't seem to be aware of what your nation is doing to the world."

          "Are you calling me stupid? Naive?"

          "No, I am calling you ignorant, uninformed, as everyone is in different areas. However, I'm not going into that. You have left the Fire Nation, and are traveling the world, so I think you will witness what you need to firsthand soon enough. It isn't only a matter of time." Y/N stared at the fire, biting her lip.

          "Right now, I'm focusing on my unnecessary comments and ignorant assumptions I have made since I've met you, specifically today's incident." She sighed, turning to look at Zuko. "I am truly sorry, for what I said. I owe you my life, and I won't deny it. I see my hypocrisy, and I know I can't right it, but I want to fix myself for the future. Will you forgive me?"

          Zuko turned and made eye contact with her, eyebrows raised and studying her as if trying to assess if she was serious or not. After a few moments, his expression softened, and he broke his amber eyes away from hers.

          "Yes, I do." He said sincerely, finishing his tea. "And I appreciate the apology." He wouldn't look at Y/N as she watched him fidget with his empty cup.

          "Thank you. I also want to let you know that your uncle told me." She continued, opening her palm to him, silently asking if he would like more tea. He nodded, and handed the cup to her. 

          "About... my banishment?" Zuko asked in a small voice, subconsciously touching the bottom edge of his scar. Y/N nodded, handing him his refilled cup, and refilling hers as well, even though it wasn't finished. 

          "And I want you to know that is not why I wanted to apologize to you. I thought about this before I was told, and the apology is sincere, and not out of pity or sorrowful remorse." She stood up, and he copied her, studying her E/C eyes closely. "You know I do not agree with you, or what you are doing, but hearing your story has made me think, and form a few questions."

          "Ask, but choose your wording very wisely." Zuko said, the slightest hint of warning in his voice.

          "I'm not one to bend my ideals and wording to make someone else happy, my prince." Y/N said with wariness in her voice, watching him carefully. "Just because I respect you doesn't mean I don't like you, and I'm sure the feeling is mutual. I will consider you as a friend, but also quite the contrary."

          "Very, very wisely." Zuko repeated, his voice had gotten dangerously low, and Y/N tensed, ready.

          "This relationship is quite complicated, so I will not pretend to understand." Y/N laughed lightly, slowly setting down her cup. "I'm sorry for being so blunt, but really, if you capture the Avatar, and bring him home, is your honor really restored? What makes you think you will be welcomed with open arms?"

          Y/N smiled as there was an infuriated yell, and she quickly moved aside, narrowly avoiding the thrown ceramic cup, which shattered on the wall behind her.

          This "friendship" is quite the ticking time bomb. Oh Zuko, how I wish I could trust you.