Y/N's POV

          "That was quite the spectacle you caused." Zuko crossed his arms, looking around at the trees. "I know you're here somewhere, Zhao left a little while ago, I think it's safe." Y/N silently dropped from a nearby tree, softly landing in the grass and sneaking up behind him.

          "Did I do a good job?" She hissed in his ear, and he jumped, swinging a flaming fist around, which Y/N barely dodged. "Hey, don't kill me!" She yelped, sliding the mask up from her face.

          "Then don't scare me like that!" Zuko growled. "You did fine, but what was with the waterbending trick? And we're the extra seconds you took to do a fancy little dive necessary?" Y/N shrugged, following him as he began to trudge back to the ship.

          "It gave the Blue Spirit a little more of an attitude, and an air of confidence. Plus, they don't know it's a waterbending trick, for all they can guess, the Spirit is literally a ghost." They climbed the ramp back onto the deck, strangely quiet and empty now that all the soldiers were gone. I never got a chance to say goodbye to Zaji and Amo...

          "I guess so." Zuko took the mask off her head, studying the smiling face. "But be careful, I'm not going to have this ruined because one of us is inconsistent."

          "Are you implying that we're both the Blue Spirit now?" Y/N asked, following him down the stairs to his quarters. "Where's Iroh?"

          "Went for a walk. He'll be back in an hour." Zuko shrugged. "And yeah, it helps clear my name. Zhao was totally onto me until then, so I'll train you a little with the blades, in case he gets suspicious again." Zuko hid the mask, and Y/N took off the black clothes, handing them to him with the swords. 

          "What are we going to do? We can't man this kind of ship with three people without running into multiple problems, and Zhao is attacking the Northern Water Tribe in a few days." Y/N sat down on a cushion, Zuko plopping down on the other one and rubbing his temples.

          "I don't know, I don't know..." he groaned, staring at the floor. "There's a high chance that he will catch the Avatar, given the Avatar will stay to defend the city." 

          "We have very different problems here." Y/N laughed. "I hope you realize I plan to sabotage as many ships as possible. I'm still a warrior, and will defend my sister tribe." 

          "If it causes Zhao's downfall, I'm with you." Zuko said, looking over at her. "But once this is over, things are going to get tricky again. I still need the Avatar."

          "And I need him too, if he can really stop the war, though it's honestly hard to believe in a 12 year old kid when he doesn't seem to take his job seriously. Why do you go against your own nation?"

          "You said there are things I am ignorant of." Zuko pointed out. "The same goes to you. After all this is over, I will kill you." Out of all the things Y/N expected him to say, it wasn't that. 

          "Excuse me?" She asked, watching him light the candles on his table.

          "You heard me." Zuko snarled, the sudden outburst making Y/N jump. "You're a distraction, and you'll stab me in the back the moment our motives don't line up. You act all friendly, but I know your bad side. Tread carefully." Zuko closed his eyes, taking a deep breath.

          He keeps giving me mixed signals. I can't figure this guy out.

          "The moment you stab me in the back, the life debt is void." Y/N warned quietly, and Zuko nodded slightly.

          "True, but you stab me in the back, and our alliance is void, and I will end you right then and there." 

          "You said you would kill me anyways."

          "Not if you leave before the battle is over."

          "Why would you still keep me around before then?"

          "You're a valuable asset when we work together." Zuko opened his eyes and looked at Y/N's doubtful expression. You looked awfully worried for my wellbeing, given I was simply an asset with no purpose just yet.

          "I don't get it. Are we friends, or not?" She asked, wary that he might have an outburst again.

          "It depends on the situation." 

          AAARGHH... "You're impossible."

          "Well then, let me ask you, are we friends?" Zuko's amber eyes seemed to pierce right through her as he asked. 

          "As of right now, yes." Y/N said confidently, gesturing to the casual situation. "What on earth changed in the past half hour?"

          "You're answer wasn't any different than mine." Zuko pointed out, brushing over her question.

          "I disagree. You said our friendship was relative, while I say it stands until you make a terrible mistake, Your Highness. What's going on with you? I know this is a weird relationship, being on opposite sides but still allies, but you're inconsistent. You can't make up your mind!"

          "You're right, I can't." Zuko cut in. "You're all over the place too, Y/N, don't call me inconsistent. My lack of knowledge of what you can do makes me mistrust you, and you're always in need of saving, over and over, and you are making my think it's an awful lot more than it's worth!"

          "I'm not here just because of a life debt, Zuko!" Y/N's voice was rising with his. "I genuinely care about your situation, and I don't think this whole bringing home the Avatar thing for honor is what you want! I don't think you want the world to suffer! I don't think you want your people dying-"

          "YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT I WANT." Zuko exploded, leaping onto his feet, Y/N doing the same in preparation to defend herself if he attacked. "GET OUT OF MY ROOM! YOU DON'T KNOW ME!" He pushed her out the door, slamming it in her face. She huffed, walking towards the main deck.

          "FORGIVE ME FOR NOT WANTING PEOPLE TO DIE, PRINCE ZUKO." She called back, but jumped when the door slammed open again, Zuko marching towards her. She tripped over her own feet while quickly moving away, up the stairs and onto the deck, where she stood her ground.

          "I WISH I'D NEVER SAVED YOU'RE USELESS BUTT OVER AND OVER! I SHOULD'VE LET ZHAO TAKE YOU TO THAT FACTORY HE TALKED ABOUT!" He yelled, standing at the top of the stairs. "I COULD CARE LESS IF YOU'D ROT AWAY WITH THE OTHER PRISONERS." 

          Y/N opened her mouth to respond, but nothing came out. She wished she could say it didn't hurt, but it got to her. A lot. She truly didn't believe he wanted this war, but he was in this little selfish bubble that just wanted his honor back. 

          As much as she hated to admit it, she cared. 

                              Zuko's POV

          She looked lost for words. Good. 

          Zuko turned around, marching back down the stairs and slamming the door to his room shut behind him. He didn't care. He couldn't afford to. This stupid voice inside him kept making him protect her, but afterwards he always regretted it. 

          You're going to lose the Avatar just because of a stupid waterbender from the South Pole. He thought to himself, sitting there for a few moments, trying to calm down. He needed to get rid of her already, whenever she walked by he felt confused and conflicted, something he didn't need if he was going to ever go home, and get his honor back, his throne.

          "Zuko!" Zuko could hear Y/N yelling from the deck, sounding panicked. He ignored her, hoping she would go to her room and sulk for a bit. 

          "ZUKO!! GET OUT OF THERE! OPEN THE DOOR! ZUKO!!" Zuko looked at his blocked door in annoyance. She was desperately knocking on the door, pulling at the handle, which he had quickly wedged shut with a piece of scrap metal.

          "GO AWAY, YOU PEASANT, OR I'LL COME OUT THERE AND BURN YOUR FACE OFF!" Zuko threatened, hoping he wouldn't have to yell at her anymore for her to leave. Moments later, sharp tongues of water carved out his door, the metal being effortlessly tossed across the room, denting the opposite wall.

          "WE NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE, COME ON!" Y/N's eyes were wild with panic, and Zuko stood up, ready to yell at her some more.

          "WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!" He fired a ball of hot flames at her face, sending her slamming into the stairs down the hallway. He stepped out of his room, ready for her to retaliate, but an explosion rocked the boat, and he turned around to see fire and metal debris roaring towards him, too fast for him to even think about running.

          He barely heard Y/N screaming his name before his vision was filling with white and blue. He was flying, weightless, then everything went dark.