Mirza did what Prince Zuko wanted of him, to stay out of his way. He did it for the next few days, he even avoided looking at Zuko, fearing that the Prince would burn him if he were to speak out or to him. Mirza kept his head down and focus on the floor. This reminded Zuko of the servants at the Palace, this is how Azula liked her servants. They never talked to her, their eyes never meet her's and keep their hands folded. The perfect servant, Azula would say in that situation.

Zuko was always up front with his servants, try to mimic his father's intimidating tone but he never succeeded. No, he was always polite to his servants, nice and more laid back with them then Azula and His father was. Zuko has always been the exact opposite of them, he was like his mother in so many ways. She was always polite and kind to the servants, despite Ozai's nasty chides to be firm with them. She ignored them, his mother continued to be kind to the end. Watching Mirza acting like that, made him a bit sick, Zuko felt sick and a bit guilty for making Mirza feel like that and how he acted like Azula. Iroh knew, he saw the slight change of expression everytime Zuko looked at Mirza.

Iroh knew Mirza felt bad for what had happened on Kiyoshi island, for not helping his own fire nation or get info where the Avatar might hit next. Though, Mirza never talked about it, it affected his bending. The work they were doing to improve his fighting was lacking control. Like he had a million of things in his mind then training, things he shouldn't be thinking about in those moments. Iroh had tried talking to him but there was nothing, Mirza refused to say anything bad about Zuko or anything about the crown prince. 

Everything was just too tense on the ship. It was unbearable for Zuko and Iroh, most of the staff too

" Listen, Water-tribe peasant, I-" Zuko frowns as he stared at Mirza's door, frown on his lips and fist raised. He wanted to apologize for snapping at the him and for assuming he would do something for the Prince. He acted like Azula, his cold and cunning sister, especially when it came to her servants and handmaidens. Shoving him down, acted coldly towards him without reason. " Wa-"

" I think he prefers to be called Mira." Zuko turns to his left to see Uncle Iroh walk towards him, hands together and covered with his long red sleeves. " And I think it's time to apologize to your friend Prince Zuko." 

" Uncle, the Water-peasant isn't my friend, far from it." Zuko said, shaking his head a bit making his ponytail sway behind him a bit. " I don't have friends, especially a water tribe peasant."

" Prince Zuko, when was the last time you even had a friend?" Iroh asked, eyebrow raised as Zuko snapped his head towards him with a scowl on his lips. His lips open to snap whatever came to mind but nothing came out his mouth. Zuko glared at the ground as his lips tighten into a deep frown. Zuko had no friends, well, he had a girlfriend but it was more for publicity at first before he gotten to know Mai. The other princes or noble boys were too stuck up to him or wanted to know him for their own gain. It was upsetting but true, the prince had no friends, none.

" Exactly." Iroh grins a bit, " So if you want his forgiveness, or for him to even look at you in the eye then I highly suggest that you start calling him by his birth name."

" Sure, sure," Zuko sighs as he pinched his nose. His uncle chuckles as he walked passed him and down the hallway. Once he was out of sight, Zuko looked at the metal door, staring at it distastefully. A friend huh? Me and a water peasant? What has the world come to? Zuko thought, his fist clenching and unclenching a bit. I don't need friends, I need the Avatar. Though, It would be good to have an ally on this trip..but..how..

Zuko turns his head to see some servants on board, they walked passed him and he noticed the yet again soaked blue clothes of Mirza. " I think I know how to apologize now." Zuko said to himself, walking off and down the hallway. He needed to stop at the nearest village for a quick moment and intended to tell the captain that as he walked upstairs. 

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Mirza rubbed his eyes, he was studying a scroll that was on the shelfs in there, reading and re-reading some fire nation history. Something that would bore him but he seemed content with what was written within it. He flinched when he heard a couple knocks on the door and turns towards it. " Who is it?" He asked.

" Zuko." The prince said as Mirza scrambled to close the scroll, throwing it at the bed and walked to the door. He wore his dry and borrowed clothes, his water bending clothes off to be washed and cleaned once more. " Hurry up, I don't have all day." Zuko huffed as Mirza opens the door. There stood the Prince of the Fire Nation with a box, it was dark and had clothes in it. Zuko shoved the box into Mirza's arms whom quickly grasped the box. " I saw these clothes and thought of you. It's time for you to finally wear more Fire Nation clothes." Zuko said as he watched Mirza's eyes stare down into the box.

" Thank you Prince Zuko." Mirza said as he moved putting the box on his bed and pulled up the shirt that was in there. It felt soft to the touch, and began undress there and then, Zuko turns his head out of respect but then noticed how long Mirza's hair was. It went down to his hips it seemed, and finally out once Mirza removed the bandages that held it up. Why doesn't he cut his hair? Won't the fire burn his hair? Zuko thought with a raised eyebrow but moved his gaze else where when Mirza began changing his pants.

Mirza pulled his long hair into a high ponytail, not one that would match Zuko's. He now wore a deep red short sleeve shirt with deep crimson red arm warmers covering most but his hands. He wore black pants that stopped at his ankles, they fit snug around him and comfy. He then picked up the maroon long-sleeve jacket and tied the golden color belt around his waist, almost closing the jacket. There were also some golden details at the end of his jacket. He moved, sliding his boots back on and looked at himself. " Wow," Mirza whispers as he looked to the mirror in his room. " I look..so..cool." He said, as Zuko looked up. 

" Of course, these came at a high price." Zuko said examine the other and watched Mirza turn to him with a smile. A better expression then the submissive and blank one that Mirza has been giving him. " Red...Looks..good on you.." Zuko complimented as Mirza smiles, his cheeks a bit pink. Mirza nods his head in agreement as he walked towards Zuko and Zuko watched, freezing as Mirza hugs him, his eyes widen a bit as he slowly and awkwardly pat Mirza's back and lets go. " okay, Never do that again." Zuko said, What is up with this guy? 

" Sorry!" Mirza said, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly and smiling, " it's a force of habit when someone does something this nice to me, I usually do it to Sokka and Katara." 

" W-" 

" Prince Zuko! We have word of a nearby ship prisoners' were released." A solider said, Zuko snapped his head towards him. " The Avatar was there!" Zuko eyes widen a bit, his fist clenched, " Head towards the Ship. Maybe he left something there that can tell us where he's going." Zuko commanded as the soldier bows before hurrying off as Mirza smiles a bit, looking down at his new clothes. Zuko looked over Mirza, frowning before looking away. That hug was very awkward but it felt kind of nice?

" I'll see you at dinner." Zuko said coughing into his fist, " Uh..bye?" Zuko turns as Mirza watched him but called out to the other, " Thank You Zuko! I mean it, I love them!" Mirza said as he moved back into his room, Zuko kept walking towards the deck. His cheeks pink still only because of embarrassment, nothing else.