Chapter Text
Who would place all of their hopes in the treasured objects of legend; a mere myth?
The answer:
Those with the power and resources to search for them.
And also:
The truly desperate.
Zuko is minding his own business and getting well and drunk at an absolute shit hole of a bar, the one located inside his crew’s favorite whore house on the docks of Whaletail Island. It’s a place that he finds extremely distasteful and always has, but unfortunately it's a necessary place for keeping morale in his men high.
Suddenly, someone plunks into the stool beside him.
He knows they’re staring. He’s very sensitive to eyes lingering on that side of his face.
They burn a hole in his face with their gaze for so long that he finally has to acknowledge their presence. Scowling, he whirls on the stool to face them and blinks in surprise when he comes face-to-face with a woman, and a beautiful one at that.
She’s wearing clothes typical of one of the water tribes. Probably the southern one, since that’s closer. Her hair is brown and long and wavy, her eyes large and blue, and for a time long enough to be embarrassing Zuko just gawks at her before remembering himself and dropping his eyes. Sometimes the women here try and get him to pay for them without him asking. This must be one of those situations, though he can’t imagine why she would be dressed that way.
Did enough of the men coming through here really have a water tribe fetish?
“No thanks,” he snaps, before his eyes snag and then stay on a black mark on her wrist. The tattoo of a pirate.
He stares at it, mouth hanging open, before he glances up to see her looking very entertained at his obvious confusion.
“I know who you are,” she says. “Your father is the massive fucking asshole taking over the world and currently planning to invade my sister tribe up north.”
Zuko just blinks at her.
“Isn’t that right, Prince Zuko?” she prompts. A wide smile suddenly spreads across her lovely face. It's a breathtakingly charming smile.
But her eyes—they make him wary. Full of plans and motivations and secrets.
I would ruin you, they seemed to say. And by the time I would, you’d be asking me to.
A prickle of warning rustles in Zuko’s mind.
“That’s right,” he finally says, very bitterly. “Though technically I’m not a prince anymore. But I’m sure you know that too.”
“I do,” she says. “I know quite a lot of things about you.” She gently grazes the tattoo on his wrist that matches hers, and he jumps. “You became a pirate after your banishment, didn’t you? Quite a good one, from what I’ve heard. Own almost the entire southern and eastern waters now, isn’t that right?”
“Who are you?” Zuko asks, supremely irritated.
She smiles. “I’m Katara of the Southern Water Tribe,” she says, “I’ve survived despite all the odds, and I’m the one who actually runs these waters.” She reaches over, snatches his drink deftly from his fingers, and drains it, grinning at his sputtered outrage. “Best that you don’t forget that, Prince Zuko,” she tells him, getting to her feet. “Even if you think you’re ahead of me, I’m always, always one step ahead.”
And with that she blows him a kiss, winks, and saunters away from the bar, leaving Zuko gaping at the seat she’d just vacated.
There’s a rap on his door two weeks later, while ported at some other dock and as he looks over maps in his quarters.
“Yes?” Zuko doesn’t look up when the door swings open.
“Captain Zuko.” It’s the voice of his sentry. “A messenger hawk has arrived for you. From Fire Lord Ozai.”
Zuko’s head snaps up. His hand whips out, nearly rips the parchment in two in his haste to have it, to unfurl it and read it. He’s not had correspondence with his father since he was banished so many years ago. Eight, to be precise. And Zuko does remember it precisely.
His eyes scan it wildly, sentences popping out of the page, imprinting in his brain and filling him with a staggering, excruciating hope.
…perhaps a way for you to restore your honor after all…
…need your help, Zuko…
…must remain secret…
…the tide jewels…
…out at sea, beyond the Western Air Temple, in uncharted waters…
…under lock and key, the location of which is a secret heavily guarded by a creature known as the Sea God, the Dragon God…
…if legends are to be believed, I can use them to control the tides, to defeat the Northern Water Tribe, my final stronghold in this war…
…you would be a hero, Zuko…
…welcomed back with open arms…
“Captain Zuko?”
Zuko jolts, realizing he’d been staring at the parchment for at least three full minutes. He feels lightheaded.
“Ready the ship for departure,” he says hoarsely, rising to his feet. “And find me any and all information about the legend of the tide jewels.”