"Wow... Didn't realize. We don't get much news out in the swamp." You responded after the long story Zuko had shared. You were leaning your head against his back, tired.

"Yeah, well, maybe you should learn more about someone before you assault them." He muttered, still blushing.

"I didn't assault you! I just...stopped ya. That's all."

"Yeah... what is that, YN? That was... scary." He shuddered remembering the helplessness that he felt.

"Blood bending. But I don't wanna talk about it much. I'm a little bit sensitive 'bout it."

"There are some things that I also don't want to talk about. I understand that." Zuko was reflecting on his adventures with his uncle. Even though Iroh was certainly bothersome at some points, Zuko knew he could have left on better terms.

"So why're you tryin' to follow Aang?"

"Weren't you listening to my story at all? I have to bring him to my father to reclaim my honor."

"Well what if he don't give ya your honor back?"

"What? Of course he would."

"He didn't promise you nothin'. He don't have to do it, ya know."

"Well he would."

"Maybe"

"Stop. You may be cute, but you don't know anything about me."

There was a long pause. You thought you had heard him wrong. He couldn't have called you cute.

"...Cute?"

"Yeah well... You know. You know you're generally going to be considered attractive, especially when you wear such revealing clothes."

"And what in tarnation does my clothing have to do with whether or not my face is cute?"

"I-I don't know. Nevermind! Just sit quietly. We have about a half day until we reach the last sighting of the avatar."

You rolled your eyes. Why did he have to give you such a backhanded compliment? He could've just agreed that you were cute. Your clothes were fine. It was hot out, and you were sure being around a fire bender would do nothing but make you more hot. He was the weird one for wearing so much clothing. Back home, the men just wore a few leaves as a skirt. The clothes didn't get in the way and they never got hot. Maybe Zuko was just too hot.

"If you're hot, you could take off some of your clothes."

"What?! I'm not going to do that."

"Why? Afraid I won't think you're cute?"

Ba-dum. His heart beat extra hard. Does she... find me attractive as well? Is that why she's been holding onto me this whole time? 

It clearly wasn't the reason, but Zuko's mind wouldn't let him believe otherwise once the thought occurred to him.

"Haven't ya ever been to the swamp, Zuko?" You asked.

The way his name rolled off your tongue, with that swampy twang, resonated in his heart. Normally, he would have corrected such a commoner, forcing her to call him Prince Zuko. However, it felt more comfortable for him to let you be more informal.

"Hello? Zuko?" You bit down lightly on his shoulder and he promptly fell off of the ostrich horse. "What're you doing down there? I just asked ya a question!"

"You... you bit me!"

"You were ignorin' me! You deserved it! Just git back on the ostrich-horse, we got places to be."

Zuko growled in frustration. No matter how cute you were, you were incredibly annoying as well. Not only was he basically being held captive, but now you were embarrassing him. Eventually, he sat back up and glared at you. Removing his shirt, he inspected the supposed wound. You whistled. Whipping his head towards you, he was blushing.

"What!?"

"You look good. Good for the son of most evil man in the world." You served a back-handed compliment right back. Serves him right.

His blush deepened and he ignored the second part of what you said. She thinks I... look good.

"Well, it is pretty hot. So if it's alright with you, I will keep my shirt off. Just until it cools down. Not because you told me to."

"Alright, well hop back on up."