For My Dear Friend

Chapter One: Captured, Cosmetics, and Comedy

Inspired by Holding this Breath by attackfish on AO3. Can also be found on my account there, WaltzingTheFaePaths

Shortly after his banishment, Prince Zuko and his uncle travelled to all of the Air Temples in search of the Avatar. In one world, they continued to travel to the most remote locations in the world in their desperate search, until the day a bright light and a signal flare led them to a tiny village in the South Pole. However, this isn't that world. This is the world where the banished Prince's ship sailed too close to the North Pole, and Zuko alone of his ship and crew was spared the attack that the waterbenders launched against them. At the ripe old age of thirteen, Zuko not only had a still raw and not-yet-healing scar on his face, but he was also a political prisoner of the Northern Water Tribe.

In the beginning, Zuko had taken his imprisonment with a … few grains of salt. Chief Arnook had informed the boy himself that it was because of his tender age that he had been spared, and that he was now being used as an exchange with the Fire Nation: cease the war, and you can have your son back.

Arnook had shown Zuko the reply. It had not been kind.

In the nearly-three years since then, Zuko had, more or less, been accepted into the Tribe. Princess Yue, who was the kindest soul since the Lady Ursa that Zuko had ever met, kept him company most days, playing Pai Sho or swapping culture. Master Pakku, who had once known his Uncle, played with him every once in a while – although, Zuko always lost those matches, so he suspected that it was more so the old komodo-rhino could feel good about himself. Sometimes, if both Pakku and Arnook were there, he was allowed to train with the men, and eventually, he was even allowed to practice his firebending, as well (in front of a regiment of waterbending masters, but, still).

Then everything changed when the Avatar arrived.

It had started like most any other day of the week. Zuko had meditated until Yue had come in for breakfast and a game of Pai Sho, before the pair had gone for a trip around the city via the canals. Well, ok, that was a lie. Yue knew that scouts had spotted a flying thing in their waters over the last few days, and a group of waterbenders had gone to investigate, and were due to return with their prisoners, and she was actually really curious. Zuko was just bored of Pai Sho, and wasn't in the mood to deal with Pakku (especially since Zuko had finally bested him last week, and the old Master just wouldn't let it go).

Eventually, they passed by the giant bison-thing with its three passengers. Yue kept her posture elegant, hands tucked into sleeves and eyes demurely facing forward, whilst Zuko side-eyed the strange group curiously, if subtly. Two, the older boy and the girl, had the dark skin and blue clothes of the Water Tribe, and as they were unfamiliar, Zuko assumed that they must have come from the South. The youngest, though, was dressed in yellow and orange, bald, and had blue arrow tattoos.

The Avatar.

Zuko turned away. After all, it was only a few months until the three year anniversary of his banishment; the Avatar was the only thing that would get him home. At least, that's what he used to believe, before the letter came…

"Are you ok?" Yue whispered, once the Avatar and his companions were out of sight.

"I'll be fine. Let's go back."

Even if she was his self-appointed best friend, Yue was tactful enough to know when Zuko really didn't want to talk about it.

They were fourteen and he'd been at the North Pole almost a year, when Yue had first convinced him to play dress-up. Azula had done the same, when they were smaller and actually happy, and without Uncle and with the letter's wording, Zuko was apathetic to most things, so he'd let her. He was used to wearing the Water Tribe clothes by then, but Yue had brought him a different set to try on – she wanted to experiment, whatever that entailed. So he tugged on the shaggy blue trousers, pulled on the loose blue and white shirt, dark socks and seal-skin boots, white wraps and dark blue gloves reaching to his elbows, and the white bone choker that Yue had made him for his birthday.

Once he came out from behind the dressing screen that Yue had brought in, she giggled, and started fiddling with his hair, finally tying two small, loose braids on either side of his temple with dark beads on the end (it was too short for a wolftail, she'd lamented; his ponytail had been cut to teach him humility, early on). With that done, she'd then tentatively brought out some of her pots of make-up. At first Zuko had refused, showing some of his old spark once again, but Yue was so earnest that in the end he'd let her apply some. Once she'd finished, she'd plopped him down in front of her mirror with an excited tada!

Zuko had stared at his reflection in shock. The boy who looked back at him was barely recognisable as Crown Prince Zuko – this was a Water Tribe boy with gold eyes, one a little smaller than the other, and barely any sign of the burn that marked him.

"Yue… how did…?"

The princess had just grinned, and held up one of her cosmetics pots.

That was the day La Ten was born.

There was already supposed to be a big party that night anyway, for Yue's birthday, but with the arrival of the Avatar as well, Arnook really went all out. The Chief was seated in the centre of the top dias, with three of his closest council on his right, and the Avatar and his companions on his left.

"May the great Ocean and Moon Spirits watch over us through these troubled times!" Yue declared, before she and Zuko sat in the spare seats by the Southern boy, as Pakku and two of his students performed some advanced waterbending sets.

"Hi there, Sokka, Southern Water Tribe," the boy attempted to flirt.

Yue was polite, "It's very nice to meet you." Zuko hid his gagging in the furry collar of his parka. Brilliant. Another idiot. Yue elbowed him subtly – she thought he was handsome. Urgh, girls.

"So!" Sokka tried again. "You're a – princess! Huh?" Yue nodded obligingly – and oh spirits, she had that look, that this is actually kinda funny, but I'm polite enough not to bust a gut here, she was actually enjoying this!

"You know, back in my Tribe, I'm kinda like a prince myself!"

The girl beside him scoffed. "Prince of what?"

"A lot of things! Uh, do you mind, I'm trying to have a conversation here!"

"My appologies, Prince Sokka."

"… So, it… looks like I'm going to be in town for a while. I'm thinking, maybe, we could… do an activity together?"

"Do an activity?" Yue was really struggling not to laugh, at that, whilst Zuko did a marvellous spit-take, choking on what was most certainly not giggles.

"Very smooth," Sokka's sister teased.

"Only if my escort can come, too," Yue grinned, gesturing to Zuko. "La Ten is my best friend."

Zuko pulled a face at her, but otherwise didn't say anything – he was trying to eavesdrop on the Avatar's conversation with Pakku, and Sokka's splutters weren't helping. Ah well – next time.

"La Ten," Sokka's sister – Kya? Korra? Katara! – asked over her brother's stutterings. "Are you a waterbender, too?" Her blue eyes were very wide, full of excitement.

"I – wha – no?" Zuko answered elegantly. "Why did you ask that?"

"Oh, I'm sorry! It's just, your clothing – !"

Yue giggled politely, interrupting. "La Ten is a mighty warrior," She said with a wide smile. "He's found that waterbender clothes work best with his fighting style." She jogged him with her elbow teasingly. "Maybe the two of you could have a match later?"

Whilst the two Southerners made various exclamations over that, Zuko pulled a face at Yue. She might have to interact with them, but the less he had to do with the Avatar and his friends, the better.