Thank you to all who took the time to review my last Avatar the last Airbender ficlet. Here's another longer and more involved fic that is Zuko/Sokka based. It's sort of an AU ( more so alternate plot line ) in the form of: If Aang had actually left the Southern Water Tribe when Sokka told him to, what would have happened?

Due to that, I am taking some liberties with the original plot! Haha! I DO hope that with that in mind, you all enjoy! Please feel free to comment, I love getting constructive feedback! :)

-Sha

Ch. 1 – Making the best of the Bleak

This was all that kids fault!

That thought must have gone through Sokka's head at least a thousand times in the last two weeks that he had been a prisoner aboard none other than Prince Zuko's ship. Being a prisoner of war was no walk in the park as it was… but to be trapped at sea with a guy like Zuko? It made the thought of a long, endless voyage unbearable.

Sokka lay back against the metal haul, still surprised, and yet not so surprised, every time he noticed that the metal even in the brig was warm. Most ships were almost icy to the touch, especially were they were submerged… But rationally, it made sense. After all, this was a Fire Nation ship run on coal and flame. The entire structure was like a large, metal dragon puffing along aggressively through the icy seas of the Southern Waters. Still… warm metal made lying against it day in and day out a bit more comfortable.

He gazed up at the grate in the cell ceiling as he heard the heavy footfalls of the crew marching about, talking amongst themselves… Sokka often wondered if Zuko realized how restless his men had become… How doubtful of his quest ever reaching an end… Even now they murmured amongst themselves in hushed tones. The first few days Sokka had been trapped below deck, he'd made it his mission to spy on anything and everything he could; scrambling up crates to get closer to the grates or pressing his ear to the metal walls and cell door. But as the time passed and he realized there was little hope of him being freed before they hit Fire Nation waters, he'd lost his interest in the everyday complaints of the men above him.

Sokka felt his eyes grow heavy and sighed low, shifting in his shackles that bound both his wrists and ankles as he tried to settle down for a nap. Mid-day was always the worst… The sun above made the ship itself even warmer and most of the crew stayed above deck to retreat from the heat. Sokka smiled wryly to himself at the thought of fire benders roasting like sea prunes in a pot.

Oh…~ Stewed sea prunes!

His stomach gave a pitiful growl of placation, aching for food. He gave it a gentle rub, sighing lightly.

"There there, tummy… I know how ya feel…"

Sokka jumped, startled, when the cell door unlocked and swung open at that very moment, Zuko himself coming through the doorway and gazing down at him with grim annoyance.

"Talking to yourself again, prisoner?" The young Prince scoffed lightly, standing at the far corner of the cell, as though he was afraid Sokka might infect him with something.

The younger teen scowled lightly and snorted low.

"Well it's not as if I have much opportunity to chat with anyone else, your Hiney-ness… Even the mole-rats are tired of hearing my stomach growl! When are you gonna feed me some REAL food? Ya'know… MEAT?"

Zuko's golden eyes flickered with irritation, but drifted towards the corners of the cell as if searching out the small, digging scavengers. Upon not finding any, his shoulders relaxed just a fraction and his attention turned back to the Water Tribesman across from him.

"…Our supplies are meant to sustain my crew while we're at sea… You hardly qualify."

Sokka narrowed his eyes and lifted his arms, roughly shaking the chain and shackles binding him.

"Then what's the point of keeping a prisoner if you're just gonna let me waste away! I can't live on toast and water! I need real foooood!" He actually grinned this time when his stomach gave an earnest and rather noisy growl of assertion. " …Heh, seeee?"

The young fire bender merely rolled his eyes and sat on a crate across from Sokka, his arms resting on his thighs and his bright eyes leveling the younger man. Sokka gazed back, undaunted, but took the opportunity to actually look at his captor. Zuko was dressed in loose legged silken red-clay colored pants that cinched with a crimson sash at his slim waist. His torso was bare, save for a loose vest of the same earthy clay color, bordered in gold. His hair was tied back in the royal top knot, exposing his young, but fierce face… the scar clearly visible. Sokka felt his stomach sink slightly at the mere thought of how such an injury must have been sustained. It was obviously a burn, not a birth mark. He blinked lightly, realizing Zuko had been talking and shifted his gaze from where it had been lingering on the scar back to the Prince's fiery eyes.

"…Wha-?"

Zuko let out an exasperated noise through his nose and narrowed his glare on his prisoner.

"… I said…" He paused and arched his brows to make sure he had Sokka's attention this time, "That you are here as leverage. I KNOW you and your tribe was harboring the Avatar… And until you produce him, or give me information I can actually use, then you will remain down here and eat whatever I feel generous enough to give you!"

"But I don't know where he is! I sent him away before you even showed up! He could be MILES away by now!"

"You know I don't believe that…" Zuko glared at Sokka, his voice growing dangerously low.

"Well than you're just stubborn! It's the truth! Now feed me!"

Zuko jumped up, balling his fists at his sides. "You're lying! I will NOT be made a fool of! Not again! I KNOW what I saw! I've been searching too long for this to be wrong! I know I'm close this time! You WILL tell me where to find the Avatar or suffer the consequences!"

Sokka shrank back slightly, looking up at Zuko with a rueful pout on his lips. He was telling the truth damnit… All he wanted was some food to make the ache in his stomach subside. Even for a prisoner that shouldn't have been so much to ask for! He hadn't even tried to escape recently! Which, now that he thought about it was… odd. He'd tried repeatedly the first week, to no avail… but failure had never stopped Sokka before. So why had he resigned to his fate as a prisoner? He shook his head lightly, drawing himself out of such troubling thoughts and looked over the angry young man now nearly standing over him; steam rising in a wispy trail from both clenched fists. It dawned on him that Zuko was holding himself back… and in truth, had been this whole time. Even when Sokka had tried his numerous attempts at fleeing… Zuko had only used his combat skills to restrain him, never his fire.

"…I… I'm not lying. I didn't want the kid there because I KNEW Fire Nation would come looking for him… I told him to leave, and he did… I really don't know where he could be by now… I just wanted to keep my family safe."

Zuko was still coiled like a Viper-Hawk… but something that looked truly painful flashed through his eyes at Sokka's words and he backed down, taking two short steps back and looking to the side. He remained silent for several minutes that seemed to stretch out forever in the confines of the small cell, but finally he took in a slow breath and glanced back at Sokka, his voice low and almost strained… as if he were fighting to keep his tone level.

"… If I find out that this has all been a rouse to throw me off the trail… you will pay dearly for lying to me…"

He turned then and stalked out of the cell, calling to the guards who stood a few feet down the hall.

"Get him washed up and fed! He's starting to smell… After he eats, set him to work with the crew!"

"Yes sir, Prince Zuko!" Both guards barked in unison, moving into the cell after Zuko had left.

Sokka sat up in shock, looking up at the two guards as they came in to unlock his chains and haul him to his feet. He was going to get a bath? And FOOD? Real food like the delicious meats he could always smell cooking? He all but jumped for joy as the guards escorted him down the hall towards the baths. But Zuko had mentioned putting him to work also… Did that mean he was now a crewman instead of a prisoner? And if so, what kind of work would he be doing? And for that matter, how long would it be before Zuko got tired of him and let him go… or got rid of him in another way. Sokka swallowed at the thought. Being burned alive or thrown out to sea was not the most appealing of options. He decided swiftly that for now… he'd remain on Zuko's good side, if for no other reason than to remain alive and un-crispy! He was sure that with enough time on his side, he'd find a new means of escape and make his way home where he belonged…

TBC