Tides Of Flame : Avatar The Last Airbender

As Tosim left them to their privacy, the three men prepared for their baths. Iroh, being the eldest, went first, followed by Zuko and Alec together, as the tub was large enough for two.As Zuko and Alec stripped off their clothes and stepped into the warm water, the steam rose around them, carrying away the dust and fatigue of their journey.

It was a luxury they hadn't experienced in days, and the simple act of cleanliness felt incredibly refreshing."This is... nice," Zuko said, leaning back against the wooden tub, his muscles relaxing in the heat.

"It is," Alec agreed, splashing a little water on his face. He looked up at the sky, which was a breathtaking canvas of deep indigo, studded with countless bright, glowing stars. The village lights were dim enough that the celestial display was truly magnificent.

"Look at the stars, Zuko," Alec murmured, his voice soft. "They're so clear out here."

Zuko followed his gaze, and a gasp escaped his lips. He had seen stars from the deck of his ship, but never like this – a glittering tapestry stretching across the entire sky, each point of light a distant sun.

"They're incredible," Zuko whispered, a rare sense of wonder in his voice. "I never really noticed them before. On the ship, there were always clouds or smoke from the engines."

"The stars have always fascinated me," Alec said quietly. "They make you realize how vast the world really is. How small our problems are in comparison." Zuko turned his head slightly to look at Alec, noting the contemplative expression on his face. "You sound like you've thought about this a lot."

Alec turned his head slightly, his eyes, one azure and one crimson, reflecting the starlight. "You know," he began, his voice dropping to a more serious tone, "when I was in that chamber, the one where I met the previous Avatar... she told me something about the current one."

Zuko turned to face him fully, his earlier wonder replaced by intense curiosity. "What did she say?"

"She said... she wanted me to find him," Alec confessed, his gaze returning to the stars. "She left me a few clues. She said he was trapped, and cold."

Zuko's brow furrowed in thought. "Trapped and cold... that could mean a lot of things. But if he's an Airbender, why would he be trapped and cold? The Air Temples are usually high up, but not necessarily cold all the time. And they're not exactly 'traps'."

"Exactly," Alec said, nodding. "But if he's been trapped for a long time, and he's cold... the most plausible locations would be the Northern Water Tribe Kingdom or the Southern Water Tribe. Both are cold, and both have ways of trapping things in ice."

Zuko's eyes widened as the implication sank in. "The Southern Water Tribe... that's where the war started. And the Northern Water Tribe is a fortress of ice. It makes sense."

"It's just a theory," Alec cautioned, though his tone suggested he believed it strongly. "But it's the strongest lead I have."

"Why didn't you tell me this before?" Zuko asked, though there was no accusation in his voice, only curiosity.Alec was quiet for a moment, considering his words. "I wasn't sure if I could trust you with it. And honestly, I wasn't sure if I believed it myself. But after everything we've been through... I think you deserve to know."

Zuko felt a warmth in his chest that had nothing to do with the hot water. The fact that Alec trusted him enough to share this information meant more than he could express.

"Thank you," Zuko said simply. "For trusting me."

As they continued to soak, the conversation shifted to lighter topics, but the weight of Alec's revelation hung in the air, a new layer of understanding between them. Zuko felt a surge of guilt for his earlier harsh words, but also a growing sense of awe and trust in Alec. This man, who had appeared so mysteriously, carried burdens and knowledge far beyond what Zuko could have imagined.

"Alec," Zuko said suddenly, his voice hesitant. "About what I said before... when Uncle was captured. I was angry and scared, and I took it out on you. That wasn't fair."

Alec looked at him, his expression soft. "You were protecting someone you love. I understand that."

"But I hurt you," Zuko insisted. "And you still came back to save us."

"Of course I did," Alec said simply. "That's what friends do."

The word 'friends' hung in the air between them, carrying more weight than either of them fully understood. In the starlight, with the warm water surrounding them and the peaceful village sleeping around them, it felt like the most natural thing in the world.

Meanwhile, far away in the Fire Nation Capital, Admiral Zhao stood in his private study, the flickering light of a single oil lamp casting long shadows across the room. He held a weathered scroll in his hand, its ancient script detailing the intricate techniques of waterbending, along with a diagram of a yin-yang symbol, its two halves swirling in perfect balance.

His gaze shifted from the scroll to a large map spread across his desk. It was a detailed rendering of the world, with various strategic points marked. His finger traced a path across the map, finally coming to rest on a small, isolated mountain range in the Earth Kingdom – the location of the Northern Air Temple. A bold red 'X' was already marked there.

Zhao's lips curled into a slow, predatory smile. He picked up a small, intricately carved figurine of a Fire Nation house, its tiny windows glowing with painted fire. With a deliberate movement, he placed the figurine directly on the 'X' marking the Northern Air Temple.

"Soon," he murmured, his voice a low growl, "the Fire Nation will extend its reach to every corner of this world. And those who stand in our way will be crushed."

He looked up, his eyes piercing the darkness beyond his window. The sky outside was a uniform, oppressive gray, covered in thick, heavy clouds that promised a storm. It was a stark contrast to the clear, star-filled sky that Alec and Zuko were currently admiring. But to Zhao, the darkness was a welcome sight, a reflection of the power he sought to wield.

The scroll in his hands contained secrets that could change the course of the war. Waterbending techniques that could be adapted, weaknesses that could be exploited. And the yin-yang symbol... that held the key to something even greater.

He chuckled, a dry, humorless sound that echoed in the silent room. The blind man had proven to be a more interesting pawn than he had initially anticipated. A pawn that would soon lead him directly to his ultimate prize.

"The Avatar," he whispered to himself, savoring the word. "Hidden away like a coward, but not for much longer."

With a final, satisfied glance at the map, Zhao rolled up the waterbending scroll, its secrets now his to command. The pieces were moving, and Admiral Zhao was ready to play his hand. The hunt for the Avatar was about to begin in earnest, and he intended to be the one to claim the glory. The Northern Air Temple would be his first step.

He turned away from the window, the storm outside mirroring the tempest brewing within him. The world would soon know the true power of Admiral Zhao.

The storm was coming, and Zhao was its harbinger.