"Lee, i spotted ships heading our way," ty lee jumped down to him as Zuko steered the ship for the day, making sure everyone was doing their job.

"What's their colors?" Zuko asked quietly so it was only for them. 

"It's earth kingdom, their navy is weak, we can out sail them," she smiled brightly at him with confidence while rocking on her heals.

"Easily but it doesn't help when we're heading that way," he put his hand over his mouth thinking to himself. 

"I could use that stolen flag I have up there," ty lee stretched her arms up then touched her toes. 

"When did you steal a flag?" Zuko blinked confused looking at her.

"Last earth kingdom ship we took down, instead of showing we're pirates we switch them out," she shrugged twisting her back. 

"Go ahead, tell the others to remain quiet while passing them, we don't need any suspicion especially with a prisoner on board," he nodded in a low tone.

"Yay! I'm happy your using my idea!" Ty Lee squealed hugging him from the side as Zuko grunted in surprise by her.

"Off," he glared a little. She giggled keeping her arms around his shoulder a moment longer before jumping off him.

"Don't worry Zuzu, you know I just like hugs," ty lee winked as him. 

Zuko smiled the slightest at her shaking his head.

"Keep it to yourself ty lee, and it's captain," he pushed her away as ty lee laughed a little more before grabbing a rope to climb to the top again. 

"Set sail for land, no stopping," he walked through the crew to go down under the deck. The wooden boards creaked under his boots while he ran a hand through his black hair with a sigh. 

"We'll be at a market in an hour, do you need anything?" Zuko walked over to Kataras cell as she noticed him walking over. 

"I doubt you'll get me the things I need, what am I allowed to have?" Katara spat at him as he knelt down to her level calmly.

"Clothes? Do you need any medication? Necessities," he listed quirking his brow.

"Uh.. clothes would be nice," she calmed down as Zuko nodded. 

"Wait lee," Katara scrambled to her feet and grabbed the bars as Zuko rose to his full height. 

Kataras breath stopped for a moment as he looked down at her, she never seen him up close like this, without fighting or her escaping. She could see his angry scars details and that he had another scar on the edge of his eye brow that had the smallest slit, and a second on his top lip that was white against his pale skin and blended with his lip.

  "Can I get shoes too? Stealing me from a palace ball I didn't have exactly good material for the long run," she inhaled deeply keeping her face stern.

"Not a problem princess," he huffed a little rolling his eyes.

  "How'd you get that scar?" She asked quietly. 

Zuko looked annoyed by the question as he crossed his arms with a glare. 

"The one on your lip I mean," she wasn't panicked by the question, it's what she meant, Katara knew he wouldn't be open about the obvious scar. Zuko pursed his lips for a moment forgetting about some of his other scars.

"Same day I got this," he lifted his right arm and showed her a scatter of scars along the back of his pale forearm. 

"Got caught in an explosion again," Zuko said simply before walking away. He knew it'd leave her to her imagination for hours, a smirk came across his face again hearing the silence behind him. He won that interaction. 

——

"June," Zuko walked into a cavern as he took ty lee and mai with him on land as the others on the crew went to get supplies. 

He signaled the girls to stay as he walked up to the bounty hunter.

"Isn't it my favorite grumpy face," June looked behind her smirking as she flipped her hair over her shoulder. "Join me kiddo?" 

Zuko sat with her lighting a cigar she offered as he inhaled deeply. 

"How's the old man?" June asked as Zuko held the cigar between his fingers and stared at it like it was a jewel.

"Starting to cough up blood," he exhaled smoke from his lips.

  "You doing okay Zuk?" June asked quietly as a bartender brought them each a shot. 

Zuko took the shot as he didn't make a face at the taste, it tingled against his tongue.

"Been better," he whispered. 

"I know my dads a hard ass, his old age hasn't caught up with him yet," she chuckled softly and Zuko looked down at the shot glass while inhaling the smoke. 

"Old or not, he's dying," he held the side of his head. June looked at him calmly as she took her own shot.

"I know you two aren't close since your mom died but I need you to help me June," Zuko kept his eyes down as June's fists clenched a little. 

"Last time I helped you I lost my money," she hissed a little.

"Because I got arrested, you didn't have to bail me," he scoffed a little signaling the bartender for another shot.

"And the time after that?" She rolled her eyes. 

"Oh I'm sorry did my homicidal dad try to kill me last time? Again you helped me willingly," he scoffed sarcastically and June kicked him with a glare.

"I paid for the hospital so you didn't die jackass," she hissed again.

"Please," Zuko scoffed inhaling his cigar. "When my time comes it's comes, no need to waste money on fate,"

"I swear I'll kill you myself," June growled. 

"What do you want me to do asshole?" She sighed giving in.

"Hunt down a herbalist, I'll double the cost, just someone knowledgeable," Zuko was handed another shot.

"And if that doesn't work?" She asked taking her shot.

"I owe him my life, I'm doing everything I can," he snapped at her.

  "And if that's not enough your going to go down a dark path cause you think you failed to him," she set the second empty glass down harshly. Zuko looked at her with no expression in his eyes.

"I don't feel anymore June, maybe this is all I have to live for at this point, making someone fucking proud," he got up from the bar and went to go back. A hand grabbed his wrist tightly.

"Stop being petty, and sit your ass down," June told him sternly.

"So you don't feel anything? Does the whisky make you feel? How about sex? What makes you actually smile now or is it just a waste of time till you die like you keep saying?" June didn't let go of his wrist as she stood up, he was taller than her. 

"Doesn't the ocean even make you smile? I know I miss it," she whispered pulling him close. 

Zuko closed his eyes not wanting to look at her but he thought of other things, someone else, blue eyes. He opened his own and shook his head.

"I get what you mean, sorry," he sat down again in defeat as June nodded.

"This is why your always grumpy face to me," she stole his shot and took it easy as Zuko sent her a glare.