Chapter Text
Icy winds howl loudly in the air. It's freezing. Even through big armor, the body could still feel such aggressive chilly weather. Thick icebergs lie untouched in the water, and the sun hits the chucks of ice in the water, causing the rays to bounce into Solaris' dark eyes. His gloved hand moves in front of his face to protect his eyes from the blinding light. Early mornings... He would say he hates them, but he doesn't hate much of anything. Dislike feels like a nicer word.
Solaris' boots clack against the metal deck of the boat as he walks away from the sun into somewhere a little more dull. Some of the crew, including Iroh and Zuko, are also there among the deck. Iroh is playing a tabletop game, and Zuko, moping around? It's not surprising. He's been grumpy for years straight, it feels. Everyone is quite quiet. He feels out of place in his crew. But he mainly feels out of place in the South of The Nations, and he'll focus on that instead, considering it's less daunting. Wind blows, and the cold air is rude to his naturally warm body, making him groan. It stings and feels terrible. He's positive the rest of the crew feels the same. Hopefully, they're not here for long. Solaris hopes, he prays, that this stupid search for the banished prince's will somehow end. For Zuko's sake, of course...
Solaris looks back up at the sun. Despite moving his position, the sun decided to move with him. If only it gave warmth instead of being bright and annoying. He slips his faceplate off for a second even though he's not supposed to. It's just to rub his sore eyes. His knuckle gently wiggles around on top of his eyelid in hopes of soothing the ache. He feels the sun shine almost brighter. Does that big star hate him? He opens his eyes to be greeted with a different beam of light rather than the sun. A big shock of blue light. It's almost beautiful...
"Finally!" Zuko's voice cries out as he watches the blue light hitting the sky, cutting up the silence that hung in the air before. He turns to his uncle, who sits calmly, focusing on his game. "Uncle, do you realize what this means?!" He speaks boldly, his stern expression almost betraying the hope the light has given him.
He picks up a tile part of his game from his table and calmly answers Zuko's loud emotions. "I won't get to finish my game?" He cracks a joke with a sincere tone, so he looks like he's being serious. Solaris has slipped his faceplate back on, hiding his own slight amusement. He'd be lying if he were to say if he wasn't ever entertained by Iroh. Iroh has always been polite and funny, even through the two years of this awful venture. But more importantly, he's also polite to Solaris. More than the cold shoulders the teenager usually gets from the other crew. But it seems Solaris is the only one amused by Iroh's joke at the moment, considering Zuko doesn't so much as think about cracking a smile. Zuko turns away from his uncle. "It means my search is about to come to an end." He claims in a soft mumble.
He's talking about the Avatar again. After a hundred years, Zuko still believes that he'll be the one to find the Avatar. Solaris doesn't believe it himself. He doesn't think the crew will be able to find someone who is probably already long gone. But he does cling to a little hope. If Zuko is right, maybe he can finally go home.
Solaris hears Iroh sigh at Zuko's words. Iroh places his tile back down onto the table. Zuko turns back around to face his uncle. He points to the giant pillar of light, which remains shines brightly. Bright enough to still annoy Solaris. "That light came from an incredibly powerful source!" He tells his uncle. Solaris watches the light dwindle out along with Zuko. Finally, he was getting exhausted from squinting. Zuko is focused and set, unlike Solaris. Hope running through Zuko's veins. Solaris wishes he could feel that kind of determination. "It has to be him!" Zuko exclaims with confidence.
"Or it's just the celestial lights." Iroh replies to Zuko in his usual calm manner. "We've been down this road before, Prince Zuko." He reminds him, looking down at the tile he's holding, the symbol that represents the airbenders on the small card-like tile. "I don't want you to get too excited over nothing." Iroh places his airbending tile right over the tile with the symbol of firebending while he expresses his concern for his nephew.
Zuko has been chasing loose ends for two years. Solaris has seen this before right along with Iroh and seen this reaction before as well. He's seen Zuko get hyperfocused on a possible lead only to find nothing and get frustrated. He feels bad a majority of the time. Iroh has told Solaris before his nephew has a temper and doesn't truly mean his cruel words. He's grown used to it like the rest of the men on the ship. Though, it definitely got to him when he was younger. How Iroh stays so calm through all these trips is admirable. Solaris definitely feels like he's running in circles
Iroh looks up at Zuko with a gentle expression. He points to the other side of the table. "Please, sit. Why don't you enjoy a cup of calming Jasmine tea?" He offers Zuko. Zuko gets visible mad at Iroh's offer. "I don't need any calming tea! I need to capture the Avatar! Helmsman, head a course for the light!" Zuko yells in a tone of voice everyone is used to by now, directing the men who control the ship. Iroh shakes his head as his nephew commands. Solaris lets out a soft, quiet sigh as everyone goes to back work. Something is happening again. Another day, another lead. And here Solaris thought it was going to be another boring day. Or maybe he hoped for a boring day.
Dawn rises at the new day, and the ship is still on course for the possible return of the Avatar. He hears the sounds of flames crackling in the air as he stands on guard at deck. He's usually on guard at deck even though there really isn't much to guard. He swears the other men just position him there so he doesn't get in the way. How embarrassing for Solaris...
Solaris turns to his side where Zuko is present, practicing firebending sequences on two other crew members. He's caught them at the end of their sequence. Zuko's fists are at the two adversaries as to prepare for their next attack. Iroh stands up with a sigh. "No!" Zuko lowers his arms and looks at his uncle as he stands up.
"Power in firebending comes from the breath," He explains to Zuko as he moves his arms in a breathing motion to emphasize his point. "Not the muscles." He moves his left arm out, mimicking the motion of a fire blast. "The breath becomes energy in the body. The energy extends past your limbs and becomes: fire!" Iroh remarks, moving his arm to shoot out a fire blast at Zuko, but the fire fades away before it hits him. Zuko didn't even flinch at the action. "Get it right this time." Iroh scolds.
Solaris watches Iroh in silence. He doesn't really want to make his presence known at the moment. He's supposed to be "on guard," but Solaris is more fascinated by the way Iroh teaches. He speaks clearly and directly. He's strict, but he isn't too aggressive, like some of Solaris' own past teachers. Solaris was just yelled at over and over. Where was Iroh when he needed it?
Zuko doesn't seem responsive to Iroh's words, however. His face crinkles with anger at his uncle's words. "Enough!" He grumbles. "I've been drilling this sequence all day. Teach me the next set! I'm more than ready!" He complains in his loud voice. Always demanding.
Iroh doesn't hesitate to bite back. "No, you are impatient." He tells Zuko. He sits back down in his seat. "Drill it again!" He demands back to Zuko. Solaris feels a headache forming just listening into the conversation.
Zuko's teeth grind in anger. He whips around in anger and sends a fire kick at one of the soldiers, attacking them out of his own bitterness. The attack catches the man off guard. He tries to block the attack but fails and falls down. Zuko's eyes follow the man falling down. "The sages tell us that the Avatar is the last airbender." He speaks up, his anger suppressed but clear to the ones who know him. Zuko moves in close as he speaks in his raspy voice. Iroh doesn't seem to react well to his nephew's angry demeanor, but he remains mainly stoic. "He must be over a hundred years old by now. He's had a century to master the four elements! I'll need more than basic firebending to defeat him." He explains. "You will teach me an advanced set!" He demands of his uncle.
Iroh hesitantly nods at his teenage nephew's request. "Very well," His expression happily shifts as he picks up his plate of food. "But first, I must finish my roast duck." He eats happily. Zuko scoffs at his uncle. Solaris sighs in almost internal relief at the arguments end. He dislikes when people yell. It feels pointless when everyone is yelling just to be louder than each other.
Zuko looks up from his uncle, locking eyes with Solaris. Solaris feels a cold shiver run down his spine. He was supposed to be doing a job, but he looked like he was eavesdropping. Mainly because he was. But he's really not in the mood to be yelled at. Iroh turns around to see what his nephew is staring at. Iroh smiles wider seeing the young soldier, the complete opposite of Zuko.
"Do you have to lurk?" Zuko scoffs at him. Solairs lets out a "Uhh..." As his brain tries to conjure some excuse. But Iroh waves off his nephew, saving Solaris from embarrassing himself with telling an unbelievable lie. "Don't mind him, Solaris." Iroh gestures Solaris to come join them. Iroh's words and aura make Solaris feel comfortable and safe to step into the light. Or maybe it was because he's used to being told what to do. Solaris stands next to the sitting Iroh, now closer to Zuko's hard gaze. Zuko keeps his glare on Solaris, not very fond of his sudden show up.
Iroh, on the other hand, is glad the young boy has joined them. He chews on the roasted meat before looking back up at Solaris. "Do you wish to train him? I could use a break!" He laughs sarcastically. Solaris lets out an exhale under his uniform, Iroh's joy slightly spreading to him. Zuko doesn't pick up on his uncle's joke, though. He finds the statement offensive. His face tightens at the idea alone. "He has the skills of a 10 year old! I don't need to waste my time, especially on him!" He exclaims, turning from his uncle.
Solaris doesn't take much offense to Zuko's harsh words. Besides, he's heard worse about his firebending skills. Mostly from Zuko on a worse day. The crew isn't really insulted by him anymore. He does it so much that it's more concerning when he doesn't do it. Solaris had to learn that quickly, or else his ego would've been in hell rather than the floor. But Iroh sighs at his nephew's misdirected anger. Perhaps feeling bad for Solaris.
"Prince Zuko, that's no way to talk to your friend. Solaris trains just as hard as anyone else on this ship." Iroh hums, scolding his nephew in a more relaxed demeanor than earlier. This only makes Zuko more angry. If that were somehow possible. Zuko moves in close to Solaris, getting in his protected face. "Then, how come you barely go past the basics!?" He scoffs at him. Solaris looks down into the shorter boy's gaze. "I don't know..." Solaris lets out a quiet murmur.
Zuko clicks his tongue at the response. "See what I mean, uncle!? He has no motivation!" He complains loudly as everyone watches the boy lay into the kid. Iroh sighs at the harsh treatment Solaris is getting. "Prince Zuko..." He quietly calls out, but Zuko doesn't wanna let up.
"If the Avatar has returned, I can't have you stumbling around and ruining my chances of capturing him. If you ever get in my way, I will get rid of you." He coldly claims. Solaris' face drops a little, though it's not visible under his helmet. He knows not to let words get to him, but he's harsher than usual. "Prince Zuko." Iroh's voice is more stern, as if warning him to cut it out. But of course, he doesn't. "And don't call him my friend!" He shouts, referring to Iroh's previous words. He turns back to Solaris, glaring him down. "Solaris will never become my friend." He harshly tells him before storming off in anger.
Iroh watches the young firebender storm off. He turns to look up at Solaris, whose eyes are focused on Zuko walking away. His words were really bad this time. Solaris' ego is creeping deeper down than just the floor. "He remembered your name." Iroh speaks up in a light tone. "I think that's a sign he's warming up!" He chimes in hopes to cheer up the boy. Solaris looks over to the older man. He lets an exhale from his nose again. It's not really helping this time. "Or maybe your chipped faceplate is too recognizable." Iroh mentions suddenly, putting his hand on his chin.
Solaris snaps out of his gloom and quickly slips off his faceplate at the word, trying to understand what he means. There's tiny pieces missing on the bottom of the skull shaped metal. He cringes at the unprofessional sight. "How long has it been like that?" He looks over at Iroh, who gently laughs at the boy's little mistake. How long did Iroh know without telling him? How did Solaris not even notice? Solaris looks at the beat-up faceplate. Solaris should get that fixed. If he didn't look childish and small under his armor, then he definitely does now.