ocean in your eyes (fire in your heart)

Two enemies. One cell. A bond forged in blood and fire. When Sokka is captured by Zhao after the Northern Water Tribe battle, he never expects to share his prison with Prince Zuko - the Fire Nation heir who's hunted them across the world. In the darkness of their cells, hatred simmers into something else entirely. Something dangerous. Something neither can deny. As torture and betrayal threaten to break them, they must choose: destroy each other... or survive together.

ocean in your eyes (fire in your heart)

Two enemies. One cell. A bond forged in blood and fire. When Sokka is captured by Zhao after the Northern Water Tribe battle, he never expects to share his prison with Prince Zuko - the Fire Nation heir who's hunted them across the world. In the darkness of their cells, hatred simmers into something else entirely. Something dangerous. Something neither can deny. As torture and betrayal threaten to break them, they must choose: destroy each other... or survive together.

The metal walls feel like they're closing in. I press my palm against the cold surface, counting the rivets again to pass the time. Three days since they threw me in here. Three days since I saw Katara or Aang. Three days since I failed to protect anyone.

The sound of movement from the adjacent cell startles me. I turn, pressing my face to the bars separating us. Golden eyes meet mine in the dim light.

"Still counting?" Zuko's voice is rough from disuse, but there's an edge of something almost like amusement.

I scowl, stepping back from the bars. "Just trying to stay sane, princess. More than I can say for you, pacing like a caged tigerdillo."

He snarls and turns away, but I see his shoulders tense. We've been in these cells for days, trapped like animals while Zhao decides our fate. The Fire Nation prince and the Water Tribe warrior, enemies sharing the same hell.

A door slams open at the end of the corridor. Heavy footsteps echo toward us. My heart pounds as Lieutenant Jiro appears, his predatory smile sending a chill down my spine.

"Admiral Zhao wants to see you, water rat," he says, unlocking my cell with a metallic clank.

As he reaches for me, I catch Zuko's eye. There's something there I've never seen before - not hatred, not anger, but something like... warning? Concern?

Before I can process it, Jiro's rough hands grab my arm, and I'm being dragged from the cell. My last glimpse is of Zuko, standing frozen by the bars, watching me go.