The ship limped into port, misshapen and listing in the water, the gash in the hull held closed with rusted scraps, but the repairs had held, the ship was only leaking a little, and he hadn't accidentally bent air where anyone could see since the South Pole, and some days, that qualified as the universe smiling down on him. As they docked and the crew lowered the gangplank, he knew his unsour mood would disappear as soon as he started talking payment with the shipwrights onshore, but for the moment, he allowed himself to bask in his rare good fortune.

"You know, when I saw your ship at the South Pole, I thought it was huge," Sokka said, as Zuko flinched with surprise. The Water Tribe kid gazed around at the baleful black bodies of the warships in port, towering over Zuko's own undersized ship.

"My ship needs to be swift and maneuverable," Zuko ground out. "I can't be weighed down with excess bulk."

"Oh, no no!" Sokka forced a wide smile. "I'm not knocking it. It's uh, cozy?"

"Yeah," Zuko muttered darkly. "Cozy." They watched as the gangplank was lowered, squealing on it's battered gears. "Keep your sister here. I'm going into town."

Sokka stuck his lip out, wasted as it was on Zuko's retreating back. "You know, it really isn't fair that we're stuck here, while you get to go mess around on shore whenever you want."

Zuko spun around, the wind following to tug at Sokka's parka. "You're the one who snuck onto my ship, so quit complaining. I don't want to hear it."

Iroh stepped away from where he was waiting by the gangplank to put a hand on Sokka's shoulder. "You and your sister should keep out of sight," he said softly. "This place is not safe for you."

~*~

He found his sister in the anchor room, getting ready to shimmy down the chain. "You're not glued to him, you know. You don't have to be with him every second."

"Somebody has to make sure he does his job." She grabbed the chain and slid out of its hole in the side of the ship.

"He's got the general with him." Grabbing the back of her parka, Sokka hauled her back onboard. He liked the general. Katara didn't, but she was just being stupid. And a girl. "Besides, with almost everybody off the ship, I want to see if we can sneak into the hold and find some more of those spicy jelly candies."

"I thought you said last time it felt like somebody had burned a hole in your tongue." Katara reached for the chain again, but Sokka held onto her.

"I did not!" He squawked. "You're lying because you want them all to yourself. Now come on, we don't know when they'll be back."

~*~

"Uncle. I want the repairs made as quickly as possible. We need to get out of here before..." Before he airbended again, and somebody saw and realized what it was this time.

"Before what, Prince Zuko?" came a smug, suspicious drawl.

What little hair Zuko had stood on end. He forced himself to turn around slowly, hoping the air would stay still as he masked his distress and crossed his arms. "Captain Zhao."

"It's Commander, now," the man corrected with a heavy lidded, self satisfied expression as he bowed to Iroh. "And General Iroh, great hero of our nation."

"Retired general," Zuko's uncle said graciously, dipping his head.

"The Firelord's brother and son are welcome guests any time," Zhao said, but he didn't have a bow for his prince. Zuko clenched his teeth. "What brings you to my harbor?"

"Our ship is being repaired," Iroh answered with a smile, keeping a hand on his nephew's shoulder.