Inspired by Zuko (aka Lee) under disguise in Ba Sing Se as the Blue Spirit in the episode Lake Laogai

Sunny

"Help!" I hear a scream from what sounds like a few blocks aways. "Help me, he's getting away!"

I run as fast as I can towards the voice.

The alleys here in the lower ring of Ba Sing Se are narrow and confusing. The apartments and shops are all pretty run down and there seems to be more people here than there are homes for them to live in. Growing up in the upper ring, I never spent much time in this part of the city until I was assigned here to work as a guard about six months ago. Since then, I've spent about one third of my day, everyday, patrolling these streets. And, I still can't believe how many people live here in these tiny apartments and how many refugee families are stuck in these sub-par conditions just fighting to get by.

Day-in-and-day-out I see them work hard to make what little living they can. And, with the overcrowding and lack of jobs here, I'm beginning to see regular citizens become criminals. The sad thing is, the more they come the less jobs there are for everyone. And it seems they come by the hundreds everyday.

From the looks of it, the war with the Fire Nation must be intensifying, forcing more and more people out of their homes. And, although I'm glad the Earth King is kind enough to open Ba Sing Se's doors and take them in, he can't just ignore the war forever. Someday he is going to have to stand up against the Fire Nation. I mean, if things really are as bad as they seem to be, Ba Sing Se and the Earth King himself is not going to be safe for very much longer.

Finally, I see a man in the distance waving his arms frantically; pointing in the direction his assailant has fled. Following his cue I run past him and, turning the corner, I see the figure of a man running off towards duck-pigeon alley. Luckily, I have come to know these streets well enough to know that the alley he is running towards only has one exit. I turn left, taking the shortcut to where the alley ends, and cut him off just as he gets there.

As I suspected, it's him - the Blue Spirit.

I draw my swords as he draws his. Dual dao swords, like mine. I can't see his face behind his mask but, judging by his stature and stance, he must be about my age and very well trained. He's been terrorizing these streets for some time now and, based on the reports, he is a very highly skilled swordsman and martial artist. Though, despite all the trouble he's caused, it doesn't seem like he has used his skills to seriously injure anyone. So, I'm guessing he isn't actually as dangerous as they make him out to be.

Perhaps he's just another one of the millions of desperate refugees who long for a life that once was.

Either way, I've got him cornered now and I'm going to take him in. No matter how desperate his situation might be, there's no excuse for him to be robbing others who have worked hard for their money!

He swings at me and I block. I can tell by his blow that he is stronger than me. But I may be faster. Using my speed as an advantage, I quickly push him off and swing myself around him to get behind him. As I move past him, I elbow him in his side to weaken him. He loses his footing. And, although it only for a moment, it is long enough for me to swing and knock one of the swords out of his hands.

We both turn and look at it for a second but he does not reach for it. Instead, he swings at me with the sword he has left and pushes me against the wall.

He's good.

After a couple of seconds, he lets go of his grip and turns to reach for his sword, perhaps to flee. But, as he reaches to retrieve his sword, I charge at him with all my weight and knock him to the ground.

Got him!

Zuko (as Lee)

I open my eyes and realize that I'm on the floor. This girl is better than I expected. Her footing is near flawless and she's fast. Faster than I am, which is rare. She must have knocked me down when I reached for my sword. I know I shouldn't have reached for it but I couldn't just leave it behind!

She's got me pinned now.

I look up to get a good look at her face so I know who to avoid next time.

Her helmet had come off when she knocked me down and her hair - dark, silky, and smooth - unraveled to one side. It looks so soft that I want to reach up and touch it but that would probably be really weird so I don't. Instead, I feel myself drawn into her eyes. They are golden-brown and yellow, like the sun; beautiful and fierce yet soft and kind.

Her eyes seem to tell a story. A painful yet redemptive story perhaps, like she's probably been through a lot but has somehow found a way to still be kind enough to care and optimistic enough to hope. They burn with determination driven by what seems like a combination of fear, pain, and hope. I'm surprised I can gather so much about her by simply looking into her eyes but it feels like I'm somehow looking into her soul through the window of her eyes.

Time comes to a stop and I find myself both lost and perhaps found at the same time (if that's even possible) in her golden eyes.

I know I was in middle of something but I can't remember what it was. I can hear my own heart beating now and it seems to be beating louder and louder by the second. Can she see my soul as well? I hope not.

I turn my attention away from my heartbeat and to my mind instead. Perhaps it knows what I was doing. I think it was important. But my mind is no help at all considering it is completely preoccupied by this beautiful Earth Kingdom guard on top of me. What is this fear and pain that I see in her eyes? And what drives her to be so determined? She seems so sure of what she's fighting for, whatever that is.

Is it even possible for someone to be so sure of anything? I don't think I've been so sure of anything my entire life. Except maybe the fact that I should be by my father's side and not out here in the slums of this crappy Earth Kingdom city. Though, lately, I'm not sure if I could say that I'm actually sure about that either.

She stares back at me curiously, turning her head to one side.

Her curious face is cute.

Suddenly, I realize she is reaching for my mask. I snap out of it and push her off of me.

Quickly, I grab my swords and flee.

But, after turning the corner, I climb up to the roof of the next house and turn back to make sure she's okay. I hope I didn't hurt her when I pushed her over. I watch as she gets up and pats herself off. She picks up her helmet and heads back the way she came. I follow her until she reaches the wood shop where I found the shopkeeper.

She's fine (as in, not hurt of course).

I turn around to go back to the lousy apartment that Uncle and I now call home but I find myself drawn to her instead.

I can't just leave.

I have to find out more about her. Perhaps her name at least

Something.

I watch from the roof as another guard tends to the shopkeeper.

"Sunny!" he calls out to her as she approaches. "Did you catch up to him? I was going to–"

"Do you have my money pouch?" the shopkeeper interrupts.

She takes the pouch out of her pocket and hands it to the shopkeeper.

"I was able to retrieve your pouch, sir," she replies. "But... he got away."

She looks disappointed in herself.

I, on the other hand, am quite impressed! She must have taken the pouch when she elbowed me in the side. Which reminds me - ouch - my side hurts from where she struck me and I kind of have a headache from my head hitting the ground. I've been so engrossed in finding out more about her that I had completely forgotten about the pain!

I should probably head home. Uncle will probably start to get suspicious soon.

Sunny. I think about her on my way back. Her hair, her eyes, her voice... her body pressed up against mine as she prepared to tie me up and throw me into jail.

Okay, so the jail part isn't so great.

But, everything else... I think I may have a hard time sleeping tonight.