|•|W I T 卄 E R||•| Zuko X Reader ⚠SLOWBURN⚠

Book 3: Evaluation

"You said your mom knew more about this than you do, right? Maybe she could give you some insight."

"I don't even know if I can still contact her. Being in that place, i-it did something to me, and I... I'm scared." You said, shutting your eyes, your voice low and soft.

The images you saw of everyone you loved being hurt, or even dying, grazed past your mind and shot right into your heart.

You defeated Bai Hong, but what if there's someone else like her? Something else like her? What if it was stronger than you? What if those horrible things came true?

Your brain was filled with nothing hut questions, and you weren't getting any answers. You were trying to push them aside, but the burden of the unknown was crushing you.

Unsure of what to say, Zuko tried to reassure you in another way. His tone was gentle and mollifying, "Y/N, look at me."

You let out a shaky breath and opened your eyes.

Instead of saying anything else, he held your hand and gave it a comforting squeeze. He had a look in those sunglow eyes of his that told you so many things.

"I'm sorry that I don't know the answers. It's alright to be afraid. I've been through this once."

You squeezed his hand back and pulled him into a one-armed hug, "Thank you... Thank you for everything."

It felt good to hear that you appreciated his efforts. He had been feeling inadequate for a while. After all, in Ba Sing Se, he ended up...

A pang of guilt pierced his heart.

"You... You don't need to thank me for anything." He whispered, closing his eyes.

For a moment, a purple glow emanated from your hands.

An unexpected feeling of relief washed over Zuko, but for some reason, you felt as if you had done something terrible.

You let go of Zuko's hand and wrapped your other arm around him. The glow faded away without being seen by either of you. Once again, you were relaxed.

Suddenly, you heard someone's footsteps approaching the door.

"Hide under the bed!" Zuko exclaimed.

You swiftly did as he said and peered at the door from the shadows.

The door swung open, revealing none other than Oka.

"Why are you here?" Zuko questioned, glaring at him.

Oka frowned, "Azula told me to call you out for dinner. Apparently you've been staying in your room instead of joining your family for a meal."

"Tell her I'm not going." Zuko said, closing the door.

"The Firelord also requests your presence." Oka stated, smirking.

Zuko froze and tensed up, narrowing his eyes at Oka, who laughed.

"A good son would join his father for a meal, wouldn't he? I mean, you certainly aren't a good son... You didn't even capture the Avatar on your own."

Zuko scowled, "Oh, yeah. You're certainly a great lackey for my sister to use. Leave."

"I said it before, you don't command me." Oka placed a foot inside Zuko's room, "I could do whatever I wanted, because you're afraid."

Zuko immediately shoved Oka backwards. "Afraid of what, huh?"

"You're so desperate to be weak." Oka spat.
         "It's why you couldn't finish the job back then. It's why you won't dare to kill me like a real Firelord would. Your sister is far more competent than you." He sneered.