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

Decision I

You all found a nearby island to camp on to avoid Azula. It hadn't been too long since your escape from the Western Air Temple, and the feelings of sadness you, Sokka, and Katara felt from leaving your father was still in your hearts.
It seemed to really be taking a toll on Katara.

You walked over to her and asked, "Are you still upset because of what happened?"
     "It's not just that. The Fire Nation keeps making us stay apart, Y/N. I hate it." Katara muttered, sitting on a log. 

You sat down beside her and sighed, giving her a comforting back rub with one hand. "I know. I don't like it either, but we had to split up. There just wasn't enough room. We'll see Dad again, I'm sure."

Katara peered over at Zuko, who was helping everyone set up camp, her gaze dark. "Wasn't enough room..."
           "Katara, come on," You groaned. "It's not Zuko's fault everything bad happened. Plus, Aang needs him as a firebending teacher."

"I know, but it's frustrating! There's no one I can hold accountable for what happened to Mom, what happened to you, Zuko did bad things but I'm not allowed to be mad at him anymore?!" Katara exclaimed.

You placed your hand on her shoulder, "Well... You have the right to feel mad at him for what he's done, but I don't want you blaming him for things that aren't his fault. I want you to acknowledge that he's changing, too."

Katara sighed and buried her face in her palms. "Whenever I see him, it annoys me. I can't help but think of him as the cause of everything. He's the prince of the Fire Nation. His family caused so much pain..."

"I hated him at the start, too," You chuckled. "But... Try to see him for him, okay?"

Katara frowned and nodded. "You guys need help setting up camp, right? Maybe working will get all of this off my mind."
___________/

Later that night, everyone gathered around the campfire to talk and have dinner. "Wow, camping... It really seems like old times again, doesn't it?" Aang asked.

"If you want it to feel like old times, I could, uh... Chase you around a while and try to capture you." Zuko joked.
Everyone laughed except for Katara.

"Thank goodness for that calming tea." You smiled. "Thank goodness indeed." Zuko hummed, nodding.

Sokka lifted up his cup with a grin, "To Zuko! Who knew after all those times he tried to snuff us out, today he'd be our hero?" Everyone raised their cups except for Katara.

Zuko smiled awkwardly, "I'm touched," He glanced the cup in his hands, his smile shrinking. "I... Don't deserve this."

Katara scoffed and walked off, "Yeah, no kidding."

"Did something happen, Y/N?" Sokka inquired, turning to you. "She's... Still having a hard time warming up to Zuko." You replied.

"I'll try and talk to her." Zuko said, standing up. "Uh—You sure?" You asked,  a nervous smile on your face. "She might get angrier."

"It'll help me understand why she's acting the way she is. But could you come with me? I feel like it'd go better with you there." Zuko said.

"Hey, why not me?" Sokka mumbled. "I'm the nice sibling!" You grinned.
"You said you'd smack my forehead!"
\________

You and Zuko located Katara by the coast line and the two of you approached her. Zuko asked her why she was acting the way she was when everyone else could warm up to him.

"Oh, everyone trusts you now?!" Katara gave him a cold glare, "I trusted you in Ba Sing Se. Even if you really did save
Y/N, you still worked with Azula to take over the city! You betrayed my trust, you betrayed all of us!"