collision → atla, reader insert

chapter eighteen

THE NEXT FEW DAYS were filled with tension. Travelling was much more tiring when your companions would rarely look you in the eyes. [Y/N] was never a talkative person, yet the lack of deliberate interaction made her feel less and less like company. 

        After their run-in with Azula and measures to ensure everyone received ample sleep, they were quick to demand answers. Despite the majority of her memories absent, [Y/N] had never felt more intimidated by those younger than her than she did at the moment. To be fair, these pre-teens could bend the elements at their will in ways she couldn't imagine even if she tried.

        Her plan to tag along with the Avatar and his friends was crumbling right under her feet and all because her other self's past was so intertwined with their enemy. The only thing she could do was tell them the truth—well, as much of the truth she could spill without making her seem crazy. 

        "I don't have ties to Fire Nation anymore," she'd concluded. 

        There was an immediate scoff from Sokka. "Yeah, there's 'having ties with the Fire Nation' and then there's being buddy-buddy with Fire Nation royalty."

        [Y/N] frowned. "We're not buddy-buddy," she muttered, defensively. "Look, I ran away for a reason. I have no intention of helping them or returning to them or whatever you're thinking."

        "How do we know you won't?" Katara asked. 

        [Y/N] had no idea how to get through to them, but she's sure it won't be easy. To regain their trust—if she got them to trust her again—would be ten times harder than before. She cursed the Fire Nation for ruining the lives of the people whose trust she needed most. 

        "I'm a Seer," she reminded them, "you have that advantage over the Fire Nation." A beast passed she realized that moved none of them. "Take my bow if you want, I don't know," she sighed. 

        A moment of silence passed and the group all looked at one another. A silent conversation happens between them using only their eyes that [Y/N] is left out of. Soon, Aang stepped forward, being the closest to [Y/N] since the interrogation started. 

        "You can stay with us," he said, but there was very little relief that came with it. 

        Sokka took up her suggestion of keeping her bow hostage until the next day when the group realized she was better at hunting food through his several embarrassing attempts to mimic her. She usually kept her distance, but made sure she did so more often. Sometimes Toph would mouth "I've got my eye on you" which both unnerved and confused her. 

        One night, they'd landed in a clearing for the night where [Y/N] was the last at their makeshift fire pit and the first to her sleeping bag. She was the last to fall asleep, staring at the stars while Appa and Sokka's snoring harmonized. 

        Sick of being awake, she closed her eyes and mentally counted down from ten. It was a tactic she'd used when sleeping in woods between town-hopping to ensure she got rest in unconventional sleeping spots. Unfortunately, even that didn't work.

        She opened her eyes to a completely different sky. Immediately, she got to her feet so quickly that she almost met the ground again. The large clearing with distant evergreens were unmistakable.

        "Back again already? I didn't even have time to clean the place up first!" 

        She whirled around to see exactly the person she expected to see. Universe sipping a cup of tea with a light-hearted expression like the little shit she was.