Searching (Zuko x OC)

Chapter 3

He was pouring over a table of maps trying to figure out a plan, presumably of where to look first.

"It's late Zuko. You should get some sleep," I suggested, walking closer.

"I don't have time for sleep. I need to find the Avatar," he replied, still examining the maps.

"Well then let me help you," I suggested.

I could see him going to protest, but then he sighed and allowed me to help. I took a quick look over the maps and easily knew where everything was. In what little spare time I had, I did everything I could to learn. I wasn't able to go to school like Zuko and the other kids, but Ursa always let me borrow books from the library.

"Why don't you look at the air temples? If there's gonna be any sign of him, it would probably be there. He is an air bender after all, right?" I said, pointing at the air temples on the map as I spoke.

His face flushed with obvious embarrassment that he didn't think of that first.

"Oh. Yea. That would make sense," he replied.

"There! Now can you sleep?" I asked him.

"I have to go watch from the deck. I can't miss him," he said, starting to try to leave.

I grabbed his arm and stopped him. He stared angrily at me but he didn't remove my hand.

"Zuko. You're hunting someone who, if he's even still alive, is 109 years old. I highly doubt that you're going find him soaring through the sky this late at night," I said sternly.

"You don't understand!" he said, finally pulling his arm out of my grasp while turning to face me.

I could hear the hurt in his voice.

"I have to find him Sora. I have to regain my honor and return home. I don't have a choice," he exclaimed.

"Zuko-" I tried, but he continued.

"This is the only way. You can either help me or get out of my way," he growled.

"What I was going to say before you interrupted me was that your bleeding through your bandages," I huffed, angry and hurt at his words.

"Oh..." he said, putting his fingers up to the now red bandages surrounding his face.

I simply grabbed his hand and started leading him to my room. He let me lead him down the halls and into the room without protest. He sat down on the bed and I grabbed some bandages from the drawers.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"What do you think? I'm replacing the bandages," I replied nonchalantly.

I sat down on the bed next to him and reached my hand up towards the bandages, but he grabbed my hand before I could touch them.

"Wait. Please don't," he begged.

"What's wrong? I just want to help," I said in confusion.

He paused and took a breath.

"I don't...I don't want you to see it," he answered in almost a whisper.

"Please," I said sincerely.

He let go of my hand and let me slowly unwrap the bandages from his head. I very carefully peeled the last round off as to not hurt him that much. He closed his eyes and hung his head slightly.

The burn covered almost the entire left side of his face. It snaked it's way around his eye and onto his ear as well. Some of his hair had been singled off as well, showing that the burn stopped somewhere into his hairline. It would definitely leave a mark.

"It's ugly. I look hideous," Zuko said, his eyes still closed.

"I don't think so," I replied softly.

He opened his eyes. His eyes were watery as his light brown eyes met mine. He looked so ashamed of himself. I couldn't imagine what he felt like, but it sent a pang through my heart to see him this way. He was rarely this vulnerable.

"How could you not?" he asked, his voice wavering.

"Because you're still Zuko. My best friend. This just shows me how brave and strong you are," I answered.

I smiled at him and he gave me a half smile back. We stayed like that for a while, just staring at each other and smiling. But eventually, I broke my gaze and grabbed a towel. I began lightly dabbing at the blood that came from his wound and he winced slightly.

"I'm sorry. I'm almost done," I said.

"How do you know how to do this?" he asked.

"Because it's my job to. I'm a palace servant. That includes taking care of the sick," I replied sadly.

I didn't like thinking about how I never really got a childhood. I couldn't remember a time when I ever felt like one. But I suppose Zuko felt the same. Here he was, with so much responsibility on his shoulders. We were both just thirteen and yet here we both were.

"I'm sorry. That must have been difficult," he sighed.

"Sometimes," I said as I started wrapping the new bandages around his head.

He didn't ask anymore questions. He just waited for me to be done. I started putting away the bandages before he spoke again.

"I'm sorry that I pushed you away."

I stopped suddenly at his apology. This time it was my turn to tear up. I had been so upset and mad at him, but I never fully had time to process. Let alone hear him apologize.

"That hurt you know," I said as I looked at him.

He stood up from the bed and pulled me into a hug. I instantly hugged him back and began to lightly cry. He was still my height so I was able to bury my face into his shoulder. His arms tightened around me.

"You were my best friend. My only friend. And you still are," I said through tears.

"You're mine too," he replied.

"Don't do that again. Please..." I trailed off into a whisper.

"I promise," he assured me.

Zuko left to his room to finally go to sleep. I said goodnight and did the same. I curled into bed and drifted off to sleep thinking of the events that happened that day. It was all so much at once. It almost felt like a week had gone by in just a few hours. I was exhausted. But that would be my life for the foreseeable future.