Within Shadows (Zuko x Reader)

Chapter 4

"Zuko! There's a blockade up ahead!" You exclaimed. Zuko gazed at the blockade, seeming to think things through when Iroh spoke.

"Technically, you're still in Earth Kingdom waters. Turn back now and they cannot arrest you." He said as he stroked his beard.

"He's got a point." You chimed in. You then noticed the Bison fly forward at a quicker speed.

"He's not turning around!" Zuko exclaimed with his fist clenched.

"Prince Zuko, if the fire nation captures us, I don't think there's anything Iroh can do. We have to turn back." You urged nervously.

"Do not follow the Avatar." Iroh added. Zuko grunted.

"I'm sorry, uncle." Zuko began. "Run the blockade!" He exclaimed. You tensed at his orders and tensed even more at the several fire balls coming towards the ship that was surely aimed at the bison but of course a few missed and hurtled towards the ship.

"Shit..." You grumbled and dodged a wave that crashed onto the deck of the ship. Another one came crashing down directly on the ship.

"Prince Zuko! The engines been damaged!" One of the workers on the ship informed and you looked over at the large fires and smoke spewing off the ship. "We need to stop and make repairs!"

"Do not stop this ship." Zuko growled. You looked over to him with wide eyes.

"Are you insane?! We might as well count ourselves dead at this point!" You shouted at the boy. Another round of fire balls flew through the clouds and the ones that missed the bison, narrowly hit the ship once again. Another round went and one of the fire balls exploded due to the Avatar. Though the ship was rapidly moving closer and closer to the blockade and two ships were slowly coming closer together, blocking off the only route through.

"We're heading on a collision course!" Iroh exclaimed.

"We can make it!" Zuko spoke with determination and his fist clenched.

"I highly doubt that!" You shot back. Though much to your surprise, both ships on either side stopped suddenly, allowing the ship to sail by. Zhao watched from above his ship and Zuko shot a glare back at the older male as his ship went on through. You tensed at the thought of having it been too easy to have just sailed on through. "Something isn't right..." You muttered once far enough away from Zhaos ships.

"Why didn't he want to arrest me?" Zuko asked as he gripped the rails and kept his gaze forward.

"Because he wants to follow you. He knows he'll lead you to the prize you're both after." Iroh answered.

"And with the trail of smoke we have going on, we're easy to track and follow." You added.

"If Zhao wants to follow our trail of smoke, then that's exactly what I'll let him do." Zuko replied.

"What's the plan?" You asked him, knowing he must have thought of something.

"We'll take a smaller ship to follow the Avatar and allow the main ship to take a different course, throwing him off track."

"I'm sorry, we?"

"You'll come with me, won't you?" You let out a sigh at his question.