Searching (Zuko x OC)

Chapter 4

"That's what you get for just barging i'm here!" I retorted.

His face went even redder before he looked at me out of the corner of his eyes.

"I can leave," he said as he turned to open the door.

"Don't be ridiculous. What was so important that you had to come in here immediately?" I questioned him, opening my dresser to grab a shirt.

"W-well, I needed you to come to the map room and help me plan where to look next..." he trailed off, still awkwardly avoiding looking at me.

"That's it?" I said laughing.

He nodded as I turned to face him, shirt in hand.

"What's your problem? You won't look at me," I asked, wondering why he was being so weird.

"You don't have a shirt on!" he answered incredulously.

I put my hand on my hip and stared at him for a few seconds.

"You're serious," I asked more like a statement.

He didn't say anything, only continuing to look off into the corner of the room. I laughed.

"Zuko you walk around shirtless! What's the difference?" I said before adding, "Besides, we're best friends. Don't you think it's silly to worry about that kind of stuff?"

"Meet me upstairs when you're done," he said quickly before leaving.

"Thanks for shutting the door!" I shouted after him, but if he heard me he didn't respond.

I pulled the shirt on over me and tied my hair up. I still used the ribbon that Ursa and Zuko gave me. I never wore my hair without it wether it was up or down. I always found a way to wear it.

I exited my room and went to go meet Zuko in the map room. When I entered, he was sulking over his maps and Uncle Iroh was drinking tea next to him.

"Good morning Sora!" he said happily.

"Good morning Uncle," I replied, smiling as I walked over.

"Would you like some tea? It's your favorite," he offered, gesturing to the pot on the table next to him.

"I'll never turn down Hojicha tea," I grinned, heading over to pour myself a cup.

"This is ridiculous!" I heard Zuko yell, slamming his fists into the table.

I took a sip of my tea and let the warmth of it melt into my body. I had been through enough Zuko tantrums to know when to step in and when to let him vent.

"We've been to every corner of the world! Explored every city. We've even searched the ocean!" he fumed, pushing the table and sending some of the maps flying to the ground.

"He's out there. We just have to keep looking," I said in an attempt to calm him down.

He bent down and angrily grabbed the maps off the floor and I went to go help him.

"I don't need help!" he yelled, snatching them out of my hands.

I frowned at him as we both came back up from the floor.

"That is no way to treat a lady Zuko," Uncle Iroh scolded as he set down his cup.

I rolled my eyes. This argument happened almost every day. Zuko would always get angry about the Avatar and say something mean, storm off, and then he would apologize later. I knew that he never meant it so it was easy for me to ignore.

"Don't worry Uncle. I think someone just woke up on the wrong side of the bed," I said, placing my hand on his shoulder and glaring at Zuko.

"There isn't a single place we haven't been!" he groaned, still fuming.

"Why don't we go there?" I asked, pointing to an area on the map near the southern water tribe.

He scrunched his face up at me.

"We haven't been in this area since-" I stopped myself.

"Why did you stop?" Uncle Iroh asked.

For someone so wise, he could so easily ignore the signs of the room.

"Don't baby me," Zuko snapped, "Just finish the sentence."

I sighed and looked at him. He was staring at me with that angry look in his eyes. He always had to be like this.

"We haven't been there since we started searching," I finished.

"Then we'll go there," he said blandly.

He turned and went to go leave the room. I shook my head and finished my tea. I made sure to clean up the maps and reorganize them like I did almost every time he stormed off. I almost felt like his mother sometimes.

"You're so good to him," Iroh said, continuing to sip his tea.

"He's my best friend. I care for him," I replied, marking our course out on the huge map on the wall.

"He might not always show it, but he cares for you too," he said.

"I know," I smiled.

I left the room to go find my training partner. After all, that was my original plan for the morning before Zuko derailed it. I hoped that I wasn't too late. As I was on my way to find him, I heard grunting and fire from the deck.

"Duty calls" I thought to myself.

I walked up onto the deck. It was a beautiful morning. It was still early enough that the sun had barely risen and there was a cool breeze that blew through my hair. There wasn't a cloud in the sky.

"So stupid!"

I looked to see Zuko, practicing like usual. He was so graceful as he went between the stances. It looked almost as if he was dancing, but I would never tell him that. Even when he was angry, his form was perfect. It was truly something else.

"You're angry at me," I said, leaning against the doorframe with my arms crossed.

He finished his forms and turned to look at me before moving on to the next exercise.

"No I'm not," he stated, keeping his focus on his moves.

I walked up to him, avoiding his kicks and skillfully grabbed his wrist to get him to stop moving. He glared at me and yanked his arm out of my grasp but didn't move.

"You're a terrible liar. Especially to me," I persisted.

"Can't you just let me be angry!" he yelled before walking to the railing and watching the water.

I stood next to him without saying a word. I let him be still. Sometimes he just needed the quiet before he was ready to listen and talk.

"I'm missing out on my training to talk to you, so you better get a move on," I prompted, turning my head to look at him.

He sighed and meet my gaze. His amber eyes were always so striking. Not only were they beautiful, but they also held so much emotion in them.

"I want my honor back. I've been searching for the Avatar for so long that it feels almost like I'll never catch him. Like I'll never regain what I've lost," he said, keeping his gaze locked with mine.

"Zuko. You're the most determined person I've ever met. Granted, I don't know many people," I joked as I watched him flash his signature half smile before continuing, "I have no doubt in my head that you'll find your way back where you belong."

I gave him a genuine smile and he smiled back. It was in these rare moments that I saw the good under his mask. It made me happier than he'd ever know.

"Besides," I smirked as I began to walk off, "the only thing you've lost is your form. Better get back to working."

"Hey!" he glared as I smiled at him over my shoulder.

I laughed to myself as I walked back inside to find my training partner. I found him sleeping in his room.

"Knock knock sleepy head! It's training time!" I shouted.

I heard grumbles from inside and was satisfied enough with his answer.

"I'll meet you on the back deck. 10 minutes," I said before walking away.

The daily routine. Some things never change.