Play With Fire ~Zuko X Reader~

-11- Lessons to Learn

"I think so."

"Come on, you've got to feel the flow," We repeated the movement for minutes, Iroh leading it, "Excellent! You've got it!"

Zuko stopped, "Great, I'm ready to try it with real lightning!"

Iroh stopped abruptly, "What, are you crazy? Lightning is very dangerous!"

"I thought that was the point! You teaching me to protect myself from it!"

"Yeah! But I'm not going to shoot lightning at you! If you're lucky, you will never have to use this technique at all!"

"Well, if you won't help me, I'll find my own lightning!" Zuko stormed off.

I finally stopped doing the motions, "I wish I could understand him again."

"I know things have changed," Iroh placed his hands on my shoulders, "But I know you two can make it though. You both have strong spirits. He's stubborn and you're resilient. You both have your flaws, but I know that you can figure out how to have that happy ending you're always wanting."

I laughed, "Thanks Sifu Iroh."

"Please," he released me, "At this point we're basically family."

A day or two passed. I walked alongside the ostrich horse. The creature could fit all of us, but I didn't want to tire the animal too quickly. Iroh groaned in mock pain with almost every step.

Zuko got tired of it, "Maybe we should make camp."

"No please, don't stop just for me!"

Zuko stopped the horse and began to dismount. The ostrich horse whinnied in alarm.

Zuko and I stood back to back in defective stances.

"What now?"

Men on rhinos came into view from behind the thicket. Zuko and I faced who seemed to be the leader. His rhino broke the ground with his footsteps.

Iroh place one hand on each of your shoulders, "Colonel Mongke! What a pleasant surprise!"

The leader spoke up, "If you're surprised we're here, then the Dragon of the West has lost a few steps."

The men began to ready their weapons. Zuko looked at his uncle in surprise, "You know these guys?"

"Sure. Colonel Mongke and the Rough Rhinos are legendary. Each one is a different kind of weapon specialist," He smiled, "They are also a very capable singing group."

"We're not here to give a concert. We're here to apprehend fugitives!"

Iroh rubbed his arm, "Would you like some tea first? I'd love some. How about you, Kahchi? I make you as a jasmine man. Am I right?"

"Enough stalling! Round 'em up!"

The battle began. Iroh and Zuko fought off the team members, while I focused my attacks on the leader.

"Hey Dipstick!" My flames twisted around the rhino, only harming the rider.

He fired blasts at me in retaliation. I bended the fire into a harmless little flicker. Zuko ran up and jumped on the back of the Rhino. With two spinning fire kicks, he sent Colonel Mongke flying off.

Iroh pulled me atop the ostrich horse. We rode over to Colonel Mongke's rhino, letting Zuko jump on. We started riding off. The other Rough Rhinos started pursuing us. One of them chucked a grenade at us, but it missed and we rode off through the smoke's cover.

"It's nice to see old friends."

I glared, "If those are your friends, I would hate to meet your best friends."

Zuko rolled his eyes, "Yeah, too bad you don't have any old friends that don't want to attack you."

Iroh racked his brain for an answer, "Hmmm... Old friends that don't want to attack me..."

I looked at the older man, "Do you have any ideas?"

"Are we anywhere near Misty Palms Oasis?" Iroh asked, looking at me.

I pulled out the map, "I don't know... but we can be."

We walked into a tavern in Misty Palms Oasis. We sat at a table in the back, Iroh looking around for his 'friend'.

Zuko was moping in his chair, "No one here is going to help us. These people just look like filthy wanderers."

"So do we," Iroh pointed to another table, "Ah, this is interesting. I think I found our friend."

Iroh rose from his seat, then made his way over to a man playing Pai Sho.

Zuko glared, "You brought us here to gamble on Pai Sho?"

Iroh sat down, I whispered to Zuko, "I don't think this is a gamble."

"May I have this game?"

I motioned for Zuko to sit next to me.

"The guest has the first move," The host watched as Iroh sat a Lotus tile in the center of the board, "I see you favor the white lotus gambit. Not many still cling to the ancient ways."

"Those who do can always find a friend."

"Then let us play."

The host placed a tile on the board, Iroh did the same. The two men placed tile after tile. Seemingly with no true strategy. When they were done, the tiles formed the shape of a lotus flower.

"Welcome, brother. The White Lotus opens wide to those who know her secrets."

Zuko didn't seem to understand, "What are you old gasbags talking about?"

Iroh smirked and turned to his nephew, "I always tried to tell you that Pai Sho is more than just a game."

My eyes grew, "So this is what you meant old timer."

He nodded.

"It's over!" Two men approached us from the other side of the tavern, "You three fugitives are coming with me!"

The host quickly stood and placed himself between us and the men, "I knew it! You three are wanted criminals with a giant bounty on your heads!"

"I thought you said he would help!"

"He is. Just watch."

The host yelled at the top of his lungs, "You think you're going to capture them and collect all that gold?"

I could hear the people populating the tavern repeat that last word.

The other man grabbed onto the sleeve of his partner, "Maybe we shouldn't..."

We started a riot. The people in the tavern attacked the two bounty hunters. The host used the distraction to sneak us out. We followed the man to a flower shop in a nearby town.

"It is an honor to welcome such a high-ranking member of the Order of the White Lotus. Being a Grandmaster, you must know so many secrets."

Zuko clearly didn't comprehend everything happening, "Now that you played Pai Sho, are you going to do some flower arranging, or is someone in this club going to offer some real help‌?"

Iroh turned to our host, "You must forgive my nephew. He is not an initiate and has little appreciation for the cryptic arts."

They apoched a door, "Who knocks at the guarded gate‌?"

"One who has eaten the fruit and tasted its mysteries."

The door opened, we went to follow Iroh inside, but he stopped us, "I'm afraid it's members only. Wait out here."