Find Me | Zuko x reader | Avatar the Last Airbender | Book 1

Chapter 19: Someday

          "I just wish I could apologize to her. Me and Y/N always fought, but I still loved her, and I wish we could have parted on better terms." Both girls jumped at a sudden sound coming from their right, Katara taking a defensive stance while trying to compose herself, wiping her tears from her red eyes. 

          A figure in black stumbled into the oasis, carrying another wearing an easily recognizable blue mask. Yue immediately left for help, realizing the firebender's identity. Katara's eyes narrowed in rage as she recognized Zuko, but they widened as she realized she wasn't the only one crying.

          "Katara please come here." He said in a strangled voice, falling on his knees in the snow and setting the figure down, raising his hands in surrender. "Tell me you can heal her. Please, she has minutes, if not seconds left. Please!"

          "She- What? The Blue Spirit? Excuse me?" Katara asked, still taken aback by the tears streaming down the prince's face. 

          "Katara?" A weak voice echoed in the mask, and Katara gasped, running forward and beginning to cry all over again, completely ignoring Zuko as he lit a fire in his hand to generate some heat. Katara quickly took off the mask, and Y/N smiled at her little sister.

          "Tell me you can heal her. She has a lot of cuts, inhaled smoke, and got stung by jellyfish." Zuko listed off quickly. Katara could immediately see Y/N was in a terrible state, barely hanging in there.

          "What did you do?!" She demanded of the prince, but cut him off when he tried to say something. "Where is the sting?" Zuko pushed Y/N's black pants up her shin, exposing the tendrils of purple, which were now turning an eerie black. 

          Katara immediately bent some water around her hands, the liquid glowing as she placed them on the sting. 

          "Zuko, keep her as warm as possible. Y/N, keep talking to us."

          "I'm still here. I can hold on." Y/N assured Katara as Zuko propped her up a little bit, holding her closer and making his fire bigger. "Zuko..." 

          "What is it? You're drifting off, look at me." He prompted, Y/N's gaze drifting far away from this world. She looked back up at him, and Katara focused on her work, panic rising in her chest. The stings were taking a long time to heal, and it was hard.

          "Don't go back. Come with us." Y/N said in a pleading tone, her voice fading. "Never go back. Go with the Avatar. End this stupid war..."

          "You know I can't do that." Zuko choked on his words, and Katara tried not to stare at him, but he looked so conflicted, concerned, panicked, unsure. "And I can't take you with me anymore. It's too dangerous, you keep getting hurt." Like he actually cares...

          She finally finished with the sting, having done her best, and moved on to the second most important thing, Y/N's failing lungs. She moved the healing water to her sister's chest, the liquid seeping through the fabric of her shirt and reaching to her diaphragm and lungs, struggling to take in air.

          "I'm not leaving until you come with us." Y/N refused. "You can't do this to yourself. You can save so many lives, Zuko. Come with us." Her voice was gaining strength, making Zuko's visible panic calm down a lot, but he was still crying, along with Y/N.

          "I can't go. I have to do this." He sounded like he was trying to convince himself more than Y/N. Katara relaxed more, Y/N's lungs mostly healed, leaving her in a very stable condition.

          I have time to think... Katara healed a few deep cuts from some sort of metal. Why did he bring her here? Why is he so upset? Isn't he the enemy? Doesn't Y/N see that?

                             —|〰️〰️〰️|—

                                Zuko's POV

          Y/N was getting better, and although she was obviously weak, Katara's healing was doing wonders. Zuko still barely felt any better, now that he was faced with another decision.

          "You don't have to do this, please..." Y/N lay in his arms, huddling closer to the fire he held in his palm. She could see what he was going to do, and she was trying to stop him, although Zuko knew deep down she could see no one could change his mind.

          "You'll be safer this way. Zhao can't take you, and you won't get caught in the crossfire. Stay with your siblings, and escape from the war. Keep each other safe." He urged, and Y/N gazed up at him, obviously resigned from arguing.

          "Someday you'll come with us." She said, and the sureness in her voice made Zuko's heart warm and drop at the same time. 

          "Someday you'll give up this poisonous dream. But please..." Y/N weakly reached up with both hands, cupping his face. "Stay safe. Think before you act. Listen to the people close to you. Get rid of those whispering voices in your head, think clearly, and I will be with you." With some difficulty, she leaned up, planting a small kiss on his jaw.

          Zuko simply stared at her in amazement as she laid back, lightly brushing her thumb over his scar, sending shivers down his spine. She smiled, a trickle of dry blood still sticking to her face. He stood up, looking over at Katara, who stared at them in shock. The sun was rising, piercing rays of red and orange lighting the small oasis.

          He looked at the meditating Avatar, then the girl standing between them. 

          "Take her with you, and keep her safe. I'm sorry, but you are going to have to step aside."