"So I got something to say..."
I broke the silence on the way to the Western Air Temple. Sokka motioned me to continue. "I talked to Katara about this a couple of days ago. She said if you guys are willing to, she'll try to accept Zuko into the group. Aang said the same thing a couple of weeks ago." Sokka sat up and crossed his arms. "And why would we accept him? If you haven't noticed, he's been trying to capture Aang this whole time." I sighed and looked at Appa's saddle.
"Because if you haven't noticed he stopped chasing us a long time ago. Aang still needs to learn fire bending, and I'm teaching him all I can, but Zuko can do a better job."
"And what if he's trying to manipulate you into letting him so he can take Aang?" Sokka asked. This made Katara tense up.
"He won't. He's not like that."
"And how do you know?" Katara questioned.
"Because he sent me these." I handed her the letters he sent me. "Remember when I got that job in Ba Sing Se? I worked at a tea shop, and it was run by him and his uncle."
It got quiet fast. It made me feel so awkward as if I had said something horrible. "Ok look...I know I should've said something. But I knew you guys would react like this and make me quit, but we really needed the money so we still had food. And-" I was cut off by my rambling from Toph. "I don't know the guy, but if you're that in love with him he must be ok." She shrugged.
"I'm not in love with him he's my friend!" I blushed.
"Your face is really red." Sokka teased.
"Based on your fast heartbeat and how frantic you are, you're in love." Toph joined in on the teasing.
"Wait so, that coworker that saved you from the creepy guy was Zuko?" Katara asked.
I nodded and put my letters back in my journal."He'd also walk me back to the house every night because the shop is in a dangerous place." Sokka sat up straight, raising an eyebrow. "He saved you from a creepy guy, paid you for working, stopped tracking us, and had plenty of times to catch Aang but didn't...? Yeah, I'll give him a shot." Sokka shrugged. "But if he ends up hurting you, he's a dead man." Sokka pointed at me with a serious look, I couldn't help but smile big. Zuko just got everybody's approval now all he has to do is win them over.
We made it to the Western Air Temple just before sunset. We found a nice spot and started to set up camp. Katara and Aang were tasked with getting water, I was tasked with getting firewood and food, and Toph and Sokka stayed at camp to watch Appa and Momo. I walked into the forest and started to pick up stray sticks and logs that were fire-appropriate.
The sun was setting and I now had a good amount for a fire to last the night. I took a deep breath enjoying the fresh air. I took in my surroundings enjoying the peaceful night. This was truly the first peaceful night we'd had in a long while. While I was taking in the nature I saw some flowing in the sky. Someone lit some fire and it wasn't where we were staying. "Zuko..?" I mumble to myself as I cautiously walk up to it.
I peeked through the bushes and saw Zuko pacing back and forth. He was deep in thought and mumbling to himself. "Zuko, you came!" I smiled happily coming out from the bushes. "(Y/n)! You scared me, you didn't hear that, did you?" He scratched the top of his head awkwardly. I shook my head causing him to let out a sigh of relief.
"Where's Iroh?" I looked around.
"He's in jail...Azula got him locked up."
"I'm so sorry, is he ok? Are you ok?"
I brought him into a hug. He hugged me back and rested his chin on the top of my head. "He's ok, I'm ok too. How's the group?" I smiled to myself hearing they were both ok. "They all accepted you on the condition you don't hurt me and don't betray us." I could feel him relax in the hug as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He looked down at me and softly smiled, softly caressing my cheek. "I would never hurt you." I felt butterflies in my stomach but then remembered his letter.
I took his hand off my cheek and pulled away from the hug still holding his hand. "You mentioned in your letter how you needed to talk?" He nodded and brought his hand back down to his side. "Yeah, let's sit." Zuko and I sat down on a log.
"When you left it changed me. Every day you were gone I thought about the things you said. About my honor.." Zuko started.
"And?" I half teased.
"And you were right, I should be the one to decide how my life goes. So I decided to help Aang against my father. Then I did more thinking and Uncle Iroh helped me realize some things about myself."
At this point, I was very happy he decided to be on Aang's side yet I am still curious about what he's realized about himself. "And that would be?" I asked curious facing him. His face turned faint red as he didn't make eye contact. "I don't know how to say this.." He mumbled. At this point, I knew what he was talking about and it caused me to blush. "Then show me." I shrugged trying to show him I didn't know.
His faint red face turned darker as he looked at me. He looked like he was thinking. I leaned in and waved a hand in front of him trying to get his attention. He then nervously cupped my cheek with his hand as he leaned in and filled the gap between us. Our lips touching. Even though I knew, I was still taken by surprise. I guess that fortune lady was right...
I wrapped my arms around his neck as he wrapped his arms around my waist, our lips never separating. As my breath ran thin I kissed more passionately. We separated for air and I couldn't help but smile big. "I'm sorry I didn't ask." He awkwardly looked away. "You don't have to ask. I feel the same way about you." I used his chin to make him look at me.
I stood up and picked up the firewood. "We have to get back to camp, we've been gone too long." I motioned him to follow me. He gathered his things and followed me by my side.
"Hey guys I'm back. I'm sorry I took so long, I found our new member and we were catching up." I smiled warmly.
"Hey, Zuko here." He waved awkwardly then facepalmed.
I couldn't help but giggle, I nudged him with my elbow and motioned him to get closer. I placed the firewood in a pile and got it ready to become a fire for the night. "Oh..Zuko." Katara tried to smile. I lit the fire and fed Appa and Momo. Zuko walked up to Appa and pet his forehead, Appa then licked Zuko. "Well if Appa likes him he can't be that bad." Aang said enthusiastically.
꧁𝚃𝚒𝚖𝚎𝚂𝚔𝚒𝚙꧂
I shot up awake and sweating. I looked around seeing everyone asleep. "Are you ok?" Zuko asked. I turned to my side and saw him looking at me concerned. He sat next to me as I wiped off the sweat. "I'm fine." I mumbled. "Same nightmare again?" He asked. I nodded my head so he started to rub circles on my back as a way to make me feel better.
1 June
Dear Journal,
Zuko has officially joined our group. Katara and Sokka are very on guard around him and don't trust him just yet. I understand why, I wouldn't trust him either if I were them.
We're in the Western Air Temple now and it's a very beautiful place. Zuko met us at the Temple, I found him when I was gathering firewood. As mentioned before, in Zuko's recent letter he said he had a lot to talk to me about. I won't lie it made me nervous.
Zuko told me when I left he did a lot of self-discovery and thinking which is why he's joined Aang's side. And then he did something I thought he'd never do due to his status and mine.
HE KISSED ME!
Zuko loves me and he kissed me! On the lips! I'm so ecstatic about it, that fortune teller was right again.