We fled the Water Tribe pretty quickly.
Then, we needed a place to stay in a village we encountered. Zuko used his credit card to get the three of us a hotel room.
Iroh was admiring the shells, "Look at these magnificent shells!"
Zuko looked at me, "Hey, can we talk?"
I nodded and followed him to the couch, "So?"
Please don't be about the kiss.
"Uh, well I thought we should talk about... you know..."
"What's, you know? Cause I don't."
"The kiss, (Y/N)."
No. I couldn't take it. He was going to say that it was a mistake and a heat of the moment thing. He would break my heart into a thousand pieces.
I love him.
I coughed, "Yeah, I get it. It was a mistake, right? All that adrenaline. No need to explain."
Zuko's eyes widened, "Oh," he seemed to be pondering something, "right, well if you say so, I guess you're right."
"Friends?" I asked.
"Always," he smiled, but it didn't seem genuine.
[Zuko's POV]
The same scene
"Hey, can we talk?" I asked (Y/N).
I had to know about the kiss.
She followed me to the couch where we sat down, "So?"
"Uh, well I thought we should talk about... you know..."
"What's, you know? Cause I don't."
"The kiss, (Y/N)."
It was time I told her. I love her.
She coughed, "Yeah, I get it. It was a mistake right? All that adrenaline. No need to explain."
"Oh."
What? Is that all it was to her?
"Right, well if you say so, I guess you're right."
"Friends?" She asked.
"Always," I smiled, but I could barely mask what I was feeling.
Is it too late to tell her?
I sighed.
[(Y/N)'s POV]
Zuko sighed.
How odd. He almost looked... disappointed?
My phone started ringing.
Azula? Why was she calling?
I picked up the phone, "Yes?"
"Do you mind opening the door?"
"Excuse me?"
"Are you dense? The door to your hotel room, these key cards are useless."
I shot Zuko an alarmed look and hung up the phone.
"What's wrong?" He asked.
I walked over to the door and opened it. Azula stormed in.
"That's what's wrong," I said, "Hello Azula."
Azula smiled, but it wasn't a nice one, "Hello, my dear friend (Y/N)."
"Friend is not the word I'd use."
Azula feigned offense, "But what about all of those phone calls?"
"I told you, I was bored."
"You had fun."
I smiled and shrugged, "Maybe."
Zuko glared at his sister, "What are you doing here?"
Azula picked up a shell, "In my country, we exchange a pleasant hello before asking questions. Have you become uncivilized so soon, Zuzu?"
Damn. She really did him like that.
Zuko looked angry, "Don't call me that!"
Iroh looked upset, "To what do we owe this honor?"
"You know who doesn't have honor..." I started to say, but the tension was way too high to complete that thought.
Azula sighed, "Both of you guys are so quick to get to the point. You should take some notes from (Y/N). At least she said hello," Azula broke the shell she was holding.
"Hey-!" Iroh exclaimed.
"I've come with a message from home. Father's changed his mind. Family is suddenly very important to him. He's heard rumors of plans to overthrow him; treacherous plots. Family are the only ones you can really trust," Azula paused, choosing her next words carefully, "Father regrets your banishment. He wants you home," she turned to me, "you as well, (Y/N)."
Bullshit. I know Ozai, there is no way that was true. And even if it was, why would she come all the way here instead of just calling us? Something was wrong.
Everyone in the room was silent.
"Did you hear me? You should be happy. Excited. Grateful. I just gave you great news," Azula rolled her eyes.
"I'm sure your brother simply needs a moment," Iroh said stepping forward.
Azula looked furious, "Don't interrupt Uncle!"
Jesus, she needs to chill. I felt myself growing angry. How dare she yell at Iroh like that?
Zuko looked surprised, "Father regrets? He ... wants me back?"
"I can see you need time to take this in. I'll come to call on you tomorrow. Good evening," Azula left the hotel room, slamming the door behind her.
***
Zuko was packing up everything he had, which was not a lot since you know, our ship blew up, "We're going home! After three long years, it's unbelievable!"
"It is unbelievable. I have never known my brother to regret anything." Iroh said.
"Did you listen to Azula? Father's realized how important family is to him!" Zuko grew slightly angry, "He cares about me!"
Iroh held out his hands, "I care about you! (Y/N) cares about you! And if Ozai wants you back, well, I think it may not be for the reasons you imagine."
Zuko turned his back, 'You don't know how my father feels about me. You don't know anything!"
"Zuko, I only meant that in our family, things are not always what they seem."
Zuko turned to face his Uncle and raised his voice, "I think you are exactly what you seem! A lazy, mistrustful, shallow old man who's always been jealous of his brother!"
"Hey!" I yelled, "You better apologize to your Uncle right now, Zuko. How dare you? He has done everything for you. You really believe that the man who burned your face, is just taking you back? Just like that?"
Zuko walked away.
"Hey! I'm speaking to you!"
I raised my hand to force him back but Iroh put a hand on my shoulder, "let him go calm down."
"Ugh!" I yelled, "I cannot believe him! You can't seriously think your brother, of all people, is just willing to forgive and forget?"
"No, I don't think he would."
"We can't let him go alone tomorrow. I don't know what Azula has planned, but I don't like it."
Iroh nodded, "You should get some sleep, (Y/N)."
"Yeah," I picked up my phone and called Azula.
"(Y/N)? Calling at this hour?"
"Cut the crap, Azula. Why are you taking us home?"
"I told you, father-"
"That's bullshit."
"What motive do I have to lie?"
"I don't know, but when I figure it out, you'll regret it."
I heard Azula sigh and then hang up the phone.
Something was wrong.
***
Zuko left early that morning and Iroh and I ran after him.
"Wait! Don't leave without us!" Iroh yelled as we ran after him.
Zuko turned around and smiled, "Uncle! (Y/N)! You've changed your mind!"
Iroh put a hand on Zuko's shoulder, "Family sticks together, right?"
I coughed, "I'm not related to either of you."
Zuko laughed, "Don't ruin the moment, (Y/N). We're finally going home!"
We met Azula, who was standing in front of a battleship.
Once again, something is off. If it was just a simple trip back to the fire nation, why would she bring a battleship, and not the private jet?
I glanced at Iroh who was frowning, he had noticed the same thing.
Azula stood with her arms open, "Brother! Uncle! (Y/N)! Welcome! I'm so glad you decided to come."
We started walking up the ramp of the ship, the Captain in front of us.
The Captain looked at Azula, "Are we ready to depart, Your Highness?"
Azula nodded.
"You heard the princess! Raise the anchors! We're taking the prisoners home!"
Prisoners.
Prisoners.
Prisoners.
Shit.
Iroh started attacking the guards and Zuko threw the Captain off the ship. He stormed up to Azula, "You lied to me!"
Azula and Zuko started to duel, which Zuko was clearly not winning.
Iroh had finished off the guards, "Zuko! (Y/N)! Let's go!"
"Wait," I yelled back and ran to join Zuko.
"You know, Father blames Uncle for the loss of the North Pole. And he considers you a miserable failure for not finding the Avatar!" Azula yelled, "Why would he want you back home, except to lock you up where you can no longer embarrass him?"
"Azula, you bitch,"I said and I bent a wave of water at her which she narrowly dodged.
"You know, (Y/N)," Azula smiled and blasted me with fire which I dodged as well, "Your fate is much different from Zuko's. Father doesn't consider you a failure in the slightest. In fact, he's seen videos of you-"
"Enough," I raised my hands and Azula's limbs went rigid.
"W-what is this?"
I turned to Zuko who was breathing heavily, "Go. Run. I'm right behind you."
Zuko looked hesitant, but turned ran with Iroh.
"(Y-Y/N)," Azula struggled to speak.
I sighed and loosened my grip on her vocal cords, but I still held her so that she couldn't move. She sighed in relief when the pressure was gone from her neck.
She coughed, "Father thinks that you're skilled. Is this the bloodbending I've heard so much about? My, it's wonderful. I think that you should join me. Ditch my failure of a brother."
I sighed, "Thanks," I used blood bending to throw her off the side of the ship, "But, no thanks."
I ran to follow Zuko and Iroh.
I found them gasping and panting by a river.
"I think we're safe here," Iroh said.
"Well," I clapped my hands, "Looks like we're fugitives now, so it's time to get smart." I chucked my phone into the water. And looked at Zuko and Iroh to do the same. Iroh obliged. I looked at Zuko, "but- I have so much stuff on here-"
"Yeah, and you probably also have a tracker on their too."
He sighed and threw the phone into the river.
"Great, next- credit cards," I took out all of my cards and chucked it in the river as well. Zuko looked hesitant but did the same.
"How are we going to survive without any money?"
I grinned, "I have that covered."