The Hardest Choice (malereader x avatar)

Chapter 9: The Storm

-Rewritten April 3, 2024-

Y/N ate in the ship's dining hall. Their crew had arrived a few hours earlier, and Y/N was glad to have rejoined them. He sat alone, eating his food quietly. The vision from the previous night lingered in the recesses of his mind, its ominous words echoing with a haunting clarity. He didn't know what it meant; if it meant anything at all. It was just a dream, he told himself. And yet, no matter what he did, he couldn't shake the feeling that it had been something... more.

Lost in thought, Y/N had spent much of the day in a state of restless contemplation, his mind racing with questions and uncertainties. As dinner drew to a close, Y/N emerged from his reverie, his mind still buzzing. Stepping out onto the deck with Iroh, Zuko, and a handful of soldiers, he found himself bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun, its golden light casting long shadows across the wooden planks beneath his feet.

Iroh and Zuko stood together at the edge of the deck, their eyes fixed upon the horizon as they scanned the distant seas for any sign of trouble. Zuko held a spyglass in hand, its polished lens trained on the shimmering expanse of ocean before them. Y/N settled onto the deck nearby, his muscles tingling as he began to meditate, a part of his daily routine that he had put off thus far.

The gentle sway of the ship beneath him lulled Y/N into a state of peaceful contemplation, his senses attuned to the rhythmic cadence of the waves as they lapped against the hull. The air was alive with the salty tang of the sea, mingling with the warm breeze that caressed his skin with a tender embrace.

As he closed his eyes and allowed himself to bask in the serenity of the moment, Y/N felt a sudden shift in the air—a subtle change that pricked at the edges of his awareness. Opening his eyes, he glanced over at Iroh, who had raised his head slightly, his nostrils flaring as he sniffed the salty air with a knowing expression.

Zuko: What is it, Uncle?

Iroh: There is a storm coming. A big one.

Zuko: You're out of your mind, Uncle. The weather's perfect. There's not a cloud in sight.

Y/N couldn't help but agree with Zuko's assessment. It seemed unlikely that a storm would suddenly appear out of nowhere, especially on such a clear and beautiful day.

Iroh: A storm is approaching from the north. I suggest we alter our course and head southwest.

Zuko's jaw clenched with stubborn determination, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon.

Zuko: We know the Avatar is traveling northward, so we will do the same.

Iroh: Prince Zuko, consider the safety of the crew!

Zuko: [Angry] The safety of the crew doesn't matter!

Behind them, Lieutenant Jee walked onto deck, inadvertently overhearing the conversation. As Zuko realized Jee was behind him and turned to face him, his expression briefly lost its raging intensity. Jee raised his eyebrow. Zuko walked up to him and looked at him in an aggressive manner.

Zuko: Finding the Avatar is far more important than any individual's safety.

Y/N shook his head in disbelief, feeling a surge of frustration at Zuko's stubbornness. But as he stormed off to his quarters and locked the door behind him, Y/N knew there was little he could do to sway his decision. Instead, he turned his attention inward, channeling his energy into a series of bodyweight exercises.

Y/N's determination to become stronger continued to grow, bordering on obsession. The memory of his defeat at the hands of Aang lingered in the recesses of his mind, fueling his determination to become stronger, to prove that he was worthy. But as he pushed himself to the brink of exhaustion, a sudden wetness ran down his spine. He glanced up at the sky, his heart sinking as he saw the dark clouds swirling overhead. The storm was upon them, its fury unleashed with a ferocity that sent shivers down Y/N's spine.