The Banished Commander (ATLA fanfiction)

Twenty-four

Zara's P.O.V.

I look around the great city before smiling softly. I see Aang talking to somebody before he looks back at me, motioning for me to hurry up.

I walk over before seeing the lady smiling at us before she sees the mark on my wrist.

"In order to go any further, you will have to hide that mark. Anything to do with the fire nation is strictly forbidden here in Ba Sing Se." She starts

"But everybody knows she's with the Avatar!" Katara starts "She can't just hide the mark."

"Katara, sweetie, it's fine. I'll go put a different shirt on." I start "Just don't leave until I'm done."

She looks at me before nods as I head towards the bathroom. I pull my bag off of my back before seeing the blue shirt, the long sleeves and the holes where the shoulders will show. With a sigh, I start to change into the shirt, hissing as the sleeve hits the mark.

I quickly finish before heading towards the others before they're looking me over before I see the slight frown from Sokka.

"Let's just get going." I say

"Are you sure you're okay covering the mark?" Katara says

"Yeah. I'm fine. It doesn't hurt anymore." I lie

I look towards Toph when I see her frown before I look forward before getting into the carriage in front of us.

Zuko's P.O.V.

I look around the tea shop before walking towards the back, picking up more tea to bring out to the customers.

"Zuko, there is someone to see you." Iroh yells back into the kitchen

"Who?" I ask, turning the corner, walking towards the dining area of the cafe

I walk into the dining area to see the brown hair. Jin sees me before waving towards me. I slightly wave before seeing Iroh smiling towards me.

I walk back into the kitchen before I hear Jian walk into the cafe. I smile softly before setting the kettle down before seeing my uncle and Jian walk into the kitchen.

"Who's the girl that seems to be waiting on Zuko?" Jian asks

"A friend." I answer "Met her at the fountain by the apartment."

"Well I think somebody has a crush on you Zuko." Iroh says

"W-what do you mean?" I ask "Not possible. We just met the other day."

"Zuko, it's okay. You don't need to defend yourself." Jian says "Zara would want you to move on if you two can't get back together."

I look at him before shaking my head. They both laugh as Iroh grabs the thing of tea and heading back toward the dining area.

"You know you don't have to do anything." Jian says "If you really want to wait for Zara and you, then do it. But also don't forget, Zara just wants you to be happy."

I look at him before I nod, looking back through the hole in the wall where I can see Jin standing there. Her face showing a smile as she's talking with Iroh and a few other guests.

"We'll see how this goes." I admit "I don't know if I'll be able to wait for Zara at this point."

"And she'd understand that." Jian says "She literally just wants you to be happy. Even if it isn't with her."

I feel my hand go to my pocket as I just shrug, turning to gather more cups.

"We'll just have to see how things play out." I whisper

Jian looks at me before nodding, heading back towards the doors.

"I'll be back later to head to the apartment. I have a few things I just take care of." Jian says

Iroh turns to him and waves, coming back into the kitchen. Jin smiles at me one last time before she waves and walks out of the tea shop. I smile before looking out the window, seeing a head full of brown hair. I shake my head and turn away, thinking nothing of the brown hair.

Zara's P.O.V.

I look around the house, heading into a separate room, setting my bag down. I roll my sleeve up to study the mark, studying each and every scale that you can see.

"Alright princess." Toph says as she walks into my room "The others are gone gathering supplies. Now you're going to tell me the truth."

"Toph, really I'm fine. The mark just burns. That's all." I reassure "No need to worry about me. It's getting better."

She looks at me before shaking her head. I try to smile before she rolls her blind eyes and walks away.

"Fine. Keep lying to yourself. But just know that we do care about you. "Curse" and all." She says, making sure to show my the air quotes

I laugh before watching my door shut. I sit down on the mat, closing my eyes, letting my hands trace the mark.

It's never hurt this bad... I know something must be coming...

I fall onto my back, staring at the ceiling.

"Hey Toph! I'm going to take a nap. Don't let the others wake me up if you can help it!" I holler through the door

I close my eyes, letting my mind wander into a black landscape.

-~-

"Why'd you lie?" Zuko asks "Why'd you lie tk me again? You told me the avatar wasn't here!"

I look at Zuko, shaking my head, feeling the tears gather in my eyes. I see the anger and the hurt in his eyes.

"Because I saw how happy you were!" I argue "I saw how happy you were when you went out on the date with the Jin girl! I couldn't ruin that with me being here with Aang and the others!"

I look around, looking at the green glow around us before I turn my back on Zuko.

"I know I shouldn't have lied but be honest with me, you were happy here?" I ask

"No need to answer that Zuzu. We need to get going. You got the avatar brother." Azula says as she walks into sight "We should go. Leave the traitor, let's go home."

"You gave me up for your sister?!" I yell

Zuko just looks at me before turning his back toward me and following Azula down a tunnel. I feel my knees go weak before I drop. I hear Katara, Toph, and Sokka yelling out two names.

I try to yell out before I feel my throat constrict.

-~-

I shoot awake, feeling the cold sweat on my forehead as I look around my room. I see Katara looking at me worriedly as she has her hands with some water around my mark.

"You okay Zee?" She asks

"Y-yeah. I'm fine. Just had a nightmare." I admit "Nothing serious."

She nods before bending her water back into the pot near us as she looks at me.

"Your mark shouldn't bug you for a bit. The healing should've worked a bit." She explains "But besides that, your dad stopped by. He said to meet him later tonight in front of the house. He wants to take you out in the city."

"Oh, alright." I say "You and the others going to be okay?"

"Yeah. We'll be fine. Just go have some time with your dad. I know you've missed him." She says "We'll work on finding information on Appa."

I nod before pulling her into a hug.

"What's this for?" She asks

"For putting up with all this craziness." I chuckle "From the beginning."

She laughs before gives into the hug.

"I always will before my fire bending sister." She teases