Avatar Imagines

Zuko ~ Sacrifices

You walked through the halls of the ship and head for Zuko's chamber. He had requested your presence for an unknown reason. You and Zuko had been best friends since you were very young. The day Zuko was burned, you rushed to the floor to aid him. You snapped at the Fire Lord and defended Zuko.

"There is no honor in what you have done! Burning your own child! You have done nothing but demonstrate the little honor you actually have," you shouted at him that day. The whole room fell deadly silent; even the Fire Lord. Ozai then attempted to fire at Zuko again, but you threw yourself over him.

When he stopped, your back was burned. That was when he had banished you and Zuko until Zuko brought Ozai the Avatar. And things haven't been the same ever since.

As you made it to his chamber, you knocked and Zuko let you in.

"Nattie! I'm glad you came. I wanted to talk to you," he said as you walked in. You smiled at him.

"Well, I'm surprised that you called me. Normally you don't call you just come up to me," you said. He chuckled as he pulled you into a hug. Sometimes you felt like you were the only one who's seen him smile. His smile always gave you butterflies. His hand slid to your lower back and he just rubbed that spot. He always did that when he hugged you because he felt guilty. When he let go of you he gestured to his bed and you took a seat. He stood in front of you and began to speak.

"I've been giving this some thought," Zuko started. You giggled and spoke up.

"Ohhh that's dangerous," you joked. He looked at you from the corner of his eye and he smirked at you.

"Shut up," he said in a friendly way before continuing. "Anyway, what I was going to say was if we increase our speed, we should make it to the next potential spot the Avatar will be," Zuko said as he paced in front of you. You didn't agree with the idea of capturing the Avatar. You felt that only the Avatar could put an end to Ozai's madness. Zuko had already made up his mind. You tried to talk to him about it once, but that ended in an argument.

"Zuko, I don't know..." you started but Zuko cut you off.

"Nattie hear me out. We set up a trap and when we have him, we can sail back home! After several long and painful years," he said.

"Zuko!"

"What?"

"I don't think this is a good idea," you said as you stood. He faced you and gave you a surprised look.

"Wh-what do you mean? You want to go home don't you," he asked. You crossed your arms and looked away.

"Well..." Zuko then spoke up and tried to convince you.

"Natasha if we finally capture the Avatar, we can go home!"

"Do you hear yourself Zuko?! You are talking about capturing a child," You exclaimed as you whipped your head around to look at him.

"Why are you so against this," he asked as his arms rose and fell.

"I don't know. Maybe because the Avatar, whom we found out about a month ago, is a child! The Avatar is only a 12-year-old Air Nomad!"

"And he is still the Avatar all the same," Zuko shouted back.

"And he is still a child all the same!" You sighed. "Zuko I have always supported you with everything that you've done. And whether you noticed or not, I like you! I really, really like you! But this...all of this needs to stop! Hunting the Avatar won't do anything," you blurted. Zuko just stood there stunned. You felt your face heat up. God, I really hope he didn't catch that part, you thought.

"What," he stuttered after a moment of silence.

"Hunting the Avatar won't do or change anything Zuko," you said.

"Why would you say that?! The Avatar is my only chance to..." Zuko started but you cut him off.

"To restore your honor?! Well here's a damn news flash for ya, you can't restore what you already have," you exclaimed. "You think that you have lost your honor but you never did!"

"Yes, I did Nattie! You were there! You watched as it was taken from me! And you lost yours when you saved me! And that burn you got should remind you of our main purpose of being here," Zuko exclaimed as he pointed towards the floor. You just stared at him. He never talked about your burn because he knew that you didn't like to bring it up. But what he said seemed to cut deep.

"My burn reminds me of things I wish I could forget," you started as you pointed at Zuko. "It reminds me of the sacrifices I made for you!"

"Well, I never asked for your help in the first place!" Your mouth fell open and you just stared at him. You got a lump in your throat and you were on the verge of tears. When Zuko finally realized what just came out of his mouth, his eyes widened. "Natasha I..." You cut him off.

"Fine if that's how it's going to be. Then I'll just leave," you said as you walked for the door. You ran your shoulder into Zuko's as you left his chamber.

"Natasha," Zuko exclaimed as he went after you.