The Dragon Guardian (Zuko x Reader)

The Boiling Rock, Part 1

(Y/N) POV

We were all around the campfire. Zuko was making tea.
"No one makes tea like Uncle, but hopefully I learned a thing or two. Would you like to hear Uncle's favorite tea joke?", Zuko said.
"Sure, I like jokes.", Aang said.
"Bring it.", Toph said.
"Well, I can't remember how it starts, but the punch line is, "Leaf me alone, I'm bushed.", he told serving the tea.
Everyone looked at him dumbfounded.
"Well, it's funnier when Uncle tells it."
"I know the whole joke. It goes like this. The tea server goes the customer and gives him a bushel of tea leaves. The customer thanks the server and the server goes away. Then the server comes back and gives the customer another bushel of tea leaves. The customer has so many tea leaves that he says to the server: "Leaf me alone, I'm bushed.""
Now everyone laughed at the joke.
"It's nice to relax a little. It hardly ever happens.", Toph said.
Zuko gave a cup and I took a sip.
"How is it?", he asked.
"It's good. It tastes exactly like last time.", I answered.
He walked past Sokka who asked him something. Together they went behind Appa.

Zuko's POV

I went with Sokka.
"So what's up?", I asked
"If someone was captured by the Fire Nation, where would they be taken?"
"What do you mean? Who was captured?"
"When the invasion failed, some of our troops were taken. I just want to know where they might be."
"I can't tell you."
"What, why not?"
"Trust me, knowing will just make you feel worse."
I wanted to go back but Sokka stopped me by my shoulder.
"It's my dad. He was captured too. I need to know what It put him through."
"It's not good, Sokka"
"Please?"
"My guess is they were taken to the Boiling Rock."
"What's that?"
"The highest-security prison in the Fire Nation. It's on an island in the middle of a boiling lake. It's inescapable."
"So where is this place?"
"Why do you need to know? What are you planning?"
"Nothing. Boy, you're so paranoid."
"It's in the middle of a volcano between here and the Fire Nation. You guys actually flew right past it on your way here."
"Thanks, Zuko. Just knowing makes me feel better.", he fake yawned walking back to the others.
"Yeah, I'm sure it does.
I followed him and then sat next to (Y/N).
"About what did you guys talk about?", she asked.
"It's nothing."

Time Skip

(Y/N) POV

I got suspicious about what Zuko and Sokka talked about. When everyone was asleep, I went to Zuko air balloon and waited. An hour later, I saw the two boys coming towards the air balloon. I kneeled down so they couldn't see me.
"I hope noone followed us.", Sokka said.
I cleared my throat scaring the boys.
"It's nothing, huh?"
"What are you doing here?", Zuko asked.
"What you and Sokka talked about made me suspicious, so whatever you two were going to do, I'm going to accompany you."
"No way. You're going back to the camp.", Sokka complained.
"If you don't let me come with you, I'm going to tell the others that you two are going to a high secured prison.", I smirked.

The next morning

We were on the air balloon flying to the Boiling Rock. Zuko heated the air balloon with his firebending.
"Pretty clouds.", Sokka started the conversation.
"Yeah, fluffy.", Zuko agreed.

Akward.

Sokka then whistled.
"What?"
"What? I didn't say anything. You know a friend of mine actually designed these war ballons.", Sokka told.
"No kidding?"
"Yep, a balloon, but for war."
"If there's one thing my dad's good at, it's war."
"Yeah, it seems to run in the family."
"Hey, hold on, not everyone in my family is like that."
"I know you've changed."
"I meant my uncle. He was more of a father to me. And I really let him down."
"I think your uncle would be proud of you. Leaving your home to come help us, that's hard."
"It wasn't that hard."
"Really, you didn't leave behind anyone you cared about?"
"Well, I did have a girlfriend. Mai."
"That gloomy girl who sighs a lot?"
"Yeah, but I broke up with her because I already love someone else. The Fire Nation thinks I'm a traitor. I couldn't drag her into it."
I looked at him.
"My first girlfriend turned into the moon.", Sokka told.
"That's rough, buddy."