Don't Leave Me (Zuko x OC)

Chapter 4

A few days after Kyoshi Island, we answered the call of a Fire Navy ship in distress, specifically a floating prison for earth benders. By the time we got there though, all the prisoners had escaped, with the help of the Avatar. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Zuko picked something up from the rubble filled hull of the ship. 

"My Prince, have you found something?"

He gave me no answer, simply pocketed whatever it was and moved on. 

*****

We had come to rest briefly at a bay in order to scavenge for some supplies. Glancing around I noticed someone was missing. 

"Zu, where is Iroh?"

His head whipped around before groaning to himself. Grabbing my sleeve he dragged me off to look for him. 

"Uncle! It's time to leave, where are you?! Uncle Iroh!"

"Over here."

We came to find him in a natural hot springs, completely nude with his clothing hanging on a nearby branch. Uncomfortable, I focused my gaze downwards. 

"Uncle?" Zuko asked confused, "We need to move on, we're closing in on the Avatar's trail and I don't want to lose him."

"You look tired, Prince Zuko. Why don't you join me in these hot springs and soak away your troubles? Or better yet, I could leave you and Lady Muri to yourselves, spend some quality time alone."

What he was suggesting made a fierce blush run rampant on my face as I briefly glanced up to argue but quickly looked down again and kept my mouth shut out of awkwardness. 

"My troubles cannot be soaked away!" Zuko argued, "It's time to go!"

Iroh had a serene, relaxed look on his face, "You should take your teachers advice and relax a little. The temperature's just right, I heated it myself." 

He brought his hands together and blew steam out of his nose to keep the heat steady.  His nephew simply blew the steam away. 

"Enough, we need to leave now! Get out of the water!"

"Very well." Iroh grunted as he got up. 

Naked. 

Very naked. 

I let out a small yelp at not only the sight but Zuko quickly placing his hand in front of my eyes and tugging me towards him. 

"On second thought, why don't you take another few minutes. But be back at the ship in half an hour or we're leaving without you." Zuko dragged me off, away from his naked uncle. 

*****

It had now gotten dark and we still couldn't find Iroh. 

"Uncle! Uncle, where are you?" Zuko was panicked. 

"Sir, maybe he thought you left without him."

Zuko looked at the hot spring where we had left him, "Something's not right here. That pile of rocks!"

"It looks like there's been a landslide, sir."

"Land doesn't slide uphill. Those rocks didn't move naturally." Zuko stood up straight, a serious look on his face, "My Uncle's been captured by earth benders."

I stepped forward, "Surely not, my Prince, he's the great Dragon Of The West, he wouldn't get captured by a couple earth benders."

"They must of caught him at a vulnerable moment, by surprise."