Don't Leave Me (Zuko x OC)

Chapter 13

When I woke up, I was in someone's arms. Thinking I was still in the thug's hold, I wriggled about, trying to escape. I notice his grip was much softer, like he was trying to make sure I didn't fall more than get away. With much struggling, I fell out his arms and rushed away. 

"Muri, wait!"

I stopped.

Turning around it wasn't the thugs I was in the company of, but Zuko and Iroh, Nalo sat comfortably in the old man's arms. Breathing heavily, I was very confused by the situation. 

"Zuko? But I thought you left?"

"It was a trick." He said, emotion dripping from his voice, "You were right, Azula was lying. I should've listened to you. I'm sorry."

He approached me slowly, grabbing my hands. I tried to pull away but he wouldn't let me. 

"No. Please. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." He begged, "I never should've said any of that to you. You mean so much to me and I can't the thought of something happening to you. Please stay with us, with me. What if you get mugged again? They were gonna sell you!" He cupped my face and made me look at him, "Please, Muri. Forgive me."

I sighed, staring into his molten gold eyes, "I forgive you."

He smiled, quickly pushing his face forward for a kiss. I felt him sneakily slide my ring back onto my finger. Once he pulled away, he pressed a soft kiss on my hand. 

*****

"Right, I'm going down to town to fetch a map so we can be on our way." I announced, packing up my bag. 

Zuko stood up, "Okay, be safe."

I gave a small wave before heading down the path to the village, Nalo at my feet. It was a small town with little resources but soon enough I tracked down a map and used what little money I had to buy it. On my way back I ran into Zuko who was carrying a large stick for some reason. 

"Uh, Zuko? Why do you have that?" I asked, falling into pace with him. 

He glumly pointed towards the end and I noticed a tiny little fish speared onto it. I giggled at his failure before being interrupted by Iroh, who'd clearly heard us approach. 

"Zuko, remember that plant I thought might be tea." 

The boy straightened up, "You didn't."

"I did." He turned around with a horrid rash on his face, "And it wasn't."

I rushed forward, kneeling down to get a better look at Iroh's rash and the plant. 

"This is a White Jade Bush, if you'd only waited until I got back I could've told you that." I scolded before turning to Zuko, "I don't have the proper herbs to help him, we need to get him to a healer. Once the rash spreads to his throat it will close up and he'll stop breathing."

Zuko looked panicked while Iroh was pretty calm. 

"Yeah but look what I found." He produced a branch of pink berries out of nowhere, "These are Bacui berries, known to cure the poison of the White Jade Plant. That or Maka-ole berries that cause blindness."

I smacked the branch out of his hand, "They're Maka-ole berries!"

Nalo ran up to it, ready to feast on the berries but I picked him up before he could. 

"We need to get help." Zuko announced, already thinking up a plan in his head. 

"But where are we going to go? We're enemies of both the Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation and it's a bit of a trek to the Water Tribe." I pointed out.