Freedom And Honor| Zuko x NB!Reader

Chapter 4: The Avatar

Feels like weeks have passed. It kept getting colder and colder the more you entered the Arctic waters. But surprisingly, the fire from Zuko's intense training( and the kitchen) kept you warm enough. The gloves you made weren't too bad either. You wondered why Zuko was on this ridiculous quest anyway. No one has seen the avatar for a century, what makes him think he'll find them? What makes him so..special?

You sighed as you took your break and sat at the table Iroh always had out on the deck. You seemed to have claimed a spot there along with a cup of tea. The cold it's nipped your nose as you watched Iroh play his tile game. Zuko was at it with the telescope again looking out into the blank glaciers and penguins.

"Man I really want to get out of this cold...couldn't he search anywhere else?" You mumbled to yourself.

"We have. Almost. There have been many places we have visited because of my nephew." Iroh spoke to you. You were surprised by the response but he's done this before.

"Wow..you've really traveled all over?" You asked as you straighten your posture with interest. Iroh nodded and placed down the tile. You sipped your tea once more and looked over to Zuko.As you did, a beam of light shot up in the air followed by a huge gust of wind that turned your tea cold. You stared in awe at the almost blinding light, it was incredible.

It couldn't be...

You heard Zuko mumble a "Finally" as he too saw the beam of light.

"Uncle! Do you know what this means?" Zuko looked over to the table. His eyes had a sudden spark to them. Like hope had relit. It was strange that his eyes seemed to shine that strong ember gold as he spoke of the possibility of the avatars return.

"It's just the celestial lights, we've been down this road before prince Zuko" Iroh responded to him as he looked down at his game.

"No...I'd have to agree with Zuko..that was no celestial light...look, it even made my tea cold" you spoke. You couldn't doubt him this time, a part of you did want to believe the avatar was alive.

"Ha! At least they agree with me this time" Zuko looked a little triumphant as if he just conquered a difficult challenge, "Houndsman! Head a course for the light!" He yelled up and pointed to the fading light. Iroh placed his tile down and what seemed like a second wave of wind blew passed again. This time it send shivers down your spine. You stood up and looked out in the distance. The avatar is back. And Zuko is going to capture him? You started to feel conflicted at this point. Do you help if they're captured? Escape? Is it still escaping if you're not even a prisoner?

Maybe you were and you didn't feel like it. You didn't have any loyalties to the fire nation. You've only been comfortable enough with this shipful. You tea was cold and your morals were fighting. You set your tea down and huffed with frustration at your conflict and decided to take a nap. As you walked back into the ship Zuko had looked back at you with a skeptical look but turned to his uncle. He needed to do some training. Not concern himself with your strange sudden anger.

You spent most of the day in your room, fighting your conflicting feelings about helping the avatar. You weighed your options.
Would your help even matter in the grand scheme of the world's fate? Or should you focus on your own well being, if staying here is just safer.

It was a difficult decision. There's no going back home...you won't even know how to get there.

As you glanced out the window you see that the evening is approaching and more ice is in view. It seems like they know where they are headed. What if its a water tribe village? How many people are going to be hurt?

Maybe if you just stay in the room it'll all go away...

What could you even do to make a difference. You don't even know how to bend water properly.