Anguish to Peace (Zuko x OC)

Chapter 9: Separation

(A/N) okay so a lot of time skips but i hope thats okay you know?1823

"Ow" I yelled looking around to see what exactly bumped into me. I saw a familiar Firebender grab my mouth.

"Don't wake Iroh" he snickered at my shock and sat right beside me. I looked around and realized I had probably zonked out for a while. I looked at him and smiled.

"What errands were so important you had to leave me?" I bumped him with my shoulder and he chuckled.

"None of your business, nosy" he joked looking at me now. "Did Iroh bore you with his songs?" I chuckled and shook my head "then why were you fast asleep, by the fire" he looked at me concerned but i shrugged it off.

"I was waiting for you"

"You didn't have to do that," he muttered, grabbing some food from a bag that I hadn't seen before. It looked expensive.

"Where'd you get that?" I was concerned.

"Someone gave it to me" it was obviously lined which made me more concerned about him and I groaned.

"Did you... steal it?" I hesitated, and suddenly the blue spirit popped in mind as it had not only saved me but looked exactly like him only under a hood and a mask.

"Maybe" he shrugged my hesitation off just giving me the answer now, "but don't tell Iroh he already thinks badly about me enough"

"Like he should" i muttered which seemed to catch his ear

"Hey it's not my fault I want to keep us alive."

"Stealing is wrong Zuko!" I growled "didn't your mother teach you this" and suddenly that shocked him. He had no words and he looked upset and I could feel betrayal in his next words.

"She did.." he was somber and didn't talk much anymore, he got up and ignored my next reply.

"Are you okay?" I got up to catch him but he jumped as if I was burning him with my touch. He grabbed the bag and rushed off. Would he come back?

"Zuko!" Iroh ran out of the cave to what seemed to be a very tired Zuko, he held more stuff and looked at me angrily. I stepped back, staying in my spot a little more somber than yesterday, I never understood why he ran off. What had happened to his mother? I got up to greet him and he completely ignored my president. His face showed sadness and anger.

"Where'd you get this stuff anyways?" Iroh asked once he saw the lack of happiness in my face.

"Where does it matter where I got the stuff?" he said in the coldest tone i've heard from him so i turned my back and walked into the cave annoyed i didn't feel that familiar gaze on me that i usually did,and i walked back into the cave they talked for a bit before again Zuko left.

After a few days he kept bringing more and more stuff to the cave and finally Iroh confronted him about it.

"Looks like you did some serious shopping" he said walking calmly into the dimly lit cave "but where did you get the money?"

"Do you like your new tea pot?"

"To be honest with you, the best tea tastes delicious whether it comes in a porcelain pot or a tin cup" Iroh gets up from his spot as i lay in mine which was beside Iroh he walks over to Zuko and sits beside him to put his hand on his shoulder "i know we've had some difficult times lately, we've had to struggle just to get by" he finally lays his hand on Zuko's shoulder and looks at him in that soft but usual manner "but it's nothing to be ashamed of theres a simple honor in poverty"