Zuko's Girl

Iroh

Zuko and I travelled together for a few days, we even managed to stop at a clothes store to get myself a new dress since mine was beyond repair thanks to that ass Ted. We talked about our experience going solo and the people we had met through our travels.

" You found work easy enough, that's good." Zuko smiled. " All taverns look for young girls to work. It attracts more customers. " I smiled. " How long was he hurting you?" Zuko finally asked, I could tell he had been waiting to ask this question. " He had been harassing me for a while, but that was the only time he had ever touched me.". " I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you, Scarlet. I should have been with you, I shouldn't have let you leave that night.".

" We both needed time to ourselves Zuko. We needed to discover ourselves. We wouldn't have been able to do that if I didn't leave.". " I understand. I'm just happy we were able to find each other again.". I turned to Zuko and smiled. " Me too, Zuko. Now we need to find Iroh.". " Knowing uncle, he's probably been following me. We'll see him soon.".

I looked up at the huge shadow that covered us from the sun. " Zuko, its them." Zuko stopped our bird and looked up. " The Avatar, finally.". Zuko quickly followed after Aang and his friends.

We had finally tracked them down to an old abandoned town, easily finding them through the destruction and fighting. Zuko and I ran into the middle of it, surprised when we found Aang and his friends fighting Azula.

" Azula!?" Zuko yelled, catching her attention. " Aw, Zuzu, it's been a while," she smiled before noticing me beside him. " I see you're still travelling with the water tribe peasant. If only Mai were here, she would be able to finally kill her.". " Touch her, and I'll kill you myself.". Zuko spat.

" Don't tell me you would actually kill your family for a girl like her. I mean, I'm your flesh and blood. She isn't family.". " That's where you're wrong, Scarlet is my family!" Zuko yelled out before sending a flame at Azula.

All six of us began to fight against Azula, using our bending or weapons to try and stop her. Azula began to run away, and I was the only one who had managed to keep up with her. I sent a flame at her legs to stop her when Azula suddenly jumped out of the way and shot a huge blue flame at me. My eyes widened as it came towards me when Iroh suddenly pushed me out of the way and was forced back from the force of the flame.

" Iroh!" I yelled out as Azula smirked. I felt rage run through me as I stood up and began to fight Azula. Azula laughed as she blocked each of my attacks. " Hasn't uncle taught you better? You're not meant to fight with emotions such as rage. It makes you weak.". " I will stop you, Azula! I won't let you continue to hurt Iroh or Zuko!". " This really is a family matter. What makes you think you can get involved, let alone stop me?".

" I care about them more than you.". Azula stared at me for a few seconds before a big smirk spread across her face. " Don't make me laugh. Do you really think you're in love with my brother?". " I do love your brother, more than you will ever know?" ," So he must have told you about his girlfriend back home?" ," Mai isn't his girlfriend. That's just another lie you made up to drive us apart.".

" Hm, maybe you aren't as stupid as I thought? Even still, he is the banished prince of the fire nation. Even if he somehow manages to come home, our father will never let you be together.". " That's something I'll have to deal with when the time comes.". Azula gave me a small smirk. " I like you. Maybe you'll be worth my time after all.".

Everyone finally caught up with us, and we had Azula backed into a corner. " It's over, Azula! There's nowhere left for you to run.". Zuko yelled, " You really underestimate me, brother. You should know by now that I always have something up my sleeve.". Azula suddenly struck the ground with a huge flame. A large wave of dust surrounded us, and when it finally settled, Azula was gone.

" She's gone," Aang sighed, " Zuko," I sighed when he ran past me and grabbed Iroh. " Uncle? Uncle wake up!" He yelled, shaking Iroh, but he wasn't responding. " I'm sorry, Zuko, this is my fault." I knelt beside him, " He pushed me out of the way from her attack.". " My uncle cares for you, Scarlet. He wouldn't want you hurt.".

I turned my head slightly, seeing everyone standing a few feet behind us. " Scarlet? Is he okay?" Aang asked. " Leave us alone!!" Zuko yelled." We don't need your help.". " Scarlet, come with us.". I turned my head in shock.

Sokka had his hand held out for me. " I miss my best friend, please come back with us.". I stared at Sokka, my eyes wide as my heart raced in my chest. I glanced over at Katara and Aang, who both had the same look as Sokka.

" I can't." " Why not? You're our friend. Please, Scarlet, come back with me.". Sokka begged. " I'm sorry, Sokka, but I'm the reason Iroh is hurt. I can't leave him like this, and" I glanced at Zuko " I-" " I understand.". Sokka mumbled, " Think about, maybe the next time we run into each other, you'll join us.". " Be safe." I smiled. " You too, Scarlet.".

Once team avatar had left, I turned to Zuko. " Come on, let's get Iroh somewhere safe.". Zuko helped me carry Iroh into one of the buildings and lay him down on the floor. I pulled Iroh's shirt down and took some water from my bag. " What are you doing?" Zuko asked. " It's a trick I learned on my travels.".

I began to bend the water around my hands and placed my hands on Iroh's chest. The water began to glow blue as I began to heal Iroh. " What are you doing?" " I'm healing him. It's my fault he got hurt.". " Is he the only reason you stayed?". I turned my head away from Zuko. " No, he isn't the only reason I stayed.". " Then why did you stay? You could have left with your friends but you didn't.". " Because I didn't want to go with them. I want to stay with Iroh.". I stopped healing him and turned to Zuko.

" I want to stay with you.". " You were talking to Azula for a while.". " I told her I saw through her lies with Mai. She told me I wasn't stupid.". Zuko sighed and leaned against the wall. " Zuko, talk to me.". " I just wished you would say how you really feel.". " You know how I feel."  " Do I?"

I stood up and stared at him with furrowed brows. " Zuko.". " How am I supposed to know how you feel? Do you even feel anything for me?".". " Of course I do.". Zuko turned his head away from me.

" Have I done anything to tell you I don't care about you?". " You left me!" " Because we needed a break, we were stealing from innocent people. We hadn't even spoken to each other for days at that point. We needed time apart.". " You didn't even try to talk to me about it! Or why you felt the need to leave. You just left, and I felt worthless!.". " Zuko." ," I thought you had finally seen the monster I was and didn't want me anymore.".

" I never thought of you as a monster. I have seen you grow into a man. You were an angry, hateful kid out for revenge when we first met. But you've changed. " I smiled." You help people, you fight against people who hurt the innocent. You saved Lee and his mother from Ted. You saved me countless times. You've helped train and mould me into the person I am today. You have shown me the world. You have given me so much, Zuko, and I will always be grateful for you. I love you.".

Zuko turned to me, his dark eyes wide and his mouth open slightly. I smiled at him, my eyes swelling up  as I finally realised how true and deep my feelings were. " I love you. I would never be able to betray you or leave you.". Zuko grabbed me and pulled me into him, his arms wrapped around me tight. " I love you too Scarlet.".