nothing to lose | zuko x oc

21

vada woke up in a soft bed. she sat up, letting out a strained groan as a jolt of pain was sent through her right shoulder blade.

what.. what happened?

she looked around, her eyes landing on the red firenation tapestry. was she captured?

she tried to stretch her sore muscles but was stopped by a force around her wrist. a metal handcuff. she was captured.

the waterbender closed her eyes, trying to remember what happened.

she and katara were thrown into a cavern. zuko was there too. he told her the truth. she wanted him to switch sides. aang and iroh came. they ran. Azula attacked them. zuko did too.

aang was struck by Azula's lightning. vada told katara to take him and leave. the vial of oasis water came to mind. once they left, vada fought some dai li while iroh fought zuko and azula.

vada gasped as a pain was sent through her back, all these memories flooding in made her injury hurt even more.

who captured her?

vada shook her head, that didn't matter now. she had to get out and find katara and the others.

she bent the water in the cup beside her bed onto the handcuff chain, blowing on it to freeze. then, she harshly yanked on it, breaking the chain and leaving the bangle around her wrist.

then she stood.

or... she tried to.

her knees felt like noodles as she tried to stabilise herself, but she didn't care she hobbled over to the door, but it was locked.

she took the bit of water she used before and froze the door lock. then, she pulled on it and broke it open.

these firenation imbeciles should know better than to leave water near a waterbender. even if it just a little bit.

the white haired girl hobbled through the hallway, trying to find the exit. when she finally found it, she took a shaky run towards the edge of the boat, ready to jump into the ocean.

"vada! you're awake!"

a familiar voice, but what happened last time she heard it made it her enemy.

the white haired girl turned around, harassing her power from the moon and bending some water from the ocean up for fighting.

she saw zuko standing at the bough of the ship, a girl with dark hair and a bored expression just next to him, looking at vada as though she were a filthy barbarian.

"where are you taking me?" she asked stoicly, pointing a harsh glare at zuko. she didn't know if she could  fight in her condition, but she would definitely try.

Zuko began walking towards her, "take it easy, you got hurt pretty bad." he told her, but she didn't budge. "you didn't answer my question, zuko."

he stood diametrically opposed to her, just a few feet away.

"were going home. back to the firenation." he said.

"no." she said, dropping her water. "I can't... you can't go back."

Zuko pulled her into his arms, tenderly rubbing her back. "everything will be okay, vee. I promise."

even though vada was hopelessly in love with zuko, she felt guilty for going with him to the firenation.

but, then again. on the day of the invasion, she could be an inside contact for aang, she could help him.

and before that happens, she could win the trust of the royal family so that they wouldn't suspect her.

but zuko was another story. she was still upset with him.

~

after zuko and azula's return ceremony, he met vada in his chambers, as they shared them.

she was stood on the balcony, looking down at the royal garden. aeri was on her shoulder, snuggling up on vada, seeming to comfort the girl.

"hey, I'm back." zuko said into the room. vada didn't even acknowledge his presence, she just stared down at the garden boredly.

the Prince walked to the balcony and put his arm around the white haired girl, resting his hand on her hip. "you look beautiful in red," he said to her, but she ignored him.

"the least you can do is talk to me."

zuko's mood turned sour and he removed his arm from around vada, grumpily folding it across his chest.

"the least you can do is quit pretending that everything is fine." she told him, angry blue eyes seeming to have a twinge of sadness. "I'm in enemy territory, with my enemy boyfriend in his enemy palace."

"vada, you know we aren't enemies anymore. the avatar is gone and you have no reason to fight against me anymore."

his amber eyes bore into her sapphire ones, wanting her to submit, but he saw something. a flash of an emotion in her eyes. what was it?

"what?" he said causing her to turn back to looking at the garden.

"vada, is there something i should know about the avatar?"

vada felt a mix of confidence and hope. "not at all," she lied, she knew that he could tell she's lying. but she also knew that he wouldn't say anything about it to anyone.

his honour depended on it.

for a moment, his eyes stayed trained on her. but nonetheless, he kissed her temple, "I have to go speak with my father." he said, "I'll be back soon."

vada let out a hum as he left. "okay." she said.

Zuko walked out of the room, making his way to the throne room. but just before the door closed, someone slipped inside.

vada knew that it was mai, but she remained silent, petting aeri's head.

"wow, he must really like you to bring you home with him." she said walking out onto the balcony.

"or he just wants a hostage to take over the watertribe." the white haired girl joked.

mai rolled her eyes and stepped closer to vada. "can I tell you something? just to make things clear."

vada nodded, "go ahead."

"if you ever even think about betraying zuko of the fire nation, I'll make sure that your life in prison will be a living hell." mai stated.

the watertribe princess raised an eyebrow, "are you threatening me?"

mai shrugged, "I'm just warning you." she said, "by the way, don't think about escaping. we have guards at every corner and azula's dai li agents are watching you." then, the gloomy girl walked out of the room.

vada rolled her eyes, she would never betray the firenation. well, she would never side with the firenation in the first place, so how could she betray someone if she was never on their side?