nothing to lose | zuko x oc

22

vada woke up in the middle of the night when she left zuko leave their bed.

she opened her eyes to see him throw a cloak over his shoulders.

what's he up to?

once he was gone, she sat up and walked down the hallways in her pink nightgown.

where did he go?

it was dark and she couldn't see well, but she heard a sound behind her and swiftly turned while assuming a fighting stance.

"calm down, i don't bite."

the voice was unfamiliar and new, and a girl around vada's age stepped out from behind a pillar.

she was beautiful, with midnight black hair and porcelain white skin. her eyes were a softer shade of amber than zuko's and her hair was pin straight.

she wore a deep red cover over her nightgown for modesty.

"you really should cover up. what would the guards think if they had seen you?" the girl questioned.

vada was confused. who was this girl? was she a figment of her imagination?

"I'm minako. I'm zuko's cousin." the girl stated. vada smiled at the girl, "I'm vada." she said.

minako walked closer to vada, "I really like your hair. it reminds me of moonlight."

she took some of vada's hair between her fingers. "it's really soft, too."

"thanks. um... what are you doing in the corridors this late?"

minako shrugged, "I was hungry but then I heard someone walking through the hallways."

"sorry... you know, I'm pretty hungry, too. would you mind if I walked to the kitchens with you?" the waterbender questioned and the pale girl smiled.

"not at all, I'm craving some sunfruit."

the two teenaged girls padded down the corridors, side by side until they reached the kitchens. vada cut herself a mango and a kiwi while minako cut up a  big sunfruit.

after they got their snacks, they went out into the royal garden to sit by the turtle duck pond and eat. the waterbender lifted her nightgown up to her knees and soaked her feet in the cold pondwater.

"you said you're zuko's cousin?" the white haired girl asked, and the black haired girl nodded. "yes,"

"are you iroh's daughter, then?"

"yes,"

"why didn't you go with him when zuko was banished?"

"because he told me to stay here. he's been paranoid about my safety ever since my brother..."

minako didn't finish her sentence but she didn't have to. vada understood what she meant.

"I'm sorry,"

"its not your fault."

vada let out a sigh, "it's nice to have someone nice to talk to." she said, causing minako to look up at her. "mai keeps threatening me and I'm scared that Azula will bend me full of lightning again."

the dark haired girl let out a laugh, "yeah that sounds like them." she giggled, "don't worry, you can hang out with me when his princelyness is busy with whatever he does."

"thanks, minako." vada grinned happily.

~

seated on the couch in zuko's room, vada was reading a book. zuko had just come back from some duties that he had and stood near her, taking out his topknot and letting his hair hang loosely over his face.

he removed his armour and placed it on the coffee table. then, he laid down on the couch with his head on vada's stomach.

"i met your cousin." she told him out of the blue. "who? minako?" he asked and she nodded, beginning to softly rake her fingers through his hair. he hummed happily.

"when did you meet her? today?"

"two nights ago. when you snuck out."

Zuko immediately sat up and stared at his girlfriend. "I didn't sneak out." he very obviously lied.

"you did," she countered, "I felt you get out of bed and then I saw you put on a cloak. I tried to follow you but you were too fast."

Zuko looked down, of course she noticed.

"so, what were you up to, anyway?"

he sighed, "i went to visit my uncle."

vada paused for a moment, "you did? how's he doing?"

Zuko let out a sigh. "I don't know. he isn't speaking to me."

vada nodded, she knew that iroh wasn't speaking to zuko due to the betrayal. if she hadn't been living with him and sharing a room with him, she was sure that she'd be giving zuko the silent treatment, too.

she knew that zuko didn't kill aang. zuko didn't almost kill her. he wouldn't do that.

but she also knew that aang was alive. he had to be. she told katara to use the oasis water and she knew that it would work. when she got her blessing from La, she learnt everything to do with waterbending.

she was thankful for the moon and ocean for this blessing and she was thankful for katara because she saved the world's last hope.

she felt like she had somewhat forgiven zuko for betraying her, but she wouldn't forget it. no matter how much she loved him, she won't overlook the fact that he hurt her by betraying her.

"do you think he still angry with me?" zuko asked. he sounded small and almost weak when he said that. "I think he's more disappointed than angry." she replied.

the Prince let out another sigh and listed himself up on his arms, leaning forward to place a kiss on the princess' lips. "are you still angry with me?" he asked between kisses.

"a little bit." she replied cheekily, causing him to sit up straight. "really?"

"you know what would take that anger away?" she grinned, a sly look on her face, "some frozen desserts."

"what...?"

she jumped up and yanked zuko onto his feet, then she pulled him out of the room and down the hallway. "vada? where are we going?" he asked with a soft laugh.

"the kitchens. I'm going to show you how to make the best sweets ever."

it was just before supper, so the kitchens were bustling with cooks and maids and butlers.

they found it strange to see the Prince in the kitchens but greeted vada happily, as she always acknowledged and respected them.

she reached up into the cupboard and took a basket of berries out

then she grabbed a knife and a chopping board, dicing the berries into small pieces and throwing them into a bowl.

after, she bent some water into the bowl and froze it whilst swirling, so that the pieces of ice and berry were mixed to make a soft substance.

she took two spoons and handed zuko one. "tell me what you think."

hesitantly, zuko took a spoonful and placed it into his mouth. he hummed in delight. "it's delicious!"