Freedom And Honor| Zuko x NB!Reader

Chapter 9: Ship Sweet Ship

To say you slept well would be an understatement.

Seventeen hours.

You slept seventeen hours and when you woke to the scent of fresh roasted duck, you've never felt more rejuvenated despite your injuries. Sitting up slowly, you reached for the food and smiled to yourself as you consumed the delicious food. The door slowly creaked open as you cleaned your plate and from the door peeked Iroh.

"You must have slept well." He chuckled.

"I did. Did you guys get softer beds since I was here?" You asked as you set your bowl on the bedside table.

"I wish we did," Iroh laughed as he stepped aside and had the ship's medic come in to check up on your injuries to make sure they are doing alright.

You still couldn't move that much. Your body was still sore from your fall. Just as the medic finished your check up and excused themselves, Zuko stormed in with his loud voice, making your head throb a little.

"Uncle! Why did you tell the houndsman to change course?" He shouted.

"It is very urgent," Iroh responded.

"A lead on the Avatar?"

"No, I've lose my lucky lotus tile"

"Wow, I think we need to prioritize this above the Avatar" you chimed in a little amused. It was then that Zuko realized you were awake.

"You took your time sleeping.." he complained.

"I tumbled down a collapsing temple cut me some slack" You shot him an annoyed glare.

Zuko scoffed and stepped forward,
"Tell me where the Avatar is headed." He demanded.

"Is that how you ask?" You crossed your arms and immediately winced at the movement.

"I wasn't asking" Zuko said sternly.

"Then I'm not telling." You bluffed as you turned your nose away. You really didn't know where the others were heading or what Aang saw in the temple.

Zuko yelled and kicked over a table and stormed out. Iroh was standing there the whole time and only quietly picked up the table, bowed and left.

Your head was hurting again by now so you just laid back down to rest.

"I gotta get back to them..." you mumbled to yourself as you closed your eyes to try and rest.

You must have fell back asleep because you woke up to your door opening again and Iroh came in to offer the trip to the market that they had just docked at.

You wanted to get out so badly, to try and find your friends but you were still so tired. Begrudingly you declined and Iroh left you to stare up at the ceiling and the fire insignia that hung over your bed. With a sigh you closed your eyes once more not knowing what else to do with your limited movement...you were well rested for a while so you were stuck with your thoughts this time. You laid there wondering about your friends once more. If they were worried about you, if they thought you were lost to the volcano....

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Zuko found a lead on the Avatar. He wouldn't admit he was grateful that his uncle wanted to make this stupid pitstop. Now he was on a boat on the river on the lookout for a waterbender.

It wasn't long before he found Katara, 'saving' her from the pirates. Zuko knew that Katara probably wouldn't tell him where the avatar was right away but he had a piece of leverage that he was banking on.

"Tell me where the Avatar is and I won't hurt you or your brother!" He yells.

"Go jump in a river!" Katara yelled back, she had a hard time even looking at Zuko knowing the last time she saw him was also the last time she saw you. Her friend. Her kin. That wound was still fresh, for everyone in the Gaang.