Fire and water: Sokka x reader x Zuko

The run away

(Y/n)s pov:

I sat up in my bed, I had felt sick to my stomach ever since we got back the fire nation. I wondered if this was what Zuko felt like in Ba Sing Se, I told Zuko he had made his choice and subsequently I had made mine. This entire palace, this room it was suffocating. I made my way over to the desk that sat nearby the bed, I had to get out.

I grabbed a piece of paper and an ink stone, tapping the end of the brush against my chin. I knew if I was going to leave the only person I wanted to tell was Zuko. I pondered for a few minutes, staring at the off white paper. I dipped my brush into the ink, my hands shaking as I let the bristles touch the paper.

It felt like weights were being lifted off my shoulders as the words formed, I shouldn't be like this. I had a good place here in the palace, why did I have to feel so morally right.

"Zuko- don't look for me, please"

That's all I could put on the page, I couldn't give anything else up. I needed secrecy if I wanted to find Aang and help them take down this empire, this empire that I was so perfectly placed in. I knew people would kill to be in my position.

I pulled on my shoes, discarding my hair piece. Tying my top knot with the fraying black ribbon I held from Ba Sing Se, if I loved my nation as much as I thought I did I knew I had to fight for what was right for them.

I opened my door, tip toeing as silently as I could. I stood next to Zuko's door, listening for sounds that he was awake; nothing. I placed my hand on the door knob tenderly, pushing it open. My eyes widened when I found the room empty, it was the middle of the night? I didn't have time to spare wondering where he was, I walked into the room. Looking over the ruffled sheets, like he'd shot up like me. I placed the piece of parchment under his pillow. Giving a final glance to Zuko's bed before turning my back to the room, shutting the door. I wasn't just turning my back on Zuko, I was turning my back on my whole life I had ran from what I thought was right to have.

Time skip

It wasn't too bad sneaking out of the palace city during the dead of night, taking back alleys I had explored after sneaking out of my house when I was younger. The main danger of being recognised was gone, there was a couple of miles of completely untouched forest. The nearest city was the 'sister' palace city, a more trashy version of the capital city for less important people. A massive statue of fire lord Ozai and the messenger hawk station was the biggest attractions of the shady city, another more quiet attraction was the gambling games run by cheaters.

I made my way out of the centre of the busy city. I had a feeling gaang wouldn't be so stupid as to stay in such a populated place if I knew them they'd be somewhere far away. I was walking through the outskirts of the city, waterfalls and cliffs lined the horizon.

I ran a hand through my hair was I walked, I had already sold all of my jewellery to get a bit of money for food and maybe somewhere to stay if I was far enough away from the capital city. I was stopped in my tracks as rock surrounded me, I screamed as the stone pinned me to where I was standing.

"I'm telling you it's her!" I heard Toph's voice yell out from what sounded like far away, my eyes widened. They were outside of the sister city?!? How stupid were they!

"It's probably- oh my god" I heard Katara's voice yell as her figure came into my view, another slate of ice pressing against my throat. "How did you find us?" Katara demanded, holding the ice to my throat as the rest of the gaang ran over.

"Katara" I stated my eyes watering in relief and disbelief, my lips shaking as the tears fell down my cheeks. "ARE YOU GUYS STUPID?!? You guys are so close to so many people! Do you know how many solider outposts there are here!?!" I asked with wide eyes, I couldn't believe they'd put themselves in such avoidable danger.