Avatar: Zuko x Reader

Chapter 2: Advisor to the Fire Lord

The next morning you run down to meet with zuko at the front gate like he asked. Your stopped by a guard who noticed the blue band in your hair. "go no farther."

"but he asked me to go with him?!" you protest.

"it's fine let her pass. I asked her to come with me." zuko smiles a little bit and dismisses the guard. "come along (y/n)"

You smile at the guard and run after zuko to catch up. "so why did you want me to come with you?"

"you have been working in the palace for about a month now correct?" Zuko questions.

"um... yes?" you raise your eyebrow. "why?"

Zuko smiles a bit and nods. "you have guts for a worker. To come right up to me and speak so freely." He glances over at you. "a lot of people are too afraid to talk to me. even when they do they're voice shakes. It is quiet depressing really." He looks at the carriage and nods. "anyway as I told you my uncle is coming for a visit."

'maybe he just wants me to distract him so he won't think about Mai?' you wonder. "tell me about your uncle."

Zuko nods. "My uncle Iroh." Zuko chuckles a bit. "well he's always been kind of like a second father to me. during my banishment he was my only friend. I'll be the first to admit that I haven't always been as nice to him as I should have." Zuko sighs. "I intend to right that wrong though. After all if not for uncle I might have turned into a completely different person." He glances at you and nods towards the door. "you don't mind riding with me do you?"

"of course not!" you bow respectfully and then trip over yourself trying to get the door open.

Zuko chuckles a bit and sits down. "I'm glad you came today. I didn't have anyone else I could ask really."

"is something the matter?" you wonder as you sit across from zuko.

"well I've had reports that some of the people aren't very happy with me right now." He grumbles and looks out the window. "move along whenever you're ready." He calls out to one of the guards. Almost as soon as he says this the cart begins to move. He turns his attention back to you. "I'm trying to make choices myself without Ozai's help... you're the only person besides my uncle and Mai that I feel like I can trust. That is why for now I would like you to be my council... if you don't want to that's fine." <- you yelled at him so he knows your at least capable of telling him when you think he's doing something stupid.

"council!?" you stare back at Zuko completely astounded.

"you made some very good points last night." Zuko nods. "my father was overthrown because he was a bad leader. Asking for advice from him probably wasn't the best option." He rubs his forehead in annoyance. "it cost me Mai..."

"well to be honest that's probably for the best." You frown.

"come again?" Zuko questions.

"well..." you bite your lower lip. "she didn't really understand you. if she really thought you had kept a secret from her without first realizing why... what I mean is... you had your reasons for doing what you did. Just because you did it doesn't make you a bad person." You glance at the window. "and it isn't like you kept it from her to hurt her feelings. You didn't tell anybody what you were doing."

Zuko smiles a little. "well at least there is one person who understands." He looks out the widow too. "it's hard to be the leader you know. I have to make all the tough decisions. I second guess everything I do."

"If being the fire lord was a simple job than anybody could do it." you smile a little bit. "because it's hard is why only you can do it."

Zuko nods and points towards the window. "there is the docks we're almost there." He turns to you and smiles a bit. "thanks for riding along, and thank you for encouraging me." he pulls the blue band off your hair. "from now on you'll be helping me personally. No more cleaning."