Bad Choices (Zuko x Reader)

1: Bad Choices

As Zuko struggled to pull his Fire Lord robes on, a familiar voice rang out in his room.

"You need some help with that?"

"Mai! You're okay! They let you out of prison?" Zuko turned around quickly, wincing from the pain of his injury. He had hoped, for just a split second that the voice would twang, that you would have appeared in his room when he needed you. But instead it was Mai. At least it was someone that he cared about.

"My uncle pulled some strings. And it doesn't hurt when the new Fire Lord is your boyfriend." She walked over to him and helped him dress himself.

Zuko however, gulped. He had thought... he had thought that he broke up with her. But maybe he hadn't been clear? What was he supposed to say now? Especially with you gone for who knows how long?

"So does this mean you don't hate me anymore?" He squeaked awkwardly.

"I think it means I actually kind of like you." And his lips connected with hers briefly before her voice became stern and serious. "But don't ever try to break up with me again!"

Meanwhile, you were sitting in the bog of the swamp, enjoying the relief that the water provided you. Only about a month along, you had no problems with anything but terrible morning sickness. And only the calm waters helped with it.

"I wonder where Zu's at, Slim." You said as you pet your catgator. "Wonder if he's comin' ta get me soon."

But Zuko was back in the Fire Nation. And he was making bad choices.

Your mother came out to you quickly with a concoction of her own creation.

"This oughta help, YN." She handed you the cup with the herbal mixture. "Tell me more 'bout Iroh. He old an' wrinkly now?"

You laughed.

"Yeah, but you is too, Ma!"

"Ey! I am the picture 'a beauty! Ain't no other ladies like me in this here Swamp!" Your mother swung her hips around with her hands placed on them powerfully.

"Ain't no other women as old as you either, Ma" You corrected her. "But four lil baby girls comin' up. Gonna be a fair playin' field soon."

"You thinkin' you gon' have a girl?" She slipped into the water next to you as you sipped on your drink. It was nothing like Iroh's tea, but it was good for soothing your stomach.

"No idea. Just happy ta be home. I miss the daddy though."

"Yeah, why ain't he here? We ain't met 'im. None of us." She shook her hair and clicked her tongue.

"You will! He's comin'! Gotta be..." You mumbled.

"Don't matter, baby." She pulled you close and kissed your head. "It's the Swamp's baby now. We gon' love 'em up. You best be workin' on a name! Pick a right'n swampy one! I ain't like them other ones too much. Unless..."

"Unless what?"

"If it's a gal, I reckon them Fire Nation names sounding cuter than the Swamp names sometimes. I like that 'zuh' sound. Unless you be namin' 'er Fei." She laughed and you laughed back.

"A'ight, Ma. I hear ya. Only a month along. Li'l early."