Bad Choices (Zuko x Reader)

11: Fair

"Don't go." You whispered as your boat came to a stop. "Stay in the swamp."

"I want to." He looked at you seriously. "But I have a nation to run with three nations to apologize to and unite with."

You sighed and looked away from him.

"But it be our baby..." You mumbled.

"Yeah, it is, but I want to make sure that they have a peaceful world to be born into. How many months are left?" He moved to hold you closely.

"Maybe 'round six." You pouted. "You only done been present for a week."

"I've got to work on the Harmony Restoration Movement. I have to get rid of the colonies." He repeated, mostly to himself.

"What if they ain't wanna just up and leave?" You asked. "They done been livin' there a long time. I ain't want you to leave after a week. Would they wanna leave after a hundred years?"

"The Fire Nation people may be hesitant but I'm sure with the support of the Earth Kingdom and other nations, it will go smoothly." He assured you.

"Where ya headed after this?" You asked. "In case I gotta find ya."

"Yu Dao. The oldest of all the colonies. It's probably about one hundred years old. If I can break up that colony, then the rest will be simple. It's in the Earth Kingdom, not too far from here. If there's an emergency, please, send someone for me. I will come for you." His lips graced your skin as he continued to hold you close.

"I could come with ya..." You mumbled, not sold on the idea, but really disliking the idea of being away from him.

"I would take you, if I wasn't worried about being assassinated all the time." He stroked your hair. "I promise to come back before the baby is born. And of course after."

"Ain't the same." Your pout quickly returned. "But I ain't even got a choice. You best not be comin' back with no other babies though. I'll right kill ya."

Zuko laughed lightly.

"Please do. I'm not sure I can handle one. I am definitely sure that I can NOT handle two from two different women."

"Stop seeing her. I ain't see no one else." You complained. "Tell 'er  that you ain't interested."

"It isn't that easy, YN." He huffed fire out of his nose. "She's incredibly high in society, a dear friend from my childhood and we're openly linked in society. I can't simply just tell her to go away."

"Why not?" You pushed away from him. "Ya ain't have a problem when I left."

"It's different."

"Why?! Because I ain't Fire Nation?" You narrowed your eyes. "I got your baby, don't I? Ain't they the heir to your damn throne? I think that be pretty important."

"That's not fair--"

"Nah, it ain't. It ain't fair to me or to the baby. That's why my Ma told me to think of it as the Swamp's baby. Not yours. Because I ain't important enough to ya to bring home even." Your emotions were getting the best of you, especially in your current hormonal state. "I think you best just leave."

"I don't want to leave like this..." He looked at you sadly.

"Too bad. Get outta ma swamp." And with that, you began bloodbending him.