Bad Choices (Zuko x Reader)

15: The Break-Up

The fire roared around him as he threw your letter into the flame to destroy the evidence. The baby was kicking now. He wasn't happy to be missing it. He wasn't happy to be missing you.

"This isn't me." He sighed as the flames died down.

"I know you've been secretly meeting with Ozai." Mai's voice rang out. "And I know about... your trip to the Swamplands."

"Mai! Who did you hear that from?" Zuko looked shocked.

"Does it matter? Not from you." She looked at him sternly.

"I know, I keep screwing up. But please... I... I do love you, Mai. I hope you know that." He weakly attempted to remedy the situation, but he knew and she knew that his heart wasn't really in it. He wanted this.

"I know." She hoped she knew. "But lately I've realized that you love your secrets more. You'll have an easier time keeping them when you're alone."

"What are you telling me?" Zuko needed to hear it. He needed the verification. He wanted to hear he could bring you here.

"Goodbye, Fire Lord." She declared.

"Mai!" He was a little shocked by the abruptness, and the thought that she wasn't going to still hang around, that he would never see this friend of his again, was upsetting. "I order you to come back! I'm not done talking to you!"

But of course, she didn't listen to him. Why would she?

"Argh. Why would I say that? So stupid..." He knocked his head with his hand.

"This is my fault! I'm so sorry! When I asked her to talk to you about your father, that wasn't quite what I had in mind." Suki bowed deeply in apology.

"Suki! But how did you know--"

"I followed you yesterday morning. Sorry about that too."

"How did you know about YN?" He asked. "And why would you tell Mai?"

"That... I didn't say anything about that... But Mai did have access to your letters before you did... I mean, they were just sitting on your desk for the whole day..." She didn't look up.

"We just wanted to know what was going on, to see if we could help in some way. The Kyoshi Warriors are really worried about you, Zuko. I'm really worried about you."

He paused.

"Suki... YN... She's p--"

"Fire Lord Zuko!" A voice interrupted.

"General Mak!" Zuko turned around quickly.

"A message has arrived from the spies you sent to the Earth Kingdom!"

"You sent spies?!" Suki asked.

"Your suspicions are confirmed. The Earth King's army now marches towards Yu Dao." General Mak bowed his head.

"Father..." Zuko looked up despondently. "You were right."

He dismissed his general and Suki awaited his orders calmly.

"Suki." He turned to her seriously. "Go get YN. Bring her to Iroh. I'll be going to Yu Dao. Treat her like precious cargo."

"Precious cargo?" Suki gave him an odd look. "She's a blood bender. Tell her to walk by herself. She can protect herself easily."

"You'll see." Zuko mumbled. "Go get her. Protect her with your life. I order you. Let me bring you a letter for her so she doesn't get... feisty with you."

He laughed a bit. You would have an attitude. And now, he was excited.