The Fire Within - an atla fanfic (Zuko x OC)

Because I'm Easy Come

Zhao has just figured us out. He found out that Zuko had; in fact, captured the avatar, but he escaped.

We were still sitting in the tent, but now I could tell Zuko was much more tense; and I was too, although I barely knew what was going on.

"So, a twelve-year-old boy bested you and your firebenders? You're more pathetic than I thought." Zhao said. I could tell her quite enjoyed catching Zuko on his lie.

"I underestimated him once, but it will not happen again." Zuko responded.

"No, it will not, because you won't have a second chance."

Zuko seemed very alarmed by this. "Commander Zhao, I've been hunting the Avatar for two years and I..."

"And you failed!" Zhao said as a flame erupted from his arm.

I was mad. I didn't want this idiot to screw up my plans. And for a moment, I felt an emotion that was somewhat uncharacteristic for me. I stood up quickly and pointed a finger at Zhao defiantly. "Like you could do any better, you bastard!"

Zhao glared down at me and gave a crisp slap to my face.

I almost jumped forward to fight him, but Zuko grabbed me to restrain my arm. It was better off; after all, I was basically a weakling.

"Capturing the Avatar is too important to leave in a teenager's hands. He's mine now." Zhao said as I settled back down, hand on my red face.

The guards restrained Zuko as he tried to stand up from his chair as I had previously done.

Zhao turned to leave. "Keep them here." He said.

Zuko kicked over a chair in anger as Zhao left and I sighed in anger.

"More tea please?" Iroh said to one of the guards calmly.

I looked at Iroh in confusion. "Why do you want tea in a time like this?" I asked in a panicky tone. I looked around in anxiety. "Why am I here?" I questioned myself.

———

Zhao came back in the tent after a while, and I rolled my eyes slightly.

"My search party is ready. Once I'm out to sea, my guards will escort you back to your ship and you'll be free to go." Zhao explained.

"Why? Aren't you worried I'm going to try and stop you?" Zuko asked.

"You? Stop me? Impossible."

"Don't underestimate me, Zhao. I will capture the Avatar before you."

"Prince Zuko, that's enough!" Iroh interjected.

My head moved back and forth between them as they all stood up and began arguing.

"You can't compete with me. I have hundreds of warships under my command, and you... you're just a banished prince. No home. No allies. Your own father doesn't even want you." Zhao said.

I widened my eyes slightly at his claim, and felt pity for the prince enter my mind. This was a twisted game.

"You're wrong. Once I deliver the Avatar to my father he will welcome me home with honor and restore my rightful place on the throne."  Zuko shot back.

"If your father really wanted you home, he'd have let you return by now, Avatar or no Avatar, but in his eyes you are a failure and a disgrace to the Fire Nation." I agreed silently to the first part, but made faces at Zhao anyway to tell him he was stupid.