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

Any Way the Wind Blows

I sat on Appa, my hands on my head, deep in thought.

Sokka tapped on my shoulder. "What's wrong?"

I straightened up. "Nothing... I was hoping that Roku would help me find a way to get home, but instead he said I need to stay even longer and find what I've been missing. Just kinda bummed out over it."

Sokka kept his hand on my shoulder. "Did you have a boyfriend in your world?"

I scoffed. "No, but it can't be that. Although..." I thought of a certain scarred prince desperately and shrugged. "Nothing's impossible." I never really thought of Zuko in a lovingly way, more was of a companion-ily way. But what if I was wrong?

Sokkas eyes lit up. "How about me?" He pondered aloud.

I looked at Sokka and raised an eyebrow. "If everything else falls through, I'll think about it." I brushed his hand off my shoulder.

Aang started pacing up and down Appa's back.

"Would you sit down? If we hit a bump you'll go flying off! What's bugging you anyway?" Sokka said, with a slight mellow tone.

"It's what Avatar Roku said to me as well. I'm supposed to master all four elements before that comet arrives."

"Well, let's see, you've pretty much mastered airbending and that only took you 112 years... I'm sure you can master three more elements by next summer." Sokka replied.

I rolled my eyes and elbowed Sokka in the stomach.

"I haven't even started waterbending and we're still weeks away from the North Pole! What am I gonna do!?" Aang said with worry.

"Calm down. It's going to be okay. If you want, I can try and teach you some of the stuff I know." Katara said, taking his hand in hers.

"You'd do that?"

"Too bad Katara doesn't know anything," I said to myself. I smiled and then looked up to see everyone looking at me with a hint of anger.
"It's a metaphor where I come from." I lied.

Aang and Katara crawled over to the edge of the saddle and looked down.

"We'll need to find a good source of water first." Katara explained.

"Maybe we can find a puddle for you to splash in." Sokka replied.

"Isn't there another water tribe you can go to so you actually learn something?" I questioned Aang.

"We are going to the Northern Water tribe eventually." Katara explained. "So Aang and I can both learn waterbending."

"Oh, ok." I responded, nonchalantly.

———

We were now shopping from some stupid merchant stands. I've always hated shopping, and this was even worse.

"We've got exactly three copper pieces left from the money that King Bumi gave us. Let's spend it wisely." Sokka said to everyone.

"Uhh, make that two copper pieces, Sokka. I couldn't say no to this whistle!" Aang replied.

Aang blew into the whistle and no sound came out.

"It doesn't even work." Sokka said.

"No offense, Aang, but I'll hold the money from now on." Katara said. Aang handed the money to her.

"Katara you need to calm down, it was only one copper piece."

Katara glared at me with anger.

"Earth Nation! Fire Nation! Water Nation! So long as bargains are your inclination, you're welcome here! Don't be shy, come one by!" A barter said as we walked by their ship.