i'm fifteen, you jerk! (a:tla, reader insert)

CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX

You took notice of the fact that Zuko didn't give you tea. It wasn't a big deal, but it showed that he was awkward around you. You didn't blame him, but it still kind of hurt. He was supposed to apologize. Yeah, you brushed the chance of one off, but you thought he would've tried to fix the bond between you.

"Katara, can you read it for me?" you showed the paper to the waterbender. "Why, are you illiterate?" Haru teased, coming to stand behind you. You turned your head away, ashamed. The truth was, you had fallen out of practice. Pair that with the fact that you were writing in your native letter system, and you've got an equation for illiteracy in the language written here.

"Hey, why are you crying?" you clenched your eyes shut, causing more tears to escape. "I am illiterate. I've fallen out of practice, and now I only know my native lettering system. Don't remind me, Haru."

"What other language do you speak?" he asked. "We've talked about this. I'm not from here. I don't like talking about it."

Katara read the note from Sokka and Zuko out loud, causing Aang to complain about his 'homework'. "Hey,"

"can we talk?" Haru led you to a secluded corner. "What do you want?" you knew he didn't do anything wrong, but you still wanted to be mad. "I'm sorry for hurting your feelings. I can help you relearn the one from here, if you'd like." you moved to kiss his cheek, your anger dissipating at his sincere words.

"No. I'd feel closer to my parents if I let myself fully forget my knowledge of the language here. Besides, I'll be teaching Zuko and Azula the language I learned when I was younger. It's the only way I can fully honor the memory of my homeland."

"Where are you from? I don't know of any country other than the four nations."

"A far away land. I miss my homeland, very much. I miss my mom and dad. I wish they were here." unfortunately, you had to kill you and mom. It's your fault. "What's your homeland called?"

"It doesn't matter. I'll never see it again."

"Can I take you out now?" you froze, heat rushing to your face. "What?"

"Come on. I never got to do it, and now would be the perfect time. Take Zuko and Azula, too. We can spend time together." he suggested. "Are you sure? You can back out now, I have a lot of baggage. I understand if you're doing it to repay me, but I need you to be honest." you didn't know why you were trying to convince him to back out. After all, you really liked him.

"I'm sure. I want to be their father, too. Please. I'm doing this because I really like you, not to repay you for saving my village." you gave in. "Okay. Take me wherever." he grinned, looking like the young boy you were used to, and not the man who was speaking to you seriously a few moments before.

"Let's go!" he jerked on your wrist suddenly, starting to run. The two of you laughed as you ran through the halls, trying to find a good spot.

"Here." he sat down, patting the ground next to him. "Haru," you gasped. "It's wonderful." it really was. You were on a balcony, and since there were clouds, it looked like you were in Heaven. "I'm glad you like it. Now, can I hold one of them?"

"Can you say 'papa'?" Haru cooed to Zuko, who was gurgling. "Buck!" you laughed, leaning on your boyfriend. "I told them about you. I thought that I would have to- have to give them up. I told them that you would be their father, I just didn't realize that it would ever actually happen."

"Papa!" Azula squealed. "No. Say that again, baby."

"Papa!" Zuko joined in, and then both of your babies were chanting papa over and over again. "It did happen. How do you feel, Haru?"

"Like I'm their real father."

"Good. That's what I want you to feel."

"Hey," he nudged your shoulder as you were walking back to camp. "why do you still wear your wedding ring?" you twisted the band, guilt clawing through your throat. "I wore it as a reminder to keep fighting. It helped me keep going, to fight to give my kids good lives. Now, I suppose I don't need it."

You looked over the cliff. "Wherever you are, Zhao. Fuck you." you chucked the ring over the edge, feeling like a big weight was lifted off your shoulders. "I like your eyes. They're really pretty. But, what happened? Before you left, they were E/C. Now they're rainbow."

"I don't know. I was told that I drank fire from a dragon, and that's what happened. A similar thing happened when I was in danger, though." you went on to explain your sudden Kyoshi Warrior transformations, lying and telling him that a spirit blessed you when he asked how it happened.

"Haru?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you. You've done so much for me and my kids, even in the short time I've known you. You've done so much. You're done more than my entire adoptive family's done, actually- sorry, I'm rambling." he chuckled, pressing a kiss to your forehead.

"It's alright."

okay so haru is immature in the show... but i kinda wanted to play with his character, and i'm an absolute simp, so...