𝑭𝑰𝑹𝑬𝑳𝑰𝑮𝑯𝑻 (Zuko x Reader)

ten

A/N: Ahaha... I really said... no update for a month and a half... LMFAO oops. Sorry for my SUPER LATE UPDATE UGHHH remember when I updated like every other day wow don't know her 🙈🙈

THANK YOU GUYS FOR 4K READS OMFG I LOVE YOU 

I'm really gonna work harder to make my updates more consistent 🥺 i'm so sorry for leaving y'all hanging like that. i took a break to indulge in BNHA a little... also thank you guys for the votes and comments 🥺💖SOME OF YALL ARE REALLY FUCKING FUNNY TOO LMFAOAO but fr really they make my day! Love you guys~

Last thing... I'm going to pretend "ponytail Zuko" has the same hairstyle as he did when he was younger from now on so he's less... you know... funky looking. I'm also going to pretend that when he cut it off he also trimmed most of his leftover hair down, so he can still have the Lee cut we all know and love 😌 anyways enjoy

Zuko stumbled into the clearing, grunting as he fell. 

"I didn't find anything to eat," he grumbled to his uncle. "I can't live like this! I wasn't meant to be a fugitive. This is impossible!"

He turned when he heard no response from his uncle. "Uncle? What are you doing?"

"You're looking at the rare White Dragon bush. Its leaves make a tea so delicious it's heartbreaking," Iroh stared lovingly at the flower. "That, or it's the White Jade bush, which is poisonous."

Zuko groaned. "We need food. Not tea. I'm going fishing."

He spun on his heel and headed for the river.

If Y/n were here, she'd know what to do.

Zuko poked around the riverbank until he found a sharp enough stick, then sat and waited for a fish to appear. 

He tried, he really did, to think about anything other than Y/n. He tried meditating, clearing his mind, but every loose end, every stray thought, led him right back to her. If she were here, she would be able to make him feel better. She would put her hand on his shoulder and look deep into his soul, telling him that everything was going to be alright he would believe it.  

Zuko ran his hands over his face. If only he had acted quicker. If only he hadn't gone to fight the Water Tribe girl instead of keeping his eye on Y/n. If only he hadn't let them take her away. The image of her bloodied, limp form still haunted him, awake or not, and Zuko wasn't sure if he could ever forgive himself. 

He shook his head before opening his eyes, staring at his reflection. 

Just focus on getting food, he thought, taking a deep breath. Even though Y/n wasn't at the forefront of his mind while he tried to fish, she was always close to it; with her gentle smile and kind eyes, arms just waiting to hold him.

~~~

Zuko gave up on fishing after an hour of no luck. He trudged back into the clearing with his uncle, holding his stick with the tiniest fish over his shoulder in shame.

"Zuko, remember that plant I thought might be tea?" Iroh spoke uneasily, back turned to his nephew.

His eyes widened. "You didn't."

"I did," Iroh sighed, turning around. "And it wasn't."

Zuko gasped, dropping his stick.

"When the rash spreads to my throat, I'll stop breathing," Iroh said, scratching his rash. "But look what I found! These are Pakui Berries, known to cure the poison of the White Jade Plant. That, or Makaola Berries, that cause blindness."