The Banished Commander (ATLA fanfiction)

Seventeen

Zuko's P.O.V.

I look at the solider in front of me before I feel the fire within me start to rage. 

I shoot the fire towards him hearing the village people gasp and pull themselves away from the fight. 

"Look, just leave these people alone. If you want to fight, take it out on the fire nation." I growl 

The guy in front of me laughs before he runs away. I see Zara standing next to Lee's family before I walk over towards them. I see the knife laying on the ground, bending down to pick it up when I see Lee standing there with his mother. I go to hand him the knife when he pushes away from me.

"You're one of them..." I hear him hiss 

I wince before I see another pair of feet stop by them. I turn around, heading back towards the ostrich horse.

"He's like me..." I hear a voice say 

"Zara, I think it's best that you leave too." Lee's mother whispers "We don't want to cause anymore problems." 

Zara's P.O.V.

"Zuko!" I yell as he starts to walk out of the town

I watch as he freezes, slowly turning his head. I walk over to the horse, looking up at him.

I hear some of the townspeople start to mumble before I roll my eyes. I adjust my bag before I throw myself onto the ostrich horse behind him.

"I... I thought you were with the avatar." He whispers

"We got separated when we ran into Azula." I explain "I've been looking for them since when I ran into this small town."

"You actually let those people treat the others like that." He asks

"I didn't have a choice." I sadly say "The first thing they saw was the mark and they literally threaten everyone in the town if I was to try anything."

He looks at me before frowning softly. I try to smile before I slowly wrap my arms around him, laying my head against his back as he starts to head back out of the town.

"Well looks like we get to travel together for a little bit." He whispers 

I smile before I look back at the town as it shrinks in the distance. 

-~- 

"Why aren't you traveling with your uncle?" I ask 

"We... I thought it might be smart that we both went our own ways after our meeting with Azula." He explains 

I look at him before looking back down at the fire, listening to the sounds around us. 

I shake my head before laying back down on the matt that I had. 

"I think I'm going to get some sleep. Are you sure that you'll be fine?" I ask 

"Yeah. Get some sleep, I'll eventually fall asleep and we'll hit the road when we're both awake." Zuko says

I look at him before nodding, getting comfortable on the ground before closing my eyes. 

-~- 

I look around the woods that the others are in when I see the black hair of Zuko standing at Aang's back, keeping an eye on things around the forest. 

"Azula, just show yourself!" Zuko yells 

"Why would I make it that easy for you ZuZu?" Azula asks 

"If you won't do that, then will you at least let Zara go? She's done nothing to you or father!" Zuko yells again 

"Zuko, get down!" Sokka yells 

I watch as the fire nation army quickly gets the jump on the others before I come walking out of the fire that is slowly starting to build up in the forest. 

"Zara! You're okay!" Katara yells 

"Of course, I'm okay. My own people wouldn't hurt me." I laugh 

Zuko's P.O.V. 

I look towards Zara before I see her start to writhe around in her sleep when I hear her mumbling a few things. I push myself off the matt that I'm laying on and slowly walking over to her. I set my hand on her shoulder. 

"Zara?" I ask 

I see her jump before she looks at me with terror in her eyes. I frown before sitting down, looking at her. 

"Are you okay?" I ask 

"Zuko, you shouldn't..." She starts 

I watch as she pushes herself to a sitting position, looking at me before running her hands in her hair. 

"Nightmare?" I ask 

"Yeah." She whispers 

"You still tired?" I ask again 

"Of course, but it's your turn to sleep." She says 

"We can both sleep. We should be safe here no matter what you might think." I say 

She looks at me before I pull my mat over to her's. She looks at me before I shrug. 

"I still remember how to calm your nerves." I laugh softly 

She looks at me before she lays back down, looking at the sky. 

"Go back to sleep, I know it will help you." I say 

I look over to see her silently nod before closing her eyes again. 

I look up at the sky before closing my eyes, shaking my head. 

-~- 

"Why do you guys always go outside to look at the stars?" Azula asks

"That's just what we like to do. The palace garden gives us a good view of the stars." I explain "Like you would understand that." 

She scoffs before running back towards her little posse when I see Zara come walking over after talking with my uncle and her brother. 

"You ready for the show tonight?" She asks "I heard the comets are supposed to be representing the mark this year." 

"You know that you are the only one that would understand any of this." I laugh 

"No, you're mother does too." I laugh 

I laugh again before I hear my mom come walking over, her blanket over her arm. 

"Are you two ready?" She asks 

"Of course." We say 

She smiles before setting her hands on our shoulders as we walk towards the gardens. 

"I'm so thankful you guys can still be friends with all this going on around you." My mother whispers 

-~-

I shake myself out of the flashback before I feel something against my side. I look down to see Zara curled up into a ball, her hand laying across the pendant on her neck. I smile softly before I slowly wrap my arm around her. 

"I don't know what you saw in your dream, but you're safe." I whisper "As long as we're together, nothing is going to happen to you."