Zuko x reader

Chapter 7

Recap-

It's the day after Iroh had offered (Y/N) shelter and food for a while until she could figure out what to do but in return, (Y/N) is going to work at the tea shop. Zuko has yet to realize that a little someone will be working him from now on.

Reader's POV

It's still the same night that General I mean Iroh had taken me in. I still can't help but feel so guilty, he's done so much for me already and I feel like I'm taking advantage of that. Though he did give me a job so the only thing I can do in return is to do my best. I remember the words I said to Iroh last night, "I won't disappoint you! You can count me!" If you are wondering where I am right now, I'm currently sitting at one tables waiting for Iroh to come back. We have been talking (with a cup of tea of course) about my situation, like where I'll be sleeping, what to do if Zuko freaks out, you know the normal. I don't think Iroh knows what happened between me and Zuko but if Zuko hadn't told him, then I won't either. All though, I'm sure Iroh will figure it out soon, he wasn't born yesterday.

I hear footsteps coming down the stairs, I look up to see Iroh waving at me to follow him. I get up, putting on my bag, taking our cups of tea and washing very quickly before he could stop me. Just because I'm going to live with them doesn't mean I won't do my chores; Iroh just laughs as I make my way to him. We head up the stairs, passing Zuko's room and Iroh's room and stop in front of a metal door that is starting to rust on it's edges. Iroh opens the door and it's a storage closet. It's pretty small and filled with junk and dust everywhere but there's seems to be enough room for someone to live in. I walk in and turn on the light, and the lightbulb flickers for a second but shattering.

Iroh laughs "Sorry, we don't have an actual room and this was the best thing." I turn towards Iroh and smile at him, "I've never had a room to myself before. It's exciting! Though I'll have to fixer upper this thing but that's part of the excitement." Iroh smiles back and laughs, "It's a bit shabby but if not you can room with Zuko. I'm sure he won't mind." I laugh that in disbelief, "I'd doubt he would, he'd kill me." Iroh starts to walk away before turning around and saying,"I don't think he'll mind (N/N)"(if you don't have a nickname make one up). I'm standing there like an idiot for at least five minutes like ??? 'How does he know my nickname?' The only people who knew my nickname was my family, Zuko and Azula. She use to taunt me with my nickname like how she does with "Zuzu". I haven't seen her in a long time, I wonder how is she? Anyways I guess he knows me from when I was kid, I don't remember that much or at least I try not to know.

Sighing, I look back at the room and start to clean up, I take the broom and dustpan from the corner and then put my backpack down there. I start to sweep up the broken glass from what use to be the lightbulb. 'I need to throw away this immediately before someone gets hurt' I think. I put the glass in a plastic bag and put it off to the side, as I continue to clean up the rest of the room. It takes until morning for me to finish the whole room. I dusted, screamed internally when I saw a spider, looked at all the junk, took some and then threw it away. The room only consist now of the futon Iroh gave me, my backpack resting against a wall, a mini table with a lantern and some spark rocks to lite it.

Iroh comes back surprised, "Wow I didn't think you would get it done in one night." I say,"When I'm determined nothing stops me" I say with a stupid pose that Iroh smiles at. "Well I just came in to give you this, he hands me a piece of fabric, it's a mostly white apron with some green and with a blank name tag (yes I know they don't have name tags but just go with it). "It's for you to write anything you want if you aren't comfortable with your name being exposed." He hands me some sort of marker and I just write down my name (or your nickname it's up to you).

"I don't really care about my name being exposed. What are they going to do? Threaten to tell my parents that I ran away?" I laugh at that idea, Iroh looks confused. I look up to him and say "It's funny cause they are dead." Iroh looks at me with a horrified expression as I keep laughing. (THIS IS A JOKE LMAO, continuing with the regular story.)