The Tale of Fire and Sun | Zuko x OC

Chapter 8

Zuko's POV:

I laid on my bed, recalling today's events. I failed to capture the Avatar, again. I couldn't believe I kept on losing my chance to regain my honor. I felt growing apart from home with every failed attempt.

I decided not to ever underestimate him. The next move should be well-planned and calculated.... if only I knew where he was going next.

I also barely escaped Zhao, with Yara. We were lucky... really lucky. If it wasn't for the Roku incident, we'd be doomed by now. I would've been framed as a traitor... but I knew my father would understand why I crossed the borders.

And Yara... I couldn't imagine what would've happened to her. I just couldn't afford to let anything happen to her... not on my watch!

She seemed pretty devastated when we returned to the ship. Though Zhao wasn't exactly a good person, he was still her father and she cared for him so much.

And I felt bad for lying to her about him.

I did not see Zhao exit the Temple and the blow from Roku seemed pretty bad. I asked one of my men to gather information on Zhao without Yara's knowledge. I just hoped he was alright.

I took a deep breath and rolled to my side when I heard a scream nearby. Yara... I immediately bolted to her chamber which was right next to mine.

"Yara!" I barged in to see her in bed. I knew Yara used to talk in sleep but this seemed bad. She frantically waved her hands in the air, mumbling something.

"No-no pl-ple-please... I'm-I'm sorry father" She muttered, then screamed again. Honestly, it was hurting to see her like this. Well, time to wake her up...

I sat on the bed and called out. "Yara! Yara, wake up!" She waved her hands again and I barely dodged those swings. I immediately grabbed her wrists and shouted. "Yara, Get up!".

She woke with a start, breathing heavily, like she was gasping for air. I quickly helped her sit and grabbed a cup of water. She drank it in a gulp and her eyes fell on me, like she just noticed my presence.

"Zuko?!" She rubbed her eyes, looking as innocent as she was years ago. "What are you doing here?"

"You screamed in your sleep which was so loud that I had to barge in to check on you." I took the cup and kept it on the table.

"Ugh..." She let out a frustrated groan. "These things just don't leave you alone. I'm sorry, Zuko."

"No, no that's fine." I waved my hand dismissively. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine..." She said but her eyes told me a different story. I felt the need to talk about it... for her...

I chose my words carefully as I spoke. "I happened to hear you mutter in your sleep... Do you want to talk about it?" Yara's eyes widened and she averted her gaze from mine. Something was definitely wrong.

"Yara... you know you can talk to me, right?" I scooted close to her.

"It's nothing, Zuko. Just another nightmare." She said but instinctively brought her knees close to her chest.

I placed a hand on her knee but she wouldn't look at me. I just wanted to let her know that I'd be there for her like she was for me.

"Yara, what was it about?" I asked softly.

She looked at me nervously. "You might not want to hear that..."

"I do." I squeezed her knee assuringly.

She took a deep breath, her voice shaky. "It-it was more like a memory. It happened right after my failed attempt to flee the Fire Nation. The one before I actually succeeded..."