That moment when the episode this chapter is based off of is "Zuko Alone" but this is an x reader book so Zuko clearly can't be alone XD

I'm sorry Atla writers~

~

Sun beams buried on my skin, piercing it lightly. My hat although wide, was no match for the glistening warmth of the Earth Kingdom.

The ostrich-horse Zuko and I rode on was getting slower by the step. I couldn't blame him though, we were all tired and hungry. Ever since we left Iroh, we've barely eaten anything.

"Zuko..?"

"Yes (Y/N)?" He replied wearily

"Do you think we'll come across a  village soon?"

"I hope... but the Earth Kingdom is large... so everything is spread out"

"If you need a break... I could take the reigns.."

"It's okay (Y/N) I'll be fine"

"If you say so grumpy!"

~

We kept walking along the path and even across a bridge which we nearly fell through. It was difficult to even stay awake, we didn't even have water left.

Then, out of the corner of my eye I saw...

"A village..." I muttered to myself.

Finally! We could get food...

Zuko lead the ostrich Horse towards the town. When we arrived, I noticed a group of men gambling.

Psshh... Earth Kingdom soldiers no class...

We hoped off of our stead as Zuko stepped towards a shop behind us.

"Could I get a some water, a bag of feed, and something hot to eat?" Zuko asked the man running the shop as he showed his coins

"Not enough here for a hot meal, I can get you two bags of feed..."

Zuko nodded as I joined by his side.

I guess feed was better then nothing.

The shopkeeper went to get the feed when one of the soldiers yelled,
"Ow!"

I turned around.. it looked like some local children threw an egg at him... almost reminded me of when Zuko and I did silly things like that.

The children quickly scattered off and the soildiers turned to Zuko and I,
"Hey! Throwing eggs at us strangers?"

"No" Zuko and I said at the same time.

"You see who did throw it?"  The soildier replied. Zuko and I glanced at eachother I nodded for him to reply,

"No" Zuko muttered grabbing onto his sword in it's handle. I tightened the grip on my dagger I hid in the sleeve in case things went south.

"That's your favorite word.. 'no'?" Another soildier teased

"Egg had to come from somewhere..."

"Maybe a chicken flew over" Zuko mumbled turning back to the shop desk.

"Or perhaps a goose" I retorted crossing my arms taking my weapon ever so slightly out of my sleeve so the soildiers could see it.

The shopkeeper layed the feed we bought out, but before Zuko or I could grab it one of the soildiers snatched it away.
"Thanks for your contribution... the army appreciates your support.... now you better take your little girlfriend and leave town, penalty for staying is a lot steeper than you can afford stranger... trust me" he said tapping the hammer he carried with him.

I watched as the soildiers carried away our feed... I really wanted to fight them.. but I knew it wasn't wise.

"Those soliders are supposed to protect us from the Firenation... but they're really just a bunch of thugs" the shopkeeper said plainly.

Zuko stepped towards the ostrich horse and extended his hand to me,
"Let's go"

I grabbed his hand and mounted the Emu Jorse.

"Thanks for not ratting me out!"

I looked down, one of the kids who threw eggs at the soildier stood eagerly.

I was going to say something but Zuko just rode off, the kid quickly caught up to us though.

"I'll take you to my house and feed your guy's Ostrich horse for ya... come on I owe you two!" The kid exclaimed beginning to lead the ostrich horse to his home.

~

When we got to the Boy's home I immediately noticed how loud it was. Different types of animals from the family's farm were all eager and friendly to greet us. Zuko gave his typical cold look while I just kept walking along.

"No one can ever steak up on us..." the boy said about the noise.

"No kidding" Zuko replied.

The boy took the ostrich horse back as who I'm guessed was his father stepped from out of the house.
"You two friends of Lee's?"

"These two just stood up to the soildiers!! By the end they practically had them running away!" The boy, who I now knew was named Lee explained.

"Do these two have a name?" Lee's mother said stepping over to her son.

"We're... uhh.." Zuko stammered

"What my... friend is trying to say is we well...we're" I thought for a second

"You don't have to say who you are if they don't want to Ceela... anyone who can hold their own against those bully soildiers is welcome here... those men should be ashamed to wear Earth Kingdom uniforms"

"The real soldiers are all fighting the war... like Lee's big brother Sen Sue.. suppers going to be ready soon would you like to stay?" Lee's mother Ceela added.

"We can't... we should be moving on"

"Gone So could use some help on the barn... and I could use some help with the food... why don't you guys work for a while and then we'll eat"

~

The kitchen was very... flavorful smelling. Everything was neatly organized and perfectly proportioned.  It was a bit dark, the only light coming from a window cut in the wall. I didn't have too much experience with cooking so this could be a challenge.

"Could you cut up those greens and then put them by the rice?"

I nodded taking my dagger out of my pocket and chopping.

"So... if you don't mind me asking... you and the guy you travel with...are you... engaged?" Ceela asked while watching the meat cook.

I paused for a moment... what the heck was I supposed to reply to that! Wait... what the heck even are Zuko and I? We've kissed... we've held hands... but I guess we never really said we're dating. Iroh always tried to get us to... but I never agreed. I never thought the time was right I guess.

"Oh umm... no he's just a friend... we've known eachother since we were little... so we're pretty close"

"I can tell he cares for you a lot" she replied sweetly while taking the meat to the table.

"Yeah... I suppose he does" I replied dreamily.

"He reminds me of my husband before we were engaged...so protective... he's a keeper you know..."

"Is he now? Well I'll keep that in mind. I'm done chopping these... what do you need me to do next?"

~

It was the middle of the night. We ate with Lee's family and of course everything was delicious. We settled down for the night in the family's barn.

I opened my eyes,
"Zuko?"

I stood up.. he was gone.

Where did he go now?

I got up and look around. Even though the barn was dark I couldn't see him anywhere. I stepped out of the barn as my eyes narrowed upon a field of sunflowers.

Zuko looked to be training Lee how to fight.... a smile pasted my face... he has always been a good teacher....

~

"(Y/N)!! (Y/N)!!" Zuko belted in my ear as he ran towards me nearly crashing me over.

"What is it?" I questioned regaining my composure.

"Look what Uncle taught me!" He said demonstrating a new firebending kick move.

"Woah! That's so cool! Can you teach me?"

"I don't know.. doesn't Azula usually like teaching you? I don't want her to get all.. Azulay with you"

"It's okay! She's playing with Mai and Ty Lee outside"

"Hmm.. okay so what you do is put your left foot back"

"Like this?"

"Yep!" He replied looking at my feet,  "Now focus your mind on the heat in your foot and kick up"

"Okay.." I muttered preparing to try the move. I tried focusing the heat on my foot like Zuko told me and kicked upwards.

"Ahh!" I stumbled back hitting my foot against the fire palace's wall.

"(Y/N) watch out!" Zuko yelled.

"Huh?" I said dazed from the tumble.

"You lit one of the tampasies on fire!"

"WHAT?" I screamed crawling my body away from the wall... oh shoot I did.

"Zuko! I'm so sorry... I'm horrible at bending...I'm never as good as you at anything!" I muttered standing up. Tears began to trickle across my cheek.

"Your better at feeding the turtle ducks then me...and Uncle says that whenever you help him make tea when he's over... it tastes better"

"You mean it?" I questioned wiping away my tears.

"Why would I lie to you? And as for the tapastery...wanna just blame it on Azula?"

A huge smile crossed my face,
"But won't she be mad?"

"If it makes you smile... then I guess Azula's wrarth is worth it"

~

Sunlight fell on my skin as the day rises. I looked over, Zuko was safe and sound...

"You ready to head back on the road Zuko...?"

"I suppose..." he replied plainly.

"So.. you did a bit of training last night I see..."

"How did you?" He asked startled.

"Psshh... because I know all Zuko"

We walked to the front of the family's house prepared to make our goodbyes.

"Here, this ought to get your through a few meals" Ceela said handing me a container of food.

"Thank you" I said calmly taking it.

Suddenly, everyone's head turned away from the house as we heard the loud noise of someone approaching.

It was those dam Earth Kingdom soildiers!

"What do you think they want?" Gone Zu asked

"Trouble" Zuko replied

"What do you want Gow?" Gone Zu asked the Earth kingdom soildier in the front.

"Just thought someone ought to tell you your son's battalion got captured" he paused all of our faces grew with shock "you boys hear what the fire Nation did with their last group of Earth Kingdom prisoners?"

"Dressed them up in Fire Nation uniforms and put them on the front line unarmed the way I heard it.. then they just watched" another soldier remarked

"You watch your mouth!" Gone Zu commanded.

The earth kingdom soildiers approached but Zuko and I blocked them off with our ostrich horse

"Why bother rooting around in the mud with these pigs..." Gow replied before marching off.

I remembered when Zuko told me Lu Ten had passed. War is often so cruel.

"What's going to happen to my brother?" Lee asked as his parents tried to comfort him.

"I'm going to the front... I'm going to find Sen Su and bring him back" Gone Zu announced

"When my dad goes... will you stay.." Lee said as he ran up to Zuko with tears in his eyes.

"No... I need to move on... here I want you too have this read the inscription" handing Lee a blade Iroh had gotten him.

"Made in Earth Kingdom..."

"The other one" Zuko added

"Never give up without a fight..."

Zuko took the reigns and fled.

~

We decided to take a break in a field... Zuko was distracted and kept murmuring
"Azula always lies..."

He shuttered ever so slightly as his sister's name crossed his mouth. Maybe I'll make him some tea when he wakes up.

Lee's mother Ceela came riding towards us. She jumped out of her cart panicked.

"You have to help! It's Lee.. the thugs from town came back as soon as Gone Zu left... when they ordered us to give them food Lee pulled a knife on them! I don't even know where he got a knife... then they took him away they told me if he's old enough to fight then he's old enough to join the army.. I know we barely know you but..."

"We'll get your son back"

~

Zuko and I rode the ostrich horse back into town. I held my dagger steady in my hand.

"Hey! There they are I told you they'd come" Lee shouted.

He was all tied up with the soldiers surrounding him.

We got off of the ostrich horse and set our hats away. It was time for buiness now.

Zuko and I neared the soildiers
"Let the kid go..." Zuko ordered.

"We wouldn't want any trouble" I smirked as the light reflected off my dagger.

"Hahahaha who do you think you are telling us what to do?"

"It doesn't matter who we are... but I know who you are... you're not soldiers... you're bullies free loaders abusing your power mostly over women and kids... you don't want Lee in your army... you're sick cowards messing with a family whose already lost one son to the war..." Zuko muttered while grabbing onto the handle of his sword.

"Are you going to let this stranger just stand there and insult you like that?" The head soldier comanded

"You like this?" A soldier retorted charging at Zuko, Zuko quickly knocked him off his balance without even trying.

"We would like a bit of a challenge please..." I teased.

"I'll wipe that smile off of your face!" A soildier yelled running toward me. I  used his staff to knock him off balance and kick him away. Another soildier ran towards Zuko but Zuko just snapped his staff in half.

The lead soldier came zooming at us. He earth bended some rocks to hurl at us. I used my dagger to knock the smaller stones away as Zuko used his duel broad swords for the big ones. But, there were too many stones... they began hitting us. It was time to advance and just hope you the best. Zuko stepped forward as I waited right beside him. I was not about to let my prince get hurt by some bully.

Sure Zuko can be an idiot... but he's my idiot!

A crowd of villagers gathered around us to watch the fight,
"Give him the left..LEFT" an old man shouted attempting to hype Zuko up

"Its not a fist fight..." the woman beside him corrected

"He's got a left sword don't he?" The man retorted

We kept trying to dodge or blow back the rocks but it was getting difficult.

Beside me, one knocked Zuko down.

I grunted in response now trying to get all the rocks on my own.

"Look out!" The old man shouted

"Behind you!" Lee added.

Huh?

The rocks were getting stronger and stronger. Without firebending... it was only a matter of time before we lost.

Wind swung through my hair as I was slammed to the ground by a incoming wave of Earth.

I didn't know how long I was knocked out... but the moment my eyes opened Zuko was bending fire around like an ember tsunami.

Zuko... what the hell have you done?

I stood up... a fire burned in his eyes almost fiercer then the flames itself.

With his ability to bend, he was quickly able to pin the soildier down. I looked around... everyone was in complete shock.

"Who are you?" The soildier murmured.

I wanted to grab Zuko and run away before he could answer... but it was far to late.

"My name is Zuko.... son of Ursa and fire-lord Ozai, prince of the Firenation,  and heir to the throne...this is (Y/N)... daughter of one of the Firenation's top generals..."

The crowd whispered... and in seconds everyone had turned their opinion of us.

"Lier! You're not a prince you're an outcast! His own father burned and disowned him! " The old man shouted.

Zuko walked towards the Earth Kingdom soldier and grabbed back the knife he had stolen from Lee earlier.

"Not a step closer" Lee's mother Ceela said as Zuko approached

"It's yours you should have it" Zuko said plainly offering Lee his knife back.

"No I hate you!" Lee yelled.

Zuko and I mounted our ostrich horse silently and rode into the sunset.

Dam you Fire Nation... Dam you Earth Kingdom! It seems like wherever we go no one wants us.

As we got far past the town Zuko still hadn't said a word.

"Zuko..."

Nothing.

"I now it doesn't matter much... but if you want... I can make you some tea or something... Iroh taught me how to make it on the rode"

"That would be nice... (Y/N)"