The Trouble with Fire

Ch.20: Reunited

Zuko X OC

disclaimer: I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender. I own my OC


A month passed since they went to the beach. She gained a lot of trust from the guards and they even left her door unlocked now. Today was the day, the day of black sun, the day she was going to break out of the palace and devote her time to assisting The Avatar.

Fang stepped into her bath and slid the curtain, she carefully stepped into the shower. She moved a few of the bottles and reached for her small belt of throwing knives. During the day of black sun she would loose all her ability to fire bend, she would have to use her throwing knives but only if she met resistance. Her main hope was that she didn't run into Zuko.

She was brought out of her thoughts when she heard a rumbling from outside her door. She could hear men shouting and screaming in pain. What on earth was going on? She quickly slipped on her robe and made her way out of the bathroom and toward the entrance door of her room.

Concealing a few knives in her sleeve, she quickly opened the door. Her eyes widened when she saw Iroh standing in front of her. His hair had grown long and he seemed to have lost considerable weight. "Iroh...", she whispered, running to him.

"Fang.. it's good to see you.", he said softly as he hugged her wholeheartedly. Fang smiled and placed her hands on his shoulders. "How did you escape from your cell?", she asked, genuinely wanting to know. "We don't have much time. I have come here to ask you a question.", he stated. Fang slowly nodded.

"I explained to Zuko about his past. His father's father was Firelord Sozin but his mother's father was Avatar Roku.", Iroh explained. Fang's mouth fell open. She couldn't believe it. "Ursa's father was Avatar Roku?", she whispered, not really expecting the question to be answered. Iroh nodded.

"My nephew will always struggle between good and bad because it is in his blood. He needs to figure out what his true destiny is now that he knows his past.", Iroh continued. Fang ran her fingers through her hair. If his maternal grandfather was indeed Avatar Roku then he should be siding with The Avatar. He loves his mother more than anything and now he was going against his mother's beliefs.

"Now I ask you the toughest question yet... What will you do Fang?", Iroh asked. Fang bit her bottom lip, she wasn't about to stay here but the news of Zuko's family had her head spinning. "The choice is yours Fang. We leave or you stay.", Iroh said, grasping onto her shoulders tightly.

"Where will you go?", she asked, not wanting to just answer yet. "I will meet the White Lotus' back in Ba Sing Se.", he answered. Fang nodded and placed one of her hands over Iroh's. "I am going with The Avatar.", she answered.


"Again.", she instructed. Watching as the The Avatar struggled to Fire bend. He seemed to be getting more frustrated each time it didn't work. She slowly stood from her sitting position. Placing an arm on the young boys shoulder , she gently pushed his arm down. "Aang.. you have to let go of this fear. What is it that you're afraid of?", she asked.

"I'm afraid of facing the Fire Lord.", Aang whispered. Fang smiled sadly and shook her head. "That is a huge problem to put on such a young adult's shoulders.. however, you're afraid of firebending. I can sense it.", she narrowed her eyes. Aang sighed.

"When I first tried practicing it... I burned Katara. I vowed that I would never firebend again.", Aang answered. Fang nodded slowly. It made sense now. His perception of fire was only destruction. Fang smiled and stood in front of The Avatar, forming a small flame between the palms of her hand. "Fire can indeed be a scary thing.

It has power to destroy, kill, and permanently leave a mark on the earth... however..", she paused and reached over, taking his hand in hers as she gently placed the small flame into his palm. "Fire can be warmth, passion, caring and love... if you allow it to be.", she said, watching as the flame died out in his hands. Her red eyes followed up toward the darkening sky.

We should probably call it a day. You have trained much and need your rest.", she said smiling, motioning him to walk beside her. As they walked back to camp, they were both greeted with the smell of leeks. A smell that wasn't Fang's favorite but it did mean food so she wouldn't complain.

Katara was sitting beside a small fire, a pot balanced over it on a tripod of sticks that Sokka had made. He smiled big at Fang once he saw her. "Hey there. How'd it go?". He asked, blushing a little as Fang sat down next to him. "I believe we are making progress but... Aang needs to let go of his fears.", she answered as Katara started pouring soup into wooden bowls.

Fang smiled and held the bowl up to her lips, sipping on the vegetable soup slowly. It had been two weeks since she had shown up at the Western Aire Temple. She had broken out during the chaos of black sun. All Soldier's had left their post to fight on the front line, leaving her a clean route to escape. She was welcomed to "Team Avatar" as they called it with open arms when she had arrived.

Explaining the situation to the group wasn't easy to talk about but they sympathized with her and thanked her for sacrificing her life. Her thoughts always drifted to Iroh or Zuko, she missed them greatly. Going from seeing them everyday to hardly ever was slowly hurting her heart.

At the time of her arrival she had offered to teach Aang firebending as he had not found a teacher yet. By no means was she a teacher but she still offered to "substitute" and slowly teach him the basics before he found a master to instruct him.


Zuko stood in front of the mirror in his room. His eyes had been opened to a whole new world. He had made up his mind. He wanted to be with Fang. He wanted to fulfill his destiny of helping The Avatar. That was his true destiny. Not what his father had set his destiny as. No longer was Azula going to convince him of anything. He made his own choices now. He was the controller of his own destiny. He just... wished he had figured all this out before Fang and his Uncle left him. He was surprised to hear that Fang has escaped but understood why she had.

As he made his way to the Western Air Temple, his thoughts filled with different conversation starters. How was he even going to begin? He chased this group across the world and now he was suddenly going to pop in and say "Hi, I'm good now"? That would never work... but what other choice did he have?

He could hear the laughter of The Avatar and laughter of others as he approached closer. His heart sank a little... maybe Fang wasn't here? Everyone stopped when they saw him approach. He defensively put up his hands wanting to show them that he was serious. "Hi there... I um... I'm looking for my wife..", he said, scratching the back of his neck.

The group glared at him and said nothing. "I know she's he-", he was cut off by Katara holding a long stream of water in front of her. "Leave now!", she ordered. "I... I know you guys might be surprised that I'm here. I wanted to let you know that I've changed and I can teach Fire bending to Aang. You know I have good in me.", he said, to her specifically.

Katara shook her head and looked at Aang. "I trusted him once and he betrayed it shortly after.", she said, shaking her head and turning back to Zuko. "You'll never get my trust back." Zuko sighs. "I understand you not believing me but please, I can make it up to you.", he said, looking at Aang. Aang shook his head. "I'm sorry but we just can't trust you after all you've done to us.", he said, pointing his staff at him. "Please tell me where Fang is... she's my wife.. I have a right to know.", he said, pleading a little.

Katara shook her head. "You forfeited that right when you imprisoned her. How are we supposed to know you won't hurt her again?", she demanded. "I.. I wouldn't.", he whispered, feeling a little defeated.

Katara stepped forward and hit Zuko with a blast of water that knocked him off his feet. He slowly looked up at the group, drenched in water, a little shocked how everything had turned out. "Don't come back here!", Sokka said, holding out his boomerang. Zuko slowly stood and sulked away. Not knowing what to do. He would approach again tomorrow hopefully with a better result.


The next day, Fang slowly stepped out of her tent that she had made near the cliff-side. It had a beautiful view of the ocean an also had a small river that she could bathe and wash her clothes in. She gently knelt down next to the river and bent her head down into the water, washing her hair in the cold water.

It wasn't as glamorous as what she was use to but this was fine. Fang had never cared for being pampered and waited on all hours of the day, every day but.. she did find this quite out of her comfort zone. Her long black strands of hair flowed in the water like liquid obsidian.

She heard footsteps but didn't open her eyes, knowing it was Katara that wanted to speak to her about Aang's training. "Fang.". Fang's heart stopped and her hands froze in her hair. She knew that voice. Her eyes quickly shot open as she sat up. The only sound was the water dripping from her hair to the river. She held her wet hair in her hand as her mouth feel open. Zuko stood before her, a bag wrapped around his shoulder. She said nothing but continued to meet his gaze as she stood up.

A smile prevalent on his face. It seemed gentle than she thought it would be. He wasn't mad she had and his uncle had escaped? "I missed you.", he whispered. Zuko watched as Fang slowly let her hands fall from her wet hair. Her mouth was slightly open in shock. He took a step toward her but stopped there as she looked nervous and took a step back away from him.

"Can we talk?", he asked, pointing to the tent she had been sleeping in since she had come here. Fang stayed looking at him but said nothing. Her wet black hair sparkled in the sun as she continued to look at him with painful red eyes. "Let me explain.", Zuko pleaded.

He looked at his wife with desperate eyes as she turned her gaze to the ground, thinking about what to do. "Fang.. I'm so so sorry. Please, let me explain myself to you.", he pleaded again. Her sad red eyes came back up to look at him as she slowly and hesitatingly nodded, walking over to her tent. Her mind was swimming if everything that had just happened.

What was going on? Had Zuko come to bring her back? Did he come here to be with her? Fang knelt down on one of the pillows she had taken from her room in the palace. She was sure her husband could see her heart beating out of her chest as her fiery eyes locked onto his.

"Are you here to come take me back?", she asked, frowning a little as the words came out. There was no love in her tone at all. She was straightforward and serious. Zuko was taken aback a bit. Is that what was making her look so worried? "No... I promise.", he reached forward and brushed his fingers across her cheek. "I missed you, Fang. I really did. Not seeing you for another month really changed me.", he said. She stayed perfectly still, not totally understanding what was happening in front of her.

"I told my father that I'm not taking orders from him anymore.", Zuko said to Fang, completely serious. Fang's eyes widened. "...What?", she asked, still not believing. "I realized finally... that I need to make my own choices. Not what my father has put on me and not what my sister has put on me.", he explained. Fang couldn't believe her husband was saying this to her.

For many years she had wanted him to say it but now that she was actually hearing the words.. she didn't know how to react. "I joined the Avatar's team... and I can teach him firebending. I'm going to help him defeat my father.", Zuko said, sounding very determined. He frowned and looked at the ground.

"You have to believe me Fang. I have never been so ashamed of myself for locking you up in your room like a caged animal. I'm sorry for keeping you against your will. I'm sorry for trying to take advantage of you in that room on Ember Island. I'm sorry for not taking your side. I'm sorry for insinuating that you weren't a good wife. I did so many things wrong to you and I shouldn't have.", he whispered, fighting back tears.

"I-I can't believe it..", she whispered. Fang let a tear fall down her cheek. "For so long I have wanted to hear those words. For so long I have wanted you to create your own path and now you are ready.", she whispered back.

"I'm sorry... I love you and I mistreated you very badly. I treated you like a prisoner then my best friend and wife.", he said, his yellow eyes meeting her red ones. She wiped the tears off of her eyes and before she knew it, Zuko leaned forward, placing a kiss on her lips, one filled with love and longing.

She had not kissed Zuko since being on Ember Island and she had missed it more than anything. Her eyes slowly met his as he pulled away. "I know I'm late in saying this... and I know I promised you this before.. but this time I mean it. Once the Avatar defeats my father, we'll go back, make a home of our own and start a family.", he whispered, placing a kiss on her forehead.

A large smile spread across Fang's face as the words left his mouth. She nodded and placed a kiss on his lips again. Her mind was completely overwhelmed with everything that had just transpired in the last ten minutes.

"Do you forgive me?", he asked, his voice slightly pleading as he took her hand. Fang smiled and brushed a tear away from her cheek. "Yes.. of course.", she answered as he ran his fingers over the marriage ring he gave her. He smiled and placed a kiss on her lips, a more demanding one as he pushed her down onto the floor of her tent.

Zuko yanked on her dress roughly with one hand as he used the other one to support himself over her. It had been so long since he had been with her. He absolutely ached for her. His lips moved down to attack her neck as he placed hungry kisses on her hot skin. "Zuko... what if we get caught?", Fang whispered through her soft little moans.

His arm reached around her waist as he lifted her up and turned her around so he could take off her dress easier. His fingers started undoing the buttons going along the back of her dress as Zuko's lips traveled shortly behind his fingers, biting and pulling her closer to untie the back of her dress. "We won't.", he whispered back, placing a kiss on the shell of her ear.


Fang's eyes fluttered open slowly, she hadn't expected to fall asleep after Zuko had arrived. Her eyes rose to look up at his sleeping face. A smile spread across her lips as she gently reached up and brushed the hair out of his eyes with her fingertips. His eyes slowly opened making her retract her hand. "I'm sorry, my prince... I didn't mean to wake you.", she whispered.

He smiled and rested his head in his hand. "How long did we fall asleep for?", he asked, blinking his eyes a few times. "Just a few hours it seems. The Avatar will want to start training.", she said as she crawled forward and slipped a thin robe on. Zuko stayed staring up at the ceiling of the tent. Fang frowned and turned back toward him.

"Something wrong, my prince?", she asked. He shook his head and held his hand up in a fist. "I hope I'll be a good enough trainer.", he whispered. Fang smiled. "I know you will.", she encouraged, stepping out of the tent as Aang approached.

"Are you guys..uh.. I mean.. is Zuko ready to start?", Aang said, scratching the back of his head, blushing a little. Fang smiled and nodded. "I'm sorry.. I was just happy to see him. Yes, he should be ready in a few minutes. Remember what I taught you, Aang. Zuko will be a better teacher than me. You are in good hands.", she assured.

As she finished, Zuko stepped out of the tent, his hand wrapped around her waist and pulled her close. "Is there a place around here that's more open? We're going to need room to practice.", Zuko asked, looking around. Aang nodded and pointed to a terrace with his staff.

Zuko made his way to toward the half broken staircase. The cracked stone and marble was still beautiful even with it's old age. Once they reached the terrace Fang rested against the old railing. She was going to let Zuko teach but put in a few tips here and there.

"I know your nervous... but remember fire bending in and of itself is nothing to fear.", Zuko assured. "Okay.", Aang answered, letting out a nervous sigh. "It is something that still needs to be respected though. Now show me any firebending that you can make.", Zuko instructed.

The Avatar took a deep breath, quickly turned to the left and held out his hand, a small puff of smoke coming from his palm. He seemed a little embarrassed as he looked back at Zuko. "Maybe I need a little more instruction.", he whispered, a frown appearing on his face. "Perhaps a demonstration?", he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Good idea. You might want to take a couple steps back.", Zuko instructed, holding his arms out. He took a deep breath, balled his hand into a fist and thrust his arm toward his left. A small burst of flame came from his fist. Fang frowned. Was that intentional? "What was that?! That was the worst firebending I've ever seen!", Zuko asked to no one in particular.

"I thought it was... nice.", Aang said, shrugging his shoulders a little. Zuko tried a few more times with the same result. Fang bit her bottom lip. What was going on? Why couldn't he firebend? He had been fine when they went to Ember Island.. what had happened in between that time to have this happen?

Zuko stared at his hands and growled in anger and frustration. "Why is this happening?!", he yelled. "...Maybe it's the altitude.", Aang suggested, trying to keep light of the situation. "Yah... could be..", Zuko said, a little discouraged.

Even after they moved down to lower ground Zuko continued to have trouble. He tried over and over but still with the same result. Fang held her tongue. Not wanting to say too much but she knew full well... this had nothing to do with altitude. She could fire bend perfectly fine. Something was wrong with Zuko's firebending.


End of Ch.20