Chapter Text
Aquí tienes la traducción adaptada al inglés, manteniendo la voz narrativa, la fluidez y los términos/nombres oficiales del fandom en inglés.
The atmosphere in the Western Air Temple ruins was so oppressive that the air itself felt heavy—an electric tension threatening to explode at any given moment.
In the center of the courtyard, Zuko remained on his knees, hunched over and vulnerable. Water dripped from his clothes, soaking him from head to toe after the impact of Katara’s attack. A few meters away, Aang maintained a icy expression, while Sokka, his knuckles white, aimed his boomerang, ready to strike.
You arrived right at the exact second the group’s patience was about to turn to ashes. Your voice rose, cutting through the silence like a silk thread stopping a freefall.
"What's going on?" you asked, stepping forward with a calm that completely clashed with the chaos.
Zuko raised his eyes with effort. Seeing his face, reality hit you all at once. Memories of the old wanted posters and whispers in the streets of the Fire Nation came alive right before you: the unmistakable scar, the gaze of a fallen heir.
It was him. Prince Zuko.
"OH MY GOD! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" you exclaimed upon recognizing him.
As a citizen of the Fire Nation, you needed no more proof than that mark branded onto his skin. Katara took an aggressive step forward, ready to unleash all her pent-up rage, but you stepped in firmly between them, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"Katara... calm down," you whispered, offering her a faint smile, trying to dispel the storm in her eyes.
She gritted her teeth, letting out a stifled growl, but backed off just a few millimeters—enough to give you space.
You knelt in front of the soaked young man, deliberately ignoring the daggers the others were glaring at you. You seemed to be in your own world, one where compassion weighed more than the team's grudge.
"Hello, new friend, or should I say, Your Highness? Uhhh, Prince Zuko? Yeah, Prince Zuko," you said with a shameless, almost out-of-place cheerfulness. Zuko blinked twice, completely thrown off by your tone. "My name is Reader. Go ahead... tell us your story."
You reached into your bag and pulled out a clean, dry cloth. With slow, careful movements, you began to wipe away the mixture of soot, mud, and water staining his face.
At the touch, Zuko tensed instantly, holding his breath. His eyes widened in a mix of suspicion and wonder; it was clear he couldn't remember the last time someone had touched him with such gentleness.
"W-what... who are you?" he asked, his voice broken with surprise, while your hand rested briefly on his cheek, offering him a human warmth that felt entirely foreign to him.
"I'm just a regular firebender," you replied, your smile radiating more heat than any flame. "But I'm no good at firebending... so it would be pretty useful if you joined us."
Time seemed to stand still. Zuko went silent, processing your words.
"Now," you added softly yet firmly. "Talk. Why are you here?"
Zuko parted his lips slightly. There was a plea in his eyes, a desperate need to be heard, to redeem himself. He was just about to spill the truth burning in his chest, but the moment shattered before it could even begin.
Two firm hands grabbed your shoulders and yanked you back with a sudden force that knocked you off balance.
"Ouch!" you cried out, falling backward onto the cold stone of the temple.
"Get away from Zuko!" Katara roared, planting herself as a human shield between you and the prince. "He only knows how to lie, deceive, and hurt people. Don't go near him!"
"Katara... I was just..." he tried to intervene, reaching out a trembling hand into the air.
"Zuko, leave," she cut him off, her voice so icy it chilled him to the bone. "Or next time... we attack."
The silence that followed was deathly quiet. Zuko didn't talk back. He simply lowered his gaze, defeated once again by his past. His eyes lingered for one last second on the cloth you had used to clean him—now abandoned and damp on the ground.
Without a word, he stood up with heavy movements and walked away, vanishing into the shadows of the ruins.
You watched Zuko's silhouette disappear into the dark. An awkward silence fell over the group, broken only by the dripping water and your own heavy breathing.
You stood up, dusting off your clothes and looking at the others with a mix of frustration and pity.
"Look, I know Prince Zuko hunted you guys across the world, but he looked..." you started, searching for the words to describe the defeat in his eyes.
"He wasn't lying," Toph blurted out suddenly, her feet firmly planted on the earth that told her the truth of Zuko's heart.
"He won't be my teacher," Aang declared, displaying a stubbornness uncharacteristic of him. "Reader can teach me!"
You let out a tired sigh, rubbing your temples. Aang was looking at you with a hope that weighed on your chest like a stone.
"Aang, I'm an artist, not a soldier. Plus, I can barely produce a few flames," you admitted honestly.
You knew your fire was barely a spark compared to the fury the Avatar needed to master.
"I'm starting to wonder who the blind ones really are around here," Toph muttered, crossing her arms.
That very night, while the world was asleep, you climbed onto Appa’s back to set off on a solitary journey toward the heart of the Fire Nation.
You were the oldest of the group, out-aging Sokka by just a single year. "Come to think of it, I'm the same age as Prince Zuko," you reflected as the wind stroked your face.
Seventeen springs that felt like an entire century.
Your role in the team wasn't that of a warrior, but a provider. You were the one who kept everyone's bellies full, the one who earned the coins to keep the journey going. You had met them amid the roar of explosions when that man with the dead-eyed stare—whom they nicknamed "Combustion Man"—ambushed them near your workplace. You helped them escape on pure instinct, and upon seeing them try to scam people just to eat, your heart softened. To you, they weren't the Avatar and his guardians; they were stray kittens lost in a storm.
But your job... that was a secret you kept locked away in the deepest part of your soul. It wasn't something that made you feel proud. You presented yourself to them as a local theater actress and singer, which was true under the sunlight. But when night fell, the mask changed.
You worked as a companion in courtesan houses, dancing and singing for men who looked at you with hunger. More than once, a wealthy client paid fortunes for the right to claim your first time, longing to possess the purity you still held onto. But you always managed to escape that nightmare by slipping sedatives into their drinks. You conned them and vanished before they woke up. You refused to be touched by a man who wasn't your husband.
A husband... The thought made you smile with bitterness. In the world you moved in, a love like that felt like a childish fantasy. But dreaming cost nothing, even in the red-light districts steeped in that smell of opium and stale lust you so deeply loathed.
You left Appa hidden in the gloom of a cave. You offered him a piece of fresh fruit, stroking his shaggy fur before letting him rest.
"I'll be back soon, big guy," you whispered.
You walked toward the vibrant lights of the city, adjusting your clothes and preparing to immerse yourself once again in that terrible life that allowed you to keep the others' innocence intact. That night, the stage awaited you, and with it, the courtesan mask no one knew about.
The midday sun was beating down relentlessly when you returned on Appa's back, but what you saw from high above took your breath away.
In the temple courtyard, amid clouds of dust and the thunderous roar of explosions, Prince Zuko was fighting side by side with Team Avatar. He wasn't the hunter, but the protector, fiercely battling the very same man who had attacked them before.
You landed carefully and kept a safe distance, watching as silence returned to the temple after the enemy fell.
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but... thank you, Zuko," Aang said, breaking the ice.
Zuko swallowed hard. His posture was hunched, betraying the exhaustion of someone who hadn't closed his eyes in days, running from his own past.
"I've lived through so much these past few years..." he began, his voice raspy and weighted with a painful maturity. "I thought my father would give me back my honor... but now I understand that no one can give you that. It's only earned by doing what's right. I want to help. And yes... I want to teach you, Aang."
Aang, moved by the prince's sincerity, offered a deep and heartfelt bow.
"I would like you to be my teacher."
You watched as Zuko opened his eyes in almost childlike surprise before returning the bow with a clumsy smile that touched your very soul.
"Thank you... really."
"But I have to ask my friends," Aang added, seeking the group's consensus.
"Pff, fine. I'll get back at him for my feet later," Toph let out with her usual honesty.
"I just want to defeat the Fire Lord. If he helps, great," Sokka conceded, throwing his hands up in surrender.
Aang turned his head toward the last holdout.
"Katara?"
She crossed her arms tightly, keeping an icy glare, but ultimately let out a resigned sigh.
"I'll support whatever you decide."
That was when you decided to step in. You walked into the circle, your heart beating a thousand miles an hour, leaving behind the shadows of the night before.
"Wow!" you exclaimed as you reached them. "I saw everything! Thank you so much for helping the team, Prince Zuko."
"Reader?" everyone chorused, surprised by your return.
You offered them a smile so bright it felt like pure fire emanating from your spirit, letting out a small squeal of contained excitement.
"You acted selflessly. You cared more about other people's lives than your own. Prince Zuko, you made a supreme sacrifice. You've redeemed yourself. You are a clean, free soul with honor!" you exclaimed with fervor. Without hesitating, you took his hands firmly in yours, giving him a smile that even the sun would envy.
Zuko blinked, completely disarmed by your enthusiasm. You noticed his cheeks flushing under the touch of your hands, a blush he could barely hide.
You turned to the rest of the team, raising your voice so everyone could hear.
"It seems he has already expiated the mistakes of his past. He comes to us as someone who understood and wanted to change. Welcome, Prince Zuko!" you said calmly.
But Katara didn't share your euphoria. She stepped forward quickly, grabbing your hands and pulling you away from him with a sharp jerk.
"We can't fall for his lies! Don't be so naive," she scolded you harshly.
You looked at her with unshakeable calm, keeping your composure despite her tone.
"I don't sense any lies," you replied softly, trusting your gut.
Then, you caught Sokka's eye to get down to business.
"We need to get him settled. Sokka, can you help him out?"
"Sure thing!" he answered, caught up in your optimism and smiling back at you.
Sokka placed a hand on Zuko's shoulder, guiding him toward the temple's inner quarters.
Before crossing the threshold, Zuko paused. He turned his head and shot you one last glance. It was brief and full of nervousness, but it was also gentle... filled with a gratitude that needed no words.
When they finally walked away, you let out a sigh of relief that released all the built-up tension.
"Phew... finally someone my age on the team," you said with a laugh, feeling that, for the first time, the group's destiny was heading in the right direction. "And now he's going to be one of us."
The afternoon sun filtered through the cracks in the temple walls, illuminating the dust floating in your room.
You were sitting on the floor, your back hunched and your eyes fixed on a crumpled piece of paper that felt heavier than a sword. Your fingers traced lines of numbers, trying to work magic where there was none.
"...this isn't good... It's not enough..." you whispered to yourself, feeling a knot in your stomach.
With the arrival of Haru, Teo, and The Duke after the invasion, and now with Zuko joining, expenses had skyrocketed. Nine mouths to feed, medical supplies, gear... The little gold you had left was slipping through your fingers like sand.
An involuntary yawn shook your body. The exhaustion from your secret nights in the red-light districts was beginning to take its toll.
Suddenly, someone's shadow fell over your paper and, out of pure survival instinct, you hid it beneath your thigh with a swift movement.
"Sokka! You scared me!" you exclaimed, forcing a smile while your heart pounded frantically.
"Sorry, Reader, but Aang says we need more bandages, and Appa already finished the bag of hay," he said, scratching the back of his neck with a grin.
"Oh! Don't worry about that. Here," you said with a light chuckle, tossing him a small coin pouch that jingled with a dangerously hollow sound. "That's more than enough. Buy something nice for dinner too, alright?"
Sokka caught the pouch, his eyes shining with excitement.
"You're the best! I don't know what we'd do without your 'eye for business' in the theaters."
The moment he left, your smile faded as if it had never existed. You pulled the paper out from under your thigh and faced the grim reality: you were almost completely broke.
You pressed a hand to your head, squeezing your eyes shut. You were exhausted, both physically and mentally. You needed to sleep for at least a couple of hours before the sun set and you had to return to that "other life."
You stood up to close the door, seeking a bit of solitude, but as you turned, you bumped straight into a solid, firm chest. The impact made you take a step back.
"Oh... Wow," you blurted out, looking up. You had never noticed how tall he was until you were this close to him. "Hello... Is something wrong, Prince Zuko?"
Zuko backed away immediately, visibly uncomfortable with the physical proximity. He cleared his throat, avoiding direct eye contact.
"I... wanted to thank you. For earlier. For helping me with your friends..." he said, and you noticed his fingers nervously fidgeting with the hem of his tunic.
You gripped the doorknob, keeping that physical barrier between the two of you, and gave him a soft smile, though your eyes didn't shine the way they used to.
"Oh, it's nothing! Really. I hope you enjoy being part of the team, Prince Zuko. Everyone deserves a chance," you said, starting to gently close the door.
But he didn't move. His gaze locked onto yours—an intense, analytical stare that made you feel exposed.
"A moment ago... it looked like something was wrong," he blurted out with a frankness that left you frozen. "Is something bad happening?"
You stood motionless, the door half-closed, feeling the paper with your debts burning on the floor behind you.
"What are you talking about?" you asked, trying to keep a casual tone, though your voice wavered slightly.
"I saw you through the entrance after Sokka left. You looked at that paper and... it seemed like it upset you." Zuko took a small step forward, lowering his voice.
The tension in the air became suffocating. For a second, you were on the verge of telling him, of letting go of the burden of being responsible for the group's finances, but the fear that he would discover how you earned the money held you back.
"Ah, don't worry about it, Prince Zuko," you said, reclaiming your mask of cheerfulness with superhuman effort. "I just had an exhausting day, that's all. The trip back was long. You should go see the rest of the team; I'm sure Aang needs help with his firebending. Good luck, goodbye!"
Without waiting for an answer, you closed the door.
You leaned back against the wood, listening to the silence on the other side. Zuko lingered there for a few more seconds—you could feel his presence—before you heard his footsteps slowly walking away.
You let out a long sigh and looked at your bed with longing. With a quick flick of your fingers, you ignited a small flame in the air and burned the paper to ashes, watching the numbers turn into black smoke.
Without wasting another second, you collapsed onto the blankets and fell into a deep, instantaneous sleep, so exhausted that one of your legs hung carelessly off the bed.
Here is the English translation for this section:
Exactly five hours passed before you felt light little paws on your back. Momo came fluttering through the temple's arched window, faithfully fulfilling his daily role as your personal alarm clock. He insistently licked your cheek.
"I'm up, Momo... I'm up..." you grumbled, stretching your arms lazily as the lemur hopped onto your shoulder.
You stood up and began your ritual. You got dressed and applied your makeup, highlighting your lips for the night's performance. Before stepping out, you buttoned up a long, thick coat that covered you from neck to ankles; it was your indispensable armor for hiding the actual outfit underneath—much more revealing and ornate.
After styling the last strands of your hair, you walked out into the main courtyard, where the group was already gathered around the campfire preparing dinner.
"Okay, I'm ready! How do I look?" you asked in a playful tone, doing a quick spin on your heels as you reached them.
Sokka, who was focused on stirring the contents of the pot with a wooden spoon, barely glanced up.
"Fine. Now come on, help us with the food," he replied with total indifference.
You crossed your arms, puffing out your cheeks with an indignation that was half-joke and half-actor's pride.
"Fine? I think you mean gorgeous. You know what? I'm going to go change," you threatened, dramatically turning around.
Sokka's eyes widened in immediate panic at the thought of having offended you.
"No, no, no! He meant gorgeous! You look amazing, Reader!" the Avatar quickly corrected, waving his hands in the air.
You let out a soft laugh, breaking your serious facade, and looked back at them fondly.
"Alright, take it easy. Did you guys get the supplies?" you asked, glancing toward the flying bison lying a few meters away. "Mmm... poor Appa hasn't rested at all today. I feel bad having to take him out again for work."
Zuko, who had been sitting a bit away from the fire quietly watching the scene, raised his head upon hearing your words.
"I can take you. I have a war balloon," he offered naturally, crossing his arms.
Your heart skipped a beat. A cold sweat washed over the back of your neck at the possibility of him accompanying you and discovering your job.
"Oh, don't worry about it, Prince Zuko. I... wouldn't want to bother you," you said, waving a hand evasively.
"It's no bother," he insisted, keeping his tone serious and direct, locking his golden eyes on you.
You had to shake him off without raising suspicion, so you turned to the best excuse available.
"Besides, you have to train Aang first thing tomorrow morning. Where I'm going is pretty far, and I don't want you staying up late or getting exhausted before your first lesson," you said, shaking your head firmly. "It would be a shame if the master overslept."
Right at that precise moment, as if he understood the situation and wanted to rescue you, Appa let out a huge yawn, thumping his massive tail against the ground. He opened his eyes and stared at you while emitting a low, lively grunt. He was ready to fly.
A genuine smile lit up your face as you saw the great bison stretch.
"Ah! He's awake! Time for me to go!" you announced hurriedly, walking at a fast pace toward the giant animal to stop Zuko from insisting on the balloon.
"Wait! Aren't you going to eat dinner with us? You haven't eaten much today, Reader," Katara stopped you, frowning with genuine motherly concern as she served a bowl of stew.
"Oh, I'll eat at the theater. I always buy something delicious backstage, really. Please eat well and don't save me anything," you said lightly. To spoil your travel companion, you grabbed a ripe watermelon from the supplies and tossed it directly into Appa's huge mouth, who caught it enthusiastically. "And these are for the road."
You finished packing a couple of fruits into your bag, leaped onto the bison's back, and took the reins.
"Have a safe trip!" Aang shouted, waving his hand.
"Bring bread if you find any!" Sokka added with his mouth half-full.
Zuko only gave you a silent nod, keeping his eyes fixed on you until Appa took flight, disappearing into the twilight sky.
The night in the Capital's red-light district was a resounding success, though exhausting. That evening, you were lucky enough to be assigned as the private companion for three high-ranking Fire Nation generals. They were so entertained debating war strategies that all you had to do was maintain your elegance, serving hot tea and platters of food with a practiced smile.
"You possess a grace fit for the court, girl," one of them remarked, dropping a stack of bills onto the table.
"It is an honor to serve such illustrious men, Generals," you replied with a perfect bow.
Then came the main show. On the venue's stage, your love for dance and song became your greatest weapon. You moved with the fluidity of fire, singing ancient melodies that captivated the audience. When you finished, applause rained down along with a storm of tips: men approached to slip bills into the folds of your clothes and toss coins that landed in your cleavage.
You loved the art, you loved to sing... but the context always left a bitter taste in your mouth.
During one of your brief breaks, you leaned against the second-floor carved wooden balcony, seeking a bit of fresh air. You looked down at the street lit by red lanterns. In the distance, oblivious to the world's chaos, you saw several couples walking hand in hand; husbands sharing a laugh, boyfriends gazing at each other with devotion.
A nostalgic sigh escaped your lips.
Yeah, that's something I doubt I'll ever have, you thought with a pang in your heart. Who would want to be with a woman who lives like this? Who would want a future with me if they knew?
"Hey, beautiful! Coming down anytime soon?" a man called out from the ground floor, snapping you out of your thoughts. Several clients were looking up at you from below with hungry eyes.
The melancholy vanished instantly behind your professional mask. You brought your silk fan to your lips, concealing your true expression, and narrowed your eyes coquettishly before greeting them with a graceful wave of your hand. You had to keep drawing in customers.
And so, amid songs and polite smiles, the clock ticked away until six in the morning.
With aching feet and a bag full of money, you slipped quietly out of the venue while the sun was just tinting the horizon pink. You retrieved Appa from the safety of the cave, stroked his snout, and set off on the journey back to the temple.
The sun was already high in the sky when Appa landed gently in the Western Air Temple's lower courtyards. Exhaustion weighed on your eyelids, but in your chest was a tremendous sense of relief and satisfaction. The night had been incredibly generous; the weight of the bag at your side was proof that Team Avatar wouldn't go hungry for a long time.
Before anyone could see you clearly, you slipped away like a shadow toward your room. With fast but careful hands, you stripped off the long coat and the revealing silk attire, folding it neatly to hide it at the bottom of your trunk. You washed your face, removing the last traces of nighttime makeup, and put on your regular, comfortable clothes. You were back to being the same old Reader.
As you stepped out into the main courtyard, you were greeted by a beautiful, lively scene. The team was gathered around a large blanket on the ground, sharing a late breakfast of fresh fruit and hot rice. Katara was laughing at one of Aang's jokes, while Toph was attempting to steal a piece of bread from Sokka using a tiny pillar of earth.
Even Zuko was there, sitting a bit straighter than the day before, watching the warmth of the group with an almost touching shyness.
You walked up behind Sokka with stealthy steps and, without warning, dropped the heavy leather pouch right next to his plate. The sharp clinking sound of coins and the crinkle of paper made everyone jump.
"Ta-da!" you announced with a radiant smile, crossing your arms.
Sokka blinked, confused, and yanked the pouch open. His eyes nearly popped out of his socket as he poured some of the contents into his hand. It wasn't just copper or silver coins; gleaming among them were thick wads of paper bills stamped with the Fire Nation's imperial seal. It was a small fortune.
"For the love of...!" Sokka gasped, his mouth agape. "Reader, this is... this is enough to buy a whole ship if we wanted to!"
Sokka's exclamation brought everyone over to look, wide-eyed in awe. Katara stifled a gasp, and Aang began chanting your name in cheer. However, at the edge of the group, Zuko's gaze grew sharply intense.
His yellow eyes locked onto the imperial bills; he recognized that paper currency instantly. It was high-denomination funding, official legal tender only issued as salary or rewards to high-ranking military generals.
Zuko looked up at you, his brow furrowed in a mix of confusion and legitimate suspicion.
"What kind of work do you do?" Zuko asked, his raspy voice cutting through the festive mood. He knew no ordinary, run-of-the-mill theater handled that kind of money.
You stayed calm, meeting his gaze with a practiced composure that hid the sudden drop in your stomach.
"Me? I'm a dance and performance artist, Prince," you answered with total ease, offering him a light, professional smile. "Citizens in the Capital love good art."
Before Zuko could analyze your answer or ask the next logical question, Sokka stepped in, hugging the pouch of money like a sacred treasure and glaring grumpily at the prince.
"Alright, enough questions! Come on, you need to eat breakfast!" Sokka declared happily, placing himself between the two of you. "Our star provider is back, and she's earned the right to the biggest serving of rice."
Katara lovingly pulled you down to sit beside her, handing you a steaming bowl. Breakfast passed with laughter, plans for the future, and lighthearted jokes. Seeing them so happy, without the anxiety of scarcity weighing on their shoulders, made every aching foot and fake smile from the night before completely worth it.
When everyone finished eating, the accumulated fatigue finally caught up with you. As Aang and Zuko stood up a few meters away, beginning to discuss stance and the basic concepts of firebending with firm gestures, your legs simply couldn't hold you up any longer.
You dragged yourself heavily over to where Appa was peacefully resting under the shadow of the walls. You curled up against one of his huge, soft front paws, soaking in the comforting warmth of his fur. The bison let out a low rumble that vibrated through your whole body, welcoming you.
You closed your eyes, sinking into a deep, restorative sleep, lulled by the distant sound of Zuko's voice correcting the Avatar's posture. You were beyond exhausted, but at long last, you could rest in peace.
When you opened your eyes, the gloom of night was already enveloping the temple. You sat up abruptly, disoriented by the long sleep, and panic seized you as you looked around.
"AH! It's late!" you exclaimed, leaping to your feet.
You were tremendously surprised to notice that you were no longer leaning against Appa's paw; at some point during the afternoon, someone had carefully carried you to your own room. But there was no time to ponder who it had been. The clock was ticking against you.
You began getting dressed in a rush for work, applying your makeup with expert hands. This time, you chose a silk tunic in soft shades of pink and green. It was a simple and delicate garment, but designed specifically for the stage: it left your shoulders exposed and featured a rather low neckline. In the rush and nervousness of being late, you ran out of the room... completely forgetting to put on the long coat you always wore.
Upon reaching the main courtyard, you heard Zuko's voice echoing through the ruins. The team was having dinner around the campfire.
"There are these masters, the Sun Warriors," the prince was explaining.
"They didn't exist in my time," Aang replied, frowning.
"No, they don't exist anymore, but I know where their civilization is. If we go there, we can learn the original source of firebending," Zuko insisted firmly. "We have to leave first thing tomorrow morning."
As soon as you stepped into the circle of firelight, you decided to break the ice.
"Is something wrong?" you asked, walking straight toward the group.
At that moment, time seemed to stand still. Everyone turned to look at you. Toph, obviously, didn't react and waved at you as casually as ever, since she couldn't see what you were wearing. But the rest of the group froze. Sokka and Katara opened their mouths so wide their spoons dropped straight into their bowls with a loud clink.
Aang didn't seem to pay much mind to it, but Zuko...
Zuko went completely silent. His yellow eyes widened, and a deep crimson color rushed up his neck all the way to his scar. It was the first time in his life he had seen a girl with so much skin exposed; even in his relationship with Mai, everything had been limited to kissing. This was too extreme, too bold for the reserved prince.
"Reader?!" everyone chorused, scandalized.
"What? What's going on?" Toph asked, turning her head side to side, confused by the commotion.
"What is wrong with you guys?" you said, raising an eyebrow. But when you looked down and noticed the lack of fabric over your shoulders, your heart dropped to the floor. You had forgotten your coat. "Ah! Hahaha... ha...! It's a dance outfit, it's the most revealing one. Today's performance is very interesting," you justified yourself in a hurry, feeling your own cheeks burn as you thought to yourself, "...luckily it's the most... decent one..."
Quickly, you pulled a lightweight scarf from your bag and wrapped it around your shoulders to cover up a bit.
"Anyway. Now tell me, did something happen with training?" you asked to divert their attention, stepping toward Appa, who was already waking up waiting for you.
Momo flew from the ground and landed directly on your head, letting out a squeak.
"Hey, you didn't wake me up today!" you complained to the little lemur.
"Momo went to check on you, but he couldn't wake you up," Aang explained with a gentle chuckle.
"Oh... I see," you replied, reaching the bison's side. "Yip yip, big guy."
"Wait, you can't take Appa today," Aang stopped you, leaping to his feet with excitement. "Tomorrow morning we're leaving first thing to discover the origins of firebending!"
You stopped in your tracks, connecting the dots in your mind.
"Oh, wow..." you began to process. "So there were problems with training?"
"Zuko lost his firebending," Katara blurted out in a slightly mocking tone.
"It's not that! It's just... weaker," Zuko interrupted immediately, looking down at the ground to avoid eye contact and keep from turning red again. "I can take you in the war balloon," he offered once more, looking for a way out.
"NO!" you exclaimed a bit too loudly, causing everyone to look at you, confused by your sudden rejection. You cleared your throat quickly to fix it. "No... you shouldn't doubt that I'll accept that option."
Zuko blinked, a bit thrown off, but nodded. "Alright, let's go."
"BUT! You have to wake up early tomorrow... mmmm, well, teach me how to use it!" you proposed, feeling a spark of excitement.
"What?" Zuko blurted out, totally bewildered.
"Yes! Show me how to fly it. You need to sleep early and it's a long trip, so I'd rather not bother you with it," you said kindly, giving him a genuine smile.
Zuko thought about it for a couple of seconds, scratching the back of his neck, overwhelmed by your energy.
"...I guess that's fine..."
"Perfect, let me do it now!" you said enthusiastically.
Right at that exact moment, Sokka let out a loud, mischievous whistle, causing Aang and the others to burst into knowing giggles behind your back.
"What the...?" Zuko muttered, glancing sideways at the group, clearly getting flustered by the kids' implication.
You rolled your eyes dramatically, shooting a fake scowl toward the younger members of the team.
"That sounded terrible. Come on, don't be rude," you said, turning around to walk toward the temple exit. Then, you turned back to the prince. "Come on, Zuko. I mean, Prince Zuko!"
You walked with a firm step toward where the Fire Nation balloon was parked, feeling Zuko's footsteps close behind you.
The night wind blew forcefully across the launchpad. Rising before you was the imposing, rudimentary silhouette of the Fire Nation war balloon.
You stretched a bit, trying to climb into the metal basket. Before you could hop in, Zuko approached from behind. He took you firmly by the waist and, with astonishing ease that betrayed the tremendous physical strength from his years of military training, lifted you into the air to help you inside.
"Thanks, Zuko," you said, adjusting your scarf.
"Don't mention it," he replied, leaping nimbly into the basket.
At that moment, Zuko's mind was a whirlwind. For days, he had been carrying the dead weight of his breakup with Mai; that letter he had left her back in the Fire Nation still ached in his chest like a necessary betrayal. He felt lonely. But looking at you there, with your shoulders bare under the moonlight, the memory of that letter simply evaporated from his mind.
"Alright, pay attention," Zuko began, adopting an instructor's posture to mask his nerves. "The mechanism is rudimentary, but dangerous. This lever regulates the air release valves, and the central burner needs a constant stream of firebending to maintain altitude."
You stepped closer to the burner—a large iron bowl attached to the canopy. Trying to recall your few childhood lessons, you focused your energy and extended your fists.
However, from your hands came only a hesitant spark and a small flame, barely the size of a candle, which died out after a few seconds.
Zuko blinked, genuinely surprised to see such a weak flame in someone your age.
"Let me help you. You're not channeling your breath correctly," he said.
Without thinking, guided by the pure instinct of a teacher, Zuko stepped right behind you. His chest brushed against your back, and his long arms wrapped around your sides to hold your hands in his.
"Inhale deeply from your stomach... and release," he whispered near your ear.
In such intimate proximity, the sweet, vanillic scent of your perfume completely overwhelmed Zuko's senses, intoxicating him.
The prince lowered his gaze to focus on your hands, but it was inevitable: from that angle, his view fell directly onto the low neckline of your pink tunic. Zuko swallowed hard, feeling his own heart beating a thousand miles a minute, flirting with you without even realizing what his body was doing.
"Now... fire!" he ordered, his voice slightly raspy.
Both of you released your energy at the same time. Zuko's firebending was also weakened, but as it joined yours, the two sparks merged, generating a bright, powerful blaze that roared inside the burner, inflating the canopy all at once. The balloon gave a gentle tug upward.
"Wow! We did it!" you exclaimed excitedly.
To you, it had all been a very kind and exciting lesson. You naturally stepped away from him and turned to thank him. Showing off your capital manners, you leaned forward in a deep, heartfelt bow. As you did, your scarf slipped to the sides, giving Zuko, without your intention, a completely unobstructed, spectacular view of your chest.
Zuko's eyes widened, feeling his face burning so hot it could melt the basket's metal. He jerked his face toward the horizon, covering his mouth with a hand as he fake-coughed to regain his composure.
While you checked the levers, ready to start your journey alone, Zuko leaned on the edge of the basket, looking at you with newfound shyness.
"Are you sure... you don't want to come with us tomorrow?" Zuko asked, scratching the back of his neck. "Your firebending is pretty weak; you could improve it and help the team more."
You turned to him, shaking your head while letting out a melodic chuckle.
"Mmm... I doubt I can go with you guys. You have to leave really early, and I always get back pretty late from my theater shows..."
"But... why don't you train your firebending? You have potential," he insisted, showing genuine interest in spending more time with you.
"To be honest... I'm way too lazy to exercise like that," you admitted with a laugh, adjusting your tunic. "Though... I might join you for a training session later on. After all, you must be a great master!"
Zuko offered a clumsy, soft smile, feeling a pleasant warmth in his chest that had nothing to do with the burner.
What neither of you suspected was that, a couple of levels higher in the temple ruins, four silhouettes were ducked down behind a stone pillar, watching every single movement through a spyglass.
"They're touching hands! Zuko grabbed her by the waist!" Sokka whispered in absolute excitement, glued to the spyglass. "There's a spark, ladies and gentlemen, there's a spark!"
"What's happening? What are they doing? Someone describe the scene in vivid detail to me!" Toph demanded, tugging at Katara's tunic in frustration at not being able to see the gossip.
"Sokka, shut up, they're going to hear you," Katara scolded him in a whisper.
"They make a cute couple," Aang added, smiling fondly as Momo squeaked in agreement.
You waved goodbye to the prince before releasing the moorings.
The balloon began to rise slowly into the night.
Here is the English translation for this section:
The night in the capital had been long and routine, draining your remaining strength backstage. When you returned to the temple the following afternoon, a deathly silence greeted you; Aang and Zuko had already departed on Appa toward the lands of the ancient Sun Warriors civilization.
Nearly two full days passed. The weight of your double life had you at your limit, balancing between physical exhaustion and the stress of keeping your secrets safe. That was why, by that second afternoon, you ended up simply lying on the floor, flat on your back near the cold embers of the main campfire, far too exhausted to move a single muscle.
Just as boredom and lethargy began to blur together, Appa's signature heavy roar echoed through the canyon.
They were back.
You sat up slowly, rubbing your eyes lazily as the giant bison landed and the two boys slid down from his back.
But something in the air was completely different. Zuko's posture was no longer hunched, defensive, or tense; he walked with a newfound confidence, shoulders squared, and his yellow eyes shone with a golden vitality you had never seen in him before.
You stood up and welcomed him with a respectful bow. He returned the gesture with a nod, holding your gaze a second longer than usual.
To demonstrate to the group what they had discovered, both masters stepped into the center of the courtyard and performed the Dancing Dragon. Their movements were fluid, perfectly synchronized, and circular—a mystical choreography that looked like a martial art and a dance all at once. As they delivered the final strike, a breathtaking, majestic burst of fire—vibrant, warm, and filled with colors you had never seen in a flame before—spouted from their fists, illuminating the temple ruins and warming the air.
Everyone burst into applause, awestruck. Sokka, who had his arms crossed, waited for the last colorful sparks to dissipate before breaking the silence with a massive, smug grin, eyeing you with pure mischief.
"BENCHMARK! That was incredible," Sokka admitted, giving Katara a dramatic nudge before pointing a finger at the prince. "Well, now that Zuko got his firebending back and is officially a certified master... he can teach Reader!"
Your heart skipped a beat. Training meant expending energy, and even worse, spending way too much time alone with an overly observant prince.
"What? No, no, no..." you started, waving your hands nervously. "It's just... look, the sun is really strong today. UV rays damage the skin, you know? It's dangerous for a stage performer, I can't afford to get tanned... any more..."
"Please, Reader, the sun is already setting, plus your skin is tan," Katara countered, crossing her arms with an amused smile. "And you admitted yourself that your firebending is weak. Zuko is the perfect teacher for you."
Zuko took a step forward, closing his usual distance. He looked at you with a hint of shyness, but with a deeply sincere determination in his eyes.
"I can teach you the basic fundamentals without you having to strain yourself too much," Zuko offered in his trademark raspy voice, trying to be as considerate as possible. "Aang learned quickly. You can do it too."
"Haha, but Aang is the Avatar... I'm just... me," you joked, looking down, a bit self-conscious.
"Yeah! Time to train!" Aang cheered, leaping into the air with his fists pumped. "We can do triple training sessions!"
"I really can't!" you insisted, taking a step back as you desperately searched your mind for another excuse. "You see... I have a minor sprain in my left ankle because I misstepped during my last choreography at the theater."
"How strange," Toph chimed in, tilting her head with a teasing grin and tapping the ground with her heel. "Because the earth is telling me both of your feet are planted firmly, completely healthy, with zero trace of any injury."
Trapped with nowhere to run, you huffed in frustration.
"Fine! Well, there's also the wardrobe!" you exclaimed as a last resort, gesturing to your regular clothes. "I don't have proper gear to train in here. I could burn my silk tunics if I make a wrong move, and you know how expensive they are."
Sokka couldn't hold it in any longer. He let out a loud, mischievous whistle—the exact same one he used the night before at the balloon—earning a glaring death stare from you that promised pure vengeance.
"I don't think Zuko would mind if you wore... 'revealing' clothes to train, right, buddy?" Sokka teased, giving the prince a knowing slap on the back.
Zuko went rigid instantly, as if he had been doused with a bucket of ice water. A deep red flush rushed to his cheeks right away, spreading all the way to his ears as he vividly recalled how you looked under the moonlight. He cleared his throat sharply, averting his gaze entirely toward a broken temple pillar to hide his absolute flustered state.
"Sokka, shut up," Zuko growled, though to your surprise, he didn't pull back his offer. "Reader... if you don't want to today, that's fine. I won't pressure you. But the offer stands. Fire isn't just destruction; it's energy and life... I'd like to show you."
Sokka let out another short whistle, giving an obvious double meaning to the prince's words.
Zuko closed his eyes in exasperation, dragging a hand over his face, completely mortified by his new "friend's" teasing.
"...Show you firebending moves," Zuko corrected through gritted teeth, wishing the earth would swallow him whole.
Seeing his mortified expression and Sokka's smug face, you couldn't hold it in anymore and burst into loud laughter. Your laughter caught on with the rest of the group, completely breaking the tension.
"We'll do it another day, I promise," you said, catching your breath as you gave him a playful bow. "For now, I need to sleep so I have energy for tonight. See you later, Prince..."
You turned around and walked with a light step toward your room, feeling Zuko's eyes fixed on your back until you crossed the doorway.
Exhaustion showed no mercy, and the next two days passed in a hazy blur between the routine of your night performances and afternoons of deep sleep.
Until one morning, after finishing a grueling night's work in the capital, you returned to the temple on Appa's back. Upon landing, something immediately caught your attention: the Fire Nation war balloon was no longer in its spot. The launchpad was empty.
You looked around and noticed the camp was unusually quiet. You sought out the rest of the group and asked where the boys were.
Katara gave you the answer: neither Zuko nor Sokka were at the temple. According to what they had told the team before leaving, they had gone off fishing together.
You froze in place, blinking in disbelief as a massive wave of doubt crossed your mind.
Fishing... in a Fire Nation war balloon? you thought to yourself, crossing your arms with a furrowed brow. And more importantly... why would they go fishing when I just brought back a pouch full of money? We're not short on food... Something really weird is going on here.
A strange hunch began to settle in your chest. Sokka and Zuko were up to something, and it definitely had nothing to do with fish.
Two full days passed without a single sign of them. You spent the afternoons staring up at the canyon sky with a knot of anxiety in your stomach, repeating the same question to yourself: "Where on earth are they?"
Finally, the sun began to set, and you had to sigh, forcing yourself to stop thinking about them; you needed to get ready for work.
You went to find Appa in his cave. In your rush, you tried to leap onto his back, but you misjudged your footing. Your foot twisted completely to the side, producing a sharp crack.
"AH!" you cried out, collapsing onto the stone floor.
You looked at your footwear; your heel had snapped in two. Even though high heels were like a second skin to you and you preferred them a thousand times over flat shoes, the footwear wasn't the real problem.
You tried to stand up, but a sharp, throbbing pain shot up your leg, making you gasp.
"Ah... my ankle..." you muttered, gritting your teeth.
Appa, worried by your whimper, blew air softly and nudged your back with his huge snout to help you up, but it was no use. The pain was unbearable.
"You can't work like this, you need to rest," Katara stated, rushing over after hearing your cry and immediately kneeling beside you to inspect the swollen area.
"No, not that... How can you ask me to do that?" you protested stubbornly, trying to lean on the bison to pull yourself up. "I'm fine..."
You couldn't take even a single step. Your ankle gave out completely, and you dropped back onto the dirt, huffing in pure frustration.
"Okay... Maybe I'm not so fine..."
Aang and Katara took you by the shoulders, helping you drag yourself toward the main campfire. Toph struck the ground firmly and, using her earthbending, molded a comfortable stone armchair with armrests right by the fire. You sank into it heavily, surrendering to the situation; at that point, you didn't even care anymore.
The camp was unusually empty. Haru and the rest of the invasion crew were still exploring the lower levels of the temple, while Sokka and Zuko were supposedly still "fishing." Only the three of you remained around the campfire.
Feeling the heat of the fire and the flush from the pain, you pulled off your long coat in one swift motion, setting it aside. Doing so left you dressed solely in your outfit for the night: this time, it was a red silk tunic, as revealing as the previous ones, crafted with fine fabrics and subtle sheer paneling along the sides and sleeves that left much of your skin exposed.
Katara approached with a cloth filled with crushed ice and placed it carefully over your swollen ankle, making you flinch at the cold. The waterbender glanced at your clothes for a second, marvelling at the beauty of the design.
"It's a really pretty outfit. Too bad you won't be able to attend tonight's performance," Katara remarked gently, trying to cheer you up.
"Yeah... They'll be fine without me for one night," you said, letting out a long sigh of resignation as you leaned back. "Luckily we have the extra money I brought yesterday. We can manage."
Night fell completely over the Air Temple ruins.
The silence of the early morning was suddenly shattered when a heavy, mechanical hum vibrated in the air. You snapped your head up immediately. Cutting through the clouds, a massive Fire Nation warship began its descent directly toward the main courtyard.
Aang, Katara, and Toph went on high alert, taking battle stances with their weapons ready. However, the tension dissolved in an instant when the ship's ramp opened, and out stepped Sokka and Zuko, safe and sound.
You watched the whole scene unfold from the distance of your stone throne, unable to get up due to the ice on your ankle. From there, it was impossible to hear what they were saying, but the visuals spoke for themselves. Behind the boys walked an older man with dark skin and features identical to Sokka and Katara's; upon seeing him, the waterbender dropped her defenses and ran to hug him in tears. Behind him descended a young woman with short hair and vibrant blue eyes.
You examined the newcomers' attire with bewilderment. Everyone, except Sokka—who wore a Fire Nation prison guard uniform—wore the worn, red clothing of high-security prisoners. Even Zuko was wearing an inmate's uniform.
You tilted your head, furrowing your brow in a clear sign that you didn't understand a single thing that was happening.
Fishing? Prisoners? Who are they? you wondered, completely thrown off. You rested your cheek against the cool stone armrest, simply watching them from afar.
The group began walking from the landing platform toward the warmth of the campfire. Sokka and Zuko were up front, guiding the new guests, but both came to a dead halt upon noticing your silhouette framed against the fire.
Zuko, who arrived exhausted and covered in soot from the battle at the prison, seemed to snap fully alert. His yellow eyes lit up instantly as they locked onto you. If the previous night's tunic had made him nervous, this red outfit with its subtle sheer panels was simply too much. It was an incredibly attractive, daring garment, and the prince felt the heat on his own cheeks rivaling that of the campfire.
"Hi!" you called out cheerfully, waving a hand from your stone throne.
"Reader?!" both chorused, blinking in disbelief.
Sokka took a step forward, crossing his arms with an exaggerated, knowing indignation.
"What are you doing here?! Shouldn't you be working?!" Sokka demanded, half-joking and half-serious. "You're supposed to be earning money! We've got more mouths to feed now!"
"Sokka!" Katara scolded him, hitting him on the arm. "Reader hurt her ankle today, she can't work."
"Yeah, sorry, Sokka... Ah... Looks like we have more people now," you said with a heavy sigh.
The accumulated exhaustion of so many days was starting to take its toll on your body, and for a second, you felt like you might faint right then and there. You shook your head twice to clear the dizziness and offered the group a welcoming smile.
"Come on, you guys must be hungry. I see you didn't bring anything back from your 'fishing trip,'" you added, laughing softly at the obvious lie of their excursion.
Katara and Aang hurried to serve plates of food for Hakoda, Suki, and the other rescued prisoners. Everyone settled around the embers, and Sokka, true to form, began recounting the dangerous infiltration of the Boiling Rock in vivid detail, gesticulating wildly as he reenacted the battles.
You listened in awe as he described how they disguised themselves as guards and planned the gondola escape, until Sokka reached the story's climax and mentioned one particular name.
"We would've fallen into the boiling water if it hadn't been for Zuko's girlfriend," Sokka blurted out casually, chewing on a piece of food.
Katara raised an eyebrow, turning toward the prince with a wide, mocking grin.
"Zuko has a girlfriend?" she asked, teasing him blatantly.
"It's Mai, the terrifying girl who throws knives," Sokka explained, shrugging.
"Ooooooooooh!" Aang, Katara, Toph, and you all chorused at the exact same time, drawing out the sound in perfect unison.
For your part, the revelation was an interesting piece of trivia, but you didn't pay it the slightest mind.
However, for Zuko, the situation was entirely different. He went rigid in his spot, stopping mid-bite, and his eyes locked directly onto your face. He stared at you intently, waiting to see some kind of reaction: a hint of jealousy, a grimace of displeasure—anything that would betray that you cared.
But he found none of that. You simply maintained your calm, radiant smile, enjoying your dinner while listening to the rest of the story with genuine interest.
Noticing your total composure and lack of interest in his love life, Zuko lowered his eyes to his plate with a mix of relief and a subtle, strange touch of disappointment.
Dinner continued amid laughter and stories, with Team Avatar celebrating the freedom of their new allies, while the campfire's smoke drifted up into the temple's starry sky.