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The Reason (Part 1)

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He ran, but where to?

It's as if he was stuck in an endless loop, having no idea where his feet are taking him. How could he have been so blind to not see that Hana was back, that she was there for him. Even after all he did to her...

——Flashback——

"Hey, hey, hey! Look who's back!" Hong yelled from across the room. Hana smiling.

Zulee sadly smiled as a response. He walked over to the two and slouched onto the couch, resting his head in Hana's shoulder and entwining his fingers with hers.

"I'm guessing it was rough?" Hana whispered  as she stroked Zulee's head with her free hand.

Zulee just nodded, too tired to say anything by this point.

"Did you finally stand up to your dad, or did you run away like a coward?" Hong asked as he sat inches away from the couple, to the right of Hana.

Hana nudged him, "That's not very nice."

Hong chuckled, "I was only joking... kind of." His last words gave him a slap to his arm, causing him to lose balance and fall of the sofa, landing on his back.

After a few moments, Zulee gained enough energy to answer Hong's question. "Well, I did stand up to him, and i didn't."

Hong popped his head up from his position in the floor. "Elaborate." He demanded.

Zulee untangled himself from Hana's embrace and sighed as he thought of the right words to say.

"Well, as we headed towards on of our territories, there were a few refugees stranded along the path. All batter and bruised, i took pity... But, father showed no mercy."

Zulee's began to water as he recalled this memory. Hands shaking he continued to tell his story.

"One by one... he - he slashed there heads with no regret. Every time he swung he would lecture me of how useless i will become if I don't train hard, if i don't become ruthless like him..."

His breathing became scattered, and Hana rubbed circles in his back to comfort him.

"Right before my very eyes, I saw innocent lives being taken by my own father. I saw their eyes desperately clinging to life, but slowly losing their light. Men, women, children, all dying for nothing.

Then, he left one for me. A small child, crying because his parents were just killed right before him by my own. My father handed me his sword and told me to behead the child in an instant."

Hong now sat up straighter, crossing his legs in interest. " Did you do it?"

Zulee shook his head, "How could I?! You know I could never do anything like that! Those people did nothing wrong, they didn't deserve that kind of treatment."

"So what did you do?" Hana spoke, watching the young miserable man before her pour out the horribly tragedy that occurred only mere hours before he came back.

Zulee turned his head to meet her eyes.

"I refused."

"You what?!" Exclaimed as he stretched his arms back to rest.

Zulee turned back,  "I refused. I said no. I didn't take his sword. I told him off, gave the boy a refuge and walked away."

Both Hong and Hana's eyes widened.

"Ohhh ho hohooo," Hong half giggled, clearly enjoying where this is going. "You didn't."

"I did... "

Hong reeled his head back and gave a short burst of laughter, before urging in the rest of the story. "And then what happened?!"

Zulee sighed, "Well, you can say it didn't go smoothly. He became so furious that he threw a dagger at me."

"Noooo"

"Yea,  he kept blaming and cursing me for being a soft, delicate boy, holding onto my memories of my late mother and blamed himself for not beating me into my senses sooner. The went on and on about how hard he worked to give me this reputation of a cruel but amazing war hero, that is an inspiration  to all other soldier wanting to or are fighting for the fire nation. He then scolded me for not working hard and taking everything g that he has done for me for granted, like he did anything worth being grateful for. He is just an overbearing control freak who won't admit he is wrong."

Zulee groaned, bearing his face in his hands. Going through a roller coaster of emotion really stresses him out.

Hana began to comfort him once more, and Hong gave him an awkward pat on the back, not really knowing what to do at this point.

Zulee has always been misunderstood. After his mother's death, King Zaisu swore that he would make Zulee into a respectable warrior.

He secluded Zulee from the rest of the world for ten years. He put the young prince into endless days of endless training and torture. He made his own son suffer both physically and mentally. It was truly a miracle that Zulee still held out for this long.

That miracle could be the help of Hong and Hana, two who have been closest to him since birth.

Zulee then laid down to rest his head on Hana's lap as she began to play with his hair.

"So what will you do now? Now that you took a step along that path, that is." She asked as she gently twirled the locks of Zulee's midnight hair through her fingers.

Zulee closed his eyes and sighed for the tenth time. "I have no idea, but as long as i have you two. I know i'll be okay."

Hong scoffed, "Of course you know, we're not you best friends friends for nothing. Wait, correction, beat friend and girlfriend."

Hana rolled her eyes, "Ignoring what he said after, i have to agree with Hong.  We wouldn't be here right now if we knew we couldn't stand with you. We're the terrifying trio! Nothing can get in our way."

Zulee chuckles and raised his head to give Hana a quick peck. "You're right. I don't need to worry if I have you."

Hong coughed, loudly "What about me."

"What you want a kiss?" Zulee asked, teasing the other.

Hong cackled, "Like you actually would."

Zulee rolled off the couch to hug Hong, "I'm glad to have you, both of you."

Just then a messenger entered the room, demanding that the King wants to see Prince Zulee.

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Hi guysss!
I'm so sorry i have net been able to update for a while. I've been so busy, and my wattpad was deleted somehow 🤔. But, don't worry! There is more coming your way!

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