The Blue Spirit ღ (Zuko x OC)

ⅩⅩⅤⅠ: Fire

"It's taken a hundred years, but the Fire Nation has conquered Ba Sing Se."

Zuko's head hung as he stood beside Azula at the throne. Normally, he might have made a fuss that she had perched herself on the throne over him, but the fire within him had been almost entirely stamped out.

"I betrayed Uncle . . ." Before he could breathe his next words of regret, Azula's shallow reassurance cut him short.

"No, he betrayed you." Her words felt like knives, the opposite of what she was intending. Uncle would never do that, and Nala . . . well, Nala . . . "Zuko, when you return home, father will welcome you as a war hero."

How could he? The Prince felt like anything but as he recalled the glares of disappointment, of anger on the face of people who'd trusted him today. All for what? He didn't have the Avatar. He felt torn again. He hated how torn he felt when thinking about her. Even if his father restored his honour for having ended the Avatar, he didn't feel in the least bit honourable.

His eyes fell upon the throne room that stretched into the shadows, empty and cold. He could almost hear Nala's words echoing about the yawning space. 'I hope it brings you peace . . . to have achieved everything you wanted, by throwing away everything you had.' He felt a twist within him, sliding it's way up his body like a serpent. Did he want this? . . . What was the cost?

"And if that girl really cared for you, she would have given you her loyalty." Azula stated as if reading Zuko's mind. She inspected her talon-like nails as if checking to see if she'd just torn any skin from him with her cutting words.

He'd heard enough.

*✧*

Zuko slumped against one of the many pillars outside of the palace. He stared at a spot on the ground. A weight like a rhino sat in the pit of his stomach, begging to pour from him, but he felt like stone, more in common with the foundations of this place than a Prince. He resented the time it would take for them to be home. He wanted to get away from this place, eagerly wanting to run to the promise of glory and far from mistakes. All the same, there was a sour taste in his mouth about the promise of the future . . .

His thoughts were interrupted by approaching footsteps, causing Zuko to become jumpy.

"What're you doing on the ground?" Mai probed. Zuko turned his head away and Mai decided not to choose violence. "I wanted to come congratulate you."

"I'm not in the mood for congratulations." Zuko grumbled.

"Don't let Azula get to you." Mai said, rolling her eyes. She knew exactly how Azula could be, and there was no doubt she'd said something to tick Zuko off. It wasn't exactly out of character. "I know what'll cheer you up! Let's order around some of those Dai Lee! Maybe do some target practis-- . . ."

"I came out here to be alone." He snapped.

"Whatever." Mai huffed, spinning on a heel to walk back into the palace. This family was so predictable . . . Zuko always having an attitude, Azula with manipulating people into having an attitude . . . She shrugged it off. Better to leave him alone in his misery for now. She'd work on it.

*✧*

A feast was put on that night in the palace. Azula had positioned herself at the head of the table, with Zuko at her right, beside Mai, and Tai Lee on her left. She got to her feet and all eyes turned to her.

"We've done it. Our Uncle's embarrassing failure to take this city will be a mark on our family name no more. After a hundred years of war, the Earth Kingdom has fallen. First was the city now named New Ozai for my father, and now we've claimed the 'great' Ba Sing Se." Azula spoke with command, though every word was laced with patronising venom. "Our armies will be here soon to annex the city. In which time, we will show the people of this city how to bow to our rule, and any disloyalty will be snuffed. Out." A tension filled the room that Azula quickly dismissed with a feigned smile. "Now, let's eat."

Mai glanced over at Zuko, who's eyes were in his lap. He hadn't touched a single bite of food. She eyed his hair. It looked messy, but she liked it long and all over and thought about how nice it would look up in a proper style for royalty. Maybe he'd let her add some accoutrements to it herself.

"You're gloomier than usual." She said, as if she could talk. But around him, she didn't feel she wanted to be her usual unenthusiastic self. Right now, she wanted him to like her. But again, he ignored her. "You should try to eat something at least."

"For all know, Azula poisoned it." He hissed under his breath. He didn't care if she heard him say it or not. He watched her chat away with Tai Lee. Apparently she hadn't. Mai laughed.

"Probably. But at least it's good on the way down."

Zuko found himself wishing it was poison as he took a bite. Maybe it was all he deserved. Letting everyone down, then Azula killed him, returned home and took all the glory for herself. Azula who killed the Avatar, took Ba Sing Se, captured her Uncle and killed her treacherous thief-loving brother. He cursed himself for thinking it.

She wasn't . . . she wasn't a thief. She hated when he called her that . . . He remembered that day in the swamp when she'd shown him that village. And the day by the pond . . .

He shook his head. It hurt too much to think about. He shoved a mouthful of food in his face, only to immediately choke. He coughed and coughed, trying to breathe again, then felt a firm smacking on his back that seemed to make it worse. His eyes watered as he flicked Mai's hand away. He coughed up something, causing Azula and Tai Lee to groan in disgust. Zuko all about jumped to his feet, making no attempt at excusing himself as he walked away from the disastrous dinner and to a far wing of the Palace.

Zuko found himself in a room, one of many possibly used for sleeping, and curled up on a bed. His hand stretched out to the cold spot next to him as he remembered how just that morning, Nala had been there. He wished he'd done as she asked him to. He wished he'd gone back to bed.

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Art: 'Red Flower' — Melissa Alvaro