The Blue Spirit ღ (Zuko x OC)

ⅩⅩⅤⅠⅠ: Shadows

Night had settled into the Palace for certain, making it seem much larger and emptier than normal. Zuko couldn't sleep. Nor would he let himself. He knew her well enough to know she would bide her time till night to attack, so he'd wait. He laid in bed, pretending to be asleep, hoping she'd come along and try to kill him.

He had it all planned in his head. She'd creep in, fly onto the bed, and as she was about to swing her blades, he'd grab her, pin her down and kiss her. Or maybe that would be too much, too soon . . . he'd pin her down and . . . apologise. Well, it was Nala after all. She wouldn't take too kindly to being restrained. It might be best to let her get even . . . let her slice off a finger or something . . . and then . . .

and then . . .

They could talk while he had it reattached?

Okay. Maybe he had nothing planned. But she was coming for him, he was certain of that. And all he had to do was wait. He'd even roamed around the Palace grounds, stretching and yawning, announcing loudly he was 'off to sleep' and where he would be sleeping. Knowing Nala, she'd be hiding somewhere, listening for information like that. And now she'd be able to find him easily.

It was just a matter of waiting . . .

And waiting . . .

And . . . waiting . . .

Zuko jolted himself awake, realising his eyes had been slipping closed. He felt a panic, hoping he hadn't been asleep too long and missed her. Maybe she'd try to kill Azula first? Or maybe she had just been about to come and kill him and he had woken up, so now she would have to wait until he was still again . . .

He scolded himself. New plan. He'd get up and go look for her. Even if she didn't come out to talk, surely strolling about in the dark alone would lure her out. He'd make himself irresistible to the murder-inclined.

Feeling proud of his plan, he slipped on something to keep himself warm, and stepped out into the night. His eyes darted about everywhere, searching for movement. He found himself walking around every pillar, then down into the paved courtyard, and around to the back of the palace. He watched shadows of distant trees swaying on the grass, everything shimmering in the moonlight. She would have loved this. She always loved the little things about nature . . .

From the corner of his eye, he saw something glint in the trees. He broke into a dash, then heard the sound of rustling leaves.

"Nala!" He shouted, his heart and feet both pounding, everything within him aching to see her. "Nala, please! I'm sorry . . ." He felt his words choking, but he forced them out. "I'm sorry. I lied to you, I betrayed your trust I . . . I should've told you."

He near slammed against the tree as he came to a stop, looking up through it's branches only to see dewy leaves glinting in the moonlight. But still, he could hear the rustling and followed the sound with his eyes.

"Nal-- AAH!" Zuko fell backwards as an owl he'd disturbed swooped over his head. The rustling was no longer. Feeling stupid, he got to his feet, dragging himself out of the trees and back toward the palace, still holding onto the hope she'd sneak up from behind and lay a blade against his neck.

But she didn't. And he found a sinking sense of loss as he made it to the palace steps unscathed, deepening as he made his way to bed, and endlessly deep as he woke up the next morning alive, unharmed but nonetheless broken.

*✧*