The Girl and the Fire Lord

27 Red Handed - Zuko's POV

Everything was packed, but my mind was reeling. The entire city of Omashu was furious with me, King Bumi had written a nearly-incoherent letter personally challenging me to a duel, and Aang was nowhere to be found. He'd been working restoring the air temple last we'd heard from him, but he didn't write often, and mail took so long to reach him. Toph was busy with her school and had jumped on the bandwagon with her other Earth Kingdom friends and was upset with the fire nation colonies. Our whole government had gone to hell in a hand basket in a matter of hours. 

On top of all of that, I was missing an evening I'd been looking forward to for a life time. 

But I couldn't focus on that. I had much more important things to worry about than some girl. Some beautiful girl with silky black hair, eyes that sparkled, skin so soft you want to feel every inch of it-

"Firelord Zuko, your presence is needed in the final meeting before your departure tomorrow morning. It is likely to be a long one. Do you require a meal or jasmine tea to calm you before the decision making begins?" Gakuto, one the my assistants I trusted and respected, asked.

"Thank you, Gakuto. One of my uncle's teas would be wonderful. Thank you." 

He bowed and rushed from the room, leaving me again to my overwhelming thoughts. I just had to get through this meeting, then I could see her. It would be short, and it wouldn't include all of the plans I'd made for us, but it was something. Something to look forward to and something to get me through. 

I packed together the last of my supplies and grabbed the documents I'd written up stating my plans and suggested declarations for the angered Earth Kingdom cities. This was all an absolute nightmare, but at least it couldn't get worse. 

Slinging five of my seven bags over my back, I walked to my door and took a deep breath. Things would get better from here, I just had to push through a little longer. 

Keep it together for just a few more hours, Zuko. Don't let the past get to you. You can stay calm for a few more hours.

I opened the door and dropped my bags.

There, right outside of my room was Hiromi's jet black hair and slim body pinned against the wall by one of my guards. They were breathing quickly and pulling each others clothes. His hand slid up her leg and I saw a black, lacy garter around her thigh. 

A million emotions swarmed me and my head was swimming. Even though I knew I didn't love her, the scene in front of me was almost unbearable. I still cared about her, and I had given so much energy to the relationship we had built. If she hadn't lied, I think I could have loved her. Jealousy burned in the base of my skull, then rejection, then furious, hot, fiery anger that boiled my blood and coursed through my veins.

She and I locked eyes. 

The look behind hers showed me that this was out of spite. She'd chosen here and now to hurt me.

Her eyes were gone in a flicker and she was back kissing down his neck, pulling off his shirt, and keeling down in front of him. His back was to me, but it seemed impossible he was unaware of his location. Surely he wouldn't allow something this vulgar and provocative to happen in front of the Firelord's living chambers.

The guard unbuckled his belt, and I lunged. 

"How dare you?!" I screamed, throwing him off of Hiromi and onto the ground.

"Firelord Zuko! I apologize desperately. I had no idea you were in such close proximity to me and... this guard's station!" Hiromi responded in a sly, ingenuine shrill. She bowed deeply and eyed me with a smirk. It took everything in me not to scream at her too. I turned my attention to the guard, who was on the ground grabbing at his back and groaning. 

"Get up!" I yelled, but when he tried, I saw what I'd done. 

Two burn marks in the shape of hands had already swelled on his back. 

"I- I'm so-" Tears stung my eyes when I realized how badly I'd burned his back. "I'll get the waterbenders."

Swallowing the lump in my throat didn't stop the tears from streaming down my face as I ran to get Luna and Tamala. The waterbenders would heal the guard's back, but it wouldn't heal the trauma and fear I'd just instilled in that man. 

I knew that too well. After years of internal healing I still felt sick looking at the scar on my face.

Now I was no different than the man that gave it to me.