Burning Pile (Prince Zuko Book 1)

*five*

A few days passed since her head injury, which she fully spent in her room, the food was brought to her door and she barely ate any.

"Prince Zuko I'm worried about miss Aurora, she barely ate anything these past days." His uncle tried to talk with him. "We don't have time for that, Uncle. You need to train me so when I find the avatar I can fully beat him.

That's who Zuko was, he wasn't interested in how his only friend was doing, he only cared for the avatar, his ticket, to get back home. He knew if he'd get home, he wouldn't need a friend anymore. Besides he didn't know what he was thinking when he was friends with her back then.

As they started to train Aurora decided to finally come out of her room, with the second book she owned in her hand. She watches in awe as Prince Zuko moved, she wished she could be a fire bender, it was one of her deepest wishes. A small frown appeared on her face as she settled down by the railing leaning against it.

Her eyes followed every move he made. It was incredible. With another spin he turned and caught her looking. Her cheeks heat up as she lowered her glance back into her book. Aurora heard that they continued to train and her concentration was fully set on her book, one where there was no war, no hatred, no- The book being lit on fire stopped her from continuing her thoughts as she jumped up and let it fall down.

"What was that for?!" Aurora looked up to see the Prince smirking. The moment she noticed he stopped and looked at her coldly again. "You should train to fight instead of having your nose in some stupid book." Aurora couldn't keep herself from laughing. "Fighting? Me? And who's gonna teach me, huh?"

She didn't mean it to sound like a challenge to him, but he understood it as one. So he took a step closer hovering over her. "I will." He saw her swallow hard, the blush already steady on her cheeks as she looked up to him with her soft eyes. "And I used to be taller than you..." she mumbled quietly not thinking he'd hear, but he did.

It's true when they were younger she was taller than him but as the time passed he outgrew her. "Okay, Prince Zuko." She nodded, maybe then she could help and not always ruin the plan. Aurora wanted to help him fulfill his destiny. He nodded and walked back to Iroh as she smiled to herself.

Aurora waited until it was almost night time, she saved what she could from her book, since it hadn't been fully burned. It still looked beautiful, burned, but beautiful. She brought it to her room, before she could stop herself, she found herself walking to the prince's room.

Walking in forgetting to knock she immediately regretted it, she saw him meditating shirtless on the ground. "You really should learn to knock." His voice surprised her, she didn't think he heard her. "I'm sorry Prince Zuko," she started with a slight bow. "I was wondering when we would start the training..." Her voice quiet down as he walked towards her slowly.

His muscles flexing with every step, making the girl lower her eyes to the ground. "I wasn't serious about it, besides you wouldn't last one fight." Zuko was hovering over her again, making her feel small and fragile. "But I took it serious, please teach me I want to help. You yourself said that I only ruin your plans." Her voice was small but determined. Aurora knew she could do this.

Zuko studied her face for a while, until he nodded and sighed. "We will start in an hour, get ready till-" He was cut off by her hugging him quickly before pulling away. "Thank you, Prince Zuko! You will not regret it!" She smiled brightly as she ran back to her own room to get ready.

A slight smile was playing around his lips without him noticing as he rolled his eyes putting on a different shirt before he went to get two simple normal swords for her to learn how to fight.