𝑺𝑬𝑬𝑫 𝑶𝑭 𝑰𝑪𝑯𝑶𝑹 •𝒃𝒙𝒃•

28 ~ echoes of the past

AN: HI IM BACK HI HI

The moment Zuko's pleading eyes landed on him, all he could do was run, run and pray that his own thoughts wouldn't consume him. They almost did. He almost gave in, let the pain loose, let the tears fall like the last time. Except this time they weren't out of anger, or out of sadness. This time...they would've been because of-

For the first time since he parted ways with Yifei, he played the flute. It felt fitting, somehow, to hold it in his hands when his heart cried out the most. It made him feel safe...made the coldness go away, even for a mere moment. That was all he needed, all he wanted.

He brought the wood to his lips, placed his fingers over the indents, and closed his eyes. One note after another, shaking at their core, shuddering at their peak. Again and again and again and again and again. Until he couldn't anymore. Until the coldness came back, until the safety blanket of it disappeared. Until he stood alone in the room, with no one to play alongside him. His grip on the flute tightened as he breathed in, arms hanging loosely on his sides. Coldness crept up his spine, tensing his shoulders, scratching his throat, gritting his teeth, wetting his eyes.

In the end, he couldn't keep it in, could he?

Even the tears that fell were cold, cold, cold.

_

They giggled amongst each other, whispering shoulder-to-shoulder. Every now and then, his father's notes would harshen, and they'd stiffen, but eventually they'd go back to doing anything but properly listen to his performance. He'd notice how his father's brows would furrow, sometimes twitch even, and then his expression would relax and he'd continue playing as he did.

Perhaps they were being...too unruly?

They couldn't help it. It was impossible for them to meet for a few days, and now that they finally got together they were supposed to sit in place and quietly listen to his father play? Not a chance. He had so many things to tell them, and Azula looked ready to burst as she held back her own happenings.

"It seems...that you're not satisfied with my performance."

Immediately, all three of them straightened their backs, shaking their heads left and right. "No! Totally interested and satisfied!" Guren sounded totally convincing. Totally. Not a chance his father was going to think otherwise, right?

"Get your flute, Guren. It's time you showed us just how much you practiced."

Ah.

Azula giggled from beside him, raising a hand over her mouth.

"You're not excused, Azula. You're going right after him."

That shut her up real good. Guren was almost gleeful.

"How come Zuko doesn't have to play anything?" Azula whined out, wiggling in place.

The said boy turned to look at her. "Because, unlike you two, I am being respectful towards the time Master Hei put aside to play for us and teach you." Facing forward, he continued, "Besides...I don't have much talent for instruments."

Guren grabbed his flute and stood up, waddling his way over to his father, and sitting down beside him. "I did practice, you know..." he muttered, raising the flute, "Will you...play with me? It's a bit embarrassing to do it by myself."

His father smiled, previous dissatisfaction nowhere to be found. Raising his hand, the man pinched Guren's cheek. "Of course. Anything for my little Gugu."