𝑺𝑬𝑬𝑫 𝑶𝑭 𝑰𝑪𝑯𝑶𝑹 •𝒃𝒙𝒃•

34 ~ oblivion

The air cracked, bright blue tearing through the space between them. He watched, as if time slowed down, as her lightning crackled and zapped towards him, unable to move away. Within, something burst into life, a warmth unlike any other, and blue turned white as his flames burst forth. Akin a wall, columns of brightness rose up, twisting and turning around him, caressing his skin in such a...kind way. Warmth spread through his body and all he could do was watch as the whiteness kept spreading.

Like a child, he stared in wonder, as if he had never seen such things before.

But he had. Years ago, whilst his father still lived.

Then the flame twisted inwards and was blown away in the wind, like white mist.

"Father..." He whispered, watching as the last of it flickered out of existence. Thus a familiar coldness settled in his chest, what remained of his father gone, never to return. That was his last effort in protecting Guren. All that he had left behind. Gone. Truly gone.

A piercing scream echoed in front of him and bright blue crackled yet again. This time, it wasn't going towards Guren. Zuko, whom stood by his side, didn't react, eyes glued to the sky, searching for what remained of Master Hei.

His body moved on its own, desperation clawing at his heart. Please, he begged. Not again. It couldn't happen again. One arm reached towards the boy, and as his palm pressed against his shoulder, Guren looked at Zuko. There was a brief moment of acknowledgement, the widening of his eyes, mouth parting, no words leaving him.

Zuko's own hand reached towards him, but it was too late.

_

When Zuko collapsed to the ground, he could only watch as the lightning slammed into Guren, the air between them combusting, blowing him away. Wildly, he pushed himself to his feet, forcing his eyes to adjust after the bright flash. Dust raised around him, and as he locked onto Guren, he realised he wasn't moving.

He wasn't moving.

He wasn't moving.

He wasn't moving.

There was only silence. Only silence and the harsh drumming inside his chest. The world around him lost focus, sight blurring, eyes glued only to Guren whom wasn't moving. Something cracked, drums echoing in his ears, pain coming in flashes. All he could do was stare. Stare and wonder where it all went wrong. He didn't think it would feel like this. The...nothingness swallowed him in a moments time. Slowly, the nothingness turned into something else, it gave way to dread that filled him from the inside out, a coldness he couldn't explain.

Tightly, he clenched his fists, harshly, he dug his nails into the dirt. He couldn't stop the shaking, the gritting of his teeth, the ringing in his ears. Bright and subdued, he could feel it all on the verge of exploding.

Then, in the end, coldness gave way to blazing heat, like it always did.

It burst around him, bright and orange, heat distorting the air. Like a mirage, it bent around him, seething. He felt all of it, violent and volatile, almost uncontrollable, yet his control didn't slip. Wordlessly, he stood up, wobbly on his feet, but the moment he turned towards her, he planted his feet atop the dirt and didn't falter. He stared her down, fists clenched at his sides, and saw the way she stared at Guren, eyes wide, body rigid, shoulders tight together.

How dare she?

How dare she?

How dare she?