When Hatred turned to Love (ATLA Zuko x OC)

CH4 - REWRITTEN AND EDITED!

The breaks had always been the best part in the Air Nomad training schedule. There was the chirping of birds and the laughter of children – the youngest Air Nomads playing by the courtyard. It was peaceful. The sound of running water and the soft, summer breeze was warm against her skin. Iris was wandering around the green gardens of the Western Air Temple with her best friend by her side.

"So..." Gershwin changed the subject "...I made you something."

Iris turned and looked at him. She arched an eyebrow. "Please tell me you didn't attempt to make a fruit pie again."

"What?! And what if I had? My fruit pies rock!"

"No, they don't, they're disgusting!"

Gershwin gasped dramatically in disbelief. "How can you say that! Monk Chengyu said they're delicious!"

"He's just saying that to make you feel better!" Iris laughed and so did he. He knew his fruit pies were terrible, but that didn't mean he'd stop making them. Alas, Iris was the only one who had been honest about it.

"Fine, fine, keep insulting my cooking while I'm right here trying to be a good friend by getting you presents." Gershwin frowned in protest.

"I'm pretty sure you'll improve if you keep practicing." Iris grinned.

"I'll keep practicing then."

"Just not on me."

"Hey!"

"So, what did you get me on your journeys?"

"Oh, right!" Gershwin paused their afternoon walk and he stepped in front of her to face her. His hand reached for one of his pockets and he took something out. "I got you a necklace... or rather I made one whilst waiting for the boat to get me to the other side of the world."

Iris laughed. "It must have been very boring." She took the necklace from his hand and she brought it up to look at it. It was beautiful. It was a circular piece of wood and the symbol of the Air Nomads was carved onto it. She turned it around to look at it, and she found a few familiar words carved at the back.

'Rise or Fall, Together.' It was their little saying that the two of them shared. They had promised each other to do everything together. Study together, work together, fight together. The only thing he had done on his own were those journeys that he was assigned to do by the Higher Ranked Monks.

Iris smiled. "It's beautiful."

And she was always so beautiful when she smiled. Gershwin had to snap out of it though. "Let me help!"

Gershwin took it from her hand and he walked behind her. Iris gathered her long, dirty-blonde, braided hair to her side and he passed the necklace around her neck. She turned to look at him with her bright purple eyes and her beautiful face was mere inches away from his own. Her pink lips were parted, and her back was pressing against his chest.

"It looks beautiful on you." Gershwin said, looking down at her beautiful face. His golden eyes met her own and a blush dusted her cheeks.

Iris punched him playfully on his chest and she immediately took a step away from him. "If it's that beautiful then I'll never take it off."

She had kept true to her word... or tried to, at least. Iris was still wearing that necklace. It was the only thing she had left of him. Here she was, in her quarters, sitting on the cold, metal floor, holding the necklace in her hand, staring down at it, lamenting over the memories of the long gone past.