When Hatred turned to Love (ATLA Zuko x OC)

Chapter Four - Remembrances

The break was always the best part in the Air Nomad schools. Everyone loved it. They had just finished the last forms of Air Bending and Summer had just started. Iris once again wandered around the garden with her best friend on her side and they both held their scrolls on their hands. Younger Air Benders played around the courtyard and the Monks were peacefully meditating by the fountain.

"Hey, I made you this necklace," She heard Gershwin's familiar voice from behind.

She turned and smiled at him widely and she grabbed it from his right arm as he offered it to her. It was a piece of wood beautifully carved on it the sign of the Air Nomads. The sign of her people. It was wrapped on a thread. It was beautiful.

Gershwin rubbed the backside of his neck awkwardly asking "Do you like it?"

"It's beautiful," She said smiling at him. She noticed a similarity on the carving until she realized "Hey, it's kind of like the one I made you a while ago," she said.

"It's about time I made you one too, isn't it?" He asked smiling at her.

She saw it still hanging from his neck, it seemed like he had never put it off. "You're still wearing it," she said.

"How can I take it off? It reminds me of you," He said. She couldn't help but smile back at him.

"Here let me help you," He said as he took it from her arms and he picked her long brown hair up placing the necklace around her neck. He let her hair fall back to their place.

She couldn't help but only turn around and look at him. "And that is something to remind you of me," He said smiling at her marveling her purple eyes.

They stared at each other for a small moment "I will always wear it, and that's a promise" she said smiling as well...

...Her eyes snapped opened catching a deep breath. She realized that she was still in the Fire Navy ship. She wished she could bring time back, she wished she'll have the chance to save her people. But she knew that this was impossible. For just one moment she wished she could live again these moments. The brightest days of her life... were gone.

But she kept that promise, whenever she'd go; she never took that necklace off. It reminded of him, his smile, his golden eyes. Everything was so beautiful, so... perfect. She found herself holding it tightly in her right arm. The carved wood from back then never changed, no matter how many years passed. She kept holding it in her hands and examining it with her fingers. She was able to understand the carving, not even the need to lift it and look at it.

A sudden knock to her metallic door heard forcing her into waking immediately. "On deck, in five minutes," one of the guards voice heard.

She left her bed and she immediately started washing her face with some of the water that existed in a pot wiping her sweat away. Five minutes passed quickly and her room's door opened. One of the guards escorted her on deck where the faddy-daddy uncle and the angry jerk were taking their breakfast.

She walked towards them being greeted by Iroh "Good morning," The grumpy prince didn't speak at all. He just continued fumbling his sticks in his bowl of noodles trying to avoid her gaze.

"Good morning," She said back and Zuko knew that for a short moment she stared at him before sitting down right in the opposite side of the table. She had a bowl of noodles and a cup of tea as well.

Iroh took a sip from his tea and he looked at her asking "Did you sleep well?"

She looked at him and she willingly lied "It was fine," But she was never a good liar and it was pretty noticeable that she wasn't okay as she tried to look.