A/N: Just a wee heads up, we will do this book a little differently from before. We're still cycling through perspectives, but every second chapter will be in third-person perspective - to keep you on your toes and so we can deal with Zuko's side of the story now that he's alone. AmayaDisapproves also felt like it was essential to show how different people were dealing with the aftermath of Ba Sing Se.
Zuko stood at the edge of the deck, looking up at the full moon. Thoughts spun through his mind a mile a minute. Was it worth it? He betrayed his Uncle. He betrayed Amaya.
He could still hear her screaming at him, and when he closed his eyes, he could still see her fury. His Uncle's disappointment cut deeper, but it was the consequences of his choice.
He was on his way home. Azula assured him that with his help, he was guaranteed his honour. But why did he feel so empty?
"Aren't you cold?"
He barely registered Mai's question, glancing at her briefly as his thoughts scattered briefly.
"I've got a lot on my mind," he admitted.
In the weeks following the fall of Ba Sing Se, he'd been haunted by more than just what he'd done.
"It's been so long - Over three years since I was home. I wonder what's changed. I wonder how I've changed..."
He also wondered why he wasn't happier to be going home. In hindsight, he realised it was because he always expected to go back with his Uncle beside him, and somewhere along the way, he ended up wanting to show Amaya his country.
"I just asked if you were cold," Mai sighed. "I didn't ask for your whole life story."
When her sarcastic remark didn't elicit a response from the prince, she wrapped her arms around him and turned his face towards her with a slight smile.
"Stop worrying," she chuckled.
She pulled his face closer and pressed her lips against his.
He couldn't stop his thoughts from going to Amaya - her expression when she saw him kissing that girl in Ba Sing Se. Mai let him go and walked back to the cabin, smiling over her shoulder at him. He turned back to the sea, closing his eyes.
Instead of Amaya's furious expression, Zuko was instead greeted with the memory of Amaya lying unresponsive in Jin's arms. He shook his head, trying to dismiss the image of her looking so broken. So lifeless...
He opened his eyes, looking up at the moon with resignation.
He was going home.
So why did his heart feel so heavy?
YOU ARE READING
Accidental Avatar 3: Totally Lit
FanfictionPreviously, disaster struck, resulting in a lot of stuff. You should check out the other stories, if you want some back story. More importantly, things are starting to heat up, and if I ever see Zuko again I'm gonna punch him in the nose for Amaya...
