Courting a Prince: Book 1 (Complete)

ch. 23: Let Me Protect You pt. 3

"I told you no! Who gave you the authority to talk back to me!?"

"You did you hot-headed asshole! Who gave you the authority to boss me around!"

"You did you narcissistic freak!"

"I AM NOT A NARCISSIST!"

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I decided to talk to Zuko at Iroh's recommendation, obviously, it isn't going well. I'm not even sure where it went wrong, but some how we ended up arguing. I probably should've apologized or something, but I...did not do that. Yikes...

We argued for what felt like ages. Just back and forth, both of us just angry at the other for reasons we don't care to explain, shit, we can't even begin to explain.

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Zuko groans in obvious frustration, "May, you are on my ship, therefore, you follow my rules."

I glare at him, shouting, "I don't give a fuck about your damn rules! I am free to do whatever the hell I want!"

"The world doesn't work that way!" He shouted back, the candles in the room flickering because of his bending.

"Don't you think I fucking know that!?" I cried in spite of myself. "I know how the world works! So stop thinking I'm so fucking useless and tell me what the hell is going on in your head!"

The candles blew out, leaving us in a dimly lit room full of nothing but papers and other materials that only he would understand.

Zuko slowly began calming down, starting at me as if I was a lost puppy. "May... I never said you were useless. When I told you to stay on the ship I..."

"You what? You literally said it was because you don't want me to be in the way! Do you think I can't fight? You saw what I could do at the base camp! They recognize me as your personal guard for crying out loud!"

"Shut up!" He yelled, finally getting up from his seat at the desk, stomping his way over to me. "Just shut up! You don't know anything!" He grabbed me by the arm, lowering his voice to a calm mumble. "You... Don't know anything."

I was a little taken aback by that but, I didn't try running away. We have to talk and if this is what it takes then...so be it. We can't keep up this stupid misunderstanding forever, my feelings for him would never let me.
I have to chill out, I can't stay mad over this, why am I even mad over this! It's not really that big a deal, why can't I just get over it!?

I take a (much needed) deep breath to calm myself down, before asking, "What don't I know, Zu? We've been together like, forever now... If anything it's you who doesn't know anyth-"

"No. Do not turn that back on me."

I purse my lips, put off by his sudden demanding tone. I hate being interrupted, but he did it in a way that makes me feel as if I couldn't talk back... Or maybe I'm just nervous again, I dunno.

"Why can't you see that I'm just...just..." He paused, grumbling under his breath for a moment. "Ugh! I'm just trying to protect you!"

I swear my heart stopped for a full five seconds, as I replayed what he said over, and over. I know my face probably turned cherry red and I have no way to hide it.
"P-prince Zuko, you don't need to. I can take care of mys-"

"JUST-.....Let me protect you.." he mumbled, tightening his grip on my arm. "You're all I have left, May... I can't lose you too..."

For the first time in years, he looked at me with eyes full of pain and desperation. Eyes I haven't seen since Ursa, no, since auntie left us.

I don't know how to feel...what should I feel? Am I happy? Am I hurt? I have no idea, but my heart is pounding in my chest, I can hardly breathe and I seriously want to punch myself right now. What the hell is wrong with me!?

I opened my moth to say something, but nothing would come out. I was drawing a blank. His words rang through my head, over and over, making me blush like a mad man.

'Let me protect you.'

Part 2: End