Rainbow's Gift (Avatar The Last Airbender Fanfic)

17. We still are

I watched as uncle stared at her hair. He seemed like he knew something but was hesitant to say it. "Spit it out." I growled. I was tired of waiting and I hadn't apologized to her.

"I don't know. It obviously can't be......." He started.

"If you can't tell us then we're leaving." I pulled her hand and led her to my room. She didn't say a thing. I pulled her inside my room. She looked around confused. I sat on my bed and urged her to sit opposite of me.

Taliya's POV

I sat opposite of him and looked at him. He seemed really anxious and nervous. It took me a second to realize he wanted to apologize. "Taliya ...."

"Zuko......"

"Go ahead then." I said trying my best not to hide my smile.

"Okay.......um....... I wanted to say I'm....." It took him like 2 minutes to say sorry, " sorry for burning your hand." He looked at his bed slightly embarrassed.

"I don't know if I should forgive you or not......"

"I think you should." He demanded. I looked at him in question and he looked down embarrassed.

" Well I want to apologise about what I said about your father......" I knew I was right but Zuko always felt like he had to show his father that he could be like Azula too. But she was cruel and held too much rage for her age.

"Don't." He stopped. " You were right. Let's not talk about it." I looked at him. I wasn't sure if he believed in what he said but I decided not to push it. He stood up and I realized he was obviously taller than I remember and also muscular. "Could you please stop staring?"

I felt colour rush to my cheeks. I looked up at him and he was smirking. I hated that look on his face." I..... I wasn't staring." I stammered but the look on his face didn't change. He landed on his bed in front of me. I looked up at him furtively to find him staring at me. It made me blush more. " Is it okay if I ask...... how did you get the scar?"

He hesitated but he started narrating what happened. " Remember when I came and told you about my idea of going to a war meeting?" I nodded. " I did it. I went to a war room but the guards wouldn't let me in. I remember one of them saying I was too young to attend a war meeting. I kept trying to get in until  Uncle Iroh came and asked me what was wrong. I told him my idea and he allowed me to join the meeting on one condition: I would not speak during the meeting. But I broke that condition. A general talked about using a new battalion of recruits as bait against an army of earthbenders. It wasn't right, I knew it so I spoke out. Apparently by doing that I disrespected the general but mostly my father."

"So you were challenged to an Agni Kai?" I asked fearful for the answer.

"Yes. That's where my father gave me the scar of a banished prince." He said with pain. " I was so stupid. I could have just listened to you or ..or I could have just remained quiet....."

"Zuko you didn't do anything wrong." I said calmly.

" I did do something wrong! I was stupid and now I have to capture the Avatar." He shouted, " in which you're helping!" He said exasperatedly. He stood up and started pacing around his room.

"Zuko." I called out but he didn't hear me. He now seemed in the verge of tears.

"I lost my country ,my throne , my honour and sometimes I don't think I'll ever get them back ." He said sadly. I stood up and went to him. I stood in front of him. Underneath all that anger all he had was sadness.

"Come here." I told him as I offered him a hug. He came on the bed and wrapped his warm arms around me. " It's going to be okay." I whispered softly as he hugged me tighter. At this point I was feeling tremendously awful. It felt like I had betrayed Zuko, and being here with him felt I was betraying Aang. Images of Sokka started to appear and I shut them out.