The Blue Spirit ღ (Zuko x OC)

Chapter ⅩⅩ: Crescendo

Zuko held his eyes closed tight, but before he could let out a conflicted sigh, he felt Jin's lips press against his. He jolted backward, avoiding her bemused gaze.

"What's wrong?" She asked.
"It's complicated ..." Zuko said, turning away from her, ready to run.
"Oh, I'm sorry..." There was strained disappointment in her voice. "... She's beautiful — the dancer girl from earlier — you couldn't take your eyes off her. You love her, don't you?"

The word struck Zuko like a blunt force that passed all the way through his mid section. He began to walk home, feeling winded and leaving Jin standing alone at the water fountain.

As he walked back in to the house, he heard Uncle asking how his night had been. Terrible. He wanted to shout. Painful. Empty. Conflicting. He slammed the door as his response, leaning against it. The word Jin had said ricocheted through his mind and he thought of how beautiful Nala's hair looked in the lights along the street, and her laughter filled his chest. He had felt so empty without her ... and now she was back in his life by some insane shot of fate. He cracked the door open to peer out to Uncle.

"It was nice ..." He murmured. 

*✧*

The next day, Chikaro and Nala were prancing about in the grass, chirping together about songbirds and how they danced with Qigo looking on with amusement painted across her usually stormy expression. Chikaro began to cartwheel about with Ying. Their laughter filled the air as Zuko approached, and he noted how much Chikaro reminded him now of Tai Lee. He hesitated as he saw how happy Nala was. It made him feel warm, but all the same part of him resented her happiness as he'd had nothing but struggle and pain since she'd left. From the failure at the North Pole, to being disappointed by Azula and then being alone and having people turn on him. It had been one set back after another, all the way, Nala had seemed to flourish without him and he wished he had been there to flourish beside her.

He stands back and rehearses to himself how to approach them, even second guessing why he'd come in the first place. He steps toward them, waving as their heads turn to him.

"Uh ... hi. It's me, er, Lee from yesterday"
Qigo grabbed her girlfriend, and began to pull her off in another direction. "Come, my love, let's go practise ... anywhere else." Chikaro giggles as she skips after Qigo, shooting a coy look toward Nala.

Zuko makes his way over, directing himself to Ying, but his eyes stay firmly planted to the grass. "I'm sorry for yesterday ... I hope I didn't hurt you."
"Simple misunderstanding." Ying said with a courteous bow. "I'm flattered that you found the performance convincing. Why don't you come inside for some tea?"

Zuko obliged and Ying led them inside, holding the door of the caravan open for them and showing Zuko to the table before igniting the flame beneath the tea pot. Nala was at his side, setting out tea cups when Ying leaned in to her and murmured in to her ear.

"I'll give you some space." She smiled at him as he excused himself, exiting the caravan. She took a seat adjacent Zuko as she waits for the kettle to boil. There's a drawn silence as Zuko watches his fingers, toying with the question of why he came here. Nala seemed so content without him ... she'd moved on, and here he was still stuck in his banishment, stuck in his indecision, stuck in time. He convinced himself he'd get closure for himself, and then he'd let her go if it's what she really wanted.

"So ... Ying ... That's an interesting name for a boy." He scorned himself for not being able to think of anything else to say, but Nala's giggle pulled him out of his head.
"I suppose it is."
"He seems nice."
"Yeah, he's been wonderful ... everyone has, really. I have a lot to thank them for."
"So, he treats you well? A-and you're happy with him?"
"Y— ... why are you asking about Ying like that?" Nala cocked a brow, her head fell slightly to the side as she looked at him, puzzled.
"I just hope you're happy with your boyfriend." His eyes stung. He bit hard on his lip.
"You don't mean that."
"I do."
"Is that how you tell everyone you're happy for them? With dejection?"