Burning Souls - Book 2 // Zuko

Chapter 12

Shira rapped loudly on Zuko's door.... no answer. She knew that Iroh was already downstairs preparing tea for the early drinkers but Zuko usually slept in...

"Zuko," the girl called through the door.

There was the sound of rustling, so Shira assumed that Zuko was just waking up. Opening the door, she peaked in and froze at what she saw. A shirtless Zuko stood near the bed, getting dressed into something that was not his usual attire. He wore black pants, black boots and in his hand was a black shirt with a hood.... Wait....

"I'm sorry..." The girl stuttered, feeling her face go red until she saw the object in Zuko's hand. "Are you...."
Zuko looked down at the blue mask that he held in his hand along with the black shirt. He let out a deep sigh and his shoulders slumped.

"There is a reward out for the return of the Avatar's bison."
"The flying bison?" Shira asked, crossing her arms. "So.... You're just going to go tramping around the whole city looking for a six-legged flying white bison?"
Zuko shook his head, "No. I know where to find him."

"And what are you going to accomplish from capturing him?" Shira insisted.

The boy sighed, setting the mask and shirt down on the bed, approaching the girl. He grabbed her arms gently and made her look up at him.

"Listen Shira. I cannot be worthy of anything nor will I account for anything until I regain my honor. The only way to do that is to capture the avatar. If I have his precious bison, I can lure him in."
Shira groaned, shaking her head, "What makes you think you do not account for something now Zuko? What if the avatar never existed? Would you spend the rest of your life denying that you have honor and worth?"

"I would not be worth anything without the avatar," Zuko replied. "While he is alive, there is still a chance that I can regain my honor. Without my honor, I am nothing and I am unworthy of you."
There was the sound of a loud smack as Shira's hand made contact with Zuko's cheek. The boy jumped in surprise and his eyes widened while his hand went up to his unscarred cheek which was stinging from the contact.

When Zuko looked back at Shira, tears were pricking her eyes and her face was twisted into a look of pain and misery. She clenched her fists at her sides, her shoulders shaking from sobs that threatened to burst forth.

"Have you heard nothing of what I have told you the past few days? You are good enough Zuko! You're more than enough and you are going to wear yourself into the ground if you try to be more than who you are! Just be who you are Zuko! It is enough! If anyone wants you to be more, then they really do not love you!"

The girl stepped over and slammed her fists against his bare chest, too upset to feel flustered before the half naked boy.

"I love you for who you are.... Not who you are not! I wouldn't care if you were never a prince even in the past! I lost all titles and my family as a child, but you still loved me! Why do you think it is impossible for me to love you without a throne and honor?"

Zuko quickly reached out and grabbed her wrists but Shira seemed to crumble, pressing her forehead against his hard chest, giving his chest one more hard pound with her fists before she went limp against him, her shoulders shaking in sobs.
"Why can't you believe that you are enough?"

Zuko quickly reached forward and pulled her wrists toward his face so that she was drawn flush against him. Reaching with a free hand, he lifted her chin up to look at her eyes pooling with tears and never in his life had Shira looked more beautiful to the Fire Nation crown prince.

"I believe you Shira... but I'm doing this because while you might feel that I am enough, I know for a fact that I am not."
Shira bit down on her lip, "Zuko...."
The boy shook his head and took a step back, releasing the girl. "I have to do this."