Searching (Zuko x OC)

Chapter 22

After Zuko left, I laid in my bed and went over the events that occurred. I couldn't get his parting words out of my head.

He was the one that kissed me! And then he just left. I was so angry at myself for believing that he actually wanted to kiss me. Maybe he just kissed me to shut me up. I didn't think he would do that to me but I don't know why else he would just leave. Not only that, but it was my first kiss. Being a servant I didn't ever have time for normal childhood crushes and I left on the ship with Zuko when I was only 13.

I sighed and decided to practice waterbending to distract myself. I didn't bother changing out of my pajamas, I just walked up to the deck. It was late and I doubted that anyone would be outside. When I go up on the deck, I grabbed the water out of the bucket and decided to try experimenting.

I sat down on the deck and began to simply move the water around. As it danced around in front of me, I sighed. I brought the water into the palms of my hands and decided to just play around with it. I expanded my hands and the water stretched with them, following every movement I made. I stood up and swirled the water around my whole body. I split the stream in two and made them dance around each other. For some reason, waterbending just came easy to me. It wasn't a struggle. Then again, I was doing very basic moves.

I looked up into the sky and saw the moon shining down from above. I knew that waterbenders drew power from the moon, so I decided to try some more advanced moves. Getting into position, I practiced some of my knife throwing moves. I had the water follow along with my steps and decided to try and attack with the water instead of my knives.

Taking a deep breath, I quickly danced through the move and then shot the water out from my arm where my knives would have been. The water shot out and slammed against the railing. I was satisfied with my work and decided to go see what happened. When I approached, I could see a small dent in the barrier. It would be an easy fix.

Not wanting to stop, I decided to keep training. This was what I was good at. There was no use dwelling on Zuko when I could be improving. He made his choice. Now I'm making mine.

•••

Zuko's POV:

"Father, you asked to see me?" I said cautiously as I walked into the room where he was waiting for me.

"Yes. Sit down," he ordered from behind his wall of flames.

I obeyed his order and sat down where he instructed. I looked up at him expectantly, waiting for what it was he had to say. My stomach was churning from the nerves.

"Unfortunately, as you are my first born son, you will one day take the throne. Am I correct?" he asked coldly.

"Y-yes," I answered, unsure where this was leading.

"And in order to be Fire Lord, you must go through rigorous training. You need to become more powerful than all of your opponents. You need to instill fear into your enemies. You need to be the best," he continued.

"Yes father," I said respectfully.

I felt my stomach knot itself. I had no idea where this conversation was going. I wanted to leave and be with my mother. I wanted to go back to my training. I wanted to be anywhere but here.

"So then, my son," my father snarled angrily, the flames shooting up in front of him, "why is it that instead of preparing yourself that you're spending time with a servant's daughter?"

I felt my blood run cold at the question and I stayed silent, trying to think of a response. Before I could say anything, he continued talking.