Ash [Prince Zuko - Book Two]

❃Chapter Eight❃

Asake wrapped her arms around her legs, resting her chin on her knees. She had found the position comforting, all wrapped up in a cocoon-like state where she wouldn't let anything in or out. She stared at one spot on the earthen floor, her eyes burning with unshed tears and exhaustion. It had been a long, long time since she had a restful sleep, and now that Iroh was hurt, she doubted she would sleep ever again.

A broken shack rose up around her, housing Asake, Zuko, and Iroh. Her eyes strayed to the frail body that belonged to Iroh, laying on the ground. At least his stomach was rising and falling – a sign that he was alive. Zuko hid right beside her, his head ducked so he would be able to see his uncle. His shoulder bumped into hers, sparking a thousand feelings in her chest, but she shoved them away. She needed to steel herself for the worst.

"When is he going to wake up?" Zuko mumbled softly. He leaned closer to her so only she could hear the words he wanted to say, and she blinked hard. He hated physical touch, yet there he was, hiding away in her shoulder from the whole world.

"I'm sure he'll wake up soon," she replied, wishing she could turn away from Zuko, to let him down just like he let her down. She didn't have the heart to. Not yet. "He'll be fine, Zuko."

"I don't know if I can believe you." Zuko glanced over at the unconscious form, worry etched in his face. Her heart dipped in her chest when her own worries surfaced. "I don't know what I'd do if he doesn't make it."

"He's going to be okay," Asake said firmly. She sat up, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Listen to me, Zuko." Her looked her way, and she gave him a small smile. Their bridge was burned, yes, but she wasn't about to destroy his hope. She was better than that. "Iroh will live. I promise you. Anyway, he wouldn't want to die without having tea first."

Zuko cracked a smile, shaking his head. That was the first time in a long time that he had actually smiled. She wished it were different, that he would smile more. "How can you have so much hope?"

"Iroh gave me hope." Asake looked down at her hands, shrugging. She didn't dare tell him that she had lost her hope, that it was just out of her reach. Instead, an idea formed in her head, so she took him by the hand and said, "Follow me. I know what'll take your mind off of him."

"We can't leave him here," Zuko said. However, he didn't stop her from pulling him up and out the door. He allowed her to take him away from the person he loved most. "Where are you taking me, Asake? Are you going to murder me?"

"Just hush, Zuko. Don't you trust me?"

Zuko and Asake stared at each other for a second too long. He didn't say anything to her. He didn't hold onto her hand anymore. Of course, he didn't trust her. Did she trust herself? Not in the slightest, so that was fine with her. She didn't trust him, either. Not after he burned the bridge between the two of them. Zuko running away was just like what her brother did sixteen years ago, resulting in her mothers' death. Was that why it hurt her when Zuko left more than she cared to admit? Because it was what her own flesh and blood did? She wasn't so sure.

When she and Zuko had found this place a few days ago, she decided to wander around while Zuko watched over Iroh. There wasn't anything else for her to do, and she definitely didn't want to focus on all the worry plaguing her heart. Walking through nature seemed to cure everything that had hurt her, and this time was no different. While wandering around, she found a cliff directly behind the house, one where she could see everything beyond it. The horizon stretched out for miles, beckoning to her, telling her that it was her time to take the Spirits who gave her all the terrible things in her life and shove them down a hole deep in the ground. Maybe this same horizon would inspire Zuko to do the same.

Asake slowly sat down at the edge of the cliff, looking over her shoulder at Zuko. He wore a strange expression on his tired face, his eyes sweeping across an expanse of dirt, rocks, and a gray sky. She hung her legs over the edge and stared straight forward, clasping her hands together in her lap. She waited patiently for Zuko to join her and was surprised to feel his shoulder bump into hers as he lowered himself beside her. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw just how close he was, almost as if he couldn't believe she was here, that he was back in her presence again.