Searching (Zuko x OC)

Chapter 27

Zuko's POV:

Eventually, Sora had to leave to train with Akemi as she promised. I didn't want her to go, but I knew I couldn't stop her. I excused myself from the room and immediately went into my own to think.

It was hard to wrap my head around the events that transpired between us. Just the previous day, she had been absolutely furious with me. As usual, Uncle was right. It would have been easier for her to hear the truth. But I still felt guilty about it. My own father would kill her if he knew about our friendship. Especially if he ever found out about what had just happened. It hadn't gone far, but it was already farther than he allowed.

I sighed as I finally let myself relive the moment in my head. I had no idea what I was even planning on saying to her, but I definitely didn't expect her to suggest what she did. Truth be told, I was grateful. She was the one brave enough to ask for what we both wanted.

And it was perfect. She was perfect.

I felt so many conflicted emotions. The two sides of my life that I had somehow managed to keep separate were now blurring into one and I would be forced to choose between them. As Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation, I had a duty to my people. I was going to become the Fire Lord one day and I would need to uphold my duties as a royal. Marry for the bloodline, continue this war, and make my family proud. I needed to regain my honor and capture the Avatar. But then there was just Zuko. The Zuko that Sora had asked me to be not 1 hour ago. The Zuko without a title and without the weight of a nation on my shoulders. That Zuko wanted nothing more than to be with Sora. To call her mine. That Zuko wanted to believe everything she said that day not long ago that I wouldn't find what I was looking for at home. That what I was looking for was love and not honor.

I punched the wall of the ship angrily and immediately recoiled, waving my hand in the air as if that would soothe the pain. I cursed slightly but then just sighed. The battle inside my head between my nation and Sora was unbearable. They were both things that I had wanted for so long and I didn't know if I could choose. Or more accurately, I was scared to find out which one I would.

I decided to forget about my turmoil for a while and figure out my plan for capturing the Avatar. I spent the rest of my day planning what I would do. It wasn't until I heard a knock on my door that I realized how late it had gotten.

"Zuko?" Sora called out.

"Come in," I answered, not bothering to clean up the mess of papers that surrounded me on the floor.

She entered and leaned against the door as she looked at me with a smile. She was wearing her training clothes and I could see the glint of knives that she held in her hands. The sweat told me that she had just finished.

"Uncle wants to know if you'll be joining him for music night," she asked softly.

"That man is going to be the death of me," I grumbled under my breath.

"He asked if you would also play the tsungi horn," she asked with a hint of a laugh.

"Absolutely not! I don't even know how to play," I huffed, returning my gaze to the papers surrounding me, "I have more important things to do anyways."

"What are you up to?" she asked, finally getting up from against the door and coming to stand by my side.

I peered up at her from where I was sitting and saw her examining the papers with intrigue. The flames of the candles flickered strongly, sending a basking orange glow across her face. She looked otherworldly beautiful. I shook my head, realizing that I was staring. Luckily she was too busy glancing at my papers to notice.