𝐁𝐎𝐑𝐍 𝐋𝐔𝐂𝐊𝐘 [𝟏] 𝐙𝐔𝐊𝐎

10

UZUME WAS CHATTING WITH MAI and Ruon Jian when she heard Zuko yell at an innocent party-goer.

"Hey, watch it! That food was for my girlfriend's cranky friend!" Zuko caught everyone's attention as he dramatically pointed in Uzume's direction.

Zuko turned his attention fully to Ruon Jian leaning over Uzume, making her laugh at something he just said. Uzume looked up at Ruon with her iconic smile, her eyes dazzling. Mai made eye contact with Zuko and her eyes glinted with evil intentions. Then, Zuko heard Mai speak,

"Ugh, you guys are gross, get a room."

This pushed Zuko over the edge. He pushed Ruon Jian away from Uzume just as he was about to offer them going somewhere more private.

"Whoa. What are you doing?" Ruon asked Zuko, finding his balance.

"Stop talking to my girlfriend!" Zuko angrily shouted.

"Relax, it's just a party." His words irked Zuko, so Zuko pushed him hard, making the boy collide with a giant vase.

Uzume let out a gasp and stood quickly, placing her hand on Zuko's shoulder, "Zuko, what is wrong with you?"

Zuko turned to Uzume, brushing her hand off his shoulder, "What's wrong with me?"

"Yeah, what's wrong with you. She isn't your girlfriend, you broke up with her. Your temper's out of control, you blow up over every little thing. You're so impatient and hot-headed and angry." Mai cut in, standing in front of of the smaller girl.

"Well, at least I feel something...as opposed to you. You have no passion for anything. You're just a big "blah"." Zuko insulted Uzume's close friend. Mai froze, unable to respond to him. Her face visibly fell and Uzume noticed her sad eyes. Uzume pulled Mai back and stood defiantly in front of Zuko.

"Zuko," Uzume faltered, looking down at her feet, "You broke up with me. You have no right," Her voice cracked. She looked up into his eyes, her own filled with anger and tears of frustration threatening to spill, "To treat Mai or anyone I talk to like that. It's over. You ended this. We've been done."

Zuko felt his heart physically break, "Uzume," His voice cracked, reaching out to hold her. Uzume swatted away his hand. She averted her eyes and walked in the direction of where she last saw Azula.

Uzume found Azula sulking on the balcony. Uzume joined her, leaning against the railing.

"So, how'd flirting go?" Uzume asked, trying to distract herself from the heartache she felt. Azula let out a humorless chuckle and shook her head, "I scared him." Uzume looked at Azula's side profile, admiring the teen girl who finally looked her age instead of a war machine.

"Between you and I, he wasn't good enough for you." Uzume nudged her shoulder with her own. Azula looked over at Uzume with sad eyes, "You know, I think that about Zuko for you." Azula expressed.

"Have you ever... thought about you and I?" Azula asked after a few minutes of silence. The two girls looked out at the chaotic waves in the ocean. Uzume hummed, "I used to, when we were little. Then your father started making you a weapon."

Before Azula could respond to Uzume's confession, Ty Lee busted onto the balcony, "Mai and I wanna leave and go to the beach. Zuko got kicked out and we can't find him."

Azula sighed, pulling away from Uzume and walking towards the balcony's exit, "I think I know where he is."

-

The three girls sat on the beach, waiting for the two siblings to join them. Uzume huddled close with Mai, slightly shivering, when Zuko and Azula finally joined them.