A Light In The Dark {Zuko}

4: Girls Are Crazy!

While we were dining at the palace, Mom had made mooncakes that night. Her parents were bakers and had owned a bakery back in the colonies. She was often making sweet treats each night, trying new recipes and reliving old ones. I swiped one on my way to my room. I told Mom I was too tired and that I would go to bed early. She didn't find it odd, but I saw Ren did. He glared at me before I locked my bedroom door. I waited an hour before leaving to the palace.

It didn't take long to get in, as usual. The guards were slim and few at night, making it easier. I avoided them since it was less people to question me as I slipped past the gates and wound my way through the grounds. Having grown up in these halls, I knew how to weave my way through without being noticed. I quickly found the royal family's hall to their chambers. I waited for the guards shift to end before slipping past and finding the door I needed.

The room was too dark to see properly. I tiptoed to the large bed in the middle. When I sat down on the mattress, I saw it was empty.

"Zuko?"

I heard a sniffle to my right in response. I glanced over and found Zuko huddled in the corner, his arms wrapped tightly around his knees. He stared at me as I practically ran over to him, dropping my bag on the floor. I sat down, unsure how he would want me to comfort him. When his eyes met mine, I saw they were puffy and rimmed in red. He'd been crying for a while. My heart clenched at the sight. I quickly wrapped my arms around him and held him close.

"I'm so sorry," I whispered.

We remained like that for some time. Once Zuko had stopped crying, he returned my hug before pulling away. He looked down at his hands, questions filling his eyes. I quickly grabbed one of them.

"Stop it. I know what you're thinking." He didn't look at me as I squeezed his hand. "Your Dad is wrong."

Zuko swallowed before finally meeting my sure gaze. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "That's what Mom said. She...she apologized on behalf of him."

I almost scoffed. Of course she did. Ozai would never admit his faults.

Zuko looked past me, his face growing hard. "But I know he meant it."

I squeezed his hand again, forcing him to look at me. "That doesn't mean it's true. You're better than any of them-" He scoffed. "You just don't realize it. You're a fighter, you never give up. That drive is what will help you show him that he's wrong."

His golden eyes softened. "I wish you were right."

I shook my head. "I am. Your Mom knows it too. You just need to know it for yourself."

He slightly grinned. He seemed to be feeling a little better now. I went back and grabbed my bag off the floor before sitting back down next to him. We leaned against the wall as I pulled out the mooncake. Zuko smiled at the sight. I split it and gave him the bigger half. We ate in silence, enjoying the sweet taste.

When sounds of chewing filled the silence, Zuko spoke up. "Thank you, Akira. You're a good friend."

I smiled back at him with my mouth full. That earned a good laugh from Zuko. He quickly slapped his hand over his mouth to cover the noise, causing me to snort. We chuckled quietly in the dark, eating away the sorrow of the evening before heading off to bed. When Zuko was sound asleep across from me, I stared at the ceiling, silently vowing to help him prove his worth. Not just to Ozai and the world, but, more importantly, to himself.

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The next few days, I was determined to help Zuko. I showed him some new fire bending techniques, helping him with his form. Master Kunyo was dismissed during that same week. There was gossip about him being a bad and abusive teacher, but I knew better. He was a good man and it was cruel to make him leave his home and move to the colonies.