This drabble occurs between 312 until the end of 316. It's from Zuko's POV
Enjoy :D
One piercing look. That was all it took to send shivers down the firebenders' spine. It was with that look that the mistakes of his past came back to haunt him. As he stared into her icy blue orbs, he realized how truly wrong he was in the past. How much he had hurt her. How much he had betrayed her. He never expected to be welcomed to the Avatar's group with open arms. He knew the path to forgiveness would be difficult. However, like a ripped piece of fabric, he thought he could stitch the threads together. To fix his mistakes. To prove to them that he is nothing like the boy that he used to be. That he is on the right side now. That he has changed. That he, as he so eloquently put it, is good now. However, any chance of that was torn to shreds by that one look. The threads that he was trying to mend were ripped apart. It was during those moments that he realized how foolish he truly was. He could even picture her face, smirking and taunting him.
"Did you honestly think that she would trust you, Zuzu? Think of what you have done? You almost killed the Avatar. Killed her hope. Really, Zuzu, I thought you would know better."
Or even his face, always sneering and disapproving.
"Really, Zuko, I thought I had raised you better. Pity. I can't say I'm surprised, though. You always were destined for failure."
He never believed in karma. Growing up with the life that he had doesn't allow room for ideologies such as that. He found it funny, actually. That one could honestly believe that bad things will eventually happen to bad people. Good things will happen to good people. That justice will eventually be served. That the righteous shall prevail. If that be the case, then why is this war still happening? Why does the Fire Nation continue to get stronger, while the other nations continue to get weaker? Why are innocent people continuing to get killed? Yes, he definitely did not believe in karma. He does believe in irony, though. He even thought that his current predicament was ironic. He took away her hope. Now she takes away his. He shouldn't be surprised. That was how they always were. Always taking, never giving...
"My mothers' necklace! Where did you get that?"
"LEAVE ME ALONE!"
"The Fire Nation took my mother away from me!"
"I thought you had changed!"
"I want you to find the Avatar and when you do, end him."
She protected the Avatar, while he tried to snatch him. He worked and slaved for his honor and yet she made the road to winning it back longer and more arduous. He tried to start a new life and she slashed that dream. She wanted his trust, he dashed that idea. So, really, he wasn't surprised that they have, once again, stepped into this seemingly never-ending game of discouragement, anger, and hopelessness.
But, it is with one look, that all his doubts and his guilt are erased.
"But I am ready to forgive you."
Seven simple words. An understanding smile. Two kind eyes. That was all it took to shatter his disbeliefs, his failures, and his past. The game has finally ended. She has given him something that he never thought he could receive; her trust. One look has filled him with something he hasn't had since he'd seen that beam of light that day; hope. The tattered threads are finally repaired and have fashioned a very colorful, er, hat? Ah, he never was very good with metaphors.