The diadem felt heavier in his hair than ever before, and he was glad to untie the topknot and slip the gold flame from the red band. He let it fall to the floor, ignoring the clatter. The shoulder pads came next, tossed onto the bed. She would see it, her last mementos of him.
He went to the desk, brushing his black hair out of his eyes, avoiding the scar. He straightened out the paper and paused. He could wait until morning; give her the option to join him. He closed his eyes, letting the thought fade away. She would say no, and that would worsen the wound even more if she had to see him go.
He wet the brush, drawing it across the paper with deft strokes. The words were carefully chosen, rehearsed over and over again in the wee hours of the night. They were formal, words that would have been spoken between two people who barely knew the other. But it was the only way he could think of doing it without breaking her heart more.
He signed it with his name, and leaned back. He paused once more, and pulled out a fresh sheet of paper. He scratched the words he'd really wanted to say onto it and let it dry before slipping it under her pillow. Maybe she would find it. Maybe she wouldn't.
He rolled up the first letter and tied it with the red band, throwing it onto the bed next to his shoulder pads. She would see that for sure. He closed his golden eyes, letting one tear escape. "I'm sorry Mai." The words were barely a whisper, but his voice caught on the last syllable. Her name. Mai.
Would she remember him, when it was all said and done? Would she cry for him, if news came that he hadn't made it through? Would she fight for him, give up what she had to stand up for the one she loved? Would she care that he was gone from her life, that she might never see him again? Would she look for him, search through the nations without a care for the war? Would she leave Azula for him, leave her friends? Would she leave her life behind to find the one who held her in the world in the first place? Would she move on, find another Fire Nation boy to hold her and listen as she hated on life?
What about him? Would he be able to move on, forget her? Would it be worse for him than it would be for her? Would he come back for her, because it was too hard to live without? Would he be able to think, and not lose his mind? Was he leaving behind the only thing important to him in live anymore? Was he leaving behind the only person who loved him? Mai.
He turned and left, her name echoing in her mind. Mai. I love you. Mai.