Title: Betrayal
Summary: Zuko regrets his decision to side with Azula when he sees his Uncle being taken away.
Zuko couldn't meet his Uncle's eyes as the Dai Li dragged the old man away. The young Fire Nation prince could feel his former mentor's eyes boring into him, burning him like hot coals. Iroh shook his head sadly. Zuko was wracked with guilt and shame that he couldn't understand. He was supposed to be stronger than this. He had always been taught to act in the interests of the Fire Nation, but something about this felt so wrong. Perhaps it was because his Uncle seemed only disappointed, not angry. Zuko could handle when others were angry with him, when others hated him, it was something he'd gotten used to long ago. But he couldn't handle the disappointment in his Uncle's eyes. It made him feel so dirty and ashamed.
"I betrayed Uncle," he muttered to himself. "I betrayed Uncle." He was sounding more and more desperate. Why did he do this? Why did he betray the only person in the world that was truly kind to him, the only person who trusted him? He was covered in cold sweat.
"Listen to me, Zuko," Azula laid a hand on his shoulder. "Uncle is the one who betrayed you. He turned his back on the Fire Nation. You did what you had to." She was using her most persuasive tone, but Zuko wasn't convinced. She tightened her grip on his shoulder. He could feel her fingernails digging into his skin.
Why had he chosen her? Why had he taken her side? He kept asking himself, begging himself to come up with some kind of rationale. But deep down he knew why. Father. He wanted his father's approval above all things. He thought it would be worth the cost of sacrificing his Uncle's trust. He thought it would bring him the peace, the happiness, the acceptance he'd been searching for all these years. He thought he'd feel redeemed.
"I betrayed Uncle."
But he just felt sick.
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