"What?"
"I'm sorry," Zuko said, his face embarrassed and contrite. "I shouldn't have said anything. I know you belong with Aang, but I had to try."
He turned to leave. I watched in speechlessness as the man I loved walked away from me. I wanted to run after him and throw my arms around him for saying what I'd always wished he would. But, he was right. I had to be fair to Aang. He thought that I was completely and irrevocably his. Lately, though, I had begun to feel as if he and I weren't meant to be. In fact, more and more, my mind had turned to the new Fire Lord and what it would be like to love and be loved by him.
As I stood there alone and torn, it began to rain, as if the skies wished to cry with me. I had to make a decision. It would hurt Aang, but if I didn't make this choice, I would be left to regret it. So, dreading what I was going to do, I started the trek back to the house I shared with the gang.
I found Zuko in the palace garden, clearly tired and drawn from the council he had just left. I thought about coming back later, but before I could go, he looked up and saw me. A look of hope and dread filled his eyes as he started to speak. I stopped him before he started.
"Did you mean it? When you said you loved me?" I asked. Never had I felt such fear of rejection.
"But Aang-," he started.
"I told Aang that as good of a friend he is, we can never be more. I know my destiny." I paused for a breath. "So," I repeated, "did you mean it?"
He didn't answer. Instead he took my face between his hands as if it were the most precious thing in the world and searched my eyes. He brushed a piece of my hair aside and slowly nodded. Gently, never taking his eyes from mine, he lowered his lips to mine. I lost all awareness of the world around us as he banished any fears or doubts I had. When we drew apart, he laid his forehead against mine.
"I love you," he whispered softly.
"I love you, too."