Zuko sighed quietly, his eyes shut against the light, feeling the heat of the fire as the cool night air blew through the open window. The young firelord sat silently within his chambers, wrapped in a blanket made of the finest and most expensive silk, his golden eyes staring out at the dark night, as his multiple servants began to prepare his room for the night, turning down the bed, and fluffing the young man's pillows. Zuko looked at the servants, his eyes seeming to stare through them, instead of directly at them, his mind preoccuppied with his new situation. Looking at his hands, the young man shook himself, anger welling up inside of his soul, wanting to get out, but with no other outlet than the dangerous fire that lay within his veins, coursing through his blood in a liquid heat.
Quickly ushering his servants out the doors, the young man bolted it from the inside, leaning against the heavy oaken door as he felt the mask he had so carefully constructed fall, layer upon layer. Sinking to the floor, a sob escaped his throat, his heart breaking in a way he had never thought imaginable, or possible. Carefully peeling the layers of his imperial dress from his body, the firelord stood naked in his room, leaving his clothes by the door, as he walked to the front of his mirror, gazing at his own reflection.
Night black hair caressed Zuko's pale snow white face in loose waves as his golden cat like eyes stared painfully out of the beautiful face. His scar stood out more than usual due to his pallor, making it seem as though the blemish on his creamy smooth skin reflected his anger, making him appear as a sculpture.
Zuko felt his anger build again, his fist clenching in when he looked at his reflection in the smooth surface. The glass shattered as his fist connected with it, blood from his hand coating some of the falling pieces. A knock sounded at the door, a guard's worried voice carrying through the dark wood. A few words were said to placate the man, soothing him into a sense of security.
Until a hand landed on his shoulder, blue eyes piercing his own as he looked into the cool depths."What do you think you're doing?!" came the angry question, and Zuko felt his head spin, either from the loss of blood or the fact that this man had gotten into his heavily guarded bedroom.
"I..."
"Weren't you thinking?!! Save it, we've heard it!" he snarled, yanking the young firelord toward his bed, settling him on the covers, as he hustled around the room in search of bandages.
The young man sighed briefly, throwing a robe over to the darker haired young man, before pulling the royal to his feet, and unbolting the door. Three others came in, their worried faces blending together to form one. One part of the face stepped forward, placing a dark brown hand onto Zuko's shoulder, blue eyes filled with concern and pain.
"Zuko, what happened?" it was a girl's voice, but he really couldn't distinguish who's.
"Can't think straight," the firelord groaned, swaying on his feet."where's Mai?"
"Oh, Zuko." said the voice, pulling him into a hug, enveloping him in warmth.
"Mai is supposed to come in here every night, she makes sure I don't have nightmares, she's the only way I can sleep. Where's Mai?" he repeated, pushing against the form, taking a few steps too many back, and landing on his side on the floor, the impact from the fall surprising him, a cry of pain escaping his throat.
"Your Majesty!" a guarded yelled, but the voice was clouded, fuzzy, hard to hear like he was buried under water, and fighting toward the surface, only he couldn't reach. And slowly the dark coolness of the water overwhelmed him, and darkness took him.