It was a little devastating, Zuko's life.
He needn't explain himself to her; it was there in his eyes, in the mark on his face, in the way his agony marked his face when he attempted to smile or express a pint of happiness. She knew little about the suicide of his mother, but details were silly, really, and she didn't dare question him. He was Fire Nation. But the flame, the ruthless brutality that burned bright in the hearts of most fire benders wasn't there. He was different. Conflicted. Burdened by his bloodline and the irrational hindsight to preview his destiny. Here, alone, without many resources to fight, they could confess their insecurities and they did so without saying a single world. The tip of her finger traced the maroon skin disfiguring his face and when she offered to erase the mark forever, a spark of hope ignited, like the way a coal rock might burn. His father didn't care about him, he probably never would, and he realized that in his cocoon, but the title of "scarred prince" prevented him from moving forward, away from the life he once somehow wished to live.
And she could take him away from it all.
In any other place or time, that idea might've been deemed as impossible, but here, like this, with her, alone, anything seemed possible: as long as his future was with HER. He'd never felt so dependent on anyone else, not since his mother life, but as much as he understood, he could melt into her arms, into her lips, and feel perfectly content forever. He wasn't willing to betray his father, not literally, not the way his father seemed to believe, but for her? He didn't need to think about it. Not at all. His mind was made up. And, as far as he could tell, she felt the same.
Because they were just two people.
But before his thoughts could linger on their might-have-been story for too long, and before she could cure him of his past, they were interrupted by the sound of Earth crashing onto itself, by the sound of crystals shattering, and the aura was disturbed. Katara rushed to embrace one of the Benders and he watched her, the sad puppy-dog look apparent in his eyes, and he felt the arms of someone wrap around him. But it wasn't her; it was his family, his uncle, the only person who had really been there for him. And if Katara represented his mother, then she'd leave in the end too, betray him, fail to really protect him, and surround him in a world of agony. Family. Family was what really mattered, he realized that now, and serenity was gone.
But he had run away.
A/N: I was rewatching all of the seasons of Avatar when this little scene had happened; I'd never watched this episode and I thought it was absolutely adorable, and tragic at the same time. Originally this little dabble was going to center around what might've happened if Aang hadn't run away, if the world had been restored peacefully before Katara and Zuko's births, that they were destined for each other: if Aang hadn't been apart of the world. But it sort of changed.
And I've also come to realize that I absolutely love Avatar and this little love triangle. I think I might publish a few more stories if my readers think I should. I'd like to publish something that involves a little more action instead of drabbling thoughts from characters' points of views, but it really all depends on your reviews. Let me know if you liked this. Don't hold back on intelligent critisism. I appreciate your thoughts more than you'll ever know. Thank you for reading and I hope this wasn't a complete waste of your time.
-IN.