ON THE EDGE

Zuko's POV

"Sokka!" I shouted. Everyone turned to me, surprised that I had been the one to break the silence. "What did you do that for? It was obvious she was upset! Are you some sort of idiot?"

Sokka whirled on me. "How was I supposed to know she would throw a tantrum?! I just asked her a question–"

"A really personal question - can't you see that she doesn't want to tell us? She's just met us!"

"Well I obviously didn't–"

"Alright you guys!" yelled Katara.

I realised that in my anger, I'd managed to make the campfire grow until it was a twisting vortex nearly touching the ceiling. Everyone had scuffled back. Control… I unclenched my fists and the fire dropped down to normal size.

Katara spoke to me. "Zuko, he didn't mean to make her upset. He's just too blunt and insensitive to see these things."

"Yeah, yeah," Sokka muttered. "I'm still here you know."

"That's the point! Not that you and your bluntness would understand," Toph laughed. Katara smiled a little as well. I didn't. Not one bit.

Aang suddenly stood up. He didn't look at anyone as he walked away without a word. Katara looked at him worriedly. "Just let Seria have some time alone. She'll come around," she said following Aang out.

I rolled my eyes. Hypocrite.

I thought about the distress Seria had felt and I knew that I couldn't just stand there doing nothing. Frowning, I walked away from the fire.

"Hey! Where are you going?" called the Eartbender named Haru. "I thought Katara said–"

"I don't care what she said," I growled not turning around. No one stopped me as I turned the corner to where Seria had run past.

Seria's POV

It wasn't their fault – I knew that. It was mine. For some reason I couldn't answer a stupid question.

But I couldn't help it. I didn't want to bring out those memories. I think I'd rather eat a thousand mouldy moonpeaches than do that. And I hate moonpeaches.

I sat on the edge of the building, my bare feet turning blue as they dangled in the air. How I wish I could just jump off. To fly. Like Aang had done before. I bet it would feel amazing. To be surrounded by nothing but air.

And… why not?

I paused and stood up slowly. My toes were hanging over the edge and the wind buffeted me. When I looked down, I couldn't even see the bottom. Swirling clouds kept the land from view. Just one step and it would be me and the air. No one else.

I heard footsteps behind me.

"Don't."

It was Zuko.

I laughed. "And why not?"

"Because you'll fall."

My eyes narrowed. "So?" I muttered darkly. I didn't recognise my own voice.

He grabbed my arm.

"And if you fall, you'll die. And you'll never master airbending. And if you fall then the soldiers would've won."

There was silence. A long silence that stretched on. Zuko's hand was still gripping my arm. At the moment, it was the only warmth I had. Every other part of my body was cold, ice dripping through my veins.

"You don't know what it's like," I whispered at last. "To go through all the pain–"

"But I do," Zuko interrupted. "Heh, I've got a whole back history of it." He took a deep breath and his voice rose. "You're not the only one – alright? Not the only one. There are other people who have been through that and come through it okay. So get away from the ledge!"

That did it. Jolted me back into sanity. I took a step back, horrified with myself and what I had been so close to doing. Zuko pulled me further away from it and I stumbled, colliding with his chest.

"I-I'm so sorry!" I stuttered shaking all over. "I don't know what came over me. I didn't know what I was doing – it was a stupid idea! I was stupid!"

"Yeah you were." Zuko said gruffly. But he pulled me to arms' length and once again, there was a moment where the hard lines of his face disappeared. He spoke softer, "But you're okay now."

I nodded and sank to the ground, rubbing my arms to try and get them warm again. Zuko sat down next to me, his back against the wall.

"I'll tell you."

Zuko looked at me questioningly. "Tell me what?"

"How I got with those soldiers. What happened. You deserve it. I mean, you almost watched me kill myself! It's the least I can do."

"It's alright. You don't have to–"

"I want to." I said firmly. And I actually do, I thought.

Zuko shifted so he was facing me. His cool amber gaze was serious. "Are you sure?"

I nodded my head stubbornly. "But you can't tell anyone else. Not anyone! Maybe Aang if he asks, but I'd prefer you to keep this to yourself, alright?"

He spread his hands out in a gesture of surrender. "Hey, I promise."

I sighed and picked at a bit of dirt at my trousers, a little nervous. Zuko waited silently and I was grateful for the time to think.

"It was something we didn't see coming," I said after a while. "No one in our village had any warning about the Firenation soldiers. We all thought we were safe, you see. High in the mountains and away from civilisation. We thought we'd remain untouched by the war. But…" I took a breath. "They came four years ago. I was just twelve years old, living a pretty normal life and just coming to terms with my gift. It was a beautiful day – one where the sun is shining and not even the wind blows. I was looking after my younger brother, Yen, in the kitchen. Then suddenly there was screaming from the other side of the village.

"I ran to the window and saw smoke rising from several houses. Then I saw the soldiers; they were burning the village down. People were running away, screaming, grabbing their belongings and those who fought back were killed. I was so frightened. My father burst into the house panting and everyone turned to him expecting a plan. But it was too late: They'd reached our house." I stopped and looked at the sky. It was getting dark. "My grandmother and parents went outside to try and reason with the Firebenders. But they wouldn't listen. They pushed them around and I ran outside, screaming at them to stop. The soldiers just laughed. I got so angry that I shot some air at the guy who had my mother. He was thrown back and there was absolute silence.

"The leader stepped forward: General Chen." I shuddered.

"That blonde bastard?" Zuko asked. I smiled faintly and nodded.

"He gave me a long look, ignoring the begging of my family," I continued shakily. "They told me to run, but I was surrounded. Chen asked me if there were any others like me. And I lied and said I was the only one, fearing for my brother and grandmother's safety who were both airbenders as well." I groaned. "But if I'd said yes, then they'd be alive today. I didn't know then what the soldiers would do, but that was my biggest mistake. My ultimate regret. General Chen told the soldiers to lock my family in the house. There was a lot of shouting and struggling and screaming as my family was locked inside."

I groaned as the familiar but heavy weight of guilt pressed down on my chest, making it ache with the longing to undo my mistake. When I next spoke, my voice was croaky.

"Then they set my house on fire… With my family still inside."

My voice broke and I began to cry. Suddenly Zuko was beside me, pulling me into a hug. I honestly tried to stop the tears – really I did – but it got to a point where it's more painful holding them in. So I cried into his shoulder. I cried for the loss of my family. The years in prison. Everything. It was a dizzying but such a relief.

I don't know how long we'd stayed like that, me bawling and Zuko holding me. When I'd finally calmed down I continued, my voice rough and thick. "I tried to fight back but I just wasn't strong enough. They dragged me away kicking and screaming. They put me in prison and I've been in there for two years. Two long years. I was kept a secret. Only the Firelord and highest-ranking generals knew I existed. Then it was decided that I should be moved to a more secure prison in the Firenation capital. I think I was going to be used as bait – for the Avatar.

When you found me they were moving me to the new prison. It was ten-times worse than the one I'd been in originally. You honestly don't know how much you've saved me. I don't think I would've survived," I pause. "I can't thank you enough."

"Then stop thanking me," he said. "I did what anyone would've done."

"No," I shook my head. "We passed loads of people. People from the Earth Nation. None of them even looked our way. The soldiers had been bad before, but never that bad. It's slowly been getting worse and worse over the past three months now. I've been terrified that maybe they'd end up killing me. That day you saw it," I shrugged. "They'd crossed some sort of line and I can only thank the Spirits that you came before it could get any worse."

Zuko was silent. I looked up at his face. He was deep in thought – his eyes looking ahead, faraway. He noticed me staring at him and met my gaze. I hurriedly looked down, embarrassed. I realised how close our bodies were and quickly pulled away, standing up.

"Well," I say. "Thanks for listening to me and… er… stuff."

"Sure. No problem." He said awkwardly.

I faked a yawn. "I'm feeling tired… I think I might call it a day."

"Yeah. Me too," he began standing up. "I didn't get much sleep last night because–" He caught himself.

We stood staring at each other.

"Well, goodnight then." I said giving a little wave. I winced. Ugh, why so girly?

Zuko coughed. "Yup. You too."

I hurried away.

Well that was embarrassing, I thought to myself as I reached the campfire.

But I couldn't help feeling pleased with how things had gone.