Love, Promises and So Many Other Things

by Quirkista

Apologies for the sucky title... This is a short songfic drabble series. My first! Ranging from first hatred to first love to everything in between, this fic brings you to the far off land of Zutara. And this fic isn't in chronological order. It is disorganised chaos, a metaphor for the wonderful ship of Zutara. Now press that button, you (hopefully!) won't be disappointed.

36. Smoke and Mirrrors

Disclaimer: I don't own A:TLA.

Thanks to WildCitrusSunflower and katara-zuko1714 for your amazing reviews!

This chapter is in Zuko's POV and is based on Smoke and Mirrors by Gotye.

After my 'accident', as my father calls it even though he intentionally burned me, I felt too weak.

Too weak, to even look at my own distorted face in the grand regal mirrors in our large family. Stretching from my left eye to my left ear and beyond, I felt as if I was stuck between two people; one whom I didn't know, my distorted image the one that caused me so much anguish during my early teenage years and the other half was the face of a not unattractive face. I'm not arrogant; in comparison to my present self, I was gorgeous and I'm not one to easily compliment myself. I mean, I don't think that I was necessarily unattractive. However, I don't think that it matters now. After all, vanity isn't going to help me now.

My uncle arrived just days afterwards and he was distraught that he wasn't there for me. It wasn't my uncle's fault of course; he was still recovering from the loss of his son, a few years earlier. Grief is something that cuts in the middle, leaving you susceptible to pain, sickness and depression.

And in a way, I was grieving as well. Up to then, I idolised my dad and I was constantly in search for his approval and let me tell you, he isn't easily pleased.

I haven't seen him in quite a few years; living with my loving uncle has sufficed in every way. At first, I would cover every mirror in the house so I wouldn't have to gaze at my appearance. It helped but only to boost my sense of vanity again because if you can't see your flaws, you can imagine that they're not there.

And then Katara came along, about a year or two ago. I was working in the Jasmine Dragon, in which I still work. We fought bitterly at the beginning, but then eventually we became best friends and then we started dating.

And boy, am I glad.

My uncle and Katara have been such a great help. Without them, I would still be in my self-contained black hole. Now, I have learned to love life again and it's all thanks to my caring uncle and my wonderful girlfriend.

Please read and review! I'm so sorry about this terrible chapter!