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Chapter 7~

Finally explained

The carriage started moving with a click of the ostrichhorse's heels and a slight squeak. The gentle rocking of the vehicle is rather comforting, especially with Zuko being beside me.

That is, till we hit a bump in the road, nearly sending me flying off the seat. Zuko wrapped his arm around my shoulders, keeping me on the seat. "Are you alright?" He asked, his arm warming me up, inside and out.

"Yeah. I've never been in a carriage." I whispered, embarrassed. I felt like an idiot. Zuko didn't seem to mind, simply holding me tighter against him. "That's ok. I didn't think about it."

We fell into a rather awkward silence, neither of us sure what to say. "Would you like me to explain what happened?" Zuko asked, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Yes, please. I'm still a little confused about a few things." Zuko nodded, his somber. "That's understandable. It's a long story, and might be a bit hard to explain, but I have to tell you everything for it to make sense." I kissed his cheek and gave his knee a squeeze. "Take your time, sweetheart. You don't have to tell me everything right away. I know it's complicated." He took a deep breath, he loosened his hold on me slightly, but didn't move his arm.

"When I was 13, I spoke out of turn at a war meeting. When I did, I unknowingly insulted my father, and he challenged me to an agni kai." Zuko choked, and I wiggled my arm behind him and around his waist. "Take your time, Zuko." I whispered, giving him a reassuring smile. He smiled back.

"Thank you." he grew serious again, his voice soft. "I refused to fight my father, which he saw as cowardly. He...He gave me my scar, stripped me of my birthright as crowned prince, and banished me. He said that I could only come home if I found the Avatar."

My heart dropped. "Zuko. That's, I'm so sorry." I hugged him tightly. He was shaking, but he hugged me back just as tightly. "I did some many horrid things, trying to find the avatar, and even after I did. My uncle and I were living here, and hiding from the fire nation. I betrayed him, and joined my sister, but in the end, I joined the Avatar, and taught him how to firebend. My uncle has forgiven me, and I have real friends now, so my life is much better than before. I still greatly regret the things I did before." Zuko whispered, still hugging me tightly.

"I completely understand if you just want me to take you home and if you never want to see me again." I pulled away from him, staring at him in surprise. "What, no! Zuko, I don't care. I know you now, not from then. You've changed for the better, and you've clearly become a better person." I took his face between my hands, kissing him firmly.

"That's not who you are anymore." Zuko kissed me again, holding me tightly again. "Jin, I truly don't deserve you. Thank you."

The carriage hit another large bump, bouncing us off the seat. We both laughed, helping each other back into the seat properly. "I've done quite a lot of talking now, so what about you? What's your life like?" Zuko asked, a big smile still on his face. "Definitely not as wild as yours."

Zuko chuckled. "I bet." I smiled back, leaning against his side slightly. "My parents and I moved here when I was five. We'd been traveling from town to town my entire life till then, and I was so excited to finally have a solid home. We went to sleep that night together, but when I woke up the next morning, my parents and almost all of their things were gone. They packed up and left me with Gyeong. At first, I thought the Dai li had taken them, but Gyeong told me that they just...Left. I have no idea why." Zuko blinked a few times, clearly surprised. "I, I'm sorry. You haven't heard from them since?"

I shook my head, and Zuko looked a bit angry. "Not a word. But, that's ok. Gyeong's been like a mother to me, and I've got my friends. They're my family. I'm just glad that we both were able to create our own families."

The angry look on his face disappeared, and was replaced by a grin. "Me too."

A knock on the outside of the carriage surprised us, and it was only then that I realized we weren't moving. "My lord, we're at the middle ring gates." One of the soldiers said. My head whipped around, staring out the window at the guards at the gate with a pounding heart. "They're going to stop us! I can't go up there."

"No they won't, we'll be fine! We're going to the upper ring." Zuko said, and the carriage began moving again.

My heart dropped.

"I can't go to the upper ring! I don't have any papers or anything." I cried. Zuko shook his head, smiling confidently.

"I know you don't, Jin. But, you're with me. Being the fire lord has its perks, and nobody's gonna stop us. Don't worry."

I shook my head. "I can't stop worrying. Keiko says I worry enough for all of Ba sing se."

"I think she's right." He snickered, and I stuck my tongue out at him. "She is."

"My uncle wanted me to say hello for him." Zuko said, breaking the silence. I grinned, turning completely to face him. "Your uncle's wonderful! How is he?"

Zuko's entire body relaxed, a small smile spreading across his lips. "He's doing amazingly well. Uncle Iroh's taking care of everything back home while I'm away."

Iroh, I'd heard that name before. Wait! "Iroh? Dragon of the west, Iroh?"

Zuko laughed, nodding as he did. "One and the same!" His laughter is infectious, and when I started laughing as well, he grinned wider.

"Your laugh is cute." Zuko said quickly, blushing bright red. "Thank you, you're sweet." I leaned up and gave his cheek a kiss, and his blush darkened.

The carriage came to a stop, and the same soldier from before spoke up again. "My lord, my lady, we're at the upper ring."

"Excuse me, fire lily. I'll only be a moment." Zuko said, giving my hand a kiss before ducking out of the cart. "I'll be waiting!" he smiled over his shoulder at me, growing serious when he was approached by the Earth King's soldiers. They spoke in low voices, the one guard occasionally looking past Zuko and directly at me the same way most boys look at Sunan.

It scared me more than actually going to the upper was something about the way he was looking at me, almost like he was hungry for something.

After a few minutes, they bowed to Zuko, and allowed for us to keep going. Zuko climbed back in with me, looking angry.

"That man had some gull!" He hissed, closing the door behind him. "Are you alright?" I opened and closed my mouth a few times before just nodding, no words coming out. Zuko's face softened, taking mine in both his hands.

"Nothing will happen to you, Jin. I swear to you, I won't let anything happen, alright." I nodded, and he pressed a kiss to my forehead. "Good."

"What did they want?" I whispered, leaning against his shoulder. "To make sure I really was the fire lord and know who I was with." He wasn't telling me the full truth, but my stomach growled before I could call him out on it. Zuko chuckled, draping his arm around my shoulders. "We're almost there, Jin."

Responses~

Faby Gadget- You got it, Babe! :)