Lustful Bending

Disclaimer: Last time I checked I still didn't own Avatar the Last Airbender

Chapter Five

Weeks had passed and he was just beginning to know his way around his new ship. There were many times when he was lost but only continued to wander hoping to find his way. He was far to proud to ask one of his men for directions to his own chambers. It would make him look like an even bigger fool than he already felt he was. A fool for letting his uncles words get to him. If he didn't care so much for that old man he called uncle he would have tossed him overboard weeks ago, hell months ago. So here he was late into the night wandering the halls of his ship all because he couldn't sleep because of what his uncle had said to him.

It had happened earlier in the evening shortly after dinner. Zuko had gone to meditate to rid his mind of the visions of her. Some times she would just stand there and look back at him. Other timesthey would fight, and these he could handle. Some nights he would wake gasping for breath . They only seemed intensify the more he tried to force them from his mind. So he decided to go with the flow, so to speak, and allow the visions to come to him.

There she was standing there in his mind he walked right up to her and shot a blast of red hot fire at her, she let out a scream of terror andwhen the smoke cleared she was gone. The prince heaved a ponderous sigh and opened his eyes. Why didn't he feel better? He should feel better shouldn't he? He raised a hand to his temples and rubbed back and forth. Try as he might he could not relieve the pressure that was building behind his eyes. Why did it pain him so must to think that the measly peasant was dead? Just as he thought that he felt bad, really bad for thinking of her as a measly peasant, but that was what she was.Right? "Prince Zuko, it is well past the witching hour, my boy. Would you not rather be in your bed?" He paused giving the young prince time to answer. Removing his hand from his head he turned to see his uncle standing in the doorway with concern etched all over his face, but he only turned back to his meditation. "Does something trouble you? Can you not sleep?" He asked coming closer and taking a chair he sat in silence hoping the young man and not the rotten prince would speak to his dear uncle.

Heaving a sigh but not willing to look at his uncle the young man said rather hotly. "Well, of course I can not sleep Uncle otherwise I would be in my bed!" Knowing his uncle wouldn't let it rest till he knew what was on his mind he decided to continue without prompting. "It's that damn water girl! I have no control over my own thoughts." Letting out agroan. "She isa pest." Turning to face his uncle placing a elbow on his knee and resting his chin in his palm, he went on, "I have taken to dreaming of her, Uncle! Can you believe this? The prince of the fire nation dreaming of a lowly, dirty, rude..."

Cutting him off his uncle spoke, "Zuko, Do you really mean that? Do you really mean to say she is lowly, dirty, and rude?" His uncle knew the boy was stubborn, but really now this was too much. "You know nothing about her, other than the fact that she has improved in her bending,she is loyal to the Avatar,and most importantly..." He eyed the prince as he stood up, walking about to stretch his old legs. He restated his comment, "And most importantly you happen to think she is the most beautiful creature ever to have grace your presence." He stopped directly in front of his most belovedNephew.

"How can you say that!" The young man scrambled to get to his legs. "She is a lowly, dirty, rude excuse for a peasant. I am the Crowned Prince. I am somebody, I will make my own future! I should have someone who is worthy of me!" He stood pointing a shaking fist at his uncle. "How dare you think that I would ever think her more! She is beneath me!" But all the young man heard was laughter, and it only caused him to sink into the chair his uncle once occupied, placing his head in his hands.

"I would be careful with your choice of words my young prince! Men always want their woman to be beneath them." He could see the anger seething from his nephew but couldn't contain the laughter still in his voice. Taking a seat across from the young man he spoke once more. "She is a lot like you." He paused letting his words meet his nephews ears. "Though I would have chose stubborn. Not to mention beautiful!" With that said he watched as his nephew stormed out of the room.

So he took to just roaming around the ship. His ship! It had once belonged to Admiral Zhao, but it was his now. And that bastard was dead. He had reached out to help him too, but now he rested at the bottom of the arctic sea. At least he could rid him self of these thoughts but if he did the girl will just come back. Did he want her to come back? Even if he did admit that he liked her in some way how ever little it might be, why would she accept him? He was a ugly, hideous, disfigured, monster who has been hunting her and her friends for what seemed like an eternity to him.

Realizing he had come to his room he went in, he hoped to try to get some sleep but knew it would not be restful. He hoped it wouldn't be the dream where he fought her. He wasn't enjoying that dream anymore. He laid his robe aside and sat on the edge of his bed removing his boots. He didn't even bother with his shirt or pants. Laying his head the pillow he swore he felt gentle fingers of frost trail along his scar. He relaxed into the phantom's touch and was soon asleep.

In dreamland he soon found himself standing in a forest, he could hear the sound of a babbling stream. It lulled him to a deeper sleep. So he continued to traverse as the sound of thebabbling element grew almostdeafening. All of a sudden a crouched and unmoving figure appeared on the bank,a figure he had grown to know all to well. Hardly containing himself he rushed to the figure. She looked up at him and smiled. His cold heart melted and he reached to take her hand in his. She seemed hesitant at first but let him. They sat there in silence just like all the other dreams where he would talk and she would listen. But this time he was silent too, just gazing at the babbling stream that seemed to speak in gibberish. .
He was taken aback as he heard her speak for the first time.Her voice was like an angel. "Zuko?" He turned to face her, giving her his full attention. "We can never be together. You know that, right?" He mumbled a simple 'Why?' She placed her gentle hand over his scar and spoke softly to him, "My Lovely Prince. The world you are helping to create is not one that is well suited for children." He looked at her with skepticism written all over his face. Was she speaking of his children? Their children? Did he want her to have his children? What must he do?

He leaned into her and pressed his lips against hers. He wondered for a moment if this was bliss. Gently pulling away he looked deep into her blue angel eyes. And silently made a vow to himself that this would be a world worthy of his children. Their children.