A/N: A short vignette (of a sort) placed right after Zuko Alone. Beware, spoilers abound.
Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar.
Glow
He rides off into the sunset alone, broadswords and knife at his side. The ostrich horse moves forward at a slow and listless place; all Zuko can hear are the giant claws scraping the dirt and the jingle of the heavy saddle as it shifts with the movement of the animal's body. The hot, burning sun gives way to a cool, clear twilight. All is calm, and all is silent save for the movement of the ostrich horse. But his mind is nearly the exact opposite: it is a torrent of clouded, confused thoughts. Who is he? Why would the boy not accept the knife? Why are people so prejudiced?
Bowing his head, Zuko pulls on the reins of the ostrich horse, slowing it to a sluggish stride to match the calmness of the night around them. It seems as if the world is empty—as if there is no one left who cares about him. He remembers who he is; he knows who he is, and he will never forget. He will never denounce his people or his birthright. Zuko is who he is, and he will not stand for any other illusion of himself—he is open to the world, whether it accepts him or not.
His head snaps up; everything has fixed itself into place. He is who he is, and he will settle for no less.
Zuko rides back in the direction he came; by the time he reaches the small town, it is late, late night and everything is perfectly silent, a match to the empty environment he had traveled through before. He quickly finds the house he seeks.
In the field of tall sunflowers, he finds the boy he had befriended before, sitting alone and staring at the moon.
"It is a little late for you to be out," Zuko remarks.
Lee starts, jumping up and brandishing his fists. The boy, upon seeing who the stranger is, drops his fists. "You should be gone from this place. Leave me alone. I don't want to be near you."
Zuko struggles to prevent his face from warping into something hellish. He stays complacent, silent; Lee's cheeks grow red with anger.
"Did you hear me? Leave! I'll call the soldiers!" he bellows. But the house and the town are on the far side of the field, and no one has heard Lee's threats and shouts.
"Take it," Zuko says, thrusting the knife into Lee's hands. "I want you to have it."
"No!" argues the stubborn boy. "I won't take it, you stupid Prince, you evil, evil Firebender. You're evil! You're exactly like your father, the Fire Lord, aren't you? I hate you."
Zuko closes his eyes and bows his head. When he speaks, his voice is firm and insistent. "I am not my father."
Lee stares, somewhat shocked.
Zuko looks up. "But you wouldn't know, would you? You don't know what I've been through, you don't know what it's like to be me, you don't know who I am—"
Zuko stops short and stares into the eyes of the terrified, befuddled Lee.
"I'm not my father," he whispers, and is gone before Lee can blink his eyes shut.
Lee's eyes dart around, and fall down to the knife in his hand. He mentally reads the inscription once more: Never give up without a fight. He stares at the knife, and then his eyes dart back to across the field: a dark figure is mounting an ostrich horse, silhouetted against the pale, merciful moon.
Before Lee knows what he is doing, his feet are carrying him towards the opposite end of the field and his voice rings out into the night: "Wait! I want to come with you!"
The golden eyes glow warmly; the will never, never forget.