A/N

I just realized something, huge spoilers for 'The Avatar and the Fire Lord' but did anyone else notice that Roku was riding a red dragon (Iroh/ Zuko's good side) while Sozin's dragon was blue (Azula/Zuko's bad side).

Coincidence? I think not.

Behind These Painted Masks

Chapter 11

Without a Word

-

"So let me get this straight." Sokka and Zuko were on the saddle, with Katara steering; "you left Azula's best friends in charge of your Nation?"

"Yes, but there's reason why." Zuko retorted, stroking Saki.

Before a verbal war could start Katara interrupted, "Zuko why don't you tell us what happened after we…" she searched for a word, but Zuko found it first.

"Killed my father?" he asked, tone more biting than usual, Saki hissed slightly as his hand tighten around her body.

"Yes, when we killed the insane tyrant known as your father." Sokka interjected once again showing his sympathy with the Fire Nation was unknown.

"After you killed my father, the Nation was in disarray, soldiers were coming back by the boatload and all the prisoners were being sent back to their respective homes. I was forced into a leadership position, which I didn't want; I was the last of my family except for Iroh. For about a year, the Fire Nation was overpopulated and questioned my leadership, it wasn't even safe for me to leave the Palace. My only outside sources were Mai and Ty Lee.

When the Earth King showed up at my Palace offering some of his land I almost kissed him, immediately I sent the younger generation to the Earth Kingdom, the main reason was to hide them from the prejudice that was still felt in the Fire Nation. That same year, a rebel group started in the wilds of the Fire Nation, they made skirmishes on tiny villages, there wasn't a lot I could do, they would strike without warning and I couldn't track their movements. After another year I established a democracy, leaving Mai and Ty Lee in charge and I left, merely going to be an ambassador for my Nation, Iroh always by my side."

Katara and Sokka remained speechless; Sokka fiddled with his shirt, while Katara pulled all her attention on the clouds ahead, Zuko kept his head down intent of straitening all of Saki's dark fur.

Can one person really go through so much? Being forced to lead a Nation that banished him, Katara caught his eyes and she could see them clouded over as he relived the night Mai broke his heart…

Flashback
"Mai...what's up?" Zuko joined her on the balcony, she didn't mutter a hello or say anything for that matter, he leaned on the railing exhaling and closing his eyes. The Fire Nation was stretched below them, lights of the rebels sparkling every so often, attempting to gain entrance to the Palace. Their angry pleas were heard faintly by the Fire Lod but he did his best to ignore them.. The last rays of day were disappearing behind the hills, while the moon was rising.

"Zuko…I have to tell you something." Mai voice was unusually expressive.

Zuko went in for a kiss concerned with his lover's condition, she moved her head away, pale skin catching the light, "no…"

"How so this is how it's going to be?" Zuko asked, his short temple snapping.

Mai looked small and her voice showed it, "Please…Zuko."

Without a word he swept away but stopped, fists clenched he faced her again spitting, "Well who was it?!"

"Ruon-Jian…" she said not daring to look at him, tears spilling from her eyes falling into the turbulent Nation below. She knew Zuko wasn't there but she whispered, "Sorry," anyway, her words floated in the wind, clouds rolling in covering all traces of light.

The next day, Zuko had left, leaving Mai and Ty Lee in charge and not saying a word to anyone.

End Flashback
"Does it hurt here?" Sakora's hands felt over Toph's side. Her swift groan was the answer, "Ok here we go." She bended the water from the walls creating a puddle the size of her little hands, I've never done this, I'm 3 years old, I should be playing with dolls, not in the Fire Nation being kept prisoner and being forced to heal a not very nice Earthbender, Sakora thought.

The water began to glow as Sakora healed her wounds, she moaned but didn't make another sound. She's brave…

"That's all I can do…" She said letting the water splash to the ground, barely keeping conscious, trying a technique she had only seen but never done was hard and unfortunately she really didn't see the consequences.

Sakora fell unconscious in Toph's arms. Toph kneeled at let the girl head lay on her lap while Toph herself found a bed leaning against the wall.

---A/N---

Hello! Just so everyone knows, I revamped the first few chapters.

And Ruon-Jian was that guy at the party in 'The Beach' the one Mai was talking to.