A/N: Phew. Ok I couldn't wait to type this so I went to it right after I posted chapter 2. It's not as good as I wanted, but I still love it! So enjoy!
It was hard for me to see him with her, and it hurt even more that I couldn't do anything about it. I remember all the times we had together. Good and bad. We've been through so much.
I remember the first time I had ever laid eyes on him. It had been ages ago, or so it seemed, when the fire prince stepped onto my homeland in search of the avatar. He seemed so determined, so strong, and he proved it when he shot fire from his fists. My people trembled at the sight of him. Ha! Sokka, Aang and I sure put him in his place later that day. It wasn't the last time we saw him though. No matter where we traveled he was there, hunting us down.
I can remember when I lost my mother's necklace and he somehow found it, only to use it as bribery or later to hunt for us using my scent. Oh how angry I was with him when I found out he had it. It was the day after I had stolen the waterbending scroll from the pirates. They found me practicing the movements near the riverbank and surprised me, making me run right into his warm grip. I remember how his touch tingled on my skin. Like he was made of flames himself. Then he has the nerve to whisper, "Don't worry. I'll save you from the pirates," right as he ties me to a tree. All I could do was scowl at him, until he reveals my most prized possession dangling from his wrist. I could only look defeated yet inside all the more angry. He was mocking me and my mother. I hated him. I was so relieved when Aang got it back, though even days after having it, it still carried his warm scent.
These memories made me smile slightly as I entered the Fire Lord's garden. Everything was beautiful. As I searched for a place to sit, I spotted a tree filled with fully bloomed fire lilies. Their aroma filled my nose bringing more memories into my head. The smell was similar to the flowered trees that surrounded the streets of Ba Sing Se. Sweet and soft, but not as warm. Then I remembered how I saw Zuko in a tea shop I was about to enter and the feeling of anger and panic that rose inside me, making me run and search for help. It led to me being captured and thrown into the crystal cada coms under the city by Azula who, with her friends Ty Lee and Mai, were disguised as Kyoshi Warriors. It wasn't long before he was thrown down there with me. It made me nervous to have him down there. To be in the same room as him. I wanted to waterbend everything I had at him. He was lucky I had no water.
I hated him so much, though I wasn't so sure why. Yeah he chased us everywhere we went to the point where we expected him to come at us at any minute. And yeah he was vicious and ruthless and careless. But he just sat there quietly, didn't even look at me, which for some reason made me boil. I couldn't take the quiet anymore and with all the built up frustration from being trapped without any help and him sitting in the corner all quiet and to himself all put together just made me blow up. I said some really horrible things to him and from the looks on his face, I really hurt him that night. And with every word that came out, and seeing that pain cross his face, I hurt myself too. I remember how I couldn't yell anymore and just fell to the ground crying.
"You have no idea what the Fire Nation has done to me! Me personally!" I said. "The Fire Nation took my mother away from me!"
"That's something we have in common," he said calmly. I looked him over before our eyes met. He looked hurt and alone. Yet angry and upset, but so calm. Something I've never known him to do. He was different somehow. He had changed. He then told me about his scar, what he saw when he looked in a mirror. A monster. Without fully thinking it through, I offered to heal him with the water I was given from the Spirit Oasis from the North Pole. I could still feel my finger tips on the surface of his cheek. Right before I used the water, Aang and Iroh blasted through the crystal walls. Looking back on that day, I'm glad I hesitated and didn't use the water. Zuko betrayed us and Aang would've died.
I came out of my trance when a fire nation woman bumped against me. "Oh my, please excuse me," she said with a bow. I nodded with a smile and sat down near the middle, next to Sokka and Toph. The different shades of red and gold lined the garden with hints of pink and black. Every detail in the decorations were exquisite. The crowd of people in the garden were all in their seats, ready to enjoy the ceremony. Aang stood next to Zuko up front and I saw the airbender say something to the fire prince that made him smile. Oh how I treasured that smile.
We were around the campfire in the western air temple, chatting before we settled into bed. I sat drinking my tea in silence while they all joked amongst themselves. I didn't want him there, but he was. Toph said one of her many sarcastic remarks to Aang and he made a face that made everyone laugh. I glanced up to see what was so funny but looked straight at Zuko's smiling face. At first it caught me off guard, making me stare a little. He looked so different when he was happy, almost handsome. But he was still Zuko. And he was still a traitor. Quickly, I looked away. I started to feel uneasy and so I got up and walked to my bed. My last thoughts that night were that I hated stupid, handsome Zuko and that I hated myself for thinking that first thought.
Days later, he took me to find the man that killed my mother. The last thing I wanted was to be anywhere near him, much less alone with him, but I wanted to confront this man. And the deep thought that edged its way into my mind the moment we took off made it a little better. He cared so much of what I thought of him that he was doing this for me. At the end of the journey, when we got back to our camp, I knew he deserved my trust. He deserved it the second he stayed out all night outside my tent, just waiting for me to wake up so he could tell me his plan to win my trust. I felt stupid and stubborn for not seeing that sooner. That's why I hugged him. It was me saying sorry. I can still remember the feeling of being so close to him. Ah, that warm, spicy scent of his. Like cinnamon and fire lilies mixed together with the natural warmth of fire. I could breathe it all day. I didn't want to pull away, but I did, and I was glad I did because he gave me one of those genuine smiles you hardly get from him. As I walked back to camp I told myself I would always remember it as my smile. He gave it to me and I would always treasure it.
I was startled from my thoughts from the sudden sound of music and I noticed the color of the sky had turned from a faded blue to a deep orange, as if the clouds over the Fire Nation were made of flames. Everyone chatted silently making a low roar fill the evening. A deep fear began to fill my chest and I suddenly felt the need to see if Zuko was alright. I looked around frantically in search of the firebender's face. The last time blue and orange clashed with the sound of roaring in my ears was not a memory I wanted to remember.
I remember how beautiful Azula's and Zuko's fire mixed together looked. Beautiful and dangerous. Even though they were battling each other to the death, it took my breath away. On the night of Sozin's Comet, Zuko and Azula fought each other in an Agni Kai. The comet enhanced their firebending beyond any I've ever seen. He looked so graceful. So strong. So powerful and determined. Watching his body move into the formations that made fire sent shivers through me. He was beautiful. And he was winning, until Azula directed her lighting at me. He jumped in between us, stopping the lightning from hitting me, but he was unable to redirect it and the lightning threw him to the ground. I just stood there frozen as I watched him fall, his body limp except for when the lightning surged through him making his body jump unnaturally. Thankfully I was able to heal him after trapping his sister, but I wasn't able to get rid of the wound. He would have another scar. When I thought of this, I started crying. I was so close to losing another friend and scars would always remind me of that.
Suddenly candles where lit along with the glow of the setting sun and the music began to play a bit louder. The crowd quieted and turned to look behind them. Before I looked behind me I glanced up at Zuko. When he looked up from where he was standing, he caught my eyes and gave me a slight grin. His golden eyes showed happiness, love, and a small hint of pain. I gave him a questioning look. He knew what I was asking and answered me by looking away, hiding the sadness in his eyes. I bit my lip to keep the tears from coming and looked back to watch Mai walk down the isle. She made such a beautiful bride.
A/N: I hope you liked it! Even if it was a bit depressing. And I put a lot of detail in it so I could keep the ending a secret :) I'm not looking forward to the next chapter though...I can't think of what to write. But maybe it'll come to me after a good night's sleep!