Ruined (written for the prompt 'blue')
Sometimes Zuko gazed up at the sky and was grateful for the unending expanse of blue. Everywhere he turned was red and gold and orange and yellow. Everywhere he turned was fire. The prince was a firebender and proud of it. Fire was part of his being and his heritage and his culture. Fire was power and conquest too and he wasn't certain quite how to feel about that.
Sometimes it all got too much, these fiery colours, the bending lessons, the expectations to perform and perform well. Sometimes the sky, that sweet, bright canopy overhead, soothed him and reminded him that there was more to life than simply fire.
Should he feel guilty? Should he feel traitorous for craving blue rather than red? His father might think so and Azula too. But in the end, Zuko didn't care. So he lay on his back, hands behind his head, soft grass cradling his body, and stared. The slightest of smiles graced his handsome features and a sense of peace descended over the boy. He felt almost happy.
"What are you doing, dummy?" His sister's voice, still tinged with little girl honey, broke the spell.
"Nothing," the prince replied, his own voice surly and rough. "Go away!"
That was like inviting her to stay and too late Zuko realized his error.
"Nope; I think I'll stay right here and practice my bending."
The princess called up her fire and tossed it about easily from one hand to the next. Suddenly, her eyes grew wide and she called out in amazement.
"Look, Zu-Zu, look; my fire is blue."
Zuko glanced over at his sister and then averted his eyes. Her fire was blue. Unsure of what that meant exactly, he wavered between praise and saying nothing. Saying nothing won out. It was usually a better option with the princess. Besides, chances were, Azula being Azula, blue fire was somehow a wonderful thing.
The prince got up, brushed off his clothing and headed back inside. The sky no longer held any appeal.
