A/N at the end!
Chapter 42 – I love you
It was early in the morning when the first bomb landed.
Milah had been lying in the arms of Zuko when she was rudely awakened by one of the greatest blasts she'd ever heard. The entire Temple trembled and cracks appeared on every wall and pillar. Milah grabbed her stomach protectively and noticed two strong hands holding her arms firmly. Out of nowhere, large metal doors closed around the courtyard and she felt a strong gust of wind, making it dawn on her that it was Aang who had known about the apparent reinforcements, luckily.
''Watch out!'' Zuko suddenly shouted when another bomb shook the Temple and several pieces of rubble fell from the ceiling. He pushed her harshly into Amim's arms who had been just next to her and dove towards her sister, pushing Katara out of the way of deadly weighted rocks that would've crushed her had she remained standing where she stood. Milah watched them fall together to the side, just of out harm's reach and rushed to them both, shaking herself loose from Amim's grasp.
''What are you doing?'' she heard Katara ask the Prince angrily while he was still lying with his body over her.
''Keeping rocks from crushing you,'' he answered her calmly.
''Okay, I'm not crushed. You can get off me now!'' she scolded him and pushed him off her, rushing to where Milah was standing. ''Come on! We've gotta get out of here.''
''I'll take that as a thank you,'' they heard him mumble and all rushed to where the rest was standing in front of a big hole in the wall earthbended by Toph.
Milah watched them all enter their escape route and looked around to see if everyone had followed, relieved to see her family and Amim all standing there. However, Zuko was missing. She turned around just in time to see him rushing through the rubble of the courtyard to a giant hole in one of the metal doors, disappearing.
''Zuko!'' she yelled and followed him, not thinking of the consequences.
There was no way she would ever let him go. Not again. No. Fucking. Way.
''Milah! No!'' she heard Aang yell from a faraway distance but she had already leapt over the broken door and rushed towards where she saw Zuko standing in front of a giant airship. Perched on top was Azula.
A shudder went through her. She had seen the Princess only a handful of times, but it had become clear to her that she had lost her mind. The Firebending prodigy was wearing an evil, almost maniacal grin on her face and Milah grabbed her swollen stomach, as if she could somehow protect her baby from the clutches of the Princess. It had become clear long ago that there was no saving herself from Azula. Her Firebending far surpassed hers, even more so now that her strength had diminished with her pregnancy.
She could see them screaming at each other, but due to the shaking of the Temple and humming of the airships, she couldn't make out their voices. Could only watch, while trying to get to Zuko as fast as possible, how he leaped and blasted fire at Azula's airship.
''Zuko!'' she screamed from the top of her lungs and watched with her heart in her throat and tears in her eyes how he failed to land even a single hit and tried to grab something of the airship to hold on to but failed at that too and finally, inevitably, fell into the mistiness of the ravine.
From far away, she heard herself scream at the top of her lungs while someone was grabbing her shoulders frantically, wanting to pull her away from Azula's coming assault, but she wasn't going to move. She couldn't move.
Zuko had fallen. There was no way he could ever have survived that fall. The bottom wasn't even visible when peering over the edge.
Another scream left her lips and she fell onto her knees, her palms painfully cutting into the various rocks lying on the ground. Zuko was dead. And it was Azula's fault.
''Get off me!'' she screamed at whoever was trying to get her away. She didn't get to see who it was, only focussed with a blurry and red vision on the Princess in front of her, perched still on top of her airship with that same grin that was fuelling her anger and focus. ''You! You fucking monster! I'm going to kill you!''
And with that, she sprinted the same way Zuko just had, damning all the consequences and danger it put her and her child in and bended a large wave of water from the nearby fountain, surprised by the sheer strength of it and waved her arms, sending little shards of ice to the Princess who had an alarmingly calm expression on her face.
''You're going to kill me?'' Azula laughed, jumping off her dais and dodging her entire attack. ''With what? Your precious water? Don't make me laugh!''
''Why don't you come and find out?'' she yelled and brushed away her fallen tears with her hands harshly. ''Or are you too scared?''
Azula's grin faltered for a split second before she glanced at something behind her. Another second passed and before she could do anything, she was hauled away from her place and roughly pushed up on top of Appa, who flew away with a big rock shield to protect the bison from the dangerous bomb.
It had been just in time. Azula had generated her lightning and had directed it to where she had just stood. It was only because of Toph, who had put up a huge wall of rock between them and the killing blow, that she had survived the ordeal. And with that, Appa took off into the sky.
''No!'' she screamed and went over to where Aang was steering the bison. ''Go back! Go back now!'' Frantically, with tears streaming over her cheeks, she grabbed the railing of the saddle and sobbed into the great ravine, her eyes pressing shut due to her heavy crying. ''He's still there. We can't leave without him. Please! Please!''
Hands grasped her shoulders, trying to pull her away from the edge. But she pushed them away and let out another ear-piercing scream. A kick in her stomach made her dry-heave over the side. A ringing sounded in her ears and she could do nothing against the same pair of hands that gripped her shoulders once more, letting the person pull her into their side. It was Amim.
''Hold onto me,'' he shouted into her ear and wrapped her arms around the soldier, even when the feeling made her sick to her stomach.
Zuko. He was dead.
''No, please, no…'' she whimpered softly and sobbed so harshly that she wasn't able to process what was going on around her. ''Zuko-'' Another hiccup and dagger to her heart when the realisation hit her once more. Zuko was dead. She would never be able to wrap her arms around him, to feel his body against her, to hear his voice, his heart beating in her ear, his lips on hers…
Now she could never say those words again. He'd never know that she did love him. That she had never stopped loving him. Because of her stubbornness, he had died thinking there had been hate in her heart. While she had always loved him.
A big lurch from Appa and then voices around her started to frantically shout to one another.
Milah could do nothing but lay limp in the arms of Amim.
Her heart broke over and over again with each beat that sounded in her ears and she gripped his shirt with one hand, pressing her face against Amim's chest just to try and ease the soul-crippling pain in her body.
But then she was ripped away from him and a new scent enveloped her senses. One that she could recognise anywhere.
''Milah, Milah…'' her name was repeated over and over again in her ear. ''Open your eyes. Please. Look at me.''
And she did. Gold met blue and it felt like her heart broke all over again.
Zuko was alive.
''I'm here. I'm here,'' he kept saying, his eyes burning with the way she was looking at him. The heart-breaking grief and anguish that shone in her blue eyes cut him deeply and ferociously.
''Zuko,'' she whispered hoarsely from all the screaming. ''You're here.''
''I'm here,'' he whispered again. Milah now noticed she was perched on top of his lap with his arms wrapped around her. The heat of his body and his soothing words slowly relaxed her into wrapping her arms around him as well, tears still streaming down her face.
''I thought I'd lost you,'' she whispered eventually, still laying in his arms with her eyes closed, breathing him in as best as she could as if he would somehow disappear again.
His arms tightened around her a little. ''I'm sorry. She baited me and I completely walked into her trap… I should've known better.''
''It's okay,'' she answered and finally sat up a bit, opening her eyes slowly and wincing from the sun that infiltrated her vision. ''Never do that again.''
''I promise,'' he whispered and looked into her eyes, unwrapping his arms from her before using his hands to push her hair back from her face and pressing a kiss to her forehead. She gripped his hands still holding her face and simply sat there, in peace, enjoying the moment of temporary quiet before realising they weren't the only ones there.
Milah tore herself away from the Prince and awkwardly sat back, looking up at the people around them. None were looking her way, watching the endless clouds around them instead. She counted the heads. Only Katara, Sokka, Toph, Aang and Amim were there. The girl that Sokka seemed to be enamoured with was also there. Milah still hadn't learned her name.
''Where's dad?'' Milah suddenly spoke up, attracting everyone's attention. She looked into Katara's glossy eyes. ''Where is he?'' Her voice became almost an octave higher, panic filling her insides once more.
Zuko quickly grabbed her hand. ''He stayed behind to escort the others to a safe space. Don't worry. He's okay.''
Milah nodded absentmindedly, focused on her sister and the warmth of the hand grasping hers. ''Katara,'' she called out and opened her arms for her.
The Waterbender slowly shook her head and said, ''It's okay. I'm fine.''
Milah decided she didn't look fine, but that she would let it go. She understood that sometimes, you didn't want to be comforted. Sometimes you just wanted to feel the rage and grief that came with your emotions.
Milah let her gaze fall over the group once more and stopped when she saw Amim on the other side of the saddle, but he wasn't looking at her. Instead, he had his gaze fixed on Zuko. ''Are you okay?'' she asked him, making him tear away his stare.
''Yes. Are you?'' he returned the question, shifting in his seat. A couple of strands of his hair had fallen out of his bun.
''I am now. I'm sorry for making such a… ruckus.''
''What? Don't be sorry about that. You thought he…''
It was silent for a moment.
''For what it's worth, I'm glad you didn't.'' Amim had directed it to Zuko, who looked at the soldier in front of him.
''Thank you,'' Zuko answered softly. ''And… not only for that. Also because…'' he took a deep breath before continuing. ''Also because you were there for her when I wasn't.''
Amim said nothing. Simply stared for a second longer before looking out over the view again. Milah's heart sank. Even though she had hoped that they would see eye to eye someday, she doubted she'd ever see it happening.
They made a long journey across the ocean that lasted almost the whole day. The first time they saw a spot of land, it was already dusk. Appa quickly descended and was already half asleep when they were all still busy climbing off him.
''Thank you,'' she whispered so softly no one would be able to hear her and brushed his fur. A low growl was his answer together with a heavy sigh just before he went off to dreamland.
''We'll camp here for the time being. There's no way they can know where we are now,'' Aang announced and helped Sokka, Amim and Zuko with unloading the saddle. Meanwhile, Toph was already busy Earthbending everyone pillars to help set up the tents. Katara, on the other hand, had walked off a bit, clearly wanting to be left alone. Milah let her.
The girl she still didn't know was standing next to her and the little Waterbender thought it would be the best time to introduce herself.
''Hi,'' Milah said and turned to her, giving her a small smile and traditional Earth Kingdom bow, noticing her green eyes and other defined Earth Kingdom features. She returned a bright one.
''Hi. I'm Suki. You must be Milah,'' she introduced herself and held out her hand, prepared to give her a traditional Water Tribe greeting as well as a bow back. Milah appreciatively accepted and nodded.
''Yes. I'm Katara's and Sokka's older sister. I noticed you already know them. Tell me everything.''
And with that, both girls set out to collect food from the island, Suki hunting for animals while Milah mostly acquired different vegetables and nuts and berries she found – ones she made sure weren't poisonous. Meanwhile, Suki told her about how they first met – the girl spoke with so much love in her eyes and voice that Milah couldn't help but wonder what exactly had happened between them – and Milah was transported back to the memory of Zuko's attack on a village on one of the Earth Kingdom's many islands.
''Wait, that was you?'' Milah asked incredulously while picking apples from a tree.
''Were you there?'' Suki asked instead of answering, trying to set an animal trap.
''Yes, I was a prisoner of Zuko once,'' Milah softly answered, faltering in her moves.
''Sokka told me. That must've been hard,'' Suki sympathised.
''It was, yes. But looking back to it now… if he hadn't taken me prisoner, I would have never met him. I would have never had this little guy,'' Milah said and rubbed a hand over her swollen stomach. Suki's eyes filled with wonder.
''So it's true, then. You guys are…'' Suki said but didn't finish her sentence, leaving it out in the open.
''I, ehm,'' Milah started, biting her lip, not knowing if she should be honest. ''I don't really know what we are now. After this morning, thinking I'd lost him… I never want to be parted from him. But to be honest, I still don't completely trust him. After all that's happened, I am still afraid he'll leave someday.'' Milah stopped what she was doing, taking in a shaky breath.
''I understand,'' Suki softly said after a moment. ''He's hurt you many times, hasn't he?''
Milah nodded absentmindedly. ''Yeah, but… he can be really sweet as well. When he wants to be. And even though I was his prisoner, he's always cared for me. He was never cruel, or intentionally hurt me just because he could. He's brave, and… he understands me.''
''You love him, despite what he's done,'' Suki concluded, having stopped with making the trap as well, standing up.
''Yes, I love him. And I think I'll always love him,'' Milah admitted, looking at Suki.
Suki remained silent, looking at something behind the Waterbender. ''I'll leave you to it.''
''Thank you,'' a low voice huskily said behind her. Suki left quietly.
Milah turned around slowly, her cheeks burning from the admittance he'd heard without any doubt. Zuko was staring at her with hazy eyes as if he was in some sort of trance. She cursed inwardly. She hadn't wanted him to hear anything she'd said, had wanted to keep it to herself for a little while longer.
''Hey,'' he softly said.
''Hi,'' she greeted him back equally quietly.
''So, eh, Sokka told me you guys were searching for food and I came because I wanted to talk to you,'' he started and took a step closer, clearing his throat.
''How much did you hear?'' she asked.
Zuko came to a halt closely in front of her. His eyes searched her face. ''All of it.''
Shit, she thought, and sighed and closed her eyes. ''Look, Zuko, I didn't want you to -''
''Milah,'' he stopped her and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. Her heart rate sped up. ''It doesn't matter what I heard and didn't hear. Don't worry about it. I'll just pretend I didn't hear anything.''
She released another shaky breath. ''You would do that?''
''Of course,'' he said and gave her a small, close-lipped smile.
Milah stared into his golden eyes, her blood running through her veins humming with anticipation and she could feel her mouth tingling from the need to kiss him. She wetted her lips, making Zuko drop his gaze from her eyes to her mouth, his Adam's apple bobbing. His hand suddenly moved from his side over to hers, grabbing her waist and pulling her flush against him. The hardness and warmth of his body penetrated through her skin, causing a flow of heat to pool inside her underwear.
''Can I kiss you?'' Zuko whispered, his nose gliding over her cheek before settling inside the wild mass that was called her hair.
''Yes,'' she answered shakily.
Zuko didn't need to be told twice. He pressed his lips against hers, wrapping one hand inside her hair while the other still held her against him. A small whimper left her mouth, her hands finding their way up to his hair, caressing the softness of his skin and the grown stubble on his chin.
A low groan escaped his mouth when she pushed him back to one of the many trees around them. ''Violent.''
''Shut up,'' she murmured and pulled up his shirt from his pants, wanting to feel the outline of his muscles on her bare hands. ''Take off your shirt.''
''Gladly,'' he whispered and pulled it over his head, exposing himself before her hungry eyes.
''I've missed this,'' she whispered, tracing his stomach lazily with her cold fingers. Pebbles appeared on his skin.
Zuko let out a groan, harshly pulling her shirt from her pants and tugging it over her head, letting his eyes rove over her chest and stomach as well. One of his hands found its way to her breast, massaging it and earning him a moan in the process, making Milah press her lips against his once more, which Zuko quickly deepened, lazily finding his way to her tongue with his. With her right hand, she glided from his chest to his abdomen, and finally, wrapped her fingers around the bulge in his pants.
Once more, he let out a groan. ''Fuck.''
Milah giggled, adding some more pressure to his length and teasing him further by sucking his bottom lip in her mouth.
Zuko hissed. ''Careful, now. I'm one step away from fucking you against this tree-''
''Guys!'' Aang's voice suddenly came rushing through the forest. ''Dinner's ready!''
Milah jumped from the Prince as if he had some disease, shivering because of a loss of warmth, despite the heat still coursing through her veins as a result of Zuko's last statement.
''We're coming!'' she shouted back in a trembling voice.
''Great!'' he replied, before saying hesitatingly, ''I'd hurry if I were you. Katara said she'd haul you back here if you weren't back within the next two minutes.''
Milah's cheeks turned red. ''Yeah, will do. Thanks, Aang.''
''Anytime!'' A woosh of air announced his departure.
Zuko was still leaning against the tree, however, he'd turned around, breathing in and out as if he were calming down from a run.
''You okay?'' she asked him, approaching him carefully.
Zuko stepped away just when she was about to put her hand on him. ''Yes, I'm fine. Sorry, I'm just trying to… calm down.''
Milah frowned before her eyes drifted down and saw the major bulge still present in his pants, making her gulp noticeably. ''Oh. I see.''
Zuko chuckled lowly before rubbing another hand over his face and turning around to face her. However, he quickly diverted his eyes. ''Can you put on your shirt?''
Milah turned red once more. ''Oh. Yes. Of course.'' She quickly darted to the abandoned piece of clothing and pulled it over her head. She cleared her throat. ''Okay. It's safe now.''
He looked at her again, smiling softly and goofy before approaching her once more and pressing a kiss to her forehead before whispering in her ear. ''I promise, I'm going to take up on what I said just before.''
Milah's toes curled, heat filling her once more. ''What did you say?''
''You want me to repeat it to you?'' His breath tickled her neck, raising goosebumps all over.
Milah simply nodded.
Zuko faced her once more, put one hand on her stomach while his other rubbed her lower lip, and whispered, ''I'm going to make love to you tonight.''
Milah gasped, her hands finding their way to his arms, holding herself steady.
''Zuko, I-''
''Milah! I'd hurry if I were you! She's coming!'' Aang once more shouted at them from afar.
Indeed, an angry pair of footsteps could already be heard approaching them. Zuko and Milah looked at each other once more before the former grabbed his shirt, put it on and lit the way back for them to camp.
When they arrived, everyone was already waiting by the campfire. Katara had made dinner from all the food Milah had collected in the woods just before and the sole animal Suki had hunted.
''Well, about time you two showed up,'' Katara commented on the pair that just arrived.
Milah blushed. ''Well, yeah, I'm sorry.''
Her sister didn't reply. Merely gave them both a side-eye. Silence ensued.
Aang scraped his throat, awkwardly scratching his neck. ''Ehm, this soup is really great. Thanks, Katara!''
After that, conversation started between all of them. Milah felt a pit of guilt in her stomach, paired with the toe-curling heat she felt next to her which made her breathe unevenly during the entire time they were eating. It was like she couldn't focus on anything else except the words he'd uttered just before. Couldn't erase the feeling of his hardness imprinted in the palm she was currently using to hold her utensils.
''Milah, do you mind if we share a tent tonight? I'm afraid we don't have enough space otherwise,'' Katara spoke up once more after everyone was done eating.
Milah felt a stare bore into the right side of her face. "Eh, yeah, no, of course.''
''Great,'' Katara answered and fake-smiled.
Man, that girl knew what she was doing. Milah blushed once more.
''Wow, camping… it really seems like old times again, doesn't it?'' Aang commented.
''If you really want it to feel like old times, I could, eh… chase you around a while and try to capture you,'' Zuko joked. Milah was startled, not having heard his voice after he'd said… that to her.
The group laughed, except for Katara. Who merely let out a sarcastic 'ha, ha', her face contorted in the same angry expression it had been ever since the attack that morning. Milah worried about her sister.
''To Zuko! Who knew after all those times he tried to snuff us out, today he'd be our hero?'' Sokka toasted and raised his glass, the rest of the group following him, shouting out a 'hear, hear', while Zuko sat there awkwardly, not used to getting positive attention.
''I'm touched,'' the Prince quietly said, a small smile present on his face. ''I don't deserve this.''
''Yeah, no kidding,'' Katara harshly said and stood up suddenly, walking away from the campfire.
''Katara!'' Milah called out and stood up as well. She imagined her anger had to do with the fact that their father was again gone because of the Fire Nation, but she didn't understand why she had to be mad at Zuko about it.
The little Waterbender followed the footsteps of her sister but when she neared the nearby boulder her sister had disappeared behind, a warm hand stopped her.
''Let me talk to her,'' Zuko softly said, his thumb brushing over her arm.
''You think she wants to talk to you?'' Milah incredulously asked.
''I think this is because of me,'' he said, a guilty expression taking over his face.
Milah nodded and Zuko took that as his cue to leave. She watched him go with a heavy heart but turned around to sit back at the campfire anyway, wanting to give Zuko the chance to fix things himself.
When Zuko arrived at Katara's place, and she saw him, she immediately let out an aggravated sigh and turned around, walking further away from him. Zuko had had enough.
''This isn't fair! Everyone else seems to trust me now! What is it with you?'' he shouted out.
Katara turned around furiously. ''Oh, everyone trusts you now?! I was the first person to trust you!'' She put her left hand on her heart. ''Remember, back in Ba Sing Se. And you turned around and betrayed me, betrayed all of us!'' She pointed behind her at the ocean.
Zuko closed his eyes, remembering the conversation they had had about her mother. His heart broke. He'd forgotten about that. ''What can I do to make it up to you?''
''You really want to know?'' she answered sarcastically. ''Hmm, maybe you could reconquer Ba Sing Se in the name of the Earth King. Or maybe you can just leave my sister alone because she's too good for you! Or, I know! You could bring my mother back!'' And with that, the 14-year-old girl left.
Zuko stood there for a while, absolutely stumped. What the fuck was he supposed to do with that? How could he ever bring their mother back? Of reconquer Ba Sing Se?
Or leave Milah alone?
Okay, two of the three things he could manage. After they won the war, he would make sure that Ba Sing Se would be ruled by the Earth King once more. And he could find out what really happened to Kya, while because Milah didn't talk about it much – either because the subject was too painful or she genuinely didn't know very well what happened to her mother, since she was not present at that time – he didn't really know what exactly had happened to her.
But leaving Milah alone?
He knew she was too good for him. He'd always known that. But he feared it would be physically impossible for him to leave the woman alone. Just the thought of it almost made him sink to his knees and start praying to whatever spirit would listen.
But Katara was right. Maybe he had been too obvious in his intentions with Milah, which would have to be super confronting for the young girl. Especially since he had been gone for such a long time, letting her older sister fend for herself while she was pregnant during a war.
Zuko knew it would be hard, but maybe he could try and not be so damned obvious with what he wanted to do with his little Waterbender. Maybe that would help with whatever anger Katara was harbouring for him as well.
When he walked back to the tents to seek out both Sokka and Milah – for completely different reasons – he ran into Suki just when he was outside Sokka's.
''Oops, wrong tent,'' Suki said with an embarrassed hint in her voice.
''Sorry, do you need to talk to Sokka, too?'' the Prince apologised.
''Nope, not me!'' she said and walked away. Zuko stared at her with confusion. What the hell was going on there?
When he finally entered Sokka's tent, his mouth dropped open in disbelief. The young man had actually lit candles inside and was lying down on his bedroll, a red rose clenched between his teeth.
Fuck him, Sokka was waiting for Suki. To have sex.
After a whole awkward conversation about what Zuko was doing there and Sokka trying to convince him that he was not waiting for Suki, which was painfully untrue, they came to the topic of Katara hating his guts.
''Your sister. She hates me! And I don't really understand why, but I do care what she thinks of me,'' the Firebender exclaimed.
''Nah, she doesn't hate you,'' Sokka answered with ease. ''Katara doesn't hate anyone. Except maybe some people in the Fire Nation.'' His eyes widen as he realises his mistake. ''No, I mean, uh, not people who are good, but used to be bad. I mean, bad people. Fire Nation people who are still bad, who've never been good and probably won't be, ever!''
Zuko rubbed his forehead in annoyance. ''Stop. Okay, listen. I know this may seem out of nowhere, but I want you to tell me what happened to your mother.''
Sokka looked shocked at first and said in a softer voice, ''What? Why would you want to know that?''
''Katara mentioned it before when we were imprisoned together in Ba Sing Se, and again just now when she was yelling at me. I think somehow she's connected her anger at that to her anger at me.''
''It's not a day I like to remember,'' Sokka softly said with sadness. He told the gruesome story of how a particular raid party was searching for the last Waterbender on the South Pole, which their mother had sworn was her, while in fact, it had been Katara.
However, there was one important detail that Sokka mentioned. The sea ravens that were symbolised on their ship's flag stood for the Southern Raiders. And suddenly, Zuko knew what to do.
After leaving Sokka's tent and going to the tent shared by his sisters, he saw the familiar form of Milah sitting in front of it, gazing at the moon.
''Hi,'' he softly greeted her when he approached her. Milah looked up and smiled softly.
''Hey.''
He sat down next to her, immediately comforted by her presence. Suddenly, when he looked at her moonlit face, the gravity of what the three siblings had been through hit him like a rhino.
''I just talked to you brother,'' he started. He wrung his hands in nervousness.
Milah frowned and looked into his eyes. ''Whatever for?''
''When I talked to your sister, she made some things clear to me. About her anger. And I think it's mostly related to whatever really happened to… your mother.''
Milah looked away, sitting up straighter in a cross-legged position. ''Oh.'' She started toying with her own hands, rubbing the band of Amim's ring on her finger.
He sucked in a breath. ''Yeah. Sokka told me the full story.''
Milah nodded, feeling extremely guilty all of a sudden. When their mother died, she hadn't been there. Her brother and sister had been all alone.
''I should've been there for them,'' she shakily whispered, rubbing a hand over her stomach. ''I should've been there.''
''Hey,'' Zuko whispered back and put his hands on her cheeks, lifting her face so their eyes met. ''What's wrong?''
''They went through all of that alone, Zuko. I should've been the one that could tell you that story. Katara… she's traumatised. She's a fourteen-year-old child who lost her mother right in front of her eyes. They- they were looking for her-'' a choked sob cut her off. Zuko wrapped his arms around her, pulling her flat against his chest. The scent that engulfed her calmed her down somewhat.
''I should've been there. To protect them. To protect her. My mom…'' Milah hiccupped. Zuko caressed her head.
''It's not your fault,'' he whispered. ''You had already given everything to keep them safe. Don't forget you were only eleven years old when you were captured by those Fire Nation soldiers.''
Milah winced. ''That's not something I'd like to remember.''
''I'm sorry,'' Zuko whispered, pressing his lips to her crown.
Milah sighed against his chest, feeling herself calm down. ''I should probably get inside before Katara comes out again and starts yelling at me.''
''I think that's wise, yes,'' Zuko agreed softly, although his hands itched to touch her again.
When Milah sat up and wanted to press a kiss to his lips, she could see there was something else troubling the Prince. She could read him like a book. ''What is it?''
Zuko frowned, looking away. ''Nothing.''
''Don't do that,'' she accused him. ''Tell me.''
''It's nothing. Don't worry about it. Now please, sleep.'' He could hardly tell her Katara didn't want them to be together. Not now, at least.
Milah scoffed. ''Fine.'' She stood up, brushing her palms against her pants and turned around, reaching out to open the flaps of her tent. But before she could take the cloth, a hand enclosed around her wrist.
''Goodnight, Milah,'' Zuko grunted inside her ear. The sound went straight to her core.
The gasp that left her lips made the Prince's cock twitch. But before he could tempt himself to do anything else, he let go of her cold skin and turned around, walking to the edge of the cliff to gaze out over the open ocean.
For now, it was best he stayed away. Just for a little while.
A/N: OMG please, please, please don't hate me for abandoning you for so long… I promise with all my heart that I have NOT abandoned this story. I have just been having a cold case of 'don't write anymore otherwise the story is gonna end soon and then you'll have to say goodbye to these characters'. You guys familiar with that? You know, I could make up a hundred excuses and it still wouldn't have been enough. I'm gonna continue writing asap and hopefully produce another chapter within this month. Love to you all. Especially you. Yeah you. You know, the amazing guest reviewer? Trust me when I say that your reviews are also what keeps me going. Big love, kisses, everything, to all of my readers.