Avatar The Last Airbender Fan Fiction ❯ Nothing But Your Servant ❯ Coming To Terms ( Chapter 17 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

~Zuko~

My heart beat hard as I waited for her reaction. My choice was made. I'd ask her to help me capture the Avatar, and if she didn't want to, then I wouldn't force her to. The whole claiming thing just wasn't right. I wasn't going to use her like a slave like my father told me to. I couldn't. You don't use the one you really love. The one who would chop their own head off for you. Just wasn't me. And this whole Avatar-capturing thing.........I don't know if I want to do it. I'm beginning to realize that I'm not the type of person to kill and capture other people. Heh, Azula always said I took more after Mother.

" I.....I don't know what to say Prince Zuko....." she said, voice quivering and cheeks flushing a deeper red by the second. Half of me believed that she was going to love me back. Half of me believed that she was going to say she was confused and didn't know if she loved me or not.....and if that were to be the answer, then I'd accept it. " I'm so breathless right now....Heh....Prince Zuko...can I ask something?"

" Of course." I said and inched closer to her, my body wanting to touch her. She blushed and moved closer to me, her soft and fragile hand moving over mine. Leaning her head on my shoulder, she kissed my clothed shoulder and smiled softly as I moved a strand of hair out of her face.

" What kind of consequences would a servant have if she told her master that she loved him too?" she asked as she looked up at me, light violet eyes glassy and wet as they met my amber ones. My tense muscles relaxed in relief and I felt so good all over that she loved me back. It only took a moment for us to embrace eachother in the most largest embrace we ever had. My chest felt relieved from keeping in all of that emotion for all of the 3 months that we were at sea. Everything just felt so amzing at the moment. The air felt lighter and my senses were clear. The only thing I could smell was her light sweet scent. For the first time, I actually noticed that her scent was addicting. It was so naturally sweet, but extremely light at the same time where you had to be this close to smell it. It intoxicated my whole body and mind. That scent made it's mark on me and I knew that she would be mine. That I loved her to the point of no return.

Then something flicked in her eyes and she jumped off of the bed, head thrusted high and arrogantly, anger flaming in her eyes.

" No!" Aida yelled, features on her face scrunched in anger, tears streaming quickly down her face. She groaned as if she were in pain and dropped to the floor, gripping her thigh, sobs filling the room. I rushed over to her and kneeled by her side. Aida ripped off the bottom half of her robe and screamed in pain.

" What's wrong!?" I asked her and saw her hands gripped around her thigh. She gave me hateful look and shoved me away.

" It's all your fuckin' fault!" she screamed at me and I could see blood oozing through the cracks of her clasped hands. Running back over, I pull her hands off to see that her inner thigh is bleeding. Through the small pool of blood on her thigh, I can see something shining. Is this the mark that my father was speaking about? Bringing my finger down to it, Aida slapped it and screamed in pain. " Ah, fuck!" she screamed and collapsed back of the floor, screaming as if she were getting beat. What the hell was going on?

" Aida, what the hell is wrong?" I asked as I grabbed a wet towel and pressed it over her shining spot where blood was coming out of. She screamed in pain and punched my shoulder, which hurt a ton, but I didn't remove the towel. " Don't hit me! I'm trying to help you!"

" No, your just going to use us! I know it! Your going to fuckin use us!" she screamed and that statement stung my chest.

~Aida~

His face got soft and he slowly removed the towel to reveal a clean singed mark where steam rose from. We both looked down in it in wonder and our mouths slowly opened when we seen that the little mark that looked like it was carved by a knife, said his name. Prince Zuko. We looked at eachother in suprise before I slapped him.

" What was that for!" he yelled at me, hand rubbing the side of the cheek I slapped. I pointed down to the mark and pushed my face closer to his.

" Why the fuck do you think!? I got your fuckin' name on my fuckin' thigh! It burns like hell! And all because you made Zenaida declare her fuckin' love for you, you ass wipe! Now we're fuckin' owned by your ass, which I don't doubt for a fuckin' second that you already know!" I yelled as I jumped to my feet and pointed an accusing finger at him.

" Well I can't help it if I'm in love with Zenaida and she's in love with me!" he yelled back and I could feel my hand swinging in for a punch, but he grabbed my fist and threw me against the wall. " You will not come between us anymore." he hissed and fear jumped to my chest, scared that this command would come true. And it did. My body erupted with a wierd sensation and seeing this, he released me and walked backwards.

" I think your controlling me......" I said lowly as I could feel my knees beginning to falter and my everything begin to get black. I could hear him groan in frusturation before he turned his back on me.

" I don't mean to. I'm sorry. Stay, since we need to talk for a while....." he said lowly and unsurely and I began to regain my energy. So he can control me too. Damn it. We're screwed. I can't trust this damn guy yet.

" What the fuck do you want? Why don't you just command me to go the fuck away, huh?" I asked bitterly as I crossed my arms over my chest, knowing not to cause any more trouble because he could easily get rid of me. Turning to me, he pointed at the bed. If his ass-

" Sit down. We're going to come to terms whether you like it or not, Aida." he commanded and my ass dropped on the bed without my consent, which pissed me off. I could feel myself ready to scream, but I bit my tongue. Sitting in a chair in the corner of the room, he sighed. " I love Zenaida, Aida. And I'm planning to stay with her for a long time, which means your coming as well. It'd be wrong for me to banish you from ever coming out again, so we're going to settle this feud right here-right now."

" What the fuck are you talking about, Zuko? We've always got along, haven't we?" I asked in a menacing voice and he groaned in frusturation.

" This is serious, Aida! Why do you enjoy pissing me off!? Please tell me before I-" he began but I shook my head.

" Before you what!? Before you control me to be gone forever!? Before you order me to stab my leg!? Before what, Zuko!? Before fuckin' what!? I'd really love to know because I don't believe that your in love with Zenaida! I believe that your just going to use her and me to do whatever you please! Most likely to capture the Avatar, huh?" I yelled and when his face lit up in shock when I told him about the Avatar, I knew I had struck the nail right on the head. " Oh, yeah, I'm not stupid. I've spoken to the guards before I kill them, Zuko! I know what your up to! I would've stopped this a month ago if Zenaida would let me! She doesn't believe me, but I know your plan! I know how you plan to use us! I'm not fuckin' stupid like that damn bitch!" by now I was breatheless, my anger letting out it's wrath in my foul words.

Prince Zuko winced and took a deep breathe. The air in the room was getting heavier and thicker, the tension rising to a brethtaking level.

" I'm not going to start us off with lies, Aida. And if Zenaida can hear this too, I guess it's time to come clean. Yes, that was the plan in the beginning, to get you to fall in love with me to use your powers against the Avatar-" he began and I threw my head back with a, " Hah! I knew it!"

" Let me finish!" he roared, flames licking out of his mouth. My mouth sealed shut and even if I wanted to open it, I couldn't. Damn prince. " But over time, I found myself truly falling in love with Zenaida. I tried to force myself to stop, but I just couldn't. I'm not going to use her. Or you, Aida. And I understand if you or Zenaida doesn't trust me anymore, but I really do love her and I wouldn't use her." he said lowly.

"........he was going to use me?" Zenaida whispered in my head and I could hear her start sobbing. Ugh, damn she's so slow!

" You may speak now." Zuko said and I could feel my mouth part, allowing me to speak. My immaturity slowly disappearing, I chose my words wisely.

" I never trusted you in the first place, so I feel nothing different. But, you've made your mark on us. It's a permanent mark, Zuko. I guess we can't do anything with the past, now. But, if you really want to come to terms with me then you must do something for me...." I said, knowing my true purpose for being in Zenaida's head. Zenaida's sobs ceases as she waited for his answer.

" What?" Zuko asked impatiently as he looked out of the window.

" Well, there a couple things. First, you must not abuse our power." Zuko turned around and gave me a shocked look from the sudden change in my tone and attitude. I was done playing around with him on the ship and it was time to get serious since we have been marked.

" I promise I won't." he said as he looked at me, unsure of what to make of the sudden change.

" Next, you have to allow me the same amount of time out as Zenaida gets because I don't enjoy being cramped in that fuckin' head of hers all the time." I said and he looked at me curiously for a moment before nodding.

" Fair enough." he said, and I can see something in his amber eyes hesitate before he walked over to me. His jaw was clenched, but he slowly released it with a sigh. " I must tell you something as well. Do not be suprised if I command you or Zenaida because there are somethings I know the both of you are against, and I'm going to need your full cooperation."

" No shit. The collar around our neck is connected to the leash you hold, Zuko. Zenaida knew the consequences of falling in love with you. She knows what is going to happen. But she says that she trusts you, although I don't. And I probably never will. But I'm willing to come to decent terms with you so I don't get banished." I said and ran my hand through my hair, feeling awkward that I was actually having a decent conversation with the man that controlls me.

" I know.....how would you feel about helping me catch the Avatar?" he asked and I chuckled, knowing this would come up sooner or later.

" I don't give a damn. But if you do send me out there, don't be suprised if I come back with him lifeless." I boasted and a small smirk came up on his lips before he shook his head.

" I think it's time to speak to Zenaida...." he said lowly, and I could see the trouble on his face. His words of not using us still rang throughout our head and I wasn't sure if he was being true or not.

~Zuko~

Her head hung, face in the shadows her hair provided. I could hear her small sniffles and sobs.

" Zenaida....." I began, not knowing exactly knowig what to say, but she stood up and wiped her tears.

" Why wouldn't you tell me something like that? To admit it to Aida first hurt the most, Prince Zuko. She was trying to tell me that you were going to use me, but I was ignorant and lost in a false world that you put me in, Master." she said silently, and I know she was angry, but Zenaida never shows it to me. My heart was beating fast and I knew I was in for it.

" I'm sorry. I wanted to tell you, and I was going to, but Aida came up and she put it out in the open before I could tell you." I said, and it was the truth. I was going to tell Zenaida right there and then, but Aida came up once again.

" How can I believe you? How can I trust you? Your in control now, Prince Zuko. I've made the biggest mistake of my life." she said before dropping to her knees and crying. Damn, I feel so guilty. I kneeled next to her and wrapped my arm around her shoulder. She looked up at me with sad eyes. " It's not your fault, Prince Zuko. It's mine, for actually believing that someone could love me." she said in a bitter soft voice and was about to stand up before I pulled her back down and pressed my lips against hers. I was so sorry now. My body ached for her forgiveness.

" I'm sorry. I know it was wrong. I shouldn't have." I told her as she looked up at me with tears pouring out of her eyes. I gave her another peck on the lips and frowned when I found them unwilling. " I love you and I'd do anything for you."

Tears rolled quick down her cheek before she let out a sob and tackled my chest with a hug. Relief covered me like a blanket for the second time tonight as I wrapped my arms around her as well and we kissed once again.

" I love you, Prince Zuko." she said, and my wish had been granted. We fell asleep on the floor, in eachother's arms.....without Aida's disturbance.