[[Prince Zuko]] I was Always Yours [[Oneshot]]

The "Avatar Team" has certaintly changed since you last met them in Ba Sing Se, not too long ago.

It was no longer just Aang, Katara, Sokka, and Toph. Oh no, the team had grown greatly. First, there was Zuko. The Banished Fire Prince. He had switched sides, and was now teaching the Avatar [Aang] fire bending. Second and third, there was you and Suki. Ha. Funny story how you two came into the picture. You were in jail together. At the Boiling Rock, in fact With a bunch of filthy, smelly, annoying Fire Nation prisioners.

You, Hotaru Tomoe? Oh you. You indeed, my friend, are Fire Nation. And you, my lovely, were in prison for all the havoc you've caused in the 15 years you've been born.

And you picked up your own little nick name.You know!!! How Zuko has his title? The Banished Prince. [insert dramtic music here] You were the Rebel Princess. Anyway, before you were thrown in prison, you were the worst trouble maker the Fire Nation has ever seen.

Ok, maybe not trouble maker.

That'd be too kind, for all the chaos you cause. You were banished from the Fire Nation when you were eleven for burning down half of The Fire Lord's Palace. You always went to the Fire Nation. For many reasons:

1) You like to be the cause of mischief
2) You like to taunt Azula, with you newly-learned water bending and lightning skills
3) You love the adrenaline that ran through your body as you raced away from the Fire Nation soldiers.
4) You had to visit your younger sister Ty Lee.

But one reason stood out amongst them all. Him.
He was the most important reason you went to back to the Fire Nation. Your bestest friend in the entire world. The boy you taught how to Fire Bend. The boy you held crying in your arms when his mother "died". The boy you were in love with. Zuko. The Banished Prince of the Fire Nation.

How did we get into the subject of Zuko again?

I have no clue.

A lot has changed since you were last in Ba Sing Se. Which was when you helped Iroh help the Aang and Katara escape from Ba Sing Se. Oh you and your best friend were fighting to the death. Make sense?

Ha.

Yeah right.

And afterwords, Azula locked you in jail [The Boiling Rock] and threw away the key. You had no willpower to fight her after the hatred you felt in your battle against Zuko, andyou did not resistbeing captured.

This is where you befriended Suki, a Kyoshi Warrior. She helped place your broken heart back into place. Not necessarily filling the empty hole in your heart left by Zuko. But helping it repair it up enough, so you could smile and laugh, and appear to be normal on the outside. While on the inside, you were close to dying.

Trying to live with out him was like trying to live with out air.

So you bonded with Suki. You stuck with her as if attached to her hip. She didn't seem to mind that you told her your sorrows. And you didn't mind when she confessed hers to you.

Just when you thought you were healing, [in jail, wtf?!] he came. He was disguised. A pretty good disguise. A guard.

But even disguised, and with a mask on, you reconigsed him. You caught his eyes. He was standing ontop of the deck, while you were on the bottom sitting with Suki. You were both silent, thinking intently, when you felt someone staring at you.

You looked around, a loathing look on your face, looking for the pervert who was staring at you. And then, you saw him. He was standing there, eyes wide and mouth open slightly.

Your heart, at that exact moment, ripped open. All the repairing Suki had done, went down the drain, as you stared into the eyes of your best friend. He stared back, and you turned your head away, in pure anger. You silently prayer Suki didn't see.

You weren't that lucky.

"Whats wrong?" she asked, worriedly.

You looked back up, and he was gone, "Nothing."

Just as she was about to reply, a voice ran through the prison "BACK IN YOUR CELLS!!!"

You and Suki were on different sides of the prison, and usually this was bad for you, but today, it was great. You wanted to avoid her questions, so you bolted down the hallway, back into your cell. You heard it shut, and lock tightly.

You sighed unhappily, as you avoided the bed, and sat down on the floor, your back against the wall. You closed your eyes and pulled your knee's to your chest, trying to keep your insides intact.

The door screeched open, then slowly slid shut.

"Hotaru." a familar voice whispered.

Your head shot up, and you saw him. His scar over his left eye, his gold eyes, his dark brown hair, his pale skin... Zuko. The Banished Prince. The love of your life. The boy who attacked you in Ba Sing Se. You jumped up and held a deadly Fire Nation stance, prepared to kill him, if he made any movement, "Hn. What do you want?"

Zuko stared at you, and his eyes dropped, "Hotaru.." he repeated, "I-I'm sorry."

You dropped your stance, and gritted your teeth, "Sorry? You're sorry?! My best friend in the entire world tried to kill me and your sorry?!"

He got down on his knee's and bowed to you, "Hotaru. I'm so sorry. I never ment to hurt you. I've learned my lesson. Im no longer part of the Fire Nation. I left."

"Really?" you sneered.

"I'm helping the Avatar learn Fire Bending. And I'm here with one of his friends, Sokka, and we're trying to find his father. But.. we found you and his girlfriend instead."

You stared at Zuko, absolutely unable to hate him the way you want to.

You sighed, "Get up, Zuko."

He slowly got up, and avoided your eyes. You, against your better judgement, couldn't contain your feelings for him, and attacked him in a hug. He was relcutant, at first, but then he melted into the hug, and buried his face in your hair.

"I missed you." he whispered.

"I missed you more." you whispered back, breathing in his sweet scent, savoring it.

Ok. So yatta yatta yatta. Zuko and Sokka made the first and only jail break at the Boiling Rock. Breaking out Hakoda [Sokka's father], Suki, you, and some other guy that you can not remember the name of.

Okkkkiiiesss. So now we're at the present. You and Aang hit it off as besties the first day you met him. Which made Katara jealous. You knew that. But what you didn't know was that it made someone else jealous too.

Blah blah blah. Ok so. "Team Avatar", which now consists of you, Suki, Zuko, Toph, Katara, Sokka, and Aang, decided to see a play, that was deticated to you guys. And right now, you were at the part of when Zuko and Katara where in the green crystal thingy's. [>.< ]

"You know, Prince Zuko.. You're pretty cute, you know." the actress Katara said.

"Dont make fun of me!" the actor Zuko snapped, "And plus, I thought you were the Avatar's girl."

"Oh no! He's like a brother to me!" the actress laughed.

They walked over to each other and hugged.

Your back stiffened a bit.

'Was that.. really what happened..?' you thought, getting very angry at the thought. At this moment, right now, you could murder Katara. In pure hate. So, you stood, noticing Aang was looking the same as you.

Zuko turned and looked at you curiously, but you stormed out, not wanting to see what else was happening in this stupid play. Aang was right behind you.

The two of you walked silently, and angrily, out the door and onto this deck sort of thing.

Aang looked at you, your arms crossed over your chest, and staring crossly out at sea, "You like Zuko, don't you, Hotaru?"

"You like Katara." Not a question. A statement.

"So you do."

"No."

He stared at you curiously, "What?"

"Aang," you whispered staring at the ground, your anger slowly disappearing into saddness, "I love him."

"Then why are you looking so sad?"

"I can't have him."

"Why?"

You looked up and stared into his eyes, "We're just friends in his eyes."

Aang sighed, but said nothing.

It was your turn to ask the questions, "What about you and Katara."

"She's confused." he mumbled putting air-quotes around the word confused with his fingers.

"That's stupid." you snapped, "What's she confused about?!"

He shrugged, "I dont know."

A slow smiled crept onto your face, "Hey Aang?"

"What?"

"If Katara and Zuko end up together, you know you and I could always end up together."

Aang looked at you, emotionlessly for a second, then smiled hugely, "Yeah!!! You and I could be lovers!"

Your smile grew, "Yes! I, Hotaru Tomoe, Rebel Princess of the Fire Nation am in complete and total love with you, Avatar Aang, master of all four elements!"

"And I, Avatar Aang, and in complete and total love with you, Hotaru Tomoe, Rebel Princess of the Fire Nation." he replied.

You giggled, as Aang came over and hugged you, "Thank you." he mumbled.

You hugged him back, "For what?"

"Making me feel better."

"No problem!" you said happily, "Tis my job, love."

Thats when you noticed the music. The slow, soft, swaying music.

Aang noticed it too, he smiled, and pulled away, "May I have this dance?"

"Of course!" you replied, as he took your waist and you wrapped arms around his neck. And he lead you in a dance.

"You know.." he started, looking down.

You cocked your head to the side curiously, "What?"

A slight blush came across his nose, "Y-you look v-very pretty, tonight."

You blushed, "Thank you."

After the song was over, he held his arm out for you to take, which you did, and led you back inside. All of the gang looked at the two of you curiously as you walked back in, arms linked, but they said nothing. Katara shot you a mean, seething look. You stuck your tongue out at her.

'Bite me.' you thought, scowling.

Thats when you noticed, someone was missing. Zuko.

Sighing, you rose from your seat, and walked out the door, once again. But this time, in search for the love of your life.

He was out by the water, skipping rocks.

"Zuko?" you asked.

"What?" he snapped, not turning around.

'What the heck is up with him?'

"Are you ok?" you asked nervously.

"Am I ok?! You're kidding right?!" he growled, still not turning around.

"Whats wrong?" you whispered.

"Whats wrong?!" Zuko turned and glared at you, "I'll tell you whats wrong! The girl I'm in love with just admitted her love to the Avatar!!!" he yelled so loud it echoed.

"Zuko-"

"And the worst part is, I never saw it coming. You know, a little fore warning would've been helpful! I'd like to think my best friend would tell me these things!"

"Zuko-"

"God damnit Hotaru!!! Why didn't you tell me?!" he demanded, fists and teeth clenched tightly.

Sighing, she walked over to him, and stared up at him, "Zuko-"

"He called you pretty!!! Thats practically an insult for how you look!!! You're beautiful!!!"
"Zuko-"
"All I wanted, is for you to be mine. I wanted to be able to hold you, and love you, and you to return all of this. And-"

"Zuko!" you interupted.

He looked at you.

You placed a hand on his cheek, "Zuko, Aang and I were just playing around."

His cheeks went red, "Just... playing around..?"

"Mhm. And if you must know, I DO love someone. If you promise not to flip out, I'll tell you."

"I promise." he whispered sadly.

"You."

"Wha..?"

"I. Love. You. There. Get the picture?" you asked, placing both hands on your hips.

Zuko's gold eyes lit up brightly, and he yanked you into a hug. His arms securely around your waist, and you wrappedarms around his neck, burying you face in his chest.
"I love you too." he whispered against your hair.

Thats when you lifted your head up, and stared him in the eyes. He leaned down, and placed his lips on yours in a sweet, passionatekiss. You tongue was dancing behind your lips, as you waited impaciently for him to ask permission.
His tongue brushed against your bottom lip, and you all-too-eagerly granted him access. Your tongue wrestled against his for dominace, as you wrapped your fingers in his hair,pulling him closer,deepening the kiss.
You broke it after after your body screamed for oxygen, "Zuko?" you asked, breathless.

"Hm?" he asked staring down at you, also breathless.

You smiled, "I was always yours."

♥