Chapter Text
Heeled boots thumped rhythmically against hardened stone floors.
A cloaked figure walked with their head held low, their hood covering their face in shadows.
The servants of the high estate sucked in a breath and froze in various states of fear as the figure walked past. The air was colder, much colder than it had been mere minutes ago.
The guards, seeing the servants' distress and the unauthorized figure, engulfed their hands in flame and quickly surrounded the shadow.
"Get out of my way." A low voice growled from beneath the hood.
"I'm afraid I can't do that," The guard in front of the hooded intruder said.
"Then so be it." Quick as lightning, the guard had been pinned to the wall by four knives, and a dagger in his heart. He was dead.
Blood drenched the ground as guards were struck down left and right, the cloaked being moving further and further into the Palace till there was nobody left, save for those who did not defend their target.
The Sun shone brightly through the clouds.
The would-be assassin stalked down familiar hallways, towards a room they never thought they would see again. They took a great breath before opening the obscenely large doors.
There, lounging on the gilded Dragon Throne, looking quite bored with this whole situation, Firelord Ozai straightened.
"And who might you be?" The cruel man lord asked.
"You'd think, for someone as observant as you, you'd recognize your own son," The shadow's golden gaze looked up from the floor to his father as he took off the cloak.
Ozai's mask of cold intellect slipped for a split second. "So. The rumors are true. You've grown a ruthless streak; you really do take after me, afterall,"
Zuko laughed. Years, he had hopelessly waited for his Father's recognition, his acknowledgement. Now, he didn't want it. Didn't need it, like he had so many years ago.
"No, I don't think I do," As he approached the Throne, he drew his dao blades from his back just as Ozai was generating lightning. "You're quite predictable."
Lightning zinged through tempered steel.
In. Down. Out.
Electricity raced back to its owner, just as cold and merciless as the sea itself.
~
The scene fractured and shattered to dust as Zuko woke up slowly, to enveloping warmth and a warm tongue licking his scales.
.;~: Cub? :~;.