Sleepless Nights [Milliways]
Jul. 22nd, 2008 11:11 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
princeinexileThere are times when Zuko realizes he should have left very much alone. Sitting there, staring at the crown of the Heir Apparent on his desk, he knew that following the clues (and who else would have, could have left them, even from his prison cell?) that had lead him to the truth... yes, he should have ignored them.
He hid the crown in a drawer; several of them had false bottoms for just this purpose. It was slipped inside and then locked away. This wouldn't stop someone like Azula if she really wanted to find out what he was hiding, but it would dissuade a servant, at least.
The hour was late and the moon was high. He could not go bother Mai at this hour, no matter how much he'd like a distraction from his dark thoughts. Gaze turning to the cupboard -- he realized that sleepless nights could be fixed with time away: Time in a far away place, away from responsibility and trick-playing uncles. Having a fixed door gave him a great convinience; allowing him to come and go as he pleased. It was the only thing he seemed to be able to control right now, and he relished the ability to grab a few things, open the wardrobe and--
--see the back of the wardrobe.
He reached out; touching the too-solid wood, finding no door knob in the back, no welcoming noise or light, no familiar voices greeting.
A few minutes later, servants were asking what the noise was all about. Zuko ordered them away from where he lay on his bed, heat cascading around both fists. The wardrobe still stood, with all his clothes inside, unharmed...
...but come morning, it was a tempting target. Still, it seemed the Landlord was trying to tell him the same thing his uncle had: There is no running away from this; you must face your destiny.
But the path was forked. One path, smooth and easy, lead to his father's side...
The rocky path lead to the Avatar's. The thought made him sick to his stomach. Almost a year ago, he couldn't have even conceived of such treason, not so easily -- not like it seemed logical to walk away from this luxury and ease to fall into the arms of his enemy...
Even if they'd accept him at all.
He groaned, hiding his face in his pillow. Sleep evaded him the rest of the night, slippery as an eelhound, ungraspable. Come morning, he barred his door to servants, and opened the wardrobe to grab a robe for the day--
--and the welcome noise of Milliways greeted him.
"Not funny," he muttered despite the smile that slipped to his lips. Tired though he might be, he grabbed clothing and his well-hidden bag, and slipped through to the other side.
If Bar had wanted to make him sweat the night through and not escape his too-busy mind, she's succeeded. But it didn't stop him from being happy to see the place after many long months...
He hid the crown in a drawer; several of them had false bottoms for just this purpose. It was slipped inside and then locked away. This wouldn't stop someone like Azula if she really wanted to find out what he was hiding, but it would dissuade a servant, at least.
The hour was late and the moon was high. He could not go bother Mai at this hour, no matter how much he'd like a distraction from his dark thoughts. Gaze turning to the cupboard -- he realized that sleepless nights could be fixed with time away: Time in a far away place, away from responsibility and trick-playing uncles. Having a fixed door gave him a great convinience; allowing him to come and go as he pleased. It was the only thing he seemed to be able to control right now, and he relished the ability to grab a few things, open the wardrobe and--
--see the back of the wardrobe.
He reached out; touching the too-solid wood, finding no door knob in the back, no welcoming noise or light, no familiar voices greeting.
A few minutes later, servants were asking what the noise was all about. Zuko ordered them away from where he lay on his bed, heat cascading around both fists. The wardrobe still stood, with all his clothes inside, unharmed...
...but come morning, it was a tempting target. Still, it seemed the Landlord was trying to tell him the same thing his uncle had: There is no running away from this; you must face your destiny.
But the path was forked. One path, smooth and easy, lead to his father's side...
The rocky path lead to the Avatar's. The thought made him sick to his stomach. Almost a year ago, he couldn't have even conceived of such treason, not so easily -- not like it seemed logical to walk away from this luxury and ease to fall into the arms of his enemy...
Even if they'd accept him at all.
He groaned, hiding his face in his pillow. Sleep evaded him the rest of the night, slippery as an eelhound, ungraspable. Come morning, he barred his door to servants, and opened the wardrobe to grab a robe for the day--
--and the welcome noise of Milliways greeted him.
"Not funny," he muttered despite the smile that slipped to his lips. Tired though he might be, he grabbed clothing and his well-hidden bag, and slipped through to the other side.
If Bar had wanted to make him sweat the night through and not escape his too-busy mind, she's succeeded. But it didn't stop him from being happy to see the place after many long months...
