It was empty. The cell was vacant. It had not been vacant for almost twenty years. Zuko stared into the prison chamber, it was the room his father had resided in and chided him in for almost two decades. After twenty years, depression and his ill condition had taken the ex-fire lord out.

"Zuko…" Mai whispered, putting a hand on his shoulder, but Zuko shook his head.

"What?" Zuko snapped.

"Come on, let's go. It's making you upset," Mai spoke consolingly.

"Why do you think I care?" Zuko shouted.

"Because he was still your father, and I know you," Mai said quietly, knowing she was tiptoeing on a thinly coated lake of ice with that territory. Zuko could feel the lump forming in his throat, and he didn't want it to be there. He wanted to feel absolutely nothing at this news. He wanted to shrug it off and go about his day, but he couldn't. It was hurting him, and he knew it. He knew people were parading in the streets of Ba Sing Se and he knew their were loyalists sobbing their eyes out, but he was caught in a confused state of relief and pain.

"Just go, Mai…" Zuko muttered somberly and she sighed, squeezing his hand tightly, fighting the courage to say her next verse.

"Zuko, there's nothing here, there never was."

whoops this was from a rp prompt thing, but I kinda liked it so here you go.