A/N: This was written for a drabble contest over at Avatar Land on LiveJournal. I only got around to doing one though. Anyways, the theme was to write a drabble on an episode title, from any season. I chose "The Blue Spirit" from Season One. And here is my result. I didn't win anything but, I'm not bothered too much by it.

Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: the Last Airbender.

Warnings: References to the Blue Spirit.

Give Up the Ghost
By: Nuit Songeur

It was done. Gone. Over. Completed. It was no longer him. He had completed the goal so therefore the identity was no longer his. And yet, at the same time, the mask called to him. It whispered sweet promises to him, promising to fulfill his wildest dreams, desires. But he ignored it, as best as he could. There was no need to rely on such a trinket. It only brought him more trouble than it did security.

Besides, it was just too dangerous to feign as the Blue Spirit once again. What if he were caught? What if he were… unmasked? Then no matter what he did, he would not be able to restore his honor. He wasn't going to always have the Avatar there to pull him out of danger. And he shouldn't have relied on the Avatar to do that in the first place. The whole objective was for the Avatar to be at his disposal, not the opposite way around. It was too risky; Zhao would spare no expense at the Blue Spirit's capture.

Zuko sighed, titling the mask in his hands. The blue surface glinted in the dim candlelight. With an impatient huff, he threw it across the room where it clattered against the opposite wall.

It's not my best work, I believe but I don't think it's entirely shabby for my first shot at some Avatar drabble. Please review.

-NuitSongeur