Disclaimer: Disclaiming that I don't own Avatar is getting a bit obnoxious

A/N: I'm probably a little too obsessed with this Verse.

This chapter will seem a bit simple and a bit like a history lesson, that was intentional. Sorry.

The only real warning I have is that time doesn't pass fluidly from one chapter to the next.

Hollow mask eyes met Zuko's golden gaze. He ran his fingers across the blue and white mask. A gentle knock at his door tore his eyes from the mask and watched as a smaller bald boy entered the room. Silver eyes went from the mask to Zuko's face and back.

"You're not planning on wearing that again are you," Aang asked hesitantly.

Zuko shook his head and asked, "What do you remember about this mask?"

"Just that you used to wear it all the time and it was really funny seeing you not wearing it for a while," Aang admitted.

Taking a seat on the edge of the bed, Zuko gestured for Aang to follow. He looked at the smaller boy. It had been four years since they had joined up. Aang had only been eight and Zuko only twelve. That night had been a living nightmare. One he had worked hard to wipe from his mind, but this last year, he realized that maybe he shouldn't. Maybe, he needed to remind them. He wanted them to know and understand what he was. If they chose to be by his side after, he would accept. The thought of them being beside him longer under false pretenses bothered him.

"What do you remember about the night we met?"

A look of confusion crossed Aang's face as he said, "Not much really. Just that you broke us out of the cage and freed us."

"Think, Aang. It wasn't that long ago."

Aang shook his head saying, "I've tried. My mind doesn't remember. It's like it doesn't want to. I don't remember much of anything before you. Toph is the same way. Katara has vague memories. Sokka seems to be the only one that remembers, but he wont say anything."

"I'm not sure he can," Zuko said.

"What do you mean?"

"That was a hard time for him. I think he doesn't want to remember it either."

Aang looked at him curiously.

"I'm a Necromancer. You at least remember what I was before that right? You remember that I was a warlock?"

Aang began to fidget. Zuko could tell he wasn't comfortable with the subject matter, but he pressed on.

"It took us a bit to figure out, but you're a shaman. A user of all elements. Your people stood up to the Warlocks. They fought a lot and the Warlocks wiped almost all of your people out. They damaged the the mages, priests, and warriors. Anyone that tried to stick up to them, they fought against. I used to be one of those people," Zuko explained.

The look on Aang's face said only too clearly, I don't like where this is going. Zuko considered stopping. He wanted to in a way. The last four years, he had fought every manner of human or monster to keep the group safe. He was desperate not to have Aang hate him, but he was also desperate not to lie. Aang deserved the truth. He rubbed at the lines on the mask again to give him strength to continue.

"From the time I can remember, I was trained to be a Warlock. I fought to survive. Their training is … harsh. I managed to make it to my initiation. I had no idea what it was. It wasn't something the older warlocks talked about. I was to be tested as my last step to becoming a fully fledged Warlock. This last test, it would have proved me to be one of them."

Zuko felt Aang's much smaller hand rest on his. The boy's silver eyes looking at him worriedly. He gave a small smile. He reminded himself the that everyone was here now and what happened was past.

"I got dressed in my robes and went to take the trial. It was a very private matter. Only one of the elders watching to judge. I was thrown in a cage with a magic less boy. I was told to leave the cage, I had to defeat him. As a boy who was younger then me and without powers, it was easy to do, but then the elders commanded that I take the boy's life. I looked into his eyes and saw someone as scared as me. I couldn't do it. I'm glad I didn't, as you guys seem pretty fond of Sokka."

"Sokka!" Aang shrieked.

Zuko nodded before he went back to explaining, "It was Sokka. I didn't know his name at the time. Only that he was some boy I had just bested that I rather not kill. When I refused to do as the elder told me, he told me it would be my life if I didn't take Sokka's. I refused again, but fought the elder. To give Sokka his credit, he joined in to help me fight him. Together, we defeated the elder and escaped. He told me of his sister and his desire to go and save her. I agreed. When we got there though, his sister wasn't the only one in the cage, you and Toph were too. I freed all of you."

The mask felt like a heavy weight in his hands. He stared at it.

"Zuko..."

"I was forced to use my powers to take down a few of the guards, but I got us all out of the encampment and far away. As you know, that is how I got the scar. Sadly, I seemed to have scared you and Toph, and especially Katara, with my powers. Even Sokka seemed distant. I tried to send you all home, but I found out you were all war orphans. I kept us all together, because I just didn't know what else to do. However, you were all so scared of me. You didn't like my Warlock title and my very fire magic seem to scare you all. I found a mask or some times, I think it found me. I stopped calling myself a Warlock and began calling myself a Necromancer. I began to focus on the other magic abilities I had. With the mask, you guys were less frightened of me. After a year, I began to remove the mask for times. You guys seemed to start accept me without it. Till one day, I just never put it back on."

"You always have it tied on your belt though," Aang pointed out.

"That I do. Its a reminder of all that has past. It reminds me of what I'm holding together and what I'm trying not to become."

A knock on the door stopped Aang from what he was going to say. Sokka opened the door telling Aang that Katara wanted him in the Inn's common room. He scurried out with a last look at Zuko.

"Toph thinks we should be moving on. She says she heard one of the people talking about Warlocks in the next town. I've started to get everything ready," Sokka told him.

Zuko nodded. He looked one last time at the mask and tied it on to his belt, before he walked out the door.

FN: Prompt: The item that never leaves your side (#42 of 50)