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Warning: read the 16k - Zutara Surprise first!



                                                   Without Consequences?



Then came the next day… the day of Sozin’s Comet…

The small group had to face their fears that day… but all of their luck was needed to get through them.

Aang managed to stop the comet, just before it would have led into the catastrophe in his nightmare… then as fast as he could – he raced back towards the fire palace’s throne room, where Zuko faced his own father a second time, to gain them time…

Toph and Sokka made sure that the others were not stopped by simple soldiers. Of course she did most of the work, while he covered her back… but anyway, the idea was his.

Katara faced Azula. The two master benders fought almost even fiercer than the last time they had… The princess wanted to take the pitiful water peasant down for that encounter, while Katara’s mind did never forget her friend, who died in her arms because of her opponent… they both knew that one of them was fighting for the last time in their lives…


--- THRONE ROOM ---


Lightning flew through the air, instantly followed by hot flames as Zuko waved his flaming swords to answer his father’s attack.

The Fire Lord raised both of his hands to stop the fire then looked over at the form of the banished prince, who stood in a perfect stance while taking deep breaths. They were fighting for a while now, and they both felt when the comet was destroyed… it didn’t break down Ozai though. The only thing it probably changed was that now he wanted to get rid of his son sooner than he originally planned. Two lightning whips formed around Ozai’s hands before he made his next move.

Zuko’s hold changed upon the handles of his swords and he already got ready to redirect a lightning when he saw the first sparkles in the air, but he did not expect what happened next…

Because the Fire Lord moved his hands in different directions, showing the prince with a smile forming on his lips that he was able to control both differently…

When the left whip was sent towards him, the scarred bender gritted his teeth while cursing to himself, because not much later the right one headed in his way too.

He caught the first lightning, which already shoved him backwards with its strength, but he tried to send it back quickly, so he could do the same with the other one… The lightning zigzagged towards his father, and he got back to his stance when the second attack was about to strike him.

But when Zuko reached out for that, the lightning suddenly changed its direction, and headed to somewhere above him… He heard that it hit something and by the time he turned back to look up, the earth rumbled while three huge pillars started to lean towards him…

He whirled in his place and ran to the side, away from the falling pillars’ way as fast as he could and even then the last pillar almost got one of his legs… but his dashing move could not be stopped when the Fire Lord suddenly appeared before him…

Ozai’s hand gripped his left one, and the other shot forward hitting the prince with all his power in the stomach, making him fell on his knees while the man twisted the sword out of his hand.

The next thing Zuko knew he was kicked in the chest so that he hit the fallen pillar with his back, just before a sudden pain shot through him from his right shoulder… because his own sword cut through it by his father’s hands.

He cried out, but couldn’t move as the Fire Lord made sure that the blade would pin him to his place.

“Right when I was about to praise you…” The Fire Lord leaned downwards as the boy looked up at him with unbroken golden eyes. “You seemed so confident, finally didn’t rush your moves…” He went on then tilted his head to the side. “And yet, you were somehow slow…” This time he let an evil smile came to his face. “Did you have a hard time sleeping?”

Zuko slowly let his lips curl into a smirk. “Do not flatter yourself… I did not anxiously wait to see you again.”

The Fire Lord turned the sword in his arm just enough to make the prince yell and grab the steel with his other hand. As the boy bowed his head with a swore he felt something different around him… a faint scent of wild flowers reached the Fire Lord’s nostrils. And he raised an eyebrow with interest. “You smell… different…”

The young prince tensed while his gaze remained on the floor, but Ozai only made another smile. “Oh, so you have found other ways to spend the night with, I see.”

He slowly turned his head up to meet his father’s eyes, but already wore the same smirking expression like before. “This is just a lotion… you know, in my age one must care for his skin…”

“You’re wasting your last moments on jokes. How funny…” Ozai let out a chuckle before narrowing his eyes and moving the sword just a little bit again until the prince groaned. “Why don’t you ask me to let your woman alive instead…? Which one is it? The one from the Boiling Rock…? Or…”

He let the edge of his lips curl upwards as Zuko slowly turned his head to look up at him. “That little water witch?” The prince clenched his jaw at the newly formed smile upon the Fire Lord’s face. “Well, well… isn’t that romantic? Fire and water…” He laughed as his son averted his gaze. “You truly spent too much time with your foolish uncle… disgracing my blood with such a peasant wench…”

“Don’t you dare to talk about her that way!” The scarred teen shouted, then sneered up at the man before him.

Ozai let out a hem. “All these years were not enough to teach you respect…” He twisted then whirled the blade out of his shoulder, throwing it away while flaming up his fists. “It is time to say goodbye, son.”

Zuko gritted his teeth before slowly turning his head to this time face his father when he lifted his flaming fist up. This is it? Is this truly the end...?

Before Ozai could have made his move, the prince said his last - gaining one final moment for himself. “Father…” The Fire Lord’s gaze locked together with his son’s, when he smiled up at him almost tauntingly… even though they both knew he had lost. “We’ll meet in hell…”

Ozai’s expressions filled with wrath then with a yell he sent his blow towards the boy…

Zuko closed his eyes as his father moved, and for a moment he almost felt as a cool breeze ruffled in his hair… How funny… After all they were indoors…

But the strike never reached him.

A huge power of mixed attacks hit the Fire Lord from behind, and his expressions showed surprise for the last time as his eyes slowly turned glassy… the fire left his hands by the time the prince looked up at him. And in the next moment… the tyrant fell.

His son’s golden gaze followed him and the fire nation insignia, which came out of his hair, then rolled on the floor.

When Zuko finally lifted his head to look up from the unmoving body of his father, he saw the avatar standing just a few meters away from him… He was breathing hard while still holding his hands in the same motion the attack left him, and even slower moved his gaze away from the Fire Lord.

His grey eyes slowly met his disbelieving ones, but he couldn’t find his voice to say anything to him as the younger boy slowly fell on his knees. “I… I couldn’t let him…” The still twelve years old boy bowed his head as tears appeared in his eyes. “I didn’t want…”

He’s a monk… He never even ate meat because that would mean he would have to take another creature’s life. And now… The prince’s mouth stayed open as he understood this… He had killed a man…

Zuko slowly stood up – though with the blood loss he currently had he found it a bit difficult – and took some steps towards him, but then the door to the throne room opened loudly, revealing the waterbender, who ran inside with her brother and the blind bender right behind her.

The prince stopped in his place as he looked at the three of them, and a part of him felt relieved now that he knew they all survived. His eyes watched Katara, who averted her gaze from him, to look at the fire lord… then, when she caught sight of the avatar, almost immediately hurried to him and kneeled down wrapping her arms around him.

A part of Zuko felt a pang inside him… a slight jealousy invaded his mind as Aang turned in his place, returning his waterbending master’s hug; but he relaxed after thinking more into it. He knew she was close to the avatar, and he had no right to feel this way… still the memories of holding her close to him were still fresh in his mind. But of course this was something only he and she knew about…

Katara was embracing the boy, who silently let his tears fall from his eyes while his fingers dug in her clothes. She slowly stroked Aang’s back before letting her eyes trail around… only when she looked at the standing prince did she saw he was watching them.

His eyes could finally meet hers, but what happened next almost made his jaw drop… because Katara let her lips curl into a smirk when she saw him tense in his place. For a horrible moment she resembled the smiles Azula used to show him so much that he had to take a step back…

He was watching the waterbender, who slowly leaned even closer to the avatar, and with the same smile… she blew a light kiss on his cheek, while locking her eyes with Zuko’s.

As if he had been hit in the gut, the prince clenched his fists and even gritted his teeth while a scowl appeared on his face that only she had seen…

“Hey…” Zuko snapped his head to the side when Toph spoke to him. “Are you all right?” She felt his heartbeat… she knew that he and Katara were looking at each other… and yet he didn’t say out what was on his mind in that moment.

“Yeah…” The prince murmured to her but before his eyes could have returned to the previous scene, Sokka stepped next to him, holding the flame shaped crown in his hands.

“I believe…” The water tribe warrior said with a solemn expression on his face. “That this belongs to you now.”

The firebender really slowly turned his head to look at his father’s relic in the other’s outstretched hand, while he felt a strange shudder ran through him… as if he had been spinning around but no one would have seen it…

For a moment he felt difficult to breathe… He wanted to get out of there… He was still looking at the hand when he only said one sentence. “Would you keep that for a while?”

His voice seemed distant, and it sounded more like a wish than a question. In the next moment he turned in his place, and walked away from them… then got out of the throne room too, while only Toph seemed to watch him…

Sokka made a grin holding the flame in his hands - knowing well what it resembled - before letting out a yell. “Sweet!”

He was immediately punched in the ribs by the blind girl, who turned to face the direction where the prince already disappeared. She then turned towards the waterbender, who still held the avatar close to her.

After seeing Toph’s disapproving look Katara only narrowed her eyes, then turned her head away…


--- THAT MORNING ---


The blind bandit wore one of her usual smirks as she sneaked into the room… she was told to wake Katara up, and she was more than happy to finally return this little favour – after all she was woken up by her not so gentle words many times…

She stopped in the middle of the room, to be sure when the other girl woke up she would be the first thing she could see – unknowing that in truth there were two persons laying in the bed - then took a deep breath before letting out a yell. “SUNSHINE!”

The first one who jerked in the bed was Zuko, whose eyes wide opened as the girl’s pale eyes seemed to glare straight at him, but before any noise could have left him, a dark skinned hand moved from his chest up to his mouth… when his eyes suddenly fell on the waterbender beside him he hurriedly shifted in his place while one of his elbows accidentally hit the wall once…

In the meantime Katara quickly pulled up the blanket to cover herself, while Toph started laughing. “It’s always funny that you don’t remember that…” When the prince made contact with the wall, the girl froze for a brief moment. “That… I can’t see you…” She managed to get over the sudden surprise then made a laugh - she didn’t have to use ever since she had last been nervous in the ring of the Earth Rumble Tournament – and relieved as it turned out neutral.

Then she closed her eyes with a wide grin, already heading out of the room while swearing that if her face became red before she got out she’d never forgive herself… “Now that you’re awake, my job here is done!” She said then slammed the door behind her before placing on of her hands upon the wall with wide eyes… and a blush truly appeared on her pale cheeks as her ‘vision’ was reassured by silent whispers from the inside.

“Do you think she saw me…?” The prince whispered, while the waterbender turned away from him, already getting dressed with a hurry.

“No…” She said lowly after slipping her skirt on then stood up while tying her upper clothing. “There’s no way she would leave something like this without a word…”

Zuko made a slight nod before his eyes slowly returned back to her. He bit his lip before speaking again. “Katara, what we did…” The girl stirred hearing her name, before he went on. “We should…” But he was silenced, as one of her fingers pressed against his lips.

She looked at him with an unreadable look, and he couldn’t help but see the difference in her eyes… her eyes showed so much passion during the night but now they were cold blue again, and he frowned as she removed her hand then stood up without a word.

She went to her door, putting her hand on the doorknob and only then did she speak, but there were no emotions in her voice either. “Get dressed… if my brother finds you here, you’ll get in trouble…”

His lips parted as he was about to speak, but she left the room almost at once, closing the door behind her.

For a moment his eyes remained on the door while a part of him secretly wished that she would return… but after nothing had happened, he slowly bowed his head before finally scooting off of the bed…


--- NOW ---


When Zuko returned to the place where he saw his sister for the last time, only his eyes showed difference when he had found her body…

Princess Azula remained in a sitting position, with her back leaning to the wall behind her… her once royal clothes had several holes on them, and her skin was covered with bruises and scratches. Her eyes still glared ahead of herself with a disbelieving expression upon her face… though just a look upon a stab wound on her chest, one could easily figure out what brought her the end.

The prince kneeled down beside her, while he was looking at her face. Except her eyes, her face showed her usual perfection, and the only other thing that broke it was one single hair lock that stood out of place…

He slowly raised one of his hands towards her, as a voice sounded in his mind. You’re pathetic… He almost heard Azula spoke – he remembered how her eyes looked when those reflected the fire on the beach of Ember Island.

His hand slowly moved, and he closed her eyes, which were now only looking into nothingness. While his hand still rested upon her face he remembered a distant memory…

He was not tall enough to be allowed to hold her, so he was just standing beside her crib while her eyes were closed. He was now a brother… Zuko made a smile at the sleeping form of his sister, and only made a low whisper so that she wouldn’t wake up, just to let her know he was there… “Sleep well Azula…” He pushed one of his hands through the bars, so that he could stroke the girl’s forehead while a smile came to his face…

A single tear fell from his right eye, but he didn’t care… he was alone. “If only things hadn’t turned out this way…” He whispered after letting out a shaky breath. Then he reached up and pulled that hair lock out of Azula’s peaceful face with his already outstretched hand, then curled it around her bun, which was still held up by the princess’ flame shaped hairpin…

When he heard footsteps heading towards him though, he pulled back his hand to dry his eye only to bring more dirt upon his face before standing up. And then… when he turned back, his mouth opened upon who was standing behind him. “Uncle…?”

Retired General Iroh stood just a few meters away from him… he couldn’t see the full difference upon his uncle, but even from the way he looked in his clothes, he could tell that probably the older man was in his best form. But what mattered in that moment was that he was alive…

Zuko’s eyes lit up for a second then his expressions changed from the look his uncle gave him. The last time they met he was behind the bars… because of him. “I…” He straightened his back when he found his voice. “I know that you’re probably far from being happy to see me, but I… just want you to know that…” The prince bowed his head as his voice cracked, but went on. “That I am sorry and whatever punishment you think I deserve I will…”

He was startled when his uncle suddenly moved, but when the next moment the old man embraced him with a bear-like hug his eyes almost turned teary again. “I’m so sorry uncle…”

“Stupid kid…” Iroh murmured when his nephew returned the embrace. “How can you think I’m still mad after all you’ve probably gone through…?” He saw Zuko was in a bad shape, with the still bleeding wound on his shoulder, the ragged clothes and the dirt on his face… and as the teen didn’t pull away from him, it showed a bit more of how he must have been. When the old man pulled away he offered his nephew a smile before asking. “Are you all right?”

“I’ll survive…” The prince only made a bitter smile before looking back at his sister’s body.

Iroh’s eyes turned to Azula too, then stepped closer to his nephew while putting a hand on his shoulder. “Zuko, you’re not alone anymore…”

“Sure not!” They both looked behind, when a girl’s voice called out from behind them…

Toph stood with her usual grin on her face. “So… would you want me to start cleaning this mess up or something?”



--- 1 WEEK LATER ---


Katara walked around her room, bringing together all her stuff, which was still not much… but after the war’s end she got some nice things from different people, basically trying to say ‘thanks’ this way.

Her eyes fell upon a lonely vase on the table, and for a moment she was looking at the single flower that was in it… She found it in her room yesterday but after finding out who sent it, she didn’t think much before deciding that she would leave that here.

Aang left two days ago, while Toph asked her ‘bestest-tea-buddy-ever’ to let her stay, at least for a while…

And today… the water tribe ships were about to set sail.

When Katara felt that she was ready, she straightened up, lifting her small pack with her before looking around once, but her gaze stopped on the flower again… it was a Panda Lily. For a moment her lips curled into a smile, but like she had realized what she was doing, her expressions turned stern almost at once. She turned on her heel then walked out of her temporary bedroom, then through the small hall that still belonged to it.

She almost reached the door by the time a voice sounded behind her. “So you’d truly leave without even saying goodbye…”

The waterbender stopped in her place and lowered her head after letting out an exasperated sigh.

Zuko stepped out of the curtains’ shadow with crossed arms. The fire nation insignia kept his hair up as a sign of being the new Fire Lord. “Not to remind you that it would be rude… but even your brother said hi.” He made a shrug and his narrow glance slowly mixed with a slight smile as he thought back about it. “And thanked for the food… then told us that the old beds could really be changed to newer ones… we’re calling this place a ‘palace’ after all…”

Katara let her pack fell beside her, before turning back. “What do you want?”

He looked to the side as her eyes offered him quite a dark look and slowly walked towards her, uncrossing his arms. “Yeah… what do I want? That’s a really good question indeed…”

He stopped not far from her, he wanted to see her eyes. Those always gave away what she’d thought… “Why?” Her eyes slightly narrowed at this single word, but she didn’t give any sign that she wanted to speak. When he caught sight of the flower from the corner of his eyes he let out a sigh before looking back. “Why are you fleeing like this…?”

“I’m not fleeing.” She said, and held his gaze, but her expressions showed nothing… nothing that he could read from.

“Really?” He tilted his head to the side before taking another step closer to her. “It doesn’t seem like that to me…”

This time her glance hardened. “You want me to say goodbye? Then fine!” She picked up the pack from beside her then met his slightly surprised gaze. “Goodbye!” She snapped and already turned in her place to open the door, but he moved quick and held it closed while standing right behind her.

“Katara, why are you doing this?” She slowly turned in her place, and her eyes met up with his. “You avoided me for a whole week and now you’d go away like we had never even met…” His eyes searched her ones, but she just remained silent…

Why was she silent? For heavens sake, he wanted nothing but her to finally talk about what was going on! He didn’t understand what was wrong… “Please, I just wanted to talk… about what happened between us.”

“Oh, now that we’re at it…” In the next moment her eyebrows knitted together, and her grip upon her pack strengthened. “You’ve promised to me that you won’t try to say anything about it!”

Even though he was not happy about what she’d said, a part of him felt relieved because she had finally broken the silence. “I… I know…” He said then slightly shook his head. “I know what I’ve said but I can’t…”

She let go of her pack again, and interrupted him rather quickly. “You can’t what, Zuko?”

“I…” While he’s watching her, his look turned softer. “Can’t forget you…” He said on a low voice, but when he reached towards her face, she hit his hand away.

“Well, you’d better try.” Her eyes were ice cold, and her voice was strong… just like every time before that very night…

Zuko clenched his jaw as the thoughts circled in his head. He wanted to believe that he was just imagining things before… that probably the blood loss and his father’s death made him see more into things than he was supposed to when he last saw her. But now she seemed so distant again… so cold…

“Back then… in the throne room… why did you do that?” He asked, and her expressions didn’t change while his temper slowly rose. “Why did you kiss him?” He asked as his fingers curled into fists. “Why were you smiling? And why were you looking at me?!” She’s watching him while slowly tilting her head to the side, and after that her previous look finally disappeared, but not to erase his worries.

Because her lips curled up into the same smile just like he mentioned, and her eyes had a glint like he would have said something funny. “Oh… that. You know…” His mouth stayed open at her expressions as she stepped closer to him, with that taunting smile upon her lips. “I wanted you to figure it out yourself, but… you’ve left me no other choice…” As one of her hands brushed his upper arm, he shoved her hand away.

“Stop toying with me!” He snapped, making her let out a giggle.

“Oh, we both know that you like when I do that…” She smirked up at him, but it slowly faded when his gaze darkened. “But that was the point.”

“What?” He asked more than surprised.

“I can’t believe that you still don’t understand… after all you said it out yourself.” His eyes were confused again, but this time she went on. “I just wanted to do something crazy, Zuko… I knew that even if everything turned out all right, you would become Fire Lord, and I would return home.”

A smile came to her lips while he only shifted in his place unknowing whether it was a good or a bad thing. That’s why she decided to take a step towards him, putting her hand upon the left side of his chest. “And years later I could brag to my own grandchildren once that I’ve even conquered the Fire Prince’s heart…”

A frown appeared on his features, and before she could pull it away, his hand held hers. “Don’t leave…” His voice was low and sounded like a plea… she knew that this could hide behind his usual ordering tone.

But she already made up her mind. She pulled her hand away while her gaze darkened again. “That’s not how things are going to happen.” She took a step back, then locked her blue eyes with his ones before going on. “How could you learn from it then?”

“Learn from it?” Her voice taunted him, and yet again, he still did not know why. “What are you talking about?”

This time her face turned serious, and he finally saw in her eyes what she hid from quite a while. “This was the last… lesson I’ve taught you. The final one. Water Tribe against Fire Nation…” The anger and mistrust, that was there since Ba Sing Sei. “That you can’t always have what you want.” The prince was watching her eyes, which were giving him a narrow look. “And this time… that is me.”

"You did not forgive...” He spoke lowly while he still did not want to believe what she had just said. “You still hate me..." He whispered with disbelief.

"I've just done what you had, remember?” She let her lips curl into an evil smile. “Taking what I want, without caring about the consequences. This is my revenge."

His expressions didn't change, but in his eyes she saw that her words hit him, where it hurt him the most. "But I thought..."

"That I might love you...?" She let out a chuckle before one of her hands trailed upon his arm. "Oh Zuzu, I just wanted your body... not you."

A scowl came to his face and he grabbed her arm, making her gasp at the force of his grip. “You’re lying!” He hissed through gritted teeth, while his eyes were searching hers.

But she held her head high, and didn’t break their eye-contact. “Is this how a liar looks like?” As he did not answer her expressions hardened. “That night… meant nothing.”

Zuko was looking at her face, her eyes… tried to find something that would give away that this was not true… This could not be true! But she’d done nothing to erase his doubts. She looked nothing like on that night… as if he had been facing a different person. “You’re not that good in acting…” He said, slightly shaking his head then returning to watch her eyes. If only they had given her away! “No one can act like that! Not without feeling anything!”

With his rising anger, his fingers also heated up, and only then did her expressions change when she tried to jerk out of his hold. “Let go of my arm!”

The heat instantly stopped and reduced, but as he still didn’t want to do what she told him. Her other arm rose up to hit him…

The door to her room opened when he caught her other hand’s wrist too. That’s when her brother appeared with a hard frown upon his face. “Zuko! What’s going on here?” Sokka’s voice was enough for him to let go of her, and for her to wear another triumphant smile.

“We…” Katara started while peeking back at the firebender. “Were just recalling the old times Sokka…” She said before slowly walking up to her brother, lifting up her pack, while he was still watching the now Fire Lord ex-banished prince. “It’s all right.”

The waterbender’s hand slowly rose to fell on her brother’s shoulder, but his look did not change while he was looking at his sister either. She didn’t know that Sokka was actually able to hear a part of their conversation…

“Let’s just go, okay?” As the water tribe warrior relaxed in his place, she took a step towards the opened door behind him, before looking up above her shoulder one more time. “Goodbye… Zuko.”

The firebender was looking at the place where she’d disappeared with a stoic expression, but the glance in his golden eyes gave away enough for the suspicious brother. Sokka finally didn’t say anything before he went after his sister…

On the way to the ships the only one they met and stopped beside at the docks was the blind bandit. Though for some reasons Katara was quick with her goodbye this time too, leaving the two alone.

“What’s with her?” Toph asked with crossed arms.

The water tribe boy was watching how his sister got on their ship, while letting out a sigh. “She’s literally playing with fire… that’s what.”

For a moment she looked at him with big eyes, but she got over it before he could have seen it. “So…” Sokka started, with a half smile upon his face. “Khmm… well, Toph just…” She’s looking up at him with an awaiting expression until he finally finished. “Rock on, all right?”

She let out a laugh before her usual smirk appeared on her features. “Sure thing…” She answered, giving a punch to his arm.

He smiled down at her, before slowly turning away to go too… And she slowly lowered her head as he made the first step, but then…

“Oh, all right!” He said loudly, then turned in his place, pulling her suddenly into a hug. “You know I’ll miss you, don’t you?” Sokka asked while her grin returned.

“Geez Sokka, don’t you start crying just because I can’t see…” She joked, unknowing how close she had been to the truth, before they pulled away and he straightened up again.

“I’ll write to you!” He said, but as her expressions mixed with a frown, he rubbed his neck. “Or carve…? To you?” In the meantime, those on the ship started yelling and waving towards them.

“Letters are okay as long as I have trustworthy people to be my eyes…” Toph smiled again while crossing her arms. “But Sokka…”

“Yeah?” He asked with raising an eyebrow when the ship he was supposed to be on slowly moved.

“What kind of sailor misses his own ship?”

“A bad one?” He spoke with tilting his head to the side, then when she pointed behind him with a smirk, his jaw dropped as he realized what she meant. With a high-pitched sound he made quite a run, and jumped at the end of the wooden docks towards the ship… and with some help he was pulled on deck.

He let out a cheerful yell before looking back at the docks. “I’ve made it!”

Toph – who was waiting for a loud splashing sound in truth – finally relaxed in her place showing another smirk of hers. “Yeah… Good to know!”

She was standing in her place without really knowing how quick the ship was or exactly seeing where it had been… she only felt the wind on her face. Heard the sound of the waves… And as her smile was about to fade, she heard his voice calling out for her once again.

“Now I’m waving!”

She let out a laugh, and waved back with one arm too… “So long, Sokka!”

She stood there on the docks, just as he did upon the deck as long as he could see her… it was their goodbye.


--- THAT NIGHT, ZUKO… ---


General Iroh would have never thought that he was going to find his nephew up so late again. The young Fire Lord was on the training grounds, making an almost fireworks like sight from outside the palace grounds as he practiced his bending for hours now…

“Nephew!” As his uncle’s voice called out for him Zuko stopped for a moment while taking deep breaths, but his expressions changed back to his lately not seen scowl, before continuing, just in the other direction from where the old man approached him.

His uncle stopped a few meters away him – he knew it was better avoid his private space when he was like this… years of experience didn’t disappear in only some months. “Zuko, why aren’t you resting?”

“Resting, yeah…” The young bender scoffed. “That would surely solve my problems…!” During the last word he already started a powerful move, making a huge fire ball race towards the sky.

“What did the council do that made you so upset?” The retired general asked calmly, but the teen only peeked at him from the corner of his eye before speaking.

“I’d not care this much about politics uncle.” He said, before sending more flames above them, but this time one flame with both hands, making it even fiercer.

For a moment Iroh watched the fire, until it faded high above them then slowly asked with a raised eyebrow. “Lady troubles…?”

Zuko let out a grunt, and creating the fire whips he lashed around, setting aflame one of the trees at the edge of the grounds. “Damn…” He murmured as he stopped the move then glared at it for a moment, before some servants appeared with two or three readied buckets – maybe directly for cases like that – and one of them waved towards them.

“Never mind, my Lord…” He said between two bows. “Happens with everyone…”

The Fire Lord let out a frustrated sigh while rubbing his forehead when he felt his uncle putting a towel upon his shoulders. “Don’t you want to talk about it next to a cup of tea instead of burning down the palace?”

There’s a slight humour in the old man’s voice, but he still murmured darkly anyway while slowly walking away. “I was not going to burn it down…”

Iroh put his hands together with a knowing smile, after slowly following him. It didn’t take long till they sat down, and again he could face his troubled nephew… for some reasons – against all of the small differences of the last half year – he had a strange feeling of ‘déjà vu’.

“So… what might be this serious to break down my favourite Fire Lord?” He asked with lifting the cup to his lips, covering a smile the teen knew well was there. “Or rather… who?”

Zuko was looking at the cup before him for a while then made a sigh looking to the side. “I thought you at least had a guess.”

The general raised one of his eyebrows. He didn’t know enough about the prince’s possible girlfriends to be up-to-date for this question… but he wanted to guess anyway. “Is it Mai?”

Zuko slowly shook his head. “It’s not that easy this time, uncle.” Mai was a possibility… he had met her these last days too. What stunned him was that the girl still said that she would start it over if he wanted to… she even went as far as to recall some of his memories with kissing him once again…

Maybe that was what pained him the most. Because now he knew the difference. Mai’s kiss was a part of herself… she was not passive when it came to it though, no… far from that. She had her ways… but still, when he was kissing her, he felt that something was missing.

His memories of that night were the most vivid thing in his life… the way she kissed him… even thinking back about it sent shivers down his spine, and he could do nothing against it! Her eyes and body haunted him in his dreams… sometimes he woke up with feeling her scent in the air, only to find out it was just the joke of his senses…

“Then who is it?”

The Fire Lord lowered his head. “Katara…”

“The waterbender?” Iroh’s eyebrow rose, but he let a smile come to his lips. “You’ve sure developed a lot my nephew…” Zuko gave him a puzzled look. “Finally you’ve realized she was from the opposite sex.”

As the old man let out a chuckle the young bender made a grunt. “You won’t be in such a good mood when you heard the whole thing.” The old men cleared his throat before signing him to go on.

“So let’s just say that she was rather upset with me after what happened in Ba Sing Sei…”

Zuko told him what happened… and what was going on between the two of them – directly leaving out the most important part, he did not want his uncle to know about – but managed to make himself quite clear at the end.

Iroh put down his teacup somewhere during the story, and now offered him an understanding bitter smile. “This… is quite a trouble, nephew.”

He made a shrug as an answer and after getting bored with glaring at his own cup, he slowly lifted it to his lips too.

“Zuko… do you love her?”

As the tea in his mouth turned out rather cold and bitter, he made a grimace while swallowing that, then let his hand heat it up while scowling up at the old man. “After all this?” His eyes turned to the cup before him, and mostly on the steam that left the liquid’s surface. “Hell, I hate her!”

The old general’s small smile disappeared fully after an exasperated sigh. “You’re always jumping into the wrong conclusions! You could at least try to ask for her to…” While his uncle went on he rolled his eyes as he lost in his thoughts…

She wants revenge? He lifted up the cup again as his expressions hardened… Then she’ll get a personal war! When he took another sip from his cup, he felt the difference at once. The sugar from the bottom mixed with the tea once again, and the tea’s real flavour left him satisfied…

In that moment his good eye opened round before lowering the cup. His uncle stopped somewhere in the middle of his sentence when his nephew looked up at him. “Uncle… I have no idea what you were just saying…” Iroh only knitted his eyebrows disapprovingly but did not interrupt Zuko, whose lips curled upwards into a confident smirk. “But I know now how to bring her back…”