A/N: These interviews are set just after The Boiling Rock. I wanted to have all of them done before The Southern Raiders aired... but as you can see, that didn't exactly happen. So please ignore the doubts I raise in these: they were my fears for the finale.

Interviews with the Gaang: Zuko

My name is Myah, and I'm the interviewer assigned to the Gaang. However, they've been rather hard to track down. After much searching, I caught Zuko right after the release of the Fire: Volume 3 DVD, relaxing at the Western Air Temple. I was fortunate enough to get him to agree to answer a few questions for the general fandom on his thoughts and opinions at this point: so close to the finale.

Myah: Thanks for agreeing to do this for us, Zuko. It's much appreciated.

Zuko: Not like I had a choice.

(He glares at me- I ignore him)

Myah: Now- the question at the front of every fan girl's mind: are you and Mai officially separated now?

(Zuko looks away)

Myah: Is that too personal?

Zuko: No, I guess not. I thought so, but.. I don't know.

Myah: So why didn't you tell her about your decision to her face? Why a letter?

Zuko: I guess I was.. ashamed. And scared.

Myah: Ashamed? Of what?

Zuko: Mai's great- but I was never really honest with her. I mean, I was- about how I felt about being home- but not about my feelings for her. When we were younger, I really liked her. But when I got back home, all that was …

Myah: Gone?

Zuko: Not really. It was just that I'd changed so much. We didn't really click like we used to. It just didn't seem... right anymore.

Myah: Wow. I always assumed that you just didn't want her to call the guards on you.

(Zuko laughs)

Zuko: Yeah, that too.

Myah: But what about her unexpected turnaround? Didn't it change your feelings?

Zuko: … Maybe. I don't know. I just wish we could have gone back for her- Azula wouldn't have shown any mercy.

Myah: So what about Katara?

(Zuko doesn't answer; I don't think he heard me)

Myah: Hello- Zuko?

(He finally looks up)

Myah: What about Katara?

(Zuko blinks confusedly)

Zuko: Katara? That waterbender? What about her?

Myah: A lot of the fans think that you two will make a great couple…

Zuko: WHAT? She's a waterbending peasant! The Avatar's in love with her- at least I think he is. Why would they put the two of us together?

Myah: Well, there's one theory that your kids could be "steam babies"- a new line of airbenders.

(Zuko snorts)

Zuko: That's NOT how bending is passed on.

Myah: There's also the ying-yang theory, and the fact that a lot of your more extreme qualities are balanced out by her- and vice versa. They think you'll make a very supportive couple. Plus, she's not just a peasant. Among her people, she's something of a princess- the daughter of the leader of the Southern Water Tribe.

Zuko: A tribe of old women and children.

(Zuko is silent for a couple of seconds)

Zuko: Anyway, she's still not my type. Plus, she hates me.

Myah: A lot of..

Zuko: Can we stop talking about her?

Myah: I have one more question about her, though. If she offers to heal your scar again, will you accept?

(He touches the edge of the scar, is silent for a while, then sighs.)

Zuko: I've grown so used to it- it's a part of me. It reminds me of what I've been through- and that I've come out stronger for it. So, to answer your question- no, I won't.

Myah: Okay, then. Another question: what about Iroh?

(Zuko is silent)

Zuko: I don't want to talk about him, either. And don't ask me about why I left.

Myah: Zuko?

(He looks away for a couple of minutes, and doesn't answer)

Myah: Okay, then. Let's move on to the events that just happened: the rescue of Sokka's father. Why did you go with him?

Zuko: The little idiot would've gotten himself captured if he went off on his own.

Myah: But you could have woke the others- stopped him from going in the first place. We know that honor is important to you, and his mentioning it played a large part in your decision to follow him, but was that all?

Zuko: Yeah, that's it.

At this point, the interview is interrupted by the arrival of the earthbender, Toph.

Toph: You're lying.

Myah: Hello, Toph. Nice of you to join us.

Toph: No prob. And if you're giving out interviews, you might want to at least tell the truth. No sense in it otherwise.

(Zuko is silent. I have the feeling that he's run into Toph's ability to detect lies before).

Zuko: He was going after his father.

Myah: Ah- Ursa.

(He looks at me, then nods- after glaring at Toph.)

Myah: Do you plan on looking for her?

Zuko: I don't know. I'd like to see her, talk to her, but I don't know. Going out like that would put the Avatar at risk, and I'm sure my father has a bounty on my head already. I have to concentrate on training him. Plus, if she's in hiding, me finding her would just expose her.

(I look at Toph, who's lying there silently. Her eyes are closed, and she says nothing. I have the feeling that there's more here, but I'm sure that the issue of parents is a sensitive one here, so I move on.)

Myah: Now, about the finale. There's a general agreement that although Aang will be the one to face your father, you'll have to fight- and defeat- Azula. Do you think you can do that; if it comes to it, will you be able to kill your own sister?

(Zuko looks at me and walks away)

Zuko: This interview is over. Do what you want- I'm not answering any more questions.

Zuko walks off, and I'm left in the room with Toph. We're silent for a while.

Toph: Some things, you just don't ask.

She walks off, and leaves me to my musings.