Day Two - Turtleducks

Entry by ~KraZiiePyrozHavemoreFun

"And then, it just lashed out and bit my finger mommy!" Lee said, pushing his wounded finger into his mother's face for the umpteenth time.

"Oh that's horrible sweetheart."

"I know right! It was horrible! I thought she was gonna eat me mama!"

"I know sweetie," Fire Lady Katara piloted Lee to the throne room where her husband talked with his advisors about a new concept called subsidized housing that would lower the Fire nation's outrageous poverty rates.

"And I know that you're hurting," She stopped at a large door engraved with crimson dragons blowing orange flames up to make a great gold Phoenix, bending down to kiss his outstretched finger once more.

"But maybe this is a problem that you can sort out with your father hmm?"

Lee nodded and began to yank open the door. When he succeeded he charged into the room and ran past the startled noblemen to the bottom of a curling staircase.

"Daddy! The turtleduck bit my finger!" He yelled waving his injury in his father's direction.

Having seen the look from his wife Katara (the "just go along with it" look) he replied. "No! That's a tragedy! Come up here this instant and let's have a look."

Lee climbed the stairs and sat in his father's lap. "Daddy! Daddy! Look! She almost bit my finger off daddy!"

"I see…you know what?"

"What?" Lee asked excitedly.

Zuko frowned mockingly, showing that he was just playing to his wife and the noblemen. Lee of course, couldn't tell the difference.

"I think you might have turtleduck-a-nemia!"

"Turtleduck-a-huh?"

"It's a disease that little boys get when they are bitten by mommy turtleducks. When you have it, over time you turn into one yourself!"

"B-but I don't wanna be a mommy turtleduck!" Lee cried trembling. Some of the nobles had to suppress their laughter at the young Prince's seriousness and fear. Katara gave him a panicked warning glance when she noticed the tell-tale signs that he was about to cry.

"Wait, wait! Don't cry! There is a cure!"

"Umm…yes!" Katara continued catching on. "Your turtleduck-a-nemia will go away only if you don't talk about getting bitten in the first place."

"Really!"

"Of course! Would your mother and I lie about something that is sooo crucial to the future of the Fire Nation?"

Lee sat taller for a moment then jumped down off of his fathers lap and back into the arms of his mother.

"Thank you," she mouthed over her shoulder.

She made this gesture visible to all, but concealed her "I'll thank you later" look for Zuko's eyes alone.

"Thank the Gods for turtleducks." He whispered silently blessing Lee for being bitten in the first place.

A/N: "I'll thank you later," means that Zuko's gonna get some.