Just putting this out there, while most of this story is my own work this will be a bit of a boring chapter since this is the only chapter following the continuation manga: The Search.
"Blah, blah,blah," the historian, cultural representative for the Earth kingdom rambled on long tuned out by everyone. Zuko and I, along with Team Avatar, are currently sitting at another day of long drawn out culture and history lessons about all of the the kingdoms to form the Republic City with the Avatar. To say I'm bored would be an understatement, but I'm here to support Zuko so I'm baring through it.
"Professor can you repeat that last part?" Zuko shouts, instantly getting everyone's attention. I look at him with slightly furrowed brows, Zuko had had as much attention and care in this as I have which is why he asked me to come with so that he at least had his 'closest friend and advisor' with him.
The professor sighs, clearly annoyed:
"A teenager is a teenager I suppose, even if he is a head of state." I narrow my eyes while holding my tongue.
'Maybe if you weren't so boring we might listen. Learn some respect, jerk,' I think to myself with my own annoyance.
"I was explaining, Fire Lord Zuko, the ancient Earth Kingdom philosophy: Family in essence is a small nation, and the nation a large family. Do you understand? In treating his family with dignity, a ruler learns how to govern his nation with dignity." The professor continues his yapping but my focus is completely on Zuko. Zuko looked as if he was slapped it off the blue quickly replaced by shame and guilt.
I grip Zuko's hand under the table while giving him a questioning, concerned look. I have no intention of pestering him about what's bothering him, since I know he will tell me, but I also want him to now that I'm here for him.
"Hey are you alright Zuko?" Aang whispers over to Zuko.
"Haven't you been listening to him?"
"I've been trying but all I'm hearing is blah blah blah," Aang laughs at his own mocking of the professor and I can't help but chuckle a bit myself because that's all over really heard as well.
"I put my father in prison and my sister in an institution. My mother had been banished for years. What does that mean for my nation?" I know Aang and the gang are getting into something with Katara but my full focus is on Zuko.
"You're father is a danger to everyone, bending or not, because he plays mind games and there are still followers even a year after his defeat. Locking him up protects not only our nation but the world as a whole. You put Azula in the institute because she has a mental break down and hasn't become any better. You are doing what is best fit the nation and them. You could have executed them, just as most were advising, but you were merciful and caring by trying to give them the help they need. As far as your mother you had no part in that so you can't blame yourself." Zuko simply looks at me with great hurt reflecting in his eyes. My words are heard but still fell on deaf ears. I sigh defeated for now until we are alone.
Zuko didn't allow us to talk about what was bothering him on our way back. He barely even said bye to me before leaving me to walk home on my own. It's by far part of his job but it's something I've grown accustomed to over our time together this past year. I tried not to let it get to me as I enjoyed dinner with my family and eventually went to bed.
A light knock on the front door awakes me from my sleep. I groan looking out my window wanting to kill whoever is awakening me, though I never will, before the sun even begins to peak it's head out.
"Yes," I ask making my annoyance known while opening the door.
"I know it's late, early, I'm not sure any more, but I need to talk to you." I nod my head stepping aside for him.
"Would you like some tea," I ask while getting us seated in the dining room area.
"No," he replies. Zuko takes a deep breath and releases it as a sign while laying his head in his hands.
"I need to ask you something as a friend."
"What is it Zuko?"
"The thing the professor had said about family has really gotten to me." I nod my head to show that I'm listening. "I let my sister and dad speak to each other." Immediately my warning bells go off.
"You kept a close eye on them correct? They could be plotting something and-"
"I know but I need to give them respect. They are still people and citizens of the fire nation." I frown but let it go since I know the state in which he is in right now.
"What is it you need to ask me?" I ask trying to change the subject.
"In about a week from now the Avatar team will be coming here to travel with Azula and I to find my mother and I would like you to come with."
"Have you even thought about this?" I screech in a high pitched urgent whisper. "Azula a mentally unstable, matter mind, major manipulator, and one of the scariest people you will ever meet, and you want to bring her along with you to find your mother! Her doctors say her hatred and anger towards her mother is the main reason for her mental breakdown." Zuko sighs clearly seeing exactly where I am coming from.
"She has information that no one else does and if she could meet Mother it could be good for her." I nod my head.
"You need to sleep Zuko, take my bed and I'll make something for you tomorrow morning." Zuko just nods back, mumbling a thank you, before heading to my bedroom. I simply wander over to the couch and curl up into a ball falling back to sleep without further delay.