Two

Fissure

On the outskirts of Guang-Zho sat Zuko, his elbow resting on his knee with his chin in hand, watching Xiu Lian curiously toddle nearby as his uncle stopped in a fabric shop, of all places. The ostrich-horse brayed angrily and scuffed its hooves into the dirt, feeling useless since they had chosen to walk to the border instead of ride. Zuko still had yet to figure out how he and his uncle would incorporate Lian into their daily routine as fleeing refugees.

Zuko was both terrified and fascinated by the small child swaying on squatted legs, attempting to pick up a potato bug with her forefingers. As she went to retrieve the bug, Lian leant too far forward and fell onto her hands. The prince's eyes widened when the toddler began to snivel and her whimpers turned into loud wails, and he was instantly up on his feet reaching awkwardly for her and lifting her into his arms. He gently patted her back as her upset cries caused her to sputter and hiccough.

Truthfully, the teenager had no idea what he was doing. He was simply imitating what he'd seen many a caring mother do to soothe her child, but thus far it did not seem to quell Xiu Lian's discontent. She continued to howl against his shoulder and Zuko found his patience wearing thin and his mind scattering for more examples. Glancing past the toddler in his arms though, he saw his uncle step out from the shop with several things in his arms, the man's brow raised high on his forehead at seeing the strange sight of his nephew trying to appease a 13-month-old child.

Zuko could not have been more relieved upon seeing the man coming toward the two. Spirits, thank you! Iroh chuckled and shook his head, setting the things in his arms on the ground by the ostrich-horse and walking to where Lian squalled in Zuko's arms, a reluctant pleading in his nephew's eyes. The prince handed the child to his uncle, where he bounced her lightly on his stomach and gazed at her hands, placing a kiss on the scraped palm she showed him and rubbed circles into her back. Lian's cries stifled and she pushed herself into a seated position in Iroh's arms, wiping her arm under her running nose.

"All better?" the former General cooed, nuzzling her forehead. Zuko's shoulders slumped and he stood with his mouth agape. "See, Nephew?" his uncle addressed him, a wide grin spread across his face.

"Yeah," Zuko acknowledged through gritted teeth, "simple." Inhale. Exhale. He ran a hand through his short hair and sighed. "She obviously favors you."

Iroh responded, "We are simply strangers to her for the moment. She will grow used to us as we will to her, though I'm sure difficult times are ahead." Lian rested against the old man again, bringing her thumb to her mouth and watching the two exchange cursory looks.

Zuko whipped around from where he had begun to rummage through the perplexing items his uncle had bought. "What do you mean? We had enough difficulties before and even more now with a toddler to cater to. What more could possibly go wrong outside of the fact we're heading to the city you once sought to conquer and that we are fugitives on the run from two-thirds of the damn world?!"

"Language," Iroh reproved him. "As you have accurately pointed, yes, we do have a toddler in our ranks now, but there are more pressing matters than just her needs. Do not forget that despite her size and the demands she will need fulfilled by us, that she also has memories."

There's that word again. Zuko hands fisted, growing more impatient by his uncle's preamble and interjected. "Will you just get to the point all ready, Uncle? I know she has memories! It's the reason she came to us in the first place!"

Iroh opted to ignore that last comment, considering the boy had been vague as to how Xiu Lian came to be in his arms when he'd arrived to meet him at the center. "What I am getting at, Nephew, is that despite her mother's lack of maternal feeling for the child in the long run, she obviously still felt obligated to care for her and provide what she could. That is not something easily forgotten, and your daughter," Zuko involuntarily winced, "will soon realize that her mother is not coming back and will yearn for her. She will be hard to console during these times and we, particularly you, will lose much sleep in the coming weeks, likely more so than you have in our travels together."

The old General paused. He watched his nephew tense as he began to realize what all his newfound parenthood might entail, as well as imagining what was to come in the months to follow. Staring Zuko straight in the eye, a very serious expression upon his weathered face, Iroh asked, "Are you prepared, Prince Zuko, to face everything that is required of you, as her father? That what once was important to you," - The Avatar - "will no longer be your first priority?"

Zuko cast his eyes away from the austere gold ones of his uncle's. His thoughts were dizzying as they whirled about his head. Whenever his uncle lectured him, it was often one of the few times in his life that Zuko felt exactly like what he was - a surly, 16-year-old far too serious for his own good. The moment was always fleeting, but in their time traveling and the many wisdoms passed onto him, along with an equal amount of reprimanding on impatience and acting without thinking, Zuko almost relished these moments. Now, though, the moment seemed far too long and the answer too close for comfort as the teenager allowed himself to thoroughly think upon what having a child truly required of him.

What was once important to you will no longer be your first priority, the words repeated throughout his contemplations. Yet again he was being asked to think the situation through, but the prince honestly hadn't an absolute clue as to what was to come. Sleepless nights, messes, thankless work, potty training… he ticked the various things that he'd always related to small children, much of it grunt work that would further impede on the little patience he had. And as there always was with his uncle's wisdom, the underlying implication of the man's words came crashing home.

For three long years the prince had spent his valuable efforts on his attempts to capture the Avatar, the past six months alone having chased the boy and his ever growing entourage of peasants and miscreants. Now here he stood watching his uncle soothe Xiu Lian, her small body emanating her discomfort and weariness. Lian's eyes were half-closed and her cheeks tinged pink from their travels in the sun today, and in an instant Zuko's thoughts of honor, his father, and the Avatar were replaced with nagging, distressing ones. Is her face sun burnt? Could he and his uncle find an aloe plant or an apothecary that carried it to relieve the probable sting she must feel? Would she sleep comfortably in spite of it? Would it peel?

Iroh observed the change in his nephew's demeanor, his usual scowl replaced with something so familiar to the retired general that it almost made his eyes mist. Clearing his throat and startling Zuko from his contemplations, the old general said, "Amazing, isn't it? How quickly it comes."

Zuko removed his eyes from Lian and to his uncle. "How quickly what comes?"

"The worry."

~*~

A few days had passed since their trek through the Si Wong Desert and despite all that had happened with the Sandbenders, they had offered a hand in getting them out of their homeland and the gang eventually came upon a beautiful boxed canyon, a wondrous waterfall greeting them as they stared in awe at such a natural, serene place. The clear water mirrored Katara's happiness at being near her element once again. She dipped her cup hands into the lake and splashed her face with its coolness. She did this several more times and wiped the remaining moisture from her hands down her shoulders and arms. The Waterbender was happy to be rid of at least some of the dust she'd accumulated. She concluded that later when everyone was either preoccupied or asleep, she'd come out and bathe and revel in the water some more.

"Katara, get over here!" her brother's loud voice carried across the air from where he, Aang, and Toph set up camp. "Dinner's not gonna cook itself ya know!" his pitch rose ever so slightly.

She closed her eyes and sighed. For several seconds she thought to water whip her brother into doing it himself, but having tasted his cooking before, thought it better if she didn't risk her health as well as Aang's and Toph's in the process. Standing from her kneeled position, she jogged to where the others had begun organizing their supplies and reading the maps Sokka had stolen from the library.

As Katara prepared her 'kitchen', Toph spoke up from where she lounged against a rock: "Now what?"

The older girl noticed an unusual tremble in the Earthbender's voice, but she chalked it up to the fact that she and Aang had not been on the best of terms since Appa's capture by the Sandbenders. Katara just prayed no arguments would ensue. She'd had enough of a time keeping everyone together in the desert, and she personally was in no mood to referee again.

Oblivious to the tension as he pored over maps, Sokka said, "I say we settle for tonight, seeing as it's already getting dark, and tomorrow we can start early and get in as much ground as we can."

"Can we at least get in a bath and maybe a swim tomorrow?" Katara pleaded, glancing to the glistening waterfall. "I don't know about you guys, but after trekking through the desert I think we all need to at least get in a bath. Who knows when we'll be able to get in another before we arrive in Ba Sing Se."

Aang nodded. "Katara's right. As important as our info is and our search for Appa," the boy paused, his heart panging for his lost bison, "I'm sure we can spare a day or two to recuperate."

"I'm with them. I'm bushed!" Toph yawned and stretched. "You can go over maps tomorrow, Snoozles. Tonight's for us." She earthbended herself a foot rest. Katara rolled her eyes. "So what's for dinner, Sugar Queen?"

Katara stared momentarily at her surroundings, having realized long ago that all their supplies and food had been on Appa. Her stomach rumbled loudly, signaling her brother to gaze up from his papers and Toph's sightless eyes no longer held the twinkle they'd had just a moment ago.

"We don't got no food, do we?" Toph intoned quietly, curling her knees and feet inward.

Sighing, the older girl answered, "I'm afraid not. At least not anything substantial, though Momo seems to have collected some fruit," she spied, noticing the winged lemur soar to the small pile of cactus kiwi, grapes, and various roughage he'd found. "I'm sure he wouldn't mind sharing," she attempted to relieve the tension, but it was half-assed at best. Glancing at her brother, she added, "Think you can get in a bit of hunting before it goes completely dark since there's no fish here?"

Sokka looked up at the darkening horizon, shielding his eyes as the sun's bright hues scolded his vision. "I think I could, especially if it means we'll, you know, eat tonight." He rolled up the maps, handing them to his sister and stood, then reached to grab his boomerang from its holster. "Wanna come, Toph? Aang?"

"Sure," the blind Earthbender shrugged, bending the earth flat beneath her and jumping to her feet. Aang shook his head.

Katara and Aang watched the two leave and when their figures were no longer visible, the Waterbender turned to her companion. "How are ya holding up?"

Aang's usually bright eyes were stormy as he huddled his bent legs to his body, wrapping his arms around his knees. "I'm fine, Katara."

"I'm just looking out for your best interests, Aang. There's no need for you to be hostile with me."

"I'm not being hostile. I just want to get to Ba Sing Se, speak to the Earth King, and find Appa." Momo then perched on the Airbender's shoulders, handing him a cactus kiwi. "Thanks, Momo!" he replied, suddenly cheerful and bit into the fruit. Aang's puckered lips and suckered cheeks indicated to Katara that the kiwi was not completely ripe. "Sour," he coughed, "but at least it's food," and proceeded to eat, grimacing the entire time.

Katara, too, huddled into herself, briefly looking out over the cliff at the setting sun, and chose not to allow the conversation to erupt into an argument.

"You're right," she acquiesced stiffly, plastering a smile on her face, "the sooner we get to Ba Sing Se, the better." And the sooner we get there, the sooner I'll no longer have to worry how much more of this I can take.

~*~

After many tribulations and the recent events of Guang-Zho, Zuko was surprised to reach Full Moon Bay in only half a day of travel, though not without stops of course. It turned out that the items his uncle had bought at the fabric store were for Lian. A wicker carrier for her to be placed into and carried on one of their backs, several sheets of linen – one to line the carrier and the extras for when the toddler would need changing (Zuko grimaced at the thought) – and last, his uncle revealed a small, stuffed toy from his sleeve that resembled a pygmy-puma, which the toddler squealed happily upon sight.

It was without a second glance that Zuko then reprimanded his uncle, "Just because she's something akin to a grandchild does not mean I will allow you to spoil her!"

Iroh had to stifle the chuckle bubbling inside his chest and said, "It is only but a simple companion for her to travel with, Nephew. You cannot have forgotten the plush turtle-duck your mother gave you so long ago. I believe you named him Tortie. For the longest time you would not go anywhere without him." Stroking his beard, he pondered, "Whatever happened to him..."

"Father said I was too old for stuffed animals and promptly roasted him."

"Oh, yes!" Iroh's eyes lit upon remembrance. "What a sad end came to him. He was a good friend."

Zuko's usual scowl graced his sullen features and he added, looking pointedly at his uncle, "I at least didn't have to worry about him telling stupid, embarrassing stories to cryptic Pai Sho gamblers."

"I didn't know he could play Pai Sho! He must have been a very talented turtle-duck!" The prince's palm then swiftly met his forehead, Lian's giggles filtering into the air at his antics.

Their second stop for the day after Guang-Zho was at a tavern so to eat and discuss their next course of action once they were in Ba Sing Se. Zuko was thankful to get off the ostrich-horse, his legs stiff and lower back sore, though probably would have been more so had Lian been strapped to his back rather than his uncle's. As he had thought upon what the great city might be like, picking at the roll left on his plate, he was interrupted by the shrill, harsh cry of Lian. Her temperament had begun heating up on their journey to Full Moon Bay and had now finally reached its boiling point.

The teen's eyes widened incredibly at how much fury such a small child could hold as she fussed in his uncle's lap, the old man attempting to calm her. When he went to check her nappy, his brows rose and he stood from the booth. "Come, Nephew."

"What?"

"You need to learn how to change her. You cannot think that I will be the only one to do the dirty work. I am merely here for guidance and, of course, to spoil her," he quipped from over his shoulder then asked their waitress to show him where he might change Xiu Lian. The woman kindly pointed to a door at the other side. "Thank you, and might I add that you have a smile that just simply lights up a room. I am sure that you receive many a kind tip not only for your service, but for such a dazzling face."

The old man winked; the woman giggled demurely; and Zuko rolled his eyes.

Entering the washroom, his uncle then began showing the prince how to change a nappy. The teen himself shouldered through several different emotions: Disgust at having to see and smell human waste, to apprehension about the fact she was a little girl, to frustration when she tried to squirm and crawl away in the middle of his removing the sullied linen, and then a fleeting second of accomplishment when the task was finally complete, only to remember he would be stuck doing this until she was old enough to train to do these things without his help.

Zuko stood her up and tugged down her brown and green tunic, ironing the wrinkles with his hand, her head darting from one side to the next as she observed him doing so. When she at least looked presentable, the teen noticed she was staring him. He wondered briefly if there was something on his face when she suddenly reached her hands up and placed them there herself, stubby little fingers roaming his scar and pressing against his cheek.

The prince remained completely frozen, sparing a look to his uncle with the simple movement of his eyes (though had to close his scarred one when she poked it on accident), having no idea how exactly to dispel the situation. Before his uncle could intervene though, Zuko collected the child's wrist gently into one hand and sternly whispered, "No, Xiu Lian. We do not touch daddy's face."

Iroh gawked at his nephew having acknowledged to being her father aloud, and watched in astonishment at just what unraveled next.

Zuko had released her wrists, which she at first stopped looking at him to stare at them, only to gaze up again and say, "Da da?"

It was here that Zuko thought he'd die of a heart attack.

Now, as Zuko and his uncle stood at the entrance of Full Moon Bay, Lian slept at her father's back. Night had fallen quickly and the guards told the refugees that they could buy tickets to the ferry, which wouldn't leave until morning, and they could sleep in the harbor though their ostrich-horse would likely be confiscated by security. Iroh, having remarked that several guards rode along the path on the same animal, then offered to donate the ostrich-horse to them. That despite its attitude, the bird-mule was fiercely loyal to whoever happened to be its owner. And upon entrance into the cavernous inlet, the two uniformed Earthbenders thanked them for donating to the war effort. Zuko clenched his jaw at their words.

Iroh shrugged at seeing his nephew's tenseness. "We no longer have need for Yuzu. Those Earthbenders can put him to good use. He needs more exercise anyway."

Zuko paused, turning around carefully so as not to wake Xiu Lian. "You named it Yuzu?"

"Him, Nephew, not it. Do we need to go over pronouns?"

Zuko glared. "Let's just find a place to sleep so tomorrow we can be on our way."

~*~

It was later the next day the gang found themselves at the dilapidated entrance of the Serpent's Pass, the rickety signs and yellowed posters foreboding much like the path itself. The refugees whom they offered to help across the pass read the papers tacked to the old wood, their expressions sorrowful and apprehensive.

"Look at this writing, how awful!" Ying cried as she approached the gatepost.

Toph waited momentarily for the woman to read it, but when no sound came she finally asked, "What does it say?"

Stepping forward, Katara read, "It says, 'Abandon hope'."

"How can we abandon hope? It's all we have," Ying replied, burying her face into her husband's chest.

Voice void of emotion, Aang spoke, "I don't know. The monks used to say that hope is just a distraction. So maybe we do need to abandon it."

Flabbergasted at the Airbender's attitude, Katara incredulously responded, "What are you talking about?"

"Hope isn't going to get us into Ba Sing Se, and it's not gonna find Appa. We need to focus on what we're doing right now, and that's getting across this pass." Aang stepped through the gate.

Following his lead, Katara sighed, "Okay, if you say so."

Crossing the pass had proven to be far more treacherous for the group than they had anticipated. With the Fire Nation vessels in the western lake having launched flaming projectiles from their trebuchets; the serpent for which the pass was named almost drowning them all (though Toph came closest to a watery death); then Ying going into labor just as they could see the thick walls of Ba Sing Se in the horizon. The Waterbender breathed in relief, praying that they'd have smooth sailing from here on out.

As Katara left the makeshift tent Toph had bent to allow for the Ying and Than to have some bonding time with their newborn daughter, she walked over to Aang where he stood beneath one of the scarce trees in the area.

Before the 15-year-old could utter a word, the 12-year-old Airbender said pensively, "I thought I was trying to be strong, but really I was just running away from my feelings. Seeing this family together, so full of happiness and love, it reminded me of how I feel about Appa… and how I feel about you."

Katara realized midway through his confession that there was moisture on her cheek, more tears further stinging her eyes and threatening to spill. She honestly wondered if it were only his words that brought her to this emotional break, but after several moments pondering it did not care what triggered it. She was happy for the much needed release and stepped forward to embrace the boy, closing her eyes and allowing the rest of her tears to fall. Hearing the footsteps of the rest of their gang just beyond her, she disengaged Aang, smiling and straightening his collar.

"I promise I'll find Appa as fast as I can," the Airbender addressed them, taking his offered staff from Toph. "I just need to do this."

Sokka smirked. "See ya in the big city."

"Say hi to that big fuzzball for me." Toph slugged him in the arm: Aang winced and rubbed the spot.

"You'll find him, Aang," Katara added gently, not completely trusting her voice.

"I know. Thank you, Katara."

~*~

Zuko scanned the area where they resided until their train arrived, his arms crossed and eyes roving the busy station while also keeping an eye on Lian, who was much happier now that she was off the ferry, though still quite pale.

They had boarded the ship early that morning and set off before the sun rose highest in the sky. As the prince had looked out over the railing, a bowl of congealed soup in hand, his uncle pointed out various things to engage Lian in, talking happily of being a 'tourist'. Zuko had staunchly dampened his uncle's mood when he angrily corrected him, that everyone on this ship was refugees not tourists, and threw the bowl of mystery stew into the ocean upon taste, thereby upsetting his daughter.

As he had attempted to quiet Lian, doing just as his uncle said to, a guy around his age spoke up from the shadows and introduced himself, along with two other misfits who stood next to him. On their meeting, Zuko swallowed his mistrust and agreed to 'liberate' some decent food. He figured that Lian being a growing girl, she needed far better nutrition than the shitty leftovers of some greedy captain. He himself had begun suffering from malnutrition since being deemed an outlaw. He would not allow the same to happen to the small child he held.

It was late into the evening when he, Jet, and his gang snatched many bowls of rice, meat, and steamed veggies for themselves, his daughter and uncle, and then later they all sat in a corner of the ferry, eating. Lian was ill from the sway of the boat and would not eat. She eventually projectile vomited whatever she'd managed to swallow all over Zuko, and the puke-soaked teenager freaked until his uncle told him that the child was just suffering from seasickness. When Zuko had finally gotten himself cleaned up and Lian calmed and sleeping in his lap, Jet had rejoined them, asking about 'the kid'. The Firebender had chosen to ignore the question, his thoughts completely elsewhere and brimming with worry. When no answer came, Jet just shrugged and started on about the things he'd heard about Ba Sing Se.

Now as the Firebender observed his surroundings, his eyes narrowed to slits as he watched Jet swagger over. The guy almost bumped into Lian but quickly side-stepped her.

"She's cute," the Freedom Fighter complimented, though his voice held a slightly despairing note which Zuko did not appreciate.

"Yeah, she is," he stated.

"So… you guys got plans once you're in the city?" Jet then queried, removing the prairie grass from between his teeth.

Zuko was broken from his contemplations when a tea vender yelled, "Get your hot tea here! Finest tea in Ba Sing Se!"

The three refugees looked up at the peddler, his uncle of course shouting in return with one arm waving, "Oh, Jasmine please!" When the retired general delightedly sipped from his cup, his eyes widened in horror and he spat out the liquid in disgust. "Blurgh! Ugh. Coldest tea in Ba Sing Se is more like it. What a disgrace!"

Before Zuko could make a retort, Jet spoke up, "Hey, can I talk to you for a second?" and gestured for him to follow. Sighing, the prince went along with the Freedom Fighter, though never he removed his eyes from Xiu Lian. "You and I have a much better chance of making it in the city if we stick together." Jet started as they walked. "You want to join the Freedom Fighters?"

Zuko answered readily, "Thanks, but I don't think you want me in your gang."

"Come on, we made a great team looting that Captain's food. Think of all the good we could do for these refugees."

"I said no."

As the prince turned away from his counterpart back toward his uncle, he lifted Lian into his arms from where she had perched herself on his foot begging, "Da da! Up-py! Up-py!"

Jet was mildly surprised as he watched Li from where he stood, replying after him, "Have it your way." The Freedom Fighter focused his sight on the old man Li traveled with, Mushi, whom he saw enjoying a… steaming cup of tea? Bristling, the teen's eyes opened in utter shock, rage brewing within him but he rapidly shoved it down as he noticed Li glance beyond his shoulder at him. Jet spun on his heel and walked away without a second look.

Having seen the hostility on the guy's face, Zuko put Lian on the bench next to his uncle then abruptly slapped the cup of tea from his uncle's hand.

"Hey!"

Through gritted teeth, Zuko scolded, "What are you doing Firebending your tea? For a wise old man, that was a pretty stupid move." Lian pulled at his tunic, wanting up again.

Iroh replied mournfully, "I know you're not supposed to cry over spilled tea, but…" he sniffled, "it's just so sad."


Author's Note: Yes, I realize much of this chapter was filler, but you gotta get through the bow and wrapping to get to the actual gift, right? I hate most filler, too, unless it's actually entertaining, so I tried not to put too much of the episode "The Serpent's Pass" and more in-between scenes and some things for you to laugh at, since we're almost to the point where this story will take a rapid turn from light-hearted to... well, look at the title. Chapter three will cover "City of Walls and Secrets" through either "The Earth King" or "The Guru", skipping "Tales of Ba Sing Se" and "Appa's Lost Days" though they'll be mentioned. I'm actually following a lot of canon, even through a majority of the third season with tweaks here and there and definite differences to come.

Also, I apologize for any grammatical and tense errors in this chapter. I originally planned to update this last Monday, but had a rather unusual week and holiday and no time to write. Bastards. So this was a rush job since I promised myself I'd have this written and uploaded by the 29th, and here I am. So I hoped you enjoyed this and feel free to review, favorite, alert, etc. I'm not picky! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and week, whether you celebrate anything or not, and have a safe and happy new year!