another day, another chapter!

Enjoy

Song of the chapter: Stressed out by Twenty One Pilots (conveniently the song i was listening to while typing this )


One Week Later

Zuko tiredly took a sip of his coffee as he walked across campus to get to his morning class. It had been a difficult week for him, finding someone willing to babysit his newborn son during the night was harder than he had thought. He refused to call his mother in fear of her thinking he couldn't handle being a father and have someone take Lu Ten away from him. That would not be an option.

So he managed to contact Ty Lee, a friend of Mai's but also a friend of his. She was the only one he trusted to care for his son, besides his Uncle but he didn't want to burden him, especially after all he's done for him his entire life. Azula was definitely not an option either, he didn't even know if she could hold a child let alone care for one. So Ty Lee would have to do, she was more than happy to watch Lu Ten anyways.

As he walked into the class he noticed that most of the room was full already, it was the beginning of a new semester which meant new classmates and a new professor. Silently he made his way to the back of the class before stumbling slightly over a brown bag. Grunting slightly he glanced over to see a girl gasp slightly before picking her bag up and moving it from the walkway. "I'm so sorry." She apologized.

His glared softened as blue eyes met his, she was pretty, actually more than pretty. Her brown hair cascaded down her back and a blue choker laid on her neck. No makeup covered her face, at least from what he could see, she seemed average, but in a good way. Shaking his head slightly he murmured "It's okay" to the girl before continuing his way down to the back of the class.

Zuko leaned back in his seat as the professor walked into the room, all the murmuring stopped as the lecture began. Through out the class Zuko glanced up at the clock multiple times in hope of time going by faster.

"Now class." Professor Piandao said gaining the class' attention "We will be beginning a project. Which will hold a large part of your overall grade so do not take this lightly. You will be partnered up by myself, your names will be paired on this sheet of paper." Zuko held back a sigh as Piandao passed around the sheets of paper around to the students. He didn't have time for a project like this especially one with a partner, that's probably what he gets for taking one of the hardest Econ courses they offered at campus.

"Mr. Agni." Piandao says as he held the sheet of paper out to Zuko who begrudgingly took it. His golden eyes skimming down the list of names until his reached his and another name.

Zuko Agni partnered with Katara Luna

"I expect great things from the two top students in my class, I've heard great things about you Mr. Agni, do not prove me wrong." The older man warns before turning away to dismiss the class.

As the students began to file out, all paired up with their partners exchanging ideas for their projects, Zuko glanced around the class room to see one other person searching the room as well. A pair of blue eyes met his and he inwardly groaned. The exact person he didn't want as a partner was assigned to him. She was a distraction and Zuko didn't need a distraction especially in his screwed up life.

"Lets get this over with." He mumbled to himself as he rose from his seat.

Approaching the girl he cleared his throat gaining her attention from digging inside of her bag. "Oh hey, you must be my partner. Ironic isn't it ? Sorry about my bag almost tripping you earlier."

"It's alright." He began "Listen I don't have time for all of this so the sooner we finish with this project the better."

She rose an eyebrow "We'll none of us really have time for this project."

He snorted, she had no idea, taking a scrap of paper from his note book his scribbled his number and email on the parchment "Yeah okay well here's my email and my phone number. Like I said I want this done and over with."

A glare formed on her face "Fine then." Katara snatched the paper from his hand "Asshole." She murmured and brushed past him as she stormed out of the room.

Zuko's eyes followed her form the entire time before realization dawned on him. He really was an asshole. Slapping his hand on his forehead he sighed loudly before turning and meeting Piandao's eyes. The older man shook his head slightly at him "What?!" Zuko questioned before exiting the room.

Great Job Agni. Great Job.


Rocking Lu Ten in his arms Zuko knocked on the front door of his Uncle's apartment waiting for him to answer. A few seconds later the door opened to reveal Iroh who had a smile on his face "Zuko! What a pleasant surprise. Come in!" he greets as he opens the door wider for his nephew and grand nephew.

"How are you son?" Iroh asks as he plops down on the couch.

"I'm fine Uncle. I just thought Lu Ten and I could come pay you a visit." He said as Iroh reached his arms out for the newborn.

"And where is Mai, surely the Mrs. Would have wanted to accompany you and your new born son?" Noticing his nephew's silence he rose an eyebrow "What is it?"

Crossing his arms over his chest Zuko stared at the ground "Mai left, about a week ago she packed her bags and moved back with her parents. We're getting a divorce and she wants nothing to do with Lu Ten or I for that matter."

Iroh's heart broke for his nephew, after all the hardships the boy had gone through growing up he had hoped his marriage and new son could make up for all the pain he's gone through. He was wrong apparently. "I'm sorry nephew, that woman did not deserve your love or this precious child."

"Thank you Uncle." Zuko replied with a small yet grateful smile. Iroh smiled back and patted the young man's knee.

"So how is college? I see the bags under your eyes , have you been getting rest?" Iroh asked worriedly.

"Yes I have, just been working a lot, don't worry about me Uncle." Zuko reassured.

Iroh chuckled "My dear boy, its my job to worry about you. Now what of Lu Ten? Who watches him while you work?"

"Ty Lee does, you remember her, she was in the wedding. Anyways she watched him in the night while I work. I head over there when my shift is over though some nights are really late, I can tell she doesn't appreciate being woken up at 2 am." He grimaced slightly at the memory of her angry glare when he knocked on her door at two in the morning.

"That simply wont do nephew, why don't you find a baby sitter or a nanny of some sort?" he asked "I know this young girl, she's a regular at the shop, she could use a job. Maybe you can hire her. She goes to the college too, perhaps you know her?"

Zuko put a hand to his chin and rubbed his tiredly "I guess I can give it a try, though I can't pay her much."

"Excellent!" Iroh cries out "I will let her know. You come by the tea shop tomorrow and you two can meet and talk things out. Make sure you bring Lu Ten as well, I want to spend time with my grand nephew as well."

He nodded his head "Sure thing Uncle. Tomorrow sounds great." Noticing the time Zuko begin to gather his things and his son "Sorry I have to cut this visit short Uncle, I have to start getting ready for work. We'll see you tomorrow okay?"

"Of course nephew! Goodbye and be careful out there." He advises as he walks his nephew to the door.

As the young man and his son left Iroh grinning cheekily before picking up his phone to call a Miss. Bei Fong as a plan began to form in his mind. Yes, Miss Katara will do just fine for his nephew.


So this chapter is obviously different from the original. Originally Zuko and Katara meet on good terms and its cute and foreshadows the Zutara but I wanted to change that because as i re read it I began to think of stressed Zuko who we all know would not be in a good mood most of the time and can kind of be a jerk thus that scene popped into my head.

Anyways hope you all enjoyed reading this chapter~ until next time readers~