Note: Yes, Zuko's talent for the tsungi horn is canon :) Also, this contains spoilers for The Search comics.

Tsungi Horn

"Mommy looks so pretty! Doesn't she, Zuzu?"

"She sure does," Zuko whispered in the girl's ear. "But remember, we're not supposed to talk during the show, okay?"

Kiyi bit her lip, nodding quickly and pulling herself up a little higher in his arms so she could see over the heads of people packed into the village square of Hira'a for that night's performance.

Zuko shifted Kiyi into his other arm so he could reach over to touch Suki's hand. Even after all these months, feeling her fingers interlock with his still made his heart race. When he glanced over, he saw her staring at the stage, unblinking, mouth open in a wide smile as a handful of dancers began leaping across the stage in an epic battle scene.

She caught his gaze, eyes dancing in the surrounding firelight before quickly moving back to the performance. He grinned at her enthusiasm.

"Didn't know you were a theater lover," he whispered, leaning in close.

She flushed a little. "I—I'm not! Well, I mean, this is only the second time I've been," she said quietly. "This is just—this is so much better than the Ember Island Players!"

Zuko chuckled. "No kidd—"

"Shh! Zuzu, no talking!" Kiyi scolded him.

Soon the music died down and the scene came to a close, signaling the intermission. As the roar of applause gave way, Kiyi wiggled out of Zuko's hold and onto the ground below.

"Let's go get some fire gummies!" she exclaimed, tugging on his arm.

"All right—" he started, but stopped when a firm hand gripped his shoulder.

"Sorry Kiyi, but we need to borrow him," Noren said seriously.

Zuko scrunched his brows. "Oh, uh, you do?" he asked.

"Well…our tsungi horn player has fallen ill," he explained. "I told him to steer clear of that street meat, but would he listen?" he mumbled to himself.

Zuko knew where this was going, and he didn't like it.

"Anyway, your mother says you can play," Noren continued with a lopsided smile. "So if you don't mind helping a guy out…"

"Zuko! You play the tsungi horn?" Suki exclaimed, eyes bright. "Why didn't you ever tell me?!"

Zuko grimaced. "N-no, I'm not…I mean Noren, look, I would, but I'm really not that good…way out of practice, you know?"

Noren's grin widened. "Ursa told me that if you said that, to say, and I quote, I didn't pay for all those lessons just so he could never perform for anyone."

Zuko's mouth dropped open. Mom… he thought irritably, pursing his lips.

"Oh Zuko, I'd love to hear you play! And they need you," Suki pestered him.

"Come on, Zuzu!" Kiyi chimed in.

Zuko felt a thick bead of sweat drip down his spine. "F-fine!" he stuttered. "Fine. I'll do it. But just this once."

"Perfect!" Noren exclaimed. "We'd better get you all set up, we've only got a few minutes before the next act," he continued, throwing an arm around his shoulder and pulling him along.

Zuko groaned. He'd managed to dodge nearly three years of Uncle's infamous "Music Night" aboard that horrible sea cruiser, yet somehow couldn't worm his way out of this.

I'm the Fire Lord! he thought indignantly. I don't have to do anything I don't want—

"Break a leg, Zuzu!" Kiyi called out behind him. He glanced back to see her and Suki holding hands and waving at him, both grinning ear-to-ear.

He sighed. Spirits. I've gone soft.


Suki's breath caught. It wasn't from Ursa's stunning oration, or the display of colorful lanterns lining the square, or the stars above that stared down quietly at the small village below, though all of them were truly beautiful. What left her breathless, however, were the deep, melancholy notes that floated through the still night air. It felt like something echoing from another place, another time, making her chest swell with emotion.

Is Zuko really playing that?

Suki felt Kiyi's head fall against her shoulder. She chuckled a bit—it looked like the melody had more of a sleep-inducing effect on the little girl than anything else.

There's no way Zuko's this good. He'd have told me! Maybe they found someone else? Suki thought. She raised herself up on tip-toe, but still couldn't see him. Pursing her lips, she squeezed quietly out of the crowded square and slipped along the edge until she could glimpse the side of the stage. There was a small tent set up, a few dim lanterns shining over the small group inside.

As she moved closer, she saw a handful of musicians with a variety of stringed instruments and a very old man posed beside a large golden luo. However, none of them were playing at the moment, the only sound coming from the hooded figure in the corner with a large horn draped around his shoulders and a messy pile of parchment in his lap. His eyes were shadowed, but she'd recognize that sharp jawline anywhere.

I can't believe him. He could have been serenading me every night! Suki thought with mild irritation, though she couldn't stop smiling as he finished the song and the play came to a close. As the crowd's cheers finally gave way, Suki watched as the other musicians stood and crowded around Zuko, slapping him on the back and shaking his hand violently. They must not realize who he is, she grinned, watching Zuko rub the back of his neck as the part of his cheek that was visible turned bright red.

When he finally escaped, he caught sight of her and hurried over. "Quick, let's get out of here," he whispered, lifting Kiyi out of Suki's arms before grabbing her hand and dragging them down a side street.

"W-wait!" Suki cried. "Shouldn't we go tell your mom how well she did—"

"We can tell her when they get back," he said quickly, eyes darting behind them. "And, uh…Kiyi needs to get to bed, right?"

Suki laughed. "Why are you so embarrassed? You were amazing!"

He turned even brighter red. "No, I wasn't…"

"Zuko, you're a terrible liar," she smirked.

He slowed to a stop, pursing his lips as he looked over at her. "Okay, fine. I'm pretty good," he admitted with a crooked smile. "…B-but you can't tell anyone!"

"Why not? You could start music night at the palace!"

"ABSOLUTELY NOT—"

"I bet I could learn to play that big gong, and I think Ty Lee can play the lute…"

Zuko groaned.

"But seriously Zuko," Suki continued quietly, leaning into him. "How can you not enjoy making music like that? I mean…it was just so beautiful. I would love to be able to do that."

His gaze softened a bit, and he appeared to be lost in thought for a moment before a look of realization crossed his face.

"I…I did enjoy it," he confessed, seeming surprised with himself. He sighed, letting his head fall against his chest. "Spirits. Do you know what this means?"

"You've found your calling?" Suki teased.

He chuckled, looking up and smiling in chagrin. "It means…I really am becoming just like my uncle."