Title: Royal Pains
Rating: G
Pairings/Characters: Aang, Zuko, Kuei
Word count: 990
Disclaimer: Avatar: The Last Airbender belongs to the nice folks at Nickelodeon.
Author's note: Originally written for the atlaland WYOPB.
Summary: Who would have thought Zuko and Kuei wouldn't get along?

Aang rubbed a despondent hand across his arrow. He was way too young to be getting stress headaches. The bickering continued around him and he felt an Avatar State-sized temper tantrum building in him. He stood, slamming his hands down on the table.

"Enough!" he shouted.

The Earth King inclined his head graciously, leaning back into his chair with a mild, chagrinned expression. Zuko glared at him, crossing his arms, snarl still on his face. He did shut up, though, so that was a plus. In the middle of the table, directly across from Aang himself, Hakoda and Chief Arnook watched with amusement. Well, actually, Hakoda seemed amused. Arnook seemed interested in a wily sort of way that Aang might be suspicious of if he had the time or energy. Ever since Kuei had made that disastrous deal giving the Northern Water Tribe control of their shipping lanes, Aang had learned to treat Arnook as the kind of man he was – a politician.

It didn't seem like Kuei had actually learned that one, though.

Reining in his anger, Aang turned to him. He gestured with an open hand and asked, "Now, King Kuei, please continue with your proposal."

Kuei straightened. He shuffled the papers before him, repositioning his spectacles before reading out in a rehearsed, formal voice, "In light of the devastation done to Ba Sing Se and surrounding areas, in the interests of the noble people of the Earth Kingdom, I propose remuneration in the form of 3,000 taels, a work force of skilled carpenters and craftsmen to be determined in negotiations, and a sincere, signed apology."

Aang nodded. He turned to Zuko, strained smile on his face. Zuko's eyes flicked to him and back to Kuei, glower fixed on his face. Aang exhaled slowly. Zuko was a friend. He was a friend. It wasn't okay to murder him. That wouldn't help anyone.

"Fire Lord Zuko, how do you respond to this proposal."

Zuko remained silent for a long time. After a long, excruciating wait, he told Kuei directly, "No."

Kuei looked down at his papers and back up. He pouted.

"But I worked on that with you! I think it's entirely reasonable. It's not even that much money!"

"No. I will not pay and you will have neither my apology, nor my people to do work for you," Zuko spat out. He stood, hands clenched at his side.

"But—"

Zuko turned, stalking out of the room. Kuei looked pleadingly to Aang. He slapped a hand over his face, counting backwards from a million before following Zuko out.

He found Zuko in the garden, near the turtleduck pond. He was turned with his back to Aang, eyes set over the palace walls where construction was still ongoing.

"Zuko," Aang started carefully. "I think you need to go back in there. What's the big deal? He's not asking for that much."

Zuko didn't reply; his back tensed and smoke seeped from between his fingers.

"Zuko—"

"No," he replied, voice clipped. "We don't owe him anything. His city fell on his watch. In fact, it was brought down by his own people. We are the ones who restored it to him. Honestly, he should repay us."

Aang stared at Zuko.

"Seriously?" he shouted. "You seriously just went there? Do you remember what you did in Ba Sing Se?"

Zuko turned in place. He looked entirely prepared to fight – with fists or fire.

"Is it the crown? Is that why you're such an asshole?" Aang continued, voice going high in his anger.

Zuko blinked in shock.

"Did you just call me an asshole?"

"I did! Because you are!"

"What about him?" Zuko asked. He flung out an arm, pointing back at the palace. "He's ready to give up everything just to be liked. He has no idea what his people need. Where was he when Ba Sing Se fell? When it was recaptured? Why should we trust someone who won't even fight for his people?"

Aang held up a hand, squinting at Zuko in confusion.

"Wait, what? You don't want to pay because you think… it's too little?"

"Of course it's too little," Zuko said explosively. "Three thousand taels is pocket change!"

"So why are you…?"

"To get him to fight! He can't count on me to just do the right thing for his people all the time. I have my own country. Look at Chief Arnook! He takes care of the Water Tribe first and Kuei is so dumb he let Arnook take advantage of him."

"Oh."

That was actually a fair point. Aang's shoulders slumped and he breathed out heavily, heart finding its rhythm as calm reasserted itself. Kuei did really do whatever he thought would make the others happy. He did never pressed for reparations that Zuko didn't want to pay and he'd barely even asked for his city back from the Provisional Council of the White Lotus that ruled in his absence. Aang dropped down to sit next to the pond. He held out a hand and a turtleduck came to nibble at it. He looked back at Zuko ruefully.

"You know, I thought this would be the easy part."

"Peace is never easy," Zuko replied quickly.

"Yeah, but," Aang shrugged. "I thought you two would at least get along. You have so much in common."

"We what?"

"He traveled in the Earth Kingdom, you traveled in the Earth Kingdom. He's got Bosco, you've got General Iroh," Aang said. Zuko made a face. "Plus, you're both royalty."

Zuko glared at him.

"I'm going back in there. And if you don't want me to give him something else in common with me," Zuko said nastily, pointing to his scar. "Then I suggest you come along, and get Kuei to be less useless."

Aang scrambled to his feet.

Times like this, he really wished King Bumi were here to mediate. He and Zuko would probably really get along.