DISCLAIMER: I don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender, nor am I in any way affiliated with Michael Dante DiMartino or Bryan Konietzko. This story is purely fan-made.


Zuko was the one to pull away first.

He didn't know why. Practically everything inside him was screaming for him to stay close to her, because this would probably be the only chance he'd get.

But it wasn't right. It wasn't how he'd wanted them to share their first kiss, with her still somebody else's girl.

Even so, no one could ever take away the fact that she had kissed him. He had a feeling that, whoever Katara chose to be with, he would cherish the thought.

"I'm sorry," Katara murmured, her gaze dropping to the ground as a blush heated up her cheeks. "I shouldn't have - I'm sorry." She stepped back, further into the shadows of the tree.

Zuko didn't know what to say. Should he brush off her apology and kiss her again, or agree with her or and walk away?

"You need to figure out what you're doing with Aang," he said. Aware that his voice had come out a little too gruffly, he cleared his throat and tried again. "I mean, I'm not comfortable being with you while you're with someone else. I'm not like that."

"And you think I am?" Katara asked, looking up at him furiously as her guilt faded. "I didn't exactly plan this!"

Zuko held up both hands in a 'don't kill me' gesture. "I know you didn't. I just meant that we shouldn't even be here-"

"Well, if you hadn't stormed off, I wouldn't have had to come after you!"

"-when I have the future of my Nation to work out," Zuko finished, lowering his hands with a scowl. The weighty truth of his words dawned on him, and he shook his head slowly as his voice turned faint with disbelief. "They'll take my throne from me."

"They won't," Katara promised, the anger she still felt at herself injecting harshness into her voice. She cleared her throat and tried to focus on Zuko's problem. "They won't," she repeated, softer this time.

"I need to talk to Uncle," Zuko said through numb lips.

As he turned and walked away without a word, Katara wondered if she should attack him again or if she should just allow him to come to terms with the situation by himself. She couldn't leave him by himself, that much was clear. Despite their brief…distraction, at any moment Zuko would lose his temper again. Katara just hoped that she wouldn't find herself weak enough to provide him with another distraction.

She followed him wordlessly out of the courtyard. He turned around once to acknowledged her presence, before facing forwards again and striding ahead.

The nearly collided with Sokka and Suki at the door back into the palace, and Katara felt a deep thankfulness that they hadn't entered the courtyard about a minute ago. That sight would've been difficult to explain.

"Hey, Zuko, are you-" Sokka began, raising a hand to clap his friend on the arm.

Zuko brushed past him without a word. Katara shot Sokka a look, expecting her brother to comment on the Fire Lord's rudeness. But the Water Tribe warrior just sighed and nodded.

"Yeah, I didn't think so."

"He's not doing so great," Katara said unnecessarily, watching Zuko's retreating figure. "I just want to keep an eye on him, make sure he doesn't blow anything up before he reaches the Dragon."

"Because a calming pot of tea is what he needs right now?" Sokka asked, confused.

"Because that's where Iroh is," Katara answered, frowning at her brother. "Sometimes I don't understand how we're related."

"Oh, like you're so smart?" Sokka's voice had a few octaves higher than was natural for a boy his age. "Remember when you-"

"Uh, guys?"

The siblings stopped their quarrel to look at Suki, who was pointing down the corridor. They turned just in time to see Zuko disappear from view.

"He left," she continued sheepishly.

Katara cursed under her breath. "See you back at the house?"

She didn't wait for a response, jogging off to catch up with someone who, in all honesty, was the last person she wanted to see. He confused her, made her test her loyalties, infuriated her…but she cared about him, and at the end of the day that overruled everything else.


Zuko knew that Katara was following him. She didn't try to keep it hidden, just like she didn't try to talk to him. Did she regret their kiss? Was it all an experiment on her part, just to see what she could've had? Would she go running back to her boyfriend the moment he returned?

The questions, coupled with ones about his future as Fire Lord, were too much. He shoved open every set of doors he came to until he found himself outside. The sun beat down on him, but he didn't take comfort from it. His natural element seemed to be mocking him, taunting him about everything he stood to lose.

The carriage that would take him to the Dragon came into view, and Zuko deliberated whether he should take it or just carry on walking. Then again, he was conspicuous enough without the ceremonial robes he still wore and the carriage would get him to his destination faster than if he walked…

"Fire Lord Zuko," the driver acknowledged, bowing deeply. By the time he had risen, he had to add on, "Lady Katara."

Zuko almost groaned. Of course Katara would want to accompany him in the carriage, but for Zuko it was just another load on his mind that he could do without.

"I want to travel by myself," he told Katara bluntly as she came to a stop behind him. He quickly turned away from her to climb up into the carriage, avoiding the hurt look he knew he'd see in her eyes if he didn't.

He couldn't escape from the painful confusion in her tone, though, when she asked, "You want to…?"

"Travel alone," Zuko clarified, taking a seat and looking down at her from out of the window. "I'll see you later."

Katara stood around uncertainly, moving only when the driver gave her an apologetic smile and positioned himself to drive away without her.

"See you then," she murmured, turning and walking out of the gates.

She was trying to hard not to be selfish, but she couldn't help feel a little bit rejected. Of course Zuko was right to put his future before her, but would at least a little bit of discussion about the kiss they'd shared kill him? Probably not. No, strike that. Definitely not. Because her future was at stake here too. He'd indicated his feelings but until Katara knew for sure that what he felt for her was real, she had no intention of breaking Aang's heart.

She wiped at the tears that were gathering in the corners of her eyes. She didn't like the person she was becoming, the one who toyed with hearts like they were the strings of puppets. She was ashamed of herself, and what was worse, she was sure that her friends and family would be ashamed of her too.


"We'll organise a ship home immediately," Iroh said once he had heard the recent turn of events.

Zuko deflated and ran an agitated hand through his hair. He had been hoping for his uncle to laugh off his worries with an assurance that the Earth King couldn't do anything of the sort, then maybe giving him a small cake and sending him on his way.

It had been a little too optimistic, Zuko decided as he watched Iroh scowl into the pot of tea he was filling.

"I don't understand why the Earth King would have any power in a Nation he doesn't rule," Zuko said, voicing the thought that had been circling in his head for an hour.

"Ordinarily, he wouldn't," Iroh said gravely, focusing his energies on heating up the tea. "In any other circumstances he would organise a meeting with the Fire Nation Council, who would listen before politely rejecting his ideas." Steam rose from the teapot. Iroh placed two small cups down on the counter. "But with tensions between the Nations still so high, there's a chance that the Council will agree to whatever the Earth King suggests just to keep the peace."

"Katara said that it doesn't matter if the Earth King signs the peace treaty or not, because other cities in the Earth Kingdom will regardless," Zuko said, but for some reason the point didn't seem as valid now as it had in the meeting.

"Some cities may be loyal to the Avatar," Iroh said after a careful pause, "but many more are loyal to their Nation, and as the capital, Ba Sing Se holds a lot of influence. Unless cities have their own monarchs, like King Bumi of Omashu, it is likely that where Ba Sing Se treads, they will follow." He sighed heavily and poured out the tea. The splash as it hit the bottom of the cup was the only noise in the kitchen until Iroh spoke again. "There is not much point in a peace treaty that excludes the largest Nation."

"This isn't fair," Zuko snarled softly. "I thought all the obstacles would disappear with the defeat of Ozai, but there's always something."

"Yes, and there always will be something." Iroh offered a cup to his nephew, who refused it with a shake of his head. "Sometimes life is about overcoming one obstacle after another, with little time to reap the benefits. If you find you cannot handle that, maybe you should consider the Earth King's proposal. There has never been a more difficult time to be Fire Lord and I fear you won't have time to relax at all in the coming months and years." Iroh watched Zuko closely, gauging the impact his words were having.

"I was born to be Fire Lord," Zuko said, scowling.

"So was I," Iroh pointed out, taking a sip of his tea. "Circumstances change."

Zuko's anger faded, and his eyes widened with hurt, which he quickly tried to mask.

"Uncle, do you not want me to be Fire Lord?" His tone, which had meant to come out as accusing, was wounded.

"All I want, all I have ever wanted, is your happiness." Iroh held Zuko's gaze. "If you wish to be Fire Lord, I will support you and fight anyone who tries to take it away. But I feel that I must point out that this could be your only opportunity to take a step back from ruling the Nation, even if it's just for a few years. You have had such a difficult life, and if you throw yourself into ruling the Nation then you will find what is left of your youth slip away. You deserve a rest." He smiled sadly. "A man needs his rest."

Zuko nodded, not trusting himself to speak. He had been given too much to think about in one day, and his head threatened to explode under the pressure of a decision that would change the lives of thousands of people.

He picked up the cup he had previously declined and swirled it around gently, watching the tea come dangerously close to spilling. Once he tired of that, he lifted the cup to his lips and downed the liquid inside. It burned down his throat.

"How long do I have to decide?" he asked, once the residue of tea leaves had gone.

"As long as you need," Iroh said, a determined look stuck firmly in his eyes. "I will ensure the Earth King holds off until you feel you're ready."

Zuko nodded again. He should be grateful, but all he felt was confusion and an overwhelming fear of how a single decision could cause another outbreak of war.

"I should've stayed in bed this morning," he groaned after a moment.

Iroh looked sheepish. "I believe you woke up at the Avatar's house this morning."

Had that really only been this morning? It was almost unbelievable.

"Which I still wish to discuss with you, by the way," Iroh continued, adopting a stern look. "I don't approve of you spending the night with Katara-"

"It wasn't like that," Zuko cut across quickly. "I mean, yes, we slept together," he winced at how that had sounded, "no, that isn't what I mean. We fell asleep together, and that's all that happened. I would never...not while Aang's still...as if things aren't already awkward enough now…" he realized he was rambling and shut up. He massaged his aching temples. "Can we go back to talking about politics?"

"We could," Iroh said, devilish grin in place, "but it's more amusing watching you squirm."

"And you say you have my best interests at heart," Zuko grumbled, but he smiled. "Thank you, Uncle." A wave of fatigue washed over him and he stifled a yawn. "I'm going for a lie down."

"Don't forget, you need to dress smartly for dinner tonight," Iroh said, turning back to the teapots.

"I don't need reminding, Uncle," Zuko said with a sigh, before instantly realizing that he didn't know where they were dining that night. "Although just to be awkward let's say I didn't remember where we're going."

Iroh gave his nephew a wry smile. "It's a small restaurant called The Stuffed Bear, located in the Middle Ring. We passed it once or twice when we lived in the City, I believe."

"Weird name for a restaurant," Zuko mused. "Just 'Bear'? Not 'Armadillo-Bear' or 'Skunk-Bear'?"

"Just 'Bear,'" Iroh confirmed. "The owners were kind enough to offer an invitation, which it seemed a good idea to accept given that we could very soon be needing allies. Now go and get some sleep."

"If we need allies, I doubt two middle-ring citizens would be much help," Zuko muttered as he left the kitchen.

"Don't underestimate those willing to help you," Iroh said quietly, draining his cup of tea and pouring himself another.


Zuko didn't sleep. He lay on his bed, unable to get comfortable, for what seemed like hours. The ceiling had three cracks in it and the paint was uneven in places. If he tilted his head one way, the dry bubbles of the paint looked like craters of the moon. If he tilted his head the other way…he would smack it into the wall.

"Ouch," he muttered, rubbing the sore spot.

The headache that resulted was almost blinding. Zuko was certain that, if he could just clear his thoughts, the pain would cease. He tried meditation, but the candles flared irrationally and, rather than set the room on fire, he decided to just ask his uncle for some more tea. He was bound to have something that would soothe his pounding head.

"Uncle?" he called as he descended the stairs. "Uncle, I need some tea!"

"As much as I've longed for the day you'd say that, we have company," Iroh replied, the grave note in his voice causing Zuko's stomach to plummet.

"What is it? What's wrong?" he demanded, rounding the corner and almost colliding with someone.

He quickly righted himself and, before acknowledging the other person's presence, checked on his uncle. Iroh gave his nephew a swift, reassuring nod before clearing his throat.

"I'll leave the two of you alone," he said. "Nice to see you, Sokka."

"You too," Sokka answered, giving the older man a strained smile.

Zuko watched his uncle leave with more than a hint of confusion. Was Sokka here to deliver bad news?

"Is Katara alright?" Zuko asked, voicing the first worry to come into his mind.

"She's fine," Sokka said, frowning at Zuko's unusually sharp tone. "She's what I came here to talk about, actually." The warrior folded his arms across his chest in an act that, had Zuko been brought up differently, he would've recognized as an indication of the brotherly protection Sokka felt for Katara. "She came home just now in some sort of daze…wouldn't tell us where she'd been or why she'd been crying, so I'm to guess it has something to do with you, since you're the one who saw her last."

Zuko shifted uncomfortably. "Sokka, I didn't mean to-"

"But you did anyway," Sokka cut him off with a raised hand. "I don't know what's going on with you two, but you need to back off. She's with someone else, and he makes her happy."

"You don't know that!" Zuko argued, inadvertently admitting that he wasn't completely innocent.

Sokka raised an eyebrow. "So it's true."

His voice was calm and steady, but Zuko knew that he was anything but unruffled. The Water Tribe siblings shared the same dangerous look in their eyes when they were angry. Before Zuko could say anything, Sokka took a step forward and, in an admittedly brave move, squared up to the Fire Lord.

"Stay away from my sister."


A/N:

Hello, hope you all enjoyed. Sorry it's a little late, everything's a bit up in the air at the moment. What made Sokka react the way he did? Find out next chapter. Also, a Toph and Aang update.

Thank you for your reviews, I'm sorry I couldn't get back to all of you.

Question six: what books are you reading at the moment?

Have a good next couple of weeks, guys!

- Momo