To say Zuko hurt was like saying a lava flow was a bit tepid. From the tips of his hair down to the bottoms of his feet every inch of him felt as if he'd been beaten by bags of wet sand. It was a dull bruising ache, but it was persistent and made any movement on his part excruciating. Even breathing hurt, and yet he felt an odd sense of peace surrounding him. Maybe he was dying and this was what if felt like. If it was, Zuko decided that it could have been a lot worst.

Slowly Zuko felt a new sensation, like the feel of a soft cooling rain over his skin. It started somewhere around his temples, and moved down his face to his neck like the hesitant caress of a new lover. He might have opened his eyes but something told him if he did the touch would stop.

He really didn't want it to stop, it felt too good, and everywhere the gentle caress passed the ache seemed to lessen then disappear. As the sensation moved over his shoulders and down his chest, a sigh pleasure was drawn from his lips. For a moment the cooling movements halted and Zuko wanted to beg the sensation to keep going.

アエ 父の日 恋仲

Katara looked down at the firebender she was trying to heal. His eyes were closed like he was asleep, but she could have sworn she'd heard him say something. "Zuko?"

The prince seemed to be frowning, but other than that no other sound or movement came from him. So Katara continued her work, slowly bending clean water over the boy's body. This was only the second time she'd worked on healing the damage done by the poison that had gotten into his blood, but already she could tell he was getting better. As she moved her hands over his exposed chest she could feel his breathing ease and his heart beat in a steadier rhythm.

Zuko was lucky; if it had not been her that was with him, if it wasn't Iroh that had found them. If any one piece of fait had gone any differently, he most assuredly would not be with them any longer. Katara shook her head as she remembered how it had taken nearly everything she had to keep his heart going as she tried to prevent the poison from spreading further into his system.

She had truly thought he was going to die, and despite everything she'd said or done the last few weeks it had scared her. Katara may not completely trust him, but Zuko was a part of their team now. Being a part of the team meant being a part of the family, and family was everything to Katara it always had been. Moving her hands in slow circular motions over his wounded side she tried to release the negative energy she felt there and she told him as much.

"You frightened the heck out of all of us with this little almost dying stunt. There are people, a lot of people, who are counting on you; who need you around. There would have been no way Aang would have ever gotten this far in his firebending without you." Katara said tears sliding into her ocean blue eyes. "You're a jerk and I'm still mad at you, but that doesn't mean you can just up a die on me. Plus it's just rude to make people who care about you worry like that."

"Oh Katara, I didn't know you felt that way about me."

Katara jumped at the sound of Zuko's teasingly soft voice, the water she'd been working with nearly falling before she returned it to the urn next to her. She felt heat rise into her cheeks as she looked over to see Zuko's golden eyes open and smiling at her. "You've been awake this whole time?"

"Not the whole time." Zuko admitted truthfully; he'd been aware enough of her touch but that didn't mean he'd been awake. Actually he'd only just become conscious enough to hear the very last bit of what she'd said but he let his smile grow allowing her think what she would.

"You're a jerk."

"You said that." Zuko half chuckled as he tried to sit up but his side and head screamed in protest. He grunted painfully as he fell back on the mattress he was lying on and closed his eyes to stop the room from spinning.

"Idiot," Katara grumbled as she bent some water on her hand and laid it over his wrinkled brow. "Just because you might not feel it doesn't mean you're not hurt."

"Apparently." Zuko said as the pain in his head eased back from her touch. Opening his eyes he watched her for a moment. "Thank you."

Katara blushed a little and turned away the young man's gaze under the guise of cleaning up her healing supplies. "It's kind of my thing."

"That's not what I meant Katara."

Katara glanced back at the golden eyed boy and nodded. "I know."

While the waterbender cleared up Zuko took a moment to look at his surroundings. "So where are we?"

"What all do you remember?" Katara came back to stand next to him.

Zuko thought about it for a minute, and frowned. "I remember being attacked and getting hit. Then I remember us running away, I pulled us down some alley and stopped because I wasn't feeling well; but everything after is a blur."

Katara nodded understandingly. "The knife was poisoned and you past out just after we stopped running. I pulled you into the closest building and started to heal you. You were lucky."

Zuko scoffed as he shook his head. "Lucky would have been not needed you to heal me in the first place, but I won't argue the point with you."

"You really aren't feeling good are you?" Katara frowned at him bending down as if to check him for a fever.

Actually she probably was but it was still comical and Zuko gave into the urge to laugh. It was a rich sound that made Katara smile in return. "I feel a lot better than I did, but you didn't tell me how we got here or even where here is yet."

"Well we met someone else from your past and they brought us to this boarding house so I could take care of you better." Katara smile turn mischievous at the look of total confusion on the young man's face. "I think it would be better if I just went and got them. Wait here."

Zuko rolled his eyes at the girl, "Where would I go?"

Katara shrugged as she turned and left the room. Zuko followed her movements as well as he could from his lying position. While his curiosity yelled at him to get up and follow the waterbender, his body screamed a little louder so he remained in bed. Thankfully he didn't have to wait long as the sounds of footfalls drew the mystery person from his past into his line of sight.

Iroh's whiskey eyes danced happily as shocked recognition filled his son's face. "Lady Katara says that you all have been looking for me."

"Uncle Iroh." Zuko made a move to get up but never got the chance as a whirlwind came swirling into the room and landed directly on top of him.

"Zuko your awake!" Aang gave the firebender's neck a quick squeeze before setting back and talking as fast as he could. "Man you had us all scared there for a minute buddy. When Kazuya, he is a member of the White Lotus just like your Uncle, and guess what they were in town looking for us too. Neat huh? Any way when he, Kazuya that is, first brought us here we where real surprised to find you and Katara."

"Aang." Zuko head swam trying to keep up with what the little airbender was saying but his attempt to cut him off failed.

"You were unconscious then, and Katara said you'd been poisoned by that girl that throws the daggers, you know the one that hangs out with your sister. Oh yeah I ran into Azula in the village today too and we fought, let me tell you she was surprised when I used firebending. Still Katara said that she wasn't sure she was going to be able to save you, and that really freaked us out."

"Aang." Zuko tried again to break the Avatar's rant but once more the boy went on undaunted.

"But Toph said there was no way you were going to die because she hadn't gotten a chance to pay you back for burning her feet. Sokka just said that you were too stubborn…"

Zuko turned pleading eyes to the only other two people in the room for help. Katara only smiled but Iroh took pity on his son a moved forward to lay a hand on the little Avatar's shoulder. "I think that is enough for now young Avatar."

"Huh?" Aang turned around to look up at the man who touched him. Iroh's whiskey eyes frowned at him before looking to Zuko then back. Aang followed the older man's pointed look and nodded. "Oh sorry about that Zuko, I guess you are probably still tired huh? I am just really glad you are okay."

Zuko smiled at the boy's sincerity; the fact that not so long ago the Avatar and his group wouldn't have thought twice about his near death experience made it even more touching. "It's alright Aang, but maybe we can talk about it later?"

"Yeah sure, no problem." Aang sprang off the bed and grabbed Katara's hand to pull her from the room. "Come on Katara, I bet Zuko and his uncle have a lot to talk about."

Zuko almost chuckled at the way Aang made it sound like it was Katara who had flown in unannounced and interrupted the family reunion. Then turning to face Iroh, he almost felt the urge to call Aang back, thinking perhaps the boy's rapid fire story telling wasn't so bad after all. It wasn't that he didn't want, or need to talk to his uncle he just suddenly didn't know what to say.

Iroh looked down at his son's questioning golden stare and found his throat had gone dry. What was wrong with him? He'd never had trouble talking to Zuko before and yet there he was completely tongue tied. It wasn't like Iroh wasn't glad to see the boy, having him with him again made him happier than he could ever hope to explain, but still.

Iroh cleared his throat and looked away, grasping at anything to break the tension that suddenly made the room feel too small. "So, is the Avatar always that excitable?"

Zuko frowned; he didn't want to talk about Aang right now, he wanted to talk about them. He wanted to explain, to apologize, to somehow make it right between them again, but at the moment he just took it as a good sign that his uncle was talking to him at all. "No, sometimes he's worst."

Iroh turned to the boy with a look of mock horror on his face and Zuko couldn't help the small laugh that escaped him. Iroh blinked at hearing his son's genuine laugh, it was a sound that had been missing in the older man's life for a very long time. It surprised him even as it drew an approving smile over his clean a flawless features. "He has been a good influence on you it seems."

Zuko blushed but didn't look away as he nodded. "He is a good kid; I'm teaching him firebending, but I think I've learned more from him then he ever will from me."

"That is often the way, a wise master knows there is always more to learn." Iroh reached down and brushed Zuko's long bangs back from his forehead. He half expecting the boy to push his hand away, but instead Zuko turned into his touch.

Zuko closed his eyes as he let himself enjoy the nearly forgotten feel of his uncle's caress. Ever since he was a small boy Zuko had found comfort in having his hair stroked. Just a simple meaningless touch that had the power to sooth a child's worries by telling him he was not alone.

It was his uncle's hand over his hair that had expelled the nightmares that plagued him after his mother had disappeared. It was his uncle's steady touch that quieted his frightened sobs on the first nights of his banishment. Opening his eyes Zuko met the steadfast whiskey gaze that always seemed to be watching over him.

All the bad things he'd done in his life Uncle Iroh had stood by him, always believed in him. Zuko just couldn't understand it, if anyone in this world should reject him it was this man and yet here he was gently petting his hair. Zuko wanted to understand, "Why are you here?"

Iroh jerked back from his son like he'd been hit. Then without a word to the boy turned to leave. It was only after seeing the older man's reaction Zuko realized what he'd said and how it must have sounded. "Wait Uncle Iroh no."

Jumping up he pushed past the pain that erupted through him as he reached for Iroh's arm but missed. His legs were too weak to support his full weight yet and they gave out on him, sending him crashing to the floor. Even on his hands and knees he called out to his uncle. "That's not what I meant. Please don't leave me Uncle."

Iroh spun around at the sound of Zuko falling. Even without the boy's desperate cries for him not to leave Iroh couldn't have walked away from the boy like that. Before Zuko had finished speaking Iroh was at his side, pulling his injured son into his arms. "Zuko what are you thinking, you're going to hurt yourself."

"I don't care, I couldn't let you go." Zuko said his arms going around the older man's waist like the frightened child he suddenly turned into. "Please, don't go. I'm sorry, I didn't mean it. I didn't mean any of it, please. I'm sorry."

Iroh's heart twisted painfully as he heard the tears in his son's voice and felt the way he clung to him. It had been years since Iroh had seen Zuko cry, even longer since he'd done so openly. Gently the older man lifted the boy up and put him back in bed. Zuko whimpered wordlessly, his arms drawing tighter, when he thought Iroh was going to leave him.

"I'm not going anywhere Zuko," Iroh said in his most soothing voice as he returned to petting the boy's hair. "I give you my word, I won't leave you."

Zuko sniffed back on the tears that seemed to have no end. "I screwed up. I hurt you, and I don't even know why I did it. You're always right there for me, always with me through everything. All you've ever asked of me was that I do my best, but I'm always screwing it up. I can't even apologize to you properly."

"Shh Zuko. Don't worry about that now." Iroh said as he gently pulled out of the boy's embrace and laid him on the bed. When Zuko reached for his hand Iroh gladly gave it to him; feeling just as much need for the small physical connection as his son. "You need to calm down Zuko; your body has been through a lot today. You need to rest and heal."

"I can't, not until you say you forgive me." Zuko said even as he felt his limps growing heavy with fatigue. "Please Uncle Iroh; I'll do anything you want me to, I know I can't make what I did to you right, but there has to be something I can do so you can forgive me."

Iroh smiled down at his son's eyes, for the last three years Zuko had hidden his true thoughts and feelings behind an angry gaze, but he wasn't hiding anything now. Iroh saw everything, the uncertainty and regret mixing with the deep love only family could share. "There is nothing for you to do, because truthfully Zuko I forgave you months ago. In some ways I'd forgiven you even before you acted. We're family Zuko, I will always forgive you."

Zuko smiled then, his tears finally slowing. "May I ask you for a favor?"

Iroh's brow rose in question but his smile remained. "What is it?"

Zuko bit his bottom lip as he tried to decide how best to word what he was about to ask. "Just before I left the palace, I confronted the Fire Lord. I told him the truth, I told him what I thought of the war and how I was going to help the Avatar beat him."

"That's good Zuko." Iroh said comfortingly, he knew his son was wearing down but he could see the flash of determination once more in Zuko's golden orbs.

"There's more, Ozai made a snide comment about you getting to me, and at that moment I realized how right he was. I realized that while I'd spent the last three years searching for my father's love and approval, I already had it."

Iroh felt his heart stop, was it possible that Zuko actually knew the truth. No, there was no way, but he could hope. "What are you saying?"

"You told me once that you thought of me as your son." Iroh nodded but could find his voice. Zuko didn't seem to mind though as he continued without pause. "I know I'm never going to be like Lu Ten and I wouldn't try to replace him even if I could. I was just hoping that, if you still felt that way about me, maybe you would allow me the honor of calling you Father?"

The last of Zuko's words came out on a rush of expelled breath and nerves. Iroh could see a dark shadow of fear just under the golden surface of the boy's pleading eyes; it was the fear of being rejected and seeing it in the gentle eyes of his son made Iroh's heart twist. As such he let his truest feelings fill his own eyes and face as he answered his son. "I have wanted little else in this world more or longer then you could possibly know."

Zuko smiled, as he let out the breath he'd only just realized he'd been holding. "I love you Father."

Iroh scooped Zuko up into his arms hugging him as tightly as he dared. So the boy didn't know the full truth but hearing those simple words from his mouth would be enough for now. There would be time later, time when Zuko wasn't trying to hold back a yawn, to discuss everything else in detail.

Laying the suddenly very tired looking boy back down Iroh smiled happily. "I love you too, my Son, but you should get some sleep; you're going to need all the energy you can get in the next few weeks."

"I swear I'm going to make you proud of me." Zuko said as he fought another yawn.

"I'm already proud of you." Iroh shook his head at the boy, trying to make him understand he spoke nothing but the truth. "My sons have, and will always make me proud. But rest now, and when you wake up I'll have a surprise for you."

"Okay Dad." Zuko said and nothing had ever felt so right before. While he wondered what his father meant by a surprise, he didn't let himself worry about it because he knew if it came from Iroh it would be something good. Zuko gingerly rolled onto his uninjured side, and smiled. "Good night."

"Pleasant dreams Son." Iroh said as he nodded his head sympathetically and stood up, waiting until the boy closed his eyes before walking out the door to let Zuko sleep.