A/N:
I promised Zuko and Zhiar this week and the Zuko and Zhiar is what you'll be getting! Part 1 of their arc! Enjoy!
Chapter 38 ⅓:
The Next Five Years in the Fire Nation
Year One…
The meeting had just finished wrapping up and Fire Lord Zuko was in anything but a good mood. On top of learning of his father backstabbing Katara and her being thrown into prison for an affair they both committed, he finds his younger brother at the steps of the palace begging for the guards to let him in. When they finally brought his brother to him, Zhiar told him everything and how after his mother was taken away, his father told him and Kya to come here. However; Kya refused to leave and decided to stay in Omashu but Zhiar thought it best to come here.
During the meeting they discuss the matter of his brother, who was named heir to the throne by their father before his fall from the throne. Zuko told them that Zhiar would be reinstated as a Fire Prince as he was born of the Yong Dynasty. They told him to reconsider but Zuko was set on it. Zhiar would be Fire Prince as simple as that.
Leaving the meeting, Zuko met up with his brother, who stood in the halls pacing back and forth. He placed his hand down on his brother's shoulder and pulled him into a warm hug. He had been shaking and out of sorts since he showed up. Whatever happened can't have been good. It made him worry for Kya.
Embracing his brother, "It's okay, Zhiar, you're home." He told him.
Later that night, Zuko was staring at himself in the bathroom mirror after bathing. His head was killing him from all the stress. He felt so guilty for what happened but also unremorseful for what he did to his father. That bastard deserved far worse. Getting sick again from remembering what he did to Katara, Zuko went and threw up as the image played in his head. Agni, he didn't mean to hurt her. He didn't mean to hurt her. It wasn't her fault.
The Fire Lord found himself being woken up off the floor by Tomoe. She had Ryu in her arms as she stood over him, staring in concern.
"Your majesty, are you well?" She asked.
Picking himself up, Zuko nodded as he wiped his mouth and stumbled over to the sink. "Yes, sorry. I had a lot to drink last night."
"You haven't touched a single bottle in your cabinet for weeks." Tomoe raised a brow as she continued holding Ryu in her arms.
Chuckling as he turned to take his son from her, "If I needed someone to do a personal investigation on me I would have married a long time ago." Zuko told her.
"And perhaps, you should. I understand you have an heir and now your brother. But that won't make these noblemen stop forcing their daughters on you." Tomoe told him as she followed after him.
Heading into his study, "And marriage won't stop them either. They'll just force their daughters on me to make them concubines and consorts. Anything to say they are in favor of the Fire Lord." he retorted bitterly. "I don't trust them or their daughters and if I'm going to marry ever...I need to trust her."
Tomoe sighed as she stood in front of the Fire Lord's desk and watched as he sat in the chair to rock his son back and forth while reading over some of his work at the same time. Honestly, if she didn't think the Fire Lord was such a wonderful man behind closed doors, she would push him harder to marry soon. But someone like him, someone like him could wait. Not just because he had all the time in the world but because someone special was rare and it took time for them to come around. The Fire Lord needed someone special.
"What's my schedule for today?" Zuko asked her.
Seemed he didn't have much of a schedule today. Just an early morning meeting and desk work. This was good since he wanted to check on his younger brother to see how he was doing. He looked completely out of it yesterday and no doubt is having a hard time processing all of this. So he would be quick to get his work done for the day and then head to the other side of the inner sanctum to see his brother.
Zhiar was staring at the turtle-duck pond that his mother used to play with him and Kya by. He forgot that their lives had begun here in this very palace. This is where their mother raised them. Where Zuko was always there to help her when their mother needed it. He wished Zuko was there when their father betrayed their mother. He knew Zuko would never let Arnook take her off to prison. Zuko wouldn't have let any of that stuff happen.
Furrowing his brows at the turtles-ducks following their mother to the pond, Zhiar heard his name and looked up from them. He saw his older brother making his way over to him with Ryu in one arm and that servant, Tomeo, just barely keeping up with his large strides.
Standing up to greet his brother, Zhiar bowed his head. "Your majesty."
"Stop, you're a prince now and I've never asked you to bow, Zhiar." Zuko said with a smile.
Tomoe came around and placed a tray of snacks on the stone outdoor table for them as Zuko gestured to his brother to sit down.
Sitting down, Zuko wanted Zhiar to once again recall to him what happened after he left but his brother didn't seem to want to.
"You said your mother and Arnook confirmed it was father they saw that night but your grandfather and uncle told you that father was with them." Zuko seemed a little confused by this. How could his father be in more than one place at once? And Sokka and Hakoda wouldn't lie about Ozai's whereabouts. But Zhiar said that his mother was convinced without a doubt that their father had not only cheated on her but killed the princess. The guards locked her in a cell because she attacked their father and their father accused Katara of killing Princess Kikyo after finding them together. None of this made any sense.
Rubbing his temples, Zhiar shook his head. "I don't know who to believe. My mother looked heartbroken. More than I've ever seen her and she was angry, more than I have ever known her to be capable. So I know she must have been telling the truth. She wouldn't lie about that sort of thing. You know that Zuko."
"Of course."
"But dad...he looked devastated when she threw the ring at him. I'm not even mad at him anymore. I honestly don't think he did it. Dad went out of his way to avoid that princess. Even Kya saw it. Plus, Uncle Sokka said that him and a few council members were with dad and he was passed out in the bathtub."
Furrowing his brows, Zuko listened to his brother tell him that he didn't believe his father was responsible but he did believe his mother thought it was him. He didn't know how or why but he felt someone set them up. Everyone on both sides were convinced that night. And both his parents were hurt.
"You think this was a setup?" Zuko asked.
"Yes," Zhiar told him. "I think someone wanted to kill Princess Kikyo or at least tie mom to the killing as well as separate mom and dad."
Eyeing his brother, Zuko knew that given the fact that Zhiar didn't care for their father but was claiming he didn't buy into the accusation that their father betrayed their mother, that there was validity to this. They were still supposed to be on alert for Lao and his people. Maybe this was them.
And to add more proof to this idea of his, Zhiar showed something that Kya had found and gave him. A fox mask.
Zuko studied the mask as he furrowed his brows. This definitely didn't look right. Flipping the mask over, he saw the characters of what looked to be someone's name.
"Atsou Matsumo." The name felt like a question rather than an answer to anything. Who the hell was Atsou?
…
Deciding to move forward from the things that had taken place with their family, Zuko told Zhiar that he would resume his formal education but be taught by different instructors from around the world to broaden his view of the world. This seemed to sit well with the young Fire Prince as he told Zuko he wanted to be useful to him. Do his part to earn the title Fire Prince. And of course, Zuko obliged him.
While Zhiar focused on his studies and trained to be of use to the Fire Lord, the Fire Lord himself was busy trying to get some sort of word to Kya and Omashu. But there was no luck. Seemed either Kya didn't want to talk or she hadn't gotten his letters. The latter might be the case. Him and Kya always had a good relationship. She was the only one of his siblings he had never fallen out with but that had to do with her being the most level-headed of his family. The balanced one out of all the temperamental and emotional members of them.
Even though he knew it was in vain, Zuko continued writing Kya and trying to reach out to her. He tried using the flames to contact her but his father might have interfered with him being able to see Omashu through his flames. He remembered that's what his father did when he and Katara were away. Eventually, Zuko could take it no more and took to the skies, heading for Omashu himself.
Arriving there, Zuko noticed things were very different. Originally, his father had decided to leave the green colors of the Earth Kingdom on the city, adding just a few touches of his own. But now, the green had all been painted over with a red peacey tan color. And the Earth Kingdom insignia had been changed to a phoenix. At the moment, it looked like alterations to the palace and many of the buildings in the city were being made. His father must have wanted the changes made to set himself apart from the rest of the Earth Kingdom.
Shifting into his human form, the Fire Lord was not surprised to be met by his father, who also looked different. He wore a black oni mask over the lower half of his face and his hair shaved one side while the rest of his hair was combed to the other. Zuko could see scars from their previous encounter going from his jaw to his torn ear. His left eye had a scar going over it. Also, his father was not wearing his usual robes but instead a black sleeveless vest trimmed in gold and matching pants. Thick gold arm bands on both wrists. His grey eyes staring coldly at Zuko as his entourage followed behind him.
Watching his father fold his arms, "What the hell do you want?"
"Kya. I came to check on her." Zuko's voice was steady and calm, almost too calm for how things had left off between them.
Scoffing, "She's fine. Now you may leave." Ozai said dismissively before turning around.
"I'm sorry." Zuko blurted out before he could stop himself. "I'm sorry for what happened last time. I shouldn't have attacked you. I shouldn't have been so jealous. In the end, neither of us is to blame. It's just how things worked out, I guess."
Ozai paused and then Zuko saw him shoo off his entourage. When they were gone, Ozai turned back around and walked casually up to him.
"You're sorry?" His father's brows furrowed. "You killed our unborn child and all you can say is 'you're sorry'?"
Lamenting at that detail, Zuko hung his head and shook it. "Father, I didn't mean t-"
Before Zuko could finish what he was saying his father punched him in the face with a fist of lightning and sent him flying into a pillar.
"Whatever you did to Katara, you must have caused her to lose her mind! She thinks I slept with that damn princess and blamed her for killing the bitch!" Ozai growled as he stormed his way over to Zuko. Lightning striking the ground with each step he took.
Picking himself up, Zuko backed away. "No, I didn't have anything to do with that but I think I know." He tried to say before his father got any closer. "I think I know who was really there that night. You were setup. You and Katara."
Ozai stopped.
Zuko looked at his father and shook his head, "Zhiar and Kya found a fox mask." He pulled it from his robes and showed his father. "There's a name in it. Atsou Matsumo. Do you know anyone by that name?"
Glaring at Zuko, his father went up and snatched the mask from his hand, bringing it to his noise. Sniffing it, he hissed and tossed the mask back at him.
"I don't know an Atsou whatever his name is." Ozai growled lowly. "But that scent on the mask, it's floral. But a rare kind."
"Rare?" Zuko sniffed the mask too.
"Your mother used to have those flowers brought from her home village." His father told him how his mother's village was the only place that grew those kinds of flowers and how his mother was there when he and Katara were gone.
"Katara told me she had a feeling my mother was working for Lao. You think she could have done this?"
And of course his father did. He had nothing nice to say about her. Ozai told him that his mother was anything but a kind woman and that she was cruel and calculated. While she didn't kill Azulon, she had a plan to kill them all. He granted her freedom before it got to that point.
"She was going to kill you and your sister too." His father scoffed bitterly. "I bargained with her so that she wouldn't. Your mother is a coldhearted bitch. If you see her ever again, you'd be wise to leave her alone."
Zuko didn't like hearing that from his father. He felt his father was being over the top and simply hated his mother but remembered what Katara told him. She said his father was more right about his mother than he was. It made him wonder. Perhaps, he should try to find her...maybe she was working with Lao. Maybe she knew the truth. Knew who did this.
Seeing his father turning to leave again, Zuko rushed up to him and tapped his shoulder to get his attention again. Unfortunately, Ozai didn't want to be touched and a scream tore through Zuko's throat as a wave of lightning shot through his entire body. As soon as his father walked away, the bastard looked over his shoulder and pulled down his face mask to smirk with his disfigured face.
"That's for fucking up my face, you little asshole." He laughed and then continued on.
Fuck you! Zuko shouted in his head as he laid on the ground twitching from the lightning that was traveling through his body.
…
Returning home, the Fire Lord was greeted by medics as he had contacted his brother before arriving. He shifted back to his human form before he could even land on the ground. Zhiar and the others ran to him to offer him help.
"Brother, wha-what happened?"
Zuko clenched his teeth as he told them all not to touch him until the lightning died down otherwise he would be passing it onto them. It was hours before the lightning finally died but Zhiar stayed at his brother's side the entire time. He had the medics return quickly to treat him.
Waking up a little while later in his bed, Zuko saw his younger brother at his side placing a wet cloth to his forehead.
"Where are the nurses?" he asked.
Picking up the medicine that the nurses had given him, "Mom always said to not make others do what you, yourself are capable of doing alone. It makes you a waste of a person."
Snorting as he rolled his eyes, "Your mother just likes to do everything herself. Besides, you're not a trained medic."
Chuckling, Zhiar told his older brother how his mother used to teach him how to heal himself even though he was not a waterbender. Showed him how to tend to others and what different medicines were while she was teaching Kya how to heal with water.
"Dad do this to you?" Zhiar asked as he pulled the bandage off of Zuko's neck and applied the medicine. "Had to be him. You've got lightning marks traveling all the way down to your butt."
"Oh great, another scar. Perfect. Just what I need to get the ladies in the mood."
Zhiar laughed and told him that he first had to talk to them.
"You must hear that from the nobles gossiping." Zuko groaned.
"Yeah, they all think you like men." Zhiar laughed as he put the bandage back on his neck and removed the bandage on his brother's shoulder, telling him to turn on his side.
Zuko reluctantly did so. Clenching his teeth at how badly his injuries ached. He hadn't been this rough since him and their father got into it a few years ago, that's when they had originally made up.
"I heard dad likes men too." Zhiar told his brother. "So, it's not like dad can judge you if you do."
"I'm not interested in men, Zhiar." Zuko rolled his eyes. "I'm not interested in anyone."
"But you're interested in my mom, right?"
Yeah. That's why he wasn't interested in anyone. If he couldn't meet a person that could get him to not think of Katara, not dream of Katara, and not long for Katara, then he wasn't interested. Last thing he wanted to do was go into a relationship knowing damn well he had his heart somewhere else.
It wasn't long before Zuko recovered. Just three days to be exact. While the scars did not heal, the pain had subsided and was bearable. He got back to work and tuned out his very talkative younger brother.
….
"Zuko! He's walking!" Zhiar said excitedly as he saw Ryu finally get up and take his first steps.
Zuko looked over and saw his sons taking waddling steps across the rug of his office. His eyes lit up with joy. It was a milestone his son had reached and he was proud. Putting down his paperwork, the Fire Lord got up and went over to where his brother was cheering on Ryu. He went on in front of Ryu, hoping his little baby steps would get him all the way to him.
"Ryu! Yeah! You got this!" Zhiar cheered on his nephew/brother.
Waddling, the little toddler looked at his father with his wide blue eyes and smiled at the man with his arms stretched out to him.
When his son walked straight into his arms, Zuko picked him up and lifted him up in the air, spinning him around as he and his brother laughed joyously.
"He did it!" Zhiar threw his fist in the air.
Zuko beamed up at his bubbling toddler and brought him back down to eye level, to hold him close. Agni, he wished Katara could have seen this. She would have been just as proud and happy as he was, if not more. He remembered how excited she was when the twins started to take their first steps. She wouldn't stop talking about it for weeks. Katara lived for moments like these. Seeing the children grow and become more and more accomplished. He knew she must be miserable having to miss out on more moments with her children as if she hadn't already lost seven years from her slumber.
As he sobered up from the joy he felt at Ryu's first steps, Zuko turned to his brother and handed him Ryu.
"I need to finish up a little more my work, take him to Tomoe and once I finish, we'll celebrate, okay?" Zuko smiled down at his brother and rustled his hair as he took Ryu off as asked.
When his brother and son were gone, Zuko's bright eyes shut and he felt an immediate loathing for his current position. Here he was, Fire Lord, an older brother, and a single father. As much as it made him happy to see his son walk for the first time, it pained him that Katara wasn't here to see their son. He just couldn't believe all that had happened.
Going back to his desk, Zuko sat down and sighed as he looked over his work. He tried to focus on the words he read over but little by little the words began to blur. Tears welled in his eyes and spilt down his cheeks. Shutting them tight, he brought his hands over his face as he could hold his sorrow back no more.
"This is all my fault...I should have fought harder for us!" Zuko cried in his office. "Katara, I'm sorry!"
Having just returned from dropping Ryu off with Tomoe, Zhiar returned to his brother's office only to find his brother crying at his desk with his hands over his face.
"Zuko?" Zhiar tilted his head.
Looking up abruptly, Zuko's eyes were wide and he quickly tried to rub the tears away as he sniffled. Pulling himself together, "Oh, umm, sorry, I had something in my eyes."
Not believing that for a second, "Zuko," Zhiar came up closer and wore a serious expression. "You don't have to pretend with me. I know you love my mom. You always did. You saw Ryu do something great and you wished she was here to see it, right?"
Zuko wasn't his father. He could be honest about his feelings when confronted. So he confessed that he was incredibly sad that Katara wasn't here to see them, her children grow up.
"She lost her mother when she was young and all she wanted was to never have her children know the pain of being separated from her." Zuko remembered their conversation from so many years ago. Back when the world was at odds but they were doing better in those days. He and Katara sat under a tree while the rest of the group was asleep, they talked for hours. It was that night that he kissed her for the first time. Both of their eyes were wide. Zuko had acted on impulse and he feared she would return to hating him again but she pulled him to her, kissing him back. From that day forward, he was in love with her and nothing, not time, not his father, not the poor decisions they both made stopped him from feeling so strongly about her. She had his heart for as long as his heart kept beating and even after.
Zhiar reminded his brother that someone had done this to them. That someone hurt their family and his mother was paying the price for it. They needed to channel their sorrow into determination and find who was responsible. They needed to make that person pay for Katara not getting to see Ryu take his first steps, for him and his sister not getting to have their mother watch them grow up, for the heartbreak Zuko and their father were experiencing. Someone did this to them and they needed to be brought to justice.
Knowing his younger brother was right, Zuko nodded his head. "You're right. We do."
"Of course, I'm right." Zhiar folded his arms as he spoke in a haughty tone. "I am a genius, you know?"
Rolling his eyes, "Oh shut up, Zhiar. I forget you're as annoying as father." Zuko meant that entirely.
And Zhiar shrugged. He couldn't really refute that.
"So moving forward, whoever this bastard is, we all need to be prepared to face them, right?" Zhiar smirked.
Getting himself together, Zuko raised a brow wondering where his brother was going with this.
"I had a firebending instructor brought to the North Pole to teach me when I was there but I do believe our family is well beyond the normal mastery of firebending. Can you teach me?" Zhiar asked.
Zuko didn't mind. His brother was right. Their family had the blood of phoenixes and dragons. They weren't the average firebenders. They had the abilities of inhuman beings which made their bending do what was impossible to anyone of purely human descent to do what they could do. No wonder it was always said those of the royal bloodline were the most powerful of the firebenders. They were mixed with those of inhuman clans. Noble households that had possessed traits of inhumans. Though those noble households had been annihilated by their great grandfather, the blood of inhumans still flowed in the veins of the royal line. Perhaps, this was Sozin's plan. Kill all other inhuman lines and keep them in the royal family.
"I'll train you but I mean to do so as Iroh had taught me." Zuko said.
"Iroh taught you?" Zhiar asked.
"Yes, when I was banished, I was only at the level of any typical firebender. Iroh helped me master the element. But I warn you, I won't go easy on you. You are nearly a master."
"Good, I've always wanted to fight you, Zuko." Zhiar smirked.
Zuko simply rolled his eyes. All that inhuman blood must make their family nuts because they always seemed to want to fight or kill each other. Sighing, "We start tomorrow. Be up early. We're doing firebending and weaponry training. You need to learn both."
…..
Slapping his teenage brother upside the head, Zuko reprimanded him for not staying focused. They were in the middle of a spar. Zuko was teaching Zhiar how to use a sword properly or at least in the way that the Fire Nation used swords. However; he kept wielding the sword like a dagger. It was frustrating but Zuko made his brother stand for two hours doing different stances with a sword before he finally went into the basics of sword fighting. Zhiar learned quick like his mother so Zuko didn't worry much about him excelling but the boy was distracted today.
"Eyes on me, Zhiar." Zuko told him as he chopped him in the back with the practice sword.
Zhiar snapped himself out of the daze and focused back on Zuko, furrowing his brows as he went for a direct attack. He was quickly sent on his back when his older brother dropped down and did a sweeping kick. Groaning as he laid on the floor of the training ground, the young teen placed his arm over his face.
"We're firebenders, Zuko. Why do we need to learn this?" Zhiar whined.
Going over to the bench, Zuko grabbed his towel and wiped the sweat from his face. He got a glimpse of a little girl close to his brother's age peaking over from behind a pillar. Rolling his eyes went over to his brother and threw the towel on him.
"If you want to impress the ladies, Zhiar, you need to get stronger and firebending isn't the only form of fighting. You're a royal by blood and title, you have to uphold the Yong dynasty name." Zuko told him.
"SO be like dad and his father and his father before him?" Zhiar threw the towel off his face as he got up. "I think mom might be the only chick these days that likes an evil dictator."
Amused by his brother's comment, Zuko shook his head and walked with his brother back to the bench, tossing him a water pouch. He asked him if that girl that was hanging around was the reason he was so distracted. When his brother shrugged his shoulders and looked in the direction that the girl and her friends were running off in, the Fire Lord laughed.
"You should go chase her."
"Chase her? Why?" Zhiar was confused.
"Girls like being chased. I chased your mother around the world when we were enemies." Zuko said.
Scoffing, "And what good did that do you?"
Knocking Zhiar upside the head, "Keep talking and I'm going to tell you how your brother Ryu happened."
"EWW!" Zhiar got up and went chasing after the girl as his brother laughed.
Zuko sat down and drank from his water pouch while watching his brother run over to the girl. Seemed she stopped to talk to him and from what Zuko could see, the girl definitely liked Zhiar.
As the Fire Lord got up to go wash up before he went to spend some time with his son, a page boy walked up to him with urgency and knelt in front of him.
"Your majesty, there is a man from the Northern Water Tribe that says he's Lady Katara's prison guard. He brings a letter he says is for you." the page boy reported.
The Fire Lord wasted no time telling the page boy to have the Northern man sent to his office. Zuko furrowed his brows hoping this was not bad news. Agni, things were going so well and Zhiar was doing well after only a year. He prayed Katara was alright. Rushing to his office, he saw that the Northern man was waiting patiently there for him. Standing upright with a scroll in his hands. He bowed on his knees upon seeing Zuko.
"Fire Lord Zuko, forgive me for coming unannounced. I come here against my sovereign's wishes but Lady Katara asked this of me and I could not let her down." Holding the scroll up to the Fire Lord. "She wanted me to get this to you."
Snatching the scroll from the Northern man's hands, Zuko opened it up and quickly read over it. His brows furrowed as he read Katara's words. She was very vague and didn't say much. She must know this was all it took to get him riled up. She must need him to go see her.
Zuko's eyes moved from the letter to the Northern man, "You're Katara's guard, you say? Is she alright?"
Nodding his head as he looked a bit uneasy, "She is fine. In slightly better accommodations than before."
Raising his brows, Zuko asked the man to elaborate.
"Lady Katara had shown good behavior over the first year of her imprisonment. Chieftain Arnook and the elderly had her reviewed and...she's in an isolated cell that is pretty well put together so that she is more comfortable. However; it seems the Chieftain is using her for other purposes and she's pregnant now."
With wide eyes, Zuko angrily growled as he slammed his hand down onto the surface of his desk. "WHAT?!"
…
Zhiar was a bit confused when he saw his brother leave abruptly and even more confused when he saw that the flame armored guards follow behind him. He was going to ask what was going on but Jin Su pulled his arm and told him to show her the inner sanctum garden now that his brother was gone.
Turns out that the girl that had been eyeing Zhiar was the girl from the academy, Jin Su. She asked him what happened and why he left so abruptly. He didn't want to tell her everything as she had probably already heard enough from the gossip and news. So he just told her that his dad showed up in the picture and things got complicated. Fortunately, she could see he didn't want to talk about that sort of thing and changed the subject. They were getting along just fine. Her friends hung around them a lot which is something he didn't like but he dealt with it. But now, with Zuko gone, Zhiar figured he and Jin Su could go to the inner sanctum and be away from her friends.
Showing her the way, Zhiar watched her eyes widen as he pulled her through the gateway to the inner sanctum and smiled. She looked so pretty with the way her eyes glowed from the sunlight. He swallowed hard as he felt strange and looked away. Jin Su let go of his hand and ran off to the garden when she saw all the flowers.
"Whao! The inner gardens are so much more beautiful than the rest of the palace's." Jin Su said as she looked at the flowers and sniffed them.
Nodding his head, "Yeah, my brother says that when he was growing up that his mother planted some of the flowers here and then my mother planted the others."
Jin Su went to the blue lilies that his mother planted and plucked one. She placed it in her hair.
"Tell me, Zhiar, do you like me still?" She asked out of the blue.
Freezing up, "Ugh..umm..mm...What?"
"Do you still like me?" Jin Su held her hands behind her back and twirled for him.
Unfortunately, Zhiar came from a long line of men that had absolutely no skills when it came to being a romantic or knowing how to talk to women. It was the family curse. Couldn't be helped that he backed away from the poor girl and took off running like hell. He just wasn't prepared for that sort of thing. He couldn't be held accountable. Shit, he barely even had the talk. The most he knew about girls was that they either liked you or didn't like you and if you liked them too a baby happened. And Agni, he did not want a baby. He hoped Zuko came back so he could help him.
…..
Zuko was not happy at all from what he saw of Katara. He was not happy at all and he hoped that Arnook could see that before he left. That bastard was going to pay big time. There was no doubt about that.
Arriving home, Zuko went directly to his room where he yelled a bunch of swears before punching his fists into a wall. He kept going until his knuckles bled and then continued. He didn't stop until his brother showed up with Ryu.
"Zuko...you okay?" Zhiar asked as he held Ryu's hand.
Calming himself down, Zuko swept his hair back and brushed his knuckles off on his robes. "Yeah, just venting a little frustration."
"Okay, cool." Zhiar replied as he stepped into his brother's chambers and shut the door behind him. "I gotta talk to you about something."
Not really feeling up to it but telling himself to be a good role model for his younger brother, Zuko gestured to the sitting area. When they sat on the sofas across from one another, Ryu played with his blocks on the floor as that got to talking. Apparently, the girl that Zhiar had befriended was a girl from the academy. Jin Su Fujioka. From the Fujioka clan. A banished clan. She had been adopted by another noble family after her brothers, Daikoku and Yoshiro, became traitors to the crown. Zuko listened to his brother tell him how when he left that he brought the girl to the inner sanctum to show her the flowers but now he was afraid that she was going to have a baby now.
Zuko swore to Agni he was about to kill the little moron and toss him off for their father to deal with but when he listened to Zhiar pleading that it wasn't his fault, he calmed down. And honestly, as he heard the rest of what his brother had to say, he was seriously about to burst into laughter. What the hell was wrong with his family?
"But I ran before she could get an answer from me. So do you think she's pregnant?" Zhiar asked.
Hand over his mouth as he stared at his brother before sighing. "Zhiar, that's not how it works. That's not how any of that works."
Deciding that since their father wasn't going to do it, it was his responsibility to educate Zhiar, Zuko went over the birds and the bees. Seemed it didn't take much explaining for his younger brother to understand. He told him how their father taught him about women by sending a concubine to his bed chambers on his thirteenth birthday. And it wasn't like Zhiar was totally clueless. He knew what sex was but he didn't know much about how exactly babies came to be. Which was where most of his confusion lied.
"Any questions?" Zuko asked.
"Just one." Zhiar said as he stood up and his fist lit on fire. "Is that what you and dad did with my mom?!"
And Zuko snatched Ryu off the floor and dashed out of the room as Zhiar threw his fit.
The next day, Zhiar was forced to go apologize to Jin Su as his brother told him it wasn't becoming of a man to leave a woman when he was escorting her to a place. Besides, if Zhiar wanted to be different from his lame brother, he needed to step it up with the ladies.
Holding a small box as a token of his apology and the blue flowers, the young Fire Prince held them out to Jin Su as she stood with her friends. The girl smiled and accepted his gifts, then placed a kiss on his cheek.
"Thank you, your highness." She bowed.
Rubbing his neck in the same awkward fashion as his brother, Zhiar grinned. "I really thought you'd get pregnant if I told you I liked you back. Sorry about that."
Giggling with all her friends, Jin Su took Zhiar's hand. "You're funny, your highness. And don't worry, I won't tell." she pulled him away with her and looked over her shoulders to her friends, "I'll see you all later. I'm going to walk with the Fire Prince for a bit."
Standing nearby, Zuko smirked to himself and turned away to head off to take care of more important matters.
….
Year Two...
Zhiar and Zuko were visited by their Uncle Iroh around the time of the Avatar festival, celebrating the end of the war. He was surprised to see Zhiar was now living with Zuko. But not at all surprised by what his nephews told him about their father and the waterbender.
Having tea with his uncle, Zuko tossed Zhiar a coin purse and told him to take his girlfriend out to the festival but to have an escort with them. He wanted to speak privately with their uncle. When Zhiar was gone, the Fire Lord placed down his tea cup and looked to Iroh. He told him what Zhiar had discovered and what he believed was going on. Iroh furrowed his brows and stroked his beard.
"When your father was born, he was born a twin, however; that twin passed as soon as he drew breath." Iroh sighed and shook his head. "It was another reason our father abused Ozai."
Holding his tea cup, "Were they identical?"
Iroh shrugged. He wasn't there when his mother gave birth but he did remember that they said the child was born with a mutation. Albinism. Zuko went on asking him if there was a chance the child had survived. His uncle didn't for one second believe that child survived. He told him that Azulon was far worse than Ozai and he didn't have any qualms about killing an infant. Iroh didn't doubt that the child was killed rather than died on his own. He wouldn't be surprised, given his family's history.
Feeling like he was at a dead end, Zuko asked about the name 'Atsou Matsumo'. This actually seemed to ring a bell to Iroh. Seems that few months ago, a cloaked gentleman walked into his shop wearing a fox mask. Asked about the easiest route to Omashu. His uncle thought nothing of it and told him that airships now traveled there. The man left in such a hurry that he paid more than required for his tea. Iroh looked for him to give it back but he disappeared into thin air.
"That's what Zhiar and Kya found that night it happened. A fox mask. It had his name written in it." Zuko's eyes widened.
"If that's the case, then you had better speak with your father quickly."
The flames in the firepit they used to brew tea went up in and the two saw the inside of Ozai's office. Seemed his father finally let down his barrier.
"Dad?" Zuko called out.
They heard a groaning and saw on the floor was Ozai with a broken glass of whiskey in his hand. He was laying on his back with his arm over his face and his mask tossed aside. Iroh asked him what happened to his face and Zuko shook his head telling him that he would talk about that later.
Groaning as he tried to get a response out, "Zuko...what the fuck do you want now?"
"I was trying to warn you." Zuko told him. "The man I told you about is heading for Omashu or he might already be there. You need to get ready and protect Kya."
Iroh listened to his brother moan exhaustedly before seeing him roll over on his side and gargle down the last of his drink.
"Your sister isn't here." Ozai belched. "She's in the Fire Nation with a nobleman."
"What?! She's here?" Zuko didn't know why she hadn't come to see him.
"Yeah, I have her courting the head of the Totomi family, Uhara." Ozai threw the glass across the room. "How about you stop by and tell her to keep her legs closed."
"Dad, that wasn't neces-"
"Fuck, you little brats get on my fucking nerves! I wish your mothers had swallowed you fucks!"
Dispersing the flame, Zuko looked at his uncle that seemed a bit amused from seeing his drunk brother.
"Well, I guess we're going to go pay Lord Totomi a visit." Iroh said as he got up.
It was sunset when the Fire Lord and his uncle arrived at the Totomi manor in the city. They came with a small entourage as to not draw too much attention to them.
"Fire Lord Zuko." The guards at the gate bowed.
Greeting them warmly, Zuko asked for them to let Lord Totomi know that the Fire Lord would like an audience with him. They led him and his uncle in to sit in the lobby of the manor while they hurried to find Lord Totomi. It didn't take long for them to return with Lord Totomi. Both Zuko and Iroh stood to greet him.
"Your majesty." Lord Totomi bowed his head.
"Lord Totomi, sorry for my sudden intrusion but my father informed me that my sister was here with you. You two are courting?"
Lord Totomi nodded his head, "Yes, Phoenix King Ozai asked me to court Princess Kya in the hopes she would accept my prospect of marriage. He wouldn't give me her hand right away but he will allow it if she comes around."
Zuko raised his brow, "My sister only just turned sixteen and you want to marry her?"
"Sixteen is the normal age to marry in the Phoenix Empire." Lord Totomi replied carefully. "It has been tradition since before Phoenix King Ozai took over."
Seeing that his nephew was about to be less than kind to his potential brother-in-law, Iroh stepped in and asked Lord Totomi if they could see Princess Kya as they had been apart for some time. He gladly obliged them and escorted them to the gardens where Kya was sitting on a stone bench with her notepad in her lap.
"Kya?" Zuko called her name as he pushed Lord Totomi out of his way.
There was relief in seeing Kya look up to him and watching her eyes widen as she saw him. She tossed down her notebook and got up to race to him. Zuko embraced his sister as soon as she came into his arms.
"Zuko! How'd you find out I was here?!" Kya pulled away and looked at her older brother.
Pulling her back into a hug, "I had contacted dad to see if you were okay and he told me you were here."
Kya giggled as she hugged her brother even more. "Dad told me not to tell you I was here."
"Yeah, well you know our father. He was drinking and I think he spilled it by accident." Zuko chuckled. "He says you're courting Lord Totomi. That was quite the news. I had to come down here and see you as soon as I heard."
The Fire Lord saw his sister's smile fade as she nodded and pulled her hair behind her ear like her mother would do. Katara always did that when something was up and Zuko took it as a signal. He narrowed his eyes and turned around to see Lord Totomi.
"How about the two of you come back to the palace with us and we have dinner together?" Zuko offered.
Lord Totomi smiled and accepted the request, telling Kya to go get herself better prepared for being at the palace. Kya nodded and was taken to her chambers by a servant.
While Kya was getting ready, Lord Totomi had escorted the Fire Lord and his uncle to his lounge area, offering them both a drink. Neither Iroh nor Zuko were interested and refused but didn't pass up the tea when it was offered as a substitute. The three got on with some subtle chatter. Lord Totomi explains how he lived in both the Phoenix Empire as well as the Fire Nation now. He said the Fire Nation was his home but the Phoenix King had turned that region of the Earth Kingdom upside down and grand cities were popping up all over the place. He even mentioned to the Fire Lord how they had a massive transportation system called railroad. It was like the train system in Bei Seng Sei but much more. It took both firebenders and earthbenders to man the engines and it made getting resources around very fast and easy. Lord Totomi called his father a genius.
It also seemed the Iroh was familiar with the many changes within the Phoenix Empire. Zuko guessed his father was doing well despite having just seen the man drunk on the floor. It was probably his process. Every genius had a method to their madness.
Kya came up behind Zuko as he was sitting down and wrapped her arms around his neck, nuzzling her face against his. "I'm all dressed. Let's go. I'm starving."
"I can't wait for you to see Ryu and Zhiar. You won't believe how much they've changed." Zuko changed the subject as he let Kya loop her arm in his as they walked ahead of the others.
When they were out of earshot, Kya leaned her head against Zuko's upper arm and shut her eyes.
"Are you going to tell me what's going on here?"
"Our father is a moron." Kya told him how this whole arrangement happened.
Apparently, Kya was practicing waterbending in the courtyard. Next thing she noticed one of the men she saw their father around with at court approached her. Supposedly, he didn't know who she was and once he did, he was terrified of her. So, Kya, trying to be a nicer and more human person, approached him with sweets. After that, Lord Totomi would come watch her practice waterbending and she didn't see the harm in befriending him. She didn't realize the man was looking at her that way. She was just fifteen when she met him. Next thing she knew, he asked their father for her hand and their idiot father figured because he had seen her being nice to Lord Totomi, he agreed to let the man court her. If the courtship lasted till her seventeenth birthday, she'd be engaged and then after about a year, once she was eighteen, they'd be wedded. Despite the rules of marriage out east, their father was 'kind' enough to allow her to follow Fire Nation laws in regards to marriage.
Reaching the carriage, "I only go through with it because dad has been in a better mood ever since Lord Totomi and I have been courting. Plus, he's making me his ambassador."
Zuko snorted, "It's about time, Kya. You've always been an asset to Omashu and you should be recognized for it. But you shouldn't have to court someone for dad's sake."
"You shouldn't have had to go find the Avatar for dad's love. And Azula shouldn't have had to become a weapon to get dad's blessings. And Zhiar shouldn't have to act out to get dad to give a fuck. We shouldn't have to do anything but we do...because we want his love, even when we lie to ourselves. That's why even though you hate him for everything, you still try to keep contact." Kya's gaze became somber as she paused just in front of the carriage before looking up at her brother. "The only time he ever sees us is when mom is around and she makes him. With her gone...we have to make him ourselves."
Yeah, Zuko understood that. He couldn't blame his sister for feeling like she needed to do this. All of them had to learn the hard way that dad's attention wasn't worth it. Hopefully, she learned that too. And soon, from the looks of things, Lord Totomi was a fucking idiot and he feared his sister was going to make a fool out of the poor bastard. He thought Azula's violent approach was bad but Kya had a cold gaze that burned if it landed on you. She had her mother's attitude and their father's mouth. That was not a good combo. Some people just shouldn't reproduce together and if they did, certain qualities shouldn't be bred into their offspring, it was just bad mixing.
At the palace, they all sat down for dinner and Zhiar joined them with his girlfriend. Things were nice. Zuko felt good about having his younger brother and sister with him for dinner. Made him feel like he was doing things right.
"Whao, Kya, I totally didn't see you getting a boyfriend." Zhiar chuckled from across the table.
Jin Su nudged him and told him to stop.
Kya was going to retort something back but Uhara stopped her, giving her a reprimanding look that didn't sit well with Zuko. The rest of dinner, Kya said nothing while the rest of them spoke amongst themselves. When dinner ended, they all went to the lounge to have drinks and talk some more. Kya, however, excused herself so that she could be in the garden with the flowers her mother grew. Uhara sent one of his personal servants to go with her.
Zuko, also, excused himself to check on a matter, he told them. Leaving out that the matter was his sister. Approaching Kya in the garden, the Fire Lord dismissed the servant and waited for them to leave before he spoke.
"Does he put his hands on you?" Zuko narrowed his eyes.
Eyeing her brother like he was an idiot, "You think I'd let anyone touch me without my permission, Zuko? I'm not my mother, you know. I don't subject myself to being treated cruelly."
"Your mother doesn't subject herself to-"
"Then explain to me how me and Zhiar are here? You think I didn't know our father was cruel to her once before?" Kya said pointedly. "And Arnook, you think he's not being cruel to her now?" She scoffed and looked away from her brother and shook her head. "She told our father she was going to let Arnook take her to prison in the North. She willingly let herself go. I love my mother with all in my heart and nothing will ever change that, but she is a glutton for punishment. Instead of hearing father out, to learn and find the truth, she just accused him of wrongdoing."
Sighing, that was a hard argument to have and Zuko wasn't going to tell her otherwise. Most of what she said was true. But Katara wasn't a glutton for punishment. At least not to him. She just didn't seem to know how to embrace anything better than she embraced suffering. The children didn't know, they didn't understand what the world was like before they were born. They didn't know how hard their mother worked to make this world what it is today. Even after the war, despite how much drinking and crying she did, Katara worked hard to get better results and secure peace. It wasn't all her fault what came next. Zuko didn't blame her for what happened next. She just did what she thought was right.
Rustling his hair as he sighed and sat down beside her, "When you get older, you'll understand your mother more. I've learned to understand our father more as I age."
His sister folded her arms and says she never wants to understand her mother. Not if it means suffering her same fate. Which was why she wasn't getting married. As simple as that. But to Zuko, it wasn't that simple. Even if she wasn't planning on getting married, she could still fall in love and that wasn't something anyone had control over. It just happened.
Trying to explain this to her, Kya stood up and told Zuko off. She told him that she wasn't stupid like the rest of them and she wasn't going to get her heart broken over petty feelings. Besides, they were inhuman and to love a human would mean watching them one day die. Again, she wasn't wrong in any of that but Kya was still young. Regardless of how much credit they gave Kya on being mature and far more intelligent than most her age, she was still young and inexperienced. Life would wisen her up. It was the blessing and curse of growing up.
Pulling her hair behind her ear, "I'm only with Lord Totomi because of father. Otherwise, I wouldn't bother with him. He's not a bad man and he would make a good husband. I'm just not interested in him in that way."
Chuckling, Zuko placed his arm around his sister and she moved to lay her head against his chest.
"I was just concerned." He told her.
Nuzzling her head against his chest, "Your concern should be with Zhiar. He's going to talk himself into getting punched in the face."
Yeah, Zhiar had that effect on people. Then again, so did their father. Maybe that's where he got it from.
"Hey," Kya said as she looked up at Zuko. "Why aren't you seeing anyone?"
Awkwardly pulling away from his sister, the Fire Lord got up and started walking away. He didn't bother trying to explain to his sister why he wasn't seeing anyone. He was sure she had her own assumptions like everyone else. And it wasn't really anyone's business. He was an adult and if he wasn't interested in meeting anyone, he just wasn't interested. Maybe one day but not today.
….
The following day while eating breakfast with his Iroh on the balcony while talking about old times, Zhiar came in running with Jin Su. The two looked out of breath as they fell on their knees.
"Dad's here and he's pissed!" Zhiar panted.
Jin Su was also out of breath, "He's tossing servants and guards around, your majesty. We ran as fast as we could."
Furrowing his brows, Zuko stood up and told his uncle to watch the two while he went to deal with his father.
Finding his old man tormenting a guard while others pleaded for him to stop, Zuko glared at his father and sent a swirling fire spear at the man, knocking him to the ground. The guards all took off as the Fire Lord went on to deal with the Phoenix King.
Ozai got back to his feet as he scowled at Zuko, "I don't know what you filled Kya's head with but this is all your fault!"
Remaining calm, Zuko placed his hands in his sleeves as he stared down his father. "What is my fault? I simply invited Kya and her betrothed to dinner. It was a pleasant night. What is there to complain about?"
Storming up to Zuko, Ozai tried punching his eldest son in the face but he moved quickly out of the way and grabbed his arm. Bending it behind his back, Zuko told his father to explain what was going on.
"That dumb girl just broke off the arrangement!" Ozai growled. "Now she's run off to the South Pole!"
Honestly, Zuko was not surprised a bit.
Letting go of his father, the Fire Lord pushed him away and scoffed. "She's her mother's child, I can't be blamed for that. Don't come here attacking my subjects and causing a ruckus because you've become a crazed drunk. Go get help."
Ozai stumbled before turning around, "I'm not crazy, you stupid fuck! Nor am I drunk!"
"Then why can't you stand properly?" Zuko folded his arms as he was unconvinced.
The Phoenix King lifted his hair to show Zuko the ice dagger that Kya launched into his skull. Zuko hissed and quickly grabbed his father to pull him along to receive treatment.
…..
Was it Zhiar or was Zuko being way too forgiving? Like their dad literally just came here and attacked people, then tried to attack him, and he was letting their father rest in one of the guest rooms with physicians tending to his injuries. The young teen tried asking his brother why they were helping their crazy father but Zuko was dismissive and went to the balcony to take off into the sky. Was Zuko really going to go after their sister?
Iroh told him that Zuko feels compelled to be present in their lives due to his upbringing. With their mother once again out of the picture, Zuko felt he'd have to do what he can to make sure they had a better quality of life. It was his obligation as their older sibling.
Walking with Jin Su on his arm through the capital's market district and their escort following behind them, Zhiar saw something that stood out to him. In a jewelry shop were a few items that reminded him of the North Pole. He walked them over to the shop and looked over the merchandise.
"They're beautiful." Jin su marveled.
"Looking for a new pair of earrings for your girlfriend, young man?" The shop owner came over to them.
Zhiar's eyes shifted up at the tall lanky man, "Oh, ummm... I was just looking." He said awkwardly. "I was a little curious about their origins. This collection is from the North Pole, right?"
The Shop owner was impressed, "Ah, I see you have a good eye, young sir."
"Nah, I just used to live there for a little while. My mother is Water Tribe." he said as his eyes gazed back down at the jewelry. "They remind me of her eyes."
"Oh, so you must be the Fire Prince of the former Fire Lord?" The shop owner chuckled. "I hear your mother is in prison in the North Pole for having an affair with her ex-husband. A damn shame, many don't consider their marriage to have been nullified since he didn't actually die. I really feel for ya, kid."
The shop owner eventually gave the Northern Water Tribe piece to the Fire Prince for half of what it cost and told him to give it to his mother when he got the chance to see her again. Zhiar had it wrapped up nicely when they got back to the palace. He figured he'd ask Zuko if he could visit his mother to hand it to her.
"Can she have her own belongings while in prison?" Jin Su asked him.
Shrugging, "I don't know but I'll try to ask, Arnook. I think he'll let her have this."
"You sure?" She raised her brow. "Your mother did betray him. Do you think he's going to do her any favors?"
No, Zhiar didn't think Arnook would do his mother any favors. He loved his mother very dearly and he couldn't wait to see her again but what she did was wrong. Even she knew that. That was why she accepted going to prison. She knew the crime she committed and knew the consequences. She didn't try to deny it or fight it. She took her punishment with dignity and while he didn't believe Arnook would do his mother any favors, he did believe the man would have enough heart in him to allow him to give his mother this gift. Arnook was not callous or scornful. He was fair and just.
Kissing his girlfriend goodbye, Zhiar told her he would see her after his exams in a few days. Turning around after the escort saw Jin Su out, the teen saw his older brother and uncle in their night robes chatting as they headed his way.
"How's Kya?" Zhiar asked.
Pulling his hair tie from its topknot, "She's doing well. Far better than father." Zuko informed his brother. "Kya got a hold of Phoenix bane somehow when she attacked father."
"Phoenix bane?" Zhiar was confused.
Zuko didn't say anything else other than that their father was going to be staying here with them until he recovered. And when he tried to tell his brother not to, he gave him a stern tone and scolded him.
"We're all we have in this world, Zhiar. If we don't look out for each other, who will?"
And Zhiar watched his brother head off to his chambers without another word. Iroh stayed with him to keep him company since sleep eluded him. They played a game of Pai Sho that seemed to take forever before there was a victor. The second game had only just begun when his uncle eyed him funny.
"What's on your mind, nephew?" Iroh asked as he pondered his next move.
Scratching his head as he shrugged, "I'm just thinking about my mom. I hope she's okay."
Iroh chuckled and told him that if she could survive his father then she could survive anything. It sounded funny and he should have laughed. His father was a piece of work and his mother had put up with him. Hell, she even loved him. So, he should laugh but...he couldn't. This was the second time in his life that he was going without her and sure, they'd have plenty of time to be together again. But he felt he needed her most right now. So, he could not laugh. It wasn't funny to him. None of this was funny.
Rubbing his eyes as they began to water, Zhiar told his uncle that he just really missed his mother and wanted her back.
Sighing somberly, Iroh wanted to provide the boy with some words that would put him at ease but he couldn't really find them. This was Zuko all over again but less angry and more sad. Zhiar was fortunate that his mother loved him and his sister enough to do all that she had done. She was still present and he knew where she was. And while he knew the boy mourned the time he spent with his mother, eventually, he'd get her back. He just had to be patient and in time his mother will be with him again.
As Iroh retired for the night and Zhiar headed back to his chambers to try and rest, the teen heard his father's voice. Sounded like he was cursing or something. He decided to pause by his door and try to hear what he was rambling on about. Nothing he said made sense. Maybe his father had lost his mind or something. It wouldn't be surprising. The man was already borderline insane before all this shit happened.
Pressing his ear to his father's door, the young teen listened to his father yell at what seemed to be another person. But there was no one else in the inner sanctum besides them. So who was he talking to?
A glass shattered and Zhiar was startled.
"You fucking lied to me!" His father shouted. "You fucking liar!"
Another glass shattered and Zhiar hurried to open the door to see what was going on. When he opened the door, he saw his father laying on the floor in front of the fireplace with empty bottles of booze all around him.
"Dad?" Zhiar called his name as he carefully walked over to his father. "You oka-"
Zhiar had to duck down as a glass came whirling his way.
"What the FUCK do you want?!" He shouted.
"I heard you talking to someone and I was wondering if you were okay." the teen told his father.
Sitting up off the floor, Ozai scowled at his son. "When have you ever given a rat's ass if I was okay, Zhiar? You hate me. I know you do."
"I don't hate you, dad. I really don't. I was just angry." Zhiar dropped his gaze as he furrowed his brows and twiddled his fingers. "You just really pissed me off when you left me in the North Pole and took Kya with you instead. I thought you didn't give a fuck about me."
"What the hell are you saying?! Your mother told me that you wanted to stay!" Ozai barked at him.
"Well you're not supposed to be okay with another man trying to be my dad!" Zhiar yelled back at him. "Even now! I'm living with Zuko and Zuko's been more a father to me in my whole life than you ever have and that fucking sucks! I used to hate that you were dead! And when you were there at the academy with mom, I couldn't believe it! But you let me down! Even worse now because you just sorta disowned me! Didn't even bat an eye! Just tossed me out because you and mom hate each other now!"
Ozai got to his feet and went to tower over him. Zhiar stared callously at his father. He wasn't afraid of him.
"You have your mother's fucking eyes. Stop looking at me." Ozai pushed him away with his hand on his face.
Zhiar tried pulling his father's hand away from his face but his hands were too large. "I can't help that you slept with her! You're our father! You're just as responsible for us being here as our mothers!"
"You're right. I talked your mother into letting me impregnate her. She was afraid to even consider it. I guess she had a good reason to." Zhiar was shoved away as his father turned his back to him, his hand gripping the back of the sofa.
Fixing his hair, Zhiar looked back at his father. "What made her change her mind?"
Scoffing, his father told him he could go on all night trying to figure out why his mother changed her mind. All he knew was that she missed her old family and he gave her one of her own. Unfortunately, after fourteen years of trying to be patient and doing what he could, he couldn't give her that. She just turned on him one day and he didn't understand why.
Zhiar tried to tell his father how he and Kya knew it wasn't him that night but his father didn't want to hear it. He said it only made him more angry that even a son that hated him believed him over the woman that was supposed to love him unconditionally.
"You shouldn't be mad at her. Whoever did this must have really convinced her it was you. Be mad at them." Zhiar told his father. "In the meantime, Zuko's looking for who did this. He's going to find them and then I'm going to kill them."
"Don't waste your time, boy. It's not worth it."
"We're all each other has in this world, dad. If we don't defend and protect each other, no one will." Zhiar finally understood what Zuko had said to him earlier. They were family and this was what family did for each other. Maybe one day, his father would understand.
…..
To Zuko's surprise, he saw his father in his study, tossing books from off the bookshelf and going through the draws of his desk. Furrowing his brows, the Fire Lord cleared his throat to get his father's attention but the man ignored him, mumbling something until he seemed to find what he was looking for. His father pulled out a tiny box in a small compartment hidden in the draw. Zuko watched his eyes light up as he dusted the box off and opened it.
It was to his surprise what his father pulled from the box. A blue choker with the Water Tribe seal on the pendant. Zuko was more than familiar with that necklace. It was what led him to the Avatar when he was chasing him around the world. Led him to Katara when he finally recognized his feelings for her.
"Wh-what are you doing with that?" Zuko asked as he pointed at the necklace.
Ozai looked up at his son while still holding the necklace and then tucked it away in the inner pocket of his robe. "I kept it safe here all these years. Katara thinks it's been lost forever but I had it all along." He told his son.
"Why get it now? What's the purpose?" Zuko was confused. His father and Katara were over. They weren't getting back together. Not anytime soon. Why search for this necklace?
Casting his gaze down as he grabbed his face mask off the desk surface and began tying it back on. "I'm going to give it to Kya. Try to get her to come back home."
"Dad, she needs space. Leave her-"
"Kya is coming back home." His father bit out sternly. "So don't you go telling her anything! She's my daughter and I want her home!"
Though his father had raised his voice and was scowling, there was nothing but lament in his voice. Zuko simply told him that hopefully Kya would follow him back home since she's had time to calm down. His father didn't say anything. Just eyed him on his way out. He sighed as soon as the man was gone and shook his head, picking up the books that were tossed all about. Sometimes, he really did just pity his father. The man was obviously miserable. Even with all his achievements and accomplishments, it wasn't enough.
"Hey, is dad leaving?"
Zuko heard his younger brother ask him and looked over his shoulder, "Yeah. He's going to get Kya and go home." He gathered a few books and stood back up to place them back on the shelf. "What? Are you relieved he's gone?"
Shaking his head as he leaned against the doorway and folded his arms, "I just wanted to talk to him before he left. Dad was drunk and talking to himself last night. Then he went on about how mom is a liar and turned on him. I honestly feel bad for him."
Seemed Zuko wasn't the only one.
As he finished cleaning up his study, Zuko decided he'd have a serious talk with his brother. He figured it was necessary since Zhiar was now a Fire Prince and his studies were going well. It was hard work governing a nation without help and Zhiar needed to begin playing his part in court. Do more than study and hang around his girlfriend all day. So, Zuko decided that if he passed his exams, he would begin sitting in on meetings with him and learning what it took to be a Fire Nation royal. It wasn't all fun and games and living in luxury. There was a cost. A cost to everything. Plus, Zuko believed it would build more character for Zhiar to have a role at court.
…...
It was to be celebrated, Zhiar passing his exams, and they did. Zuko allowed Zhiar to drink that night against their uncle's wishes as Iroh reminded them that alcoholism ran in their family. But a few drinks after such an occasion was nothing to worry about. They had women dance for them and fill their cups. A few young nobles around Zhiar's age joined and Zuko could see his brother was really enjoying himself. It was a nice reward he believed before he'd have his brother get straight to work tomorrow.
Sitting out on the balcony with his uncle playing mahjong, Zuko rolled his shoulders and neck. He was a bit sore and stiff lately. Really had been working very hard lately, perhaps he needed to take some time off and relax.
"Nephew, you look older than me these days." Iroh shook his head disapprovingly. "Have you been resting enough?"
Trying to get the cramp out of his neck, "Outside of being Fire Lord, I'm a single father raising a toddler, taking care of my younger brother and trying to prepare him for adulthood, looking after my sister who's basically filling in for her mother since our father is literally losing his mind. So, you tell me where I have time to sleep amongst all of the work I have to do."
Iroh told his nephew that it was time he started looking for a mate. Someone to help share the burdens of his life with, someone to comfort him when he needed it, someone to put him to sleep. He had been here nearly a year and Zuko looked worse everyday. Whether it was the bags under his eyes or the restlessness he displayed at night. Not to mention, Iroh had noticed Zuko was drinking far more than one normally should. He was deeply concerned for his nephew. Zuko had really turned himself into a selfless person and while that was a good quality trait. One did need to spare themselves time and energy.
The Fire Lord rolled his eyes when his uncle told him to take some time to himself and go travel, maybe meet a woman.
"I know you didn't want to be Fire Lord, Zuko, but this was always your destiny. Give it time and Ryu will-"
"Ryu will not succeed me." Zuko told his uncle. "I actually plan for Zhiar to reign once he proves he is capable."
Utterly taken aback, Iroh looked at his nephew and started to realize that Zuko had been doing all of this to prepare his brother for the role of Fire Lord. Furrowing his brows, the older man informed Zuko that in no dynasty had there ever been a Fire Lord that passed the title down to his brother when he had a healthy male heir of his own. It didn't make sense.
But Zuko did not want his son, who would be as free spirited as both his parents to be tied to the throne. The crown was too great a burden and he did not wish it on his son. And he felt the same way with his brother but Zhiar might like the idea of being Fire Lord. He didn't plan to announce anything or even tell his brother this idea of his until Zhiar was at least eighteen and had the support of the nobles and court all behind him. Once that happened, he'd speak with Zhiar and see if it was something he wanted to do.
"And if he doesn't?" Iroh inquired.
Sighing, "Then I guess I'm stuck in this shitty position." Zuko tossed the tile and excused himself from the table. He apologized to his uncle and then turned to leave.
When Zuko entered the lounge from the balcony, he saw the boys were all still having their fun but it looked like his brother was missing. He furrowed his brows as if to figure out where Zhiar could have gone. He asked the others if they had seen his brother and they all said he went off to his room.
Deciding to check on his brother to see if he was alright since it was his first night drinking. As he entered his brother's chambers, Zuko heard a woman's voice and he raised his brows. What he saw next, he had to say was not something he ever pictured he would see.
"Zhiar, what the fuck?!" Zuko yelled at his brother and startled the woman on top of his brother. She quickly covered herself up and took off running out the door as Zhiar tried fixing his pants.
"Oh, Zu-Zuko….Ummm, we were just-"
Not wanting to hear it, he had seen enough, "Zip it. Tomorrow, you're kneeling for three hours after dawn in the courtyard."
"B-but-"
"We'll talk after your punishment." Zuko was dismissive as he walked out, slamming the door behind him.
…..
The next morning, Zuko found Zhiar practically dozing off in his knelt position. It had been just about three hours. Hopefully, his brother did some thinking about his actions last night. What was he thinking having sex with one of the dancers he paid to entertain his guests? He had a girlfriend. How could he so easily go to bed with another woman? Wasn't he a virgin?
Scowling at his brother, "Get up and follow me."
Arriving in his brother's office, Zhiar saw Iroh was already seated there, sitting in one of the chairs in front of Zuko's desk. He rolled his eyes and groaned as he plopped down in the chair next to his uncle as his older brother took a seat behind his desk. Obviously, Zuko was not happy with last night and his punishment didn't seem to do anything to cure that scowl on his brother's face. Zhiar really didn't know what to do or what Zuko wanted from him.
"You want to explain to me what that was last night?" Zuko clasped his hands together as he stared down Zhiar.
Sucking his teeth as he shrugged, "What do you think it was?" Zhiar made a face at his brother. "I don't see the problem. You're probably just mad because I'm getting laid and you're not."
"Excuse me, Zhiar?!" Zuko slammed his hands on his desk and yelled.
Iroh quickly intervened and told Zhiar to mind his words. "Your brother is concerned about your behavior since you seem to be courting Lady Jin Su. It is indecent to have such a lady friend and then being intimate with another." He explained.
"Dad does it, Arnook did it while mom was asleep, and mom cheated on Arnook with dad. So what's the problem?!"
Cutting his uncle off when he tried to speak, "You are better than them! You don't have to make the same mistakes as them, Zhiar! Why do you think I'm doing all of this for you?! For my health?! No! I want better for you! We are more than our parents' faults and mistakes! Don't understand that?! Don't you get it?!" Zuko shouted at his brother but it seemed to be the only way to get through to him. "I'm trying to make you into an honorable and noble man despite all the odds here! Everyone here expects you to turn out just like father! But I want to prove them wrong! And you should too, Zhiar! You've got to want better! And going around doing the same shit that caused your parents so much pain is not going to fix anything! You're just going to end up miserable like them."
"It was just one time." Zhiar folded his arms and shrunk in his chair. "I won't do it again."
"And it can still become a habit. No man has sex and says 'I'm not having sex anymore'." Zuko scoffed.
Iroh nodded as he stroked his beard, "It's true."
"I'm not telling you to not have sex, Zhiar. I don't care if you're having sex. Shit, I was having sex when I was younger than you so I don't give a fuck about that. But I'm not going to sit here and let you toy around with women. That will only make you more empty inside and you'll turn out like dad. So if you want to have sex, do it with Jin Su. If not, get more acquainted with your hand." Zuko sat back down in his seat and let out a deep breath. "And it's not that I can't get laid, Zhiar. I just choose not to."
"But nephew, didn't you say 'no man has sex and says-"
"Uncle!" Zuko hissed.
"Yeah, Zuko, sounds like excuses to me." Zhiar chuckled as he rubbed his chin.
"You know what?! How about you two get out of my office before I take a page out of father's book and start blasting at you both!"
Zhiar and Iroh got up and hurried out of the office. Zuko shouting at his uncle to go over Zhiar's first assignment. His brother had a week to complete the assignment and if he didn't, he'd be kneeling in the courtyard at dawn for three hours for an entire week.
….
A/N: Daddy Zuko taking charge with Daddy Ozai slacking, I'm here for it lol Anyway more coming your way!