"You, Katara — Katara isn't —"

"Uh, she's my mom," Kaz manages to croak out as Sokka runs his eyes over him, tracing his features with incredulity mapped across his. He's never thought that he looks especially like his mother, but maybe he does. It's nice to feel that difference, to feel like he isn't necessarily his father done over. But that warmth goes away when he realizes that he's dug himself into another hole and needs to find a way to get himself out of this. Sokka — his mother's brother, he puts into words — can't know why he's truly here. Nobody should.

"Katara — Katara is your mother. Katara —" his face shines for a moment before growing panicked and tight. "But your parents are gone."

That's was Kazou should claim because that would make everything easier. He doesn't know how he's going to explain his noble aunt and swordmaster away, let alone why he isn't with his parents, so he should really just claim that they're both gone. But yesterday Sokka told him about losing everything to war and he isn't cold enough to refuse him this. "I . . . no, they're not. I'm just not with them right now."

And then all of a sudden Sokka has lurched forward and his hands are on Kaz's face. He's reminded of Iroh, staring at him through a prison cell, and there is pure heartbreak and love in the man's blue irises. It's wondrous, how they can both see different people in him. He's been trying to escape his parents but they really are a part of him.

"Katara," he breathes again. "Katara's alive. She's —" he gasps out, almost, like he's almost about to be brought to his knees. And then he does fall to them, looking up. All Kaz can do is stand dumbstruck as a large hand searches out his own, still sweaty and stained with blood, and smile. And maybe cry. He can't be blamed.

He stays stuck in that position for a few minutes, not willing to move and allow Sokka to think about anything. Instead, he attempts to come up with a cover story. He told Sokka the name of the Crown Prince but he can say his nickname, sounded hard instead of smooth in the Fire Nation way, is his — and that's believable. Why is he in the Fire Nation? Who is his aunt here? Sokka knows that Azula is Zuko's sister and he can't claim . . . who else does he have?

Aunt Ty, he remembers after a second, and he doesn't think that this is a perfect plan but it will have to work. The woman is Fire Nation and his parents could have . . . sent him here during these summer months to get an education or practice bending or whatever. Hopefully, he won't be asked too many questions. Hopefully, he can just answer them. Maybe it'll feel nice, at that, talking to Sokka. Like Azula. This is his uncle. That feels surreal.

"You're a firebender," Sokka starts again. His eyes are clearer but his voice is still unsteady. "Katara must have . . . is Zuko —"

Kazou breathes out. "That's my dad."

"Katara and Zuko," he repeats, "Katara and Zuko are alive. You're . . ." he grows quiet. "You're . . . Katara and Zuko's son?"

The spell is broken so he reaches back to scratch at his neck. "Yeah, I, um, have a sister too."

"Katara and Zuko are married?" Sokka's eyes go wide and then they suddenly cross, a little less serious. "They must have run away because we all — wait, Katara and Zuko had —"

"They're my parents!" Kaz yelps, just a little scandalized.

"They are married, right? They . . . Katara and Zuko are married and have kids and are alive. Zuko married Katara . . ."

He doesn't really know what to interject into this process of realization. Sokka looks like he's trying to verbalize his thought process, his eyes flitting to the side and tracing his nephew's features. He remembers what Iroh said, the stories he told about Mom and Dad fighting. He supposes that Sokka only knew them when they were arguing, even if he and Dad were friends for a little while. And he just learned that his sister is alive and married the guy they used to fight. Kaz would be pretty confused if Zuya disappeared for several decades and then came back with a few kids and an earthbender husband. Not that he wants her to have . . . he shudders. She's staying away from any sort of romance.

"What's your real name?"

"Kaz," he says, trying to say it in his mom's sharp accent. He's treading shallow water here. Sokka knows that he's Azula's nephew and knows that there is a new prince on the Fire Nation throne who has a name softer than his. If this doesn't work he'll have to run. Or maybe he won't because then he'd feel guilty. Should he run? It doesn't matter because Sokka takes that up in stride.

"Kaz," he repeats, and now he's smiling. "Katara is alive. Zuko is alive. And they have children. And they're alive."

His lips are wide open, his teeth visible from where he's just elevated below Kaz, and he doesn't know what to expect next. Not a hug, that's for certain. But he's being swept up in strong arms, almost carried up in the air because Sokka is still taller than him. He hasn't been hugged in the longest time and that contact feels nice.

When he's placed back on the ground Sokka doesn't let him go. Something wet falls onto his shoulder. "They're alive," he shudders. "Where — where are they? They're not here, right? Why are you here?"

And now it's time to put his small plan into place. "We live in the Earth Kingdom but they sent me here over the summer. To spend time with my aunt. Ty Lee?"

He can't see his uncle's face but his grip doesn't change. "The circus girl? I thought she'd defected that day on . . . they must trust her, then."

His confidence is back. "She found them one day and then they came back. I'm staying with her to practice my bending."

"Yeah, she's noble," Sokka mumbles, and Kaz can't quite believe his luck at this moment. Then the man pulls away, puts his hands on his shoulders like he's taking in a work of art. "I thought she was dead . . . all this time. And that completely . . ."

"She's alive," Kaz repeats, not sure what else to say.

"Yeah," Sokka turns his head to stare at the moon again, closes his eyes for a minute, and Kazou stands there uncomfortably. "You have a sister? Is she a waterbender?"

"No, she can't bend. Her name is Zuya. She's with them right now."

"Katara and Zuko's children," he whispers weakly one last time before he straightens. "Where are you from, in the Earth Kingdom? I have to . . . I have to do this but when you go back I'll go with you. I need to see . . ." he closes his eyes and shakes his head. "This isn't real. But you look like her. You look like her and Zuko. And you sound like Zuko. And that mask . . . it's too much."

He didn't really plan for this. "Yeah, um, we live in Ba Sing Se. When I go back you can come with me."

He'll go back eventually. He misses his parents. And maybe that'll be in a month or two, if Azula lets him. He can say it's for military good or something. He'll have to be promoted to a general eventually anyway because he isn't going to inherit anything during her lifetime. That will make sense. So he can talk to her and he can take Sokka with him and he can reunite part of his family. Maybe then they wouldn't be disappointed in him.

"Okay, that's — that's good," he breathes. The Sokka raises an eyebrow almost apologetically. "Do you have anything? That they . . . I believe you, I just . . ."

He doesn't carry around much with him and that would be easy to explain away, but he finds himself reaching through the folds of his black outfit and taking out the one reminder of his family he carries everywhere. Maybe it's bigger than what he thinks it is, but Iroh had told him this tile should be with his family. He thinks that maybe he can prove himself like this.

Kaz opens his palm and displays the lotus tile, hopes that Sokka knows what it means even if he doesn't. He wants to be clear about who he is. His mother's child.

Sokka grabs it and turns it up to the moonlight. "The Order of the White Lotus," he says wondrously. "And they gave it to you."

"What's that?"

Sokka winks and turns out his pocket, displays something identical. It's a small Pai Sho tile, a piece of wood. "The Order of the White Lotus . . . it's a group of masters all over the world who maintain balance in the world. Most of them died after they liberated Ba Sing Se. My predecessor . . . he died too," he says sadly. "Do you know General Iroh? I'm sure your father must have told you about him."

I visit him almost every day. "Yeah. He's my great-uncle."

"I guess I'm related to him too, now. He's a member of the order and he's been sitting in the prison here for a long time. But two weeks ago I got a message and was told that he wanted me to free him. I hadn't even known he was alive."

How does he respond to that? "He's alive?" he blusters.

"Yes," Sokka says, and then his eyes shine. "This must be — there's a reason for all of this, Kaz. Everything is falling into place. There's a reason why I met you and . . . why are you running around and wearing a mask? The palace must be after you."

"I told you. A friend needed help."

"Yeah, sure," he laughs. "But it doesn't matter. You're not perfect but you're good with your swords and your father must have taught you how to bend and I think . . . I think you're meant to be here. To do this."

"You're going to . . . . free my great-uncle?"

And so Iroh wasn't letting him let him go, waiting for Sokka instead? That sort of hurts. He's perfectly capable. But he hides that amongst his features, letting out the measured half-smile he's so good at as Sokka gesticulates, hands waving. "Yes, in a few days . . . and you must come with me. You should meet him. And then when he goes free and we go back to Shu Jing you can come with me and we can go to Ba Sing Se. It will be —" he coughs and his face is red. "Perfect."

That seems like such an ideal plan that he can't say no. What could he argue with? Hey, sorry, I ran away from home to be the Fire Nation's Crown Prince. You think Azula's crazy but she's the aunt I'm with. Why are you being so gullible? Mom's alive and Dad's alive but they probably hate me. I visit Iroh and he's going to give me away. But you're right, I want to free him. And I guess I can do it with you and then go back to the palace. Iroh will be able to find Mom and Dad. You all can be back together again. I don't think I have a place in your story even though I miss them. Not yet. Not with all that I've done.

Sokka nods again at this plan and Kazou shuffles. "Uh, yeah. Great. I can meet . . . General Iroh. What are you going to do? Isn't the — where is he?"

"The Caldera's main prison. And I have a plan — there aren't very many guards posted down there because they don't think that there is anyone left to get him. They don't know about us," he winks like they're sharing a very large secret. "A few he has made friends with and he said the rest will not mind very much. They will say that he died in his sleep."

You're very trusting. Because yeah, Sokka is assuming a lot about him from his face. Even if it's to his advantage. I could report you for treason, he wants to say, but that's probably uncharacteristic of the person he's attempting to be. "Okay. I guess I'll help," he says, before noticing that the sky is turning blue again. "But I should go back home now. Aunt — Ty will be worried," he claims, even though Azula probably won't mind. Except his bending practice is suffering without sleep. He thinks she wants him to start with lightning soon.

"Yes. of course," and he's given another quick squeeze. "Katara is alive . . . thank you, Kaz."

Instead of going through his usual route, through the kitchens, he aims to come in from his room this time. The kitchen staff starts working very early in the morning, and even as everyone else will only be waking up right now he doesn't want to be caught.

The sun shining on his back is almost frighteningly warm — a sign that he's definitely back too late. Someone will be here with his morning tea soon and hopefully, that will wake him up. He only got a few hours of sleep before he went off to see Sokka and it's visible on his face. Some potent jasmine might do the trick.

Kaz is sort of lost in a daydream about ledgers and counting boxes of tealeaves on countertops right outside of his room, his hood still pulled carefully around his face. He's almost next to his window when the earth starts rumbling and he falls down, his back pressed against the dirt and his eyes staring up through the black fabric at the red and gold trim that lines his rooms.

His head starts pounding and his vision is blurry; he barely has time to raise his sword, on his side, and deflect the ball of dirt coming right at him.

Quick thing here - yeah, Sokka isn't associating Kaz with Crown Prince Kazou. The way I figured this, the way they're pronouncing it in the Fire Nation is softer - 'Cahz-zow-uh' - versus the name 'Kaz' having a strong 'K', like Katara's name, said in more of a Water Tribe style. Thanks for reading - as always, would love to hear from you! And I'm sorry that this fic on FFN is probably full of typos. I write and publish every day and the editor here isn't really great for going back, but I will completely edit this fic after I finish.