The Fire Lord's mantle is a heavy burden.

DAY 13: SPINE

"Okay, what's your problem?"

"What's your problem? You can't just barge into my chambers unannounced."

"The guards let me through. But that's not important. Explain yourself."

"…It's heavy, okay? The mantle."

"Yeah. I'm well aware that you have a tough job. The heavy burdens of world leadership and all. But that's no excuse to be such an asshole all the time. We—your friends—came all the way here to see you, and you've done nothing but mope—"

"No, Katara. It's heavy. As in, I need you to help me take this off, or I might throw out my back."

"Oh."

"Yeah."

"Okay, let me just…oh, spirits, Zuko. How—I can't even lift it! You wear this thing all day?"

"Yeah. Do you—I can call for the royal dressers. They were probably on their way but didn't come in when the guard told them I had a visitor."

"No, no. I got it. Just—just lift your arms—"

"Ow, Katara. You can't just—ow! Okay, stop. Stop."

"Zuko, how on earth—this is ridiculous. Why haven't you had someone fix this?"

"Because every Fire Lord before me has worn it just fine."

"You aren't every Fire Lord before you."

"…Whatever."

"So this is what's got you so crabby. And why your posture's so bad."

"…I don't know what to do. This—ow—it's starting to actually hinder my day-to-day."

"Zuko. Just swallow your pride and tell them to make a lighter mantle."

"I can't—fuck! Ow!"

"Okay, new tactic. Lie on your back."

"…On the bed?"

"Yes,on the bed. Really, Zuko?"

"Let me just call the royal—"

"Do you want to get this thing off, or not?"

"Fine."

"Okay. Just, sort of, wiggle your shoulders—and…got it! Are you okay?"

"Mhmm."

"Zuko."

"Hmm?"

"That doesn't sound okay."

"…My back really hurts, Katara."

"Tell you what. If you tell whoever you need to tell that you need a lighter mantle made, I'll stick around and heal you every day until it's finished."

"You'd do that?"

"Of course, I would. And for the record, I would bet anything that the previous Fire Lords complained about this behind closed doors, but none of them had the spine to say something about it."

"…Okay."

"Okay?"

"Yeah. Okay."

"Now sit up and, um. Lift your shirt."

"Right now?"

"Zuko."

"Okay, okay…"

"All the way."

"All the way off?"

"Be professional about this. I am."

"I am!"

"In a traditional Water Tribe healing massage, the patient is completely naked under a sheet."

"...You don't say."

"Your shirt off will do."

"Yeah. I figured…ouch!"

"Oop! Sorry…Tui and La, you are really tight."

"Yeah—oh, wow. That feels good."

"Good. So now that you've decided to stop being a grump, will you come eat dinner with the rest of us? Toph will probably find another way to force you out of here if you say no."

"Yeah, okay. I'll join. And um. Sorry I've been so...yeah. Thank you, Katara. I appreciate this. You."

"Any time, Zuko."