Notes: So... I had said that this chapter would be about Roku's time away, but to be honest, I didn't think it would fit in anywhere between these few chapters, that is why I will postpone it about 3 chapters, just to make things more cohesive. I hope you still enjoy it nonetheless!

...

He managed to do exactly as he intended to do. It proved to be really hard at first, finding things to entertain himself during his free hours. He would take small naps, draw something, even though he was not that skilled, he would read scrolls that were not related to his lessons. It felt strange to do things just for fun after a year of extensive studying.

Lately, he had started to visit the concubines of the palace as well, and it turned out that they proved to be a fun distraction. Marriage was still the furthest thing away from his mind, but he would be a fool to deny the pleasures a woman could provide.

He was eighteen now, another year had passed, this time with a new, less tiring routine. He was feeling much better than the last year, he was still excelling at things he would do, but without being overly exhausted. With the fatigue gone, his temper had started to soften as well.

But this newfound routine wouldn't last long. This had been the last year of his private lessons, he had learned everything he could from his teachers, and now it was time to do things on his own.

This provided him with a lot of free time, more than he would have liked. He was now allowed into the political meetings of the Fire Lord, but if he had to be honest, he found the matters discussed there incredibly boring. Just taxes, and stocks, and nothing worthwhile. But of course he would sit there with the other important nobles and governors, while they discussed the matters of the nation.

He remembered the first time he ever participated in a meeting. It had been just a few months ago.

He had been so excited to finally learn what went on behind the closed doors of the meeting room, but the truth turned out to be dreadfully tedious.

He sat there for hours, without even being given the permission to speak, while people complained about how high the taxes were, others sustaining that they weren't high enough. He started to tune out their voices after the first hour and a half.

Today was also one of those days, when he jumped in his seat, hearing his father calling out to him.

"Prince Sozin?" His voice was controlled but there was a hint of mockery in it. "What do you think?"

He felt heat rising to his face, he had no idea what the Fire Lord had just asked. "I think... uh, I think..." He stammered, not daring to ask the subject. "I think it is a good idea."

"You think it is a good idea?" The Fire Lord scoffed. "I just asked how much of the income provided by agriculture should be added to the royal treasure in your opinion." His eyes were squinted when he eyed Sozin critically. "Or were you not paying attention?" His voice was daring Sozin to challenge him.

And for the briefest moment, the Prince actually wanted to do that. He wanted to stand up and yell at him for purposefully embarassing him, and taking pleasure in it, in front of everyone. He would have never asked his opinion in these meetings. He must have noticed that his son had zoned out, and this was his twisted punishment for it. He knew better than to take the bait and act hostile.

"My apologies, my Lord." He wasn't allowed to call him father in front of the others. "I must have gotten distracted." He kept his voice docile, and his eyes low.

"Distracted?" The Fire Lord probed, much to Sozin's dismay. "And what could possibly be more important in your mind than the matters of your nation?"

"Nothing, my Lord." Oh, how he hated this. "Forgive my disrespect." He felt absolutely humiliated as he felt the eyes of everyone in the room on himself.

"Very well." He must have decided that this was enough. "You have been dismissed." He turned his face away from his son, but not fast enough that he wouldn't see the glint of amusement in his eyes. His father wasn't really angry, he actually couldn't have cared less, he was only getting some sort of sick satisfaction from it.

Sozin wanted to yell "what the fuck did I ever do to you?", but that wouldn't be the smartest thing to do in the current situation. Even though the Fire Lord seemed like he wanted to keep up the appeareances in public, the Prince knew that he could very well lose control against such a blatant outburst.

"But—" was all he could say to protest before the Fire Lord cut him off.

"I said that you were dismissed." He repeated, with the familiar angry tone being slightly more evident in his voice this time. "You may leave, and think about whatever it is that prevents you from focusing on your nation's problems."

Sozin opened his mouth to say something, before shutting it back, resigned. Whatever he would say would only be good for antagonizing him more. He could feel everyone in the room holding their breaths as they watched intently the fucking spectacle.

He rose up from his seat in fury, and turned his back, leaving through the door without giving the proper bow to his father.

Instead of releasing his anger with firebending like he tended to do, this time he called for a girl in his room, needing to take out his anger on an actual human being, and this poor girl was the victim.

The concubines would never complain, it wasn't their place to do so. And why would they? They would get to stay in the palace, in a better position than the servants, and for a considerably small price. Besides, they were used to everything, not that Sozin had been particularly rough with any of them, but because of the way the Fire Lord would treat them. It was known that those who displeased him faced an unpleasant faith.

But unfortunately for him, this particular girl did seem to complain, a lot. From the moment she entered the room, Sozin could see that the girl was shaking. She was scared. He assumed that she might be new in the palace. And he was definitely not in the mood to console anybody.

"Just take of your clothes and get to the bed." He instructed with an audible sigh. His voice wasn't actually harsh, but it did cause tears to appear in the corners of the girl's eyes. Her hands were trembling as she reluctantly started to remove her clothes. After she was done, she walked over to the bed, lingering as she didn't know what to do.

Sozin eyed the girl carefully, she did look quite young, even younger than he was. Her eyes were fixed on the floor, afraid to meet the gaze of the Fire Prince as she just couldn't stop shaking.

"Lie down." He ordered, and the girl unwillingly complied, her lip quivering as she tried to hold back her tears.

He got a clear look at her face as she did, and the desperation in her eyes gave him a pause. Something about it made him think of how his father would treat his concubines. How was Sozin any different than him if he were to have this poor, scared girl?

It would have been so easy, despite her fear, because of her fear, she wouldn't resist. He could hurt her, burn her, take all his anger out on her, and all he would get would be silent sobs and tears. The thought turned his stomach upside down.

"Just leave." He turned away from her while letting out an exasperated sigh.

"W-what..?" The girl's voice was barely a whisper, shocked by what she had just heard.

"You heard me. Get dressed and leave."

There was a moment of uncomfortable silence, and then he heard some rustling behind him as she got up and started to put her clothes back on.

She staggered around the door for a moment, not leaving. "Am I... am I going to be..." She trailed off.

The Prince turned to face her once again. "No, you won't be executed." He finished her sentence for her, relief immedietly softening the features of the girl's face. "Now just get out before I change my mind."

"T-thank you, my Prince." She whispered quietly.

"Don't thank me. And consider yourself lucky that it was me, and not my father." She wouldn't have gotten away so easily then. Even now, his small act of mercy was going to cost her so much more. He couldn't have just let her leave the palace, and when the Fire Lord would get his hands on her, which he eventually would since his son hadn't, she would regret crying here today.

He didn't look at her again as she quickly left the room, leaving an annoyed Sozin behind. What a fucking day.

From that day on, he always paid full attention during the meetings, but of course, his father never asked him anything again.

...

Six more years passed with the same tedious repetitions, he was now 24 years old, no longer a small boy, but a young man. He almost never thought about where Roku was or how was he doing anymore.

One day, a day like any other, he was sitting on his desk in his room, reading a scroll, when he heard a polite knock.

"Enter." He ordered, without looking up from the piece of parchment.

"Prince Sozin." The servant that entered greeted him respectfully. "The Fire Lord is waiting for you in his throne room. He said that it was urgent."

Sozin lifted his head up to face the man in front of him, wondering what his father could possibly want now. He sighed as he stood up, following after the servant as they left the room.

On the way, his mind weighed the possibilities. Was it another meeting? No, it wouldn't be urgent then. Was he finally abdicating? Highly unlikely, he would never. Was he dying? He wouldn't be in the throne room then. Was there a riot or a rebellion? No, the people of the Fire Nation adored the royal family. Were they going in a war? Also very unlikely, their relations with the other nations were just fine.

He knew he wouldn't get to anywhere with his speculations, he would learn what this was about soon enough anyway.

The servant left with another bow, as they reached the gates. Sozin took a breath and braced himself for what was to come, before he stepped into the room.

It was empty except for the Fire Lord himself, and two guards that were standing at the each side of the door. It didn't seem like anything was wrong.

He walked up to the throne, bowing in front of his father, forehead touching the floor once again. "Father." He greeted before he lifted up his head.

"Get up." His voice didn't sound irritated and tired as usual. "I have exciting news for you, son."

Sozin's brows furrowed in confusion, but he reluctantly complied, getting up and standing in front of the Fire Lord. "May I know what that is, Father?"

"I have arranged a marriage between you and the daughter of one of the most esteemed noble families." He said simply, as if he was talking about the weather.

"You did what?!" Sozin blurted out in shock, all the respect and politeness casted aside for a moment. "Didn't you think of letting me know about it before?!"

"What is the point? You do not get a say in this, you will marry whom I choose. Just like I had in my youth, and my father before me." The Fire Lord decided to let him get away with his outburst this, knowing that he did it because he was so suprised. Besides he was in a good mood.

Sozin just stared at him blankly for a few minutes. You do not get a say in this?! He obviously knew this day would come, but he hadn't expected it to be so soon, and sudden. He had thought that they would at least discuss about it, his father would not just engage him with a random girl without his knowledge.

And what choice did he have but to accept? It wasn't a question. It was a statement. There wasn't even an option to accept or refuse. The Fire Lord had said Sozin was going to get married, and he would.

The fact that he didn't want to get married didn't matter at all. He had made himself get used to the idea years ago, but still, that didn't make it any less shocking. However it wasn't worth arguing about.

"She is a beautiful young woman, you will like her." His father declared, as if it would change anything.

"Yes, Father." He didn't know what else to say as he fixed his gaze on the floor.

"It is good to hear that you are so... compliant about this." The Fire Lord stated, sounding almost entertained, as he turned towards the door, calling out to the guards. "Bring her in."

"Wait, she is here?!" This was all happening so fast, seeing her would make everything far more real.

His father barely nodded, before he leaned back in his throne, folding his hands in front of him as he watched his son with careful eyes.

A girl entered the room with a guard accompanying her. She was indeed beautiful, a tall, elegant figure with long black hair and big eyes. But there was sadness in them as she walked slowly towards the throne. Out of all the girls in the nation, she seemed to be one of the few that didn't want to get married to the Crown Prince. Normally, this could've angered Sozin, but right now he couldn't care less about any of these. Not about her beauty, not about her elegance, not about the sorrow in her eyes.

For right now, all he could think of was that he knew her. She had changed a bit over the last few years, but still, it was unmistakably her.

"Ta Min?!"