2 - Ambassador

"Have you heard the news?" Zuko's mother asked innocently.

"What news?" Zuko asked suspiciously. That tone of voice usually meant one of her old school friends had a daughter she was sure he would just love to meet.

"Ambassador Zhao is returning from the Southern Water Tribe."

Zuko practically fell out of his bending stance. "What!?"

"Yes, he requested it himself in fact. Cited 'irreconcilable differences of character' in his letter to the Fire Lord. He'll be returning on the next ship home." Ursa looked altogether too smug about this, but Zuko couldn't spare the thought to figure out why.

"Does Uncle know who he'll send as a replacement yet?" he asked urgently.

"I don't believe so," his mother said, tapping her chin. "But you know the value of our ties with the Southern Water Tribe. He'll want to fill the vacancy as soon as possible."

"Yeah… yeah, he will." Electric anxiety gripped him and he barely got through his cool-down sequence before racing out of the room, only pausing to kiss his mother's cheek and grab his robe.

"Zuko?" she called after him, and he registered that she sounded amused rather than concerned or confused.

He marshaled his arguments as he dashed through the Palace halls, shouting apologies as he startled servants and courtiers. Normally he would never be seen in such disarray, but if he didn't get to Uncle fast, he might send someone else! It might be difficult to convince him if he already had someone else in mind, but Zuko could be persuasive when he had to be.

He burst into his uncle's private study at top speed, startling the various ministers, his cousin Lu Ten, and his uncle himself out of the conversation they were having. "Send me!" he shouted breathlessly.

His uncle blinked at him and asked blithely, "Send you where, Nephew?"

"The Southern Water Tribe! Ambassador Zhao is returning, isn't he? We'll need to replace him! Send me!" He became aware he was yelling and made the effort to lower his voice. "Send me."

"Very well."

"It will be a demonstration of how much we respect them if you send a member of your own family." Zuko launched into his prepared arguments like a man swimming for shore with a lion-shark behind him.

"You're quite right," his uncle said.

"I will be able to speak directly for our Nation's best interests on your behalf. I have intimate knowledge of all of our top economic priorities and can negotiate confidently on matters of international treaties and trade."

"Couldn't have said it better myself," Lu Ten agreed cheerfully.

"And you may not know this, Uncle, but I am a known quantity to some highly ranked members of the Tribe already. I have been in contact via letter with members of the Chief's own family for nearly a year now."

"Oh, we know," one of the ministers whispered, and another minister smacked him with a rolled up scroll. Zuko ignored this, as he had the other small interjections.

"I am the best choice, Uncle."

"Zuko—"

"I will serve you and the Fire Nation well—"

"I am sure you will—"

"And moreover I want to go, so—"

"Yes, that is why I am sending you."

"—this would not simply be an assignment to be endured for honor's sake. Wait, you are?"

"Yes."

Zuko noticed for the first time the enormous grin on his uncle's face, and the way Lu Ten was rolling his eyes, and how several ministers had lifted their hands to cover smiles. "And you just let me go on like that?" he demanded.

"Father did agree basically as soon as you started talking," Lu Ten laughed. "It's not our fault you didn't listen."

"Then… when can I leave?" He couldn't hide the eagerness in his voice.

"As soon as Ambassador Zhao returns and briefs you on the situation. And we'll have to throw you a farewell party as well!"

Zuko groaned. "Do you have to?"

"Of course! Now, I'll let you give your parents the good news yourself. And I suspect you have a letter to write as well, hmm?"

Zuko gave him a narrow look. He had already been drafting the letter in his head…. And had he really heard one if the ministers say he knew of Zuko's correspondence with members of the Chief's family? But he had been so discrete…

He bowed formally to his uncle, and left the office on his dignity, all the while thinking how his next letter would begin, Dear Katara, I'm coming south!

A/N

This one makes me cackle, and was one of the big reasons I wanted to do the whole series as a no-war AU in the first place. Hope you enjoy!

Tomorrow, cuddling! :D

E.I. signing out