Disclaimer: I do not own the world of Avatar the Last Airbender.

A/N: Thanks everyone for your support of my story thus far! I hope you continue to enjoy :)

"Can I ask why it's just you and your brother here?"

Opame snuck a look out the corner of her eye at the prince, debating what she wanted to tell him. She supposed the truth, in this situation, wouldn't hurt too much. "Our father died four years ago, after he was drafted into the war. Mother fell ill and passed away a couple months ago. My cousin Izuma, she got me the job here and that was that."

She looked up at Zuko, who was watching her from where he stood in the shade, leaning against a banister, a sympathetic look on his face. "I'm sorry to hear about your parents."

She smiled slightly, turning back to the linen she had been hanging. "Thank you."

It had started to become routine for Prince Zuko to 'run into' Opame while she was doing her duties. She was never sure if it happened on accident or if he sought her out. It didn't happen every day, either, maybe once every three days and so it had been for the last two, nearly three weeks. He'd appear and they'd just talk. He told her a little bit about his mom and life on the ship while he searched for the Avatar. She told him about living in the colonies, a little about her brother. It was almost tempting to call him a friend if it weren't for the fact that they would quickly separate if either of them heard footsteps or voices nearby. It was a little ridiculous, honestly, considering it wasn't like they were doing anything overtly scandalous.

Still, she rather not lose her or Izuma's job.

She hadn't told her cousin or her brother about these little interactions. She knew that Ceba would be extremely disappointed, but she found she didn't want to avoid the Prince. There was something remarkably interesting about him, something that drew her in, despite her better judgement.

"How old are you?" Zuko asked, dangling over the banister to pluck some grass. "You seem too young to be living by yourself and taking care of your brother."

"Do you say that because I'm a girl?" Opame asked.

"Of course not!"

"I'm just asking, because you traveled the world practically by yourself."

"Not really, even I had –" Zuko paused, causing Opame to look back at him. He looked sad, again, thoughtful. "Well – I had someone with me."

"Hmm." Opame took a dry blanket from the line, folding it up to put in her basket. She never asked about General Iroh, who she knew was locked away in the Royal Prison. She imagined the two of them had been close; who wouldn't be after spending three years together in exile? It must hurt that his Uncle was so close and yet so far away. "I'm seventeen."

"What?!" Opame jerked around as Zuko nearly tumbled over the banister. She threw her hand over her mouth, trying to hide her laughter, as he stood up straight again, looking almost scandalized. "You're older than me?"

"Only by a year."

"But you're so – short."

Opame frowned. If she stood next to Zuko she knew she reached his shoulder. She wasn't that short, was she? "So everyone keeps telling me. I come from a naturally short family. I don't know why that's such a problem."

"It's not a problem. It just took me by surprise! You're . . . travel sized." Zuko laughed lightly as he caught the towel she threw at him. She didn't know if she had ever seen him laugh before, not since she had started to get to know him. It changed his face. He sobered up a little, though his smile seemed a little wider, tossing the towel back to her.

Opame twisted the towel in her hands, hesitating. "You seem – happy."

The smile fell from Zuko's face and Opame almost felt bad. He folded his arms on the banister, staring down at her. "Do I?"

"Well, not anymore. I'm sorry – I wasn't trying to offend you or anything. You just – you normally seem very heavy."

"I seem heavy?"

"Yes."

Zuko gave her a wry look. "Don't tell me you're into auras and things like that."

"Not really," Opame explained. "I just get feelings sometimes, about people. Mother used to say I was highly empathetic, and I noticed you just have a heaviness to you."

The prince didn't respond for a moment before he stood up straight, knocking his fist against the banister. "I guess I have a lot on my mind lately. . . . I should let you get back to it."

With that, Zuko walked away, leaving Opame very confused. In the time that they had been meeting like this, Opame was usually the one to end the conversation and disappear. She wondered if she hurt his feelings or . . . if she had called out things he wasn't ready to acknowledge just yet.

Sighing, she turned back to her work. She'd apologize next time she saw him.

Mean, old, cantankerous hag.

Opame took a deep breath, dropping her basket of dry robes on the floor of the servants' meeting room. "Sorry, Ms. Akuri," she murmured into the silence, feeling bad for bad mouthing her boss.

Standing up straight, she placed her hands on her back and arched her back, stretching. She was so tired. She had been getting ready to leave for the evening when Ms. Akuri had cornered her, though she didn't know why. Opame was still keeping up with all her duties, even offering extra assistance to others (anything for extra coins for her and Ceba). In an angry tirade, Ms. Akuri went on a rant about people slacking on their duties and she told Opame to get to handling one last load of washing. Opame hadn't had it in her to protest so she did as she was told. By the time she was finished, it was nearly midnight. Thankfully, Izuma had promised to let Ceba know she was going to be late and, even more good news, she had the day off tomorrow so she could sleep in.

Opame left the room, flinging on her cloak as she walked, taking the pins out of her hair and shoving them into the pockets of her pants. It was so quiet in the palace, the nighttime breeze blowing a warm stream of air through the open hallways.

She was utterly alone.

It was unnerving but peaceful at the same time. When she was young, before Ceba was born, her family had moved to another colony, one that was quieter and less popular (for safety, her parents had told her). It had been quieter there compared to their previous colony and the first couple of nights, it took Opame a long time to fall asleep, so her father would sing to her.

She imagined her father's deep baritone, humming and singing. Before she could stop herself, she was swaying to the music in her head. Her arms stretched out in front of her, she twirled, dancing through the hall.

Ceba was right when he said Opame loved to dance. It was one of her favorite past times, but she had to be cautious when dancing in front of others.

"You float," her mother had told her, finger on her lips, a serene smile on her face. "Your feet hardly touch the ground."

Sure enough, she barely felt the carpeted floor under her slippers as she twirled and kicked and danced. It felt so nice, so freeing to move as if no one was watching. Her hands touched the ground as she flipped over, landing and standing up straight before twirling around a corner.

Fingers wrapped her around wrist suddenly and her eyes sprung open as she was pushed back against a wall. Before she could even take in enough air to scream, a hand was pressed against her mouth, a body pressed against hers. She looked up, surprised to meet Zuko's golden gaze. He released her wrist to place his finger to his lips. She nodded, trying to calm the heavy thud of her heart. Over the pounding in her ears, she heard the light brush of someone's footsteps. She and Zuko stayed like that, up against the wall until whoever it was gone.

It had been a couple of days since their conversation on the balcony. She thought, not for the first time, that she had hurt his feelings and he had been avoiding her. Now, here he was, pining her to the wall.

Zuko took a deep breath, leaning back and letting go of her. Angrily, she punched him in the shoulder. "What in the world is your problem?"

"You hit me!" he whispered, incredulously.

"You scared me!" she hissed back. "Again!"

"Well, what are you doing here this late anyway?"

"My job! You're one to talk! You shouldn't be out this late either!" Opame took stock of the situation. He was dressed as well, wearing a cloak with the hood pulled low. "Were you going somewhere?"

He frowned at her. "You're not my mother."

"I'm not trying to be," Opame argued. "It looks suspicious is all for you to be out here this late."

"I'm looking for something," he told her, starting off down the hallway.

She hurried after him, pulling the hood of her cloak low over her head as well. "Like?"

He stopped, glaring at her. "Why are you following me?"

I don't know. That's what she probably should have said. She should just go home to her brother, forget that this ever happened. She stood her ground, putting her hands on her hips. "Aren't you going to need backup?"

"Excuse me?"

"You can't just go into whatever you're going into without someone to watch your back," Opame explained.

Zuko stared at her for a little bit before he sighed, shaking his head. "Stay low, stay close and stay quiet."

She nodded. "I'm light on my feet. I can handle it."

Zuko nodded as well, moving outside. Opame followed, staying close like he had instructed.

What am I doing?

Opame kneeled behind a pillar, waiting. A pillar over, Zuko was doing the same. The moon shown bright in the sky, full and beautiful and, around them, dozens of candles cast shadows and illusions on the ground.

The Fire Sage Temple.

Zuko had yet to tell her what they were doing here but she figured he would eventually. Just moments before, a Fire Sage had gone underground. Opame assumed that's where they were going as well. Sure enough, Zuko stood up straight, gesturing at Opame. She hopped to her feet and followed after him, standing in the middle of the platform as Zuko pressed fire in the ground like the Fire Sage had done. Opame kept an eye out for anyone walking towards them as the ground opened up. Zuko hurried down the stairs that were revealed, Opame rushing after.

She wanted to ask so many questions as they walked through the tunnels. There were bones in the ceiling and in the walls. Was that how it was structured? Were the bones holding the tunnels up? The two of them walked forward quietly until they reached an old statue of Fire Lord Sozin. Zuko placed his hand on the insignia on the statue's chest. Fire exploded out of the statue's eyes and mouth before fading, the statue sliding to the right.

The room was large, torches in the walls, a giant, golden dragon looming over a table on which sat five scrolls. Zuko picked up a lantern that had been set outside of the room, pulling down his hood as he entered. "Stay close to the door," he murmured to Opame.

She nodded as he moved farther into the room, towards the scrolls. She looked over her shoulder as he reached for one. "The final testament of Fire Lord Sozin."

She stood there as Zuko read the scrolls, keeping guard like she promised. Not that there was much she could do without giving herself away, but she could at least offer a warning, she supposed, if anyone started their way.

After a while, she heard Zuko shift. "That can't be it," he said. "Where's the rest of it?"

"What was it?" Opame asked, moving towards him.

"My Great-Grandfather's memoirs," Zuko explained. He rubbed his hands down his face. "Things I already knew except. . . . Apparently, he used to be good friends with Avatar Roku. He betrayed him . . . let him die in the volcano eruption that killed him."

Oh, yes, that's right.

Sometimes, it was easy to forget that this boy she had started to refer to as a friend had such an awful family history.

He stood up, moving towards her. "I have to make one more stop. You – you don't have to come with me."

"I've come this far," Opame murmured, pulling the hood over her head again. "Lead the way."

It was nearing sunrise when they approached the prison. Opame couldn't believe they had been in the catacombs that long. She kept her head low as they marched past the guards. Zuko had told her not to say a word and the guards wouldn't question her but she still felt so very nervous.

They approached a metal door that another guard pulled open. Zuko marched in and Opame followed after him, surprised to see an older gentleman behind bars, his head bowed, legs crossed.

General Iroh.

As the metal door closed behind them, Opame sequestered herself into a corner, trying to stay out of the way as Zuko approached the bars.

"You sent this, didn't you?" he said, his voice angry. "I found the 'secret history'. Which probably, by the way, should be named "The History Most People Already Know"! The note said I need to know about my great-grandfather's death but he was still alive in the end!"

"No, he wasn't," Iroh responded, his deep voice echoing through the room

"What are you talking about?"

"You have more than one great grandfather, Prince Zuko. Sozin was your father's grandfather. Your mother's grandfather was Avatar Roku."

Opame pressed her hands over her mouth to hide her surprise.

What?

"Why are you telling me this?" Zuko asked.

"Because understanding the struggle between your two great-grandfathers can help you better understand the battle within yourself," Iroh explained. "Evil and good are always at war inside you, Zuko. It is your nature," he continued as Zuko crouched down, his head in his hands, "your legacy. But there is a bright side."

Iroh looked up, his eyes finding Opame's in that dark corner. She clutched the front of her cloak as his gaze burned into her. "What happened generations ago can be resolved now by you because of your legacy. You alone can cleanse the sins of our family and the Fire nation. Born in you along with all this strife is the power to restore balance to the world."

Iroh stood, looking away from her as he moved to the back of his cell. It explained a lot, Opame thought as the old general pulled a brick from the wall. Why she felt wary and at peace around the Prince, why he had seemed so heavy most of the time.

A war inside of him.

Iroh slid the brick back into place, approaching Zuko with a wrapped bundle in his hands. He unwrapped it, revealing a top knot crown in the shape of the Fire Nation Insignia "This is a Royal Artifact. It's supposed to be worn by the Crown Prince."

Zuko took what was offered to him, turning it over and over in his hands. Outside the metal door, Opame thought she could hear more guards. Maybe they were rotating shifts. She walked forward, hesitantly reaching up to place her hand on Zuko's shoulder. They had never touched, not once. It was odd to feel the soft fabric of his cloak under her hand. "We should leave."

The Prince nodded, pulling his hood over his head as he moved to knock on the door. Opame looked back to Iroh, who nodded at her. He looked so sad, so hurt. "Please forgive my family," he whispered.

Opame took a breath, spinning around and hurrying after Zuko, Iroh's words echoing through her head.

Zuko snuck a quick look out the corner of his eye at the girl walking besides him. Her hood was pulled low so he couldn't see her face but he watched as her hands ran through the ends of her long, thick black hair.

He wasn't sure why he had allowed her to come with him, but he couldn't deny that he was glad she was there. Opame brought a feeling of peace with her. He would have sat in his Uncle's cell for hours more, turning that headpiece over and over in his hands if she hadn't drawn him out of his thoughts. Even now, walking in the direction of the North District, where she mentioned she lived, she seemed so calm even though he felt like they should be anything but.

Maybe that was why he had sought her out so often, why he liked talking to her. He had a lot on his mind, hoping that the Avatar was being dispatched by his assassin, worried that his father would find out that he hadn't actually killed Aang, dreading the oncoming invasion. . . .

Unable to figure out the difference between right and wrong.

Opame was a welcome peace among the turmoil, even if, most of the time, he felt like she was hiding something from him. She smiled often but her smiles seemed forced or, at least, well-practiced. He knew she was capable of being more expressive; he had seen it a couple of times when he made her angry or when he startled her.

And he had seen her dance.

It had been purely coincidental running into her that evening. He had been on his way, ready to head to the Dragon Catacombs when he had looked down the hallway, saw her coming. She didn't notice him as he ducked back around the corner but when he had peeked out again, he watched for a moment as she glided across the carpet. She moved like the wind, graceful and smooth and, for just a moment, he had been entranced.

Shaking his head, he cleared his throat, causing her to look up at him, wide eyed. If he stared long enough, he might have been able to see the stars reflected. He looked away, nodding. "Thank you."

He felt he didn't need to say why, especially when Opame gave him that smile, practiced, polite. "You're welcome. . . . You seem to know your way around the city."

Zuko looked away. It wasn't like he could tell her he came to the Industrial Sector looking for an assassin. "Am I not supposed to?"

"It's not that. I just didn't know that if Nobles or Royals ever make their way out here. I know, in Ba Sing Se, they are – or were – secluded to mostly their castle and the Inner Ring."

"Sometimes it's nice to get out of the castle. . . . Do I still feel heavy to you?" he asked, as an afterthought.

"Yes," she answered without hesitation. "And also, confused, but I suppose that's to be expected. That was a lot to learn in one evening. I wasn't trying to offend you, by the way," she added, "when I pointed it out the other day. I apologize."

"I wasn't offended," Zuko told her. "I just – you weren't wrong. There's – I've been feeling conflicted."

"You'd think your trip to the beach two weeks ago would have helped that. Given you some clarity."

"I think it made it worse," Zuko muttered, clenching his fist. "I don't get why am I the one that's – confused. Azula shares the same heritage."

Opame shrugged. "You told me you spent a lot of time with your mother, who sounded as if she was very kind. Maybe a lot of that rubbed off on you and not on your sister. She seems, inherently cruel. . . . No offense."

"None taken . . . you'll – keep this to yourself?" He asked, turning towards her.

She nodded. "We all have secrets."

"Do you?"

"Of course."

"Like what?" Zuko felt his eyebrow rise as Opame looked up at him, a wry look on her face. He shrugged, a slight uplift to the corner of his mouth. "It just feels fair that you tell me one of yours."

"Hmmm." She folded her hands behind her back, looking up at the sky. "I really enjoy pear fruit tarts."

"That's not a secret!"

"Isn't it? I've never told anyone that before," she said, offering him a cheeky smile.

"Why do you act so – mysterious all the time?"

"Do I? I don't mean to be." Opame kicked her foot at the ground, scuffing through the dirt. "I have secrets, obviously, but . . . I have something that I'm trying to protect, and I can't jeopardize that. Isn't that why we all keep secrets?"

The look she gave him felt meaningful and Zuko looked away, up at the sky as well. "Maybe you'll trust me enough one day to confide in me."

"Would that be important to you?"

"Yes." He didn't know why he wanted her to trust him, but he did. The thought of her not trusting him made him feel a little queasy.

"Maybe one day then." Opame took a step towards him and he turned to face her fully. Reaching up slowly, she wrapped her fingers around the edges of his hood, pulling it lower as people began to leave their houses, preparing for work. The two of them lingered there for a moment, Zuko staring into those stormy, gray eyes of hers before she stepped back quickly, as if she realized what she had done. Was that a blush? "You should go home and rest. I'm sure there's a lot on your mind."

"You have no idea," Zuko said, reaching up to touch the spot on his hood where her hand had been.

"I have some." With that and another smile, she turned, heading towards the gates to the North District.

"Bye, Opame," Zuko whispered.