Jin fidgeted with her fingers. She could hear her parents arguing in hushed whispers about their options. Jin's mother was stubbornly refusing to go to the Fire Nation with the embassy people. Her father was trying to get Ling to consider it, but it was like trying to move a mountain by pushing it by hand.

Jin didn't know how to feel. Confusion and fear warred in her heart and stomach, making her feel queasy.

San slid up next to her. "You okay?"

Jin nodded. "I'm just… worried. My mom doesn't wanna leave. I don't wanna leave without her. But if we stay… I'm really scared."

San nodded. "I'm thinking of asking the Avatar to pick up my mom. I can't just leave her alone. I'm all she has."

Jin took San's hand, trying to give comfort that she herself did not have. All of their parents had been affected by the war. "Do you think she'll want to go to the Fire Nation?" Jin asked.

"I don't know," said San. "She has such horrible memories, but whatever happens, I know that I'll be right by her side."

Jin nodded. San looked to her and smiled.

"So, Princess Azula, huh?"

Jin smiled. "I know. It's crazy. My boss is the Dragon of the West and my coworker is the Conqueror of Ba Sing Se. How did my life get so weird?"

San nodded along as Jin spoke, but then she paused. Her eyes gleamed with a manic light. "Didn't you say that you went on a date with Mushi's nephew?"

Jin immediately let go of San's hand and covered her face. "San, noooo!"

"What was his name, Lo, Lum…"

"Lee," Jin immediately supplied. Her face grew hot.

After her weird date with Lee three years ago, she had squealed about everything to San and Jia. That he was so awkward and cute, that he was a terrible juggler, that he was so sweet, that he kissed her… Everything except the fact that he lit the lanterns with firebending. That wasn't hers to tell.

She knew after he had run away that he wasn't ready for a relationship, since he had said himself that "it's complicated." Still, she could enjoy the memory of the one date they went on, right?

Except, now that memory was super embarrassing, because…

"So, you went on a date with a member of the Fire Nation royal family?"

Jin brought her knees up to her chest and curled in on herself, shaking her head.

"Ohhhh, it's worse, it's so much worse!" said Jin.

San arched an eyebrow. "Worse?"

Jin looked up, glanced at San, and took a deep breath.

"Lee is the Fire Lord now. Fire Lord Zuko."

San's eyes widened and her mouth dropped open. "No…"

Jin covered her face again as San squealed and shook her.

"No way! Jin!" San laughed.

"Please, nooooo!" said Jin.

"This is amazing. Remember me when you're living the good life in the palace."

"San, no, it's not like that! It was one date! I think he has a girlfriend, anyway, remember when I told you I ran into him and that girl after the coup?"

San ignored her and continued to poke her ribs. "Oh, this is rich. Does Azula know?"

Jin sat up ramrod straight. "San, don't you dare."

San's mouth twisted into a mischievous smile and she started to make her way over to Azula. Jin stood up and grabbed her wrist.

"San, no!"

San stomped on the stone floor with one bare foot, shaking just the area where Jin was standing. Jin lost her balance and fell into a seated position, while San giggled and bolted off.

"San, no! Cheater! No earthbending!" said Jin, but it was too late. She'd never catch San before she made it to Azula.

Jin stood up and brushed herself off, then speedwalked as quickly as she could over to Azula without drawing any more attention by running. Finally, she made it.

Azula was glaring up at San from her seat, arms crossed and legs stretched out in front of her.

"Azula!" said San, huffing from running. "Your brother was in Ba Sing Se before, right?"

Azula lifted an eyebrow. "Yes…?"

"Do you know what he did here?"

Azula waved a hand dismissively. "Served tea with Uncle. Sulked about not having his honor. I don't know and I don't care."

"Did you know he met Jin?"

"San!" hissed Jin.

"Why are you bothering me?" asked Azula.

"Because Jin went on a—mmph!" San was cut off by Jin covering her mouth, but suddenly Jin pulled back.

"Ew!" shouted Jin, shaking her hand. "You licked me!"

Azula's eyes darted between San and Jin. "I'm intrigued now. What doesn't Jin want me to know?"

San smiled like a predator. "Jin went on a daaaaate with your brother!"

Both of Azula's eyebrows shot up.

"And she kiiiissed him!"

"San, shut up, I swear—"

"Really, Jin? Zuko?" Azula looked Jin up and down. "At least have some standards."

San doubled over laughing, while Jin puffed up her cheeks and pouted. "It's not funny!" she said to San, stomping her foot.

"It's hilarious!" wheezed San. Even Azula was snickering. Jin crossed her arms.

San collapsed into the chair right next to Azula. Azula gave her a side-eye and scooted her chair away.

San calmed down from laughing. She shot Azula a glance. "So. Azula—"

"Princess Azula," Azula corrected.

"—the Fire Nation. What's it like?"

"Why do you care?"

San shrugged. "If I'm gonna be fleeing to the Fire Nation, I might as well learn what it's like, right?"

Azula leaned her head back, looking at the ceiling. "It's the best nation in the world, currently ruled by an idiot."

"Your brother," said San.

Azula nodded. "My idiot brother. He's weak and ineffectual."

San waved her hand. "Yeah, yeah, yeah, politics. But what makes it, as you say, 'the best nation in the world?' What's the food like? The people? That kind of stuff."

Azula appeared thoughtful for a moment. Jin stopped pouting and stepped closer, interested to hear as well.

"Well, the food… is amazing. Mostly spicy, but we have some sweet and salty dishes to balance things out. The people are honorable and upright…" Azula paused. "…Usually."

"What do you usually do for fun?" asked San.

Azula glared at her. "Why are you annoying me?"

"Hey, I just wanna learn about the Fire Nation! I've always been curious about how people in other nations live!"

"Then go bother one of the embassy staff," said Azula, turning away.

San was about to say something else, but Iroh came up right at that moment.

"My niece, may I talk with you in private, please?"

Azula froze up. Jin understood. She hadn't spoken to Iroh since the whole lightning thing either. It was terrifying, and it stuck in her mind when she tried to go to sleep. Honestly, Jin was glad that her mother had one of her nightmares the night before, so that she had something to focus on other than the images that seemed to be glued behind her eyelids. That thought made Jin feel very guilty, because she wouldn't wish any pain on her mother, but the fact was that she felt relief when she first heard her mother cry out.

"Please. I feel that we have much to discuss."

Azula raised her chin and looked at her uncle. "Fine."

Jin looked at Iroh nervously, then back to Azula. "We'll be right over there, if you need us," said Jin to Azula. She took San by the hand and the two moved a ways away, far enough not to hear but in Azula's line of sight if she started to look uncomfortable.

0-0-0

Azula felt her muscles tense as Iroh sat down next to her. He had in his hands a tray with two steaming cups of tea.

"Tea, Princess?" asked Iroh.

Azula carefully took the cup closest to her and brought it to her lips. Chamomile. Brewed to perfection.

"Don't think I've forgotten your favorite," said Uncle. "I remember your fondness for chamomile."

"What do you want, Uncle?" Azula snapped. She took another sip of her tea.

Chamomile always helped her relax.

Uncle sighed. "I must have given you a terrible fright yesterday."

Azula glared daggers at him.

"Don't pretend to hide it. You've never seen the effects of lightning so close, have you?"

Azula looked away. Iroh nodded.

"Violence up close is much different than from a distance. It's visceral. It's hard to distance yourself from. And, I am sorry that I exposed you to that."

Azula looked back at Iroh.

"I know you can take care of yourself. You're a strong girl. A warrior. But some things… It's difficult for the mind to process traumatic events like death. Especially so when it happens right in front of you. There were so many agents, I wanted to protect you…" Iroh faltered and took a sip of his tea. "Once again, I apologize. I know from experience, such things stick with you for a long time."

Azula continued to stare at him. "From experience. You mean… the war?"

Iroh nodded. "I can still remember the face of the first man I killed in combat. I remember it as if it were yesterday." He shut his eyes and looked away from Azula. "I had trouble sleeping for months. Now, I am an old man with many regrets, trying to do his best in a new world. And I fear I have just added another regret to my burden. You shouldn't have had to witness so much death. Again, I am sorry."

Azula didn't know what to say. She didn't know what to do. So, they sat in silence for a while as Azula sipped her tea. When she finished, she could feel her eyes drooping. She really hadn't slept well.

Slowly, gently, she leaned into Iroh and laid her head on his shoulder, closing her eyes. Soon enough, she was breathing softly as sleep took hold of her. Iroh shifted so that she might be more comfortable.

Hope fluttered in his chest. She hadn't said anything, but he hoped this action meant that she was beginning to feel safe with him again.

He let her sleep.

0-0-0

Jin and San watched Azula fall asleep on her uncle's shoulder.

"Awww!" said San. "That's so cute! She looks so cute when she's relaxed!"

Jin smiled. "Yeah. It's like all the stress just melts off of her and she actually looks her age."

"Why did she seem so apprehensive about her uncle when he approached, though?" asked San.

Jin frowned. "He… uh, he… he killed a bunch of Dai Li agents so that we could escape from the Jasmine Dragon."

San's eyes widened and her grin slipped off her face. "Oh… wow."

"Yeah," said Jin, playing with one of her braids. "Wow."

They sit in silence for a bit.

"Are you alright?" asked San, after a while. "You need to vent?"

"I just… it's so weird. I've always known Mr. Mushi as such a kind and caring man. Even when he told me who he really was a few months ago, I couldn't see him as anything else than a kindly old teamaker. And then yesterday… yesterday I watched him kill a bunch of people, and I could smell it, I could literally smell them cooking, and… I don't know if I can ever see him the same way again."

San nodded, rubbing Jin's shoulder. "He really killed a bunch of Dai Li?" she asked.

Jin nodded. "Yeah."

"The people who just took over the government?"

"Yeah. They had me and Suki and Sokka pinned down, and I was so scared—" Jin cut herself off.

"So, he saved you from the Dai Li?" asked San.

Jin looked at her.

"I mean, it was obviously extremely violent and traumatizing, but… he did save you. It's not like he's some kind of axe butcher."

Jin looked away. "He's the Dragon of the West, San. He used to be."

San squeezed Jin's shoulder and looked away.

Jin didn't know what to think. Iroh had always been kind to her, always quick to share a joke or a kind gesture. To see him act so ruthlessly was horrifying, to say the least.

Jin chanced a glance at Iroh. He had his arm around a sleeping Azula in a protective embrace. She remembered what he said about regret and sighed. He was probably beating himself up about it, too. And he was just trying to protect everyone…

Jin sighed again. Thinking about the whole affair made her sad, and thinking about it from Iroh's perspective made her even sadder. Maybe she should try to reach out, make sure he's doing okay.

After Azula woke up, though. Jin was not going to get in the middle of whatever bonding they were doing over there. Plus, she knew Azula needed to sleep. The bags under her eyes were extremely visible without any of the makeup Azula normally wore.

Jin sighed again. Her thoughts turned to her parents, and the new unstable situation they had found themselves in.

Her thoughts were interrupted when a furry winged lemur landed on her shoulder and started pawing through her hair, chattering incessantly. Jin laughed and tensed up, unsure what to do.

"Hey little guy, what are you doing?" she asked. The lemur continued to chatter and paw through her hair.

"Aww, what a cutie!" squealed San.

"Momo! Oh, sorry, Jin! He just does that sometimes!" said the Avatar, hurrying over.

Jin glanced at him, but didn't nod for fear of startling Momo. "What's he doing?"

Aang rubbed the back of his head. "He's grooming you. I promise he's not implying that you're dirty, it's just how lemurs show affection! To other lemurs and to humans who have hair!"

Jin smiled. "Aww, that is so cute!"

Aang nodded. "They're very caring creatures!" He frowned. "You look tense. It's okay to relax. Momo won't be uncomfortable."

Jin nodded, and she could hear Momo chitter something. She relaxed her shoulders, and Momo continued to sit there, pawing through her hair.

"I suppose I should make this a little easier for you, huh, Momo?" said Jin. She untied the ribbons holding her braids together and carded her fingers through her hair, letting it fall loose. Momo chittered, and started to explore more of her hair, a gesture she decided to interpret as him saying "Thank you."

"Wow, he really likes you!" said Aang.

Jin giggled. "I like you too, Momo!" Jin scritched Momo between his ears, leaning back. "Avatar?"

"Please, call me Aang," said the Avatar. Jin smiled.

"Aang? Could I ask a favor?"

"What is it?" asked Aang.

"Could you take me, and my parents and friends away when the time comes to leave? My mother especially has… really bad memories of the Fire Nation, and we'd feel much safer elsewhere in the Earth Kingdom."

Aang frowned. "I guess I'll have to shuffle some people around, because Appa can only take so many people, but… yeah, I think I can do that."

"Thank you so much!" said Jin. "This is such a big relief!"

Aang smiled. "You're welcome! Anything I can do to help!"

"Could you also go tell them? I would, but…" Jin trailed off as Momo crawled down her front, curled up in her lap, and closed his eyes, purring contentedly.

Aang laughed. "Of course! Everyone knows that if a lemur falls asleep on you, it's illegal to wake it up!"

Author's Note:

Please let me know what you thought! Comments are greatly appreciated! :D