Zuko was walking through the front room, trying to be peaceful. Trying to pretend he was standing so close to the window because it was nice outside, not because he was waiting for any sign that his father was about to come home. It was failing. He was more like pacing in front of the window, and he could tell.

He tried to calm himself by taking a deep breath and walking a lot slower, only glancing out the window every 30 seconds (as opposed to five). And then, just when he felt like he was about to go find Leehn and ask him just how long their father was going to be, he saw him. It was actually just a little bit of him overseeing the servants putting the rhinos away, but it was enough.

Suddenly full of energy, Zuko stopped mid-pace, sped to Aang's room, rapped on the door, then burst in. Aang looked up from tying his Fire Nation sandals and caught Zuko's eyes. His own eyes widened and he stood, rubbing his hands on his pant legs. "What?"

Zuko clenched his fists. He knew what. "He's here." It came out probably a little angrier than was needed, and he tried to soften his tone. "Come on, let's get ready."

Aang nodded quickly. "Yeah, okay." They both knew where to go and fell into place near the front door. Zuko couldn't see the window from here, so he didn't know when their father would come. Aang was fidgeting too much. Probably nervous. Zuko almost laughed at that - of course he was nervous.

He shifted slightly as Aang all but grabbed his shirt, twisting it around his hands. He needed to be ready for… whatever it was that he'd been planning. "Are you ready for… whatever it is you have planned?" Zuko was pretty sure if Aang didn't stop literally right now, his shirt was going to be wrinkled forever. He gently (well, as gently as he could right now) placed his hands over Aang's. "And stop moving."

"Yeah, okay. You're right. I'll stop. And yeah, it should work."

Zuko went back to standing at attention and staring at the wall opposite him. "For your sake, I hope so." He glanced at the door again and realized he was shaking. Stupid! He breathed from his belly as he'd been taught and tried to be completely still, fists clenched at his sides. His eyes flickered from the door to Aang and back to the door before he forced himself to just look at the wall again.

A very short time later, the door flung open and their father swept into the house. Zuko immediately dropped into the Fire Nation bow. Was he low enough? How low was he supposed to be? Why couldn't he remember? He had done this so many times. And wait - what was Aang doing? In a moment of panic, he glanced at Aang, fully expecting him to be doing some crazy air nomad thing. Well, he wasn't, and Zuko let out a relieved breath.

Aang was staring at the floor, not even trying to pull up, which he did occasionally. So. Apparently his crazy plan didn't require confidence. Their father let his eyes run over them both, coming to rest on Zuko. "Did you do as I instructed?"

Zuko nodded slowly. "Yes, sir. We fed the sky bison. And we did our training every day, as well as the usual items of business." He swallowed hard. "And we prepared ourselves to be presentable."

His father nodded. "I can see that. I'm impressed. It usually takes a lot longer to get your brother to do anything after something like this happens. Including someone else dying."

Aang took in a deep breath, but didn't move. Well. Mostly. He was trembling, from either fear or anger (one of those was a lot safer than the other). Zuko took a deep breath of his own to keep his voice stead. "Yes sir. Aang actually wasn't that bad. By the second day, he was back to normal." At least enough to help. "And he's continued to improve."

"I see. So, Aang, answer me something. Why aren't you saying anything? Surely you haven't, as your brother once put it, shut down?"

Aang visibly tensed, and his voice shook when he spoke. He did look up, though, so that was… an improvement. Maybe. "I haven't. I… I actually have something to say." He bit his lip and looked back at the floor.

Ozai leaned forward and lifted Aang's chin (Zuko stood still, silent, waiting in case he needed to move really quickly). "You have something to say? I'm shocked. It must be truly inspiring. Go ahead. Awe me."

Aang glanced at Zuko, who stared right back, daring him to continue. Aang took a deep breath. "Okay. So, um, you see, I-"

"Get on with it."

"Y-yes sir. I don't… I don't want to be part of the Fire Nation anymore." Aang looked up confidently. There was a hardness to his eyes that Zuko had never seen before. "I want to join the Air Nomads, and fight with them in the mainland."

It took a moment for Aang's words to make sense to Zuko. Aang wanted to what? Leave Ember Island to go fight with a bunch of flying people who couldn't tell the difference between a death threat and friendly teasing? Ozai had also frozen, but he became unstuck much quicker than Zuko.

Leaning in close (but Zuko was still watching, it had to be fine - ), Ozai said ever so softly, "What?"

Aang flinched but held his ground. He met Ozai's gaze, eye for eye. "Father, I've decided to join the Air Nomads. I don't want to be Fire Nation anymore. Or live on Ember Island. I will fight with them, just like you do."

Finally, Zuko was able to really hear Aang. He was serious. He really actually wanted to leave Ember Island. This was… really bad. Especially because he had chosen to bring it up with their father instead of just being sad in silence. Ozai slowly moved back, and Zuko stepped forward, closer to his little brother. "Please, Father, he doesn't mean it. He's just confused. Right now."

Aang shoved Zuko's shoulder, because Zuko had stepped closer to him so Ozai hadn't been able to advance again so he felt safe. Or safer, at least. "I do too mean it! I told you Zuko! I've thought this through."

Zuko nudged back but otherwise completely ignored him. They both knew Zuko could do almost nothing if their Father started to hurt Aang. "This is all my fault. I've let him do too many Air Nomad things. I let him fly around the city on the sky bison. I let him refrain from eating meat. I let him converse with other air nomads. This is all my fault. Please don't blame him - it's my fault."

Aang pulled Zuko back and stepped forward, glaring at him. "It is not your fault! I should have done this years ago. I was never meant to be born in the Fire Nation." He wasn't looking at their father. Did he think Ozai would just be okay with him doing this? Aang didn't see his warning look and continued. "Don't you think everything would have been better if I had been born in the Air Nomad Community?"

No, the answer was no, he should've stopped talking a long time ago - Ozai pushed Zuko aside and held Aang against the wall, holding the clothing right under his neck. He wouldn't kill him, though, he couldn't, he needed him, the air benders might revolt if he killed him - Ozai was talking. "Are you really suggesting that you're not supposed to be here?" His voice was calm, but Zuko wasn't fooled. His father was furious.

That was really really not good. "No. He wasn't suggesting that. He's really glad to be here. We're really grateful that you take care of us like this and give us food and let us have enough to do and -"

Their father put a finger to his lips, and Zuko stopped talking. "Quiet. I want to hear what the firebender from the Fire Nation has to say. You can plead for him later. Go on."

Aang swallowed. "A-about me being a f-firebender, there's something I have to t-tell you." Ozai narrowed his eyes, and Zuko willed his brother to stop talking. "I am a firebender." Obviously, Zuko thought. Who was he trying to convince? Aang continued in that strange confident voice, "But the thing is, I'm also a-an-" every muscle in Ozai's neck tightened but Aang continued for some stupid reason "-an airbender."

Ozai's grip on Aang's clothes was suddenly on his neck. "Don't lie to me."

Zuko stepped forward again and tried to get in the way, but Ozai wasn't looking at him, he was just looking at Aang, and Aang wouldn't look away and just admit defeat and if Zuko could just get Ozai to look at him things might be okay - "I don't know why he's saying that. It's not true, he's a firebender! He did it this week! He's delusional. This is my fault. I thought he was dealing with his grief in a good way. I was wrong. I see that now. This is all my fault." He was rambling, but he didn't care, because that didn't matter, what mattered was that Aang was going to get himself killed because Zuko had let him roam free for too long.

Ozai slowly turned to Zuko and tilted his head. "Really?" Turning back to Aang, who was somehow still breathing, he continued, "Are you delusional, Aang, overcome from your grief from someone else dying on the battlefield? Is that why you want to join them? So you can die, too? Do you think dying will give you the release you desire?" His grip tightened for a moment and Aang tried to free himself. It didn't work. "Because if that's what you want, I can get you that pretty quickly."

"No! That's not what he wants! Father, please! He's confused! Let me take care of him, please. I can fix this." He could fix this, he had to fix this - and he could, couldn't he? "Please. This is all my fault."

Ozai sighed, turning to him again - but he let Aang fall. Yeah, he was still holding his arms, but Aang could breathe. Zuko took a deep breath with him, and Aang wasn't smiling. Neither was their father. "Thank you, Zuko, for continuing to interfere with your brother's life. What, are you planning on challenging me again? Think that would help the situation?" Zuko flinched, but didn't say anything. If he had to, he would challenge him again. Ozai didn't wait for an answer, turning back to Aang. "Fortunately for you, I won't be accepting a challenge from you tonight. I'm not angry with you." That… hadn't been Zuko's plan. Now his father was talking to his little brother again. "But for you, and your disillusioned mind. What makes you think you can airbend?"

Aang was trembling, and Zuko wanted to answer for him, wanted to say that Aang didn't think he could airbend. But if he did, there was a pretty big chance Aang would say no, he knew he could, and then he'd get in trouble, and… would just make things worse, so he held his tongue. Ozai, still waiting for an answer, shoved Aang against the wall, hard, and he stammered something unintelligible.

Ozai looked like he wanted to shove him again. Zuko didn't grab onto him or do anything stupid but he thought about it, because he was supposed to protect his brother, and - and suddenly his father didn't look… as angry? Maybe? That didn't make sense, but there was a new gleam in his eye that Zuko hadn't seen in a long time. Not letting go of Aang, he lowered his voice to a more dangerous level. "Aang. You're telling me that you, a firebender, can airbend?"

Aang nodded very quickly. "Y-yes. That's what I'm saying. I can - I can do both. I'll show you. I'm not lying. I promise. I can show you."

Ozai nodded, not quite smiling, but almost. Zuko didn't like it, but he liked it a lot when his father set Aang on the ground. Well, dropped, but he wasn't holding him anymore. Then his father was pulling Aang away and for a second Zuko panicked, but then they were going to the training center, so he… stopped panicking. It was a rather fast walk, but Zuko wasn't tired. It was actually nice to run through the house for a second. Burn off a little of the energy.

Their father set Aang in the center of the room and walked to the front of the room. "Show me. Now. And let me be clear - if you are an airbender, things will be very different around here. And if you're not, there will be severe consequences for lying." He glanced at Zuko, who was on the opposite side of the center. "I think you know what I mean."

Aang nodded quickly (which was good, when he understood the threats he always acted more serious) and got into a strange stance. Well, it wasn't that strange, Zuko had seen airbenders take the stance multiple times. But. Aang wasn't supposed to be an airbender. Of course, just as he had that thought, Aang took a deep breath and literally shot into the air.

Before Zuko could get over his shock over his brother flying (since when could he fly?), Aang was on the ground again. He shot a fire blast at the wall opposite them. It hit the wall, dissipating quietly. After that, Aang did two… kick things that Zuko had only ever seen airbenders do, and there were two hard thuds as something hit the wall. The second hit a little harder, and their father started forward. Zuko was so bewildered he wasn't fully relieved that Aang stopped bending immediately. There was no way around it. Zuko was going insane.

Aang was a firebender. Zuko knew that. Aang had started firebending when he was six, just a few months younger than Zuko had been when he learned. Zuko'd been the one to train him, to teach him the rules and how not to burn unsuspecting air nomads while showing the new talent. He had the memories of teaching him the first kata, of the rousing pride (and slight disappointment in himself) when Aang finally caught up to him. And this couldn't be a new thing. He'd - he'd literally just seen Aang bend fire!

And yeah, Aang was friends with the air benders for some reason. But that didn't mean he could just… airbend! That just wasn't possible. No one could bend two elements. But he'd done it, and his father seemed frozen, so it wasn't just Zuko… maybe he was dreaming? That… might make sense. He pinched himself hard - but he could absolutely feel it.

Zuko rubbed his arm and fully looked to see his father's reaction. He was frozen, but he still had that gleam in his eye. It scared Zuko more than it logically should've, but Ozai never looked at Aang that way. He smiled slightly and stepped forward. Aang visibly flinched, but luckily, Ozai ignored it.

"Sit. Directly where you are is fine." This was also strange. Ozai never talked to Aang besides criticism, but here he was, talking, in an almost gentle voice. Aang was also obviously startled, but he sat down.

"So, um, does this mean that I can -"

"You will stay where you are and listen." The words were harsh, but Ozai's tone of voice was still gentle. Firm, but gentle - much less dangerous than before. Bewildered, and waiting for the attack (fire is an offensive element, Zuko, always be ready for the attack), Zuko slowly started moving forward. Ozai continued on as if he wasn't, so that was good. "You are the only one of your kind."

Aang looked confused. Zuko willed him to keep his mouth shut. It, um, didn't work. "What do you mean? You're a firebender. And there are lots of airbenders out there…"

Zuko started moving a little bit faster, but Ozai didn't snap at him. He didn't yell, or scream (or challenge him to an Agni Kai). He just kept smiling that really strange smile. "Yes, but how many people have you met that can both airbend and firebend?" Aang didn't answer, because you don't answer if you don't know. "I assure you that you are the only one. Now I have a question for you. Answer honestly. Have you ever tried to waterbend?"

Zuko didn't know what to signal to Aang to say. Just as well, because Aang didn't even glance in his direction, his face twisted with confusion. "No, why would I be able to waterbend? I just learned airbending because I liked it and there were teachers."

Ozai's eyes glinted again (so that was the wrong answer - why would he want him to be able to waterbend?) and he sat down in front of Aang. "You are telling me that while you are that good at airbending and firebending, you have never, never bent water before? Ever?"

Their father never complimented Aang. This was really important to him for some reason. Zuko tried to gesture to Aang to say that he'd tried, but Aang had never been fluent in silent-Zuko-gestures. "No. Why would I be able to waterbend? There aren't any teachers here. Just for air and fire."

Zuko, finally near Aang, began to sit down. Of course, it was then that Ozai grabbed Aang's arm and hauled him to his feet, so. Zuko stood up, too. "Let me ask you one more time. Have you ever bent any element besides air or fire?"

"N-no. I… I don't know how." Aang finally glanced at Zuko, but he didn't know how to fix this now. "I don't know how."

Ozai sighed. "Zuko, have you heard of the Avatar?" He did not slacken his grip on Aang's arm.

"I think I heard someone talk about it once. They said he was someone who would save them, I think." Zuko kept his voice steady, blocking out the confusion he was feeling (and the pressure because Ozai still wasn't letting go he needed to let go right now). He took another breath. "I don't know much about him, though."

"Of course you don't. Any talk of the Avatar is banned from this island. The imposter knows the Avatar has enough power to get him off the throne, and he thinks if the talk is banned, the Avatar will simply… disappear. Of course, we see that he is, once again, wrong. The Avatar is the person - the only person on the planet - that can bend more than one element. Do you understand?"

Aang looked confused. That meant no. He started talking anyway. "Um, maybe. It - you're saying that there's someone called the Avatar and he can bend all four elements. And he's going to help get the imposter off the throne? And that he's the only one who can. Is… is that right?" And then, as their father slowly nodded, Zuko finally saw, finally understood the glint in his father's eye, why it was so important that Aang could bend more than one element. It made him the Avatar, and his father had been looking for the Avatar, or something, so he could take down the imposter. Somehow, that didn't seem that good.

"You can bend two elements, Aang," Ozai said, because Aang didn't seem to get it.

Aang flinched, and he still wasn't getting it. "Yes, um, Father. I can."

"This means that you are, by definition, the Avatar." Yeah, yeah, Zuko got that, but what did that mean, that was what was important. A lot more training? Not a lot? What?

Aang. Still didn't get it. He used his free hand to rub the back of his neck and kept not getting it. "No, I'm not the Avatar, I'm just… I'm just an airbender." Seeing his father's expression, he quickly added on, "Well I'm also a firebender but that doesn't mean anything, right?"

Zuko spoke up then. His father was getting annoyed, and he could see how this could easily fall into chaos (this didn't mean Aang was stupid). "It means everything. It means you're the Avatar. It means that you can actually bend the rest of the elements, you just haven't… tried yet. It means that you're going to be helpful in defeating the imposter because you're naturally powerful."

Zuko knew Aang got it when he turned to him, looking almost scared. "But I don't want to - "

Ozai cut him off. "Did anyone ask you what you wanted? Did the spirits consult me before deciding to make you the Avatar? No. But it is who you are, and you will fulfill your destiny."

Aang looked down. "But can't I just fight with the airbenders? Air came really easy for me. I can just learn waterbending there, and defeat the imposter that way. That would work."

"No. The airbenders are weak. They don't save the world, they defend themselves."

Aang looked back up. "They're not weak! They just have a different way of -"

"They are weak. In the end, you will end up helping protect them."

Aang was smart, but he liked to argue points far past the point when the argument had been won. But if Ozai needed him, then maybe it would be okay, so… Zuko let him talk. "But… but I am an air nomad!"

His father sighed. "No. You're not. You may be an air bender, but you're Fire Nation, through and through."

Aang bit his lip, which meant he might be about to get it. "Okay. Okay. So that means that you want me to, um, fight with you? And help the air benders?"

The glint in Ozai's eye was back and he looked almost excited. "Not exactly. You will fight with me, and in the end, I think I can arrange for you to help the air nomads. " He glanced at Zuko. "Does that sound fair?"

Aang nodded. "So… my Avatar power isn't… I mean, how powerful will it really make me?"

"Your power is real. But I could still kill you any time I wanted to, and you would be powerless to stop me. Don't forget that." Ozai took a battle stance and nodded to Aang. "Stand up. We will spar before we begin your training. I'd like to see how good you really are." So Aang stood up and Zuko went off to the side, and a really really long night began.

Hey guys... it's been a bit more than a week. I had a lot of help from my friend (thanks...) but it just took me longer than expected. I can't make any promises about when the next few chapters will come - this time is pretty crazy for me. Anyway, thanks for reading!