Zuko

"So, you still drink, huh ?" I said as i saw Aang put his pouch of wine in his pocket after taking a sip.

"I'm just preparing myself for a couple of days in the fire nation, as i've already told you before, The Wine here tastes like rotten Tofu." The Avatar replied sticking his tongue out which made Zuko chuckle a bit.

He missed Aang a lot, How long has it been ? a year ? he couldn't even remember, after Aang left his hideout more than a year ago, he stayed with his friends for a couple of months, but then he left for the air temple, this is his first visit to the fire nation since then, Zuko thought Aang would've quit drinking by now, considering that in the temple, he's staying with the monks and all, but he couldn't care less for now, he was just so happy that his friend is back to the capital after so much time, and he was planning on spending every second of his stay with him and his uncle of course.

"What about you, Uncle ?" looking at his uncle who was walking next to them, his uncle perked up sharply to look at Zuko as if he was in a trance, which turned out to be true.

"Huh, What ?" Iroh replied as if he hadn't heard any of the conversation between Zuko and Aang, that grabbed Aang's attention too and both of them fixated their sights on the former general with concern in their eyes.

"Something wrong, Uncle ?" Zuko asked concerned about the man he considers his real father.

"Oh, Nothing, My Boy, it's just... This is my first visit to the capital in a long time, i feel like a stranger here." Iroh said with a sad tone.

Zuko and Aang looked at each other not sure what to say to comfort the former general, but then Aang looked at the man he considered his father as well, and tried to comfort him anyway.

"It's okay, Iroh, It's my first visit to the capital in a long time too, Zuko doesn't make us feel like strangers, and it's gonna be even better when we arrive at the palace, i hear they even appointed new palace maids, and they're as hot as the volcano itself." Aang quipped, earning a laugh from both Zuko and Iroh.

"Oh Spirits, i really should warn them about you once we arrive." Zuko said still chuckling a bit.

"Well, Palace maids aren't so bad, i even got to bed one of them when i was younger." Iroh said looking like he was trying remember the maid's name, but then regretted the words that poured out of his mouth as soon as he saw the looks on both Aang and Zuko's faces.

"What in Agni's name did i just hear ?" Zuko said with shock written all over his face.

"Iroh, i was just joking, You actually got to bed a house maid ?!" Aang said with a voice that Zuko couldn't identify as excitement or anger, but before Iroh could say anything, Aang's reply came.. "What did it feel like ?" The Avatar said with excitement as if he was waiting to hear a story from the old general.

"No, Shut it, Both of you, i don't want to hear anything, i just had Breakfast for spirits's sake !" Zuko said yelling, his face turning green as he just imagined his old uncle actually being in the same bed with a palace maid.

'Well, How should i remember how my uncle looked when he was younger, if i wasn't even there ?' he asked inwardly, cursing his uncle for even saying the story out loud.

"Anyway.." his uncle finally tried to change the subject for which Zuko thanked the spirits, a second longer and he would've hurled his breakfast, his uncle continued.. "Where's your father ,Zuko ? Aang and I need to talk to him" Iroh said, earning a confused look from the prince.

"He's in the palace, i think he's still asleep, he had a busy night planning the ceremonies last night, Why do you want to talk to him ?" Zuko asked with confusion on his face.

"Don't worry, Zuko, you'll be there too, and i'll reveal everything there, but for now, let's just worry about the celebrations." Aang said reassuring his friend that they wouldn't keep anything from him, and Zuko actually felt reassured.

"Well, i was thinking we should, you know, roam the city in disguise, just me and you, like old times, i wish Toph was here though, we'd have scammed together like old times, what did you say she stayed at the harbour for again ?" Zuko asked.

"Her parents are about to arrive in a ship for the ceremonies, she stayed at the harbor to receive them, At least that's what she told me." Aang said with a sly smile on his face, giving Zuko the impression that he was hiding something, but he just brushed it away.

"So, what do you say ?" Zuko asked remembering that he hasn't received an answer to his earlier proposal.

"Of Course, I'm in, you know i can't say No to fun." Aang said with an excited voice that made Zuko smile, finally he gets to have some of his old life back, a life he almost forgot as almost all the people in his life either left or disappeared, he only had Mai in the capital and she made him feel at home, but he always felt as if something was missing, and the return of Aang and his uncle made him feel as if that missing thing has finally returned to its place.

they finally arrived at the palace, said their goodbyes to Uncle Iroh, had their disguises on and made their way through the capital, it was more than a fun day to say the least, it was like old times again.

They drank, they scammed, they played games, they had fun, they had real fun, for the first time in a while, and from the look on Aang's face, he might've shared Zuko's thoughts exactly, they finally decided to rest in an inn, they ordered drinks and sat to have a conversation.

"What do you think about Azula ?" Zuko asked Aang, Aang perked up sharply, his eyes widened, giving Zuko all the information he needed, but Zuko just kept sipping his drink casually as if he hadn't noticed anything, Aang's stuttering afterwards made everything even more clear.

"What... ? What are you ...? I don't know what ... Y-you're talking.. about ? What do you mean ?" Aang stuttered, Zuko was having a hard time keeping a straight face right now.

"What ? i just asked about your opinion on Azula, is that a very hard question ?" Zuko asked still sipping his drink casually, as if he wasn't indicating anything else.

"I don't have an opinion.. on.. Azula, why do you ask that ?" Aang asked his eyes still wide from the shock of the unexpected question, as fun as it was to torment him, Zuko finally decided to put an end to it.

"Listen, Aang, i know that my sister has feelings for you, i'm not sure if you share her feelings or not, that's why i'm here to ask you, and warn you if you really have feelings for my sister." Zuko said sarcastically, making Aang smile nervously, soon the smile faded and Aang decided to tell Zuko the truth.

"Listen, Zuko, there's something i have to confess, something that no one knows but Me, Azula and Toph... Me and Azula, We.."

"Had Sex ?" Zuko interupted the avatar putting his hand under his chin and resting them on the table, Aang's face paled of any color, giving Zuko a hard time to keep a straight face again.

'Man, if he keeps doing that, i'm gonna burst out' Zuko mused.

"How did you know that ?" Aang asked with a frightened voice.

"What ? you thought i was some kind of dumb turtle-duck ? I knew this was gonna happen for a long time, i know my sister has strong feelings for you, but i'm still not sure about you." Zuko finished, giving the avatar the freedom to speak again.

Aang took a very deep breath and decided to speak his mind for the first time.

"I'm not sure about my feelings towards Azula, Zuko, i mean, i love her, but not more than a sister, i can't love her more than that, it's just my instincts tell me that she's not the one for me, you know, you ever had such feelings ? like the universe is controlling your feelings and sometimes actions ?" Aang asked.

"Yeah, i feel it all the time actually, i saw many beautiful girls in many cities but i've never chosen anyone but Mai." Zuko said certain that Aang would understand what he meant.

"Thank the spirits for it, At least you found the one you were looking for.." Aang said, but then his eyes fixated on something behind Zuko, Zuko followed Aang's line of sight, and looked behind him.

he saw a water tribe girl, no older than Azula, she had tanned skin, blue eyes, caramel brown hair, she was sitting alone in the inn, Zuko wasn't sure why such a beautiful girl would sit alone here, but he couldn't care less, he was just curious as to why Aang was staring too long at that girl ?

"You know that girl ?" Zuko finally asked as Aang stayed silent for too long.

Yet Aang stayed silent still staring at the girl, so Zuko had to repeat the question and he finally caught Aang's attention.

"Oh, No, i don't actually know her, we just kinda bumped into eachother in the northern water tribe, Like, Literally, bumped into eachother, she was so angry at me." Aang said with a somewhat bashful face.

"And ?" Zuko asked still not grasping why'd that make him stare too long at her.

"And i never got a chance to apologize so i thought this could be a perfect opportunity to apologize for what happened." Aang was scratching the back of his neck and looked so nervous, so Zuko decided to push things a little farther.

"You like that girl, don't you ?" Zuko asked with a sly smile on his face, Aang gave a startled look again, and this time Zuko couldn't help but chuckle.

"Come on, Aang, you don't have to hide anything from me, it's written all over your face." Zuko continued still chuckling a bit.

"Will you just shut up, i'm trying to will up the courage to go and talk to her, if you won't support me, then i suggest you leave." Aang said in an irritated voice, making Zuko chuckle even more.

"Alright, I'm gonna Support. Go Aang ! Go Aang ! The Air nomad handsomeness and the water tribe beauty, Let's Make Babies Great Again !" Zuko said excitedly, but only loud enough for Aang to hear, but still made Aang redden a bit, And Zuko laughed in the process.

"I think you should leave, Didn't you have something to discuss with your father ? Just Go." Aang said visibly irritated and embarrassed, so Zuko decided to stop, he already had his fun anyway.

"Actually, i'm going to confront my father for you and uncle if you hadn't noticed but you're right, I'm gonna leave, Enjoy the water tribe beauty." Zuko said with a sly smile and left, leaving an grumbling Aang behind him.

On his way back home, Zuko made sure to collect his thoughts before going in to confront his father, he never liked to confront his father, he was an expert in bursting his bubble, it was like he never wanted to see Zuko happy, not ever, but Zuko made his way there anyway, he wanted to set up a meeting between them, and to know what Aang has to say because it sounded important, and he asked Aang about it a couple of times during the day, but Aang wouldn't talk, he didn't know why, but that made him more curious than before.

he finally arrived at the palace entrance and he made his way to the war room where he knew he'd find his father sitting in the office of the war room signing some papers concerning the ceremony, he asked for permission to enter.

"Father, May i come in ?" Zuko asked.

"Come in." His father said in his usual thick voice, Zuko sighed.. This is gonna be a long day, he thought as he entered the room, sat on one of the front chairs and waited for his father to sign the remaining papers.

he waited and waited, the room was silent as a tomb, nothing to be heard except for the sounds of turning papers, the scratching of a quill, and Zuko's fingers drumming on his chair sides, Zuko grew bored of the silence and decided to grab his father's attention.

"Lovely new office, i like the new decorations of the walls." Zuko said pointing at the newly decorated walls of the office, of course fire lord Ozai had to redecorate the whole palace for the ceremonies, but even though Zuko made his remark, his father kept signing his papers as if he didn't say anything, as if he wasn't even there, Finally after a couple of seconds the Firelord decided to speak..

"You wanted to speak to me ?" The Firelord asked stating the obvious, as if it wasn't his intent to keep Zuko waiting for him to finish, Zuko brushed the thought aside, this was his father after all, he knew this was his way of doing things.

"Yes, Father. i know how hard it is for you to talk to me, but i'm not here to make a request for myself, it's for my uncle and Aang." Zuko said keeping a straight face while looking at his father, The Firelord finally left the quill on the table and fixated his attention on Zuko, which made Zuko flinch a bit by The Firelord's intense stare.

"I'm sure you know how busy i am preparing for the ceremonies, so, you know all too well that i don't have the luxury of sparing time for your uncle and the avatar." The Firelord stated, but Zuko knew better as to the real reason why the firelord doesn't want to meet with Aang and his uncle.

"I know, Father. but they said it's urgent, Aang wouldn't tell me, but he did tell me that it's a matter of world security." Zuko stated, The Firelord looked at him, Zuko wasn't sure what that look was, but he knew that he finally grabbed his father's attention.

"Alright, I'll arrange a meeting for the avatar and your uncle, tell them to come to the war room by nightfall." The Firelord said, getting back to his quill and papers, as relieved as Zuko was by the agreement, he stayed there, looks like he wasn't finished after all.

"You're still here." The Firelord stated the obvious again, but this time in a questioning manner.

"Yes, I wanted to make another request, Father, this time for myself, do you have the time ?" Zuko asked the Firelord, No, he asked his father, as the next conversation between them was supposed to be a father-son conversation.

"No, i don't have the time, but you've already interrupted me, might as well speak your mind." The Firelord said in a calm voice, to which Zuko was grateful, had his father yelled at him, he'd have left the room immediately.

"After me and Azula helped you and Aang with dealing with the rebels and defeating them for good, you named Azula the city's chief of police.." Zuko looked on the ground trying so hard to keep calm so not to spoil his chances, so he continued.. "But not the least bit of gratitude for me." Zuko finished, he tried so hard to control his voice, but his voice cracked at some of his words, he was so broken when it happened.

"And what would you consider gratitude for your work ?" Zuko heard his father ask and he perked up sharply to look at his father, not in the eyes of course, he has never been able to look his father in the eyes.

"I want what is mine by right, i want a place at your court, something to prepare me to be the next firelord." Zuko said with a confident voice, but soon his confident posture dropped as he heard his father laughing.

Did i say something funny ? What's he laughing about ?. Zuko asked inwardly, he wasn't sure what was going on, and he kept looking at his father, until finally the laughing subsided and his father looked back at him.

"Firelord ? Are you serious ? Who said i'm naming you the next Firelord ?" The Firelord asked still chuckling a bit, Zuko looked at his father with eyes as wide as large plates.

What did he just say ? Zuko asked inwardly his words caught in his throat unable to pour them out of his mouth, he was so shocked, angry, frightened, he was feeling all the horrible feelings at the moment, finally he cleared his throat and was finally able to speak.

"What did you just say ?" Zuko said in a hoarse voice as he stood up from the chair he was sitting on, making his father stop laughing all at once, but kept his place on the chair and kept looking at his son with intense eyes.

"Watch your tone, Prince Zuko." The Firelord said in a calm voice but filled with malice and the ability to murder, Zuko was actually so afraid of his father's tone that he sat back down on the chair and tried clearing his head by messaging them, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, and then he spoke to his father again.

"Why'd you do that to me ?" Zuko asked, he didn't ask the question that would come to anyone's mind in his position, he didn't ask who would you name as the heir to the throne, because he knew all too well, his father will name his cruel sister as his heir, rather than that, Zuko asked the question that came to his mind, why does his father love to torment him ? the answer came rather quickly..

"Did you really think i'd name you as my heir ? a drunken, weak firebender to rule the nation ?" His father asked standing up abruptly and came beside Zuko's chair to talk down to him, The Firelord continued..

"What ? did that hurt your feelings ? But this is the truth about you, you're nothing but a weak, drunken little kid who had always hid behind his mother instead of going out and having a real fight.." Zuko obviously flinched at the mention of his mother, but before he could respond, the firelord continued..

"and now you come to me and tell me to give you a high place at my court and name you my heir, just because you're my son ?"

The Firelord kept his angry tone while speaking down to Zuko.. "The spirits decided to torment me by making you my son, The son of the firelord of all people, but they can't decide the fate of that son now, can they ? they can't decide whether that son will become the next firelord or not, that's for me to choose, and i choose the next firelord to be your sister, Now, since your mother isn't here anymore, you better get back to the things you love the most, your drinks and your friends.." The Firelord said, all the while Zuko was listening to his words with a glassy heart that almost shattered at his father's words, he felt the urge to cry, but decided to keep them in to keep whatever pride he had left, he kept thinking about his father's words but The Firelord wasn't finished yet.

"But, after all as despicable and spiteful as you are, you're a member of our family, unfortunately your pride is intertwined with ours, so i'll give you a place at my court, maybe that will make a better man out of you." The Firelord stated, Zuko just kept silent for a while, then stood up, looked his father in the eyes for perhaps the first time in his life, he only saw malice and hatred there, Spirits, what a huge difference between his father's eyes and his mother's, Zuko felt the urge to strike his father right then and there, but as hurt as he was he was smarter than that, so he decided against it, instead he kept his morals..

"Thank you, Father." he said with a bow, he came back up, and saw a slightly amused look on his father's face, then Zuko turned on his heels and left the office, he wasn't sure what he was feeling, Hurt ? Fear ? No, he was feeling hatred, hatred for his father, for the first time in his life, Zuko felt the urge to kill, and that was saying something.

he made his way to his room, a single tear trickled down his cheeks, he wiped it, composed himself, and made his way to Aang and his Uncle to tell them the news.

He found his uncle sitting in the garden, But Aang hasn't returned to the palace yet.