Aang was on his knees in an instant. "Hey!" He tucked his arm around Zuko's limp form, holding him up against his lap. "Zuko, are you okay? Zuko!"

There was no response. Not even a flutter of an eyelash. Panic flared in Aang's chest. This wasn't right. It was a whisper in his heart—no, his very soul. Something had gone wrong during the healing, because that was what Zuko had been doing. He had been trying to heal the old man. Everyone had felt the sheer warmth and radiance emanating from him as if his body had become a sun of life-giving light. Aang had been especially sensitive to the exchange, but then a chill had crept around his heart and he'd seen the way Zuko had started to tremble, seen the colour drain from his cheeks and his breathing come short and fast as if every breath was a struggle…

Pulse. Check for a pulse.

Frantic now, Aang's fingers brushed against Zuko's wrist as he felt for the vital rhythm. He flinched back in surprise. "He's cold as ice!" he exclaimed, raising his head to stare at his companions. "I knew something had happened. We have to help him!"

Everyone turned to look at Katara. She was the only one with healing powers. It made sense that she would be the one to step forward, but her eyes were wide and she seemed frozen in place, just clutching the moon-like pendant at her throat.

"Katara, please," Aang begged. "Please, I know you're upset with me because I lied, and I know I have no right to ask this of you, but I owe Zuko my life. I owe him so much. Please, isn't there anything you can do?"

For a moment she said nothing. She didn't even move. Then she let out a breath and life seemed to spring back into her body. Her fingers released the death-grip she had on her necklace and she knelt beside Aang and summoned the water from her flask, calm and methodical. "Hold him still," she said, not meeting Aang's eyes.

Aang did as ordered and watched as Katara held glowing palms to Zuko's temples. Slowly, she moved the water down, feeling for any trace of what had caused him to go unconscious. A few creases gathered on her brow. Not a good sign.

"There are no wounds," she said, pursing her lips. "Aside from a few bruises, there doesn't appear to be anything really wrong with him." Her hands moved back to his stomach area. "Maybe he's just worn out, but then that doesn't explain why he's so cold or—"

"Sunlight."

Aang turned at the new voice and was surprised to see the old man sitting up. Iroh groaned slightly as he rolled his shoulder in an experimental way, testing the part where Azula's lightning had struck, but he otherwise seemed fine. Zuko's healing must have paid off. He turned to face them with a benign smile.

"Um, what?" Aang blinked. "Did you just say sunlight?"

Iroh nodded and moved to kneel between Aang and Katara. Without preamble, he started removing Zuko's boots and clothes as if it were the most normal thing in the world.

Katara made a choked, spluttering noise. "W-what are you doing?" she demanded, looking away.

"Firebenders gather their energy from the sun," Iroh explained patiently. "Zuko has lost an alarming amount of chi. I know because I've seen these symptoms before, though never this bad. The fastest way for him to recover is to have direct skin contact with sunlight." He cast an anxious glance at the fire-coloured sky. "I only hope we're not too late. The sun has almost set."

Sokka frowned and gripped Toph by her shoulders, turning her the other way.

"Uh, what are you doing?" Toph asked.

"You shouldn't be looking at him like that. It's not"—Sokka struggled for the right word—"decent."

Toph rolled her milky-green eyes. "I'm blind."

There was a pause, broken only by the sound of Katara slapping her palm against her forehead.

"Right." Sokka released Toph's shoulders and folded his arms across his chest, trying to look dignified. "Well, you still shouldn't be looking. I mean with those earthbendy feet sensors of yours, who knows what you see?"

Toph just stared in his general direction with a blank expression.

"Anyway," Aang said, looking back at the old firebender, "you're saying that all Zuko needs to do is rest here under the sun and he'll get better?"

Iroh spread his hands in a helpless gesture. "That's what I'm hoping. It worked the last time, so it should help again."

"Then I guess we wait," Aang declared.

He sat cross-legged and rested his chin on his hands, watching Zuko as if he would be able to see the sun working its magic in seconds.

"I'll go collect Appa and Momo," Sokka said with a sigh.

Katara got to her feet. "Then I'll see if I can find us some water."

Aang made a noncommittal sound that might have been a thank you. The knot of anxiety unsettling his stomach had eased a little since he'd learned sunlight might help, but he still couldn't help but feel worried. This was not the reunion he had been expecting. He hated seeing Zuko so helpless and vulnerable. He wished there was something he could do to help.

"You're really sure this sunlight thing is going to work?" Aang asked, glancing up at Iroh.

Iroh paused in the middle of making a pillow out of Zuko's tunic. "Do you have any better ideas?"

Aang shook his head.

"Then I guess we'll just have to wait and see." Iroh's eyes softened as he looked down at his nephew. "Zuko is strong. Frustratingly reckless sometimes and determined to give his uncle a heart attack, but in all the years I have travelled with him, I have yet to see him come up against an obstacle that he hasn't been able to overcome. I know he'll pull through this."

A faint smile curved Aang's lips. "You're right. If there's one thing I've learnt about Zuko, it's that he never gives up."

"No, he doesn't," Iroh agreed with a chuckle, "though I admit there is something that puzzles me. How did you get my nephew to stop hunting you? I've tried for three years to hint him into giving up his mission, but nothing could budge him from wanting to please his father and return home."

Toph blew her fringe out of her eyes and leaned back on her palms. "I'd like to know more about this Zuko guy as well. You guys haven't exactly told me much about what happened before I joined you."

Aang brought his legs up to his chest, hugging his knees. "I don't really know if I understand everything myself, but I guess things first started to change when Zuko rescued me from Pohuai Stronghold…"

Before he knew it, he was telling them all about the night he was saved by the Blue Spirit and the events that followed: how Zuko had healed his wound and stopped him from dying; how they had fought as allies against Admiral Zhao on the river bank; how he had learnt that he had a spiritual connection with Zuko, which made it possible for him to sense when Zuko was in mortal danger. He told them everything—even the conversation the two had shared in the prison at the North Pole. Sokka and Katara had come back while he had talked, along with Momo and Appa, and Aang had directed his words as much at them as he had Toph and Iroh. He wanted them to understand the bond he shared with Zuko and why a person that should be his enemy had come to mean so much to him.

"I don't know if he feels the same," Aang admitted, shaking his head. "I've done a lot of stupid things that I really regret now, but even if he won't accept my friendship, I can't go back to seeing him as an enemy." He stared earnestly at Katara and Sokka. "Zuko is a good person. He's always been there for me, even when he was trying to capture me. I know it seems strange to you, but I can't give up on him now. I just can't."

Katara said nothing and gazed at Zuko with her brow furrowed, clearly lost in her own thoughts. Aang wished he knew what she was thinking, but then Sokka clapped him on the shoulder, jolting him from his musings.

"You don't need to explain yourself, Aang," Sokka said. "We get it. I mean, I won't deny that it bothered me when you lied to us about his identity, and I still wouldn't trust him with a barrel of seal jerky, but he has helped you out and I guess 'Lee' wasn't so bad. If you're right that Lee and Zuko aren't so different, then maybe you're also right that Zuko isn't such a bad guy." Sokka shrugged. "Either way, he helped us kick Crazy Blue Flames's butt, and that has to be a good thing."

"She still got away, though," Toph said bitterly.

Iroh stroked his beard. "Yes, it worries me that Azula escaped. She is a dangerous enemy to have, and today you hurt her pride. I do not doubt that she will be planning something."

"Then we'll just have to beat her again," Aang said. "It's my duty to bring down the Fire Lord and restore balance to the world. I'm not going to let anyone get in my way, especially not some crazy girl who attacks my friends."

"That 'crazy girl' is Zuko's sister," Iroh said grimly. "She's also a prodigy and extremely intelligent. Do not underestimate her."

Something clenched in Aang's stomach. "I know."

His gaze shifted back to Zuko, who lay unconscious on the dusty ground, bruised and scarred. Aang didn't understand. Why would Azula attack her own brother? He knew that Sokka and Katara had their disagreements, but they would never actively seek to wound the other to the point of putting their lives in danger.

"Zuko's relationship with his sister has always been complicated," Iroh explained, as if able to hear Aang's thoughts. "The older both of them have got, the worse things have become between them." Creases formed on his brow, aging him another ten years. "I wish it were otherwise, but I'm afraid Azula will not stop until she has removed her brother as a rival and has taken you prisoner, Avatar."

Aang didn't know what to say. Somehow, it didn't seem so easy now to think he could just defeat her again with Iroh looking at him so grimly. It wasn't as if Aang knew the girl, and just surviving their three encounters hadn't been a walk in the park. He knew he would not have won today had he been alone. It made him wonder what it would be like to battle the Fire Lord. Would Ozai be even craftier, even more skilled?

Knots twisted in his stomach, filling him with a sickly, nervous sensation. Best not to think about that right now. There would be plenty of time to worry about how to deal with the Fire Lord after he had mastered the four elements.

"Well, I'm just glad we're all okay," Aang said, hastily changing the subject. "I mean, Zuko is unconscious, but you said that sun thing should work, so he's bound to wake up sooner or later and ..."

And he was babbling. Aang knew it but he couldn't seem to stop the words from gushing out in an awkward mess, like congee spilling from an upturned pot. He could feel Katara and Sokka looking at him in concern, perhaps sensing his agitation, but he just ploughed on until he was forced to pause for a proper breath. By that point, Toph had mercifully distracted their attention by asking Iroh some questions about himself. She was curious to know more about the old man, and Sokka and Katara didn't seem to mind learning about the enigma that was the Dragon of the West either.

A sigh escaped Aang's lips. Thank the spirits for that. The last thing he wanted to do was explain to his friends how terrified he was of actually facing the Fire Lord. Sure, he talked with a lot of bravado about his duty and how he had to restore balance to the world, but Aang hated thinking too deeply about how that would actually happen. It was easier to focus on other things, like the fact that he had to master earthbending or his complicated, on-and-off again friendship with Zuko.

Momo leapt off Sokka's shoulder and started sniffing Zuko's hand, then his arm, as if trying to figure out why this scarred, unconscious boy smelt just like the masked one that used to travel with them. Suddenly, he made a chirruping noise and crawled on Zuko's stomach where he sat perched like a long-eared, furry guard. The sight brought a smile to Aang's lips.

"Well, aren't you a handsome little fellow," Iroh said, and scratched Momo under the chin, much to the lemur's delight.

"That's Momo," Aang explained. "He took a liking to Zuko when he was travelling with us as the Blue Spirit."

"My nephew always did have a way with animals," Iroh mused thoughtfully. "At least, when he wasn't letting his impatience get the better of him." He chuckled. "The stories I could tell you."

Sokka needed no further encouragement. He was very eager to learn all about Zuko's embarrassing stories. (The gleeful smile on his face was a little worrying, truth be told.) Fortunately, Iroh was more than happy to share, quite oblivious to the fact that his nephew would be displeased if he knew what was going on. Soon, the whole group were laughing as Iroh told tales about his travels, including the time Zuko had got chased by an angry saber-tooth moose lion for over an hour when he was thirteen after accidentally walking into its nesting ground.

"The crew gave him such a hard time afterwards," Iroh said, shaking his head with a rueful smile, "but I still couldn't help but be proud of him."

"What do you mean?" Katara asked.

Iroh's expression softened. "I asked Zuko why he let the animal chase him for so long. He said with perfect seriousness that he didn't want to risk hurting it with his firebending because the mother was just protecting her babies, and that's what mums do."

Something shifted in Katara's expression as if a shadow had passed over her. She clutched the pendant at her throat and fell silent, no longer amused. Even Sokka looked a bit grim. Aang wondered why such a statement should bother them so much. Was it something to do with their deceased mother?

Toph wriggled her finger inside her nose. "Well, I don't know about you guys, but I'm getting hungry. Got any food in that bag of yours, old man?"

Iroh chuckled and reached for his pack. "I don't have much food, but I can make us some tea. I'm sure Zuko will like some when he wakes up, anyway."

Aang smiled. Tea sounded excellent. It had been a long time since he'd had a good cup of tea. Even Sokka and Katara looked intrigued, which had to be a good sign. Finally, everyone was getting along. Finally, everything was going right. And if somewhere out there Azula was plotting something horrible to pay them back for what they did today, well, they would deal with that later. After all, even if Aang was vulnerable on his own, he knew he could take down anyone with his friends at his side. Azula didn't stand a chance.

oOo

The sky was darkening. Azula gritted her teeth and urged her eel-hound to run faster. She couldn't believe that Zuko was alive. A part of her still remembered the way her heart had jolted in a dizzying rush when she had seen his face; how her emotions had tangled and collided in a confusing mess, so intense she'd felt like an invisible hand had shoved her right in the chest.

"Why did you do it? You're my sister."

Azula made a strangled sound in the back of her throat and gripped the reins so hard her knuckles burned white. Just stop thinking about it. Zuko was a weak, pathetic excuse for a prince who their father even saw as expendable. Besides, he had teamed up with the Avatar to fight against her. He had betrayed his people.

"Traitor," she hissed.

Iroh and Zuko were nothing more than enemies to the Fire Nation now. At least she had managed to get in a good shot at her uncle, but Zuko had surprised her. He'd fought better than the last time they'd duelled. For a moment she had even been a little worried, that is until he had let his anger get the better of him and started using sloppy bending and obvious attacks that even an idiot would have been able to predict. Really, her brother would never learn.

Azula closed her eyes and inhaled a calming breath. She felt better now. Less agitated and confused. It was easy to compartmentalise her feelings for Zuko into the little box in her mind labelled "Unpractical" when she wasn't confronted with him. Compassion never got a person anywhere. Just look at where it had got Zuko: scarred, banished and alone. She would not make the same mistake. She was the good child, the useful child. Their father would never have a reason to be disappointed in her.

"I don't know what is wrong with that child."

Her smug smile tightened, twisting into a vicious sort of grimace. Her mother's voice was always haunting her—had been for as long as she could remember since Mother had first disappeared. Sometimes, Azula thought she could even see the woman staring at her with that same look of disappointment and repulsion, as if the girl she had called daughter were some kind of monster.

Azula clenched her fists even tighter, feeling her nails dig crescent wounds into her palms. It was a relief when she saw the camp come into sight. She'd never admit it, but she hated being alone. There was no distraction from the voices in her head when she only had herself for company. She needed to vent some of her frustration. What better way than to scold her dear friends for botching up their task of keeping the Avatar's tag-alongs busy and thus ruining her own plans?

"Where are Mai and Ty Lee?" she demanded, stopping in front of one of the camp guards.

The man bowed in a twitchy sort of way and stuttered something about a tank and Mai and how something had gone wrong and—

"Enough!" Azula snapped. "Just send them to my tent when they get here."

"Yes, your highness," the guard replied, bowing so low his head bumped his knees.

Azula walked past the guard without a second glance and headed for her tent. She ordered a servant to prepare her a bath while another began removing her armour. No one could ever do anything right around here. She couldn't even trust Mai and Ty Lee to get the job done, which was a disappointment. People always seemed to be letting her down of late.

Like your brother.

She stiffened, causing the servant who was undressing her to look up in surprise. "Are you alright, Princess?"

Azula's eyes narrowed. "Did I ask you to speak?"

"N-no, Princess," the servant stammered.

"Then be silent and do your job."

The servant bobbed her head in a quick bow and went back to removing pieces of armour bit by bit, careful not to do anything that might cause a second scolding. Azula almost smiled. Almost. It often amused her to torment her underlings, but right now she was too irritated. Memories of Zuko kept escaping the little box that she liked to keep him locked inside. Worse, she now had to write a letter to her father explaining that Zuko was actually alive.

Typical Zuko. Always ruining everything.

No doubt his healing powers had come into play. She would have to remember not to underestimate the extent of his ability in the future. But no matter. She would tell her father the "good news" and then counter that with the unfortunate information that Zuko, along with Iroh, had indeed become a traitor to the Fire Nation. Her brother had no hope of ever reclaiming his place as the heir to the throne.

The servant removed the red headpiece from Azula's hair, letting the black locks tumble free to her waist. Meanwhile, the woman who had been preparing the bath came forward and helped to strip Azula. Both women then stepped back with a bow, keeping their eyes on the ground. Azula walked over to the brass tub, which was now steaming with hot water. She dipped a finger in the bath and glanced at her servants.

"Leave," she ordered.

"Yes, Princess," they chanted, still keeping their gaze lowered.

Azula waited until the tent doors had folded closed before stepping into the bath. She shut her eyes as she sank back into the water, letting the liquid heat wash over her and ease some of the tension tightening her chest. The frantic voices in her mind were finally beginning to calm, allowing her to think, to plan. She was still thus engaged when she heard a servant call to her from outside.

"Speak," Azula responded with her eyes closed.

"Your highness, Mai and Ty Lee are here waiting to report to you."

Azula frowned and got out of the bath, slipping on a loose robe. "Send them in."

The tent door was pulled back, and Azula watched as Mai and Ty Lee entered. Her sharp eyes were quick to note the bump on Ty Lee's head, as well as the scrapes and bruises on her arms. Mai didn't have a hair out of place.

"What happened?" Azula demanded.

"We lost," Ty Lee said with a pout. "Well, we didn't actually lose, but—"

Azula's eyebrow rose as Ty Lee stumbled through her explanation. Mai stepped in to help clarify matters, which did little to ease Azula's frustration. They had been so close and Ty Lee blew it because of that ridiculous ball of fluff. Vicious words of censure burned her tongue—such failure could not be tolerated—but then she just sighed and pressed a hand to her temple. "Very well," she said in a much calmer tone. "I guess it can't be helped."

The two girls exchange surprised glances. No doubt they were expecting a reprimand (and would have deserved it), but Azula found she didn't have the energy. Mai and Ty Lee were still her only friends, and the perfectionist part of her knew that if she had not wasted so much time fighting Zuko, she could have captured the Avatar herself. In the end, she was as much at fault.

"Are you alright, Azula?" Ty Lee asked, tilting her head like a curious sparrowkeet. "Your aura is looking a little grey."

Mai rolled her eyes. She had never believed in auras. Azula didn't either for that matter, but she couldn't deny that Ty Lee could be rather astute when she wanted.

"Zuko is alive," Azula said coolly.

Mai's eyes widened a fraction, but she otherwise didn't seem to react. It was Ty Lee who gasped theatrically and pressed her hands against her cheeks. "He's alive?" she exclaimed. "But I thought you said he drowned in the ocean."

"I thought he did," Azula admitted. "He had been struck with lightning. There was no way he should have survived, yet there he was earlier helping to protect the Avatar and demanding to fight me."

That did get a reaction out of Mai. "What do you mean?" she asked, taking a step forward. "Why would Zuko protect the Avatar?"

Azula tucked a damp lock of hair behind her ears. "It seems my brother has become a traitor to the Fire Nation. From what I saw today, he's sided with the Avatar."

Ty Lee frowned and pressed a finger to her chin. "Hrm, I guess he really is our enemy now."

Mai said nothing. Azula was tempted to prod and push to figure out what the stoic girl was thinking, but if she were to be completely honest, she was still trying to figure out what she thought herself. Emotions tumbled and roiled within her: anger and confusion tangled up with memories of the past, of the little moments of affection and a big brother who hadn't always been so pathetic in her eyes. She'd wanted to hurt him earlier. Still did. He was like a thorn digging into her heart, painful yet still close enough to be part of the life-giving beat.

No. She couldn't let him get to her. She had to be strong.

Azula plastered a mask of cruel apathy on her face. "My brother chose his path. If he wants to betray the Fire Nation, he will have to face the consequences. Traitors will not be tolerated."

Ty Lee bit her lip. "Yeah, but—"

"Azula is right," Mai said in an expressionless voice. "Zuko made his choice. There's nothing we can do."

No one said anything. Ty Lee just pouted in a dispirited way while Mai was like stone shaped into the form of a girl. Azula averted her face and caught a glimpse of Ursa in the coarse folds of the tent, face blurred into the fabric. Words whispered in her mind, taunting her in her mother's voice.

Is this what you really want, Azula? Will you simply forget about the past?

Azula closed her eyes. Then she locked all of her hurt, all of her doubts, into that tiny box in her mind. She had to be strong. She had to start planning.

oOo

Warmth. Zuko could feel it tingling through his body, breathing new life into exhausted limbs. A twitch of his fingers, a flutter of eyelashes. Like a newborn he struggled to make sense of his waking form, feeling oddly disconnected with himself as if his spirit had separated with his body and was now slowly knitting itself back together. His chest rose and fell, relaxed and steady. He felt the thrum of his heart vibrating through him, pulsing with blood, with life.

Life.

That's right. He had tried to heal his uncle.

Of course it had gone wrong. His healing powers were unpredictable and dangerous. He knew that yet—

It was Uncle.

Uncle Iroh who had cared for him when no else would. Uncle who had stayed by him, mentored him … and abandoned him.

The whisper of betrayal was like a tiny thread of fire burning through his heart, slowly turning everything to ashes. He hadn't wanted to acknowledge it before—had buried the feeling so far down that he had almost forgotten about it. There had been so much going on and he had been so scared and uncertain when he'd had amnesia, confused about his past and in whom he could trust. Then Iroh had appeared out of nowhere and Zuko had been so relieved. Finally, the search was over.

Now he just didn't know want to think. A part of him didn't want to leave the shadowy cocoon of his mind. It was better here in this imagined world. Reality only brought betrayal and pain. Reality was cruel and unforgiving, torturing him with yearnings that could not be fulfilled and a past that was as scarring as the wound on his face. He didn't want it. He wanted to be a child again and not deal with the fact that his father thought of him as worthless, his sister wanted to kill him, his mother had vanished, and even his uncle had abandoned him in the North Pole.

He was just so tired.

Zuko's hand twitched again. The real world tugged at his consciousness, pulling him out from the mist of scattered thoughts and shadows. A mantra he had long ago engraved into his mind burned through his thoughts.

Never give up without a fight.

His fingers curled into fists. Zuko could admit that he wanted to run from it all, run back to a time when he didn't feel so broken. He was confused and exhausted and hurt. But he also knew that he couldn't give up. Not this time. He had come too far, suffered too much. If he stopped now, if he stayed in this cocoon of denial, it would all have been for nothing.

His very existence would mean nothing.

He opened his eyes. Old wooden beams, coated with dust and cobwebs, greeted his vision. He blinked and turned his head to see his uncle sitting beside him, fussing around with a teapot and some wooden cups. It was so typical of Iroh that it made Zuko's heart ache in an odd mixture of joy and sadness.

"Stupid old man," he said in a hoarse voice, though affection was hinted in every word. "Still obsessed with your tea even when you're living like a beggar."

Iroh almost dropped the cup he had been holding. "Zuko!"

Zuko found himself being pulled into a tight hug. His uncle's scratchy beard rubbed against his cheek.

"I'm so sorry," Iroh mumbled over and over. "I'm so sorry I left you. I'm so sorry you had to go through all that pain by yourself. If I had known, if I had just stayed a bit longer in the North Pole …"

Zuko remained frozen in Iroh's arms. Here was the explanation he had wanted, but he realised as he sat there clutched against his uncle's chest that something had changed between them. There was a distance that hadn't been there before, as if the stability of their relationship had been damaged and now little cracks were forming to weaken the foundation.

He left you. He left you to be a prisoner to those people. How do you really know he even cares, let alone is sorry? No one else in your family loves you, so why should he?

Zuko forced the hurtful words to the back of his mind and returned his uncle's embrace. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, breathing in the familiar scent of tea leaves and herbs that he had for so long associated with Iroh. He didn't want to dwell on doubts right now, even if he couldn't quite erase them.

Iroh pulled back and clutched him by the shoulders. "You have changed so much. I barely recognised you at first."

Zuko shrugged out of his uncle's touch and ran a hand through his messy hair. "Well, you don't look so grand yourself," he retorted, gesturing at Iroh's untamed beard and mud-stained clothes.

Iroh spread his hands in a helpless gesture. "The dung-roach cannot become a butterfly-mantis."

Zuko's eyebrow rose. The proverbs were something he had definitely not missed.

Iroh chuckled. "I mean that I have become an inconspicuous beggar since the Fire Nation branded me a traitor and, alas, must also dress like one." He laughed again and rubbed his paunch-like belly. "It is not all bad. I think this forced poverty has made me lose weight."

At Zuko's blank stare, Iroh smiled in a sad sort of way and reached over to take his hand. "Perhaps you're right that this is not the time for jokes. There is much we need to discuss. I wanted to ask you about your hea—"

"Zuko!" Aang bounded in with a gust of wind and went to throw himself at Zuko in what could only be described as a tackle-hug, but then he stopped short. He scratched his bald head and chewed on his lip. "Um, I mean hi," he said shyly.

Zuko stared at him for a moment and then turned to his uncle. "Why is the Avatar still here?"

Aang's expression fell. He stared at his feet, scuffing the toe of his shoe against the floor. "I wanted to make sure you were okay. You had me really worried."

"Well, I'm fine." Zuko made to stand, but his legs wobbled under his weight and he found himself being held up by his uncle.

"Don't push yourself too hard," Iroh warned, helping him lay back down. "You've lost a lot of energy."

Zuko gritted his teeth. Damn his body for being so weak.

Aang took a step forward. "Listen, I think we need to—"

"I don't want to hear it," Zuko interrupted. "Don't you think you've done enough?"

"Hey!"

Zuko swung his head round at the new voice to see the little girl in green standing in the doorframe, hand on her hip.

"You've got no right to speak to Twinkletoes that way," she said, pointing a finger at him. "This whole time he's been at your side worried sick on your behalf. The least you can do is hear him out."

Zuko's eyes narrowed. "Who are you?" he demanded rudely.

"That's Toph," Aang mumbled, still staring at his feet. "My, uh, earthbending teacher."

Toph jutted her chin and glared at Zuko through milky-green eyes. No, not glared at him; it was more like she was gazing in his general direction. It was then that Zuko realised she was blind.

"Whatever," he muttered, looking the other way. "Just go bother someone else."

He needed time to think. He needed time to pull himself together and figure out what he really wanted. Perhaps Iroh sensed this, because he steered the children out of the house with a few, well-chosen words. Soon, it was just Iroh and Zuko again.

"Thank you," Zuko said simply.

Iroh nodded. "I heard the Avatar's story. I can see that you have still not forgiven him."

Zuko remained silent. Yes. No. He wasn't sure. Too much had happened.

Iroh sighed. "Well, perhaps it is better if you just get some rest tonight. We can talk tomorrow." He stood up and headed for the door, pausing to look over his shoulder at the prince. "I'll bring some food for you, and please help yourself to the tea. It's jasmine, nice and cal—"

"Calming," Zuko finished with a wry smile. "I know."

The corner of Iroh's mouth quirked in an answering grin. For a moment, everything was back to normal. It was just like when they were on the ship together, repeating the same old routine that had always been their bickering but tender relationship. There was so much kindness in Iroh's eyes, so much understanding but also regret. Zuko hated that it couldn't last. Somehow, even with his memories, he was still a jigsaw with a single piece missing. He knew that he had to find the way to make himself whole.