Ozai's Vengeance

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Chapter 13

Summary: Twelve years after the final battle, Zuko summons Katara to heal the victims of an epidemic sweeping the Fire Nation.

Disclaimer: ATLA is the property of Nickelodeon and VIACOM. No profit is made by this story.

Notes: First, I want to thank everyone who has read and reviewed. You guys make everything worthwhile. Please review! Second, I want to clear some things up. After some people watched "The Puppetmaster" I received a few reviews here asking me how I "knew" about bloodbending. I want to make it very plain that I did not "know." I had no inside information, and no spoilers. I don't even keep up on Nick Magazine or interviews with Mike and Bryan. I guessed. The fact is that the human body is 70 water, and Katara is a healing waterbender. It's a hop, skip, and a jump from bending water to bending the blood within the human body. So lucky me, I made a good guess!

Also, this story has its first piece of fan-art! Blue Moraine Sedai (uchihafanz at DeviantArt) has drawn a very sweet picture of Zuko and Katara from Chapter 9. So go check it out! And keep those pictures coming!

Once again, please review. It's good for the soul. There's lots of you lurking about, and I want to know what you think!

PS: My good buddy Misora has a great new fic out called Lotus Resiliens. Misora is a rock star. You should go read her story.

≅

Zuko was aware of two things.

The first was Sokka's drawn sword -- the gleaming black length of it, the way it whispered out of the scabbard -- and Sokka's knuckles tight on the hilt. His heart thudded in his chest. He came in with his sword drawn. He came in with his sword drawn while Katara and Kurzu were barely awake. Sokka stared at him in a way he hadn't since that day at the South Pole when they were all mere children. Fury and disappointment vied for prominence on his bearded face. His eyes seemed to spit hate.

The second was his distant, tangential understanding of how it all must look: he and Katara on the cramped bed together, the child between them -- like it used to be, like it always should be -- and Katara sitting without any shame, simply exhaustion and annoyance. Sokka's fingers re-gripped the sword. Zuko focused on it. If Sokka moved, could he bend in time? Would Sokka hurt Zuko first, or try to pry Katara away? Blood rushed in his ears. He held himself tight. One bad thrust and he could have killed them. He drew his sword on us. Hold back. Great sages, let me hold back.

"Sokka!" Suki stood in the doorway with a little girl on one arm. She marched forward. Three other children followed her. "Dad!"

Sokka seemed to recover himself. The sword fell a little and he straightened. Zuko clenched his hands to keep them from shaking. You're paranoid. He would never hurt them. You, but not them. Someone was calling his name. He turned and there was his uncle, belting a caftan about his ample middle. Zuko let go of a breath he hadn't known he was holding. Toph and Ling slid into the room just behind Iroh.

"Whoa," Toph said, blinking her sightless eyes. "Both of you guys need to relax."

"Aunt Toph!" The child in Suki's arms leaned forward, and Suki put her down. She ran to Toph and clutched her about the shin.

Something pounded down the hallway. Zuko turned to the door and there was Tom-Tom wearing leather armor over a thin, bare chest and sleeping pants, and carrying hook in either hand. "Put it down!" Tom-Tom pointed the hooks clumsily at Sokka.

Sokka frowned at his sister. "Who's this?"

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

"Put it down!" Tom-Tom's voice cracked. "Put the sword down right now!"

Sokka's beard twitched. "Kid, I don't know who you think you are but-"

"You drew your sword on the Fire Lord," Tom-Tom said, swallowing. He shook a little. "I know exactly who you are, and I know you can't bend. So put that sword down, or I'll make you drop it."

The eldest boy in Suki's little parade of turtleducks stepped forward. "Dad-"

"Stay out of it, Senzo."

"Son," Iroh said, holding up his hands. "I can assure you that Sokka didn't mean to threaten my nephew. The two of them have fought more times than I can count." He almost laughed, but it turned into a clearing of the throat. The old man's gaze slid between Sokka and Zuko. "They know what's appropriate and when," he said in a firm tone.

"Stand down, Tom-Tom," Zuko said.

"But-"

"Stand down." When the boy didn't move, he said: "If you're so eager to prove your loyalty, then you can start with following my orders."

Tom-Tom let the hooks fall with a long sigh. Sokka sheathed his sword. They stared at each other. "This might be a good time to remind you two that you've already met," Katara said, standing. "Tom-Tom, meet my brother. Sokka, meet Tom-Tom. Remember him? He used to chew on that old blade of yours."

Sokka frowned. "Huh?"

"Omashu. The governor. Penta-pox. We tried to trade a baby for King Bumi?"

Sokka looked blank for a moment. Then his face split into a smile. "Well why didn't you just say so?" He grabbed Tom-Tom's collar and wrenched the boy into a hug. He pounded Tom-Tom's back. "Look how big you've gotten! I don't believe it!" He pushed Tom-Tom away and held him by the shoulders. "Did Katara tell you about the guy we knew who used the twin hooks? Not too bright, but a genius with those hooks."

"What's going on?" one of the children -- Zuko remembered her name as Sumi -- asked. She was the next eldest behind Senzo, and wore a long braid.

"It's your father," Suki said. "Don't ask."

"Mama, I'm hungry," said the youngest child.

"Sora, you just ate…"

"Yup, those are Sokka's kids all right," Toph said. "Let's eat!"

"That's a lovely idea," Ling said. "Come along, children!"

"Senzo, Saya, Siida, follow Aunt Toph and Aunt Ling," Suki said.

"But Mom-"

"It wasn't a request, kids." Suki smiled at her children. "Now get."

Rolling their eyes, they dragged their feet leaving the room. Ling shut the door behind them. "Does the baby need changing?" Suki asked.

"Yes," Katara and Zuko said in unison.

Suki busied herself with the baby. She made cooing noises as she lifted him from the mattress and some very vain part of Zuko was pleased she found the child cute. She dug up some fresh linen and made for the adjoining washroom. Zuko stood. "Tom-Tom, join the others."

Tom-Tom gave him a look that said he would rather eat with a horde of komodo rhinos, and stalked off. The door slammed shut and shook on its tracks. "I'll just go see what's troubling him," Iroh said, and crept out of the room. Then it was just Zuko, Katara, and Sokka, as before.

"So," Sokka said, rocking on his heels. "You two have a son."

Something in Zuko's stomach promptly flipped over. Katara spoke first: "What?"

"That baby. It's yours." He scratched the back of his neck and pulled his elbow behind his head. He stretched. "I mean, I understand it, I saw you two together back then, and the numbers add up-"

"Excuse me?" Zuko was vaguely aware of striding toward Sokka and the other man backing up. "What exactly are you implying?"

"I'm over it now, I know you're adults, I just wish you'd told me-"

"Told you what?" Katara joined Zuko. Her voice had gone hard.

Sokka looked between them and seemed to deflate. He raised his hands and let them fall. "I saw you," he said. He sighed. "I saw you, okay? After Aang died. I saw you."

Katara folded her arms. "You saw us what? What do you think you saw?"

Sokka licked his lips. "Zuko carried you to his room," he said in a quiet voice. "You didn't come out."

A sound somewhere between a squeak and a croak emerged from Katara's throat. She stepped away. Her mouth moved, but no words came. "I was… I was sleeping…"

"The next day he held you in his arms," Sokka said. "The way he looked at you… Katara, you'd have to be blind not to see it…"

Katara stumbled backward. She found the nearest bed and sat there. "Get out."

Sokka squared his shoulders. "No. I'm not leaving."

"Out!"

"No! You're my-"

Zuko put a hand on his shoulder. "Your sister said to leave."

Sokka slapped his hand away and ducked around Zuko. "You're my sister and you don't get to keep this from me any more! Not when the whole Fire Nation capitol is talking about it!"

Zuko was reminded of those moments on the war balloon when turbulence would create sudden dips in his flight. They think Kurzu is ours? Why wasn't I told? He raised his eyes and Katara was staring at him in horror. His throat went dry. "What?"

"They've done the math on this, too," Sokka said. "I know the kid's small, but he could still be yours. And his 'parents' have conveniently died, no grandparents have come to claim him, he's got blue eyes-"

"He's part Water Tribe!"

"Exactly!" Sokka shrugged. He sank into a nearby chair. "Come on, what was I supposed to think?"

"You were supposed to know that I would never take advantage of your sister," Zuko said. "You were supposed to understand that I would rather die than hurt-"

"We had just burned Aang and Appa," Katara whispered. She stared at her brother. "You honestly think that I…? Sokka, I had their ashes in my hair."

"You were mourning," Sokka said. He shifted in his seat. "You sat by Aang's pyre for hours. You went a little crazy-"

"Oh, so I'd have to be crazy to sleep with him, huh?" Katara stood up and pointed at Zuko. "Do you even grasp how insulting you sound right now?"

Sokka blinked, and frowned. Zuko watched the realization surface on his face. He leaned forward. "It's really happening, isn't it?" He was quiet. "You're really together. The rumors are true."

"This isn't about some stupid rumors!" Katara kicked a footstool. It crashed into the opposite wall bed frame. Zuko heard wood splintering. "This is about you thinking that I would just hop into bed with the next man who came along after Aang! This is about you thinking that Zuko would stoop that low!"

"We never hear from him! He doesn't answer letters! And I haven't seen you since that day! What was I supposed to think? Especially when every fruit-seller from here to Chameleon Bay can't shut up about what a lovely couple you make! What was I supposed to believe?"

Katara lunged for Sokka. Zuko grabbed her elbows and held her. She twisted in his arms. "Don't," he said. "Don't do it. Don't hurt your brother."

"He's being an-"

"I know. But this house has seen enough sibling rivalry to last a hundred years." He released her and stepped forward. "Besides, he doesn't truly believe that rumor about Kurzu being ours."

Sokka stroked his beard. "I don't, huh?"

"No, you don't. You can't. Because if you did, it would mean that you had drawn your sword on my family." He leaned down and pitched his voice very low. "And I know you can't possibly be that stupid, Sokka, because if you ever pulled a weapon on my wife or my son, I would have every right to cook your heart inside your chest." The barest spark of lightning fizzed between his fingers.

Sokka's mouth formed the word Wife? but he remained silent. He took a deep breath. "Maybe I should just go."

"Hmm, you think?" Katara asked.

"Fine. I'll go. This is me going." He got up and started walking. "Come out from behind that door, Suki. It's time to go."

A very strained-looking Suki stepped out from behind the washroom door and hurried across the room with Kurzu in her arms. Watching her carry the child -- he looked wrong, somehow, being held by anyone but him or Katara -- he felt something crystallize in him, hard and bright as the stones under Ba Sing Se. "Stop," Zuko said. Suki froze. Zuko held his arms out. His fingers plucked the air. "Give me my son."

Surprise colored Suki's features. He heard Katara sputter a little. "If my people recognize him as mine, then that is his destiny," Zuko said, lifting him from the Kyoshi warrior's arms. He settled Kurzu on one arm and looked into clear blue eyes. "Isn't that right, Kurzu? Shouldn't we obey the will of the people whenever possible? You're going to have to learn these things, if you want to be Fire Lord."

Katara spun on her heel. "Zuko-"

"I'll adopt him from you," he said, still staring into the child's eyes. Funny, how he'd never noticed the little starbursts flaring out from the pupil before. "He was just another orphan for your temple, wasn't he? Well now he's mine. Have one of my secretaries draw up a certificate."

"Zuko, think about this." Sokka leaned against the door. "Fatherhood's not-"

"I thought you were leaving," Zuko said. Sokka shook his head and left. Suki squeezed through the doors and followed. Katara looked from the door to Zuko and Kurzu and back again. She sighed and collapsed into a chair.

"This is insane."

"I don't even know his birthday." Zuko lifted the child up in his arms, tossed him upward, and caught him. Kurzu squealed. "I'll have to make one up. I should choose an auspicious day. Maybe the fire sages can help."

"This isn't a game, Zuko."

"I hope not. I'm terrible at games."

"Are we playing a game right now?"

He caught Kurzu a second time and held him tight. He fixed his gaze on her. She looked tired and bewildered, but still beautiful. "No," he said. "I don't know what we're doing. I don't know what you want. If I did, I'd be doing it already. But in an ideal world, this is what I want. Right here, in this room, this is what I want. I want the three of us together." He hefted Kurzu and rested his chin on the child's silky scalp. "But two out of three isn't bad."

Katara let one long breath go. She folded over at the hips, resting her elbows on her knees and letting her hair fall to cover her face. "You can't just ask me to leave everything I've worked so hard to maintain."

He crossed over to her and let one hand drift into her hair. "I know." Katara sat up and leaned against his leg. He smoothed hair from her face. "But I didn't get this far by giving up."

She pursed her lips. "And if there's a plot against you?"

He felt his face harden. With the almost-fight with Sokka, he'd nearly forgotten. "Then I suggest you stock up on morsels for my dragon-hawks, because you will be far, far away from here."

"Ah. So we might finally enter the flowers and poetry phase of the relationship, huh?"

He ran one finger along the curve of her ear. "I let you go once," he said. "I won't do it again."

A shadow crossed her face, like a cloud quickly passing over the sun. She blinked and it vanished. "Oh, Zuko." Katara stood and folded her hands behind her back. She now looked happier than she had in days. "You're just never going to stop chasing me, are you?"

He brushed past her, kissed the corner of her mouth. "Not a chance."

≅

Iroh stood waiting outside the door. His robes rustled straight again as he adjusted his posture. "I suppose I don't have to explain this a second time, but you have a grandson," Zuko said. "We need to start the adoption procedures immediately." He switched the child to his other arm. "And then you can begin to tell me why it was that the entire city thought he was my bastard, and you neglected to inform me of it."

Iroh arched one bushy eyebrow and slid his hands into his sleeves. "What with one thing and another, my nephew, I had begun to suspect the same."

A retort boiled up to Zuko's lips. He started, but Kurzu seemed to sense it somehow and gave a little squall. Zuko bit his tongue. "I'm going to make this perfectly clear," he said. "Kurzu is not my flesh and blood. When I attended the Avatar's funeral, I did nothing to shame myself or Katara. I expect you to believe me when I say that."

"If that is what you say, then that is what I believe," Iroh said. "Only, it is a pity that he is not your son, as you cannot name him as your heir." Iroh winked.

"What do you mean, I can't? I'm the Fire Lord, I can-" Kurzu screeched into a full-blown cry. "I can do what I want," Zuko said, smoothing the child's back.

Iroh began walking down the hall. Zuko followed. "If he were related to you, even if he were your distant cousin, you could. But there is no precedent for a Fire Lord handing the crown to one not related by blood or marriage, much less a commoner." Iroh gave a long, dramatic sigh. "Of course, there have been cases of a lovechild or two making it to the throne… Usually when the ministers have been thoroughly convinced that the child is royal, when palace gossip holds it to be true despite what either parent says to the contrary…" Iroh turned and offered a pleasant smile. "Of course, that would not apply to you and your son, my nephew."

There had been a time in Zuko's life when his uncle's words had seemed unnecessarily cryptic and veiled. He would wonder why, in the midst of a conversation about firebending, the old man would begin to discuss the proper technique for playing a suungi horn. But that time had passed. Now his uncle's intentions were clear. He wants me to let the lie continue. The more I deny it, the more everyone will believe the opposite.

"Let's eat," Iroh said. "Don't just stand there staring at me! You have a new family member to introduce."

≅

Zuko was happy to escape to his office. His secretaries made nary a peep when he mentioned adopting Kurzu -- in fact, one of them had the forms already prepared. He was uncertain whether to take this as serendipity or a sign that what Sokka had said was true.

"I want it to be very clear that Kurzu is not my blood relative," he said as he watched Master Sho draw a rough copy of the certificate.

"Of course he isn't, my Lord."

"I have heard that there are rumors flying about which say otherwise. They are only rumors, nothing more."

"Yes, my Lord."

"This nation has clearly had its fill of peace, if it can spend so much idle time gossiping about me and my family."

"Quite right, my Lord." Master Sho tilted his head at the parchment. "My Lord, do you know the name of both the child's parents?"

Zuko blinked. "Su-Lin was the mother's name."

"But a family name, perhaps?"

"No…I don't remember."

"And did this Su-Lin tell you when Kurzu had been born? Did she mention whether she and her husband had registered for the tax?"

"She was profoundly ill, Master Sho."

"I see. Then I suppose she would not have told you if there were a certificate of marriage or birth," he said. "For tax purposes, you understand."

A small pain had quickly developed between Zuko's eyes. He squeezed them shut. "No, Master Sho, she did not."

"UNCLE ZUKO!"

He narrowly avoided jumping out of his skin entirely. Sokka's three oldest children had slid into the room. A guard chased after them, stopped short, bowed, and offered a sheepish, apologetic look. "My apologies, my Lord, I'll jus-"

"Is it true?" Saya asked.

Senze stepped forward, eyes glowing. "Did you really fight Tom-Tom in the arena?"

Zuko reached for a steadying cup of tea. "First, you are not to enter this room unannounced, and second, no. I did not fight Tom-Tom. I would never fight a child."

"But Tom-Tom's a big kid," said Siida. She dug her toe into the carpet and blushed. Her gaze hit the floor and the beads in her hair tinkled slightly.

Sages preserve me. "Tom-Tom is barely older than your brother. He's young enough to be my own son, if I had…" He noted their querying looks and faltered. He cleared his throat. "He's young. And I am not my father. Tom-Tom challenged me, not the other way around."

"But you used to fight when you were his age!" Senzo said. "Everyone says so!"

Zuko drained off some of his tea. "That was a different time."

"Aunt Katara said that you fought her when she was his age, and back then you were still older," Saya said, crossing her arms and smiling like she'd caught him in some sort of lie.

"Your aunt is a better fighter than Tom-Tom, and has been since she was fourteen. My fights with her allowed me to go beyond my limits. She depleted me. I often had no energy left." Master Sho coughed violently. He bent double over his desk and his shoulders shook. "Do you need some water, Master Sho?"

The calligrapher merely waved a dismissive hand. "It's nothing, my Lord."

Zuko looked to his nearest secretary. The man's smile quickly fell. Zuko gave the children a frown. "In any case, despite the intensity of our battles, I did my absolute best to avoid truly harming her. I would never hurt your aunt, then or now. And why are you so curious about this? Has your aunt been telling you tales of the past?"

"No, Tom-Tom was just bragging that he gets to spar with you every day," Saya said.

"Then Aunt Katara said that he was due for a lesson from her," Siida said quietly.

Senzo crowed. "You should have seen his face! He looked like he was gonna pee his pants!"

"Your aunt is a very formidable woman, and has a habit of getting what she wants," Zuko said. Master Sho promptly suffered another sudden attack of coughing. "Get the man some water, please," Zuko said, and a smiling aide moved toward the nearest jug. "And why are you all smiling? The war was very serious!" He pointed at the children. "Your aunt froze me to a glacier in the North Pole, I'll have you know. Only my breath of fire kept me from getting frostbite."

Senzo rushed his desk. His little brown palms slapped the wood. "Is it true that you swam the canals at the North Pole, and broke through the ice with just your fists?"

A smile tugged at Zuko's mouth. "Yes. That's true."

"And that was after some pirates had just tried to blow you up?"

"One of my father's admirals paid them to do that, yes. But I had time to recover. I was in hiding on the ship, of course, but it wasn't that interesting. My uncle helped me. The Avatar was there at the North Pole -- you should get your aunt to tell you about what he did there."

"That's Avatar stuff," Senzo said. "You did all those things without being the Avatar."

"Yes, and your father has done amazing things without even being a bender," Zuko said. "Your father can build almost anything he wants to. I can't even hammer a nail properly."

Senzo's eyes popped. "You can't?"

"No. Believe me, I've tried." He frowned. "This can't possibly be that interesting to you. Are you bored, yet? Do you plan on allowing me to work anytime soon?"

Senzo hung his head. "Okay…."

"We're sorry," Saya said, looking at the floor. "Come on, Siida."

Just then, a very small face poked around the corner and into the room. Zuko recognized Sora. She quickly pulled away. He saw her little fingers coiled around the doorframe. "What is your baby sister doing in the hall? Why aren't you watching her?"

"She's just shy," Saya said. The girl turned toward the empty door. "Sora, come in here. Uncle Zuko wants to see you." A pause, and then: "No? But he's nothing to be afraid of."

Laughter murmured gently across the room. There goes my reputation. Zuko picked up his tea. "It's all right. I used to be very scary once upon a time."

"She just doesn't remember you," Saya said. "She's never really met you. Mom was still carrying her when Uncle Aang died. That's why she couldn't come to the funeral."

"Speaking of which, where are your mother and father?"

"They're having some big important talk with the aunts," Senzo said. "Mom said they had to talk to Aunt Katara and that we should leave them alone."

Zuko wasn't sure who to envy least: Katara for having to put up with her family's prying, or her family for being foolish enough to do so. "And you somehow managed to evade my uncle?"

"Uncle Iroh's with them," Siida said. Her cheeks flamed. "It's okay if we call him that, right? He said it was okay!"

"I think I can share for a little while."

"He's going to be our great-uncle anyway," Saya said. Her hand instantly clapped over her mouth. "I mean, um…"

The pain between Zuko's eyes spiked. He glanced at his secretaries and aides. "Leave us. The children and I have a family matter to discuss."

He watched them file out. The children now seemed twice as chastened. "Bring your sister in here," he said. Saya retrieved the little girl. She hid in Saya's neck. Zuko stood, adjusted his tunic, and gestured for the children to sit. Slowly, they found chairs and cushions. Zuko leaned against his desk and crossed his arms.

"Now, what's this about my uncle?"

All four children looked away. They remained silent. Zuko waited. No answer came. He pushed air through his teeth. "Promise you won't be mad?" Siida asked.

"I promise I will not be angry with you." My uncle is another matter.

Saya hugged her sister tight. Sora squirmed and crawled over the chair to hide behind it. Zuko saw her little eyes staring at him from under the chair. "He didn't really say anything," Saya said. "Siida called him 'sir' and he said we could call him Uncle Iroh. And then he said 'maybe even Great-Uncle Iroh, someday.'"

"Did he mean what I think he meant?" Senzo asked. "Are you going to marry our aunt?"

Zuko covered his eyes with one hand. Trust Sokka's children to be unusually bright. "Not today," he said under his breath.

"Huh?"

Zuko blinked and brought his hand away. He picked up his tea and directed some heat into the cup. The children all leaned forward. Honestly, one would think they had never seen simple domestic firebending. Zuko sipped his tea. "You all are going to hear some strange things now that you're here," he said. "The palace is like a small town. That means people gossip."

"Like Dad's old village?" Siida asked.

Zuko remembered clusters of huts and a bare smattering of people. "Yes. I'm sure there are some similarities." He sighed. "Either way, gossip can be harmful. It's very easy to get confused. But that's only if you pay attention to those people and what they say."

"Is Kurzu really your and aunt Katara's baby?" Siida asked.

"No. We brought him back from a village called Tetsushi."

"Why isn't he with his mom?"

"Both his parents died."

"Then why is everybody else saying something different?"

Because I was stupid enough to carry Katara to my room, two years ago. Because neither of us thought to take Kurzu's information with us. Because we were distracted. "That's something you should discuss with your father," he said. "But the important thing is that no matter what anyone says, it's not your problem. It's my problem. All you have to worry about is enjoying yourselves here, and not getting lost."

"See, I told you," Saya said, elbowing her brother. "Aunt Katara wouldn't have a baby with someone she wasn't married to." She raised her chin. "She'd want another pair of hands for all the work, at least."

"And how would she have hidden it from you?" Zuko asked. For the first time, it occurred to him that the rumors were not only unfounded, but silly and illogical. He spoke more to himself than the children. "Does everyone think she would have come to the Fire Nation over a year ago just to leave Kurzu in a remote village only for us to find him there later? How could she have known there would be an illness in Tetsushi?"

"Everyone's saying that she hid him on the ship when she came here a while ago," Senzo said.

"That's insane. She's a bloodbender, not a magician."

A giggle sounded from the shadows beneath the chair where Saya sat. Saya bent down. "You can come out from there anytime you want, Sora."

Senzo got on his hands and knees and peered under the chair. "Yeah, how 'bout we go look for some of those candies that Uncle Iroh likes to send?"

"No!"

"Sora, come on, it's almost time for lunch. You want to eat, don't you?"

This seemed to persuade her. Grunting, she crawled out from under the chair. One of her pigtails had come undone. The ribbon hung limply from her hair. Saya clicked her tongue and pulled the little girl into her lap. She began re-tying the ribbon. Zuko put Sora's age at about three -- he was terrible about guessing these things. If Senzo was twelve, that made Saya what, nine? And Siida six or seven? Sokka is a braver man than I. The child stared at him from below long eyelashes. She looked a bit more like her mother than her father -- a blessing, as far as Zuko was concerned -- and Zuko watched her firm her resolve in a way that was strangely reminiscent of the way the Kyoshi warrior gathered courage. Her little chin set and her shoulders stiffened. "Whathappenedtoyoureye?" she asked in a rush.

Belatedly, Zuko realized how frightening his face must have been for her. His hand automatically rose to cover it. My face? I see. He saw Saya pinch her sister. "Sora! Apologize!"

"It's all right," he said. "It was a long time ago. And the man who did this to me is gone now. He can't hurt anybody."

Senzo piped up. "Is it true that Fire Lord Ozai-"

"Yes." Zuko pushed away from the desk. "Let's eat. If your mother finds out I let you spoil your lunch with fire flakes, she'll have my hide."

"Aw, man…" Senzo stretched. "You never tell us any of the good stories."

"When you're older," Zuko said.

"That's what everybody says!" Senzo threw up his hands and made to leave the room. A moment later, he back-tracked with wide eyes and red cheeks. "Um, Uncle Zuko…"

A woman with an eye-patch strode into the room. She carried the musky smell of an animal. It triggered something in Zuko's memory. She turned to him and his memory snapped into place. "Hey there, Fire Lord," she said. "Let's make a deal."

"Children," he said tightly, "meet Jun. She's a bounty hunter."