A/N- Is he in character?

Disclaimer: POR QUE NO!?!? –sobs-

The Fire Lord sighed and rubbed his temples. Today was not going well for him. An entire division was lost in battle, the citizens were complaining about taxes, and his assistant wouldn't shut up.

"SILENCE!" Ozai roared, causing the assistant to jump.

"But sir-," the admin started.

"Get out now."

"Sir, I-,"

"NOW!"

With a quick 'Yes sir!' the assistant raced out, a look of pure terror on his face. Normally, the expression would have given the ruler of the Fire Nation a bit of a feeling of triumph, but not today. Today, he was simply too overwhelmed with the problems of ruling a nation at war with the rest of the world. And yet, this wasn't his primary concern.

Today was the anniversary. His anniversary. Seventeen years ago today, he and Ursa were wed. Oh, how happy that day had been! He remembered the event vividly, marveling at the decorations, straining against the stress, and how absolutely nervous he had been. He remembered how all of the tension and anxiety melted away when he saw her walking down the isle. The Fire Lord let the name roll off of his tongue.

"Ursa…"

Then, Ozai felt a pang of guilt so strong it almost hurt. He missed his wife. He missed her presence in the palace gardens. He missed the way she always managed to cheer him up, even when he was in the foulest of moods. He even missed the way she defended their failure of a son. What he would give to spend another day with his wife…

"Is something troubling you, sir?"

The monarch of the Fire isle looked up to see the assistant's head poking through the door. He glared.

"I thought I told you to get out," he growled.

"Yes, but sir-,"

"OUT!" The flames behind him rose to the ceiling. The admin's head was gone in a flash.

-----

That night, as Ozai retired, the Fire Lord reflected on the day. To his subjects, he was as wrathful as ever, yet on the inside, he was almost depressed. The fury wasn't all a façade; he was indeed angry. He was angry at himself, his father, his son, even Ursa herself, but mostly himself. If only he would've stood up to his father, she might still be here. If only he would've chosen his words a little more carefully, Azulon might not have been so taken aback. If only…

If only I were stronger…

The ever powerful and fear-inspiring Heir Presumptive let a sigh escape his lips. He may be the most powerful person on the planet aside from the Avatar, but he was still a man. A man who missed his wife.