By the time they'd reached the source of the explosion, it was too late. Zuko's ship was now nothing but a fireball on the horizon. Iroh's face fell; Mai didn't think it was possible for anyone to look more devastated than he did at that moment.

"Zuko..." he whispered. Mai's chest tightened with anger as she laid a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"Zhao," she spat. He knew all along, didn't he? That Zuko was the Blue Spirit... "He's mine. I'm going to find him and make him wish he was never born!"

"No." Iroh looked up at her, eyes glistening with tears. "Ending one man's life won't restore another's. Instead, we-" Suddenly, both became aware of a figure climbing out of the wreckage. Without a word, they ran to where the ship once was.

*

At the very moment Zuko thought this was it, that he would drown in these icy waters, he felt two pairs of arms pulling him onto the dock. He should have been relieved to see the relieved faces of his uncle and best friend, but all he felt at that moment was fear and anger.

"Don't touch me," he finally managed to get out through numb lips and chattering teeth. "J-just don't..."

"Zuko, it's okay, we're not enemies," Mai said.

"You will be." Tears gathered in his eyes. "You will be."

"Prince Zuko, what are you talking about?" Iroh asked, reaching out to put a hand on his shoulder; Zuko angrily pulled further away from them, hugging his knees to his chest. It was all too clear now, he'd thought Mai and Iroh were all he had left, but how long would it be before they turned their backs on him as well?

"Zhao betrayed me," he choked, "and so did the crew. It's only a matter of time before you abandon me, too." His voice broke on that last word, sobs wracking him. "Y-you never cared about me, anyway, so just go away!"

After a moment's silence, he dared to look up. Mai and Iroh were still there, Iroh looking as if he'd been slapped and Mai looking as if she thought he were crazy. Finally, Iroh knelt down before him, drawing him into a fierce hug.

"That was their choice, but it would never be ours," he whispered. "Don't ever think for a minute that I would hurt you."

"Uncle..."

Mai sighed, kneeling behind him and snuggling against his back.

"You're insane, Zuko," she murmured. "Only you could decide two people who've stuck by you even at your most stubborn and pig-headed would abandon you." She ran her hands up and down his back, trying to warm him. "We're not going anywhere."

"That's right," Iroh said, smiling at Mai over the top of his nephew's head. "Face it, you're stuck with us!" he laughed. Zuko looked up at them, tears still streaming down his cheeks.

"That better be a promise."

Mai smiled.

"Come on, we'd better get you into some dry clothes and take care of those wounds," she said. Zuko winced; now that the numbness was wearing off, he was aware of just how much his whole body ached. He stood up slowly, leaning on them as they led him away from the dock. He didn't know where they would go from here, but at least now he felt like he could trust them once more.