Zuko

I got up early. I hadn't slept and the sun was finally coming up. I decided to wear my full regalia for this visit. I wanted to appear as official as possible. I just hoped that my plan would work. I had stayed up all night formulating it. Sokka would be proud. I thought wryly. Before leaving, I spoke with Iroh. I was going to need his help.

"You are up early. You're never up before I leave for the Dragon," he said. He knew why, concern filling his voice. Although I get up early when I am home, I tend to sleep a bit more when I am here with Iroh. Partially because it was more peaceful and partially because I trusted Iroh more than anyone else.

"Uncle, I have a plan," I said. I smiled at the memory of Iroh scolding me for not thinking ahead when I found Appa under Ba Sing Se. Thankfully, I have gotten better at this. Usually. Sometimes. I filled Uncle in on the plan and, although weary for my sake, he agreed. My guards and I left for the palace.

I arrived at the palace that was, of course, guarded by the Dai Li. I glared at them when they stepped in front of me. I had come prepared though.

"The Earth Queen sees no one before noon." the agent said firmly.

I put on my most confused face. "But she had sent me an invitation to join her for breakfast. I assume she has some official business she wants to discuss?" I was hoping they wouldn't call my bluff.

They looked at each other and one of them shrugged and said "Of course, Fire Lord, right this way," one thing I knew was how much her agents feared her. Making her angry was not an option for these men. Most days I hated her for this but today, I used it to my advantage.

They brought me to her throne room. Her face got red, her eyes widened and she shouted at them, "How many times must I tell you?! No visitors before noon!"

They cowered, looked at each other and then looked at me. I just shrugged looking as confused as they were. "That was at my behest, your majesty," I said bowing to her, "there is an urgent matter that must be attended to right away." They glared at me, knowing I had lied to get in front of the queen.

"Oh, and what is that?"

"You had a young woman arrested the other day. Samyah. She is in your prison. I want to know why," I said.

"Because she is an outsider and they are not allowed in my city. What do you care about that outsider trash?"

I felt anger heat inside me at her insult. I fought to control my temper. I really hated this woman but I had to keep my cool if I wanted this to work.

"I have studied your laws and never saw anything about outsiders. Where is this written?"

"It isn't. It is a rule I enforce to maintain order. If I start allowing just anyone in my city, it will turn to chaos," she said curtly. I could tell I was getting to her. Good.

"So then she hasn't officially broken any laws then, is that correct?"

"No, not technically." she reluctantly admitted.

"And yet you still keep her imprisoned?"

"What is it to you, Fire Lord? Why do you care?" She asked me again.

My plan was working perfectly. She was playing into my hands.

"Well, if you continue to keep her in your prison, this will present a problem. See, I have my own rules I abide by when going into another kingdom, except I keep them in writing. Not only rules that I hold myself to, but rules for those around me. That includes your subjects. She has committed a crime of deceit against the Fire Lord. She too lied to me about being an outsider, and I will not be made a fool. Not by anyone. So, since she is not in prison for any specific crime, I would like to have my guards escort her back to the Fire Nation to stand trial for her crime against the Fire Lord. These rules were provided to you when I first arrived here," they weren't. That is, I gave her scrolls, but none of them held this information. I knew she didn't read them and employed this into my strategy. My hands were sweating, but I kept them balled into fists.

"And why exactly should I release her into your custody? She is my subject after all."

"Because, you want the same thing I do: for her to pay for coming here in the first place. She has violated one of my cardinal rules, she will be taken back to the Fire Nation and swiftly dealt with," I was hoping she would not call my bluff and see through my Pai Sho face.

She narrowed her eyes at me. "Very well, Fire Lord. I have grown bored of her anyway." She looked at one of her agents and said, "send for her at once."

I stood and waited while the agent left the room. I finally was going to see her. I hoped she was ok. Hopefully she would let me explain before she turned away from me because the hardest part of my plan was coming up - playing the part of offended Fire Lord - to her.

The agent quickly returned, accompanied by a guard. She filed in after them, the guard holding onto the chain connecting her hands. As soon as I saw her, I felt the anger start to rise again. She was in the same clothes she was in when I saw her 3 days ago. Her hair disheveled and matted. Bruises splotched all over her body. At least, the parts I could see. She'd been beaten. Her eyes sunken in, her lips dry and cracked from dehydration. She had a bruise coming in on her face, it looked fresh. Possibly just happened. Her hands and wrists were rubbed raw from the hand cuffs and they looked like they were bleeding. I looked down and her ankles were in the same state. They must have been keeping her cuffed while in jail. Standard practice if you didn't know if someone was a bender. She had no shoes on and she kept her head down.

After the Earth Queen had her fun, she gestured to me saying "Have you met Fire Lord Zuko?"

Her eyes followed the queen's hand and her eyes locked with mine. I was angry from seeing her in this state. When she saw me, she flinched. I wasn't sure if it was because of my expression or my attire. Probably both, I thought.

"Remove her cuffs." I finally said. The guard looked at me and back at the queen who scowled.

I looked at the guard knowing what he was thinking. I gestured to my either side of me and said "I have my best firebenders here with me. If she tries to escape, she won't get far. Take the cuffs off of her."

He looked at me, and then at the queen. I was getting impatient, "how will we get them off when we get her back to the Fire Nation without a key? Take. Them. Off," I said firmly. Harshly. "If we see the need, my firebenders have cuffs of our own. The guard said nothing. He looked over to the queen for guidance. She rolled her eyes and waved dismissively at her. He turned to Sam and did as he was ordered. She rubbed her wrists, fear and confusion still covering her face. She concentrated a little too hard on the marble floor. She was avoiding my gaze. I waved my firebenders to retrieve her. They both gripped her upper arms tightly and led her over to me. As they brought her to me she finally looked up at me. I stood still, scowling at her and keeping my arms crossed across my chest. Agni, I hope she would forgive me for this. If she didn't, at least she would be safe.

The queen got angry, "I want that outsider trash out of my city tonight. Once you are out of my kingdom you can deal with her treachery as you see fit," she said, her smile spreading across her face. I saw Sam grimace. My firebenders kept a firm hold on her. I turned around, and headed out of the palace and led her back to the city. I had led them down an alleyway and slipped into the back of Uncle's apartment. No one saw us. We were in the clear. For now. There was still one thing that needed done. And I had no idea what her reaction would be. That would not be able to happen until Uncle returned home.

I turned to my firebenders, "Please stand guard," she looked at them and then at me looking defeated. She thought I meant they should stand guard because of her. One went to the front door and the other to the back door. I led her to the door of the bathing room. I had laid some clothes out for her on the counter in the bathing room before I left. I had sent one of my firebenders to her apartment to retrieve her belongings. Anything that seemed important anyway.

I stood in front of her, her arms wrapped around her torso in search of some comfort. I reached out and placed a hand on her upper arm, "it's ok. You don't have to be scared. You're safe now," my soft expression had finally returned. She wasn't completely comfortable but I could feel some tension leave her body. She was still avoiding my eyes though. I wanted to hold her and tell her she would be ok, but now was not the time.

I drew some water into the tub and filled it. I heated it with my firebending. I heard her gasp behind me. Oh, of course. She didn't know I was a firebender. Once the water was good and hot I turned back to Sam.

"Go ahead and get washed up. I laid out some of your clothes for you when you're finished. I sent Jok and Shen, my firebenders, to your apartment to retrieve your things. I hope that was ok," she looked at the clothes and her brow furrowed. Confusion again, "once you are cleaned up, we will talk. I'll give you some privacy," I said. I didn't wait for a reply and walked out.

Samyah

I watched him as he turned and walked away. I was surprised when he heated the water with firebending. Of course he was a firebender. He was he Fire Lord apparently. A minor detail he had forgotten to mention. I climbed in and I sat in the tub in the hot water letting it sooth my aching body. My joints started to feel more normal. I took inventory of my injuries. Mostly bruises. My right side were bruised. Ribs were definitely broken. My arms and legs splotched with blue, yellow and purple. There was a deep gash on my left arm that I thought looked like it was getting infected. I submerged it in the water. It stung but soon felt better. I rubbed some soap in my hair. I could feel the dirt and grit running out and into the water. It felt heavenly.

I had no idea what was going on but a few things I was certain of. Zuko. He was the Fire Lord. The FIRE LORD?! Why didn't he tell me? He was taking me back to the Fire Nation for some crime I had committed. What I didn't know. His demeanor was completely different now than when he came to retrieve me from the queen. Was it all a rouse to get me away? I wasn't sure. I scoffed and looked at the reflection in the water. It danced with my movements. I wrapped my arms around my body again and started to cry. I didn't understand what was going on. "We will talk." he had said. Talk about what? How he lied to me? Well, he didn't tell me so lying by omission. Then again, I hadn't been completely honest with him either so I guess I couldn't be too angry. Then he was so mean at the palace. Ordering his firebenders to seize me and brought me to him. Their grip on my arms like vices. I had dared look up at him and he glared at me so harshly. I had never seen that expression on his face before. For the first time since I met him, I was scared of him. I didn't know if the last three weeks were a lie or is the performance in the palace was. And then to lead me here to my, now, less awful prison. But still, it felt like a prison. I won't be allowed to leave. He had set those guards to ensure that. Even if I wanted to. I knew it was inevitable though. I would have to face him. My stomach twisted in knots at the thought of it. I finished my bath and put on my fresh clothes. I did appreciate those. I pushed the feelings of gratitude out. I didn't want to not be angry.

I looked in the mirror and gasped at what I saw. The right side of my face was a very dark black and blue mark. Where the guard had struck me. It was worse than I thought. I saw a broken blood vessel in my eye. It looked gnarly. I started to cry again. Dammit! Get a grip! Stop crying! I took some deep breaths and I forced myself to be calm. Then, I stepped out of the door.

He was sitting on a bench at the window looking out at the sky presumably watching the clouds. It was probably around noon by now but I couldn't be sure. He had changed clothes while he waited. He looked like the Zuko I knew from the Jasmine Dragon. Except his hair was still in the top knot with the hairpiece. I cleared my throat. I wasn't sure he heard me. Not until he spoke.

"You have questions." It was a statement.

I steeled myself, took a deep breath and responded with a "yes." It sounded way weaker than I had intended. I cursed under my breath.

He looked over at me. The harsh expression gone. Now it was replaced with sorrow, relief, concern and…something else, skating around the fringes of his emotions but I couldn't identify it. He stood and walked over to the table, sitting down. He reached his foot out and pushed the chair out across from him, inviting me to sit down. I deliberated for a moment, but finally accept his offer. I was still sore from my ordeal so sitting felt good.

He looked at me. Making eye contact for the first time since I saw him in the palace, "Are you ok? Are you hurt?"

"Yes" was all I said. I realized that could answer either question.

Zuko looked at me and then down at his hands, "I'm sorry." he said simply.

That was it?! That was what I got? I got angry. I stood up and leaned across the table, my hands supporting me, "You're SORRY?! That's all you have to say?! You come take me from the palace to take me back to your Fire Nation. I'm going from one prison to another. Oh but you let me bathe so that makes it all ok, doesn't it? Come on, Zuko! Or should I say Fire Lord?" I was panting and my arms shaking with rage. He had jumped, his eyes widened at my sudden outburst and then a look of pain spread across his face and I instantly regretted my words.

"No. So much more than that. I just…I need you to understand. Please, let me explain," he said reaching out his hand to touch mine. I pulled it away before he had a chance to touch me. His golden eyes burning into mine. I had never seen his eyes so intense and I instantly knew he was sincere. Despite me wanting to be angry, I started to calm down. I sat back down in the chair, leaned back and crossed my arms across my chest which hurt, but I didn't let it show.

"Yes, I am the Fire Lord. This apartment is my Uncle's. I was here to take care of some border disputes between the Fire Nation and the Earth Kingdom. I handled those disputes, at least, as well as I could dealing with that witch queen. Afterwards, I wanted to spend some time with my uncle. I hardly get to see him these days. Anyway, I always help Uncle with the tea shop when I come. I enjoy it, serving others. Then you walked in the second day I was here."

I sat listening. He paused and looked at me. When I didn't respond he continued.

"When you didn't show for our…meeting," his voice caught not knowing what he wanted to call it, I guessed. I wasn't sure what to call it either. "I got concerned. I wanted to check on you, but I didn't want to intrude. I waited until the next day. When you didn't show again my concern got the best of me. I went to your apartment and saw it was abandoned. I asked the young woman a few doors down from you what happened to you and she was the one who pointed me in the right direction.

"Anyway, I struck up this plan with my uncle and my firebenders to get you out of there. I told her that you had committed a heinous crime against me to get her to let you go. She didn't want to unless something unspeakable would happen to you." His brow furrowed hard. He was getting angry, I could tell. But, despite myself, I was starting to see that Zuko hadn't done anything wrong. In fact, he saved me.

"So, what? I'm still under arrest, aren't I?" His expression changed and went straight to poker face.

"No, you are not. I talked about it with Uncle before I came for you. If I take you back to the Fire Nation with me and the queen gets word that you are not in custody, then she has every right to come for you being an Earth Kingdom citizen. And there will be nothing I can do."

"So what? Do I have to leave the Bending Nations?" I asked. After the last few days, that option was starting to look pretty attractive.

"Well, not exactly. There is a way to keep you out of her hands, but I'm afraid you won't like it."

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. I reopened them and said " just tell me."

"Well, the only way to keep you away from her is to change you from an Earth Kingdom Citizen to a Fire Nation Citizen. We could do the paperwork but, again, if she catches wind of it, and when she does, she will come for you. Even if you leave the Bending Nations, she will still come after you. Once she has her eyes set on her prey, she doesn't relent. Nowhere will be safe for you. So there is only one solution." He stopped, closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He let it out slowly through his nose,

"Spit it out, Zuko," I said, more harsh than I meant to.

"The only way is to…be my new Fire Lady?"

When he said those words I felt all of the blood leave my head. I was unconscious before I hit the floor.