Five Years Later

Sam

I woke up and stretched my arm over to Zuko's empty side of the bed. He had already risen and started working for the day. I didn't get up as early as I used to since I was getting Izumi up, but I still got up early. She was five now and sleeping in her own bed and in her own room. There were nights she would get scared and want to sleep with us, but we tried to get her used to sleeping alone. I went to her bed and shook her awake.

"Izumi. Wakey wakey." I said shaking her sleeping form. She stirred and curled into a ball. "Come on, Izumi. It's time to get ready for the academy." She still didn't move. She reminded me so much of myself. I lifted the blankets off of her and patted her behind. "Let's go, Zoom. Up up." She groaned and slowly rose, rubbing her eyes. "Sleep well, hunny?" Izumi mumbled something incoherent. I gestured to clothes laying at the foot of the bed. "Come on. I will help you get dressed."

"Ok, Mommy. Can I stay home today? I could help you and Daddy." she usually liked school but lately she didn't want to go and I wasn't sure why. I knew I would eventually crack the mystery. But for now, it would remain just that.

"No, Zoom. You have to go to school."

"But you and Daddy don't!" She rebutted. Well, she had a point there.

"Well, no, we don't. But we did go when we were your age. And we didn't want to either. But we still had to go. Just like you." I said leading her over to the chair so I could work on her hair. She had inherited my thick curls and it was a challenge getting through it every morning. I put it in the standard topknot everyone wore. She didn't have to wear it when she was at home but she did when she went out or if there were officials here visiting the palace.

Once she was dressed, I took her out of the room and we went to go eat breakfast. Once finished, Geshna would take her to school. Geshna had been promoted to Captain of the Guard. After some time passed, we realized how much she loved Izumi. We asked her if she would like to be Izumi's personal guard outside the palace instead and she readily agreed.

I took her hand and walked her out to the palace steps where Geshna was waiting. "Now, you be a good girl, ok? I'll see you soon." I said kissing her on the forehead.

"Yes, Mommy, I will. Love you."

"Love you too, my little Zooms." She turned around and took Geshna's hand and I watched until they were out of sight. Once they were gone, I turned around and headed to Zuko's and my office. I sat down and he looked up at me from his scroll.

"She off to the academy, now?"

"Yes. She still doesn't want to go. I can't figure out why."

"She will come around when she is ready to talk about it. In the meantime, you look at this proposal? I want your opinion." Since Izumi was old enough she could more or less entertain herself, I had resumed my duties with Zuko. Especially while she was at school.

"Zuko, why does this sound like a publicity stunt by the councilman? It's like he is trying to win them over after what he did to them last year." Zuko smiled.

"That is exactly what I thought. The people are angry with him after he failed to reintegrate Firebending back into the schools after he removed it for some unknown reason. Now he is trying to win them back by making a firebending arena in his own name."

"Doesn't he realize the only way he will is to come through on his promise? This is just a waste of time, money and resources. Not to mention arrogant."

"I'm glad you agree." Zuko said. He wrote a big 'DENIED' on the proposal. "I think we need to have a conversation about this at the next council meeting. Firebending is mandatory in all schools and the true way no less."

"I agree. He definitely needs a talking to. Maybe even his Fire Lord to remind him of his current position." I suggested.

"You are diabolical." he said, laughing. We continued this way until we broke for lunch. Afterwards we continued proposals until late afternoon when Izumi would be coming home. Zuko was never there to see her off to school but he always wanted to be there to greet her when she came home. She and Geshna were walking slowly, Izumi staring at the ground. Zuko and I exchanged worried looks. They came up to us and Izumi kept looking down.

"Turtleduck, you ok?" Zuko asked, kneeling down to her level.

"Yeah. I'm just tired." I could tell Zuko didn't buy it but he left it go. He looked up at Geshna who shrugged. Apparently she didn't know either. I knelt down beside Zuko.

"Hey, Zoom, you can tell us anything, you know that right?"

"Yeah, Mommy. I just want to go to my room." This was very unlike her and Zuko and I exchanged worried looks again.

"Of course, sweetie. I will get you when it's dinner time." Izumi disappeared into the hallway.

"Geshna, do you know what is wrong?" Zuko asked, concerned.

"No, I don't know anything. I know she kept to herself after lunch until the end of the day but I don't know why. I asked her too but she just shrugged."

"Maybe we should talk to her." Zuko suggested.

"I think that is a good idea. But not until dinner. Give her time to rest and collect herself. I don't want to push her too hard." I suggested and Zuko nodded in agreement. We walked hand in hand back into the palace to finish up on some last minute paperwork.

Dinner time arrived and we all gathered at the table. Zuko and I noticed that Izumi was just pushing her food around her plate, not eating.

"Izumi, you need to eat, hunny." I said.

"I'm not hungry." Izumi said. I decided to press a little bit.

"Izumi, did something happen in school today?" she shrugged. "You know, whatever it is you can tell us." She looked at Zuko and I, deliberating if she wanted to say what as on her mind.

"Well, someone said something about you today, Daddy." I intook a quick breath. Zuko and I knew this would eventually happen but we had hoped it wouldn't be until she was older.

"What did they say?" Zuko asked. Izumi hesitated, then asked a question.

"What does…'traitor' mean?" Zuko and I sat still. Izumi looked at us and our look of consternation and she started fidgeting - something she did when she thought she was in trouble or was just nervous.

"Where did you hear that?" Zuko asked.

"In school. Someone said that Daddy is a traitor. What does it mean?"

"Hunny, a traitor is someone who betrays you." Izumi looked at me, confused.

"What does 'betray' mean?"

"It means…it means to not be someone's friend after telling them you would be."

"Oh." she said, clearing processing this.

"But…they said that you're a traitor, Daddy. Are you…a traitor?" she asked. I looked at Zuko who looked like a lost puppy. I stepped in.

"No, Izumi. Daddy is not a traitor. But some people think he is."

"Why?"

"Because your daddy stopped bad things from happening. And some people like bad things." Izumi still looked confused. I smiled. "Hunny, you'll understand more when you're older. Until then, don't listen to people at school. Ok?" Izumi nodded and finally started eating her food which was probably cold at this point.

I looked over at Zuko who looked exasperated and I chuckled taking his hand. "It's ok, Zuko. Breathe." He didn't say anything but I knew he would want to talk later. Izumi finished her food and I got her ready for bed. Thankfully, she wasn't old enough to get homework yet. And I wasn't looking forward to that part of school.

Zuko and I always tucked Izumi in bed at night. I would bring up the covers and Zuko would tuck the covers in under her, tight. He would bounce her up and down on the bed, pushing the covers under her. She always giggled and laughed every night when he did this. He kissed her good night on the tip of her nose. "Sleep tight, my little turtleduck." Zuko said, and kissed her forehead.

"G'night, Daddy." she said smiling at him.

I came over to the other side and kissed her all over her face making her giggle. "Good night, Zoom." I said.

"Night, Mommy." Zuko and I walked to the door, took one last look at her and walked out closing it behind us. We both looked at each other and breathed a sigh of relief. We walked over to our room and closed the door behind us, getting out of our day clothes and into our sleeping clothes.

"Who do you think said that to her?" Zuko asked.

"Probably that kid who likes to bully her. We know her parents are still loyal to Ozai." I guessed.

"I never thought I would have to explain a traitor to a five year old. I was hoping it would be at least a couple more years." Zuko said.

"I know. Me too. You did well though."

"Yeah, thanks for coming to my rescue." Zuko chuckled.

"I told you before, Zuko. We are a team. We can handle anything together." I kissed him and we laid down in bed, talking about our day and finally went to sleep.

Zuko

It was the next day and it was fairly routine. I started working, Sam got Izumi up for academy and then she joined me. It was just past lunch time when there was a knock on our office door. Geshna came into the room and I could see Izumi was hiding behind her.

"Izumi, what are you doing home so early? Are you alright?" Sam jumped up quickly to examine Izumi but she wouldn't come out from behind Geshna. Sam looked up at her and Geshna shrugged, not knowing what to say.

"Izumi, did something happen?" Sam asked. I got up and walked over next to Sam. "Izumi, step out from behind Geshna, please." Sam said. Slowly, VERY SLOWLY, Izumi stepped out from behind Geshna and I could see what appeared to be a bruise forming on her eye. I could also see some mud stains on her arms and clothes. I immediately got angry.

"Izumi! What happened! Who did this to you?" I shouted unintentionally. Izumi whimpered and went back behind Geshna. Sam looked up at me with a look of reproach on her face. I took a deep breath and tried again. "No, Izumi. I'm sorry. Daddy isn't angry at you. What happened, sweetie?" I said reaching my hands out to her. She stepped out from behind Geshna again but she still looked nervous. She came over to me. I picked her up and sat her on my chair.

I knelt down in front of her, gently took hold of her chin and craned her neck around so I could see the bruise. It covered her whole left eye and I could tell it would get worse before it got better. I patted her head and said "Wait here, hunny. Mommy and Daddy will be right back." We stepped outside with Geshna.

"Do you know what happened?"

"Yes, someone called Fire Lord Zuko a traitor and Izumi got angry and pulled her hair. Then the other child punched her in the face. Izumi started to cry but she didn't let go of her hair until the teacher broke it up. That's when she asked me to take Izumi home for the day. The other child was also sent home early."

"Did this person happen to be Chang?" Sam asked.

"Yes, it was Chang. When is it not?" Geshna said. She had a point. Chang was Izumi's worst bully.

"Ok, thank you for the information. You can take your leave now. She won't be going back today." I said. Geshna bowed and left the room.

Sam looked up at me. "What are we going to do? Talk to her parents?"

"No, that won't do any good. Besides, there will always be people who call me a traitor. I think we need to help her learn how to cope with it." Sam smiled at me.

"Sounds like I'm rubbing off on you." Sam smiled. We walked back into our office and Izumi was sitting on my chair with her knees pulled up to her chest. She was crying. Sam and I knelt in front of her so we could be at eye level. It was Sam that spoke.

"Ok, Izumi. What happened?" Izumi looked at Sam, afraid to answer. She continued. "You won't get in trouble, Izumi. We just need you to tell us what happened." She uncurled her legs and started to swing them. I chimed in.

"Izumi, we need to know. How did you get the bruise on your face?" Izumi sniffled.

"Chang hit me." Izumi said.

"Is that all that happened?" I pressed. Izumi shrugged. "Izumi, you won't get into trouble for telling us what happened. But you will get into trouble if you lie to us or don't tell us everything." I kept my voice soft and soothing trying to comfort her without giving her a false sense of security in deception.

"Well, I pulled her hair." she admitted. She still wouldn't look at us.

"I see. And why did you do that?" I asked.

"Because…because…" Izumi started to get upset again.

"Because?" Sam pressed this time.

"She called Daddy a traitor again." the way she said 'traitor' seemed like the word felt dirty in her mouth. I stood and picked her up off the chair. I sat down on my chair and set her on my lap. I wrapped my arms around her tight, making her giggle.

"Izumi, you can't hit…or pull people's hair…when they say mean things about me. Or anyone."

"But I got so mad! Chang is always mean to me. I hate her."

"No, Izumi. Don't say that. Saying you hate someone is not very kind." Sam chided.

"I don't care, Mommy! I do hate her! She is mean to me and she says mean things about you and Daddy." I could only imagine what they were saying about Sam.

"Zoom, you can't let people who say mean things get to you. You have to learn to ignore it. I know, it's harder than it sounds."

"Wots harder." Izumi said. I couldn't help but chuckle at her simultaneous annunciation and mispronunciation. "How do I ignore it?"

"When people say mean things, don't pay any attention to them. Pretend you didn't hear it. If they try to get you to fight, walk away. But, we mean it, no more fighting." I said, stern but gentle.

Izumi gave a small smile and nodded. "Ok, Daddy. I won't."

"Good girl. Now, let's get you cleaned up, ok?" Sam said, taking her hand. Sam got her cleaned up and ready for dinner. We would have dinner early and Izumi would go to bed early. She wasn't in trouble but she needed to think about about what happened today and understand what we told her. "Process it" as Sam calls it.

After dinner, we went to our rooms. Sam spoke.

"I still think we need to do something about Chang."

"Like what? Talk to her parents? They're the ones feeding their daughter toxicity." I said. Sam nodded.

"I know, I just hate not being able to do anything."

"Sam, Izumi is in school now. She has to learn to deal with other people in a healthy way." I said and Sam agreed.

We laid down together and settled into our normal position - me on my back and Sam laying on her side with her head on my chest. We laid and chatted a bit about nothing in particular until we both grew weary and finally fell asleep.