Zuko
It had been a month since Azula was released from prison and it was going very well. She was still working with Joshi but she was there full time now. She still lived in the palace though. I thought she would quit when she was released but, to my surprise, she continued working there. She said that she liked being able to help people and stop the bad ones. Needless to say, I was proud of her.
The public opinion on it was mixed. Some people felt it was good that she was released and is now a functioning member of society. Others were not so supportive of my decision. Some felt that if she committed the crime then she should be behind bars for the rest of her life. Either way, it didn't matter to me. Nor did it matter to Sam. We knew what we chose was right and that was all that mattered. I learned early on as being Fire Lord you will never please everyone and you will always make someone angry.
Everyone had gone home after Azula's release party so everything was back to normal. Today I was having an official meeting with my military heads so Sam was on her own for today. I hated not being able to work with her, but this was important. Along with sentencing, this was the only thing that remained solely my responsibility although I always got Sam's opinion when I needed or wanted it - especially when it came to sentencing. She had a lot of good ideas that I would never have thought of - like the programs that got Azula released from prison.
The meeting had ended early, around noon, and I left the room to find Sam standing there, waiting for me. This wasn't too uncommon. Sometimes she would wait for me to come out if she finished what she was doing early. I walked over to her and kissed her in greeting.
"Hello, Sam. Nice seeing you here." I said, smiling. She smiled back but it did not reach her eyes. "Are you ok, Fire Lily?"
"Yes. No. Ugh. I need to talk to you. We should go to our office." she said. THIS was uncommon behavior for her. Usually if she wanted to talk, she would wait until we were in our room. The fact she wanted to go to our office was strange. Regardless, I followed her in and I sat down at my desk. She pulled her chair to the other side of my desk and sat down so we could face each other.
"So, what's up? Why did you want to meet here?" I finally got a good look at her. She looked upset. Worried. Angry. All at once.
"I didn't want to risk Izumi overhearing us talking because this involves her." I wasn't sure where she was going with this. Izumi was doing well in school and the bullying had subsided since the last incident.
"Is she alright? Did something happen? Where is she?" I asked, concerned.
"Yes she's alright. She is in her room." Uh-oh. Something must have happened. Izumi never went straight to her room after school unless she did something to earn it.
"What happened?" I asked. Sam took a deep breath and spoke.
Flashback - Sam's perspective
I was sitting in our office when I heard a knock at the door. I beckoned them to come in and it was a guard with a young girl.
"Your majesty, this girl was sent by Sheeza, Izumi's teacher. She wants you and Fire Lord Zuko to come down to the school immediately." I got worried. The teacher had never done this before.
"Did she say why?" I asked and the girl answered.
"She told me specifically that she wanted to be the one to tell you." I rolled my eyes. I was not a huge fan of this teacher. I got up and started walking out.
"What about the Fire Lord?" the girl asked.
"He is not available right now. I will go."
"She specifically said she wants you both." The girl said nervously.
"I don't care what she wants. She is getting me." I said. I stood up and walked to the school. When I got there I walked inside and I saw Izumi sitting on a chair in the corner, her head down. I started walking over to her when Sheeza stood in my path.
"Fire Lady Samyah. Where is Fire Lord Zuko?" she asked. She didn't like working with me and frankly, I thought she had an eye for Zuko. Another reason I was happy to come alone.
"He is not available right now. Is that a problem?" I challenged.
"Of course not, your majesty." she said.
"Good. So what happened?"
"Chang and Izumi were in the play area when Chang said something to her. I don't know what it was but I could tell Izumi was angry. She turned around and walked away but Chang came up behind her and shoved her. Izumi lost it, tackled Chang and started pummeling her until Geshna pulled her off. Chang was crying and she had a little bit of blood in her mouth." I gasped. Izumi had never EVER gotten into a fight like this. I wondered what Chang said to provoke her. This was the last straw. I'd had it.
"Where are Chang's parents?" I asked.
"I beg your pardon, your highness. I'm not sure what you mean."
"Well, you kept Izumi here and summoned the Fire Lord and myself. So I'm assuming that Chang is here with her parents as well. I want to speak to them."
"I'm sorry, Fire Lady, but they are not here."
"Ok, when will they be?"
"They won't be. I sent Chang home." I saw red.
"And why did you send Chang home but kept my daughter?"
"W-well, your majesty. Izumi is the crown princess and is held to a higher standard." she said. I balled my hands into fists trying to control myself. This bitch was trying my patience.
"How the Fire Lord and I discipline our daughter is our business. Your business is to treat all of the children fairly. I am not leaving this building, and neither are you, until Chang's parents are here and I talk to them."
"I'm not sure that's necessary, Fire Lady," she rebutted.
"I will decide what is necessary, Sheeza. Send. For. Them. Now." I enunciated. She turned to the same girl who got me and told her to fetch them. In the meantime, I would talk to Izumi.
I walked over to her and she didn't move, though I could tell she knew I was there.
"Izumi." I said softly. Of course I was upset with her. No matter what Chang said, she has been told repeatedly by Zuko and myself not to fight. But I needed to get to the bottom of this. Izumi slowly lifted her head and looked at me. I could tell she had been crying and she had a bruise on her chin, presumably from when she was pushed. I came over and knelt in front of her so I was at eye level with her. "Tell me what happened." She put her head down again and started to fidget. "Izumi, explain yourself." I said stern but gentle. She sniffled, tears forming in her eyes.
"I'm sorry, Mommy! I know you and Daddy told me not to fight! I'm sorry!" she said, crying anew.
"Izumi, I know you're sorry. But I need to know what happened." I said.
"Well, I was playing in the play area when Chang came over to me and whispered to me. She said that Daddy married 'a no good…" she paused not wanting to continue. I knew whatever it was, was bad.
"Izumi, tell me what she said, hunny. You won't get in trouble for telling me." I explained.
"She said that Daddy married 'a no good…outsider whore.' I didn't know what it meant but I knew it was really bad! I tried to walk away like you and Daddy telled me but she came up behind me and said 'and your Aunt Azula is nothing but a murderer and she should still be in jail!' and pushed me down. I got really angry and told her that's not true and…that's when I started hitting her." By the time she was finished I was angry myself. I definitely wanted to talk to Chang's parents. This was out of control. It must have shown on my face because Izumi looked at me and started crying again, pulling her knees up to her chest trying to comfort herself. I softened my face and came closer to her.
"Izumi, it's ok. Come here." I said holding my arms out. She looked at me and threw herself into my arms. I picked her up and held her. I didn't care what the teacher thought. She could go pound sand for all I cared.
"Shh. It's ok, Izumi. It's over now." I soothed her. The teacher came over to me while I was holding Izumi, looking at me disapprovingly which I ignored.
"Your Majesty, Chang's father is here." I had asked for both but then I realized her mother probably stayed home with her. I thanked Sheeza and set Izumi back down on the chair.
"Wait here, hunny. I'll be back." I said. I wiped away her tears and kissed her forehead. I walked over to Chang's father.
"Your majesty," he said bowing, "to what do I owe this pleasure?" his voice caught on that last word.
"I need to speak to you about your daughter." I said. His brow furrowed.
"You mean regarding how your daughter beat her senseless?" he said angrily. I narrowed my eyes at him.
"I'm not saying that Izumi was right in what she did and your Fire Lord and I will deal with her as we see fit but are you aware of why Izumi hit your daughter?"
"Yes, because Chang was playing with a toy Izumi wanted so she hit her. You and the Fire Lord are raising a spoiled brat." I narrowed my eyes at him and I looked over at Sheeza. She made eye contact with me and I gestured to Chang's father. She had better tell him the truth or I was going to go apeshit.
"Actually, Buzi, that is not what happened. Chang said something to Izumi although I did not hear it. Izumi turned and walked away and Chang shoved her to the ground. That was when Izumi reacted." I could tell that Buzi was surprised by this.
"That is not what Chang told me."
"Sir, are you aware that your daughter has been bullying my daughter?" I asked which he looked surprised again. Clearly the teacher had not been doing her job.
"No, I had no idea. My Chang? A bully?" he asked.
"Yes, she has been telling Izumi that Fire Lord Zuko is a traitor and that I am a 'no good outsider whore.'" The teacher covered her mouth and gasped at this. I continued. "She also told her that her Aunt Azula is a murderer - which is not true." I explained. He didn't look surprised at the language at all but he did seem surprised that it was being repeated, "Now, maybe I am old-fashioned but I don't think words like that should be in a school's - let alone kindergarten's - vernacular. Wouldn't you agree?" I asked. His face got bright red and he fell to his knees, bowing to me.
"I'm so sorry, Fire Lady Samyah. I truly had no idea that these things were being said. I don't even know where she heard it from. My wife and I are strong supporters of our Fire Lord and Lady." he said. He was full of over-condensed cow dung. "I will be having a discussion with my daughter and get to the bottom of this. I will make sure she doesn't sit easy for a few days. Please forgive us."
"I don't' think that is necessary but a discussion would be appreciated, so see that you do." I turned to the teacher, "I also understand that it was Geshna that broke this fight up. Obviously, you had seen it because you told me what happened. Why did you not intervene before it escalated?" Sheeza looked surprised at my pointed question.
"I'm sorry, your majesty. I will strive to do better."
"Please do. Because if this is to continue we will have to re-examine your place as teacher in this academy. Do I make myself clear?" I challenged.
"Yes, your majesty. Thank you for giving me a second chance." she said, bowing.
"Now if you don't mind, I am taking my daughter home."
"I think." the teacher started but got cold feet. I urged her to continue, "I think it best that Chang and Izumi stay home for a few days."
"I think that is a good idea," I said looking sideways at Buzi, "Izumi will return on Monday." I walked over to Izumi and held out my hand to her.
"Come on, young lady. Let's go home." I said as she took hold of my hand. She knew she was in trouble for fighting, although I didn't actually completely blame her for it. She stood up, took my hand and we walked out.
Present
I was watching Zuko during my relay of what happened and he was ANGRY. Really angry. His hands were in fists, his face set in a scowl and he was breathing heavy. He calmed himself down enough to speak.
"Thank you for handling this. I know this was something you would have benefited from me being there." That was true. It would have helped.
"Yes, but it's handled. You have responsibilities that you can't always get out of." I said. Zuko was the Fire Lord. Sometimes that would take precedence.
"Have you talked to her since you got home?"
"Not yet. I wanted to speak to you first. I hate to punish her. It isn't really her fault."
"No, but she has been talked to about fighting before. And to make it worse, this time she drew blood. She needs to understand that fighting will not be tolerated. Regardless of the reason. She needs to control her temper." Zuko said. I smiled.
"Gee, I wonder where she gets that from." I mused. Zuko smiled sheepishly.
"Yeah, for sure."
Zuko and I discussed how we would talk to Izumi. We decided she needed to have a good talking to from both her parents, though Zuko would do most of the talking since I had already spoken to her. She had also earned herself a punishment. She needed to know we meant it when we said about no fighting. Even though neither of us thought it was entirely her fault. We knocked on her door and walked in. She was laying on her bed, curled up in a ball. She looked over at us and sat up, her feet dangling off the bed. Her head was down and she was fidgeting with her hands.
"Hey, hunny. Your father and I need to talk to you." I said. Zuko and I pulled up chairs to sit in front of Izumi. It was Zuko who spoke.
"So I heard something happened at school. Want to tell me about it?" he invited. She looked down at her hands and she started to get tears again. Zuko scooched his chair closer to her and laid a hand on her leg. "Izumi, come now. I want to know what happened." Izumi looked over at me then back at Zuko.
"Mommy didn't told you?" she asked.
"She did. But I want to hear it from you." Izumi sighed and looked at Zuko.
"It was Chang's fault." she said. Zuko's brow furrowed slightly.
"Izumi, I don't care who's fault it was. Tell me what happened," Zuko said in the stern but gentle voice he used with her.
"But, Daddy, you know what happened." Izumi whined, not wanting to articulate her actions.
"I want to hear it from you." Zuko repeated. Izumi looked at Zuko and she started to pout.
"Please, Daddy! Don't make me say it!" Izumi pleaded, starting to cry again. She was ashamed of her actions. Zuko looked at me, helplessly. Because of how he was raised, sometimes discipline was difficult for him but he had learned over the span of Izumi's life that sometimes it was necessary. I eyed him, urging him to stick to his guns.
"Izumi, you know the rules. If we ask you to tell us something, we expect an honest answer. Now I won't say it again, young lady." Zuko said, his voice more firm than before. Zuko and I felt that if she could do the crime then she should be able to repeat it. If she wouldn't want to, then she shouldn't have done it. Finally, she looked at Zuko, defeated.
"She called Mommy a…a…" she didn't know what 'whore' meant but knew it was bad to say. Whether she was afraid to say it or she didn't want to, I wasn't sure.
"It's ok. You don't have to say it, Izumi. She called Mommy something bad. And then what happened?" Zuko asked. Izumi continued.
"I turned around and walked away, just like you and Mommy telled me to! I promise! But then, she came up behind me and called Aunt Azula a murderer and said that she should be in jail and then pushed me really hard and I hit my chin and it really really hurt!" she said, rubbing her sore chin, "after that I got up and…"
"And?" Zuko urged.
"And I started hitting her." she finished, dropping her head. She brought her hands up to her face and started crying again. Zuko stood up and sat on the bed, pulling her into his lap. He held her close to his chest and she snuggled into his warmth.
"Why do people have to be so mean to you and Mommy? And Aunt Azula? You're the best mom and dad in the world and Aunt Azula is the best aunt!" Zuko and I glanced at each other after her compliment.
"Because people don't like what they don't understand." Zuko explained. Izumi didn't seem to totally understand but she accepted it.
"What does…what does that word mean that Chang called Mommy?" Zuko looked at me and I stepped in.
"It's a very bad word to call lady." I explained. She looked disgusted. She hated it when people spoke ill of her family. Izumi looked up at Zuko sheepishly.
"Am I in trouble, Daddy?" she asked. Zuko leaned back a bit so he could see her face. He smoothed her hair out of her face with his free hand.
"Yes, Turtleduck. You know your mother and I don't want you fighting. And now it happened again today." Zuko explained.
"But Daddy, Chang started it!" Izumi tried to reason, crying anew, now knowing there was a punishment coming.
"It doesn't matter who started it, Izumi. You are not allowed to fight, and you know it." Zuko scolded her. "So you will be going to bed early tonight, right after dinner, and no dessert. Do you understand?" He said, tapping her tummy with his finger in emphasis. Izumi pouted her lip. She looked down again and sighed, fresh tears spilling over.
"Yes, Daddy." she said.
"Good girl." he said. He pulled her into a hug and she wrapped her arms around his middle and snuggled into his chest, looking for comfort and forgiveness. She was upset about what happened today and she hated disappointing us. We were always careful that she knew, even if she made a mistake, we still loved her. I came over and sat down next to Zuko, joining in on the hug. After we pulled back we both kissed her, one of us for each cheek, making her giggle. Zuko stood up and set her down on the bed. He reached down and lovingly stroked her bruised chin.
"I love you, my little turtleduck." Zuko said, giving her a small smile.
"I love you too, Daddy." Izumi said.
Then I came over, kissed her forehead amorously and stroked her cheek. "I love you, Zoom."
"Love you too, Mommy." Izumi said, looking up at me.
We put the chairs back in their place and walked out of the room, I looked at Zuko. "I don't know how we are going to explain Azula to her. I know we will at some point."
"Well, Fire Lily, we will cross that bridge when we come to it."
