Zuko

Sam had removed her clothes and headed for the bathing room. She drew her bath and I heated it for her. She, of course, could heat her own water, but she is my wife and I like taking care of her.

"I'm dying here, Sam. Tell me what happened today." I said. If this were about anything else, I'd think she were teasing me.

"She did have good information, Zuko. It's huge." she said.

"For Agni's sake, Sam! Tell me!" I said. She finished drawing her bath and it was warm enough so she climbed in.

"On one condition." she said. I was starting to get annoyed.

"What?" I said. She slid forward in the tub.

"Join me?" Ok, that was a condition I could get behind. I removed my clothes and climbed in behind her. My legs straddled her body as she laid back against my chest.

"She is from Kondai." I said.

"Really? Your home country?"

"Yes, small world right? I guess with the others being from the Koya Desert, it was only a matter of time. She said that it isn't just men who are running this thing."

"Really? Women are involved too? Are they…uh…also?" I asked, not wanting to articulate what he was implying.

"Some of them, yes. But she made it seem like they are more working for them. Women exploiting other women. It's despicable. Not that it isn't all despicable. But especially since it's other women. I was thinking about it at dinner too. I remember when I worked in Las Estrellas that there would be people who were slaves at one time who started working for their pimps. They turned against their own." she said. "I didn't remember this until I thought about it after I spoke to her."

"That's disgusting." I said.

"Yes, it is."

"She told me that she had met someone who she thought loved her back only to be sold by him."

"What? He pretended to be interested in her only to betray her?"

"Exactly. And she knew his name."

"What is it?"

"Oh, we know him too. His name is Buzi." she said. My blood ran cold. Buzi. That son of a bitch.

"I really shouldn't be surprised but I am. He's got a wife and daughter!" I said.

"Yes, she even referenced the scar about his right eye. It's him, Zuko. And now we have a good reason to arrest him." she said also referencing the abuse his family endured.

"Yes, it's definitely enough grounds to arrest him and have him brought here for questioning. Is she willing to testify?" Sam was silent for a moment which I knew wasn't good.

"No, she isn't. I think if we can guarantee her safety, she would be willing. I mentioned it to her but she said these people are powerful. Since this is getting to be dangerous for the girls, I sent six guards to take shifts guarding the building."

"Good, I'm glad you did. I was just thinking that she and the others could be in danger."

"There is something else."

"What's that?"

"The man who runs the ring. All of the girls are taken to him and he 'approves them.' They treat them like cattle. She said that this man lives in Republic City." I said.

"Seriously?! She said that! Sam, that's huge!"

"Yes, it is. I'm not sure why, but I have a feeling that has something to do with why our friends are coming here. I don't know why I feel it. I just do."

"I don't think that's too far off. Toph is coming." Toph didn't usually leave Republic City, but she is now which tells me she knows something.

"How do we want to handle Buzi?" she asked.

"I think we arrest him while Chang is at school. I think it would be too traumatic for her if she saw it. I think we should also question Shira too. She may know something valuable." Sam deliberated for a moment.

"Is Sokka coming?"

"Yes, they said he was. Why?"

"Good, I want to work with him on something."

"Really? Do tell."

"I want to make something called a two-way mirror."

"What is that?"

"It's used in interrogations or victims identifying their attackers. On one side it's just a mirror but if you're on the other side, you can see through. The other person doesn't even know you're there. I think if we accomplished that, then Samira would be more willing to testify. If she knows she will be safe."

"Do you know how they are made?"

"All I know is that there is much less light on the side we would be on. Beyond that, I'm not sure. That's why I need Sokka. I think between the two of us, we can figure it out." Sam explained. On so many occasions I was glad to have such an intelligent woman as my wife. "Zuko?"

"Yes?"

"How do you feel about Izumi's new found friendship with Chang?"

"Yes, I wanted to talk to you about that too." I said. We had been together for so long, we practically knew what the other was thinking at all times. "I am nervous that things will turn sour."

"I agree. But do we stop her from being friends with Chang? I realize it's breaking our agreement but it really said nothing about IZUMI initiating anything."

"Yes, I never thought in a million years that she would want to be friends with Chang. So far, though, it seems to be going ok."

"I agree. I think we need to continue to caution Izumi about being friends with her but…"

"But?"

"Well, if we are going to take her father away from her, she is going to need a friend." she said. I hadn't thought about it like that.

"This is one of the many reasons I love you, Fire Lily."

"Why?"

"Because you always look at things from different angles that I don't think to look from. It really is invaluable." I said. Sam smiled.

"You are the one who encourages me to be who I am. If it weren't for you, I'd still be alone and feeling inadequate. It's you who makes me feel worthy." she said.

"You have always been a wonderful woman. A great mother. A fabulous wife. Not to mention an irreplaceable Fire Lady. I'm truly lucky to have you. And so is Izumi. And our people." I said. I felt her shiver and realized the water was getting cold. I heated it again with firebending so she could finish her bath. "I'm going to get out so you can finish up. You're getting chilly."

"Alright." she said, sliding forward to allow me to stand. I climbed out, dried off and got dressed in my sleeping pants. I left the room to give her privacy and I sat down by the window. When she came out, we both went to bed.

I got up at my normal time and after I trained and got cleaned up, I headed for my meeting with my councilmen. This being near the end of the year, they all had proposals for funding projects in the coming year. Although I had weeded out the councilmen that I did not like, I still didn't totally trust them. So I would be reviewing these proposals with Sam at some point. But not today. She will be coming to me after she sends Izumi off to school and I will be going to Buzi's house to arrest him. I wanted to be there, if nothing else, for the satisfaction of arresting that vermin.

"Zuko, I think I should go with you."

"No. Absolutely not, Sam. I mean it. This could get dangerous."

"Dangerous how? Because he might fight? That's why you'll be taking guards. I think it's important that I go."

"Look, I get it. I know why you want to see him arr-"

"That isn't why, Zuko."

"I don't care, Sam. My answer is no." I said. She glowered at me but I stood my ground.

"You won't even listen to me?" she scoffed, "Typical." she muttered under her breath.

"Now what is that supposed to mean? You know I get your opinion and I include you in almost everything."

"No, not that. It's typical that when you have your mind made up, you won't hear me out." she said. I hated it when she got like this. I pinched the bridge of my nose.

"Sam, I always hear you out but I don't want you in danger."

"Horseshit!" she said. "You hear me out most of the time, but when your mind is made you, you won't hear my reasoning. You won't listen to what I have to say!"

"Sam, stop being ridiculous. That's enough. My decision is final." I said. I heard her take a deep breath to calm herself down.

"How is it going to be dangerous? You think Buzi is going to do something? He's a coward and you know it. Please, Zuko. Listen to me! Please!" She said. Her plead gave me pause. If I thought she might be in danger, I didn't care to hear her. She knew it. I knew it. It was the topic of many arguments. I closed my eyes and then met hers. I'm going to regret this.

"Ok. Let's hear it." I said.

"His wife is going to need someone to be there to support her. This will be just as hard for her." she said. Dammit. She was right. I deliberated for a moment and then replied.

"You're right. She will. Alright, but the moment things look like they MIGHT get dangerous, I'm sending you out with one of my guards. No questions asked."

"Fine." she said. I hated it when she was right. And she usually was. I should be used to it by now. I thought to myself.

We took the rhinos and she, as always, rode with me. I liked being close to her like this. Plus it always reminded me of when we first got married.

"Do you remember the first time you rode one of these?"

"Remember? How could I forget?" she laughed. "I was sure if I fell off I'd go straight through the Earth."

"I remember how scared you were. I thought for sure your hand prints would be pressed into the saddle horn. Then when he moved you grabbed hold of my shoulder and pressed yourself against me. Do you realize what you did to me? I already wanted you. Then you did that. It really wasn't fair." I said chuckling.

"You? Feeling your muscles beneath your clothes, contracting while steering the animal. I still love the feeling. And don't think I didn't know your anatomy was betraying you. I felt it against my backside." she said. I blushed but was glad she couldn't see me.

"Yeah. That was when I knew I REALLY wanted you. Badly."

"Yes, me too. I was nervous to sleep with you because of…what happened previously to me. But I admit, you had me hot." she said. She didn't talk about what happened with Prince Jakar very often.

"You don't need to think about that anymore. Ever. You're with me now. I'll never let that happen to you again." I said and kissed her neck. It tickled her and she giggled. I loved that sound.

Shortly after our exchange, we arrived at Buzi's home. I climbed down off the rhino and helped Sam get down. "Stay here, my love. I promise, we will bring you in when Buzi is apprehended." she glared at me but accepted it. Jok, one of my guards, went around to the back door in case he tried to escape. My other guard and I went to the front door and knocked. His wife answered.

"I'm sorry to disturb you. Is your husband home?" he asked. Her eyes went wide and she looked scared. She hinted with her eyes that he was in the house.

"No, I'm sorry, Fire Lord. He isn't here." she said.

"May we come in?" I asked. She didn't see she could deny her Fire Lord, so she accepted. I turned to Sam and signaled her to come with me. I realized that I didn't want her out here by herself. She walked over to me the three of us went inside. "Where is he?" I mouthed to her. She pointed up. I signaled to my guard to find him upstairs. At that moment, I heard Jok from out back.

"No! DON'T JUMP!" Jok shouted. I heard a thud and someone crying out in pain. "Well, you idiot. I told you not to jump." I heard Jok say outside.

The rest of us ran out back and saw Buzi laying on the ground holding his leg. It was clearly broken. He tried to stand and I advanced on him. He stopped moving, looked up at me with his eyes wide. I conjured up a ball of dragon fire.

"I wouldn't try it. Besides, you won't get far on that leg." I said. Sam came up behind me. She looked up at the balcony and then back at him.

"Did you jump that? That's a good 15-foot drop. You aren't too bright, are you?" Sam asked. I stifled a laugh.

"Cuff his hands and feet and load him on the rhino. He is going to the palace." I ordered my men. They obeyed my request. I saw Sam approach Shira.

"What's going on. Why is he being arrested?" she asked Sam.

"I think you should come along to the palace with us. There may be a lot you don't know about your husband." Sam said.

"Jok, let her ride with you, please." I said.

They got Buzi loaded on the back of the rhino. He was draped over the beast on his stomach. That wouldn't be very comfortable to ride and I thought he might have some cracked ribs til we got back to the palace. I really didn't feel bad for him. At all.

"Wait." Shira said. "What about my daughter?"

"Geshna, our guard who accompanies Izumi to school knows that if you are not there to pick up Chang that she is to bring her to the palace. Don't worry. Your daughter will be safe." At that, Shira looked very worried and I wondered about the validity of my last statement.