A. N. : College is eating up my life and time and I am somehow liking it. That means, however, that the wait between chapters will be longer than usual, at least until I figure out how to manage my time.

The tavern is full.

It was Sokka's idea to go there and listen to the gossips and try to get whatever information they can – as well as, you know, eat. Zuko is not thankful for that.

It's not like in Ba Sing Se where, while crowded places were unavoidable, at least no one knew his face. Probably. No, here he saw two posters outside – one Prince Zuko and one Blue Spirit – and even with the hood he feels terrible – it's only a matter of time before someone recognizes him, before his presence brings trouble to everyone, before the others are arrested because of him and what will happen to Lin then –

Calm down. Breathe. In – and out. Being that tense will only attract people's attention.

He wants to leave.

The others are cheerful – Aang finally woke up – though Katara appears a bit down. She is probably disappointed that the Avatar didn't come. That, or the whole Hakoda situation is weighing on her mind.

Zuko doesn't understand why things seem so tense between Katara and her father – so tense that even he noticed it. Hakoda obviously loves both his children, you just have to hear him talk to see it – Zuko doubts his father ever talked about Azula that way – and so it doesn't make sense that Katara would be… Angry ? Sad ? Zuko doesn't even know.

Jet and Sokka are laughing while the others watch in consternation. One of them probably made a terrible pun – humor is the only thing they appear to agree on. Their relationship is a succession of disagreements and bad puns and Zuko finds himself in the middle of those a bit too often to his taste.

If one of them says he has a fiery temperament one more time, he will throw them overboard.

It's still better than when Jet wouldn't talk to him though. Not that this will stop him from complaining.

Jet still calls him Li. He sometimes doesn't even correct himself. It's a strange feeling. Zuko wants to scream at him, shake him until he fucking remembers his name, until Jet acknowledges him – at the same time he gets it, Jet is still scared, still hates the Fire Nation and Zuko can't blame him for that, he should be thankful Jet is even willing to make the effort to talk to him.

The only thing that makes the situation bearable is that it could be worse – it has been worse – and if that doesn't summarize Zuko's life, he doesn't know what would.

Could be worse but still fucking bad. Story of his life.

Lin babbles and waves her arms and smiles, as if to remind Zuko that not everything is terrible. She is the best thing to have happened to him, even if she shook up Zuko's world, turned everything on its head, forced him to consider what he never wanted to, forced him to open his eyes to a reality he tried to forget – he'll never regret that.

Finding Lin changed him, and he wants to think it changed him for the best, wants to think her smile is proof that he can do at least one thing right in his life.

And maybe, just maybe, this change will lead somewhere, further than just making a baby smile.

Though when he thinks about the way no one seems to trust him, despite all his efforts – except for Toph, but Toph is an exception to many things – he doubts he will ever get somewhere.

Maybe teaching the Avatar will make the others realize just how willing to help he is – to the point he killed his people, but that didn't change their mind, or maybe it caused them to see him as even more of a monster, but he didn't want to –

The chances of having the others trust him are just about as high as the chances of seeing Jet make out with a firebender – none.

At least he has Lin.

The dinner is finally – finally – done and Zuko is the first to walk out of the tavern and he breathes – the air is fresh and Zuko can finally calm down a bit and stop worrying about someone recognizing him.

In, and out, and a lemur flies around his head, screaming. What. That's – Momo, right ?

Zuko turns to look at the others, hoping for some sort of explanation – surely there has to be a reason for that – but all he gets are confused looks and a frown from Katara, who runs to the ship.

They follow, and once they get there the men who stayed on the ship are panicked and Hakoda and Katara are embracing and nothing is making sense until someone tells them –

The Avatar is gone.