A/N. Sorry for having been absent for so long, I had some family over for longer than expected!

I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender.

Sighing, Zuko pulled the tent entrance away, his eyes searching the sun which was hidden by a dark grey sky. Two weeks they had come here, and his uncle was already saying this promised to be a long siege.

Twelve thousand soldiers were encircling Fire Fountain from three sides, while his ships were completing the siege lines by blockading the port. Iroh had said that twenty thousand were too much for a city the size of Fire Fountain, so they had sent a part of the navy and eight thousand soldiers to invade the smaller islands. They would push eastwards towards Kirashi, going from island to island. Iroh had suggested giving command to Piandao, as he would make sure the soldiers would not misbehave

For two weeks, the siege had become a dull affair. The first few days, the soldiers had disembarked and had begun to dig trenches in front of the high walls of Fire Fountain, his engineers had begun to assemble the siege weapons and a whole city of tents had sprung up in the fields surrounding the city. After three days, Zuko, on advice of Iroh, had sent a messenger to the gates to ask for the city's surrender. The response, coming from the governor, had been… Interesting.

We prefer to die and raze our own city before submitting ourselves to the Traitor.

The Traitor… All people from Azula's camp were calling him that… How was it traitorous to want nothing but the best for your own nation? How was it a crime to depose a tyrant and trying to restore the little honour left to their country?

Stretching, Zuko began to walk away from the fire red tent in the middle of the camp, his own tent… The tent of the Fire Lord. It still felt surreal, like he was playing with Lu Ten as he used to do all those years ago… They used to have a game where Lu Ten was Fire Lord and Zuko would be his general, and they would plan further campaigns against the Earth Savages… Agni, that was long ago.

Now, he and Iroh were doing the same… But only now, he was the Fire Lord, and his uncle the advisor… And they didn't fight against the Earth Kingdom… But against his own people. How would he explain that in the future? That he used violence against the Fire Nation? Well, that was something they needed to address… After.

After all this was done.

They had sent Aang and Toph away two weeks ago, a few hours before landing on the island. Zuko didn't know where the two were at this moment, but at least they had not caused major problems, otherwise he would have heard… The airbender had been taciturn, brooding and silent before leaving, for which the firebender couldn't blame him. How would he have reacted if Azula had threatened such things?

He knew that the warden of the Boiling Rock had released Mai, and they had received a message from another prison that Ty Lee and some of Suki's warriors had been released too. That was all good news… But none had joined them for the moment. Surely Ty Lee and Mai wouldn't join with his sister, after all that had happened… But then again, there was no reason for them to join them.

He had been a heartless fool when he had broken up with Mai, to keep her safe… Aang would never have done that, he would have asked his love to come with him… And not for the first time, as he crossed the tent city, Zuko realized that whatever the airbender was feeling for the waterbender… It was much more than he could ever try and understand. Uncle had said that the Air Nomads had been rather… unique… in their way of loving someone, and Zuko had seen it firsthand. Aang had not been protective and possessive, and he had been… The airbender respected his love far more than the firebender had ever done with Mai… And if she would take him back, after all that had happened… Zuko vowed to try and be more like Aang.

"Nephew!" His uncle's voice called, and turning towards the sound, he saw the older man sitting with two figures in the dark blue robes of the Order of the White Lotus. One of the two was the old waterbender, Pakka? Pakku? Something like that. The other, Zuko thought to recognize from somewhere, but he didn't identify the woman in the instant. However, he saw the light green eyes that suggested that the woman in question was from the Earth Kingdom.

"Uncle." He sighed in relief. It had seemed that in the camp, there was only his uncle that would treat him with kindness… Except his friends, of course, but then again, only Sokka and Suki were in the sea of tents, somewhere… And it had always been Aang who had been the nicest of the whole group.

"Come join us." Iroh gestured to the last place in the circle, "There is… news."

That didn't sound good… Agni, why couldn't it be good news, just for once? Ever since Aang had defeated that bastard of his so-called father, Zuko hadn't had a piece of good news. Well… He guessed he had it better than the airbender to be honest. But still. It could be good news, just once…

"What is it this time?" He sighed, taking the last two steps towards the group.

"Kuei has still not been found, and apparently, the population of Ba Sing Se is grumbling about being ruled by King Bumi of Omashu" His uncle began to explain, as the woman snorted. Turning to the woman, Zuko realized this was the person that had been at odds with Katara during their stay in the camp of the White Lotus, before the comet. He could still see the slight blueish trace at her cheek, where Katara had hit her for insulting her and Aang.

"No wonder. Ba Sing Se is somewhat more refined than that hole the Omashians call a city. You shouldn't have named Bumi ruler during the interregnum. He isn't… Earth King material." The woman, Hui Li if he recalled correctly, smiled sweetly, with a hint of insolence. Why did she hate so many people? Aang, Zuko could somewhat understand, for the absence of the Avatar had caused the woman her children… Even if that was no fault of the airbender whatsoever. But Bumi?

"He isn't Earth King… Just the replacement, until we find Kuei." Pakku grumbled beside them, clearly not happy about how the woman was speaking about his friend.

"Another idiot, only an incompetent at that. At least the mad Bumi has some… diplomatic skill." Hui Li acknowledges, but Zuko didn't like where this was going.

"But Kuei is the Earth King. He has been misled for years, since he was old enough to talk. So, perhaps we should at least give him a chance to right these wrongs." Iroh spoke softly, and Zuko heard how his uncle's voice sounded tired, as if he had been discussing this already at great lengths… It sounded a lot like how his uncle used to talk to him on the ship, all those years in exile.

"And what does our young… Fire Lord… think of the situation?" Hui Li turned to him suddenly, and the firebender felt his cheeks heat up slightly. The way she said the title sounded anything but friendly, like she was trying to decide to hate or just pity him.

"I… uhm… I…"

"Great, another idiot." The earth kingdom woman rolled her eyes, with a sly smile on her face.

"Hey! You are here in my camp! You just… just overwhelmed me. I don't think I have any say in Earth Kingdom politics." Zuko retorted, proud of the fact that he had said the words that all three previous Fire Lords should have said: I don't have a say in the Earth Kingdom.

But as soon as he met the pale green eyes of the woman, he knew he had made a mistake.

"No say? Hah! Don't make me laugh. You have been bred to get your say in my country." She spat on the ground, "Your people have burned, pillage, raped and robbed my nation. You would do exactly the same if your uncle allowed it. So, because you can't do it to anyone else, you decided to fight your little glory war in your own country. It is a nice change, but still, war is the only solution for people like you. You are just like your father!"

Just like your father… just like your father… Just like him…

"Hui Li! Zuko had no other choice." Iroh spoke through gritted teeth, something he recognized as You are dancing on the line here.

"Sure he had. He could have taken the Avatar and destroyed the walls. He could have let his… friend… take this city all on his own. He could have let the Avatar kill Azula, so that Zuko's little hands would be clean of his sister's blood." Hui Li bit back, with a venomous tone.

"The Avatar is an Air Nomad." Pakku retorted angrily, "Sworn not to kill or hurt even one living being. And he has done just that. It is thanks to him your country is still standing."

"And also thanks to him that my family is gone. And if my information is correct, your precious Avatar didn't sound very peaceful two weeks ago. I believe the words I will rip her to a thousand pieces were spoken. And that he has threatened to level the Fire Nation is something happened to his bitch." Those words were accompanied by a finger caressing the sore cheek where Katara had hit her.

"Hui Li! I would advise you to take a walk. And if you insult Master Katara and Avatar Aang once more… You will have to answer to me." Pakku stood up, to his full length, and stared into the pale green eyes of the woman in front of him. Zuko nearly shuddered seeing the flames in the light blue eyes of the waterbender, who was clearly enraged.

"Friends…" Iroh began but stopped speaking as the woman turned around and walked away.

"She doesn't like us, does she?" Zuko sighed.

"She is a bitter, spiteful woman." The old waterbender balled his fist, "Her faction in the White Lotus has refused to help out."

At that, Zuko couldn't help but arch an eyebrow. He thought his uncle had command over the order, at least, it had seemed that way. But seemed that he was a leader… But not in the sense Zuko was used to.

"She has…" Iroh nodded, without anger.

Then, Zuko understood. The White Lotus was no military order, but rather a cultural one. And the fact his uncle had asked them to help him, come out of hiding… Some resented that. And it was no one man dictatorship, but rather a group with room for discussion, common decision-making… Actually, much like his group of friends. Some would assume that Aang, as the Avatar, was the leader and decided what course to take… But anyone with half an eye and an ear would know that Aang was led in his decisions by Sokka intelligence, Toph's decisiveness and Katara's kindness…

"Meaning?" He asked.

"Meaning that about half the order, mostly the earthbenders, won't support you or help you. So, no taking down the walls with bending. Unless we find Kuei, and Bumi would be able to come here… And I believe you sent that horrible little blind girl with the Avatar." Pakku grumbled.

Yeah… Not the smartest of ideas… Zuko had regretted Toph's and Aang's absence the moment he had seen the walls of Fire Fountain. They would have to rely on their siege equipment, but the domestic army had not been equipped for such warfare… Their job was to defend towns… Not to actually take them. They had ballista's, catapults and the tanks, but that was it… And none of those machines were powerful enough to bring down the walls. Their firebenders had tried, but to no avail…

"I didn't send her… She went on her own accord. And Aang… Well, it is probably better he isn't anywhere near the city." He sighed.

"On that, we agree. His presence would only endanger Katara." Pakku grumbled, and Zuko detected the slight change in tone. Before, it had been Master Katara. And the way he said that sentence was enough for the firebender to realize that Pakku was actually capable of emotions… Deep down.

"Have you written to Kanna?" Iroh asked gently, putting a hand on the old waterbender's shoulder.

"I did… I used one of the hawks… But didn't get an answer. I'm afraid… Well, knowing Kanna, she will be mad. Luckily, I have not written about… Well, what the Avatar has said, otherwise she would be on her way to kick some airbender's ass."

Why? Kanna, if Zuko had understood correctly from the conversations the two water tribe siblings had, was the grandmother he had… well, who had been kicked around a little… Didn't she know about Aang and Katara? And if she didn't… why would she kick his ass?

"From what you told me about her, she would be more than capable of doing that." Uncle chuckled, a sound so horribly out of place in this conversation that Zuko couldn't help but flinch. But, to his surprise, Pakku chuckled along.

"Yeah... Great woman."

Alright, the Order of the White Lotus consisted of lovesick idiots and people who were a pain in the ass. His uncle sometimes fell in both categories. Maybe it was for that reason he had been made Grand Lotus?

"You know, there is a lot to be done," Zuko stepped away from the pair, "I will go to the siege lines." He had no desire whatsoever to listen to Pakku talk about this Kanna.

"Yeah, yeah Lord Zuko, let us talk among old men" Pakku looked at him with cool, ice blue eyes, and the firebender didn't know if it had been said in a mocking way or just in a normal way… Something that was difficult to assess with Pakku, he had learned.

Quickly turning back to the sea of tents, he walked along through rows and rows of red canvas, towards the rising smoke of where they had dug the trenches. Well… "they" had been the soldiers. Zuko had looked. He had not forgotten the one time he had used a hammer.

Here, there were more people. As he didn't wear very distinctive clothing, most soldiers didn't look up, which he preferred to be frank. But still, Zuko could feel eyes on him, so he kept his head low to hide the scar as best as possible, and walked faster.

Here, closer to the walls of the city, the tents began to look less grand, and they were spotted by ash and mud, and the soldiers walking among the shabby rows were also less clean. Most were wearing something that ressembled the uniform of the domestic army, but they had all changed some things. One man was wearing the red and gold tunic, but had ripped off the sleeves. Another was wearing the dark green trousers of the Earth Kingdom military, which, Zuko assumed, had been taken off an earthbender on a battlefield on the continent…

There were also people not from the army. A vendor stood, with his cart, selling vegetables and the like. The firebender assumed that was because the rations were… Not great. He could pay the soldiers no problem, with the part of the treasury that had been kept in the capital… For the moment. But food had not been good. The provisions were poor, as Azula occupied the Eastern Islands, where most of the agriculture was. And then, there was that multicoloured tent in the middle of the siege lines… Zuko had wanted it gone, but Uncle Iroh had prevented him.

The multicoloured tent was one of the brothels that had sprung around the camp like mushrooms in autumn… Zuko had felt that tolerating this would mean a lax respect of discipline, but Iroh had told him it was better for the man to have something to do… That way, if they took the city… It wouldn't be subject of such crimes.

He hated that idea… But Uncle was right. Iroh had commanded a siege of two years at Ba Sing Se… And not once had his troops committed such atrocities. Not once. His troops had not plundered, had not burned… They had been disciplined and they had listened to the orders given. And had not broken the rules Iroh had imposed.

The path between the tents suddenly changed into an earthen stair, six steps leading down into a trench. Zuko sighed, and climbed down into the narrow passage. Uncle had advised to keep a force continually digging towards the walls, under the cover of trenches, and with the catapult shooting towards the city as to keep the defenders occupied while they inched closer and closer each day towards the city.

For the moment they had reached halfway, meaning that if there was no miracle or a surprise surrender, they would still be here in two weeks before a real assault could begin. Here, in the trenches, the soldiers were carrying the buckets of earth and rocks that were coming from the digging, back to the camp, to make the ramparts around the camp even higher…

"Soldier!" A man suddenly appeared in front of him, and Zuko resisted the urge to duck away and go on his way closer to the city, "Take this." A bucket was pushed into his hands, and he couldn't help but grit his teeth at the weight.

"Take it to the entrance of the trenches, the engineers will take it from there. And then come back to fetch some more. These damned trenches won't dig themselves." With that, the soldier was gone into another trench, and he left Zuko with the bucket.

Resisting the urge of actually throwing it away and continuing his way, the firebender sighed and began to backtrack his steps. Most soldiers didn't recognize him, so the man couldn't have known he had actually ordered the Fire Lord to do this, and it felt good… To actually get something to do, instead of having to take the decision. So, he took the bucket and brought it to the entrance of the trenches. And then, he began to walk towards the place where the soldiers were slowly digging.

"Agni, thanks…" One of the men, a tall one who had his shirt bound around his head to keep the sweat from his brow, saw him approach and threw the spade down, "I was waiting on the relief for an hour." And with that, he left.

Zuko looked at the spade, and sighed. How was he supposed to use that thing? There were four other men, all pushing the spade into the ground with one foot, going through their knees and pulling a spade full of earth out of the ground, throwing it in the buckets next to them.

The firebender tried to make the same movement, and after two manoeuvres, he realized that this would be very taking, physically… But still, he pushed on. This was something he could do… No Hui Li who would think he was like his father.

Ozai would never have done this. He would never have dirtied his hands. But with each movement, Zuko felt blisters appear on his hands, and the ache in the shoulders. But he pushed on. He didn't want to be the kind of Fire Lord that would be admired as a god. Zuko wanted to the kind Iroh would have been… Loved. And respected. The people may think now that he was a traitor to the nation… But he would show them he would try his best to do what is right.

Even if that, at this moment, was digging a ditch.

"How did you get the scar?" One of the men asked, holding out a bottle of water towards him.

"What?" Zuko looked at the man, startled that he didn't know who he was, even when he had seen the scar. And a little irritated about the personal question.

"The scar. It looks like it hurt like a bitch. How did you get it?" The man repeated with a smile. He didn't seem to be mean, more like he was curious.

"My… Someone thought he should teach me a lesson." Zuko sighed, taking the bottle. No use lying about it. This man didn't know him, he would never see him again probably… Where was the hurt in telling him?

"A bastard I gather. Hope he got what he deserved?"

"Kind of… He will never be the same, that at least is good." Zuko handed the man his bottle back, nodding.

"Doesn't sound like you are really happy with that."

"Not my call… He has done worst."

"Agni, a real bastard. What is worse than that?" The soldier gestured to the scar.

"Let's just say he is the kind of man to turn people into weapons… And not care about the cost for his ambitions." Zuko turned his attention back to the ground, trying to ignore the anger in his heart.

He was not like his father. He swore. He would never be like this father.

"Next time you see him, just kill the bastard. There should be laws against such people." The soldier also got back to work, but kept talking, "Not likely to change, however."

"Why?" Zuko got interested. Finally… A man without an agenda, who would speak the truth without fearing punishment…

"Because it is more of the same, isn't it?" the man gestured to the city walls half a mile away, "Two pampered brats are fighting over a throne none is capable of holding. Lord Zuko gives orders, but I have not seen him once during the few fights at the start of the siege. No, if I had a choice, it would have been Prince Iroh. He would never have let this happen… But the old general supports his nephew, so… well, we will too. Can't be worse than Lord Azulon…"

Ah… There it was. The doubt. The thought that he would never be enough to be Fire Lord. And the soldier wasn't wrong, to be honest… He was Fire Lord since two and a half weeks… And here he was, besieging a town who was refusing to acknowledge him as such…

"What do the others think of all this?" He had to ask…

"The other soldiers? Pff… Half is only here because of General Hezu… While the other half is here for old Iroh. Azula and Zuko are both spoiled brats. The princess would keep us in the war, while we would like nothing better than to go home, while Zuko would… Well, he would do what his friend the Avatar says. And let's be honest, that Spirit isn't really all that love and peace like they described him."

Ah… Yes… That had not been the impression Aang had given indeed…

"You heard what happened?"

"Heard? I was there, on the docks. That man is dangerous! Threatening to kill us all."

"Because Azula kidnapped his wife."

"So? How old is the kid? Sixteen, seventeen? He's an Air Degenerate, those would sleep with anything that moves." The man shrugged.

"Air Nomads didn't do that…" Zuko sighed, "And his wife is everything to him… How would you like your wife to be in the hands of a someone as mad as Azula?" It was still weird to call Katara that… Aang's wife… Agni, she would hate to be called that, except by the airbender himself.

"Don't get me wrong, I would be out of my mind with worry. But the Avatar stands above that kind of emotions." The soldier threw a spade full of earth over the edge of the trench.

"Not him."

"Well, he isn't here to actually get his wife. The Avatar would be able to level these walls with a flick of his fingers. But no… The Spirit has gone up in smoke."

"Because Azula's strategy is just that. Keep Ka… The wife close, to make sure the Avatar doesn't attack. A human shield."

"That… makes sense…" The soldier looked up, as if he just realized that that was an option, "Still, a coward's move from the princess. No honour whatsoever."

Zuko's heart leapt up at that sentence… That was exactly what his father would have done… And what Azula had done... But he would never do so… He was not like them…

"Still, I would prefer for the Avatar to at least dig some trenches with us. That would be more useful than doing nothing."

"Yeah… That would be great…" Zuko agreed cautiously.

"But let's be honest, that would be as likely as seeing the Fire Lord dig around in the dirt with the rest of us." The soldier laughed, slapping the firebender on his shoulder. Zuko nearly fell down into the loose earth by the force of the friendly slap, but managed to keep upright.

"Yeah…"

"Zuko, what the fuck are you doing here?" A new voice spoke, and the firebender turned around to see the tall figure of Sokka stand behind him, frowning. The Water Tribe warrior's arms were full of scrolls, and he was leaning on the one leg that hadn't been broken. Zuko saw a cane stand against the side of the trench, and realized that Sokka had probably been the one put in charge of figuring out in what direction the trenches were to be dug.

Yet something more that he didn't know…

"Z-Z-Zuko?" The soldier sputtered.

"Keep a spade around for Aang." The firebender nodded to the man and turned around, towards his friend.

Answers:

McChartney: Yeah, the poor guy would probably be worried sick about losing Katara! Thanks, I hope you had a good Christmas too if you celebrate it!

Handler: We'll see, I think there will be some more problems on the way to be honest lol!

Jjsmith103: Yeah, he had to be less than a mile away from her… But he doesn't know. Appa is already something rather big, something to at least give him hope! And we'll see about that!