This is my first Avatar The Last Airbender fanfiction this chapter was not Beta read and if any are interested in beta reading my work before it's post PM

I would like to thank all my patient reads and hope you enjoy this next chapter and for all those reading please stay safe out there especially with the virus going around because if you don't stay safe how will you be able to read what comes next

Disclaimer I don't own anything related to ATLA

As Zuko trekked along walking over the narrow streets and the small bridges, he noticed a familiar face slouched over on a bench crossing his path. "Hey, Aikio... what are you doing out so late?" he inquired as he approached the older girl.

Aikio was slumped over on the bench, her head arched up to look at the sky. Her cheeks were flushed red as she tilted a porcelain bottle to her lips. Hearing Zuko's voice she paused her drinking, pulling the bottle from her mouth as she addressed him. "Nothing just... star gazing," she said as she wiped her mouth with her sleeve.

Zuko arched his brow at her slurred speech and saw the bottle in her hands. "Your drinking?" he questioned as he walked over to her.

"No, I'm playing music. Don't you think I sound great?" Aikio scoffed sarcastically as she rolled her eyes at Zuko. Just as she did he pulled the bottle from her grasp, snatching away her liquor. "Hey! Give that back!" she growled at him trying to grab the bottle back.

Zuko just ignored her as he looked over and read the label. "This is Fire Nation sake," he said surprised. "Where did you get it?" he questioned as he took a sniff of the contents to reconfirm his suspicions.

"Haha oh, that. Well a few days ago a man tried to smuggle a few crates of this stuff into the city," She explained with a mischievous grin. "So I did my duty... and confiscate them for the SAFETY OF THE CITY HAHA!" she laughed pulling out another bottle that was hidden next to her.

"You stole it?"

"Hey, I didn't steal anything!" Aikio argued. "I'm just doing my job and disposing of this... corrupting liquid," she said as she popped the top of a fresh bottle breaking the seal. "Now you can either stand there like a stick in the mud or you can join me and help me dispose of this... stuff."

Zuko sighed as he snatched the other bottle from her grasp. In truth, he hadn't had a drink in years. Taking another sniff of the liquor, he slowly brought the bottle to his lips and took a long swig. The sweet yet warm liquid poured down his throat as he kept it down. Barely a cough left his as he took a seat next to Aikio.

"Woo and here I thought you'd be a lightweight!" Aikio chuckled as she took the bottle from him to have a drink as well.

"This is nothing, I've had stronger trust me," he commented as he wiped his lips. "Now care to tell me why you are really here?" he questioned as he could already feel the warmth rising to his cheeks from the alcohol.

"Well... since this is our last night in the city. I paid... Naomi a visit," she said solemnly as she took another sip. "Tried to see if we could work things out," she sighed softly a small burp escaping her lips.

"How did that go?" Zuko asked although he figured he already knew the answer.

"Well I'm drinking with you aren't I," she shot back at him. "Maybe that'll give you a hint at how it went," Aikio said annoyed, although it was more to do her situation rather than his question.

"I'm sorry," he apologized not wanting to antagonize her.

"It's alright, it's my fault anyway," she admitted as she watched Zuko take another sip of the sake his face turning even redder. "I lied, and my lie freaked her out... she didn't want to see me again," she said taking the porcelain bottle from him. But feeling as it was nearly empty, she poured the rest of it down her throat before grabbing another sealed one. "Guess that's my life."

"That's rough buddy," he said softly earning him a nudge in the arm by the drunk warrior.

"Yeah, no shit haha," Aikio laughed before handing him some sake. "You know you surprise me. I honestly thought you'd be a lightweight, but you are drinking like a champ," she said impressed watching him take another swig of the fermented rice.

Zuko pulled the bottle from his lips feeling more of the effects hitting him as he leaned back on the bench. "When I got this scar," he says gesturing to his face. "I was in a lot of pain... couldn't sleep most nights. So my uncle brought me a bottle nearly every night to drink. It helped dull the pain and help me sleep," he explained as he examined the bottle in his hands.

"Well, then next time... we should make a game of it... and see who truly is the top fox-hound," Aikio smirked snatching the bottle from him.

"Next time..." as he heard her something in Zuko's mind clicked and he faced her confused. "Wait before, did you say today was your last night here?" he asked wondering if he misheard.

"Huh," Aikio looked at him with an arched brow also confused till she finally remembered. "Oh yeah, while you were on your little date with Suki," she groaned at the thought. "We got new orders. Apparently some Earth kingdom troops haven't reported in and they asked us to find them," she said with a shrug.

"Wait so you all are gonna be leaving?" Zuko reiterated trying to clarify.

"Isn't that what I just said?!" Aikio belched annoyed. "We are gonna be gone a few days, sheesh. Why are you gonna miss us?" she said in a teasing tone. "Awww is poor Zuzu is gonna be lost without us to protect him," she grinned pinching at his cheek.

"Ughhh of course not... Just, wish I could give a proper goodbye is all," he said smacking Aikio's hand away as she grabbed his face.

"Well we are all leaving on the train tomorrow morning, you can say your goodbyes then," she rolled her eyes but as she went to take a drink all she felt was a few stray drops hitting her tongue. "Damn all out," she huffed tossing the bottle away as it shatters across the stone tiling.

Zuko sighed as he and Aikio leaned back on the bench staring up at the sky. He began to think how things between him and Suki were just getting good and now she's going away. As the thought festered he shook his head. Aikio was right it was only a few days, and even so, Suki can handle herself and he can handle being without her just for a little while. "You know what's one thing I hate about this place, besides almost everything," Aikio said softly looking up at the sky. "The stars... here you can barely see them, but back home or while traveling you can see them all... like the sky was full with them," she sighed reminiscing.

Zuko nodded in agreement as he looked up at the sky with her. "Yeah... back on my ship I'd used to read the stars. I could plot our way through the seas and always knew where we were on a map," he said reaching his hand up almost as if he could reach the heavens.

"You could read stars?" Aikio asked confused.

"Well, sort of. It's all about knowing where certain stars are in the sky and measuring between them and the horizon," Zuko explained as simply as he could.

Zuko and Aikio sat there for a moment just staring up at the sky. It was quiet which was rare for the bustling city, but like all things, it needed to end. "Aikio, in case I forget to say it or not... hope you guys stay safe," Zuko said as he glanced over to her, Aikio's eyes still fixated on the sky.

Aikio then let out a soft chuckle as she heard him giving a small sideways glance. "I'd say the same, but that would be a lie," she laughed with a large toothy grin.

Zuko groaned hearing her. Apart of him knew that was gonna be her answer. "Really, I thought we would have gotten passed that already," he said as he sat back up straight.

"Oh please, we haven't gotten past anything. I still don't trust you, and probably never will," Aikio stated clearly to drive home the point. "Now I'm going to head to bed before the sun comes up," she grunted as she pulled herself to her feet. She feeling a bit lightheaded from all the drinking.

"You sure you can get back alone?" Zuko asked trying to stand up as well. He wondering if it's wise, or even safe for her to be drunk and alone in Ba Sing Se at night.

"I'll be fine scarface," she said brushing off his concern. "This isn't the first time I've gone out drinking and it won't be the last," she said rolling her eyes. "Now goodnight Blue. I'll see you tomorrow. But if not, don't care," she said with a half-hearted wave.

"Whatever you say," Zuko said ignoring her backhanded insult. "Night Aikio. Get home safe. I'd hate for you to get lost and have Suki to send me out to find you," he said, and immediately as the words left his mouth. Aikio stuck up her middle finger as she walked away. He wasn't sure what it was about the gesture, but Zuko couldn't help but laugh at her silent response.

As Aikio disappeared into the dark of night, Zuko headed back to his apartment. He carrying Suki's gift with him as he quietly went up to his room. Iroh was already asleep by the time he got home. Zuko doing his best to make his way to his bed, careful not to wake him. He setting Suki's gift aside as he crawled under his sheets. And as soon as he rested his head he was out like a light.

The next morning, after expelling the contents of his stomach from last night's detour. Zuko told Iroh of the Kyoshi warrior's departure. After a brief breakfast, they both headed to the train station to say their goodbyes.

Suki and the rest of the Kyoshi warriors were already gathered for their trip. They loading up their supplies while Aikio was laying on a bench, dealing with even worse consequences from her night drinking. "I told you to watch your limit, but you never listen to me!" Suki scolded the older girl.

"Yeah... I know," she snorted as she covered her eyes with her arm. Doing her best to block out the sun, from her red eyes.

"And now look who's getting punished," Suki says now standing next to the girl with her hands on her hips. "We do, because while you get to lay about. We had to pack up everything and load it on the train. Without any help from you," Suki ranted on making the other girls giggle at Aikio's agony.

"I know!" Aikio growled as she sat herself up, but regretted it immediately. She already threw up this morning, however the feeling in her gut and the pain in her head hadn't ceased. "Look I had a tough night okay. Can we please skip this scolding part, and head straight to you forgiving me?" she pleaded, wanting the pounding in her head to end.

"Have you learned your lesson?"

"Yes! Yes, I have!" Aikio groaned in pain.

Suki's demeanor quickly changed and she smiled at her friend. "Good there that wasn't so hard," she said as Aikio rolled her eyes. "Tam, Kikki help Aikio on the train, and Ami see if you have something to treat her hangover," she ordered.

"Yes captain," the trio said in unison as they quickly helped their hungover comrade to their feet.

"You guys are loving this, aren't you?" she groaned as she was lifted up off the bench.

Kikki grinned and nodded her head. "Of course we are haha. Now come on you big baby let's go find a place for you to nap."

"I hate you all," Aikio groaned to everyone's amusement.

Suki sighed as Aikio was brought onto the train. She knew she should have been a little more lenient on the girl, but learning she was roaming the streets at night drunk, especially with stolen liquor. It worried her. It was probably fortunate they were leaving the city giving Aikio some time away would be good for her. Although she, herself wasn't thrilled. She and Zuko just recently started reconnecting, now uncontrollable events were splitting them apart once more. She humored the idea, that they were more like the characters from the play after all. Though she hoped that wasn't the case.

After several more minutes, the conductor announced last call for boarding. Suki worried Zuko may not make it in time to say goodbye, she cursing she couldn't tell him they were leaving herself. Luckily as she was about to turn to head on the train she spotted his familiar figure making its way up onto the platform. "You made it!" she smiled gratefully.

Zuko rushed over to her almost out of breath. Iroh barely making it up the final steps as they both had bolted all the way from their apartment. "Sorry, we were late... I... I..."

Zuko tried to find the words, but Suki cut him off. "It's fine, you made it just in time," she said wrapping her arms around his neck as she pulled him into a hug. "I'm sorry, I wish I knew about this trip sooner," she whispered to him.

"It's okay, you have a job to do," he said trying to reassure her.

"I know it's just... things were going so well. I hate to put things on break," she admitted she pulling away slightly to get a good look at his face.

"I know what you mean, but like Aikio told me. It's only a few days. I think we can manage," he said as a small smirk rose to Suki's lips.

"Of course we can," she said as she reached behind her to grab a small package tucked away on her belt. "Here, I got you something."

"Another gift?" he questioned not expecting her to get him something else so soon and he had nothing.

"Not a gift... just something I want you to hold onto till we get back," she said placing the package in his hands.

"LAST CALL FOR BOARDING!" the conductor shouted as the rest of the passengers boarded the train.

Suki sighed hearing the conductor. She turned to Zuko one last time as Iroh finally joined them. "I got to go... Goodbye Zuko," she whispered in his ear as she leaned up to kiss his cheek giving him one final embrace.

"Goodbye Suki, stay safe," he whispered back returning the gesture as he hugged her tightly. Once they broke apart she gave Iroh a tight hug as well.

"Goodbye Uncle. I'll miss you," she said to the older man. Even though they've only known each other for a short while, she truly saw him as family.

"And I you," Iroh smiled hugging her back. "I'll have a hot pot of tea ready when you get back. Plus our Pai sho board for our rematch," he said with a grin making the young warrior laugh.

"Hahaha I'll hold you to that, and you won't be so lucky next time," she laughed as she had to pull herself away. "I got to go, bye you two and take care," she said as she turned to rush off heading to the train before it pulled away.

"We will," Zuko answered as he waved bye to her as she slipped onto the train. All the Kyoshi warriors waving their goodbyes out the windows as the train began to depart. Zuko and Iroh waved back as the train pulled away from the station, disappearing down the track.

Zuko let out a heavy sigh. Seeing Suki leave only now began to truly hit him. She was gone no telling for how long. The only thing left was the kiss lingering on his cheek, and the small package she left in his hands.

"Don't worry nephew, she will be back soon," Iroh consoled Zuko placing a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"I know Uncle," he replied as he looked down at Suki's gift. He then parted the paper wrapping and was greeted with a familiar demonic grin. His Blue spirit mask, back in his possession, but the mask wasn't alone. Zuko then noticed a glint of gold tangled in the silk strap. Which when pulled away revealed a bladed gold fan. He pulled and flicked it open revealing its golden luster. "I know," he repeated softly gazing at the fan. It not just a weapon, but a promise for her return.

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