A. N. : One of the few chapters (for now) that clearly differ from canon and will cause change. Zuko needs friends.

Pao's shop reeks of leaf juice.

And while that may be what all tea is, Zuko is pretty sure Uncle's tea has a much different scent.

They're handed aprons the second the owner sees Uncle, and how desperate must Pao be to hire two refugees with no work experience whatsoever – Zuko would bet "general who besieged Ba Sing Se during 600 days" wouldn't look so good on a resume.

The cord of Uncle's apron is too short and Zuko is still wondering how to put his on with Lin in his arms when Pao finally realizes there's half a person too much in his shop. And no, the baby cannot stay, what if she starts crying when the clients are here, sorry but Zuko – Li – will just have to find someone to look after the kids while he's working, loads of people are looking for a job, it won't be hard and – young man are you okay you look a bit pale –

Zuko can't believe how stupid he is.

Of course he can't work with Lin here. But letting someone he doesn't know babysit her ? Someone who could very well be like Jet – or worse – and what if Lin throws sparks at something flammable or someone sees her eyes and decides the world would be better off without a few bastards and he's only just arrived but he already knows there is no war in Ba Sing Se and if there's no war there's no Lin and she is in so much danger how did he not realize –

Zuko knows too well the world loves to take away everything he loves, and he's not taking this risk.

He excuses himself from the teashop, apologizing to Pao – he's never bowed so low in his entire life and it's humiliating – and goes back to the flat.

What is he going to do ?

From what he gathered, Uncle's salary won't be enough to correctly feed all of them. He has to find a job, but one that'll let him keep Lin with him. Apart from babysitting – which he's not going to do, and anyway, what kind of parents would trust someone like him to watch over their kids – he doesn't really see many options…

He's lying on the bed with Lin on his stomach and she is sucking and biting his hand – uh, looks like someone will get a new tooth soon. Maybe he should find something she can bite on without hurting anyone.

He sighs.

At least on the raft he could count the sea vultures.

Lin looks at him with her gold eyes – and with this light they almost seem orange, like the fire in her veins – and Zuko wonders if she understands what is going on in her world, or if she is just watching people come and go like he would watch the turtle-ducks back at home.

He could ask her, but it's not as if she's going to answer. He asks anyway. He's got nothing better to do, so he talks and pretends she reacts with more than baby noises. He tells her about the turtle-ducks. About mother. About Ember island and watching the sea with father. He tells her about a home that is – no more.

She falls asleep and there's a bitter taste in Zuko's mouth.