The bar is just as shady as Zuko remembers it. Even from outside, he can hear the singing, the shouting, glass shattering and people shouting. One such unfortunate soul stumbles out the door, bruised and clearly more than a little drunk. It's not a sight his servants are used to, and he can see a handful of concerned and distasteful looks.
"Wait outside."
The royal procession looks like a koi-shark out of water in this seedy backwater settlement – hardly deserving of the word "village" –, but Zuko has dressed appropriately for the occasion. Low-key, left the silk brocade and the fire red robes on the ship. A simple tunic, black trousers, regular boots. Nothing about his exterior betrays that he is the Fire Lord – clearly Fire Nation, but nothing else. Just Zuko.
When he enters, June has just thrown another man over the table. Yet another one whose ambition exceeded his abilities. She downs her entire mug in one go and slams it on the table.
Same old, same old.
She spots him when he's still halfway from the door and her face darkens.
"You again. What do you want this time?"
"Nothing. On the contrary, I believe I owe you."
That gets her attention. She spits on the floor.
"Heh. Sure do. Something about 'my weight in gold'."
He gestures at the door.
"Would you follow me outside?"
She looks him up and down, with those cold eyes, a look sharpened by the hardships of her profession. Zuko isn't sure if she ever thinks about anything other than bounties, booze, and bar brawls.
"Is this some sort of trick?"
"I assure you it isn't."
She shrugs. Stands up and follows him. When they step out the door, Nyla perks up – Zuko hasn't even seen her on his way in; for such a huge beast, she sure knows how to stay hidden in the shadows – and June passes a hand over her fur, slides it along her flank and pets her snout.
"So, you've come to pay up?"
"I have."
She raises an eyebrow.
"This better be good."
"It is, trust me."
He motions for his servants, and they bring the cargo forward.
"I wouldn't guess at your weight, but I trust this will more than cover my debt."
The servants open the trunk, and June's eyes go wide. Twice Zuko has made use of her services, and while he didn't exactly promise her a payment the second time – the entire world was at stake, that had to be enough at the time –, he's made sure to bring enough for both times. There's probably enough gold in there to weigh ten of her.
"Wow."
Her voice doesn't betray much, but even so, she's clearly overwhelmed by the amount. Zuko knows enough of the common people's lives at this point to know he's paid her enough to never work a day in her life again. Several lives, probably. Enough gold to buy a palace if she wants to.
"I didn't peg you for this rich", she admits. "Honestly, I figured I'd never see you again. Seemed like you to skip out on the bill."
It hurts a little, but to be fair, Zuko admits to himself, at the time, that was exactly what he did and intended to do. But not now. Not anymore.
"It's a matter of honour", he simply says instead. "I stand by my word."
He begins to walk away. He doesn't want any magnificent declarations of gratitude, and June doesn't seem like the kind to give any. He's come to repay a debt, and so he has. Honour has been satisfied. He's almost reached the carriage when she calls after him.
"Who are you?"
He turns around. The light from inside the bar illuminates them both, and in the flickering glow, he can almost imagine he's back to the past year, setting foot into this place for the first time.
"My name is Fire Lord Zuko."
Come to think of it…
"Do you need any help loading that?"