Izali was worried and stressed. She worked as a service maid in the Fire palace and was responsible for the cleaning of Fire Lord Zukos rooms. This in itself wasn't a problem. Well, not a big problem at least. While being anywhere near the Fire Lord was a danger, she had managed to steer clear of his attention for the most part. Izali had learned early on that the attention of any Fire Lord was dangerous, be it Azulon, or Ozai, or even the brief stint with Azula as Fire Lady. Fire Lord Zuko would be no difference, even so she hadn't met him yet.

While all this might amount to a problem, it wasn't why she was stressed currently. Or at least, it wasn't the main reason. No. the reason why she was currently stressed was, that she had to clean the Fire Lords rooms but couldn't. Why couldn't she? Because right now there was a sleeping Fire Lord in the middle of the room on the floor.

That was a problem. And in more ways than one. For one, she knew that the Fire Lord had meetings where he should be right about now. Seeing as he was right in front of her, she would wager, that the meeting couldn't be held. At least she hoped it had been postponed. If it hadn't been postponed, that would mean someone was searching for Fire Lord Zuko and she probably should inform the guard, or his secretary.

That was the second problem. The only reason why she even went into the room was, because she hadn't seen any guards anywhere near it, which would mean the Fire Lord wasn't here. At least it should mean he wasn't here. But he was in the room. That meant he was currently without his guards. Izali knew that Fire Lord Zuko was a strong firebender and that he probably was able to look after himself, but still.

The third problem she had, was that the Fire Lord was sleeping not in his bed, but looked more passed out cold on the floor. She wasn't even sure if he was asleep or had fainted. The thought nearly gave her a heart attack. But just when she nearly had gathered enough courage to go and check. He sighed and rolled to the other side. 'So not passed out, only asleep, ok' she thought. 'Still, thats not good for his back, just sleeping on the floor.'

The fourth problem was a little bit smaller on the grand scale and more of a personal problem of her. How should she clean the room, while the Fire Lord was asleep in said room. She had heard of enough maids who were fired or even worse for not doing their job, even if the circumstances where outside of their control and they did everything they could. She couldn't be fired. She had two small children at home and needed the money.

So all in all she had a lot of problems and no real way to solve any of it. After all, the Fire Lord had the right to do whatever he wanted. If that inconvenienced his subjects then that was their problem. Still, she should probably at least inform the guards, so that they could station themselves in front of the room. But on the other hand, if the Fire Lord didn't want her to inform the guards… she didn't even want to think about it.

'Its best if I just act as if I didn't see anything.' She thought that was a workable solution. But just as she wanted to leave the room, she stumbled while quickly turning around. Sadly, she stumbled directly into the vase standing next to the door, which of course toppled and fell over, breaking into a thousand pieces. As if that wasn't enough, the water in the vase splattered all over, including a picture of the Fire Lords family, with Fire Lord Ozai, Fire Lady Ursa and Princess Azula, and of course the Fire Lord himself. 'Im dead.' That was the only thought she managed.

As if the universe had it out for her, the loud crack of the vase had awakened the Fire Lord, who yawned and looked around, still have asleep. So not only had she destroyed a priceless vase and just as priceless wall hanging, which probably had special sentimental value for Fire Lord Zuko, she also had woken him up. And all that while not even doing her job. She would be lucky if she was only banished and not outright killed. Her poor children. She hoped her husband would be able to take care of them and her carelessness wouldn't affect them too much.

She looked on with trepidation as the young Fire Lord started to regain his bearings and looked around. While he was standing up, his eyes landed on her. Izali immediately fell to her knees and bowed with her head on the floor. She heard how he moved towards her, but didn't dare to lift her head even the slightest bit to watch him.

'Oh Agni! Oh Agni! Why does it have to be me? I don't want to die.' While Izali was lost in her spiraling thoughts, she didn't that the Fire Lord was talking to her.

"Ma'am? Ma'am. Please. Concentrate on me. Just take a slow breath. Slow breath. Just like me."

'Oh, thats right. I need to breathe.' She hadn't even realized that she had started to hyperventilate. 'Maybe I should do what he says…Yes, that's probably a good idea.'

"Yes, that's good. Just breath. Exactly like that. Very good." The Fire Lord was helping her, she realized. 'That…doesn't make sense' she thought. 'he should be angry with me.'

"Are you alright?" he asked.

"Im so sorry sir. Please, don't hurt me. Im sorry. It was a mistake." She started babbling. 'Oh perfect. Now he will think I am even more pathetic.'

"Its alright. Really. As long as you aren't hurt. Are you hurt? Do you need a healer? And please stand up, there are splinters from the vase all over the floor and I don't want you to hurt yourself."

'Stand up?' Izali thought she had misheard him. How could she ever stand up in the presence of the Fire Lord? Especially after she made such a mistake. But you don't argue with the Fire Lord when he gives you an order. And she had already made enough mistakes for her entire life, which might not be much longer. So, she did what he asked. And he had asked, not commanded, and wasn't that a surprise? But then again, everyone would follow his words either way.

"Are you hurt? You don't look well." Now he sounded worried. Izali thought that maybe she had fainted from shock, and this was a weird dream. That would make more sense than Fire Lord Zuko being worried about her being hurt. After destroying a vase, a priceless painting, making a mess of his room and waking him.

She realized that she should probably answer him.

"Yes! I mean no! I don't need a healer. I am fine. I will immediately start cleaning this up. Maybe the painting can still be saved."

"You are bleeding! You definitely need to see a healer. Please don't worry about the room, or the painting for that matter. I will ask another maid to clean this up. The painting isn't important. I wanted to get rid of it either way. I cant stand looking at Ozai every time I leave my room. Let's get you to the medical station." The Fire Lord started to direct her to leave the room.

'Oh no. Please no.' "Sir, please. I am still able to work. Please don't fire me. I will do everything." She once again fell to her knees and even dared to touch his ankles in a desperate attempt to appease him.

"Fire you? Why would I? Let me make this completely clear, I am not angry with you. And please stand up. I really don't want you to hurt yourself even more."

"You aren't angry? You wont fire me? Really? Thank you so much Sir." She couldn't believe it. Of course she had heard talk between the other servants, but she hadn't believed them. As if the Fire Lord would ever waste his time on learning the names of his servants, even if they were his personal ones. Or even deign to make himself tea. He had servants for that. Or so she had thought. Maybe she was wrong. Maybe he really was different from the previous Fire Lords. After all, there was also talk that he was friends with an Earthbender, a Waterbender, Non-Bender and the Avatar himself.

While Fire Lord Zuko helped her stand up and led her to the infirmary, Izali couldn't help but think, that maybe this Fire Lord wasn't all that frightening. She hoped he might make the Fire nation also a better place. Or at least made her job easier and a little bit lighter on the nerves. And that might just be enough.