A/N: Thank you very much to Sharpe, Tertius711, Guest, Black Dragon Master, Guest, MasterKriebel, Raider, FireLordAziz, and devilfiredog18 for reviewing the last chapter - and thanks to StevenBdoner, who is continuing to progress through all the chapters.

Today's chapter is a short one, but do check the end notes for an important announcement.

53. Do it for your people, do it for your pride

"I spoke to Mother."

Iroh looks significantly more at ease. There is a spring in his step, a light in his eyes, and a weight off his shoulders.

He quirks his lip in response. "I'm guessing it went well?"

Iroh laughs, hearty and jubilant. "It did indeed." He tosses some bread into the pond for the turtleducks to eat. "I took her to the fountain and I told her my plan — well, your plan, really — about splitting my time between the Forces and the Fire Nation. We then had a long phone conversation with President Zhol — she understands my situation, thank Agni. She essentially agreed to the idea, but asked the both of us to meet with her to discuss the details."

He stretches out on the bench, enjoying the sun on his skin. "Good thing Raiko lost the election, huh?" he says jokingly.

Iroh attempts to keep an impassive face, but he is in too good a mood to conceal his mirth. "It certainly makes things easier. If I leaned into my rank as Crown Prince, and my mother backed me, he probably would have had to concede — but I don't think he would've been as gracious about it as Zhol."

"Zhol isn't as overbearing as Raiko, that's for sure." Lin deeply appreciates having another woman in power in Republic City — he knows because meetings with Zhol put her in a much better mood than meetings with Raiko — and she appreciates even more the fact that Zhol respects the capability and expertise of the leaders under her.

"Indeed. It's a blessing that she's in charge now, really." Iroh flings the last of his bread into the middle of the pond (the turtlenecks swim furiously after it) and comes to join him on the bench.

"So when are you meeting Zhol to talk about the details?" he asks.

"I still have three weeks of leave left. Mom will accompany me back to Republic City after that." Iroh glances at him. "Mako — thank you."

He smiles. "You would have figured it out."

"Maybe, maybe not." Iroh shrugs. "Either way, you've really been a big help, Mako. I'm…not entirely sure what I would have done — how I would have managed — if I hadn't had your support. So thank you."

He remembers well the feeling of floundering alone, and what a huge difference it had made when he'd realised that people who cared about him were actively reaching out to help. How even one person's steady support could clear the clouds in his mind and show him there was a path through the thorns.

It warms him to know that he has succeeded in paying that forward to Iroh.

"You're welcome."

Because of his own experience, he will never underestimate the power of just being there for someone. It's taken a lot of work — a lot of time, tears, and therapy — to get himself to this stage — but he knows it's been worth it. Having the strength to support others is a privilege, and it's not something he can do if he is broken himself. He owes it to them — Bolin, Korra, Asami, Iroh, Minsu — to keep himself mentally and emotionally healthy, so he can help them if and when they ever need it. He owes it to himself to keep working, keep striving, keep owning up to his issues instead of shying away from them as is still his first instinct.

He's proud of Iroh for working through this very complex matter. He's proud of his not-insignificant role in helping Iroh to do so.

And, though he still has work to do (that thing comes to mind) he is proud of how far he's come.

A/N: Have you ever had that feeling of just being really pleased that you were able to help someone work through something that was bothering them? I've had a number of people who've come to me to talk about various things, and it's always splendid to find out later that what I did (often just listening) was actually useful to them.

Lyric from 'Hall of Fame' by The Script.

ANNOUNCEMENT: I have decided I will be starting a blog to compile all the character analyses, lore-exploration, song meanings, and other elements of the creative process for this story. This fic is already so meta in so many ways, and I've done so much research and put so much thought into it, that I feel I might as well write them out properly and put them out there for people to read. And y'all seem to enjoy the analyses, so here's a way for you to get more content :)

Over the next 2-3 weeks, while continuing to update this story, I will also be setting up the blog and working on the first posts. Among my current ideas for blogposts are the full firebending essay, a more comprehensive overview of Mako's PTSD, and a defence of why Makorra is THE ship of TLOK. What else would y'all like to know? Put it in your review!

I'll let y'all know here when the blog goes live. Keep an eye out!