Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Zuko walked into his bedchamber, stretching as he began to walk to his wardrobe to derobe. Mai was lying in their bed, looking at a book as her husband started to remove his crown from his topknot and take his tight hair out from its regal ‘do. 

“I just tucked Izumi in. I think I must’ve read her that storybook eight times in a row now,” said Zuko with a groggy chuckle, hanging up his regal attire as he spoke. 

“Hm, yeah? Kid never seems to get sick of that old turtle duck story,” said Mai from behind her book as she bit on her nail. Her stomach was in knots knowing everything that was about to happen and also knowing that Zuko didn’t suspect a thing. 

Zuko went over to his side of the bed, now changed into his pajamas. “I’m exhausted. I’m glad I’m getting to bed at a reasonable hour tonight,” he said, speaking through a yawn as he got comfortable beneath the covers. 

“You’ve been staying in that office too long. I keep telling you to come to bed earlier. Half the time you tuck in Izumi, then go right back to that damn office,” replied Mai, now only pretending to read her book as she continued to chew on her thumbnail, unable to look at the man she married when she was so young. They were in their early thirties now, and had gotten married when she was just twenty. 

“I know. I should, I try to, but there’s just so much to get done,” Zuko lamented with a sigh, rubbing at his tired eyes. “I get lost in it.” 

“I suppose you would,” she murmured, her chest taught as she held her breath, making her lungs feel tight in her chest. 

“What’s that you’re reading?” asked Zuko curiously, tilting his head over to see the cover of the book in the oil lamp’s light. “Must be interesting, you’re sucked in.” 

“Huh? Oh, this,” Mai said, barely noticing the book anymore among her lost thoughts. “It’s just some Fire Nation history. It’s kinda dull, about the beginnings of The Hundred Year War and stuff.” 

“Didn’t get enough of that propaganda back in school?” teased Zuko, leaning back against the headboard. “I’ve read that stuff too though. It’s important to see how we got here– to all this and how to try to deconstruct it after people were taught those lies so long.” 

A bolt of anger jolted through Mai then: frustration, and lack of understanding at his lack of understanding, but she just inhaled sharply and let it pass through her. Mai closed the book sharply with a clap and set it aside on their nightstand before taking a deep breath to steady herself. Her heart was racing as a million things went through her mind at once. She was back and forth with herself on what to do and whether she should change her mind. What was the  right thing?

“Hey Zuko, why don’t I get you some of your uncle’s tea blend?” Mai suggested, placing a gentle hand on his chest, still unable to bring herself to meet his gaze despite how badly she wanted to. 

“Ah, I’m sure you’re tired too, Mai. You don’t have to,” said Zuko, putting his hand atop hers. 

“Oh, but I want to. I might grab a snack too; I’ll get us some fruit tarts,” she said. 

Zuko smiled and pecked his wife on the cheek, making Mai’s heart break into a hundred pieces. But she swallowed thickly and nodded. “I’ll be right back.” 

Zuko leaned against the headboard as he awaited his wife’s return. His eyelids were droopy as sleep beckoned, but he forced himself to stay awake for his tea, tart, and wife’s return. Mai eventually came back, holding the tea and saucer in one hand and the two tarts in the other on little trays. 

“Mai, are you okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” Zuko noted with worry.

“I’m fine, Zuko,” she retorted, but her hands were shaking and she was fighting tears. 

“Sweetheart, you don’t look fine,” said Zuko, his face scrunching in concern as she stepped closer into the light and Zuko then sat up and pushed the blankets over off his legs.

 “What is it?” he asked gently, walking over to her and taking the cup and treats from her to set aside. Zuko put his hands on Mai’s shoulders, urging her to open up. “What’s the matter, Mai?” 

“I… I just got dizzy, that’s all,” fibbed Mai. “I feel kind of lightheaded.” 

“Did you eat anything today? I can get a proper meal,” offered Zuko. 

“--No! No, I’m fine!” she snapped back, already on the edge with frazzled nerves as she pushed Zuko’s hands from her shoulder. “I just need to lie down is all, Zuko. Please, j–just drink your tea.” 

Zuko’s face fell, a bit hurt, but it wasn’t unusual for him to be snapped at. He just got quiet and nodded. “Alright, some rest is probably good,” he murmured in reply. He took a deep breath, sitting back again against the headboard as Mai snuggled up back beneath their covers. 

Mai flipped over to her side in bed and stared, eyes wide open at the wall in the dim light. She wanted to scream at the top of her lungs and take it all back, but it was too late now. She’d come too far and been too brave to turn back now no matter how much her heart was screaming at her. The fire lady scrunched up her blanket to her chin, squeezing it until her knuckles were white while the agonizing wait began.

Zuko was not convinced that Mai was okay besides lightheadedness, but he didn’t want to press it since she would only get more upset. So he sighed, and took a sip of his uncle’s tea. It always was the best thing to calm him down. 

Zuko scrunched his nose after drinking some of it. It tasted a little… funny. He almost asked Mai about it, but decided it wasn’t worth it. Mai never really was good at making tea, but he appreciated the gesture. So Zuko sipped the tea between bites of the fruit tart as a palate cleanser and then finally laid down. He used his firebending to put out their oil lamp and took a chance by putting his hand on Mai’s side.

Every second felt like an eternity to Mai now as she stared forward, feeling Zuko’s hand on her side. She slowly began to cry, doing everything in her power to keep it quiet so Zuko wouldn’t notice, though he always seemed to be good at that. He could always tell when people were hurting. She didn’t know how he could be so perceptive. Maybe it was because he’d had so much pain himself in life. Maybe Mai could look at things that way at the very least.

“Are you feeling any better?” whispered Zuko. 

“A little. I just need sleep,” Mai muttered dismissively, trying her best to not let anything give way in her tone and get him to just stop talking before she couldn’t keep her facade anymore.

“All right,” he said, letting his eyes finally flutter shut and allow himself to drift off to sleep. Mai, however, couldn’t even shut her eyes for a moment. Everything in her was alert as if she were in an icy lake gasping for breath, but had to pretend she was as serene as Iroh during meditation hours. 

Mai didn’t know how she was going to make it through this night. She didn’t know how everything was going to go down, either. It all had her shaking and crying where she lied, but doing her best to lie still. 

Hours went by of the same thing. Zuko was a light sleeper, so Mai was afraid to even try to quell her nerves by going to the washroom to get a glass of water or splash some cold water on her face to calm down. She just had to lie there, pretending to be stoic. 

Then– as Mai was bracing for – something was beginning. Zuko began tossing in bed and Mai’s heart cinched in her chest. He groaned, turning over before finally stirring awake. He was covered in sweat and burning up. He tried to sit up, but could barely see straight as the world began to spin. He put his hand on his head and shook his other hand desperately to light the oil lamp beside him with his bending. 

“Mai?” Zuko croaked, feeling for her beside him and giving her a shake. “Ugh, Mai?” he mumbled. “I’m sorry to wake you, but I… I feel so awful,” he muttered, putting his other hand on his head. “Do you think you were sick before, Mai? I think I have it too.” 

Mai sat up, pursing her lip as tears fell. She couldn’t fight them anymore, but knew he was too disoriented to see them. She was scared. This hurt more than her father led her to believe. “I– I don’t… I don’t think so,” Mai managed to get out. 

“ God ,” Zuko said, throwing the blankets off, his head ringing and feeling like a jackhammer was hitting his skull. “I feel so sick… I–I think I’m going to be sick,” mumbled Zuko, his breath becoming labored as he struggled to breathe. “Mai… Mai,” Zuko said between struggling breaths as fear began to hit him. 

“I’ll get you a bucket,” Mai said, shaking herself as she walked like a zombie to the bathroom to retrieve a trash bin. Her hands were trembling. Her father said this would be painless. He promised her that he would slip away peacefully in his sleep. Had she put too much in the tea? She didn’t want that. She didn’t want Zuko to suffer or be scared. She didn’t want him to know. He couldn’t know. That couldn’t be his last thought: that his wife he’d known since childhood had poisoned him. 

“H-Here, Zuko,” Mai said, setting the bucket beside him as she fought the urge not to break down. 

“Something’s wrong with me, Mai. Something’s wrong,” Zuko said, his face pallor and feeling cold as blood drained from it. “Fuck,” Zuko cursed, pulling the bucket over as he began retching violently. “I can’t – I can’t breathe right, Mai,” Zuko gasped, his words beginning to spew in a panic. 

Mai pursed her lips as her heart was torn to shreds watching Zuko panic like this. She was so furious at her father for this. She only agreed to do this if there’d be no pain. Guilt tore at her, but Mai put her hand on Zuko’s back, rubbing it as he vomited, holding back his long, silky hair she’d once threaded her fingers through. 

“Mai… Mai help me, please,” begged Zuko. “I–I need help. This isn’t normal,” Zuko urged as his head hung over the bucket, speaking between retching and gasping for air. 

His desperation was killing her and making her want to run to the doctors and Katara to save him, but she couldn’t . This was bigger than her – and bigger than Zuko, the person. It was about Zuko, the fire lord . This was a sacrifice that needed to be made for the Fire Nation and at the same time… maybe all of Zuko’s suffering would finally be over. She could end his pain for good, at least. She just didn’t want him to have to have his end like this. But, in the end, it would be better for Izumi too. She could rule over a Fire Nation without as much controversy from the inside of the Fire Nation. There wouldn’t be attempts on Izumi’s life.

“Please, Mai,” cried Zuko before he fell over, hitting the floor with a thud, unable to even keep his body upright anymore. He started throwing up again and was lying in a pool of his own vomit. Zuko then began to seize, convulsing on the ground as he started to froth at the mouth from the posion’s effects. 

Mai couldn’t bear it anymore. She had to get out now too before she was found culpable. If he went in his sleep like he was supposed to, then she could feign ignorance, say someone else tampered with the tea without her knowledge, but now her lack of assistance would be suspect. She had to pretend it happened when she wasn’t around when it all went down. 

“Help,” Zuko croaked as Mai stood up. 

“I’m sorry, Zuko,” she whispered, grabbing her bathrobe. 

“Mai… I– I don’t want to die alone, I–” Zuko said before getting caught again throwing up and seizing at the same time and Mai had to run for the door. It was too awful to watch. She ran, shutting the door and locking it behind her. She was shaking as she paced down the corridor, her head spinning. 

All of a sudden, Mai caught glimpse of a shadow pass by. Then, she heard a scream. She knew that scream. 

Izumi . Shit. 

Mai sat up and ran as fast as she could back to her bedchamber to see Izumi sobbing to see her father in such a state. She was at his side, holding him as he was shaking still, looking even worse with jaundice and desperation and terror all in his eyes. 

“Mama! Mama! Get Aunt Katara! Something’s wrong with Daddy!” shrieked Izumi, who was a hysterical mess. 

“Izumi, you have to get out of here. Now,” Mai tried to say coolly, pointing at the door. 

Zuko couldn’t speak anymore, it looked like he was fading in and out of consciousness now. It couldn’t be long. Izumi shouldn’t see this. Her poor daughter didn’t need this. 

“No! No! I won’t leave Daddy!” screamed the eleven-year-old. “What are you doing, Mama!? Daddy needs help! Daddy needs help right now!” she screamed, sobbing. “Someone hurt Daddy! Please, Mama!” 

“Izumi, you listen to me now!” snapped Mai, her voice breaking. 

“What’s wrong with you!?” shouted Izumi, running past her mother in defiance, giving her  a shove as she bursted out the door. Izumi ran as fast as she could to Ambassador Katara’s quarters and began pounding on the door with her fists desperately. 

“Aunt Katara! Katara! Wake up! Wake up, please!” shouted Izumi, sobbing.

Katara was jolted awake and raced to her door. She was alarmed to hear little Izumi at such an hour, especially to hear her shouting so drastically upset. “Izumi, honey, what is it?” Katara asked in concern, cupping the child’s face and wiping away her tears.

“S-Something’s wrong! S-Something’s wrong with D-Daddy!” she sobbed, hiccuping between her words. “Please… please help him, please,” wept Izumi, “He’s in his room, Aunt Katara, please.” 

Katara’s breath caught in her chest. Assassins . Again , she figured. She was right in a sense. Only this assassin was quite stealthy and very close to home. 

Katara ran down the hall to Zuko and Mai’s room, noticing the door was locked. “Why is the door locked, Izumi?” she asked and the little girl just shook her head. 

“I- I don’t know. It was locked before too!” she cried, “I have a key, but I dropped it in the room when I went to get you.” 

Katara sighed and used her waterbending to carefully create an icicle to pick the lock. It was difficult with her frayed nerves, but she steadied herself enough to manage to craft an icicle suitable enough to crack inside. Katara pushed open the door and saw Mai, sobbing and holding Zuko with a blade to his throat. Katara’s eyes widened in shocked horror before she quickly flicked the dagger from her hand with her waterbending. 

“ Mama ?” Izumi choked out, looking at her mother in mortified, heartbroken disbelief. 

“Katara, I–” Mai began, starting to explain herself, but Katara wasn’t having it. She threw Mai aside with force and froze her to the wall. She then pulled Zuko over to quickly begin healing him. He looked fucking awful. 

“ Spirits , Zuko,” whispered Katara, looking at her dear friend who clearly was on the brink of death, sitting in a pool of his own vomit and coughed-up blood. Katara didn’t know if she could bring him back from this – but she was never one to give up, especially not on the people she loved. 

Katara knew that she was going to have to use bloodbending if Zuko was going to stand a chance at making it. She glanced out the window quickly, checking the phase of the moon. It wasn’t full, but close: waxing gibbous. With a little more might, she could do it. She had to. She had to remove whatever was destroying Zuko’s body. 

“Izumi, get the palace physicians and a medical bag– as fast as you can!” shouted Katara as the little girl scampered off. Katara then glared at Mai, yelling while Izumi was still in earshot, “And, guards! Get guards first!” 

Katara started drawing power from the moon, growing a sweat as she did it. It was much more difficult to harness power without the full intensity of the moon, but she was getting enough to work at Zuko’s system. She could feel the toxins coming through from his bloodstream. She needed to raise it out through his pores and drain it all from his body.

Katara continued working to treat her unconscious friend, trying her best to push aside her personal emotions and work as guards began to restrain the fire lady and take her away. That would be a problem for another day. 

Izumi was hysterical at Katara’s side, but the girl was being brave. She was doing her best to reel herself in. She handed Katara the physician’s medical bag and a physician then knelt at Katara’s side to be of assistance. 

“Antidote,” Katara said. “He needs an antidote.” 

“Yes,” agreed the physician as she quickly rifled through her bag to take out the vial while Katara continued bending with precision. 

Katara took a deep breath and paused a moment to lift Zuko’s head so the physician could spill the vial down his throat before gingerly placing his head back down on the ground to continue working her blood bending. “It’s going to be okay, Zuko. I won’t let anything bad happen to you,” Katata whispered soothingly as tears began to pool in her eyes. 

Zuko was her very best friend. They’d only grown closer and closer since she’d moved here to work as ambassador two years ago. She couldn’t lose him. She couldn’t bear for him to be taken away. She also didn’t think she could handle seeing Izumi lose her father. Katara refused to allow herself to lose her best friend and she refused to let Izumi lose her father. Not on her watch. 

Katara kept working with her bloodbending, sweat beading at her chin as she exerted all she had to get this deep-seated toxin from her friend’s body. It had set in deep and it was taking a lot to remove it. She didn’t even have time in the moment to process all that was happening — Mai with that dagger over Zuko’s throat was still shaking her to her core, but there was no time to dwell on that. Zuko needed her now. That could wait. Everything else but Zuko could wait. 

Finally, Zuko began to stir from his unconscious state and the frothing, blood, and vomiting had ended. It seemed his fever had broken, too. Katara still kept working at him. She wanted to ensure every trace of whatever was in his system was gone. As she kept her medicinal blood bending going, Zuko seemed to finally garner more strength. Slowly, his eyes fluttered open and Katara saw those familiar, warm amber eyes once again. 

She sighed a breath of relief amid a choking sob and clutched his hand. Izumi raced over to her father’s side from where she’d been watching in horror on her parents’ bed. 

“Zuko,” Katara choked out. 

He squinted, clearly in a daze, confused and blurry, “Katara…? What… what’s going on?” 

“It’s okay, Zuko, just relax,” Katara coaxed, tilting his head back as he tried to sit up. That was just like him. “You– You’re going to be okay,” Katara announced, laughing through another sob. She looked up at Izumi, nodding in confirmation as the little girl also began to weep in relief. 

“ Daddy ,” cried the princess, throwing herself at her father. 

“Careful, Izumi, just be gentle,” urged Katara through tears, still sweating with her face beet red. 

Izumi looked up at Katara, her eyes leaking with tears, though Katara could see the clear relief in her eyes. “Thank you, Aunt Katara,” she choked out.

Katara was taken back fifteen years in that moment, looking at the girl who resembled her friend so much. It was because of Izumi that Zuko was here – her quick thinking got Katara here just in time to save her best friend. 

“I think I’m the one who should be thanking you.” 

Chapter Text

A week had passed since the attack on Zuko’s life. In the time since, he’d been unconscious, his body resting and recovering from the deep trauma. The physicians and Katara had been consistently checking in on him and giving him medicine and healing sessions. There was worry he may not ever wake up or that he would sustain severe, permanent damage. Izumi refused to believe in either of these scenarios and stubbornly insisted her father was going to make a full recovery – as he always had before. 

Iroh, Aang, Toph, Suki, Sokka, and some of their children had all come out as fast as they could once Katara had written them. Thankfully, most of them were in Republic City, which wasn’t a long trip from the Fire Nation capital. It didn’t take more than hearing Zuko’s situation was dire for the group to band together. 

It was good for Izumi to have everyone there, especially Iroh. Iroh was good at hiding his worry in front of his grandniece, however, he was a wreck inside. Iroh was beyond heartbroken on Zuko’s behalf and worried sick about him. To Izumi though, Iroh was steadfast and appeared as confident as she that her father would fully recover.

The princess hadn’t been able to sleep a wink unless she was in the same room as her great-uncle. The sight of her mother with a blade to her father’s throat seemed to be stitched into the backs of her eyelids. It was enough to have her waking up screaming before Iroh pulled her into his arms. Izumi also kept asking where her mother was and demanding to be taken to her, but her uncle kept forbidding it.

Iroh was acting as interim fire lord for Zuko as his nephew was in an incapacitated state. As such, the ad hoc substitute ruler was keeping Izumi from Mai for now, seeing it as for the girl’s own well-being. He also thought that something so precarious would best be left for Zuko to weigh in on handling. As things were, Zuko would likely be left as Izumi's sole caregiver. 

Mai was being held in the highest security prison as the palace awaited word on its leader’s fate. She was being imprisoned alongside the likes of other past assassins, kept just one floor below her father-in-law. The fire lady was an absolute mess of regret and panic. She never counted on the plan not working. She never counted on Zuko surviving the poisoning. She had planned on guilt, grief, and plenty of variables. But not this. She never planned for an aftermath of everyone knowing what she had done and viewing her as a monster. Suddenly, she found herself empathizing with Azula. 

“ What were you thinking, Mai?” a familiar voice abruptly echoed through the stone walls.

Mai sat up, rubbing her bleary eyes and stepping into the faint light towards the iron bars. She wasn’t sure if she was imagining things, but then she really saw her. Ty Lee had come. Finally . Mai wasn’t sure if she would, but here she was . “Ty Lee, you’re really here,” Mai whispered in relief as tears pricked at her eyes. “I knew you’d come.”

Ty Lee stood before her firmly, not responding. The usually cheery woman’s eyes were stony and her expression through her warrior paint was muted. “The only reason I came here is to find out what you did with any remnant of your brain,” snapped the acrobat. 

Mai winced. It was unusual to hear Ty Lee raise her voice in any matter that wasn’t in excitement. She yearned for nothing more than her comfort in this moment. “Everything went wrong, Ty Lee. I didn’t mean for it to happen like this, I swear it.” 

“Oh, what, for Zuko to live, you mean?” yelled Ty Lee, folding her arms over her chest sternly. 

Mai grew silent because Ty Lee was right and she was ashamed of it. Ty Lee knew her better than anyone alive. There was nothing Mai could ever get past her. 

“Unbelievable,” scoffed Ty Lee, shaking her head before tossing her hands in disbelief. “What was this? Some kind of sick way to get Zuko out of the picture so we could stop hiding? Is that what this was?”

“--What? No! Ty Lee, no,” Mai quickly denied, coming closer to the bars, gripping them to get as close as possible to the woman she loved. “It had nothing to do with that – with us . I wouldn’t do that. You know I wouldn’t do that.” 

“I don’t know anything anymore, Mai. I thought I knew you inside out, but I don’t. What I do know is that what we’re doing to Zuko is wrong. I feel horrible about it every single day. He’s already been through more than enough pain for ten lifetimes over,” Ty Lee choked out. 

“I hate thinking about how we’re hurting him,” Ty Lee continued in a cry, shaking her head, “But this ? I’d never hurt Zuko like this . He doesn’t deserve this, Mai. And, what about Izumi ? How could you do this to her? How could you , Mai? She loves her dad more than anything!”

“-- She is exactly who I did it for, Ty Lee! I did it all for Izumi!” Mai interrupted, searching Ty Lee’s eyes imploringly. 

“You did this for Izumi?” Ty Lee said flatly with a scoff as she shook her head incredulously. “Mai, Izumi is going to hate you!” 

“She wasn’t supposed to ever know it was me,” Mai muttered defeatedly, knowing Ty Lee was right about that. Her daughter would hate her. Izumi would never forgive her, not after what she saw. It broke Mai to know this and to have the woman she loved spit it back at her so plainly. 

“You still were going to take her dad away from her! She’s just a little kid, Mai,” Ty Lee replied, aghast. 

“Well, with the way Zuko was keeping things up it’d be Izumi I’d be burying instead of him,” Mai retorted, tears sliding down her face as she gripped the rods. 

Ty Lee quieted then, befuddled by her lover’s words. She paused before shaking her head, “I don’t understand, Mai,” she said lowly. 

“Look around you, Ty Lee,” Mai answered in the same quietness, though hers emanated an exhausted desperation. “I’m not unique in this facility. This entire floor has tried to kill Zuko and they’re almost all Fire Nation. Zuko is the common denominator here. And at some point, I’m going to stop and wonder… why – then I’m going to wonder when it’s going to stop – and if it is going to stop. And, if it doesn’t ? What happens then? What if the next one gets away with it and Zuko’s sent to hang out with his ancestors early in those creepy catacombs? Then what? Iroh takes over for a little while and then it’ll be my little girl on that throne and whose head they all want on a platter.”

Ty Lee’s gaze at Mai narrowed. “So what? You wanted to try to beat them to the punch or something? Rip the bandage off for Izumi?” she sneered. “How is that doing you any favors? Zuko could live to be a hundred and by the time Izumi inherits the throne the Fire Nation could be a whole different place – you know, which has kind of been the hope and plan here.”

“It’s asinine, Ty Lee,” Mai countered. “I was always wary of Zuko’s ideas and plans, but I absolutely hated the way his father was running things too, plus the guy was always an ass. So I went along with Zuko’s nonsense fantasies as a teenager, but now as I’m older, it’s clear the place is falling apart. That’s why people are so angry. Revolutions are building all over,” Mai continued, needing Ty Lee to understand. She has always been the one person who understood. Mai needed her to now more than ever. 

“If I got rid of Zuko now and waited for Iroh to peel off, then I could help Izumi. My father and I could help her think clearly before Zuko gets all in her head with his peace and love fantasies that are what keep getting him cut down in the first place. That way, Izumi would be safe. Izumi could think pragmatically and learn to be a practical ruler. No one would be angry anymore and the Fire Nation could go back to thriving,” Mai tried to explain. 

 “I don’t want Zuko hurt, Ty Lee. I never did. His intentions are always in the right place and he’s a good father and a good man, but he’s a terrible leader. He wasn’t cut out for this and I won’t let my daughter die because of it. My father is a professional politician who everyone adored. He can put her on track,” Mai ranted, finishing her desperate diatribe. 

Ty Lee looked back at Mai, completely bemused and rendered momentarily speechless. She felt like she hardly knew Mai right now and she was scared. It unsettled her to not recognize the woman she loved. Ty Lee stepped back, shaking her head with a deep-set frown and eyes that held a thousand words she couldn’t yet find the courage to bring to her tongue. 

“You’ve been talking to your father again? You’re listening to him? Mai… Mai, I don’t… I can’t even begin to explain…” Ty Lee stammered. Her clandestine girlfriend’s tirade helped explain why Mai acted so rashly, but it still was unconscionable. Ty Lee’s mouth moved like the gills of a fish out of water, but she couldn’t form the right words to match her racing thoughts. 

“He wants Ozai, Mai. Ozai!” Ty Lee added, putting her hands on the sides of her head before using them to cover her face, wishing she could vanish behind them. “I’m a Kyoshi Warrior, Mai! I can’t get behind something like this!” 

“I didn’t ever want you dragged into it, Ty Lee. You still aren't,” Mai stressed desperately. 

“How would I not be? I’m against everything your father stands for and you’re trying to put his ideas in Izumi’s head…? Help him? Mai… you poisoned Zuko,” Ty Lee said in horror, the gravity of what Mai did was still taking its time sinking in. “Zuko could have died… and… you wanted him to.”

“Not like that, Ty Lee. I didn’t want it so callously like that. I was doing it to protect Izumi,” whispered Mai. 

“That’s what you tell yourself,” Ty Lee replied brokenly, backing away as she spoke. “I won’t be any part of this. I’m telling them everything… I love you, Mai… but I can’t. I won’t do this.” 

“Don’t leave me, Ty Lee,” Mai muttered desperately. 

Ty Lee walked over briefly, grabbing Mai’s cold hand through the bars. She pulled her hand to her lips to kiss it tenderly. “You’re the one who’s already left me, Mai.” 

Chapter Text

Ten days had now passed since Mai had made an attempt on her husband’s life. Zuko was still unconscious, but now physically stable thanks to the tireless efforts of Katara and the palace physician team. However, the worries of Izumi, Iroh, and all of Zuko’s friends were only growing. The longer Zuko was unconscious, the higher the chance for longterm, serious complications. 

The political uncertainty, too, loomed unaddressed. Mai was being held in limbo in prison, and the personal precariousness also sat quietly on standby. All the while, Ty Lee had been biting her nails down to the quick and Izumi hardly could keep down a bite of food. 

Terse whispers that cut short full worries danced on the edges of everyone’s tongues. No one wanted to give life to their own doubts – “ what if he doesn’t wake up ?” But it was audible through the friends' glances. They knew each other well enough to read the fears in one another’s eyes. “ What if he’s already gone?”

“Ten days,” Aang murmured, leaning against a balcony, watching the sun start to creep over the horizon. “Today marks ten.” 

“I know,” muttered Katara in reply, sitting behind him at a cafe table beside Sokka, Toph, Suki, and Ty Lee. 

“If Sparky doesn’t…” Toph began, letting her thoughts trail off for the hundredth time. 

“He will,” Sokka interjected. 

“We need to think ahead in some regard though… just in case. The Fire Nation’s situation is too volatile not to have a plan,” Suki whispered before leaning her face into her hands. 

“Iroh will take care of it,” Toph affirmed, “We know he will and… he’s in great shape – Izumi would still be heir after the old man kicks off at 110.” 

“Zuko will wake up,” Katara insisted firmly, “And, he’s going to need all of us when he does.” 

“That’s why we’re here, Katara. We’ve all got Zuko’s back,” Sokka agreed, letting out a deep, shaky breath. 

“He’s going to be so…  so … upset,” Ty Lee uttered, shaking her head as tears hung in her eyes. “I can’t believe… I mean… her dad? Why would Mai… and… he’s the father of her child?” 

Aang walked over and put a hand on Ty Lee’s shoulder in comfort, looking at each of his haggard friends with a matching look on his own face. “We’re going to get to the bottom of all of it. We’ll apprehend Ukano and question Mai to see if anyone else is involved. We won’t let any of them try to hurt Zuko again – and we’ll protect Izumi.” 

“I know… I know, Aang, I just… Mai and I were so close and I had no idea and I feel so awful like I could’ve prevented this somehow or found out and talked some sense into her, but I really… I had no clue she’d ever do something so… twisted and I thought she was done with her father for good, I mean… she hated the man,” Ty Lee replied anxiously as she pulled at the ends of her braid. 

“You can’t blame yourself, Ty Lee… obviously Mai knew where you’d stand as a Kyoshi Warrior at the end of the day and did everything she could to keep that from you,” Suki assured her friend. “You gave us the insight and information as soon as you knew – now, we know more thanks to you and everyone can be protected better because you did the right thing coming to us all immediately.” 

“Suki is right, Ty Lee. We’re all very grateful… and I’m sure that must’ve been hard for you, knowing how close you two are and how you grew up together,” Katara added in comfort. 

Ty Lee leaned back in her chair, nodding along to the reassurances while her guilt still lingered. If only they knew just how close the two of them had really been. It seemed like her conscience was a hundred pounds, just rotting a pit in her chest. Ty Lee did also feel like somehow her affair contributed to all of this and none of it would have happened if she hadn’t snuck around with a kept woman. She knew, too, that it was only further going to pile onto Zuko’s grief when everything came to light.

It was then, breaking the silence, that Iroh peaked his head out through the opening to the balcony, calling to everyone, “You all better come to the table now! Izumi and I made pancakes for everyone and they’re her specialty, so you know they will be extra delicious. I also brewed a hot pot of tea for you all, so please come and have some before it gets cold!”

Most of everyone shifted in their seats, though in no eager hurry. Appetites were hard to muster, but the last thing anyone wanted was to reject food made by Izumi. The little girl needed a rise in her spirits and needed everyone to at least present positively on the surface. 

Katara and Aang lingered a moment as the sun climbed higher in the sky and its rays twinkled against the sea. It was serene at the palace in a way that felt strange when you knew its history. It was beautiful in a complex and convoluted way. 

“It’s funny the sunrises here remind of the sunsets in Ba Sing Se,” Aang whispered, standing beside Katara as she sat in her chair and the both of them stared forward. 

“The Fire Nation gets the best sunrises and the Earth Kingdom gets the best sunsets,” Katara added, her voice almost monotone. 

“The best sunset I ever saw was that night at Iroh’s teashop, right after we ended the war,” replied Aang. “It feels so long ago now… we were so, so young.” 

“I know. That was the trouble,” whispered Katara with a sigh, then glancing down at her hands. 

“Do you think if we’d waited… things might’ve been different?” he asked after a beat of silence to which Katara returned with a sigh and then a pause. 

“No,” Katara finally responded. “I think I just would’ve known already that we were always best as friends… best friends.” 

“I’m sorry,” Aang said, shaking his head. “I don’t know what’s got me saying things like this… like we’re kids. I’ve just been thinking back a lot on our time during the war… worrying about Zuko, remembering how long we’ve been friends.” 

“It’s okay,” Katara replied, “I’ve been thinking a lot about it too. We’re scared… so we’re going back… retracing… retracing our minds’ steps, our memories,” murmured Katara, thinking aloud.

  “We’re… afraid, I guess… afraid we’ll lose him and so we’re scraping up the memories now, making sure they’re there… ready to go if we need them…” Katara continued quietly. “And then, during it, I guess, you crave being closer to the people who are the only ones who could feel the same way and you want to go back to the simpler times,” she muttered as tears hung in her eyes, blurring the sunny sparkles in the sea.

“Well, we’re all here now – together,” Aang assured his old friend, giving her shoulder a squeeze. Katara raised her hand, squeezing Aang’s as it rested over her shoulder. “Zuko will make it.” 

Katara replied, “He has to.” 

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“These pancakes are off the charts, kiddo,” Sokka said while a mouthful was still stuffed in one cheek. Suki lightly slapped his forearm with the back of her hand, shaking her head. 

“You’re a thirty-one-year-old man, Sokka. Learn how to chew your food. Even Yukari eats more politely,” grumbled Suki as she rolled her eyes at her husband. 

“Like this?” said Yukari, smiling with chewed pancake bits visible in her mouth. 

“Atta girl,” Sokka replied to his daughter, pointing his fork towards her at the table as the five-year-old beamed wider to which Suki just sighed. 

“Like father, like daughter,” mumbled Suki while wearing a small smirk. 

“Are they good?” Izumi asked, looking around everyone at the table eagerly as they gobbled up their breakfast. 

“They’re perfect!” said Aang. 

“The best pancakes I ever had,” Toph added. 

“I’ll be having thirds,” Sokka declared, patting his stomach. 

“Amazing, Izumi, we can do away with the palace chef now,” teased Katara. 

“Yummy, Izumi!” shouted Yukari. 

“You’re a prodigy, princess,” said Suki. 

“Taking after your great uncle for sure,” complimented Ty Lee. 

“Ah no, why I appreciate the confidence, I’m just a simple tea man. This is all Izumi’s own talent,” Iroh replied with a small chuckle as he ruffled his grandniece’s hair. 

“Could use some chocolate chips,” added Lin, which gained her a nudge from her mother. 

“I’m glad you like them,” Izumi said, pleased to see everyone’s near-empty plates. “Dad loves them.” 

“We’ll be sure to make sure he gets as many as he likes as soon as he’s better, my niece,” Iroh assured the little girl, pressing a kiss to her temple. 

Izumi took in a deep breath, clearly rattled, but she stayed quiet. She didn’t want to ask any more questions or have to listen to the scripted answers she knew she was being given due to her age. She just wanted her parents back. 

“What do you say we get some firebending lessons in, Izumi?” offered Aang, “After we finish up, I’d be happy to show you a few tricks. After all, I did learn from the best.” 

“Yeah, I’d like that, Uncle Aang,” agreed Izumi, perking up a little. She felt lucky that the avatar himself was someone she could have as her instructor. 

—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Everyone had finished up their meal and took care of the dishes before Aang, Iroh, and Izumi headed to the training grounds outside. It was a precarious place as it held anguished battles between Izumi’s family members, but Izumi didn’t know of these tales firsthand – to her, they were simply that: tales. Until recently, she had a loving family. Everyone who surrounded her brought her love and comfort, if at times, arguments. Now, things were hanging in the balance, but what still remained was that this arena was nothing more than a training ground now. 

Aang began stretching as Iroh took a seat on a nearby bench. He, too, wanted to give pointers to help Izumi with her firebending. After all, Zuko may have taught the avatar, but it was Iroh who taught the fire lord. 

“Now, something your dad struggles with is patience in firebending,” Aang began instructing while continuing his stretches. 

“This I can concur, Izumi!” Iroh called out with a small laugh. 

“He’s a great firebender, of course, one of the best, but with me being the avatar, it helps me in my firebending to take skills and traits from other forms of bending to use to hone my firebending,” explained Aang. 

“How so?” asked Izumi, walking over close as Aang lit a flame in his hand. 

“Well, you see, one thing your dad did teach me to borrow from is waterbending. He taught me it for redirecting lightning, but it can be used in other ways too I found. Waterbending requires a lot of patience and dedication. If you take that and apply it to firebending, which is known for being all-encompassing and overwhelming, it can really help you have more direct control of your flame,” the avatar continued, carefully passing his beating flame into Izumi’s hands. 

“See the way it flickers and–” Aang started to add, but was cut short by a panicked breath. 

“Avatar Aang! General Iroh! Princess Izumi!” the palace guard said, out of breath with a glint of excitement in his eyes. Aang extinguished his flame from Izumi’s hands as the trio turned quickly to the guard. 

Iroh’s heart began pounding in his chest as he stood. He feared any news and he feared the look on the man’s face, though he couldn’t quite read it. 

“I’m so sorry to interrupt your session,” the guard said, bowing in respect towards them. “But, it’s Fire Lord Zuko.” 

All of their hearts stopped dead in their chests. Terrified, as one gasp came from the three of them in unison. And then , good news flowed from the man’s mouth with a smile. 

“He’s awake.” 

Chapter Text

Zuko looked around his bedroom, feeling groggy, lightheaded, and weak. Everything felt sort of blurry and distant, but he knew his surroundings. He knew that he was the fire lord, that he was married, and that he had a daughter. He also knew that in this moment he felt deeply sad for reasons he couldn’t quite place. After all, this was not his first rodeo with an assassination attempt and they were more apt to anger or frighten than sadden him.

“They’re coming soon?” Zuko asked the physician beside him once more. Zuko was anxious to see his loved ones and had asked the doctor just a few moments before. 

“Yes, your highness,” replied Doctor Shun again, giving her leader a respectful bow, despite Zuko’s insistence against it. “I let your family and friends know you were awake and they are on their way.” 

“How long was I out again? I can’t believe so many of them came out here,” the fire lord mused aloud. 

“Ten days, almost eleven,” replied Shun. “We were starting to fear the worst, your majesty. I’m glad to see you seem alert.” 

“Well, I’m sure I had a great team looking after me. Ambassador Katara, I assume, helped too?” Zuko asked. 

“Yes, she’s been here multiple times a day, of course. You wouldn’t be here if not for her,” Shun answered, carefully tiptoeing around her words. The palace physician knew it was not her place to explain to the fire lord the details of what his attack had entailed, and by his demeanor, she could guess that he did not remember. 

“We’re all very lucky to have her,” murmured Zuko almost beneath his breath, lost in thought. Katara had now saved his life three times: during his agni kai against Azula, during another assassination attempt in the Southern Water Tribe by an Earth Kingdom resident, and now. 

It was then, while Zuko drifted in thought, that Iroh, Izumi, and Katara warily crept through the door. The others waited outside as to not overwhelm Zuko. They were all unsure of their friend’s current state and didn’t want to rattle him if he was particularly fragile or confused. 

Zuko – despite feeling drained – lit up as his family and friend entered his room. They each smiled back in relief at the weary man in return, especially Izumi, who was beaming from ear-to-ear. The young girl nearly bolted to her father’s side, though slowed herself mid-step as she recalled her great uncle’s warnings about being gentle with her father. Still, the princess couldn’t help but throw herself at her father once she reached his bedside. 

“ Daddy ,” murmured Izumi, clutching her father tightly. “I’m so, so happy you’re okay. I was so scared, Daddy.” 

“Shhh, shhh, my turtle duck. It’s okay, everything is going to be okay,” Zuko responded, soothing his daughter. He ran his hand lovingly down Izumi’s back while rocking her in his arms. It broke his heart to see his daughter so upset and shaken. It angered him, too. His little girl shouldn’t have to live with such heightened worries. She deserved to simply be a child. That was what they had all ended the war for. “I’m so sorry I frightened you, sweetheart.” 

“It’s not your fault, Daddy,” the young princess whispered through tears, clutching her father’s loose garments tightly as she embraced him. Izumi pinched her eyes shut tight, letting tears flow freely and drip from her chin. She so badly wanted to scream and shout about her mother – how it was all her fault – but she bit her tongue despite her inherited temper. Izumi reluctantly heeded her great uncle’s warnings here, too. 

Zuko pulled back a bit to look at his little girl, brushing the tears from her face and then tucking her hair behind her ears. He cupped her cheeks and gave her an encouraging smile. “How are you, Izumi? Hm, are you okay? You’ve been all right?” 

“I’m fine, Daddy,” she murmured, giving him a smile. “I was worried, but I’m okay, promise. Uncle Iroh was here and Uncle Aang and Aunt Katara and Uncle Sokka and Aunt Suki and Aunt Toph and Aunt Ty Lee. Everyone helped me.” 

“Ah, Nephew, you see, your daughter is far too humble. It was she who helped all of us. She is far too wise beyond her years and quite level headed. She will one day lead the Fire Nation and its allies to great peace and prosperity,” Iroh interrupted with a gentle smirk. He not only spoke to praise Izumi, which he always did in earnest, but to throw Zuko off before he could follow up about his wife. 

That conversation deserved delicateness. Iroh didn’t think it was best to leap into something so emotionally-charged so soon after his nephew had woken up from such physical and emotional trauma. Though, it would prove quite difficult, if not impossible, to avoid for long.

“I know she will,” replied Zuko with pride. “Izumi is always looking out for everyone, asking about the things you do as fire lord, and she’s smart as a whip.” 

“Well, I do try my best,” quipped Izumi cheekily as she sat up straight and flipped her hair behind her shoulder, then turning to flash her uncle a proud grin.

Iroh smiled back at Izumi before walking over to his nephew to sit on the other side of his bed. Iroh then embraced Zuko tenderly, being careful in case he was sore. “You gave me quite the fright, Nephew,” murmured Iroh, rubbing Zuko’s back as he exhaled shakily in relief. Iroh relished how it felt to hold Zuko in his arms– safe, breathing, and a steady heartbeat . “I love you very dearly, my boy,” whispered Iroh as he pressed his hand to the back of Zuko’s head. 

“I love you too, Uncle,” replied Zuko, returning his uncle’s warm, familiar embrace. His heart ached to watch his uncle become so undone, too. It wasn’t fair that they all had to go through this time and time again. Zuko was the fire lord after his country wreaked such havoc, so he felt it was his duty to put himself at risk for the world’s betterment. But that didn’t mean it was his family’s. They didn’t deserve this strife and it made Zuko furious to see them hurting.

Iroh backed up and put his hands on Zuko’s shoulders, looking him over for any signs of discomfort. “How do you feel, Zuko? Are you in pain?” 

“I’m sore,” Zuko answered honestly. “I don’t think I could eat anything either. My stomach isn’t great. But, I think I’m okay otherwise. I… I honestly just remember being in so much pain and feeling so sick, but… I don’t remember anything from the attack or the assailant or… anything helpful for the guards.” 

Iroh was afraid of that. It made this recovery bit easier, but would make explaining things twice as heartbreaking as soon as Zuko asked the whereabouts of his wife. Iroh was still deeply relieved to hear his nephew was not in serious pain or suffering. He gave Zuko’s shoulders a loving squeeze. “I’m so relieved, Zuko… so, so relieved. I was so afraid I might have–” 

“Hey, Uncle, I’m okay,” Zuko assured him, putting his hand on his Uncle’s arm and giving it a reassuring squeeze. “It’s okay.” 

Iroh smiled at his nephew warmly and proudly. Even when he was little, Zuko always did everything he could to comfort others, even when he, too, was hurting. Iroh would never forget Zuko being the only one to comfort him when he lost his son. Iroh was so glad to see that Zuko had grown into such an honorable man. He couldn’t fathom what could lead a person to hurt a husband that was so good to her and so good to their child. 

“Yes, yes, my boy,” Iroh said, gently patting Zuko’s cheek as he wiped away his own tears quickly. “Let us then just have Katara here look you over to make sure you’re well and there’s nothing that slipped through the cracks.” 

Iroh moved to give Katara space and she then scooted over to Zuko’s bed, sitting beside him with tears pricking her eyes. “Hey there, Fire Lord,” Katara whispered with a small, tearful laugh. “You’re looking pretty good, all things considered.” 

“I try to not have hospital gowns as a repeated look in my wardrobe, but it seems they keep wanting me to try them on,” joked Zuko as Katara rolled her eyes. 

“I’m just gonna check you over and make sure you seem all right,” she explained. “Shun already checked your alertness and vitals?” 

“Yeah, she ran through some tests and questions with me, and said I seemed okay,” replied Zuko.

“That’s a relief,” Katara said, creating a pool of water in each hand as she held it over Zuko’s temples first. “Let me know if you feel anything tense or sore or sensitive as I go, okay?” 

Katara then moved her hands across each spot of his body, stopping to spend more time on the areas she knew were more likely to be impacted from the poison. As she checked over his stomach, Zuko signaled there was pain there, as well as on his knee, which caught Katara off guard. 

“Thank Spirits, Zuko, you seem to be doing pretty well… all things considered,” Katara declared, sighing in relief. She took a deep breath, trying to hold back her own tears. Like the rest of them, she was terrified she was going to lose him. Seeing him awake and alert and still knowing who he was came as a major relief and answered prayer. They needed him – not just the fire lord, but Zuko too. He was her best friend. They all loved him; he was family. 

Zuko wore a face of relief too, glad to hear there weren’t any major concerns, though in a moment’s flash, his brows furrowed. The absence suddenly clicked. “Wait… where’s Mai?” asked Zuko, glancing around the room for his wife before worry set in. “She’s not hurt? Did they harm her when they attacked me? The guards are after the assailant, aren’t they?” 

Katara closed her eyes and turned her head. She did not want to do this and knew she couldn’t with Izumi in the room. Iroh inhaled sharply, wishing for any kind of alibi to bide his time, let Zuko recover more before breaking his heart… but he couldn’t lead Zuko to believe his wife was harmed, either. They were caught between a rock and a hard place. Of course a man would wonder where his wife was when he almost died . 

“Daddy, Mom went crazy, she–! ” Izumi began as tears began to flood in her eyes. The princess had been holding it all back for over a week and the dam was just about to break. She was desperate to find solace in her father over what had been the most traumatic event in her life, but Iroh stopped her short. There would be time yet for Izumi to cry and cling to her father, but Zuko would first need a moment to cry and cling to the man who stood in as his own. 

“Izumi, let us talk to your father, please,” Iroh said, cupping the child’s cheek. 

“It’s not fair, he’s my dad! She’s my mom!” Izumi protested. 

“What? What do you mean? What’s going on?” Zuko asked, now clearly frazzled from his prior restful state. He winced as he sat up, trying to stand, but Katara quickly eased Zuko back to lying down against the headboard. 

“Zuko, we’re going to explain everything that’s happened. Please try to take it easy, you’re still recovering. I know this is confusing,” Katara said as she tried to coax him down to stay calm. She was well aware that the attempt was futile. Zuko was well known as an anxious and stubborn man.

“I’m only confused because no one will tell me what’s going on or what happened to my wife!” Zuko replied frantically. 

“Princess Izumi, I promise you will be able to speak freely to your father about anything you like, but for his sake, please let us talk to him first,” Iroh implored, moving both hands to caress his grandniece’s face. He lowered his voice then to keep Zuko from hearing, knowing his pride would get the best of him if he did, “He will be worried about you while we explain to him, Izumi. Your dad needs to just let it soak in first before he worries for you. You know what a worrier he is, hm?” 

Izumi gave her great uncle a small smile before nodding in concession. “Yeah…” she agreed with a half-sigh-half-huff. “Okay, Uncle Iroh.”

“That’s my girl,” Iroh said, ruffling the girl’s hair affectionately. His heart hurt to send the child away. She was far, far too young for any of this. The old man had hoped the line of young suffering in his family ended with Zuko. Though this came through no fault of Zuko’s own. It was but a consequence of his nephew’s seemingly-unrelenting suffering of his own. 

Iroh also knew Zuko’s first worry would be Izumi regardless of whether or not she was in the room. But having his grandniece out of earshot would at least let them speak more candidly and let Zuko feel more candidly. He knew his nephew well enough to know he’d put on a brave front before his little girl. But, Iroh’s little boy needed to be able to grieve freely before he could even begin to comfort his own child. 

“Uncle, please, what is this? Where is Mai? What’s happened? Is she okay?” Zuko panicked. 

Iroh turned again to Izumi, giving her one last smile as a sendoff before the little girl turned to exit.

 “I’ll let everyone know you’re okay, Daddy,” Izumi told her father. And all Zuko could do was try to bury the frantic look on his face and nod at his daughter in a feeble attempt at parental reassurance. Zuko was beyond confused and his head now felt like it was pounding and hurting worse. 

When the door shut behind Izumi, Iroh walked back over to take a seat at the edge of Zuko’s bed and he took his hand. 

Zuko’s eyes darted between Iroh and Katara, seeking answers. “Katara, what is this? Why won’t Uncle answer me?” Zuko demanded, his heart pounding in his chest. “Is Mai safe ?” 

“She is safe, Zuko. I promise you that. She’s not hurt or sick, either,” Katara replied, inhaling sharply as she took her close friend’s other hand. 

Zuko eased then, relief washing over him. They’d had him horrified that something terrible had happened to his wife. However, after a moment’s bit of reprieve, he shook his head, still deeply confused. “Then… then what is it? Where is she? What’s the matter? I want to see her. Mai has to know that I’d want to see her.” 

“Nephew…” Iroh began, squeezing Zuko’s hand tightly. “I… I don’t even know where to begin and there is much we do not know. I wish so deeply that this could wait, but it cannot because it is never fair to keep a badgermole above ground,” he continued. Iroh then inhaled sharply, forcing himself to look his nephew in the eyes as he told him, and his comforting hand never wavered. “Zuko, my boy… Your wife, Mai, she was the one who caused all of this.” 

“Caused this…? What… what do you mean?” asked Zuko, still perplexed and on edge.

Katara pinched the bridge of her nose. Delivering this news was unbearable, especially since Zuko was still bedridden. How could they explain this without just diving in head first? How could they soften this blow? “Zuko… when Izumi came running to me the night you fell ill, I walked in and… and Mai was holding a knife to your throat .” 

Zuko paused, looking at them quizzically before he shook his head. A chuckle of disbelief escaped his throat as he looked between Katara and his uncle, bemused. “ What ? Please. You must be mistaken. That’s ridiculous.” 

“Nephew, I know this is very difficult to hear, but what Katara is saying is the truth. Mai had poisoned your tea that night. Katara used her waterbending to remove the poison,” Iroh added, squeezing his nephew’s hand. 

“It doesn’t make any sense. Why would Mai want to kill me, Uncle?” Zuko insisted, shaking his head as if to reaffirm it to himself. “I think something got… muddled with all this.”

“Zuko… I know you might need a moment to let this all… digest, but it’s been ten days now. We know it was Mai. We… we’re certain. She admitted it, Zuko,” Katara explained softly.

“I don’t… but why? Why would she try to do that?” asked Zuko, stupefied by the explanation. “I mean… it doesn’t even make any sense. I know we had some issues, but… kill me ?” Zuko said with another dark chuckle. “I never thought she’d… I mean… we weren’t the most… but… kill me? I don’t understand.” 

“There’s still a lot left to understand,” Iroh answered. “We were all shocked by Mai’s actions and very hurt by them.”

“And, Izumi…? She… she knows about all this?” Zuko asked trepidly. The thought of Izumi going through this – and without him at her side to comfort her – made him especially sick to his stomach. 

“Yes, Izumi knows,” whispered Katara as she put a hand on Zuko’s back in comfort. Zuko didn’t need to hear just yet how Izumi walked in on it all and how without her, he likely wouldn’t be here right now. “She’s been very brave, Zuko… we’ve all been here trying to do everything we can to be here for her. Your uncle hasn’t left her side.” 

Anger began to boil in the pit of Zuko’s stomach alongside the growing ache in his chest as all of this swirled hectically in his head. Tears also slowly began to fill Zuko’s eyes as a semblance of what happened began to slither in. It was a mix of heartbreak and rage boiling at the surface, but the kettle wasn’t quite hot enough yet to boil. Only slivers of the reality of what happened were beginning to set in. 

None of it really felt intelligible yet, but Zuko knew from all the pain he’d endured in his life that it had to be merely shock. He wanted to simply laugh it away, dismissing the absurdity of it all. He wanted to wave off his uncle and Katara, and tell them to let Mai startle him by jumping out of the closet. Then, they could all get a good laugh out of this inopportune practical joke done in poor taste. But, deep down, Zuko knew that his uncle and best friend would never tell such a cruel lie, not even as a joke. And, they would never twist things about Izumi. It had to be true and that thought was making it set in more as panic began to fill Zuko’s lungs like water. 

If it was true, then so many things were going wrong. There were so many things to do and solve. There was so much to handle, as fire lord, as a father, and in some twisted sense… as a husband. The disbelief was slowly starting to ebb and be replaced by a sense of urgency, fury, and sheer panic. 

“Izumi… she– that’s… Mai is her mother … I… so where is she? Where is Mai? I still don’t know where my wife is,” Zuko asked frantically. 

“Mai is in the high security prison with round-the-clock surveillance, Zuko. We weren’t going to decide anything, we knew it had to be from you,” Katara assured him, running her hand down his back as she felt him growing more and more understandably upset. 

“Izumi… my poor, poor baby,” Zuko muttered, his hand moving to cover his face as he shook his head, still trying to make any sense of what he was hearing and not let himself fall prey to the rising panic. He needed to focus. Izumi needed him. Whatever was going on, the Fire Nation needed him too. He had to keep his composure. 

“All I wanted was to give Izumi the most normal childhood I could and… I knew… I knew in being heir and a princess she’d never have a normal childhood, but I thought I could give her a happy one at least, a loved one… and now look– look at what’s happened, and I couldn’t stop it. I couldn’t help her,” Zuko rambled as the realization of what this was going to mean for his daughter struck him in live-time.

“My nephew, Izumi is shaken and this will wound her deeply, but she is, overall, a very happy and very loved girl. She knows this,” Iroh said gently as he tried to soothe Zuko. 

“But… but she’ll never… she’ll never be right again,” Zuko choked out, knowing from experience. “This will follow her and hurt her and I… I let this happen somehow. I–” 

“Zuko, no. This is not your fault, Zuko. You were hurt by someone who was supposed to love you. Mai hurt Izumi, not you,” Katara said firmly, trying everything she could to hold back her own tears. This wasn’t her place for them. 

“Why? Why did she do it?” Zuko asked desperately through the lump in his throat as tears finally began to spill and a deep pain started to throb in his chest. “I know I messed things up, but I… I tried to be a good husband. I’d never do anything to hurt her. I wanted her to be happy. I didn’t mean for anything to… she never talked to me… I had no idea she was this upset with me… I didn’t know…” Zuko whispered in a rambled panic, still trying to make sense of it all. It still didn’t feel real. “I would’ve changed… I would’ve done more… I didn’t know… I didn’t– I didn’t know. If there was someone else or something… I would’ve let her divorce me. I–I’m not my father, I–” 

“Zuko, Zuko, no , please don’t blame yourself. This has nothing to do with you or what you did or how you are as a husband. Please, Zuko, please don’t put this on yourself. You did not deserve this, Zuko,” Katara murmured as her hand continued to rub comforting circles on his back. It hurt her to hear him speak like this about himself. Zuko didn’t deserve this repeated pain. He was a good man. 

“How do you know , Katara? I didn’t even know,” Zuko whispered, baffled, as he looked over at his friend. All he wanted in this moment was to go back to sleep. He didn’t want to be cognizant of any of this. He wanted it all to vanish – and if he was hurting, he couldn’t imagine how confused and broken his daughter must feel. Zuko knew she needed him now more than ever and he was going to have to pull himself together to be there for her in full, not broken pieces. 

“Your friend Ty Lee went to speak to Mai in prison, my nephew,” Iroh whispered, rubbing his thumb over Zuko’s hand affectionately. He loathed to tell him this, to hurt him more, but he knew his nephew needed answers. He had a right to know, both as a husband and as fire lord. This did put a very serious threat on his crown. “Mai was working with her father, Zuko. She was working with the New Ozai Society. It was… a political attempt at your life, not a personal one.” 

Zuko again stared at his uncle incredulously. Just when he thought that he couldn’t get any more mystified, the nightmare continued. “Her father’s terrorist organization? She was working with her father’s terrorist organization?” 

“I… I am afraid so, Zuko. I know this is all far too much at once,” Iroh replied. 

“What is wrong with her? Her piece of shit father tried contacting Izumi about joining his group when she was barely nine-years-old . He’s out of his fucking mind,” Zuko hissed through his teeth, sitting up again in anger before he winced. “Is she crazy? She’s fucking crazy!”

Katara helped ease him back down again, but he was now irate. They had both agreed at the time that Ukano was not to be trusted. He had gambled with their daughter’s safety and wellbeing. One thing he always thought they could be on the same page about was protecting Izumi. Zuko was furious that Mai would entangle herself in something tied to that man and that she would dare try to put his father back on the throne. The mix of emotions Zuko was being bombarded with was enough to make his teenage days of banishment feel easy. 

“I know, Zuko. Your uncle sent out troops to search for Ukano as soon as Mai was apprehended,” Katara explained, her hand still on his chest to try to steady him. 

“Does she not know the danger this could put Izumi in? The world!?” Zuko shouted. “My father is not just a political tyrant, but he is the last fucking person alive that someone would want their child around.” 

“Zuko, please, listen to me, Nephew, we all are just as angry and upset as you are–” Iroh began. 

“No, Uncle! No ! She is my wife ! My wife! The mother of my baby!” Zuko said, his voice breaking on his words. “Don’t tell me I need to relax, or calm down… or any of that. This is–” 

“Zuko, we aren’t saying this because we don’t think you’re right in how you feel. We’re worried about you,” Katara said, her hand firmly on his shoulder. 

“You just woke up, Zuko. You’re, of course, worried about Izumi. We are too. But, we’ve also been worried sick about you . We thought you were going to die , Zuko,” Katara said imploringly as withheld tears hung in her eyes. “You just woke up. We don’t want something to happen to you. I will never tell you that you aren’t allowed to be angry and upset, Zuko. But, we just don’t want you to get too overwrought right now because you are still very much recovering.”

“You have a bad heart, Zuko,” Katara murmured after a brief pause. Guilt plagued her for it because she was the one who was meant to have it, but he took that pain in her place. She swallowed thickly before meeting her friend’s gaze, “We can’t lose you, Zuko. I can’t lose you… okay?”

Zuko held his friend’s gaze, softening from his anger at her tender words. He was struck by them and touched, enough to ease the tension in his head if only for a moment. Zuko then took a deep breath before nodding. He knew Katara still felt guilt because he blocked her from getting struck by his sister’s lightning about fifteen years ago, but he had always told her that she had no reason to. It was his battle. Azula had no right involving anyone else. And, for Katara, he’d do it again in a heartbeat and for the price of weaker heartbeats. 

Zuko then inhaled sharply, considering Katara’s words and trying to settle himself down because despite his pride, he knew she was right. And, he knew Katara and his uncle only ever meant well. His teenage self couldn’t have heeded such a call to temper his temper, but in his maturity, he’d learned some restraint. Zuko didn’t want to upset or hurt anyone further. He didn’t need himself in worse shape, either. There was clearly much that needed to be done, learned, and understood. And… Izumi was going to need every piece of him there for her and he had no plans on shorting her. 

Zuko lied back then, closing his eyes as he tried to steady himself. The level to which it all felt twisted between a nightmare and reality was still everchanging. His mind was all over the place and his emotions were torn between playing catch up and refusing to allow him to feel anything at all. It was a triathlon that twisted and turned, and then left him winded.

“I didn’t know she hated me,” whispered Zuko after a steady beat of silence. “I didn’t know… she… she was against my reign. I… I knew she wasn’t super political, but… I thought Mai at least thought I was doing the right thing for our people– for the world.” 

“You are, Zuko,” replied Katara. 

“I don’t know how I could have been so oblivious to it all for years… I just… none of it makes sense,” he whispered, tears welling again as an influx of ambivalent emotions hit Zuko’s head like a jackhammer. 

“We will get to the bottom of this, my nephew. I cannot promise you that it will be easy or that this is in any way okay or that it is not painful, but please, Zuko, please know that you always have us. You always have me and your friends who love you and have sailed across the world to help you,” Iroh said in desperate reassurance. The last thing Iroh wanted was for Zuko to ever feel alone. 

Zuko would never let himself forget that. He remembered feeling entirely alone– being swallowed by it as a child. He was eternally grateful to have his wonderful uncle and his beloved friends at his side. And, he knew they would help him at all costs and that they were there for his daughter, too. He was forever indebted for that. 

“Fire Lady Mai has committed treason against the Fire Nation… against me . I can’t pretend like I understand, but… my wife is now an enemy of the state.” 

Chapter Text

“Goooooood morning, Snoozles and Sparky!” Toph sang as she kicked open Zuko’s bedroom door holding a tray with tea and some danishes. 

Sokka jumped then, lifting his head from the side of Zuko’s bed and wiping the drool from his face. “Huh? What? Assassins? Where?” Sokka yelled, jolting to his feet and pulling his boomerang from its carrier.

“Relax, Sokka, it’s just me. If I was going to kill you, you’d already be dead,” replied Toph as she walked over to a bureau to haphazardly place down the tray, making a jostling rattle. “But, I don’t feel Zuko’s heartbeat. He better not be dead.” 

Sokka put his boomerang back in its holster and rubbed his eyes before glancing around the room. “Where the hell is he?” 

“Sokka, you were the one who was on Sparky duty. Literally, your only job was to make sure he wasn’t murdered or kidnapped,” Toph snapped before running her hand down her face with a groan. 

“Okay! Okay! Well, Zuko’s a grown man, sheesh. I’m sure he’s fine. He just… probably… went off to do… firelording… or something. He’s a stubborn guy and wakes up way too early,” replied Sokka. 

“Sokka, that was literally the problem. Zuko is still recovering. He just woke up yesterday from a coma. He shouldn’t be up and about because he could hurt himself, and he’s too dense to not traipse off anyway,” Toph retorted, throwing her hands up in the air. “Ugh! You literally had one job and you fell asleep on it like you’re fifteen-years-old!” 

“Zuko’s the one acting fifteen if he can’t stay still for a couple hours without a babysitter!” Sokka said with a huff. “Listen, Katara and Aang are just overly-worried about things as usual. I promise you, Fire Lord Frowny is just in his office looking at all the boring paperwork that Katara and I already went through.” 

“He better be, or–” Toph began before footsteps made her pause. 

“He better be what ?” Aang said in interruption as he walked into Zuko’s chambers, standing beside Toph before folding his arms over his chest. “Sokka! Where is Zuko?” 

The ailing husband dressed himself in full fire lord attire for this clandestine meeting. Mai needed to know who she was dealing with and that she had not succeeded in knocking him down. The physician had a cane brought in for Zuko, but he refused to bring it with him. It was bad enough that he was in such a feeble condition. He didn’t want Mai to get any further satisfaction from it. 

Luckily, Sokka was the one watching over him, and Zuko could bring an elephant-horse through the room with bells tied to its tusks without waking him. Once past Sokka, all Zuko had to do was nod towards his guards as he hobbled down the hall. After all, he was still fire lord; he could go where he pleased, (unless one of his friends or Uncle saw him) even if the guards looked at him questioningly. 

As Zuko walked through the achingly-familiar, winding pathway to prison he held his fists clenched firmly at his sides. He couldn’t stop running through the pounding questions in his mind while he dragged himself to the top of the hill. When he had to stop to catch his breath he grunted loudly, blowing smoke from his lungs. This was because of Mai, too. Usually, Zuko could have run up this pathway without having to stop or catch his breath, now he felt like he might have to crawl. But, as he always did, Zuko pushed himself to keep going and made his way to the entrance of the stoney penitentiary. 

Watchguards from the top of the tower beamed a light projected by firebending onto Zuko when alerted by the sudden sound of his huffing. The fire lord simply waved them off, still hunched over and breathing heavily. He refused to let his wife win this round. He was going to get to that cell if it killed him. Though, he darkly figured she would be pleased by that outcome. 

By the time Zuko reached the entryway of the prison tower, he was covered in sweat and leaning against the wall, still aiming to catch his breath. 

“Lord Zuko–” a guard began, her hand outstretched in an offer of assistance. 

“I’m fine,” Zuko dismissed, shaking his head. 

“Are you sure, you look rather pale, your maj–” she replied before being cut off.

“I said I’m fine!” snapped Zuko before catching a glance of the fearful look in the guard’s eye. He softened apologetically then, “Thank you though… Thank you for your concern,” he added. 

The guard bowed in response, handing Zuko a towel to wipe himself down. “She’s in the top tower, Lord Zuko, the highest security beside your fath— Ozai. Do you need assistance getting there?” 

Zuko shook his head, “No, no… thank you,” he said, bowing in return. “I just must speak to her… on my own.” 

The woman nodded in understanding before removing her canteen to hand to him with a small smile. He thanked her before chugging down nearly the entire thing. He knew he was going to need it. 

With further persistence, Zuko slowly and steadily made his way around the seemingly-never ending spiral of stairs. He passed each level of prisoners — from robbers to members of his father’s groups, to former generals convicted of war crimes, to those conspiring to help his father, to finally — the highest security rank at the very top: assassins who worked in the name of Ozai, Azulon, or Sozin. 

Zuko sat down, leaning against the stone wall and allowed himself to cool down and catch his breath before greeting his highest level guards. They were surprised to see him, as everyone knew of his current state. But, they cleared way immediately when Zuko gave the word, whispering amongst themselves as he walked by. 

His footsteps seemed to echo through the cold corridor as he walked to Mai’s cell. It was deadly silent in these chambers. The prisoners were left alone with little more than their own thoughts to keep them company. 

Finally, Zuko spotted his wife. He clenched his fists tightly as he turned to face her and she sat up from the small, ragged cot in the corner of the cell. She looked as though she had seen a ghost — and that was all she ever planned on seeing again of him anyway. 

“ Zuko ,” Mai said, his name catching in her throat like a swallowed gasp in disbelief. Of course he would come here, but for some reason, she hadn’t planned on it. Now her heart was thundering in her chest. She hadn’t thought of having to face him so soon. She hadn’t even known he was conscious. 

“Don’t sound so happy to see me,” Zuko grumbled, his hands shaking at his sides. He had planned such a tirade in his head as he struggled to get up here and now the reality was sinking back in as he looked at her. His wife was sitting there, looking so small, clad in mere rags with her usually-perfect hair unkempt and unruly. Fear was present in her eyes and a desperation he didn’t think he’d ever seen before. Despite it all… it ached seeing her like this and he hated himself for it. 

Mai shot up from her bed, rushing to the bars of the cell to grasp onto. “Zuko, please… I– I know you have every reason to have me executed, but you have to understand I didn’t do this to hurt you, Zuko, I–” 

Zuko shook his head, putting his palm to his forehead as he looked down. “What kind of a stupid thing to…” he mumbled, grunting loudly before turning around. He couldn’t look at her. “You put poison in my tea and held a knife to my throat, Mai.” 

Mai swallowed thickly, clutching the bars so tightly her knuckles went white. She hadn’t a word to say. He knew . And what on Earth could she say to that? 

Zuko felt like his head was ringing. This was the woman whose bed he shared every night for years, whose hand he held as she gave birth to their baby, whose body he moved in, whose finger he slid his ring onto… and she was wearing the same rags as his father for attempting the same crimes. All of this hit like a ton of bricks and he suddenly felt like he couldn’t breathe. Zuko had fought through worse before, though. He would continue to soldier on now. He had to.

“Do you fucking know me at all, Mai? Because I clearly do not know you,” Zuko muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose as he shut his eyes closed tight. “Spirits, my father is in the cell beside you, as is your own. You think I’d have the mother of my child executed? Spirits, my baby has already had to see one of her parents try to kill the other. You think I’d make her have to see that again?”

Mai inhaled sharply, lowering her head before leaning it against the cold bars she clutched. The paranoia of the stoney lonesome had gotten her. She knew deep down Zuko would never hurt her, even though she had tried to hurt him. Her own father had even known that. It was part of why he called their plan foolproof. Her father had said Zuko was too weak to cull even his own traitors. 

Now, all Mai wanted was to pathetically grovel. She wanted so desperately to beg Zuko to tell her how Izumi was doing. She needed to know that her little girl was safe and okay. “Zuko… please… I– I know there’s no excuse for what I’ve done, but tell me Izumi is okay. Please.” 

Zuko scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief at the audacity of his wife to ask such a question. “You’re crazy if you think I’m letting you get to be privy to even a glimpse of Izumi’s life ever again,” he snapped flatly. 

“Zuko—!” Mai cried in response, her head shooting up from where she’d hung it. She clutched the bars more tightly, leaning in closer as her eyes screamed and pleaded louder than her words ever could. 

He hadn’t thought he’d ever heard such emotion from Mai in his life. It left a sharp pang in his chest, but he would stand unwavering on this. This was about protecting Izumi. Zuko quieted a moment then, his voice softening as he replied, “I’m sorry, Mai. I just don’t trust you anymore.” 

“Zuko… I would never hurt Izumi,” Mai muttered, shaking her head as tears began to form and a sense of panic started to set in. Had she just lost her daughter forever? 

“I can’t know that. I can’t believe you,” he replied simply with a shrug, shaking his head. “What you’ve done to her through this is so much worse than what you’ve done to me. The fact that you didn’t have the foresight to see that is enough for me to know I must protect her… even from you.” 

“It was my father , Zuko. He got in my head – he convinced me that your reign would endanger Izumi! I did this for her!” Mai pleaded, her knuckles turning white as she gripped the bars. “You know what that’s like!” 

“When I was sixteen, Mai,” Zuko replied flatly. “You tried to kill me , Mai. I know I’m far from perfect, but this is about the safety of my daughter .” 

“ Our daughter,” Mai snapped. 

“Izumi will be the judge of that,” Zuko said, inhaling sharply, wincing a moment. Everything still hurt: his ribs, his lungs, his chest, his head, and – his heart. 

The answer left Mai dumbfounded, though she had no rebuttal to it. Zuko was right. It would be up to Izumi now really. Her daughter would choose if she wanted her still, could forgive her, and the only voices in her head would be those of Zuko and those biased towards him… except Ty Lee. She might still have Ty Lee. “I do love her, Zuko.” 

“Did you ever love me ?” asked Zuko, though he felt pathetic as soon as the words left his mouth. He averted his gaze in shame at the vulnerability of it. It made him feel small, but the question had pounded his head incessantly since he’d learned of what his wife had done. “I know I wasn’t the… love of your life or anything, but… I thought… I thought our marriage meant something.” 

Mai released her grip on the bars and also stared down at the stones on the floor. For some reason, face-to-face like this, she didn’t have it in her to lie. She never was as good as Azula. If she had been, Zuko probably wouldn’t be here. Azula would have been able to finish the job. “When we were kids, I-I think so… I… I do care about you, Zuko.”

Zuko’s eyes watered and he kept his gaze pinned aside – anywhere but in Mai’s direction. He scoffed at her reply. “Yeah, okay.” 

“I wish I could take it all back or fix this. Really… I do,” Mai murmured, folding her arms over her chest. 

Zuko pinched the bridge of his nose. That was rich, really. Of course Mai wished that now – it would get her out of prison. But, Zuko now had had enough. He needed to be out of this prison. He needed to be far away from her . His heart was breaking into a million pieces as all of her words and the gravity of what she’d done further sunk in. Zuko felt so disposable, so exploited, and so fucking tired. 

“You will never do anything to endanger my child again, do you understand me?” Zuko hissed, fighting tears through his resurfaced rage. “You will not speak to her or try to correspond with her. You will not hurt her anymore. Don’t you dare try asking anyone who might visit you to try to get letters to her or anything of the sort. I will find out and I will not hold back. Do you understand?” 

Mai stared at Zuko in quiet, awestruck disbelief, unable to say a word. He’d never spoken to her like that. She’d never felt his wrath targeted towards her or been spoken down to by him like this. It was jarring and enraging. She wanted to scream at him how dare he – who does he think he is? She is his wife! But… she realized she lost the right to really. It made sense he would speak to her life this. 

“I said do you fucking understand?!” shouted Zuko, tears spilling over as he slammed his fist of fire against the stone wall. 

Mai jumped in response, startled. The harshness and vitriol was palpable and it rattled her to the core. “Y-Yes! Yes, Zuko, all right!” 

Zuko exhaled shakily then, putting his hands to his face, overwrought by everything. He steadied himself as his hands slowly dragged down his face, clearing his tears over his red, puffy face. “I’ll see you at your trial.” 

Mai turned around then, walking back to her flimsy, cell bed. Her heart was racing in her chest as she felt she needed some plan now. She had underestimated Zuko to a degree. She had forgotten his anger when crossed. She had forgotten that it could even be turned on her if pushed enough. 

Zuko took his leave to go then, shaking from head to toe. He pulled the door shut behind him, moving the large lever to lock over it while his hands trembled. It was then he heard a croaky, scratched laughter echo from the hall. It was a familiar laugh that as of late only turned up in his nightmares. 

“Don’t you want to come tell your father all about it, son? After all, I’ve been through much of the same thing myself. It’s not so easy to have a loyal wife as fire lord, now is it, Zuko?

Chapter Text

Zuko had grown to hold a level of acceptance with his past at his mature age. And usually, he would just keep walking at the sound of such blatant taunts by his father. But this time, in the heat of such rattling anger and in a flicker of such vulnerability, the fire lord snapped around on his heel and turned towards the former’s cell. 

Zuko’s head was already ringing with anger. His fists were balled at his sides and he could hardly hear anything over the sound of his own thoughts shouting over each other. What Mai had done to his psyche had pierced him far worse than any dagger could.

He still was limping as he marched towards his father, but Zuko hardly noticed any of the pain his neurons were surely firing off. It was all eclipsed by his scathing anger and nonstop inner mantra from his wife’s betrayal. Besides, Zuko refused to give his father any satisfaction by showing the sorry state he’d found himself in. He knew the sad excuse for a man was already reveling in schadenfreude. 

Ozai slowly revealed his yellowed teeth as his adult son entered the room. His hands, which were so bony they appeared webbed, moved to fold into his lap as he sat up straight. “Ah, there he is, the mighty fire lord himself,” Ozai said, continuing to wear his smirk. “The apple of my eye, Fire Lord Zuko .” 

These sorts of games no longer worked on Zuko. He didn’t bother to respond to his father’s chiding greeting, only stared back at him icily. “If only the avatar held the power to revoke speech instead of firebending.” 

Ozai chuckled, moving his weathered hand to reach for a cup of now-cold tea. “See, you’re quick with the quips, just like your old man.” 

“If you try corresponding with her, I won’t hesitate to contact the International Council to convene a hearing to sentence you for war crimes,” Zuko said flatly. 

“Ah, more showings of becoming just like me. I’m almost proud, Zuko. What a lovely threat you’ve postured. There’s no need for wielding your might against me, sire. I’ve no interest in talking to your lovely wife. To be quite honest with you, she always bored me,” Ozai replied, taking a sip of his tepid tea. 

“Great, then there shouldn’t be any issue. I’ll be going now,” Zuko said with a huff, turning around. 

“Though… I’d worry she may be the one to contact me… or Governor Ukano. He was crafty enough to get word out all over to my loyalists and I hadn’t a thing to do with it,” Ozai added, grinning from behind his cup. 

Zuko clenched his fists at his side. He hated that his father knew just how to lie traps by dropping bits of crucial information to hold ransom. He turned his head, glaring at the withering, old man from over his shoulder. “And, I suppose you wouldn’t have any knowledge on just how he did that either, would you?” 

“That depends… would you be willing to heat up some tea?” Ozai replied, swishing what remained of his tea around in his tin cup before looking back up at his son with a knowing smile. 

Zuko gritted his teeth at his father’s intentionally insipid request before taking a deep breath and turning fully around to face him. Zuko always wore his heart on his sleeve, but he tried to wear it closer to – maybe, well – his forearm around his father because he knew nothing satisfied that man more than getting under his skin. 

Zuko didn’t say a word, he simply lit a small flame in his palm and plastered on a smile while taking the cup through the iron bars. Lighting that flame and standing outside a cell were two things Ozai would never get to know again. At the very least, he’d always have that over him. 

“There,” Zuko said after finishing heating the stale tea and handing it back to his father. “Now… go ahead, talk.”

Ozai smirked, swirling the liquid around again in his cup as he watched the steam rise from it. “You’ve these guards on such a tight leash with me, but you’ve failed to instill fear in them if they fraternize with the other prisoners. It was a pretty big oversight, but I expect nothing less from such a fumbling leader. Ukano charms them, befriends them… they get him ink, parchment… he tells them he’s writing letters to old friends he misses and seals them in tamper-evident wax. The guards permitted the correspondence, and well… of course, the fire lord being the merciful leader he is, even allows the harshest penitentiary in the land to hold visitation hours.” 

Zuko inhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of his nose before shaking his head. “All he needed was Mai though. You’re wasting my time.” 

“You think Mai alone was going to get things back in line for Ukano? She hardly showed interest in reforming the country. Her only concern was that sniveling spawn of yours. He needed stationed loyalists ready at every corner,” retorted Ozai simply, waving his hand. “He essentially was going to act as regent, whispering in your wife’s obviously impressionable ear. She just does the man’s bidding. You didn’t pick your queen nearly as well as I did, my son. This is what happens when you delude yourself with notions of romance instead of pragmatic arrangements. Though, I suppose, in the end we both wound up in the same boat.” 

Zuko scoffed, thinking to himself that the only boat he’d ever wound up on in relation to his father was the sorry state of a ship he’d sent him out on during his exile. “You’re alone. I’m not.” 

“Ah, but you are wifeless, are you not?” replied Ozai, tilting his head towards his son, enjoying every moment of his anguish. “Mai took a page right from your dear mother’s book. The women are vulpine these days.” 

Zuko glared at his father. “Mom did what she did to protect me.” 

“That’s what your wife claims too, isn’t it? She says she was poisoning you to protect her child, no?” Ozai retorted, sipping his tea as he shrugged. “Whether or not that’s true in both our situations was subjective.” 

“You literally told your father you were going to kill me. How is that subjective?” Zuko scoffed. 

“I told him that because it was what he ordered of me. That doesn’t mean I was going to do it. Your mother came along with a plan to poison her own kin, and the fire lord himself, to save her pathetic offspring. Your woman did the same. She poisoned the fire lord, her kin, to preserve her offspring,” Ozai explained as he tapped the edge of his tin cup with his overgrown, jagged nail. 

Zuko clenching his fists at his side. The memory of his mother and the ache in his chest knowing she was gone was dredging up even more grief. “What happened to her?” 

“I had her poisoned. Ukano delivered the powdered parcel for me.  It served the whore right for what she’d done to me, traipsing off with a peasant after I’d foolishly spared her life,” Ozai replied matter-of-factly. 

Zuko had always known deep down that his father was responsible for his mother’s death. Even as a child, he’d presumed that his mother was dead and that his father had done it. He’d figured his father was the one who killed his grandfather too, though it came to light that had been his mother’s doing – for him. To save him. 

But, Zuko was unable to save his mom in return. He’d failed her. He was too late. “While… while I was fire lord? She was alive?”

Ozai smirked, knowing what he’d done – how he’d wounded his son. “Yes, of course. It was after you’d had your father-in-law imprisoned with your biological father for good measure, so you were well into your lovely, revolutionary reign.” 

Zuko stood there with a blank stare. His eyes were glued to the bricks behind his father’s head. He felt like the wind had been knocked out of him. His chest was tight and the world billowed in a blur around him. He could have saved her if he’d been faster, if he’d found her in time. 

“Now you’ve locked up so many of your own family… your father, your sister, your father-in-law, and your wife. And, she wanted you gone? You’ve got more aligning with me than you’ll ever let yourself admit, boy,” Ozai said with a small chuckle before taking a final swig of his tea. 

Zuko only half heard the words coming from his father’s mouth. They now swirled in the background, like a distorted, warbled record. He could hardly breathe. Ozai continued to gloat at him, but Zuko couldn’t hear a thing. He stood up and slowly began to leave his father’s cell. Everything felt like it was moving in slow motion even as he rushed to get out of there. The place felt suffocating, but the real asphyxiation was from his own mind. 

“Lord Zuko? Your highness, are you alright?” a guard asked as Zuko stumbled out of the cell. 

Zuko waved him off, nodding in a clear lie as he continued to try to flee from the prison. He continued through the stony corridors and caught glimpse of something he figured must be a hallucination. Albeit, a bizarre one. Zuko backed up slowly, his face furrowed as he then peeked through the nook to Mai’s cell.  

It was there, plain as day, Zuko saw Ty Lee kissing Mai through the gap in between two bars. He held his head as it pounded and opened the door with his free hand. “What the hell!” 

Ty Lee jolted backwards, her eyes bulging open wide as her mouth flopped open and closed like a fish out of water. Mai, too, looked up at him as if she’d seen a ghost. “Zuko, I–” 

“What? What is this?” Zuko said airily, shaking his head as he held it now with both of his hands. “What the fuck?” 

“Zuko, please, I– I know this looks bad,” Ty Lee choked out in a panic. “Zuko, I– I didn’t have anything to do with what happened. I would never–” 

“Ty Lee had no idea, Zuko. She came to yell at me the night it happened even. Don’t blame–” Mai began, looking at her lover imploringly as Ty Lee looked dumbstruck. 

“Fuck, I- I know. I didn’t think–” Zuko began, shaking his head. “I don’t even– I don’t care right now. Fuck!” 

Those words hurt Mai and felt herself shrink. What did he mean he didn’t care? 

“Zuko, let me help you,” Ty Lee said, standing up quickly from sitting and leaning against her palms. “You- You shouldn’t be out, Zuko. You aren’t well enough to be going around like this. You don’t look good.” 

“You shouldn’t be here either, Ty Lee! Spirits!” Zuko snapped, pushing her away as she scrambled to try to help him. “Leave me alone. I- I’m going back. I’m going to my daughter, just– just leave me alone.” 

Ty Lee looked on in worry as Zuko backed away, clearly stumbling as he pushed his way out the door. He continued, gripping the rail as he went as fast as he could down the winding stairs without falling over. Zuko was desperate to be out of that fucking place full of neverending nightmare betrayals. Finally, he hit the ground floor and shoved his way past guards who called out, eager to assist him. Zuko ignored them all. 

He pressed onward, ignoring the dirt path and opting to go through the shortcut that wove through the weeds. Zuko felt everything build and build inside him like a pressure cooker about to blow as he trekked on in the tall grass, out of breath. He had the route memorized from the times he visited his uncle in prison as a teenager. Even in his hazy state of mind, he knew the way like the back of his hand — and even as his foot caught in the raised root of a tree, causing him to fall forward. 

It was then that Zuko finally crumbled.

Alone in the dark, he clutched the dirt under his hands and buried his face into his arm on the ground. Silently, on the cool grass, Zuko began to cry. 

He didn’t know how long he had been lying there or if he’d dozed off in the meantime, but Zuko’s head only lifted from his inner fog at the faint sound of a familiar voice calling his name. 

“Zuko! Zuko, is that you? Are you okay? Zuko!” Katara called, running towards him with tears in her own eyes and her hands covered with water aglow. 

“Katara?” said Zuko groggily, struggling to lift himself. 

“Oh, thank Spirits,” Katara said, exhaling with a tearful laugh. She knelt at his side and embraced him gently before sighing deeply. “Zuko, you had us worried sick,” she added, clutching him closer before pulling back to look at him. “Are you hurt?” 

“No, I’m fine. I- I’m sorry I frightened you all. I didn’t mean to be out so long,” Zuko apologized while still dazed and frazzled. 

“What the hell are you doing out here?” Katara asked, shaking her head as she tightened her brows. “You know you’re hurt!” 

“I just needed to confront her,” Zuko admitted, looking at the ground. 

“Now? You had to confront her right now ?” Katara snapped, shaking her head again before noticing Zuko start to choke up. “Hey, hey… it’s okay. You just have to be more careful, Zuko. You know that.”

“No… you’re right. I’m sorry, Katara. I don’t mean to–” began Zuko before he inhaled sharply and pinched the bridge of his nose. “It’s just… I talked to her and… then I stupidly went to my father… and then, Mai and Ty Lee, I saw them, and–” 

“Hey, hey, shh,” Katara said, pulling her dear friend back into her embrace. She only knew half of what he was talking about, but she didn’t need to press him, not right now. She knew Zuko and knew he’d explain when he was ready. “It’s okay… I- I’d need to face her too. It’s okay, Zuko.” 

Zuko buried his head into Katara’s shoulder, fighting tears as he pressed his hands to her back. “You’ve all done so much for me. This was childish of me.”

“Zuko, none of us can even begin to understand how you must be feeling right now. But I can’t imagine that I wouldn’t want to storm over and face her too,” Katara said, rubbing soothing circles on his back. “And, we all know you’d do the same for us without hesitation, Zuko.” 

“Izumi? Is she okay?” Zuko asked, pulling back to look at his dear friend. “I didn’t mean to be gone so long. I shouldn’t have scared her. She’s going through it worse than me. I need to be there for her.” 

“Izumi is fine, Zuko. We didn’t tell her you weren’t in bed because we knew you weren’t far. You’re an amazing father, Zuko,” Katara assured him earnestly. It was one of the things she’d always admired in him. Ever since Izumi was born, despite Zuko’s deep-seated fears, he was an incredible father. It seemed intuitive to him, too. There were no mountains he wouldn’t move or oceans he wouldn’t cross for that girl. That made Mai’s claims all the more incredulous. 

  Zuko gave Katara a small smile in quiet gratitude for her words. She knew he worried about that, and Katara always knew just what to say. Talking to her had always been as easy as lighting a flame in his palm. “I should get back to her — and Uncle... and everyone.” 

“We will,” Katara replied, “But… first, why don’t we take a bit of the scenic route. It’ll be easier on you and… I think they can manage another small while.”