Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

-I am not at all certain this was a good idea.
-Don’t complain, Zuko! - Aang smiled at him, amused:- Your guards have been a bit overwhelming lately....
On that, the young Lord of the Fire could not fight back, so he only watched the bustling market of Ba Sing Se, the people passing by without stopping.
-Katara is waiting for us at the noodle shop. We should hurry up! Did you hear that Kuei is having a feat tomorrow? - Aang preceded it by a few steps.
Dressed so informally, it didn’t seem that they should be there for diplomatic matters; But it didn’t matter.
The sun was slowly setting, colouring the sky a lively orange, while a light breeze refreshed the air.
Zuko had missed all that normality, which had disappeared since the attacks on his life had become excessively frequent. Although he would probably complain again, he was grateful to Aang for dragging him out.
Although he wasn’t sure the royal guards would be as cheerful when they noticed his absence.
He watched all the people walk, groups of friends go for a walk, he had once lived among them.... and then a familiar face appeared in the crowd.
He had to assume a really surprised expression, because Aang noticed it and strutinized him:- hey Zuko, what...?
And here’s the answer: a brunette girl with big green eyes was heading towards them with an expression very similar to Zuko's.
She was really Jin, the young fire lord thought, as she joined them.
-Lee! - she greeted him with a shy smile:- It’s been a long time since I saw you! I thought you had moved!
He didn’t respond immediately, looking for a sensible answer, but he came up with a:-uh....
- I’m Jin, do you remember me? - she asked, misinterpreting his hesitation... Which continued, as soon as Jin shifted his gaze to Aang or, rather, to his tattoos.
-for the spirits! - she exclaimed:- but you are ...the avatar!
The boy smiled at her, giving a rather curious look at Zuko:- It’s an honor to meet you, Jin.
Zuko wanted to sink, while Jin turned to him, and started asking him questions.
-Are you still working the circus? How did you meet the avatar? Is your uncle okay?
-uuhh.... Jin, I ... -
-yes?
-actually, you see.... - his voice died in his throat as soon as he crossed the green eyes of the waiting girl.
She preceded him:- You’re a firebender, aren’t you?
There was pure calm in her expression. She understood that.
-you peeked. - It was the other one’s response, surprised.
- I was curious. - her admission was accompanied by a smile:- but you’ve really disappeared since then! I heard your uncle came back here, but I never went to see him.
Zuko shrugged his shoulders. Might as well have cleared it up right away, there was no point in continuing that charade.
-Jin, my name isn’t Lee, but...
-FIRELORD ZUKO!
They all turned suddenly towards the source of the commotion. The royal guards, running at breakneck speed, had come right before them and made a brief bow.
- Sir, we are...
-Firelord... Zuko? - Jin blinked a couple of times, then turned to him with her eyes wide open:- you are the...
-that’s... that’s what I was trying to tell you.... - he muttered and tormented his hands:- my name is not Lee.
The guards, motionless in the absence of orders, glanced at Aang, who responded with a shrug and returned to the confrontation.
-oh for..... but....
-uhm...
Jin looked remarkably embarrassed:- I didn’t expect this..... sir...?
- it was... nice to meet you again, Jin. and.... I’m sorry I tricked you. And I was so awful when, um, we went out.
She smiled slightly. That was indeed the Lord of Fire, the person burdened by the fate of the same people who had threatened his life more than once, but he was also Lee, the cute boy in the tea room.
In fact, he was much cuter with longest hair. And, for the spirits, did she really go out with the Firelord?
- I guess... you had your reasons. - A little wider smile sprang up:- Lee, I mean, Zuko, it’s not that you were that awful.
He smiled back, but internally he was really hoping to disappear underground:- well....
-yes?
-anything...
-then, I hope that sooner or later we will see each other again, FireLord L-Zuko.- Jin shrugged her shoulders and nodded goodbye to Aang and the confused guards, then turned again to Zuko.
-I.. I hope so. Goodbye, Jin.
She really wanted to hug him, but she felt intimidated by his title. She missed that feeling she had that night they went out.
However, she greeted him with a smile and felt his gaze follow her until she turned the corner.
She was really happy to see him again.
Really.
As soon as the girl disappeared, Aang joined his friend with curiosity.
- So, when you were here in Ba Sing Se....
-Aang...
-...you went out with a local girl? oh.... - the other boy finished.
Zuko ignored him completely and turned to the guards who had not spoken.
-go back to the palace. You have a free evening. - he ordered curter than he wished.
-but, sir..... you... -
The attempt was rejected by Zuko, who declined the complaint with a gesture of his hand.
The two guards looked into each other’s eyes, then turned with little conviction and walked away, glancing at their lord.
-Two days from now, and the whole fire nation will know of this story... - Aang commented, but immediately noticed that the friend had become thoughtful.
-hey Zuko, what’s up?
Zuko squinted slightly:- You know, Aang, this is really weird....
-weird? What do you mean?
- Well, unexpected things have happened since I set foot here in the Earth Kingdom... - Zuko passed his hand over his neck with his eyes lost:- listen a bit.....

Chapter Text

The caravan began to slow down at sunset, when the right-hand wheel of the carriage of the Firelord jumped out without warning.
-it’s a problem, and not a small one. - admitted Suki, as the Firelord came out of the carriage.
Indeed, it was a problem. Their already slow journey to Ba Sing Se, where they were expected by the Earth King, would once again be blocked.
Zuko snorted annoyed:- we will stop in the nearest village. There is little to do.... They will have a few more wheels to give us.
-i hope so. - Suki consulted with the caravan leader, a middle-aged man from the Earth Kingdom.
He joined them as a guide when they arrived in Chin after a diplomatic visit to the South Pole and until that moment he had proved an excellent addition.
In fact, in half an hour, they managed to glimpse the village in question.
And Zuko had a thud in his heart.
-but that’s.... - he murmured. Of course it was Lee’s village. He was stupid not to even recognize the road, but now he remembered it clearly. And he wasn’t sure he wanted to stop there anymore.
-something wrong? - Suki asked, courteous as usual.
- it’s just... I’ve been here before. A long time ago.
-really?
-Yes.... It was on my trip with my uncle to Ba Sing Se... I mean, actually the part where I left him. I ended up in this village, where... -it stopped:-... I’m afraid I left a little mark.
Suki didn’t try to ask any more questions and he was grateful for that.
One problem remained: they had to travel a long way before they found another place to put that wheel.
-Come on. - the Firelord ordered giving up.

The silence fell as the caravan stopped in front of the village.
Something had changed. Everything was more alive than Zuko remembered.
He didn’t even question why, in his mind it was more than obvious.
Suki was a couple of steps ahead of him, looking for a place to buy at least some food.
-there. - Zuko pointed out to her the direction of that emporium he had visited earlier.
Suki nodded, but remained somewhat alert, and waited for him to join her as she headed together.
Perhaps they would have done better to carry on their guide, Zuko thought as he lowered his gaze trying not to meet those of the inhabitants passing by.
-excuse me. - Suki turned to the man in the store:- could you nelp us? We need a wheel for a carriage. As soon as possible.
He did not pay too much attention to the words of the Kyoshi Warrior, moving instead to Zuko’s red clothes.
And then on his face.
He winced.
-wait a minute. You are that prince of the Fire Nation who.... - he received a glare, but Suki intervened immediately, even before Zuko had time to respond.
-hey, bring some respect. He is now the Firelord. We need the wheel that...
-it's true. - She was interrupted by a voice coming from an old lady behind the two:- You’re back, huh?
-The war is over. - replied Suki:- There is no need to be so hostile....
-it’s always the same. For that war, our boys went to fight. Many... never returned. - and there was another man to intervene.
It was Zuko’s turn to block the girl, there was no point in continuing. Those people were not only angry with the Fire Nation- they embodied that hatred in him, the mysterious stranger who had beaten those bullies, the prince of the Fire Nation. It didn’t matter what he did next.
-I’m sorry. - he just said.

Lee hadn’t come home yet, but he knew his mother was waiting for him.
When Daichi came to meet him claiming that the Firelord was there, and that the situation was becoming interesting, at first he really thought of avoiding all that chaos.
And yet, a little voice in his head told him it wouldn’t be polite. Also because he knew him, the Firelord.
He knew what he’d done.
And he was sad. He had been stupid.
Daichi took him immediately into the crowd gathered in the square:- Pass behind, otherwise you will not see anything!
Lee quickly slipped among all those angry adults until he saw the figure of the Firelord, and gasped.
It really was him! He immediately recognized Zuko’s scar, and also the dao swords. But why was he there?

Zuko flinched a little at the accusations, glaring at the inhabitants.
-you are right. - he quietly admitted:- We have torn you very much. And no one is going to deny it.
-And it’s good, you ashmaker! - an old woman shouted in front of Lee.
He bit his lip, he couldn’t blame her. But the Fire Lord had helped his brother, as far as he knew.
He did it despite Lee mistreating him when he risked everything to save him.
And as soon as Toshi, the man who had started the whole situation, went on the verbal attack again, Lee felt the need to intervene.
-Wait, Toshi.- They all turned to look at him. A strange flicker passed into the eyes of the fire lord when he noticed who that voice was.
-don’t blame him. He helped us against Gow! And how did we repay him? By throwing him away!! He’s not evil. He is not the Nation of Fire that has separated our families! So- he stared at the man much higher than him:- why persecute him?
He didn’t wait for Toshi to answer to run to Zuko.
-you brought my brother home. - he simply added:- As I treated you, I did not deserve it. But thank you. - he smiled and bowed.
-I..... - Zuko didn’t know what to say. He never expected Lee to forgive him:- ... I had to.
-Thank you then! - Lee extended his smile:- How about coming to dinner with me tonight? So you can meet Sensu!!
-well, I don’t know if....
Suki approached:- Firelord, it will still take a while to repair the wheel....
-Come on! -Lee grabbed his hand:- You must know Sensu!

Every day they were the same sort of cave that the soldiers of the Nation of Fire insisted on calling "prison".
Sensu suffered.
He hated standing still, he hated being caught, he hated even more being a cause of suffering for his family.
He expected the battle that his enemies had foretold and, along with it, the death of all of them was imminent.
But time was passing.
Someone came claiming that Ba Sing Se had fallen.
-Ba Sing Se!- his friend Daichi exclaimed:- We are over. The Fire Nation has won.
And among all those young prisoners there was silence.
But hope, and everyone knew it, never faded.
Between those cold walls, they were waiting for death, it was true, but that strange solidarity that is created in times of greatest need kept them united, safe from all.
Then one day the metal door that blocked the entrance of the cave had opened.
Only a glimmer of light came out, but Sensu was dazzled, and then surprised, seeing the expression of the enemy soldier throwing open the doors.
He was torn, he noticed.
All the prisoners looked at each other in amazement when even their enemies began to bring them blankets.
Blankets! Sensu hadn’t seen them in too long.
-what happened? - he asked as soon as the soldier handed him one.
-the war is over. - he was a boy his age. He seemed as surprised as he was.
-Did the avatar win?
- and not only him... - the boy helped him to get up:- the Firelord was laid. Now it is his son, who helped the Avatar, to be our ruler. He ordered him to free the prisoners at the front.
Sensu just couldn’t hold back his joy:- Are we... free?
-yes. - the boy seemed sorry for his condition:- and soon you will receive something.
Sensu did not understand those words until one by one all the prisoners were summoned.
The commander of the Fire Nation regiment handed each one a bag of coins enough to settle a field or a farm, asking everyone the same strange question
-are you the brother of a boy named Lee?
Sensu was amazed. They were looking for his brother? What could he have done...?
-yes, but there are many Lee.... -
-Sensu? -
-yes, that’s my name, but why...?
The commander, without even looking him in the eye, handed him a bag of coins and sent him away with a angry gesture.
Only when he reached his comrades again did he notice how much money they were. Much more than the ones Daichi had just shown him!
He immediately sought out the kind soldier who had previously given him the blanket to ask him for explanations, but he shrugged.
-direct orders from the fire lord. Find Sensu, Lee’s brother, and deliver that money.
Sensu sincerely did not understand. Nor did he understand when, finally free, he found his father waiting for him. They returned home together.

Sensu had almost finished working when, looking up at the entrance to the farm, he saw Lee with a boy he had never seen followed by a female figure.
What was your brother up to? He brought people home like this without warning?
-Sensu! - Lee ran towards him, dragging the other boy, wearing dark red clothes.
Fire nation.
-Sensu, I want you to meet a friend! - the boy looked at him, but he could not get his eyes out of the showy scar:- this is the fire lord Zuko.
-the... what? - Senses wide open:- you.... Lee ..
-It’s a pleasure to meet you. - Zuko seemed a little embarrassed:- and see that you’re safe and sound.
Now Sensu understood everything .... the order of the Lord of Fire, the extra money.... Lee knew him.... But why didn’t he ever mention it?
-I.... I am grateful to you, Firelord.- he finally said, nodding a bow, but the person who had indirectly saved his life blocked him.
- it was the least I could do....
-hey Sensu, I thought I’d invite the fire lord to dinner. - Lee stepped in without restraint:-What do you think?
-that would be an honour. - that was the simple answer.
Zuko protested, he didn’t want to disturb them again, but Suki whispered to him:- Zuko, didn’t you hear? It would be an honor for them.
-you spent too much time with Sokka.- he hissed.
-So?
-well, I guess that....
- great! - Lee started dragging him back to the farm.

Contrary to his expectations, Sela and Gansu were very kind to him when their children explained the situation to him.
-Maybe it would be better if i went back to the caravan. - suggested Suki while Sela was stirring soup.
-stay here! You’re the one who got me into this! - Zuko replied, looking out of the corner of his eye, Lee showed him new techniques with swords.
-don’t be so grumpy.you’re enjoying it
And on Zuko’s face was painted the shadow of a smile.

Chapter Text

Song woke up early that morning because she had to go into town to buy things for her mother.
She sincerely hoped it would take a short time, but since a diplomatic delegation from the Fire Nation arrived the previous morning, the entire village was in turmoil.
It was whispered (or rather, her friend Shui claimed it was) that in this delegation headed to Ba Sing Se there was even the Firelord.
She wished to stay away from there while she opened the door to go out the house.
But as soon as her eyes adjusted to the sunlight outside, she noticed something that wasn’t supposed to be there.
An ostrich horse was quietly burning the grass in her garden.
-What are you doing here? - Song asked as she approached. It had probably run away from some farm and accidentally reached her house.... She should have returned it.
But then, stroking its head, her hand stuck on what looked like a card.
-"With the most sincere apologies, the Firelord" - she read aloud.
Song opened her mouth in surprise. There must have been a mistake.
Why else would the Firelord have left an ostrich horse there with his personal excuses?
If she was already thinking about finding the owner, she was now even more convinced.
She would return it to fix that obvious mistake.
Even though internally she was afraid to approach the nation’s soldiers by fire....She suppressed that thought.

--
The village was in turmoil when she arrived.
Everyone was busy: tsomeone was talking, others were buying fruit at the market.... Fruit.
She was supposed to buy some before she returned the ostrich horse, so she walked up to a stall full of big red apples,
Some of them were buggy, so Song patiently analyzed them until, distracted in grabbing one, she bumped into someone.
- Sorry! - they both exclaimed in unison when they turned around.
Song gasped: he was a young man, with yellow gray eyes and clearly wearing the Fire Nation military uniform.
Like those soldiers from long ago.
-I’m sorry, I was unfocusedr - he replied with a warm-heartedness veiled with embarrassment, bowing in the manner typical of his nation.
-It doesn’t... matter.... - It’s been a long time since she found herself near a person from the fire nation, but she couldn’t help but seize that opportunity.
-forgive me, but is it true that the Firelord is here? - she asked with a little shyness.
-yes. - confirmed the soldier immediately.
-Here, I must return this ostrich horse that arrived at my house by mistake....
The soldier looked at her for a moment, then shook his head:- I don’t think it’s a mistake. The Firelord has ordered expressively to bring this ostrich horse to that house.
-I don’t understand why. - Song admitted.
- I could... get you a meeting with him, if you want to clarify...
-really? I’d be grateful, um....
-Huan.
-Thank you, Huan-Song smiled at him, relieved. After all, the people of the fire nation were not so bad.
Huan took her to the door of the Mayor’s house, where he spoke to the guards for a moment before signaling her to follow him inside.
-he is free. - announced:- you’re lucky.
She nodded, following him upstairs, where there were two girls with a strange makeup and a fighting uniform, who were playing Pai Sho.
-Sorry... - Huan intervened:- This girl should talk to the Firelord about the ostrich horse business.
One of them, with a large braid tied to the back of her head, nodded brightly, then jumped up and ran to open a door.
- I don’t want to disturb.... - Song murmured, but then a strangely familiar voice came out of the next room.
-Never mind, let her in.
The girl beckoned her to enter and Song performed, opening the sliding door.
The Firelord was sitting at a desk, and he looked really young, then he looked up at her.
That scar on his face.... But that was....
Song opened her eyes:- Lee...!

-Song!. - Zuko jumped up instantly.
Although he suspected he would see Song again, he did not expect the girl announced to him by Ty Lee to be her.
She was much more confused. Lee was the.... Firelord? It was absurd. Lee had been burned by the Fire Nation.
Like her.
-Song.- He repeated embarrassed:- Did not... you receive the ostrich horse?
-What? Oh yes, of course, sir. - she answered immediately:- but... it was not necessary-
He felt silent, not knowing what to say, and Zuko felt more guilty. As soon as he arrived in that village, he had hurried to buy an ostrich horse, thinking to immediately repay Song, but indirectly had put her in a very embarrassing situation.
-I owed you...... I stole the previous one.
-... can I...ask you something? - she asked shyly.
-of course!
-How is it possible that you...?
Zuko blinked, looking for a sensible answer, just to sigh.
- I am grateful for the help you gave me and my uncle in that.... Delicate moment. We were strangers, but you did not hesitate to welcome us. And I stole your ostrich horse. I’m so sorry- Zuko bowed with a penitent look.
-Never mind.... I mean, I saw you steal it. - Song admitted.
-then why didn’t you stop me...?
Song thought about it. Honestly, she didn’t know. She had felt sad, disappointed that she had been betrayed so much by someone to whom she had shown such kindness.
-.. maybe, I knew you would need more than I could.... - she concluded:- but what you told me.... your father... the scar....
-uhm. - Zuko blushed slightly:- well, technically, it was true.... Even if said quite badly.... sorry?
Song smiled:- You don’t really have to keep apologizing like that. It... was a surprise, Lee... Zuko. A pleasant surprise. Now, for the ostrich horse....
- Hold it, please!
-but...
-it’s a gift. - said Zuko:- and then, if I took it back to the seller after I stressed him out an hour to find the best one.... I think he would react a bit badly. - he added embarrassed.
-well... then...

Huan volunteered to accompany Song home an hour later when she and Zuko said goodbye.
-uh,- commented Ty Lee entering the room:- this place releases a very positive aura.
Zuko sighs:- if you say so....
-you know, just out of curiosity..... Who was she?
-someone I met again after so long...

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-wow. - commented Aang:- Isn’t it a little weird that all of this had happened within a week?
- That’s what I said at the begging! - Zuko replied harshly, causing a laugh from his friend.
-But it’s nice that you could meet all those people again!
-well, yes..... - he admitted.
Aang smiled again, before shouting:- Come on, Katara has been waiting for us for a while! I can’t tell her this story!
-hey! - Zuko opened his eyes and tried to reach his friend:- You can not go and tell everyone about this.
- I can’t hear you! You’re too far away
-Aang....! - Zuko shook his head:- What the heck...