Chapter Text
“I’ve a new recruit for you, Lee.”
The hour before Zuko’s shift was always calm before the storm. He would sit across from June at the empty bar, and the only noise in the room would depend on whether either of them felt particularly chatty; usually, he would focus on the familiar burn of his baijiu shots, and June would wipe down counters and organize the rows of bottles lined up beneath the bar.
“Another eighteen-year-old little girl who’s saving up to go to Ba Sing Se university next semester?” Zuko muttered as he ran his finger along the rim of his shot glass.
The low lighting of the lanterns accompanied by the smell of the musty, aging wooden boards that lined the walls of the club almost made the empty establishment feel homey; perhaps the musk could be considered one of the few charms of the lower ring.
“Twenty,” June corrected, and Zuko could feel her dark eyes boring into his skull. “And she’s a real cutie. Water Tribe girl. Do me a favor and keep this one from running off - she’ll be good business.”
“I hope I can protect my daughter from people like you,” Zuko grumbled, though his words lacked any real bite.
June chuckled, and Zuko finally met her eyes. “If your daughter wants to follow in daddy’s footsteps, good for her. Hopefully she inherits your flexibility.”
Zuko grit his teeth, “She’s six!”
“Alright, alright, calm down. It’s a joke,” June replied with a roll of her eyes and dismissive flick of her wrist. Zuko stared at her with a cold glare, and she maintained unflinching eye contact with him. “Her name is Katara. You know the drill - give a rundown on safety procedures and wardrobe, show her a way around the pole, lap dance, the usual. Let her hang with the crowd tonight, keep her away from Jet as much as possible so he doesn’t try to mess with her. I can’t lose another one from his drama.”
“Jet’s not my responsibility,” Zuko insisted with a roll of his eyes. “If he’s such a problem, why don’t you just fire him?”
“Unfortunately, you, Meili, and Jet are my veterans, so I can’t fire any of you, no matter how much I want to.” June grabbed Zuko’s shot glass and began to refill it with baijiu, “Even though he’s managed to seduce every new girl I find, then I’m the problem for telling them to focus on their work instead of him. Him being such a slut all the time is getting real old.” She slid the glass back toward Zuko, who was now smirking at her. “What’s got you all smiley now?”
“If she wants to make a run for it, I’m not going to stop her.”
“Yeah, well, fuck you. You better pay me for that shot.”
One of the only instances where Zuko cursed his inability to Firebend in public was in the dressing room. Spark rocks were sparse - June would proclaim not to be made of money, in the case somebody should complain - but a candle or two was absolutely necessary lighting for any hair or makeup, and the sun had always set by the time Zuko would be getting ready, rendering the windows useless.
To worsen the inconvenience, Meili would always talk his ear off while he searched the dressing room up and down for some damn spark rocks. She would ramble on about her drama with her friends from school, her mother’s tyrannical rule over their house, her blowing all of her income on retail therapy - he knew nearly every aspect of the woman’s life, as he had listened to her rambling five times a week for the past five years.
Zuko could see why she got more work than him, Jet, or anybody else at the club. She was ditzy, and had a childlike face with round, freckled cheeks atop her dark skin. If it weren’t for the business she brought in by being cute and stupid, her personality would certainly be enough to get her fired.
“I just can’t believe she would do that! It’s like - I’m twenty-three years old, I work full time, and all I ask is for some privacy! She’s such a control freak,” Meili whined, leaning atop the counter as she lined her eyes.
“Uh-huh,” Zuko muttered as he pushed past Lin’s makeup bag in search of spark rocks, only to find more empty counter space. Lin knit her brows and frowned deeply at him, but he did not exchange eye contact with her.
“I’ve been trying to get an apartment, but I’ve been arrested by Dai Li a few times, so I keep getting rejected. Which is so messed up - I’m not the same person I was a year ago, y’know? And there are crimes a million times worse than public intoxication and forgery!” Meili ranted.
Zuko sighed and walked to the back of the dressing room, digging through the piles of lingerie and silk robes.
“This is just a city of prudes. I hate it here so much! I hate Ba Sing Se!” Meili proclaimed, which quickly turned the heads of their coworkers applying their makeup.
Zuko plopped back down beside Meili, running a hand through his hair exasperatedly. “Then why don’t you find somewhere better?” He gestured loosely to her candle, “Can I use that?”
Meili pouted at him, “I’ve heard Gaoling is nice. That’s where I want to move when I find a boyfriend - a real boyfriend, not a sugar daddy, or a creep, or a nerd from school - a husband!” She exclaimed, her eyes lighting up. Zuko narrowed his eyes and stared at her, and after a moment of silence, she perked up, “Oh, my candle? Of course!”
When Zuko reached for her candle, however, she jerked it away - “But first, you’ve gotta answer a question for me.”
“What?”
“Will you help me get a husband, Lee?” Meili asked, batting her eyelashes at Zuko.
“No!” Zuko exclaimed, feeling a light tap on his shoulder. When he turned and snapped, “What?” He was met with wide, ocean blue eyes.
“Hi! I’m Katara,” the young girl introduced herself with a smile, gaze shifting between Zuko and the other workers in the room. Even with the browns, yellows, and greens of her Earth Kingdom robes, she was distinctly Water Tribe: especially with the necklace wrapped around her brown skin and blue gemstone adorning the center. Zuko reminded himself that she didn’t have to hide it like he and Izumi did - after all, it was not taboo to be Water Tribe. “Are you Lee?”
Zuko sighed and ran a hand through his hair, “Yes.” He then stood up, “This isn’t the right place for training,” he informed her stiffly. “Come with me.” He then made way for the door.
Meili gaped at Katara, “You’re so pretty!” She exclaimed. “I love your hair loopies.”
Katara brushed her hair behind her ear with a smile, “Thank you!”
“Are you coming?” Zuko demanded with crossed arms, and Katara flushed, quickly following behind him with her head lowered. “Before anything else, I have to give you a rundown on safety precautions. For this kind of work, it is very important.” He eased his way past the curtains of the doorway and began to climb up a flight of stairs.
“Alright!” Katara said, before continuing with, “But I’m not too worried, really. I know it’s probably standard procedure, but I can protect myself pretty well.”
Even with his back facing her, Zuko could hear all of the naive confidence that came with being twenty. He led her into a private room, which was often utilized for taking things a bit further than just a simple lap dance. The rooms were only shielded from one another with fabric curtains, and although they didn’t allow for any form of real privacy, they managed to make do.
“Sure,” Zuko grumbled as he pushed open the door at the top of the stairs.
Zuko informed her of the general rundown for safety: report anybody who touches her against her consent or uses bending, stay sober enough to maintain self-awareness, not to accept drinks unless they come directly from the bar, use a fake name and refrain from sharing personal details -
“Oh, and don’t go home with anybody. If you want to take things further, that’s what this area is for,” Zuko stated matter-of-factly.
Katara blinked, “This area? You mean...” she glanced down at the couch underneath her and cringed. “Oh, gross,” she groaned, then relocated to the floor.
“If you bring a client here, you are still getting paid your hourly wage. It’s up to you whether you want to do that type of work. It’s not just sex - lap dances, strip teases, whatever,” Zuko continued, pointedly ignoring her disgust. It was entirely justified, however - the couches hadn’t been cleaned once in his entire time working, but he knew June would murder him if he informed Katara of that.
Katara bit her lip and hugged her knees to her chest, “Ah. Okay.”
Zuko felt a slight twinge of guilt at her shift in demeanor. It occurred with nearly every newcomer, especially once they experienced a majority of the clients who visited the establishment - often middle-aged or senior men and women from the Middle Ring, hoping to dip their toes into the sea of vulnerability in a poverty-ridden strip club. It wasn’t always the case, of course, but it was always far more common than amateurs expected. Her being discouraged this early on wasn’t a great sign.
“Are you having second thoughts?” Zuko inquired, perhaps a bit more accusingly than he intended. She just looked like a scared little girl - almost like Izumi when he scolded her for staying up all night doodling.
The defeat in Katara’s eyes seemed to dissipate, “Huh? No, no, of course not! I’m okay,” she responded with a clearly strained smile. “It’s just a lot to take in. New job and all.”
Zuko sat down across from her and crossed his legs, “It takes a lot to work at a place like this. I don’t know what June told you, but I’m sure she made it sound fun, right?” Katara averted her eyes and remained silent. “I’m not here to trick you. You need to be strong in more ways than one. Keep your guard up and make sure you have a way to defend yourself.”
Katara glimpsed back at Zuko, her eyes hardening. “I know what I signed up for,” she replied with a distinct determination.
Zuko gave her a nod. “Did you bring anything else to wear?” He asked. “I have to teach you the basics tonight, and what you’re wearing isn’t going to work.”
Katara’s cheeks visibly flushed. “Oh, yeah. I have... underwear?”
“That works,” Zuko replied with a shrug. “Meili can also train you instead, if that’s more comfortable.”
Katara chuckled weakly and rubbed the back of her neck, “Um...”
“By the way, I’m not into... you. Women. I’m not into women,” Zuko spoke bluntly. Katara visibly relaxed, and Zuko continued with, “So you don’t have to worry about that. But I still understand if you would prefer somebody of the same sex.”
The news seemed to make Katara perk up. “No, that’s okay,” she stated with a smile. “That definitely helps.”
Zuko sighed, “Right.” He stood to his feet, “Meet me in the club when you’re ready. We open in forty-five minutes, so don’t waste time,” he grumbled before shoving past the fabric obscuring the exit.
“Thank you, Lee,” Katara called after him.
Zuko had to declare his sexuality often to train all of these young girls June kept finding.
It didn’t seem to be getting easier.
For his demonstration, Zuko simply wore his undergarments, as his own attire had been about as appropriate as Katara’s. When he hooked his leg around his pole and spun, she followed with determined mimicry on her own, even down to the flexing of his outstretched hand. Unlike other girls he trained, she also seemed to already have a decent amount of upper body strength - enough not to fall, at least.
“Have you done this before?” Zuko inquired as he hung upside down and faced Katara, held to the pole with his locked ankles.
Predictably, Katara did the same, and he could see her stomach trembling with effort. She reached back to support herself with a grip on the pole, “No, but I do a lot of core exercise before I practice my bending.”
Zuko blinked and knit his brow in thought. He eyed her up and down. “Are you... an Earthbender?”
Katara chuckled, “No. I’m a Waterbender.” He could hear the strain in her voice.
“How did you find a Waterbending master in Ba Sing Se?” Zuko asked, unable to help his curiosity. Perhaps it was unprofessional and he was supposed to keep her focused on the task at hand, but he had never heard of such a thing. He shifted his position to hook both his knees around the pole, hoping that Katara would follow before she collapsed from exertion.
And she did without a moment of hesitation. “I didn’t. It’s not perfect, but I practice Waterbending with Earthbending forms. Ice isn’t too different from earth,” she stated, panting softly.
“So you can defend yourself. Good.” Zuko glanced at Katara, who stared back at him with furrowed brows and a slight frown.
“You sure are putting a lot of emphasis on that,” Katara observed with a forced chuckle. “But things like that don’t happen often, right? It’s just a safety precaution?”
Zuko hung upside down with his ankles locked around the pole and gripped the beam underneath him with both hands. He then arched his back to hold his thighs on either side of the pole.
He heard Katara take a deep breath, then the crash of a body impacting the wooden floor seconds after.
“Ow,” she groaned. Zuko dismounted and walked to where she laid on the floor, and he could not help the smirk on his face.
“That’s for asking a stupid question,” Zuko said, holding his hand out to her. “It doesn’t matter how often it happens. Keep your guard up.” She huffed, smacked his hand out of the way, and stood up.
“I don’t think it’s stupid,” Katara muttered under her breath, crossing her arms over her chest.
Zuko opened his mouth to retort - perhaps to remind her that she will be dancing in her underwear in front of people rich enough, desperate enough, and perverted enough to pay to see it - before he was interrupted by, “It’s not stupid at all.”
Jet sauntered onto the platform with his usual shit eating smirk and that insufferable piece of wheat between his lips, his eyes on Katara like a predator fixated on its prey. “You were doing great up there. What’s your name?”
“Hello!” Katara clasped her hands atop her chest and smiled up at Jet, “I’m Katara. Thank you. I was feeling a little self conscious,” she admitted with a weak chuckle. she tucked her hair behind her ear and averted her eyes, and from that, Zuko knew it was already too late.
Zuko could’ve been sick on the spot. “Get out!” he hissed, his hand on his hip. “We’re busy.”
“Aw, Lee, she was feeling self conscious,” Jet stated with a pout, knitting his brows. “Who’s going to keep Katara’s spirits up when you're being so hard on her?”
Then, Jet had the nerve to wink. Zuko’s face burned with rage so intense, he nearly started steaming. “Fine,” he spat, throwing his arms down at his side. “I’ll just tell June that I couldn’t train Katara, if she’d rather be your client than actually work here.”
“What?” Katara exclaimed. “That’s not fair! And-... I don’t want to be his client!” She insisted, her cheeks flushing scarlet.
“It’s cute when you get so worked up, Lee. A bit jealous?” Jet inquired as he tucked his hands into his pockets. He then turned his gaze to Katara, “Don’t worry about him. He’s all bark, no bite.” He paused, “Well, most of the time,” he continued.
“We’re done for tonight,” Zuko muttered as he turned to walk off the platform, untying his hair.
“Thank you again, Lee,” Katara called after him.
Zuko continued walking. All of this nonsense, and his shift hadn’t even started yet.
Of course, dancing on a pole was easy. Taking customers into a private room and grinding against them for a couple of minutes had become routine for him - even with the lewd moans and slaps coming from behind the neighboring curtain. He needed the extra tips. Pretending to be sexually attracted to a shitfaced old man or woman in order to sell them more drinks was something he hardly thought twice about.
Therefore, the night went by quickly, especially as he downed shots himself. Occasionally, he caught a glimpse of Katara, often leaning against the bar and talking to her future coworkers. She seemed to have loosened up over the night. He hoped she would last longer than a week; he hardly had it in him to train a new person every few days, since so many quit almost immediately.
“You know, I’m usually not into men, but you’re a real pretty boy,” a drunkard remarked with a lopsided grin, leaning far into Zuko’s space with lidded eyes.
“That’s very kind of you,” Zuko replied, schooling his expression into something soft and alluring. “If it’s your first time with another man, I’d like to help you figure it out,” he added, hoping to lure this man into paying extra for a lap dance. He could get Izumi a new tapestry for her room; at the shop, she would always point out the tapestries from the artists’ booth, often colorful ones with landscapes and badgermoles.
“I didn’t know you strippers did all that!” The man exclaimed with widened eyes. “So you want to get a little extra slutty for me?”
Ugh. Often, Zuko had to strain to fight off a grimace. “Oh, yeah - just for you,” Zuko purred, crossing his legs and leaning closer to the man. He then felt a tap on his shoulder. “One second,” He ran his hand down the man’s shoulder before turning to the source, completely dropping his façade as he turned to glare at the source. “What?”
“Sorry,” Katara began, fidgeting with her fingers anxiously. “Just... we close in an hour, and after everything you said, um....” she sighed, “Would you mind walking me to the train station?”
Zuko could feel the man caressing his leg as he spoke to Katara, but focused his attention entirely on her. His expression softened, “Yes,” he responded without a beat of hesitation. “I’d be happy to.”
Katara smiled meekly at him, “Thank you. Um... I’ll leave you to it,” she stated awkwardly.
“Thanks. Stay away from Jet,” Zuko reminded her with a slight slur in his speech, before turning his attention back to the older man and crawling further into his lap. “Sorry - I owe you for your patience,” he praised, running his hands down his chest. “How about I take you into the back and give you a ten percent discount?”
“Are you from the Northern Water Tribe?”
Katara walked at Zuko’s side with her bag slung over her shoulder, her face illuminated with the dim glow of the street lanterns. “No. I always wanted to go there, though,” she said. “I’m from the Southern Tribe.”
“I didn’t know there were Waterbenders in the Southern Tribe,” Zuko thought aloud.
“Not anymore,” Katara replied, a distinct melancholy in her tone. “Not since we left.”
“Oh.” Zuko swallowed thickly. Katara was only a few years younger than him - her family seeking refuge in Ba Sing Se must’ve been related to the raids of the Southern Tribe. He could clearly recall the offhand discussions of the Southern Raiders years ago: where they were currently located on their trail, what resources needed to be sent from the capital, who was leading what raid. At the time, he found it to be incredibly boring, trivial adult talk. “It, uh, must’ve been hard to leave your home,” he said awkwardly. “I know it was hard to leave mine.”
“It was.” Katara turned to look at Zuko, “You’re from the Fire Nation, right?” She inquired, hesitation in her voice.
Well, fuck. “Uh... no?” Zuko tried, but the look of doubt on Katara’s face led him to backtrack. “Yes,” he admitted with a sigh. “But I’ve spent over half my life in Ba Sing Se.”
Katara knit her brows, “Wow. After all that time, I’d think you’d be better at lying about it.”
“Well, it wasn’t hard for you to tell,” Zuko replied with a roll of his eyes. “I can’t get hired anywhere except a strip club because I look like a Fire Nation posterboy.”
“That’s not right,” Katara muttered with sympathy that seemed surprisingly genuine, her fingertips rubbing against her forearm. “Nobody chooses where they’re born.” They then reached the dimly lit tracks of the train station. “I’ve met a few other Fire Nation refugees in Ba Sing Se. It seems they can’t even treat their own people right, if they’re all coming here.”
Zuko glanced out at the train tracks, which were lined with abandoned buildings and overgrown pagoda trees. They stood in silence for a moment, before he asked, “Does the train really run this late?”
Katara frowned and pulled a sheet of paper out of her bag, which Zuko assumed to be the various stops and routes of the trains. “It says they run twenty-four hours,” she stated, raising her brow. “But come every thirty minutes after sunset.”
“Poor Earthbenders. Maybe our job isn’t so bad,” Zuko remarked, earning a chuckle from Katara.
“I don’t think it will be. Everybody who works there seems nice.”
“Even Jet?”
“I can tell you two have history,” Katara pointed out with a playful smile, holding her hands behind her back. “But yes, even Jet.”
“You know he just wants to have sex with you,” Zuko stated bluntly. “And he’s not even good, even if he’s attractive enough to have you think otherwise.” Katara laughed in response, and Zuko frowned at her. “What? I’m not joking!” He hissed.
“ I don’t think he’s that attractive,” Katara said between her giggles.
Zuko threw his hands up in frustration, “I saw how you were looking at him--!”
“Sorry- I’m sorry,” Katara interrupted lightly, holding her hand to her face to hide her laughter. “Jet said it would be easy to get you worked up, but I didn’t think it’d be that easy.”
Zuko’s mouth dropped, and his hair began to blow in the wind as the train approached their station. “Fine then,” he grumbled, crossing his arms. As the train slowed to a stop, however, he took a breath and bowed to her, his arms straight at his sides. “It was nice to meet you, Katara.”
Katara gripped the end of his forearm firmly, and Zuko stared blankly, loosely gripping her forearm in return. “You too, Lee,” she replied, before pulling back. “That’s how we do it in the Southern Water Tribe,” she informed him. “Since you were asking me so much about it all night.”
Huh. Zuko supposed he was, now that he thought about it. “If I ever meet someone else from the Southern Water Tribe, I’m sure they’ll be impressed.”
‘Yeah, but don’t count on it. If you do, it’s probably my brother or my dad. There’s not a lot of us,” Katara replied with a chuckle as she stepped onto the train. “Stay safe!” she said over her shoulder before she disappeared from sight.
Right. As if Zuko would run into one of Katara’s family members in a city as massive as Ba Sing Se.
Zuko watched as the Earthbenders kicked off the train and propelled it forward, keeping his gaze fixed in the direction of the tracks even after it disappeared.
The trek home typically took around fifteen minutes, and it was often the highlight of Zuko’s nights. He enjoyed passing the gimmicky decorations of the run-down Fortuneteller’s shop, the line of empty booths lining the courtyard of the lower ring, or the faint scent of incense and musk surrounding the apartment complexes. It grounded him after the nights filled with pretending to be somebody he was not. Somehow, his uncle - who sent troop after troop to their deaths in war and sat on a throne engulfed in flames - emphasized to him the importance of appreciating the little things in life, which “pass by quicker than you realize”.
Zuko quietly slid open the door to his apartment, being met with the dull glow of a candle. Jin leaned back against the bamboo walls with her legs crossed and a book in her lap, the candle at her side illuminating the calligraphy.
“Hi,” Zuko greeted her in a whisper, sliding the doors closed behind him. “Sorry I’m a little late. I walked a new worker to the train station.”
“That’s okay,” Jin responded with a soft smile. “I made tea a few minutes ago, if you’d like some. I stole a little bit of your jasmine.”
Zuko glanced over at the counter at the gaiwan, pitcher, and teacups, “You can always help yourself to anything here.” He walked over and began to pour a cup. “Would you like me to refill your cup?”
“That would be nice. Thank you.”
Zuko sat across from Jin on the floor and slid her a steaming cup of jasmine, having warmed the cups on his way over. He had no choice but to tell Jin about being a Firebender - Izumi could have her first flame at any point while he was at work. He needed someone he knew would handle it with grace and kindness, and he had no doubt Jin would.
“How was Izumi?” Zuko inquired, sipping from his tea.
“She’s always wonderful,” Jin said with a soft, contented smile. “We walked through the shops today to get some street food and tanghulu - just as a little celebration for her starting school - and there was some kind of performance on main street! There were street dancers, magicians, and these adorable alpaca koalas. Izumi got to pet one,” Jin continued with a giggle. “She was so excited.”
Zuko felt a slight pang in his chest. He’d completely forgotten her first day of school was tomorrow, and he couldn’t remember the last time he’d taken her to do something half as fun as that. “I could never thank you enough for everything you do for me and Izumi,” he spoke softly. “Thank you, Jin.”
“Of course. I have to warn you, though- she may start begging you to adopt an alpaca koala,” Jin warned him with a grin.
“It’s a new animal every week,” Zuko grumbled as he reached into his pockets and pulled out a handful of coins, picking out the gold pieces and placing them atop the matted floor. He made sure to pay Jin well; a majority of his tips went toward her.
“Maybe you should get her one,” Jin suggested, and Zuko could see her wagging her eyebrows in his peripheral vision as he dug through the coins.
“Our apartment is big enough for a meadow vole at most, which a six year old would kill in a week,” Zuko reminded her flatly. He slid the gold pieces toward Jin, “Thank you again.”
Jin grabbed the coins and placed them into the pocket of her robes, “Tomorrow from seven to two, right? Same as today?” She asked. She stood and shut her book, tucking it under her arm.
“Yes,” Zuko confirmed.
“Alrighty. I’ll see you tomorrow at seven, then. Goodnight, Lee.” Jin then walked toward the door.
“Goodnight,” Zuko said to her, and stared at the doors after she slid them shut. He then glanced over at her teacup and found she had hardly touched it. He grabbed it, took a few moments to heat it in his palms, then downed it like a shot. He then carried the teacups to the sink to wash them, along with the gaiwan and teapot.
Zuko knew that he could sneak into his and Izumi’s room without waking her. He had always had light footsteps - light enough to not even be caught by a Dai Li agent, or by his father, who had notoriously remarkable hearing. So, when he felt tiny arms wrapping around him and a small body pressed against his back after he laid down in his bedroll, he knew Izumi hadn’t slept at all tonight.
“Izumi,” Zuko began, keeping his eyes shut, “You shouldn’t be awake. You know you have a big day tomorrow.”
“I wouldn’t kill a meadow vole in a week,” he heard a soft but defiant voice protest from behind him.
“Not on purpose,” Zuko mumbled, earning a high-pitched whine. “Living things are big responsibilities,” he reminded her, before he turned to face her. He lit a flame in the palm of his hand and could see the dark circles under her eyes. “Are you okay, turtleduck?” He used his free hand to tuck her hair behind her ear.
“I’m scared,” Izumi murmured, avoiding his eyes with a pout. “You never had to go to school.”
“Yes, I did,” Zuko replied, caressing her cheek with his thumb. “It was just different. I didn’t get to play with other kids - I had to spend all day witha bunch of mean, old people. You’ll have so much more fun, and I know you’ll love learning.”
“Learning what? I already know most things!” Izumi proclaimed with a frown. “And if I’m there all day, I won’t see you before you go away at night,” she continued, and Zuko could see her eyes beginning to gloss over.
Zuko diminished the flame to hug Izumi to his chest, resting his chin atop her head. He could feel her tiny body begin to tremble with quiet sobs. “It’s okay,” he whispered, running his hands through her curly hair. “I’ll talk to my boss, and see if I can start work after your bedtime,” he decided without thinking. “Does that sound good?”
Izumi’s sniffle was muffled against his chest, “Can you go with me?”
“Of course. I’ll walk you to school every day.”
“No!” Izumi pulled away from his chest to look at him, “To school.”
“To class?”
“Yes!”
“No. I’m too old. No daddies or mommies allowed.”
Izumi huffed and shoved her teary face back against his shirt, “They won’t know you’re my daddy!” She exclaimed, and Zuko laughed lightly. “Stop it!” She demanded.
“I’m sorry,” Zuko whispered, though he could feel the smile lingering on his face. He kissed the top of her head, “You’ll have so much fun, ‘Zumi. I promise. It’s okay to be scared, but you have so much to be excited for, too. You’re getting so big now - maybe you are old enough to have a meadow vole, or...” he paused for dramatic effect. “A sugar glider?”
Izumi gasped and sprung up, “Really?” She squealed excitedly.
“We’ll have to see how your first few weeks go,” Zuko responded, unable to help but to smile back at her. “But big girls go to bed on time.”
Izumi immediately laid back down, “I’ll go to sleep,” she stated urgently, a dopey grin on her face. “Right now!” She then squeezed her eyes shut and wrinkled her nose tightly.
Zuko smiled and laid on his side facing Izumi, “Goodnight, turtleduck.” Izumi began exaggeratedly fake snoring in response. Zuko pulled the blanket up to her chin, before rolling over and shutting his eyes.
He desperately hoped his promises to her would be true.