ZUKO CONFRONTS KIDA AS SHE'S ABOUT TO SNEAK OFF WITH APPA.

"Did you really think I wouldn't know what you're up to?" Zuko scoffs. He stands in front of Kida, his arms crossed and a frown on his face. "You can't just leave, Kida."

"I can and I will," Kida replies plainly, not wanting to wake anyone else up. "Get out of my way."

He does not. Kida's patience is running out and she doesn't really feel like explaining herself, especially to Zuko.. Kida already left a note explaining that she went to get supplies to make a bow. She even asked Suki to cover for her. Kida figured it was a good time to leave: Sokka and Katara are reunited with their dad, and Aang has a firebending teacher to learn from. She had planned to find what she's looking for and be back before anyone missed her.

"Do you even know where you're going?"

"To get supplies."

Zuko scoffs. "We both know you're going to find him. I'm coming with you."

"Absolutely not," Kida asserts. "You're staying here to train Aang. The team doesn't need me right now."

"That's not true."

"Just get out of my way," Kida repeats. When he refuses to move once more, she pushes Zuko out of the way and finally climbs onto Appa.

"What if I told you I might know where your brother is?"

Kida pauses, looking down at Zuko. "I wouldn't believe you."

"What's your other option? Just flying around the Fire Nation on a giant bison?"

"Fuck you, Zuko," Kida grumbles.

"I'm serious, Kida," Zuko pleads, his tone surprising Kida. "I remembered something from when I was back in the Fire Nation. A conversation about an orphan Zhao brought back and hid away on one of the Fire Islands. I'll take you there."

Kida hates to admit it, but Zuko did have a point. She doesn't have any clue of where Hiro could be. She was just hoping that the universe would give her a break, help her out for a change. Practically, though, that doesn't mean anything.

"Fine," Kida sighs. She adjusts the knife on her belt instinctively. Zuko must have an ulterior motive, and Kida needs to be alert at all times. "But, try anything, and I'll throw you off Appa without a second thought."

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SOMEWHERE ALONG THE JOURNEY, KIDA FALLS ASLEEP. It was comforting flying again, the soft clouds and open night sky creating the same kind of peace Kida gets when she's around Sokka. But the nightmares, the thoughts that didn't seem to leave, were anything but comforting.

As usual, Kida rises with the sun. Even after nights she couldn't fall asleep, plagued by nightmares or pushing herself to train, whenever the sun rose to the sky, Kida felt its light course through her veins, allowing the energy to recharge her for whatever the coming day might bring. A moment of peace—one second where the world was okay—before whatever chaos would follow.

"Sleep well?" Zuko asks from where he sits, steering Appa.

Kida grumbles a response, scolding herself for falling asleep, before looking around to take in her surroundings. It wasn't like Kida meant to step aside and let Zuko navigate, but it sort of just happened. One minute, she was wide awake, alert in case Zuko tried to attack her, and the next she was dreaming. Hiro, the ghost of the boy Kida remembers, running, falling, on the ground, bleeding. Kida tried to shake him, but he wouldn't wake up. It happened over and over again

Were these figments of her deepest imagination—her desire to believe she hadn't abandoned her brother because he really was dead? Or, a message from beyond—a sign that she was right to abandon the team? Because, as must as Kida is telling herself that she hadn't, she knows that she had basically abandoned them. She felt something tug in her stomach, but she wasn't sure what direction.

"We're here," Zuko announces. Appa lands on the far side of the island, away from the town. The two jump down from Appa. "What's the plan?"

No response. Kida secures a bandana around her face so only her eyes are visible. She ties her hair up so it's out of her eyes. Really, Kida is stalling. She was normally exact about her plans, thinking out where to enter, how to exit, and everything in between. This....this feels different. Kida is more nervous than when she used to steal from nobles with armed guards at their door. Her brother might be alive. And she left him here all this time, while she travelled the world and found a new family.

How could she be so cruel?

Suddenly, Kida feels her heart pounding in her chest and finds it hard to breathe. Her ears start to ring as dizziness overcomes her, and she rips off the bandana, gasping for hair. She falls to the floor, knees hugging her chest. Out of the corner of her eye, Kida sees Zuko kneel beside her. He seems to be saying something, but his voice is muffled. After taking a few deep breaths, the ringing stops and Zuko's voice becomes clearer.

"We can go back," Zuko suggests. Once again, the softness of his voice surprises her. She turns her head, and it's then that Kida notices that there's a softness to Zuko's eyes as well, with how he's looking at her, full of concern. It hits her that Zuko might have no ulterior motive. He really was here to help Kida find her brother. Maybe he really did want to do some good in the world.

So, when he places a tentative arm around Kida's shoulder to comfort her, Kida doesn't pull away like she might have before.

"We can't go back," Kida finally whispers back. "I can't leave Hiro. Not again."

Zuko starts to say something, but seems to decide against it, sighing before speaking once more. "I'll go."

"What?"

"I'll go see if Hiro's on the island—if he's the orphan I overheard about. You wait here."

For reasons beyond her, Kida nods.

»»---------------------►

KIDA ISN'T SURE HOW MUCH TIME PASSES. Appa eventually dozes off. Kida just sits and waits for Zuko to come back, a million possibilities running through her mind. She wasn't even sure which one would be the worst case scenario.

"It's not Hiro," he states, sitting next to Kida.

Kida lets out a sigh. "How do you know for sure?"

"All ten fingers are intact," Zuko explains. "And I don't think a kid can just grow back a limb."

Kida processes what this means. Azula must have lied. Mai told her what Kida had told Zuko. That's how she knew details about Hiro. It seems to have a straightforward outcome.

Yet, this conclusion doesn't put Kida at ease; as if any would have. Azula might have lied, but there might have been some truth to her statement. Kida had never thought Hiro would have survived the attack all those years ago, but now that's all she can think about.

"Are...are you okay?"

"I don't know," Kida admits.

"Azula really fucked you up, huh?"

This prompts a laugh from Kida. It was a ridiculous thought, that her younger cousin sent her spiralling with a few words, but Zuko had summed it up rather nicely.

"Yeah, I guess."

"Welcome to the club." Zuko nudges Kida's shoulder. His comforting gesture betrays the apathetic of his voice.

"I...." Kida pauses, stumbling upon her words. "Thanks for coming with me."

"Thanks for giving me a second chance."

Kida glares at Zuko. "I don't—"

"I know, I know. You don't give second chances. Sokka warned me." At this, Kida frowns. She turns to Zuko, her head tilted. "What?"

"I don't love the idea of you and my boyfriend meeting up and talking about me."

"Don't worry, he's very particular about what he tells me," Zuko explains. There's a few moments of silence, the two of them watching the sun sink below the clouds. "Sokka really loves you. They all do. You mean a lot to them."

Kida can't help but smile softly to herself, feeling the final rays of sun wash over her. She hums in response.

"I know you're still mad at me," he adds. "And you probably hate me for what I did. But, I really am trying, Kida. You're not going to believe this, but you mean a lot to me, too. My -" Zuko pauses, lets out an awkward chuckle. "My uncle said that you were the younger sister I always needed."

Though she can't seem to react, Kida can't help but think that maybe Zuko is the older brother she always needed, but never knew that she did.

Kida won't forget about Hiro. She can't. But time has passed, and there's still a war going on, a world that needs saving.

After all, Kida has more important things to do than chase ghosts.

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author's note!

thank you for reading <3