"Who could be behind that mask? Or is it truly the Blue Spirit in front of me." Iroh asked ironically.

"Uncle..." Zuko started.

"And what will you do when you steal the avatar's bison? Did you even think this through?"

"Yes, Uncle--"

"No! You didn't! Because you never do! Just like the North Pole! You would have died if it weren't for the avatar and his friends! Once you got the avatar, you didn't know what to do with him! Please Zuko." Iroh pleaded. "Look inside of yourself and decide your own destiny. Do not let your father dictate who you are. You will make your own honor."

Zuko was stunned. What business did Iroh have telling him all of that? As Zuko exited the lake, he came face to face with you.

"Well howdy--" You greeted him.

"I'm not in the mood." he cut you off curtly.

"Alright." You immediately acquiesced, surprising Zuko.

As he stormed past you, he grabbed your hand, pulling you along for the ride. Iroh followed behind, quiet as well.

It was uncomfortably quiet for the rest of the brisk walk back to the apartment near the tea shop.

"You may want to get some rest, work will be begin--"

"Leave me alone, Uncle." Zuko yanked you into your room and slammed the door behind him.

Fortunately, he let go of you, allowing you to simply look at him. He looked... very upset. As you attempted to bring him into a side-hug, Zuko fully embraced you.

"Oomph!" You were being squished but surprisingly, it wasn't too bad. A tad suffocating, yes, but you could see why people outside of the swamp did this. As you inhaled, you realized another reason that people outside of the swamp did this. Zuko smelled... wonderful. Like a mix of tea leaves, steamed milk and man smell.

"Ya smell dee-lighful, Zuko."

"Mmm." He held you closely and before you knew it, you were falling. With a plop, you and Zuko hit your bed, his arms never leaving your body.

Eventually, your eyes drifted closed as you listened to Zuko's heart beat and inhaled his smell.

When you woke up in the morning however, you were alone. Listening closely, you didn't hear the normal morning sounds. You quickly got up, worried that perhaps Iroh and Zuko had left you in the night.

After you got yourself presentable and left your small room, you were greeted with the sight of Zuko laid out in the middle of the floor.

"Wh-what's wrong with 'im?" You stuttered as you collapsed to your knees next to him. He didn't look good.

"He's going through a metamorphesis. Letting the avatar's bison go was so against his spiritual beliefs and who he was fundamentally that he's become sick from working so hard against his self. I am sure he will be quite ill for a long while. It won't be pretty. I'll entrust you to taking care of him while I go to work during the day."

"So he'll be alright?" You stroked his sweaty forehead gently as you stared at the young man laying on the floor.

"Yes. And when he heals he will be the beautiful prince that he was always meant to be."

"So maybe he'll leave the poor avatar alone?"

Iroh chuckled lightly at this as he got ready to leave for work.

"We can only hope."