Chapter Text
"Why would not you let us talk to the king? We have information that could defeat the Fire Nation!"
Do you know why that blue-clad Water Tribe member asked the question? It had to mean something. The implication was obvious. Any educated prince would have understood it immediately. After all, Long Feng has never truly hidden his ambitions, and Earth King Kuei may be even more foolish than you were.
From his place behind a wooden screen, Zuko could make out the profiles of Long Feng, the Avatar, and his companions. Two Dai Li stood silently beside him, as motionless as stone.
Long Feng hasn’t explained why he arranged for him to be here through a secret passage and witness this clandestine meeting before the green flames.
"...It's my job to oversee the rest of the city resources, including the military."
The Grand Secretariat was saying too much. Any intelligent prince should have understood his intentions by now.
Long Feng answered the blue-clad Water Tribe boy's question with a veiled warning aimed at the Avatar. The teenagers immediately looked displeased, clearly unhappy with King Kuei's situation.
But it was also a secret invitation.
Zuko's gaze settled on the blue arrow atop the head of the child at the center of the group. If the Avatar, that twelve-year-old bald little monk, accepted the offer hidden beneath Long Feng's words, if he showed even a measure of understanding for the responsibilities Long Feng carried, then an unspoken partnership could begin.
"...Ba Sing Sei has strict rules. We cannot allow the flames of war to burn into the city and spread panic among its people. Of course, if there is a more subtle solution, we would much prefer, in the name of justice and law, to remove the Fire Lord from his dragon throne..."
"You already have a plan?" said that Water Tribe boy, eyes narrowing with suspicion. The ears of the... whatever strange creature that was on his head drooped along with his expression.
"A few years ago, a rather famous incident took place in the Fire Nation. A thirteen-year-old prince was banished simply because he valued the lives of his soldiers. Despite Ozai’s efforts to suppress the truth and tarnish the prince’s reputation, stories of his kindness spread throughout the Fire Nation," Long Feng said. He paused, his voice measured and regretful. "Much like the notices circulated after his disappearance, which found their way across the Earth Kingdom. We believe that if this prince can be found, his character and royal blood may offer a path toward peace..."
"You've already found him," The interruption came from the shortest girl in the group. Long Feng stopped mid-sentence. Earlier, it had been this same girl who accused King Kuei of being Long Feng's puppet. Apparently she simply said whatever came to mind.
"What, Toph?" the Avatar asked.
"And he's right here, behind that... screen. Weird guy. His heartbeat is as steady as a pendulum. " She pointed vaguely in Zuko’s direction. "Is he another one of your puppets? What kind of political game is this?"
The youngest girl was the first to bring up politics.
Long Feng frowned and leaned forward.
"Avatar, you are our honored guests, and we have done everything possible to make you feel welcome. However, I do not appreciate one of your companions treating me with such hostility. From now on, the Dai Li will take care of your daily needs." Take care. Long Feng rarely chose such gentle phrases. Hearing him indulge a group of children this much was almost disorienting.
"We don't need adults to take care of us—"
"Of course, well," Long Feng folded his hands. "In any case, you are correct. That noble prince in exile is currently resides within our walls, waiting for justice at last. Ba Sing Se is impregnable. Only here is he beyond his father's reach. And you carry the responsibility of restoring balance to the world. So why should we not help an innocent prince? A cruel mad king will fall, and a better Fire Lord will rise to help you bring this war to an end. The Earth Kingdom—and the prince himself—can promise you that. "
He spread his hands.
"Ceasefire. Peace. And proper restitution for the nations that have suffered under Fire Nation aggression."
"A promise made by a Fire Prince? How can you even trust him? Who knows what terrible thing he did to get himself banished by his own father? They're all far too good at lying." The Water Tribe girl jabbed a finger toward the screen. "The same blood runs in his veins as in Princess Azula’s. Why should we help one child of the Fire Nation court overthrow another?"
Zuko adjusted his collar. The stiff golden fabric pressed against his jaw.
Are you really going to clear your throat before speaking, Zuzu? a female voice in his head asked mockingly. They already know you're here, don't they? Useless. They discovered you before you even made your entrance. Is your breathing really that loud?
Speak. Announce yourself! a second voice snapped from somewhere above him. Do not be a coward, even if disappointing people is all you've ever done.
"Peace is my promise," Zuko heard himself say. "The Fire Nation has brought too much suffering to the world. The balance has been broken, and my family bears responsibility for that. I am willing to do whatever it takes to end this war, to return what was taken, and to acknowledge the lies, the shame, and the damage we have caused. The world has suffered enough."
Silence settled over the room. Only the sound of breathing remained, beginning with his own.
Was he really breathing that loudly? Or was it his heartbeat? Zuko, this is your fault. Long Feng should have arranged a better entrance for you. Instead, you're standing in the dark, taking advantage of an opportunity that was never meant to present itself this way, hoping you don't sound so ridiculous, so hypocritical, so weak.
Those thoughts should not even exist, Zuko thought. A noble prince should be confident to his core. He should never fear making a mistake. Show them someone worthy of trust, and your followers will remain your followers; and our enemies will listen when you speak. Only then will Ozai finally see you, little dragon.
Now it was Long Feng's voice speaking. When had he said these things to him? Had he ever? Zuko couldn't remember. His memory had always been poor.
"I await your answer," Zuko added. The words slipped from his mouth so easily that they scarcely felt like his own.
"As the prince has said, we await your answer." Long Feng rose to his feet. The green flames in the room flickered coldly behind him, like a curtain.
Fire, Zuko thought. A terrible stiffness crept upward from his heels. He briefly closed his eyes. The scar on his face seemed still to ache . Inhale. Exhale. The claimant of the dragon throne could not fear fire.
"By the way, I couldn't help noticing that your flying bison appears to have gone missing." Long Feng managed to sound genuinely sympathetic. "You see how important companions are. Ba Sing Sei has already devoted considerable resources to finding your friend. Any information we uncover will be shared with you immediately. Now, Joo Dee will show you home."
Look at those children. Joo Dee frightened them, the female voice sounds amused. Long Feng is less intimidating than a cultural ambassador. Is that his success or his failure? Did he even understand how power worked?
Once Team Avatar had gone, Zuko stepped out from behind the screen. The woven latticework made it nearly impossible to see through from the front. The two Dai Li were remained where they were, like a pair of heavy shadows. A servant hurried forward with a chair. He instinctively adjusted the folds of his robe before sitting down. Green really doesn’t suit you, Zuzu. He sat with his back straight and shifted his gaze from the flames to Long Feng's face.
"Prince Zuko, it would seem the Avatar's view of the world is even narrower than we anticipated." Long Feng's beard twitched faintly, the shifting light carved deeper shadows across his face.
"Because he refused you?" The words left Zuko's mouth almost on their own, dealing with Long Feng's displeasure.
Would this uncrowned king of Ba Sing Sei decide this failure was somehow his fault? The thought drifted through his mind and away again. But of course Long Feng had no intention of giving up. Zuko knew that he had already found the flying bison—what did that bison look like? He simply could not imagine it. He had never actually seen one. Did it really resemble the paintings in old scrolls? Were they all the same? Did they all look like clouds? What sort of clouds? The wild, broken clouds before a volcanic eruption? The dark masses gathering before a storm? Or scraps of torn cotton drifting through the sky, falling, falling into his hand, falling into a pond, or a lake, growing heavy with water and sinking, sinking still deeper...
"...our bargaining chip." Zuko blinked. What exactly had he just said?
"If they cannot become our friends, then they can only be enemies of the Earth Kingdom," Long Feng said gloomily. "You should make a few friends, my boy. Don't you think?"
"If they cannot become our allies, then I hope you'll find another solution. You taught me that we must find a way to oppose the Fire Nation, did you not?"
His good eye and his half-blind one fixed on Long Feng until the older man finally look away to hide his feelings.
"You ought to show more respect to your benefactor, Prince," Long Feng said in a low voice. "Everything you have now exists only because of my protection."
"Would you like me to kneel?" Zuko asked. "Swear eternal loyalty? Pledge myself to your service for the rest of my life? Oh I'm the son you rescued from the terrible Fire Lord, I'll be your loyal servant for the rest of my life...Is that what you want to hear?"
"I'm pleased to see you still remember what kind of man your father is," Long Feng replied. "After three years apart."
Something hot suddenly surged from Zuko's stomach into his chest. It was as if a live coal had been wedged between his ribs. With every breath it flared brighter, then dimmed again. His left face began to ache. This time the pain came sharp, and pulsing, radiating outward from his ruined eye.
The secret to steady fire is steady breathing, Prince Zuko. Slowly. Fire needs air. Just give your fire room to breathe.The voice was calm and old, carrying a sorrow so faint it was almost impossible to distinguish.
Zuko forced himself to take a slow breath and disguised it as part of his anger. He gave a snort, turned and strode away, leaving Long Feng and the green flames behind him.