Brewed right, a cup of Vengeance becomes Absolution

For as long as Ozai the Second could remember, it was just him and his mother Azula.

Ozai did not know who is father is. He asked about it, once. Mother dismissed him, saying it didn't matter. She was in a bad mood, then. So he waited, and asked again on a different day. Mother punished him for disobedience. He did not ask a third time.

Mother was talented. She was a prodigy. She wielded blue flames with ease, the most powerful fire in existence. She shot lightning without effort. She was fast and strong and as terrifying with bending as she was without it. She was amazing.

Ozai was not. He only started firebending at five, much to mother's displeasure. And no matter how hard he tried, he never produced so much as a spark of a blue, his fire remaining the weak color of orange-yellow. He learned lightning eventually, at the late age of twelve (mother was furious it took him so long), but he still struggled with aiming a year later. Probably because he got himself zapped one time. It was not a pleasant experience, to be zapped by your own lightning. He couldn't do his katas for a full week. Mother was very disappointed in him. After that, he always felt... shaky, whenever he used lightning. He did not tell mother, of course – she wasn't in habit of tolerating weakness. And Ozai, as her loyal son, was obedient. So even when his hands shook against his will and missed their mark every time, he continued to practice, silently hoping not to get zapped again.

Between training and hunting for food, mother told him stories. Those were easily the best part of the day. She told him about his great great grandfather Sozin. How he triumphed over the wicked, treacherous Air Nomads. How he began conquering the world in the glorious name of the Fire Nation. How his great grandfather Azulon triumphed over the weak Southern Water Tribes, and made his way through the barbaric Earth Kingdom. How his grandfather Ozai, with mother leading his army, finally breached the walls of the Great City of Ba Sing Se.

But then, the tales turned bitter.

The Fire Nation strength's was almost unstoppable – almost. But there was an entity who single-handedly had the power to bring kingdoms to their knees. The dreadful spirit called the Avatar, who could wield all four elements, reborn to a different nation each time in order to spread dissension and suffering. During Firelord Sozin's reign he disappeared, to the relief of the world, and continued to be absent for a hundred years. Then, one day, he returned, and everything their wonderful nation had worked for over the century fell to a ruin.

"We would have been successful," mother told him, her eyes gleaming as she stared into the setting sun. "Victory was at hand. Phoenix King Ozai set out on the day of Sozin's Comet to finish the war with a fleet of airships, one of the finest achievements in the history of Fire Nation technology. The day I was to be crowned the Firelord, to watch over the Fire Nation while father ruled the rest of the world."

"...And then what happened?" Ozai asked even though he already heard the story, knowing mother expected it of him.

"The Avatar happened. And your traitorous uncle, Zuko."

Uncle Zuko was once, as mother told him, an unworthy Crown Prince of the Fire Nation. He proved it soon when in his selfishness and pride, he publicly dared to question Firelord, disrespecting grandfather Ozai in the Firelord's own war room. Afterwards, he was mercifully banished – he should have been killed for such shameful behavior. He even got a chance to redeem himself – all he had to do was find the Avatar.

"But Zuko was weak and consumed by greed," mother said. "He knew I was the better heir. The stronger firebender, the better leader. Father wasn't going to give him the throne, even if he came back. So Zuko saw his chance, to ally himself with the Avatar, in order to take the throne for himself."

Zuko was not the only traitor in the family – there was also his great uncle Iroh, the Dragon of the West, once renown general of the Fire Nation. But after the man was denied the throne in favor of Ozai the First, the superior bender between the brothers, he started to grow bitter in his old age.

"He followed Zuko into his banishment, probably to inflict his influence upon him," mother remarked. "Not that it changed anything in the end. Your uncle was always weak. His treason was probably inevitable."

It made Ozai angry. How could have Iroh and Zuko betrayed their own blood like that? Iroh's brother and niece? Zuko's father and sister? Did they not matter to them at all? Mother was everything Ozai had. He couldn't imagine giving up family for power. He couldn't.

"That is why we're training, my son," mother told him stroking his face, her golden eyes intense and burning like wildfire. He suppressed a shudder at the closeness before she could see it – she would be tempted to punish him otherwise. "It's your destiny to defeat your uncle and bring honor back to our family."

"Yes, mother," Ozai said obediently.

He would bring honor back to their family, and the Fire Nation. He would take the throne and give his people the Firelord they deserved. And then, he would vanquish the Avatar once and for all, so he would never hurt anyone, ever again.

"But why can't you take the throne, mother? You are more powerful than me." He was a failure, after all. He couldn't produce blue fire at all.

"Because I lost the Agni Kai on the day of Sozin's Comet," she admitted, gritting he teeth in anger. "He cheated, involving a third party in the duel. A waterbender," she spat. "I lost to her trickery, and the Fire Sages declared victory in Zuko's favor."

"That's not fair!" Ozai exclaimed, angry on his mother's behalf. "How could they?!"

"They probably feared to defy him, because he was with the Avatar."

"He would threaten the Sages? He... Uncle Zuko really has no honor, doesn't he?"

"No, he does not. But do not concern yourself with his lack of honor, Ozai. Weaker than me you might be, but you are still stronger than pathetic little Zuzu ever was." She put her hands on his shoulders. "And once you achieve victory over him, we will leave this wretched place, and lead the Fire Nation back into the golden age, conquering the world as should have happened years ago."

The island they lived on wasn't all that terrible, Ozai thought privately. There were plenty of animals to eat, and sometimes they took a boat to a neighboring island for supplies. He wasn't sure where mother got the money to trade, but she always figured something out. As powerful as she was, there were probably ways she could help people to pay her back. Even if he wondered why he never saw her do any work... Ozai wanted to ask, but was wise enough by that point to know not to, if he wanted to avoid punishment. He probably wasn't strong enough yet for mother to share it with him.

Although he didn't complain about their way of living, he liked being in town more. The people were cheerful and kind, even when they turned strangely quiet when mother was around. Still, he liked talking to them. The only downside was that they all believed the lies about Firelord Zuko – that he was a just, honorable ruler. Ozai couldn't stand it. He held his tongue back of course, like mother ordered – he would never expose and betray them.

"Did you hear? Firelord Zuko is bringing back the Quaternary Festival!"

"It was banned over a hundred years ago, right?"

"That's so exciting! I heard it's going to be so beautiful."

"Yeah, and they say the Avatar will be participating!"

"No way! The Avatar will be there? Do you think we'll be able to go, mom?"

"We'll see, dear..."

Those people really had no idea, Ozai thought with bitterness. They had no idea just what kind of man Firelord Zuko really was. It was the moment an idea started forming in his mind.

The people were saying the Quaternary Festival, whatever that was, would be an occasion where everyone would stand witness. The Avatar, the Fire Sages... and the people. It was a chance his mother had been dreaming of since his birth.

Mother thought he wasn't ready. But he was almost thirteen already. He could bend lightning, even if he wasn't very good. But that didn't matter, he wouldn't need it anyway. After all, according to mother's stories uncle Zuko was able to redirect it – so there was no point. Unless he wanted to get zapped again, that is. Ozai flinched at the thought, his hand subconsciously touching the scar on his arm.

One day, when he was wandering the beach looking for oyster-crabs, he found a washed-up fisherman boat... and he got an idea.

Mother got really upset lately, more than usual... and in her rage, she burned their only boat. Which meant that if he left now... she wouldn't be able to follow him.

So Ozai pushed down his fear, hid the boat, and spent a week mulling over it.

Should he do it? Disobeying mother always ended in pain. But... if he succeeded, surely she would have been happy. Once he defeated uncle Zuko, he could even get a bigger, better boat. Mother could leave the island she hated for good. They could live in the palace, have a lot of spices and nice clothes, and even when mother burned their stuff they could always replace it.

The more days passed, the more the idea gained merit in his head. On the seventh day, mother got angry again.

"Why can't you just. Do. As you're told!" she spat at him, cerulean fire surrounding her as she towered over Ozai's cowering form.

"I'm sorry, mother, I'm really trying-!"

Mother interrupted him, slapping Ozai across the face. The heat of fire left a burn on his cheek, but not deep enough to scar.

"Useless," Azula told him with a cold look. "What use are you to me? You are just a failure."

And she stormed off, probably to burn a couple of trees in order to cool off.

Ozai slowly stood up, and reached the stream. He looked at his reflection, his left cheek red and hurting. He wondered if uncle Zuko's scar was bigger than this.

For some reason, the random thought caused his throat to tighten up. He felt the back of his eyes burning, but he didn't cry. Crying was a weakness. Mother would know it if he cried. She always knew.

He wondered if the burn would heal by the time he faced him.

After treating the burn with cold water, he looked up in the sky, Agni shining from above as if in approval of his decision.

The burn did heal. The trip lasted much longer than Ozai originally believed.

However, he managed to join a group of people who shared the same destination: the Quaternary Festival. They were quite the pleasant company, and they didn't question why he was alone. He was glad for it. He told them to call him Zai. Grandfather's name would gain him unnecessary attention, and he couldn't think of anything else. Much to mother's disapproval, he wasn't skilled at lying. He could hide things just fine, but... he wasn't talented where it came to making them up. Incomplete truths were much easier.

By the time they reached the capitol, the others in the group were almost... friends. There was especially that one girl who often sat next to him near the campfire and shared food with him. Her name was Akari. She made his stomach flutter in a curious way, and he liked the color of her eyes. He wondered if after he defeated his uncle, maybe he could... get to know her, more? It would be nice to be able to tell Akari his real name.

The weeks he spent traveling with them were... honestly, some of the best of his life. He couldn't practice lightning bending, not without everyone hearing, and even though he could imagine how hard mother would punish him for slacking off, he was happy. She would be proud of him, once he defeated the Firelord. He knew she would. And she didn't need to know he didn't practice his lightning bending beforehand. Neither did uncle Zuko.

Speaking of his uncle, he heard a lot of new stories about him. All lies, of course. Except... there were some things that confused him. Apparently, people thought that he helped mother conquer Ba Sing Se? That couldn't be right. Mother had done that all on her own. And Zuko was already a traitor by that point, he was sure.

He also learned new things about the infamous Avatar, the malevolent spirit. Like, people said he was an Air Nomad? Mother told him the Avatar was reborn in a different nation every time, but he assumed he was from the Earth Kingdom.

"The Avatar can't be an Air Nomad," Ozai blurted out in his confusion.

"What do you mean, Zai? Of course he is," Akari told him.

"But, the airbenders are gone, right? They all died over a century ago."

"The tales goes that he was frozen in an iceberg for a hundred years!" she said enthusiastically.

"An iceberg?"

Which prompted Akari to tell him the whole story of "The Boy in the Iceberg, Second Edition", which was apparently a theater play she saw when she was young.

"You should see it yourself one day," she spoke with a spark in her eyes. "It's really amazing!"

Ozai, despite himself, was entranced. "Maybe..."

It was all reconnaissance, he told himself. Sure, there was barely any truth in the story, and the lies people were forced to believe were horrible, but... Ozai always loved stories, even fake ones – even though mother barely ever told him any of that sort.

He wondered if theater plays were really as great as Akari made them out to be. He certainly hoped so. Maybe once he became Firelord, he could see one of them.

They finally made it. Ozai couldn't believe it. Everything was so... huge. And loud.

Ozai liked it a lot, even though the sheer amount of people was a little intimidating.

While he deeply resented and despised uncle Zuko, as any honorable Prince should, he had to admit the Festival the Firelord ordered was something to behold. There were lanterns and ribbons and flowers and banners and – Ozai felt like his eyes were going to pop out from too much staring. It was... he searched for the word for a while, but he couldn't remember.

"Beautiful," Akari whispered next to him.

Oh. That was the word he was looking for. Akari was so smart.

Apparently, the goal of the Festival was something called "re-establishing the ties between the four nations". Ozai wasn't sure what that was about – wasn't the Fire Nation's purpose to unite everyone as one? – but it was probably part of the Avatar's propaganda. Still, the fact was they had food. So many different kinds of food. With spices. Some Ozai never even heard of.

"You want to try some of these?" Akari pointed at a familiar fire-flake stand. "I heard they created a new special for the Festival."

"Yes, please," Ozai admitted, despite the voice of his mother in the back of his head telling him a Prince shouldn't beg. But he couldn't help it. He didn't have money, but he really, really wanted to try them.

Akari bought an entire bag just for him. Ozai really liked Akari.

"You are amazing," he told her, beaming. She looked happy.

Ozai nearly forgot there was an important reason he came here, until he heard:

"Look, look!"

"They're coming this way!"

"Is it really them?"

"Yes, I recognize that robe! It's the Avatar!"

"The Avatar and Firelord Zuko are here!"

Ozai stood still, holding his breath.

"Zai? Are you alright?"

He didn't answer. He was too busy staring at his uncle for the first time.

Firelord Zuko was... tall. He was always tall in his imagination, huge and imposing, but somehow he was even taller than Ozai expected. The ruler of the Fire Nation wore an expensive, yet casual tunic and pants, his hair long and tied in a topknot, similar to what mother wore sometimes on her better days. Upon a closer look, he looked a lot like mother Azula. But the most striking feature was the fabled scar, covering half of his face. The mark of a once disgraced Prince.

For some reason, Ozai's lightning-incident scar and cheek throbbed.

He deserved it, Ozai forcefully reminded himself. He disrespected grandfather. It was a mercy he was left alive at all.

But that didn't stop Ozai from feeling a familiar pang of fear, the same he experienced every time he severely displeased mother.

"Pathetic, Ozai. Is that the best you can do? Perhaps I should let suffering be your teacher, instead." Like it was for your uncle, was left unsaid, but Ozai knew it was implied.

"Zai?" Akari tugged at his sleeve. "You're really pale. Do you need to sit down?"

"No, I'm fine," he answered blankly, distracted.

"You're not fine. What's wrong?"

Ozai shook his head. Then, before he could loose his resolve, he stepped forward.

Only when he got closer he finally noticed the figure standing next to the Firelord. A bald man, with blue arrow tattoos all over his body, and a strange yellow-orange outfit and a wooden staff in hand. Probably his glider. He matched Akari's description from the play perfectly. It was certainly the Avatar. The person who could smite Ozai dead right where he stood.

But even so, he had to do this. For mother. For the Fire Nation. For his family.

"Firelord Zuko?" unintentionally, it sounded like a question instead of the firm call he intended it to be.

The two men, previously in the middle middle of a conversation (his uncle was smiling, and the Avatar was – laughing? Deception, surely – or was he laughing at someone's misery?), turned to him.

"Yes?" his uncle responded, no recognition in his eyes.

Ozai took a deep breath.

"I challenge you to an Agni Kai."

Zuko had a good feeling about the festival. That alone should have been a warning that a disaster was just waiting to happen.

Ever since the war ended, Team Avatar did everything they could to restore many forgotten traditions concerning the unity of the four nations. Turned out, there were a lot of those. Quaternary Festivals, particularly, were supposed to be celebrated four times a year, each time in their respective countries and symbolic seasons: the Winter Festival in the Water Tribe, the Spring Festival in the Earth Kingdom, the Summer Festival in the Fire Nation, and the Fall Festival with the Air Nomads. Sadly, with the extinction of the last nation the festivals inevitably disappeared from the world, the world too divided to cross cultural boundaries.

Well, Zuko and Aang intended to change that.

They knew that in the beginning, there wouldn't be many participants from people other than the Fire Nation. He couldn't order the Earth Kingdom to emulate the change, they could only hope the would follow their example in time. Still, having the Avatar around was a big help. He was the only one who remembered what those festivals were like back in the day, and as a nomad he visited a lot of them. Zuko suspected Aang stretched the truth at times ("No, Zuko, more flowers! We need much more flowers!"), but he was sure it was with the best of intentions. Overall, things were turning out pretty great. Uncertain about changes as Fire Nation might be, by this point, he proved himself to be a competent and fair ruler. Even though some raised complaints about Zuko ending the war at first (that it was cowardly and dishonorable – as if those people ever spent a day at fronts), most were just happy to be reunited with their families and to finally be at peace. The people trusted their Firelord. It was a strange, but not an unpleasant revelation, to be trusted.

As this occasion was much less formal than palace parties ("Dancing, Zuko! We gotta do the Dragon Dance for them! Oh, this is going to be so much fun!"), he abandoned his palace robes, and wore something more reminiscent to what he wore around the time he first joined the Avatar. It gathered much less attention (even though people still recognized him easily – hard not to with his face exposed) and was easier to move around with. He almost took his swords with him out of habit, but he decided it would probably send a wrong message. Besides, it's not like he was going to get attacked at the Quaternary Festivals, right?

Zuko had forgotten that spirits hated him.

"...and this is why it's called a moon-cake!" Aang cackled immaturely. Zuko smiled, despite himself. For Agni's sake, this man was supposed to be a hundred and twenty eight?

"You're just making that up."

"I swear I'm not!"

"Firelord Zuko?" a young voice called out from the crowd. He turned to see an unfamiliar child, around twelve or thirteen.

"Yes?" Zuko responded, used to being singled out. A lot of people had approached him so far, and everything had turned out fine.

He really should have known better.

The boy took a deep breath, as if to compose himself.

"I challenge you to an Agni Kai."

Zuko stared.

Aang stared.

Most people on the street who heard him, stared.

"I'm... sorry?" Zuko said slowly.

"I challenge you to an Agni Kai," the boy repeated firmly, his fists clenched tightly.

Zuko looked at Aang. Aang looked at Zuko.

The Avatar and Firelord were confused.

"Waaait!" Someone suddenly ran forward grabbing onto the boy's hand, making him flinch. "Please wait, your majesty!" The girl pleaded, trying to put herself between Zuko and the challenger.

"Akari!" the boy hissed. "What are you doing?!"

"No, what are you doing?!" she said frantically. "Please, Firelord Zuko, don't mind my friend. He's... not well. He didn't mean it."

"Of course I meant it!" the boy said, trying to squirm out of her hold. "I'm challenging the Firelord and I'm not taking it back!"

"...Why are you challenging me, exactly?"

"For the throne, and the dishonor your actions brought upon your family!"

Zuko was embarrassed about it later, but he was pretty sure he was among those whose jaws dropped upon the bold declaration. Akari's certainly did. So did the Avatar's.

"W-What?!" Aang sputtered in disbelief, his voice cracking. The crowd reacted in similar manner.

"He's challenging the Firelord for the throne?!"

"Is this a joke?"

"The boy's crazy!"

There was so much to unpack there, Zuko didn't even know where to start.

"What dishonor?" he asked, frowning. That sounded like a very specific accusation. Was this a child whose family still blamed him for ending the war? Didn't explain why he thought he could challenge him for the throne of all things, though. Only the members of the royal family had any claim for the crown.

Unless...? No. Surely, that wasn't possible...

Zuko really, really, really should have remembered that spirits hated him.

"The dishonor of cheating during a royal Agni Kai, involving a third party in a duel, and betraying my mother, Princess Azula!"

Zuko choked on the very air he was breathing.

"WHAT?!" Aang shrieked on full airbender volume. Which was pretty loud.

The Firelord stared at the preteen baby face of his nephew. His nephew.

He was an uncle. Azula had a son. And he was standing right in front of him. Challenging him for the throne with the blind conviction of a child who believed in his chances of victory.

Spirits.

"How- How old are you?" Zuko managed to ask through his clenching throat.

"Thirteen!" The child proclaimed proudly. "And I'm not afraid to fight you!"

Zuko couldn't do this. He stumbled, grabbing onto Aang's shoulder to regain balance.

"Z-Zuko?" the Air Nomad supported him with a concerned expression. "Are you okay?"

Azula's son looked at the Avatar with a confused face.

No. Zuko was not okay.

Because there was his sister's son standing in front of him. The sister he had fruitlessly been searching for a decade and a half, and he was a good five years older than Zuko's own firstborn. Which meant Azula was alive. And not only that, she must have had her son at fifteen. Soon after she ran away from the mental ward.

Because this was a child, his nephew (and wasn't it crazy to give someone else the title Uncle always called him?), raised by his insane baby sister. Who knew just what he had been told and what he believed about Zuko.

Because his nephew was challenging him to an Agni Kai, something he hadn't done since he fought Azula and nearly died in the process. The scars on his stomach ached in phantom pain at the memory.

Because his nephew was a thirteen-year-old child, exactly the same age he was ordered to fight against his father for speaking out of turn. Because unknowingly, his nephew used his exact words.

Because Zuko was the Firelord, challenged in public, and he couldn't refuse a formal challenge from a family member.

Spirits. Zuko couldn't do this.

What would uncle do?

The obvious answer to the desperate thought brought Zuko the clarity needed to take action. He couldn't have a freak-out in the middle of a street – he was the Firelord for crying out loud. A strategic retreat was necessary. Zuko let go of Aang's shoulder and straightened his back, trying his best to look confident and dignified, as a Firelord should.

"Very well. But I have a condition."

The boy looked wary. "A condition?"

"Several, actually. To start with, what is your name? I cannot answer to a challenge from an unknown opponent." Zuko already had a terrible suspicion of what it was going to be, but oh Agni he hoped he was wrong.

The boy raised his chin in defiance. "Prince Ozai, the Second. The name of the man who will defeat you!"

Trust Azula to be so predictable in her naming choices. Well, this was the woman who once upon a time named Omashu "the City of New Ozai". She could be subtle when she wanted, but she usually wasn't.

Aang quickly covered his mouth, shoulders quivering in suppressed laughter. The Avatar probably thought that baby Ozai Junior was adorable. He kind of was, if Zuko was to be honest with himself.

Still. The boy was Azula's son. That fact alone made him extra cautious.

"Right. Ozai. ...The Second. Of course." Zuko rubbed his face, suddenly feeling exhausted. These kind of mood swings were not good for a person's chi. "My next condition, we must discuss the terms before the fight."

The boy tried to scowl, with all the intimidation of a newborn cat-ferret. "What are your terms?"

"Not here. Let's move to a more proper location." Zuko made a deliberate step in the opposite way. "This way, if you please?"

Ozai Junior hesitated, but quickly shook off his doubt and followed. The girl he called Akari stayed by his side.

"W-wait a minute," she said, trying to make Ozai see reason. "I'm not sure what's going on, but you don't have to do this, Zai."

"Yes, I do."

"No you don't!" she protested. "Bleeding hog-monkeys! What makes you think you can take the Firelord in single combat?!"

"I will, because I have to."

"Why?"

"What do you mean, why? You heard me! I must restore honor to my family!"

Not for the throne? Zuko's interest was officially piqued. He thought Ozai's main motivation was power. But perhaps, the kid was less like Azula than he thought.

The fact alone that he challenged Zuko in the middle of a street – where anyone could arrest him, a strategically unsound decision – was starting to make the Firelord suspect he might share more similarities with his nephew than expected.

"There must be another way! Didn't you say that he's your uncle?"

"What does that matter? He betrayed mother!"

"Are you sure about that?"

"W-What?"

The surprise in Ozai's voice almost made Zuko look back, but he restrained himself, choosing to give them the illusion of privacy.

"I mean, have you heard both sides of the story? There might be things you don't know about him."

"That's very unlikely."

"How do you know? That doesn't really sound like something Firelord Zuko would do."

"They filled your head with lies, Akari. He is not a good man. He's a traitor to his country, and his family."

"Just... maybe, try to hear him out?"

"Why? If anything he'll just lie."

"Please? Try to talk to him? For me?"

There was a pause. Then finally, a sigh.

"...Fine. I'll hear him out, but I make no promises."

"Great!"

"Ah, young love," Aang commented quietly, smiling. "This might not be so bad, Zuko."

Zuko sent him a look.

"He doesn't seem like a bad kid. I think he's misguided. We should try to help him."

"I know," Zuko whispers harshly. "But how the hell do I do that?! He was raised by Azula."

"And you were raised by Ozai," Aang responded without judgment. "But you had a pretty awesome uncle."

Zuko missed a step.

"...I don't know if I can do what uncle did for me," he admitted, worried.

"The best we can all do is try, right? You don't have to fight him. Just talk it out."

Aang obviously wasn't worried about the duel. But what the airbender didn't understand, was that one couldn't just refuse an Agni Kai – especially the Firelord. And the kid was obviously too stubborn to surrender. Zuko felt his head ache in stress at the mere thought. It wasn't that he was worried about victory – even if Ozai was equal to Azula in skills, he was still only a child. He stood no chance to Zuko, who was in his prime and far more experienced.

No, Zuko was more worried about the inevitable outcome – which was either hurting or humiliating Ozai. How was he to end the fight without it ending the one way or another? He didn't want that. He didn't want to fight his nephew at all.

He had thought he was past the point he was forced to fight his own family.

A deep sigh escaped him. Just, try to be like Uncle, he told himself. Patient, understanding. He could do this.

They finally reached the destination.

"...A tea shop?" Ozai muttered in confusion.

"I found that best decisions are made when discussed over a cup of calming, jasmine tea," Zuko explained carefully. "Please, come in. My treat. You're welcome too, Akari."

"I am?"

"Of course. Any friend of my nephew is welcome to join."

Ozai stared at Zuko with shock, eyes wide. Ah. He probably wasn't expecting Zuko to be... accommodating. Well then. Zuko would have to change those preconceptions. With force, if necessary. (Gentle force, that is.)

Akari bravely took Ozai's arm and dragged him into the tea shop, sending him a reassuring smile. The poor boy looked like he had been hit on the head with a boomerang. Zuko sympathized. This entire meeting felt surreal.

Zuko, to show his pure intentions, ordered one teapot for them all to share. But as they all settled – the Firelord, the Avatar, the Prince and the commoner – an awkward silence fell over them.

Zuko started sweating nervously. Where do they even begin?

"So!" Aang cheerfully spoke up to break the tension. "Ozai, right?"

"I call him Zai," Akari responded in much the same way. "At least, that's how he first introduced himself."

"Zai? That's nice! Can I call you Zai?"

"No," Ozai told him with a cold face. "No you cannot."

"Awww." Aang deflated with exaggerated disappointment. "But I like it."

"I wish to share no familiarity with you, evil spirit."

Oh, boy. Zuko felt a migraine coming on.

"Evil spirit?" Aang repeated with a hurt expression. "I'm not an evil spirit!"

"Right. And I'm a platypus-bear."

"I swear! I'm the Avatar! You know, the Bridge between the Spirit World and the Human World?" Aang explained a little desperately. "The Keeper of Balance and whatnot? The Peacekeeper?"

"All lies," Ozai disagreed. "You create discord and suffering wherever you go."

"Um, have you seen any of the places I've been to?" the Avatar asked dubiously.

"No, but mother has. She told me all about it."

"Of course she did," Aang sighed, putting his head into his hands.

Well, wasn't this a great way to start a conversation.

"So, um, Ozai," Zuko started awkwardly. "Where are you from?"

Ozai seemed as uneasy as his uncle. "...Sesoko."

"Sesoko Islands?" Zuko's brows raised in surprise. That was almost on the opposite end of the archipelago. "You've traveled far to get here, then."

"Yes."

"I'm from the same area!" Akari chimed in. "We came here for the Quaternary Festival together. That's how we met."

"I see." Zuko accepted the a pot from the server dismissed him, pouring tea for everyone himself. "I'm glad you were able to make such a good friend along the way."

Akari beamed. Ozai looked helplessly confused.

Aang took a sip from his cup and sighed.

"Ahhh! This is some good stuff! You really know the best places, Zuko."

The Firelord hummed. "It isn't as good as Uncle's tea, though."

"...You mean General Iroh?" Ozai asked, uncertain. "The Dragon of the West?"

"Well, yes. He's the only uncle I have." Zuko looked at him curiously. "Speaking of which... Who's your father? Do you have any other relatives aside from Azula? A cousin, an aunt..."

"I... don't know," the boy admitted, biting his lip. Somehow, all the previous pride and confidence had washed away, living a confused, timid kid. Zuko felt his heart ache in sorrow. "I asked mother about my father once. She said he wasn't important."

Oh. That... probably meant it wasn't a long-lasting relationship.

"I'm sorry for asking," said Zuko, taking a sip.

Ozai stared at him.

"You have a question?"

"So many," the boy blurted out, looking surprised at his own words. "Like, why are you asking me these things? And why are you giving me tea? Aren't you going to destroy me?"

All the other people at the table blanched at the last question.

"No!" Zuko exclaimed before he could compose himself. "What are you talking about? I'm not going to destroy you!"

"But we're supposed to be talking about the terms of Agni Kai," Ozai pointed out, baffled. "You're going to try to eliminate me. There's no reason for you to..." Ozai frowned as if he couldn't even classify what Zuko was doing. "...pretend to be civil."

"I am not pretending to be civil," Zuko said, irritated. "I am being civil. We are having a discussion over tea, like civilized people. And no. I am not going to kill you."

"But you accepted my challenge!" Ozai burst out in frustration. "You can't back out on it!"

"I am not refusing you challenge, Prince Ozai," the Firelord explained, praying for patience, hoping that using the boy's title – and thus acknowledging his importance – would calm him down a bit. It worked.

No wonder Uncle did that all the time when he was young.

"...You're not?"

"No. However, I refuse for the terms to be a fight to the death. That's senseless and barbaric, so we won't be doing that."

Ozai blinks at him in puzzlement. "But I thought... Agni Kai is supposed to..."

"You mentioned the duel I had with your mother."

"The one where you broke the rules and won unfairly."

Zuko decided to deal with that later. "And yet, we are both still very much alive, yes?"

"...Yes." Ozai admitted.

"Which means, neither your mother or I destroyed each other in that fight."

The young Prince appeared to be utterly floored at the revelation.

"So as you can see, Agni Kai definitely doesn't have to end in death for either of us," Zuko concluded. "Come on, try the tea. I assure you it's delicious."

"It really is good!" Akari said, finishing her own cup in delight. "Can I have more, please?"

"Allow me!" Aang poured her more.

"I never thought I'd be having tea with the Firelord and the Avatar," she said with a giggle. "And a secret Prince, as it turns out."

"I know, right! Isn't it exciting?" Aang grinned at her.

"It is!"

Ozai looked like he had no idea what was going on. Slowly, he took his cup and took a small sip. The other three leaned forward in anticipation.

"Well?" Akari asked, bouncing in her seat. "What do you think Zai? Isn't it awesome?"

"It's... alright," he said, but Zuko could hear the words 'But it's just tea' loud and clear.

"I understand," he said with a small smile. "It took me some time to grow fond of it, myself. But it's not all that bad, isn't it?"

"I, I suppose not?"

Zuko was glad Ozai was willing to try the tea at all. If it were Azula, she wouldn't have touched it. She would me more likely to throw it in his face than taste it, actually. Young Ozai appeared much more agreeable and even-tempered than either of the siblings. Zuko wondered if it was a trait the boy inherited from his unknown father. He guessed he would never know for sure.

"So, you were raised by your mother, correct?"

"Yes." Ozai gazed into his cup of a distant look.

"Where is she right now?"

"Not here." The instant refusal to reveal his mother's location was a clear indication he wouldn't get anything out of the boy on the subject. Zuko decided not to push it.

"How is Azula, these days? I haven't seen her since she left." Since her psychotic breakdown, he didn't say.

"Mother is..." Ozai trailed off. "She is very strong."

"I didn't mean her strength. I know she is," Zuko told him gently, causing the boy to look up in surprise. "But is she... happy? Healthy?" Sane? He wanted to ask.

"She... gets angry sometimes," Ozai admitted, and Zuko had no idea if he was telling him because he was family, of because he never had a chance to talk about it with anyone. "But some days she's in a good mood. She made me a peach crumble, once."

Once. This poor child.

Aang had his hand pressed to his chest, his eyes misty.

"Does she ever..." Zuko tried to act casual by taking a sip of tea, but his hand was shaking. Luckily, Ozai didn't seem to notice. "...take that, uh, anger, out on you?"

Ozai looked away, his hand touching his left cheek in a subconscious gesture. He didn't respond.

Akari covered her mouth in horrified realization. Aang looked like he was about to cry.

"Never mind," Zuko said, in sudden resolve. "Prince Ozai, I wish to state my terms of Agni Kai."

At the abrupt change of topic, all of them looked at him in surprise.

Ozai straightened up in attention. "I'm listening."

"First of all, we will fight in the courtyard of the palace at sunset, with the Avatar and your friend Akari as witnesses, and the Fire Sages as the judges. Does that seem acceptable to you?"

Ozai nodded.

"Thank you. Secondly, the fight will last until either one of us falls down, is pushed out of bounds, or surrenders. Does that also seem reasonable?"

The boy hesitated this time. "Not until the first burn?"

"No." Zuko was not going to burn this child. Or any child. Ever. "Falling or pushing out of bounds. Anything else is non-negotiable. Do you have a firm grasp on your basics?"

"Of course I do!" Ozai said, offended.

"Then that should be no problem, correct?"

He opened his mouth, then closed it, and nodded.

"Excellent. Third, concessions of defeat. Each of us will be honor-bound to surrender to the victor. You said you wanted the crown, did you not?"

Ozai watched him intently. "And I want you to admit to the dishonor you brought upon our family."

"Very well. Three things, then, if you win. First, I will hand you the throne, no strings attached, abdicating peacefully and immediately."

Akari opened her mouth in shock, stupefied. Aang made various sputtering sounds of protest.

"Secondly, I will bow in front of you and confess my sins."

Even Ozai gaped at that. The people who were not-so-discreetly eavesdropping on them exposed themselves by gasping.

"And lastly, I will accept your mother to return to the capitol as a free woman, restoring her as the Princess of the Fire Nation."

Zuko knew his concessions were unrealisitc. But he raised the bar to the highest possible stakes. He had to, if he wanted for his nephew to listen.

"You're lying," Ozai said incredulously. "There's no way you would ever agree to something like that."

"I said, if you win. Which I very much doubt." A mild dig and a challenge, to provoke a reaction. It worked like a charm.

"I will defeat you!"

"Very well. Now, the terms of your defeat."

Ozai paused, suspicious. "What would you want from me aside from my death? I have nothing you would want."

"You're incorrect," Zuko calmly drank his tea. "I offered three concessions because there are three things I want from you, in case I win."

"What are they?"

"First, you will tell me of your mother's current location."

The boy tensed up instantly. "You want me to betray mother? So you can kill her?"

Despite being excluded from the conversation, Aang groaned loudly. "Why does he constantly jump to conclusion that Zuko wants to murder everybody? He's not like that!"

Akari patted the Avatar on the arm in sympathy.

Zuko shook his head. "No, nothing of the sort. I've been looking for my sister for years. I wish to see her again. And I need to speak with her."

A half-truth. He intended to capture her for her safety, and the safety of others. If nothing changed in the past fourteen years, Azula still needed help. He was not going to leave her alone out there.

"How do I know you're telling the truth?"

"I will speak to the Fire Sages and swear an oath, if you wish. I will not harm your mother."

Ozai, despite still skeptical-looking, agreed. "Alright. What else?"

"Second, I want you to swear loyalty."

"To you?" Ozai appeared repulsed.

"I said I would give you the throne if I lost, didn't I? It's only fair. If you win, I will swear loyalty to you. If I win, you will swear loyalty to me."

"Oooh, nice one, Zuko!" Aang brightened up, catching on.

If the kid was truly as idealistic as he seemed, he would not break his word. That would make him safe to be around, Azula's son or not – which would also protect him. Which was necessary for Zuko's last condition.

Ozai visibly battled with himself for a long moment. Finally, he gritted his teeth and said: "Only if you win. But I will defeat you, uncle."

Zuko simply nodded once. "Third. I want you to stay."

Prince Ozai frowned. "I don't understand."

"I want you to stay with me. With us." Zuko made a wide gesture. "In the palace."

"Are you... going to imprison me?" the boy asked with bafflement. "Or make me a servant?"

Zuko laughed. "No, Ozai. I want you as my nephew. As my family."

For a moment, there was only incomprehension in his eyes. Then confusion. Then denial. Then even more heartbreaking confusion.

"You're lying."

"You don't have to believe me." Yet. It took Uncle years to undo the emotional scars Zuko's father inflicted on him. So he was willing to be patient and wait just as long, if needed. "Those are my conditions."

"Why would you possibly-" Ozai's breath suspiciously hitched. He looked down. "-want me? I'm a failure."

And for the first time that day, Zuko felt truly angry. But it was not the explosive kind. Like slow, creeping lava, it was the kind of fury that knew it needed to wait for the right moment to strike. He put that feeling away, for now.

"No, Ozai," Zuko's voice was deep and rough. "You are anything but a failure."

The boy raised his eyes, and in the golden reflections, Zuko saw himself.

Ozai did not understand. He'd thought he knew what to expect from his uncle. But everything was different and he didn't know what to do.

He thought once he publicly challenged the Firelord, the man would be furious. He would demand to settling things right then and there. He would be overconfident, and that would ultimately lead to his downfall. Ozai was young, and he was a failure, but he was still more powerful. He could do this.

But Zuko reacted nothing like Ozai expected him to. First, he didn't respond to the challenge immediately. He wanted to set terms. Alright, he thought, so perhaps his uncle was more level-headed and calculated than he initially expected. He could still work with this.

But then the man took him to a tea shop. And invited Akari to join them. And he poured them tea himself – all from the same teapot, so no way it was poisoned. And asked him about mother, as if he cared about her.

Ozai was confused.

Then the Firelord asked him where he was from. Approved of his friendship with Akari. Asked about his father. And when he couldn't answer, he... apologized. To Ozai. For asking.

Ozai was very confused.

Then Firelord Zuko told him they wouldn't be fighting to the death. But Ozai thought that was the entire point. To destroy your opponent. Then the Firelord pointed out that if that always were the case, he and mother wouldn't both be still around. And no matter how excellent of a liar his uncle might be, Ozai couldn't deny the truth of it.

Ozai was very, very confused.

Then uncle Zuko laid down his terms. His unbelievable, too-good-to-be-true terms. There was no way he would give up the throne so easily. He was definitely up to something.

Ozai was right. What the man wanted from him was unacceptable. But... refusal would mean no Agni Kai. So what other choice Ozai have? He had to fight his uncle. He was so close. He would make mother proud of him, even if it killed him.

But then, the man insisted he didn't want to kill him. Instead, he said:

"I want you to stay."

Lie. Who would want Ozai? The failure firebender, who couldn't make blue fire and feared his own lightning? Even mother couldn't stand him most of the time.

"I want you to stay with me. With us. In the palace."

His uncle was an excellent liar. But for some reason, even though he knew, even though he constantly reminded himself...

"Are you... going to imprison me? Or make me a servant?"

"No, Ozai. I want you as my nephew. As my family."

He's a liar.

"You don't have to believe me. Those are my conditions."

"Why would you possibly... want me? I'm a failure."

Uncle Zuko is a liar, he's a lying liar who lies-

"No, Ozai. You are anything but a failure."

And something broke.

There was strange noise in his ears, as if he had hit his head during training or shot too big of a lightning bolt, and there was a familiar burning behind his eyes and he had trouble swallowing and-

Oh no.

He stood up, knowing he had to escape, he had to hide before they see-

But then-

Akari was holding him. She was holding him, tightly, and he couldn't move.

"Zai... it's okay."

It wasn't okay, nothing about this was okay, he was showing weakness, in front of the Firelord of all people, and that was unacceptable-!

Uncle Zuko was in front of him. Bending down to his level.

"Ozai. You have nothing to be ashamed of."

He squeezed his eyes shut, shaking his head in denial.

"You're not a failure. You are a very brave young man." There was a hand on his head, firm yet so gentle. "You're thirteen and you challenged the Firelord to an Agni Kai. How could anyone ever call that a failure?"

A traitorous sob escaped him. He wished Akari would let him go, but at the same time, he kind of didn't.

Mother would be so ashamed.

"I couldn't be more proud of my nephew. It would be an honor to have you in our family."

And those words, they were the ones that finally made him give in fully. He bowed his head, unwittingly leaning into his uncle's hand, and cried.

Things afterwards were a complete blur.

It seemed like one moment they were in the tea shop, and the next, Ozai was wandering around the festival again, his right hand held firmly by Akari while the Avatar walked on his other side, chattering about "what he thought might cheer him up". It was almost like Ozai lost any sense of reality. The wicked spirit was kind and fun and showing them festivals attractions, making jokes, performing tricks and distracting Ozai to the point that he almost forgot to ask where the Firelord went.

"Oh, he's just making some preparations. Don't worry, you'll see him in a minute! Zuko and I are going to perform the Dragon Dance! You want to watch?"

Ozai didn't even know what the Dragon Dance was, but Akari seemed very excited about it, so what else could he do but follow along?

Turns out, the Dragon Dance was, quite literally, a dance. The Avatar and the Firelord stood next to each other, drums playing in the background, performing what seemed like very unusual firebending katas, synchronized and matching the other's movements perfectly. Ozai, who'd never seen more than one firebender bending at once, was impressed.

Well. Maybe uncle Zuko wasn't as bad at bending anymore as mother thought...

And while that thought should have filled him with panic over the Agni Kai, for some reason, he felt reassured.

"Wasn't that amazing?" Akari said, clapping her hands with the rest of the crowd.

"Yeah..." Ozai breathed out, a small smile on his lips.

But the Avatar and the Firelord weren't the only ones performing. Soon there was a waterbending master making a show of her bending, and Ozai had never seen waterbending before but he had to admit it looked... what was that word Akari used earlier?

Oh, right. Beautiful.

Then there was an earthbending master, and her bending was huge and loud but no less impressive than the rest. Mother always made it sound like earthbending was something crude, and waterbending terrifying and treacherous... But he liked them. Despite himself, he liked them a lot.

Maybe it was just the festival atmosphere. He'd return to his senses tomorrow. Maybe.

And then the Avatar and the Firelord and the waterbender and the earthbender and a swordsman and a woman with fans were all performing together, and finally Ozai realized, they were all character's from Akari's theater play. Or rather, the people the characters were based on. They were all real. These were all the Avatar's teachers and companions. He couldn't deny what was in front of his eyes. And despite all the warnings and horror tales he heard about the Avatar and his allies... he felt safe.

Did it mean that mother could have been... mistaken in some ways?

The thought was soon discarded as Akari dragged him to a different food stand. He had no idea what this was, but it was mouth watering.

Ozai almost wished it was the Quaternary Festival everyday.

But sadly, all good things must come to an end.

Uncle Zuko gathered the Fire Sages in the courtyard, as promised. Akari and the Avatar- ("Come on, Ozai, at least call me by my name? Please? Pretty please? Come on, I'll buy those sweet noodles for you~!") -Aang were both there to bear witness. The Firelord stated the terms of both sides to the Sages, and they swore to Agni they would judge the duel fairly.

Then there they stood, backs to each other, the setting sun casting long shadows. Ozai took a deep breath, and turned. He was ready.

But and he turned, and saw his uncle, instead of righteous rage and determination he expected, he felt... at peace. Like no matter the outcome of the fight, it would be alright.

Uncle Zuko smiled at him.

"The opening move is yours, Prince Ozai."

He felt his lips mirroring the expression, and he called upon his flames.

The inferior shade of orange-yellow fire blazed around him, dispersing the shadows around them.

"Golden flame, huh... You truly are a powerful bender."

Ozai had no time to contemplate what the Firelord meant by that mysterious phrase. Instead, he spun around and struck with his first, putting considerable force into it.

Uncle Zuko blocked, but it made him take a step back. A small victory.

"Woo! Go Zai!" Akari cheered from the sidelines.

"Come on, sifu hotman!" Aang hollered with equal enthusiasm.

"I will defeat you, uncle!" Ozai said, emboldened.

"Try your best, nephew," Zuko encouraged him, forming a ring of fire around him with his legs as he supported his body's weight on his hands. "Hold nothing back!"

He did. He gave it is all. Blow after jump, strike after doge, spin after blow. The exchange grew faster and faster, and neither of them were stopping. It was exhilarating.

Ozai, much to his surprise, realized that he was having fun.

Despite him giving it his all, neither of them were any close to pushing the other outside the set boundary, nor did either of them fall. Ozai's basics were as strong as Zuko's, their stances firm, despite their techniques being near opposites.

Soon the sun touched the horizon, then it disappeared, but they were still going. Ozai's yellow-orange flames mix with Zuko's bright red fire, casting bright sparks around like fireflies in twilight. And they kept fighting.

But just as Ozai began to think that he was tiring the other out, just as he thought that victory was truly close at hand...

"Prince Ozai is out of bounds!" a Sage declared all of a sudden.

Ozai stopped, uncomprehending. Then he looked down. His left foot was clearly out of bounds.

He realized what happened.

"You did this on purpose," he said aloud. "You made me think I was winning to distract me."

"Yes," uncle Zuko admitted shamelessly.

"...You're stronger than this, aren't you?" Ozai said in strange awe. "You were holding back."

"Yes," the Firelord repeated.

"Why?" the boy asked, not understanding. "You could have ended it a lot sooner."

"But then, I wouldn't have been able to see what you're capable of," the man explained, stepping next to him. "It was an excellent fight." And he reached out to him with his hand. "Nephew."

This should have been a painful moment of defeat. He lost. He failed his mother. Ozai should have been filled with grief and shame. His life was supposed to be over.

And yet, as Ozai took his uncle's hand... he realized it was a new beginning, instead.

The End.

Author's Note:

Fun fact: Akari was a spontaneous addition to the story. She's around fourteen or fifteen, if you wondered. Slightly older, not too much, but enough for her to mother him. I never really intended giving Ozai a love interest. But, I realized that a cute, mysterious, obviously mistreated yet heart-breakingly naive person like Ozai would attract mothering types like flies. And thus, Akari, the first person who saw him and immediately decided I-need-to-protect-this-poor-awkward-turtleduck, came to be. Ozai, unused to friendship as he is, immediately developed a crush on the sheer principle of her being a girl who pays attention to him. It just sort of happened. Ozai needs more friends in his life, but this is a good start.

If you noticed some similarities to Tangled... yeah, I admit, there were a couple of them? I didn't realize them until I started writing, funnily enough. I hope that you guys don't mind.

Also – I'm sorry that Azula is very much Not A Good Mom in this fic. She's plenty horrible, both as a mother and a person in general. I apologize, Azula fans!

In this AU Azula was never redeemed, and never quite regained her sanity after her breakdown in the series finale. And Ozai's dad? I don't want to make things too dark, but... Let's just say he didn't intentionally become a father, and he never found out he was one. (Not implying she necessarily killed him afterwards, just... they definitely never met again, at least. And I doubt he told his family anything, either.) I'm sorry, but even though she's attractive, I don't think any sane man would want a relationship with Azula, after spending more than five minutes in her company. Especially with Post-Psychotic-Breakdown Azula.

Ozai is what I imagine Zuko would be like, if he wasn't banished and was trapped with Ozai the First for his entire childhood. Instead of angry and bitter, he's terrified and desperate for approval due to abuse. At first I hesitated on his characterization – I mean, Zuko at least had a good mother figure. I put serious consideration if it'd be possible, for a kid living like that, to remain compassionate and kind. Azula certainly didn't want him to be like that, and she didn't like him being so "honor-oriented" like Zuzu. But her "mistake" in raising him, was that she didn't take his timid nature into account. Ozai is, and always was, a Good Boi who tries his best. When pushed and mistreated, he didn't grow ruthless – though he would have grown bitter if he were abandoned like Zuko – but only more desperate for love. He'll be in denial about Azula caring about him, just like Zuko was, for a long time. But he'll come around eventually, with patience and care.

(Azula might "love" him in a way, but it's no way a healthy relationship. She needs therapy first, and a lot of it, for her to have any kind of positive relationship.)

Thank you for reading, please leave a comment, follow and add to favorites if you can, but most importantly – read on and enjoy! :)