(Untitled)

[princeinexile]

"Uncle? Are these--"

Going anywhere? No. There is a boy-- a smiling, happy boy-- blinking over an armful of papers and scrolls. "Uncle?"

The door clicks shut behind him and smooths away into flat wall.

Zuko blinks.

"Oh. Well, I guess it's okay to take a break."

He's never sounded that chipper before. Ever.

Comments

[seeswithherfeet]

Toph is not buying this for a minute. "Okay, what is this? Reverse-angst? Any minute now you're gonna start talking about how terrible life is, right?"

[princeinexile]

"Actually, things are going very well."

Zuko's never sounded that polite before as long as Toph's known him.

[seeswithherfeet]

Her mouth hangs open for a moment. This isn't Zuko. This is some... cheery, weird, annoyingly happy Zuko.

"...What? Did the Dai Li get ahold of you?"

[princeinexile]

"No." In fact, he kicked the butts of a few.

In another life, anyway.

[seeswithherfeet]

She walks over to him and stands next to him. She lifts her arm and points to fingers at his head. Then...

She attempts to poke him in the side of the head. Multiple times.

[princeinexile]

"Wh--hey!"

This is Zuko backpeddling rather quickly. No pokey!

Yet, he doesn't hit or deck her.

[seeswithherfeet]

"You feel real enough," she mutters. "But no violent outburst? You're not Zuko." She even nods, as if it validates her claim.

[princeinexile]

He is rather-- silent inside. The smile is there, but the boy is -- sort of hollow.

"Well, I'm not going by that name anymore, so I'd appreciate it if you didn't use it anyway. And please don't poke me." He slides a hand through his hair, letting it fall back into place.

[seeswithherfeet]

"Well what are you going by these days? Giggles McCheeryface?" She stares at him blankly. There's something definitely not right with him. "What happened to all the angst? And the whole 'restore my honor' thing? Did you just forget about that?"

[princeinexile]

There is a clench -- an echo. Restore my honor resonates with something, but then there's nothing.

"Sometimes people have to change. And I'm going by Li now. The old name has-- too much trouble with it." You know, being hunted down like a dog and all. Also, a prince's name. Li is dirt common.

Just like Zuko feels.

[seeswithherfeet]

"Li? That's a stupid name," she mutters, flopping down in a nearby chair. "Your name's Zuko. And that's what I'm going to call you until you regain your senses, Zuko."

[princeinexile]

The smile is slipping. "Please don't. There are people in the bar who -- know us. And could -- cause us problems. We're-- living quietly now. We don't...want trouble anymore."

Congratulations, Toph. Zuko's feeling something like fear.

[seeswithherfeet]

"When has that bothered you before? Jeez, first you sit around reading, and now this. Did you turn into a total wimp overnight?"

She's gonna try to shock him into his senses. And if that doesn't work... well, she'll have to try the blunt trauma plan.

[princeinexile]

"I said, we're living peacefully. We're going to leave you alone. Isn't -- that something good for you and your friends?"

And here, some part of him thought they'd be pleased.

[seeswithherfeet]

"You're just dodging what you have to do," she mutters, pretending to be very interested in some dirt under her fingernails. "You're just pretending to be Li so you don't have to do anything. Make any decisions. Isn't that right?" She glares at him with a look devoid of friendliness.

Really, she's kind of happy that she actually got a reaction out of him.

[princeinexile]

"Stopping is a decision. It wasn't getting me anywhere. Why should I keep doing it, if it's self-destructive and hurts the only person I have in my life?" Zuko asks, his brows furrowing.

He doesn't understand her at all.