The Last Waterbender

Chapter 7: False Identities

Disclaimer: All rights belong to Nickelodeon, Bryan Konietzko, Michael Dante DiMartino, and all the men and women that created the A:TLA show, books, and comics. I take no credit, and I do not mean to break any copyright rules. This is simply a work of fiction made for enjoyment. No money is being made. The lyrics are from the song "Little Things" by One Direction

Rating: General Audiences. Warning: some scenes contain dark themes and minor violence

Chapter 7 - False Identities

All those conversations are the secrets that I keep
Though it makes no sense to me

"We'll reach the nearest Earth Kingdom port by noon," Zuko tells Katara the next morning. "We're going to make a stop for supplies. My men and I will go first to make sure the port is secure. When we make our second trip, you can join us."

She doesn't question his logic, which he's thankful for. The truth is, they aren't really checking to see if the port is secure. Zuko just wants to ask around about the Avatar without Katara hearing.

"I've never left my tribe before, except for the one time I went to the Northern Water Tribe," she remarks. "I don't remember making any stops, so we must have travelled straight by boat. I've never seen any Earth Kingdom villages."

"You see one, you see them all. Trust me. I've been around." Zuko stabs at his food with a chopstick. "The only important ones are Ba Sing Se and Omashu."

"So you've been everywhere now?"

"Everywhere except the Air Temples. The Airbenders won't let me anywhere near their dumb monasteries."

"So you've been to the North Pole?" Katara's eyes shine with a glimmer of hope. Zuko feels guilty. He wasn't the one who destroyed her nation, but he might as well have been. It was his great grandfather, after all.

"Yeah. There's nothing left. I'm sorry."

She leans back from the table but doesn't seem too heartbroken. He'd underestimated her; she was prepared to hear the worst.

"Do you ever miss your home?" she asks.

"No." Zuko avoids her eyes. She's the kind of person who can see right through you if you make eye contact with her. He isn't ready to expose himself like that, especially not to her.

"Two years is a long time to be away from the people who love you."

Zuko isn't thinking about his father or sister when he says, "Yes, it is." He's thinking of his mother. Although it's been a bit longer than two years since she left. He shoves the painful memories away. His mother is to blame; she betrayed their family and the Fire Nation. He's not supposed to mourn for traitors.

"They must miss you," she presses. Zuko doesn't like where the conversation is heading so he stands.

"The sooner I finish my mission, the sooner they can stop missing me. I have to get ready now."

She doesn't say anything as he leaves, but he notices the way she looks thoughtfully down at her bowl. She's trying to understand him, trying to ask questions that reveal more about who he is to her. Her problem is that she can never understand where he's coming from.

In the Fire Nation, everything revolves around honor. Especially if you're royalty. His whole life, Zuko has been trying to prove himself worthy. Practicing his firebending for hours a day, dressing just right, speaking only when appropriate, talking only to nobles, attending the right social events - even eating the right food and exactly the right amount of it at banquets. He did everything right. When his mother disappeared, he was forced to compose himself the very next day to show the public that traitors aren't to be missed in any way, even if they are your mother and the only person who showed you genuine love and compassion. The Fire Nation comes before even family.