-𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙖𝙩𝙚⊰

-Chapter 24 ༉

Zuko watched from his office balcony as Katara walked around the private garden, bouncing their son gently as he screamed at the top of his lungs.

His heart gave a painful lurch as he studied his wife. She looked tired and frazzled. Her night attire rumbled as Kai moved restlessly in her arms.

They hadn't spoken to each other since the fight, which was over two weeks ago. Every time he thought about it, he would cringe and wish the spirits would strike him down. How could he say that to his wife?

He felt guilty, guiltier than he has ever felt before. He should have never said that about his children. They were the light of his life. He loved them more than he loved himself and his country. It was just that the wall that blocked his stress had suddenly collapsed after that last war meeting, making him feel vicious and itching for a fight. And when he was in that type of mental state, he never thought before speaking.

At least, that's what he had been telling himself to make him feel better. Which it didn't. It made him feel worse because it was a poor excuse for his behavior.

He heard Katara heave a loud sigh as Kai screamed louder. "Kai," he heard her say over the screaming. "You're going to wake the whole nation at this rate. Please, calm down."

The Fire Lord wanted to go to his wife. She was in no condition to be up all night with a screaming baby. But she had holed herself up into a different part of the palace with Kai, barely seeing Zuko unless it was a mealtime or at court. It had even gotten to a point where he barely saw Kai.

'But it's nothing knew, right Zuko?' his mind taunted and it oddly sounded like Azula. 'You pushed them away in favor of your war meetings, so seeing your son only once in a while is nothing new, you should be used to it by now.'

Zuko bit his lip, the urge to yell becoming increasingly overwhelming.

"Are you alright, nephew?"

The Fire Lord nearly jumped out of his skin as he turned around and faced his uncle.

"Uncle," he gasped. "You scared me half to death."

The cheerful old man just smiled at him as he came and stood beside him, watching as Kyung and Lady Song approached Katara with a bottle, saying how maybe warm goat-sheep's milk might make the squalling prince tired.

"Poor Katara has been dealing with him screaming for the past three hours," Iroh said. "I hope he didn't inherit your surly attitude."

Zuko gave his uncle a look and rolled his eyes before turning his attention back to Katara. She had abandoned the bottle after the many attempts to get it into Kai's mouth were thwarted by the prince and gave a desperate look to Song, who snapped her fingers and walked with Kyung back into the palace.

Iroh chuckled. "The reason for his tantrum is that the Crown Prince is cutting new teeth. Your wife and Kyung have tried everything to calm him. They had to call upon Lady Song for suggestions."

Song and Kyung had walked back out towards Katara, handing her what looked like a large ring that Zuko recognized from one of Kai's toys.

Shifting Kai into her other arm, Katara took the large ring from Kyung and froze a part of it before giving it to Kai.

The Fire Lord chuckled as he saw his son make an astounded face when Katara all but shoved the cold toy into his mouth.