A love between fire and water

Chapter 1

Zuko's P.O.V.

"Ahhhhh!" Izumi cried. I groaned as I got out of bed before walking over to her crib.

"Shhhh-shhhh, Izumi. I'm here." I said as I picked her up and rested her against my shoulder, but she continued to cry. She's been crying non stop for the past three days. The doctors and Katara say she's fine and it's probably just a phase she'll get over eventually. I've tried everything from singing, bottles of formula, wrapping her up, funny faces, and just any other last resort. Nothing has worked, so I'm very tired and worried from all of this. I could ask uncle for help, but I'm sure he wants to keep working at his tea shop right now.

Tonight she did eventually fall sleep and that let me sleep a little. But I was so tired that I didn't change my clothes, I just laid on my bed. Izumi let me sleep for five minutes before she woke up and started crying again, which is now. I just continued what I've been doing. Which was walking around, patting her back, humming to her, and I kept doing this until sunrise and midday.

"Your highness, Sokka is here to see you. Do you want him to come here or do you want to met him where he's waiting?" A servant said before I looked at them. They looked concerned before changing their expression back to neutral. They probably see how tired I am based on how I look. I haven't gotten to look at myself in a mirror in awhile.

"Tell him I'll be there in a few minutes."

"Yes, sir." They said before bowing and walking away.

"Come on, Izumi. Please stop crying." I said as held her in my arms, I was supporting her head. But she just continued to cry. I made her another bottle of formula, hoping that eating will get her to stop for a little bit.

"So, this is why I was waiting for two hours and a half?" Someone said before I turned around. It was Sokka.

"Has it been that long?" I asked as I sat on a couch.

"Is she okay?"

"Yeah, but she just won't get over this crying fit." I said as he sat next to me on the couch. He didn't really say anything else as I gave Izumi the bottle. She stoped crying and took the bottle.

"That got her to stop."

"For now. She'll start crying again after she's done. Why did you come here? Not that you can't be here, just why? Wait, did I miss you becoming chef?" I said as I looked at him.

"No, that's in two weeks, so you didn't miss it. I'm here early for the meeting tomorrow to update you on the southern tribes progress on rebuilding." He said as he sat next to me.

"Oh okay, but doesn't your dad usually come to do that? Is he okay?"

"Yeah, he's okay. Just old and wanting to retire. I came in his place because by the next time there's another report or something happens in the world. I'll probably be there and not my dad, so I figured I should start a little early."

"Alright then."

"Have you looked in a mirror? You look awful."

"No, I haven't. How bad am I?"

"Your hair and clothes are messed up. Also your eye bags are so bad it looks like you put on make up." He said before before I groaned. "Has Izumi been stressing you out that much?"

"Yes, she won't stop crying. So, that keeps me from sleeping at all." I said before she got done with the bottle. I brasted myself for her crying. Which as soon as I took the bottle out of her mouth, she started her crying fit again. I can't even bring myself to get mad and I don't want to either. I feel like if I get mad at her just over this she'll be hurt for years and I'll be just like my father. I just leaned my head back with a groan.

"Can I try something?" Sokka asked before I opened my eyes and looked at him.

"I guess, but I've already tried everything that I could think of." I said before letting him hold Izumi. He held her under her arms before gently blowing in her face. Which got her to stop and look at him. I was amazed, mainly because it was the only thing that got her to stop besides her feedings.

"Guess you didn't think of that." Sokka said before she started crying again.

"Please do it again!" I said as I held his arm. He looked at me with a surprised expression.

"It only works every so often. If I do it again she won't react the same way." He said before I groaned and leaned against his arm. "Hold on." He said before I sat up again, still holding onto his arm. Then he stuck out his tongue and flofed. It got Izumi to stop crying and look at him again. She even giggled at him. And when he stopped she didn't continue to cry, she just looked around. I was so relieved, I sighed before resting my head against Sokka's shoulder again.

"I'm sorry..." I mumbled into his shoulder before he chuckled.

"It's okay. You seemed desperate." He said as I sat up and laid my head against the back of the couch.

"I was. Until you helped she's been crying for three days."

"Wow. Some of the little boys in the southern tribe cried longer. But that was before we left with Aang."

"So, I guess you had some practice with this sort of thing?"

"You could say that. I also need to get some practice in again for in the future."

"Why?"

"No reason." He said getting me to chuckle.

"Even after the hundred year war, you still act the same at times."

"Hey, I've gotten to act more mature."

"You have, but you're still weird."

"And as big as a jerk as you used to be." He said before we both laughed. Izumi also giggled at us before her attention got caught my Sokka's finger. She tried to get it and the tried to suck on it. Then Sokka held her in his arms, supporting her head.

"I miss the old times." He said before Izumi started to suck on her red blanket.

"Yeah, I do to. But I like these new times as well."

"Me too." He said before we went silent for a few minutes. "I'm sorry about Mai."

"Why?"

"I just know that you two loved each other. And she's the only reason we got out of the boiling rock to save my dad. So, that made me feel like I owed her something." He said before I sighed.

"It's okay, she probably didn't think you owed her anything. If anything I owned her something for putting up with me." I said before he chuckled.

"Yeah, you jerk bender." He said as he hit my chest. We both laughed and Izumi giggled.

"You think that's funny?" I teased her.

"It's funniest thing she's ever heard."

"Okay." I said as I chuckled.

"Want me to look after her so you can get some sleep?"

"Only if you want to. I don't want to force you."

"It's okay with me. Babies and kids seem to love me for some reason."

"Alright then. Her formula is in the kitchen and you need to mix it with warm water, not hot. Her crib is in my room if she goes to sleep." I said as I stood up.

"Alright."

"I'll probably go sleep in one of the guest rooms. So, you can sleep in my room if you want. That way you won't have to worry about waking me up."

"Sounds good. Now go to sleep."

"Alright, I will." I said before walking to the guest rooms. I opened the door to one, and didn't bother to close the door behind me, before sitting on the bed. I took off my shoes and socks before taking out my hair pin and letting my hair fall down. I set my hair pin on the bedside table before going under the blanket. I rested the blanket at my waist. It didn't take long for me to fall asleep.

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Words: 1405
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Until next time!