Chapter Text
The winter has just begun when Ursa, Ikem and Kiyi arrive at the Fire Nation court. Kiyi had been writing to her brother every week since they’d first returned home and in her most recent letter had demanded, much like royalty, to come and see Zuko.
Kiyi’s mornings are spent with her family, exploring the palace grounds and searching for secretive passages that the girls at her school told her are littered throughout. In the evenings, she’s lucky to find Zuko free of his meetings but he holds an air of weariness that doesn’t escape Kiyi’s perception. Even more so as the month’s end nears and Zuko quietly seems to be withering away. He never has breakfast, barely makes it to dinner and speaks very little. She knows her big brother has lots of work - it’s all her mother says when she finds her trying to sneak into his study - and lots of stress.
Kiyi wants to be upset that he doesn’t spend as much time with her as before, but seeing him so drained pushes the feeling away. No one tells her what is happening but she is smarter than the adults in her life will give her credit for. She knows the power her brother has, and the burden that comes with it. She hears about the attempts for his life, the anger in the colonies and the disloyal ministers planning coups. She understands that it is more difficult than Zuko will ever let on.
When he takes her around the capital on a miraculously free night, promises to give her a tour of the islands one day and tucks her into bed when they return, Kiyi thinks that Zuko is very selfless. She learned that word recently. She thinks that the next time she uses it in class she will say, “My big brother is selfless. He always plays with me and takes me to see cool things even when he’s sad or tired or upset. He shares his best desserts and candies with me even when Mommy says no. He cares a lot about me even when he should be caring about himself. Zuko is selfless.”
A month into their visit, the Kyoshi warriors enter the palace grounds once again. There are a few new faces Kiyi notices, but they are just as sweet as the familiar ones. When Kiyi goes to hug Suki she notices the girl’s smile isn’t as bright as usual. The little girl frowns, she isn’t sure if Suki is concerned about whatever is going on or if something happened before she arrived.
Suki is always with Zuko, even if there is another warrior with him, she never leaves his side. She forces him to attend all his meals, escorts him to his meetings and stands by him all day, only ever leaving to rest for the night.
Kiyi thinks things must be getting better after a few months. Zuko speaks a lot more, the colour returns to his face and when he plays with Kiyi it’s till he’s breathless and not just till an advisor pulls him away. The court bustles to life again, with more visits from ambassadors and many new preparations for the spring festival.
Suki stays regardless.
More recently with the ease of tension, unbeknownst to Zuko, Kiyi spends more and more time with Suki. She takes her to watch the Kyoshi warriors train, to the docks to see their boat from which they arrived, and even through the markets to buy her her favourite street food.
When they return home from a particularly breezy afternoon, Kiyi pulls the shawl at her shoulders tightly as they sit in the royal gardens. They watch the turtleducks float aimlessly, quacking slightly louder when a cold gust of wind brushes past. Kiyi retrieves the bread Suki bought for her and begins crumbling pieces small enough for the little creatures' beaks.
Kiyi doesn’t notice who walks towards them quietly that afternoon. She doesn’t know that for the first time in very long, Zuko is free before sunset. She doesn’t know that he pulled himself out of a meeting room and raced to the royal gardens as elegantly as possible. And she certainly doesn’t know that he falters and stops a few steps away from them, behind the grand old tree, when he hears his name.
“Will you stay, Suki? Zuzu always feels so much safer when you stay.”
“I think so. I want to help protect your brother. And… it helps that the Fire nation is far enough away from Kyoshi island.”
“What’s there to run from in Kyoshi island?”
Suki doesn’t answer. She tells herself the question is wrong. There’s nothing to run from in Kyoshi island. It’s that Kyoshi island is too close to someone she’s already run away from. And the memories that Kyoshi holds are too painful right now.
There is a long bout of silence between them. Kiyi mulls over what she’s been told.
“Are you in love, Suki?”
Suki’s breath catches. She speaks after a moment, “I used to be.”
“Why not anymore?”
“Distance is very difficult.”
“But Mommy says love is the most powerful,” Kiyi frowns. She looks to Suki with concern, thinking that the concept of love is as simple and pure as all fairytales. She doesn’t understand something like distance ever coming between two lovers.
Suki gives her a sad smile, “I think that sometimes we forget how powerful distance can be too. And how our hearts aren’t as powerful as love can be.”
Kiyi nods, “I’m sorry, Suki.”
Suki pulls her into a hug at her side, “I’m okay.”
Neither of them hear Zuko turn and walk away.
When Kiyi, Ursa and Ikem leave a week later, the little girl hugs Zuko more tightly than ever before. But she is content because Suki stays. Suki is there for Zuko. And Suki is selfless.