Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Deep within the Earth Kingdom, among the most remote villages of the continent, Prince Zuko was walking through the underbrush, being careful of the wild and poisonous animals that inhabited the forest.

He felt frustrated; he knew his destiny was to help and teach firebending to the Avatar, but clearly neither he nor his team wanted him around, and he understood that. He didn't expect that, after chasing them all over the world, they would quickly accept him into their group.

However, he had the false hope that, after saving them from the assassin "whom he himself had hired and regretted," they would at least have given him a small margin of acceptance. Of course, that was not the case. Nothing had ever been easy for him: first, he lost his true destiny, and now also his firebending. Truly, life hated him.

"You are too far from your home, Prince Zuko," commented a male voice behind the raven-haired boy, causing him to turn around in a start and carefully observe the group behind him, cursing himself for not having noticed them— "Shouldn't you be in the palace?"

"Who are you?" Zuko asked as he slowly drew his dao while stepping back. "What do you want?"

"It offends me that you don't remember me," the man complained with a mocking smile; his companions also laughed. "However, you were almost dead to the world, so I'm not surprised."

"General Buijing," Zuko murmured with disdain as he pointed his dao at him. "What are you doing here? It's so rare to see you outside your office... Did the Fire Lord send you?"

"No, of course not, but you have an impressive bounty on your head that's too tempting to pass up," the General commented mockingly as he crossed his arms and the two soldiers prepared to attack. "And I'm looking forward to a promotion."

"Over my dead body," Zuko growled as he took a fighting stance.

"Oh, dear," Buijing said arrogantly as he signaled his companions to attack. "No one expects you alive."

Soon, the two soldiers advanced on their general's order, fire in their hands. Their eyes burned with the intensity of the flames they controlled. Zuko quickly took a battle stance; his gaze was serene, but his muscles were tense, ready for combat. He looked towards Agni, and it wouldn't be long before his sister Tui would hide.

The first soldier launched a burst of fire, illuminating the dark forest. Zuko dodged with the grace of an airbending master; his swords gleamed under the light of the flames.

With a swift movement, he lunged forward, his swords cutting through the air with lethal precision. The sound of metal clashing against metal resonated as he blocked the second soldier's attack, striking him on the helmet. He spun around to deflect a fireball launched by the first soldier.

Zuko moved with the grace of a dancer and the ferocity of a warrior. Every strike of his swords was calculated, every movement a work of art amidst the chaos. Despite being at a disadvantage due to his lack of control, his determination did not waver. With a war cry, he disarmed the first soldier, his swords shining with a silver gleam.

The remaining soldier redoubled his efforts, launching coordinated attacks. Zuko defended himself skillfully, his swords creating an impenetrable shield. With a quick spin, he deflected a flare and then counterattacked, his swords finding their target. The second soldier fell, leaving only the general.

Breathing heavily, Zuko stood his ground. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw General Buijing trying to escape.

He tried to attack him with his swords but received a fireball to his shoulder. As he turned his gaze, he saw five soldiers approaching. With a grimace of desperation, he turned and ran with the soldiers in pursuit.

Agni had been hiding for a while, and Tui, at her full power, illuminated the entire forest. Zuko ran, dodging every branch and rock in his path, as well as the flames from the enemy soldiers.

The soldiers soon cornered Zuko at the edge of a cliff. The waters of the river at the base of the cliff ran strong; he knew that if he fell, he would die.

So Zuko turned to face them. Some flames danced dangerously close.

"Surrender, traitor, you have no chance," one of the soldiers exclaimed, his voice resonating with authority, as he and two others launched a fire blast.

Zuko stepped back instinctively to avoid the fire attack, when suddenly he felt the void of the precipice beneath him. Panicking, Zuko tried to grab onto the edge of the cliff or a branch to save himself. But, unfortunately, one of the soldiers, taking advantage of the exiled prince's distraction, launched a fireball that hit Zuko in the abdomen.

Zuko soon fell from the force of the impact. The wind roared in his ears, panic flooded him, and pain coursed through his body. He soon hit the cold waters of the river's strong current.

Darkness quickly enveloped him, bringing him to unconsciousness rapidly, without giving him a chance to swim to save his life. Regretting not being able to fulfill his destiny, Zuko closed his eyes, expecting the embrace of death.

As he slowly drowned, two translucent figures watched him with pity and concern. The spirit of the Sun, Agni, was worried about his champion, and the spirit of the Moon, Yue, looked at him with pity. They looked at each other and came to a small agreement: they would save the prince's life and give him another chance, but not in this world. So they surrounded him with their celestial light.

"Your journey is not over, my champion," Agni whispered, his voice warm like the dawn. "Destiny awaits you."

"You must find your inner fire," Yue added, her tone soft and comforting. "Therefore, you need a stronger motivation."

--------------

The streets of Musutafu city were bustling and filled with people heading home after a long day of work. However, there was also panic after the collapse of the Maruko Bridge due to a villain. More than one civilian had fallen, and there were many injured, as well as dead.

There were rescue groups of heroes helping civilians and rescue services. Among them were the young graduates of the Yuuei academy: Present Mic, Eraserhead, and Ingenium, who were on rescue duty.

Amidst the panic, Tensei spotted a young man crawling out of the river with great effort. He looked like a corpse due to the paleness of his skin, the scrapes on his clothes, and the patches of burns.

"I need an ambulance now!" Tensei ordered as he ran to rescue the young man. "You're safe now."

He tried to place a hand on the young man's shoulder, but since he seemed disoriented, he punched Tensei hard in the nose, breaking it.

"Damn it!" Tensei cursed as he held his nose. With a worried look, he glanced at the young man who was lifting his gaze. "Calm down, my name is Ingenium, I'm a hero."

But his words seemed to fall on deaf ears, as the boy continued to look around in confusion. Then he looked directly at Ingenium, and the young hero could glimpse a pair of golden eyes like the sun before the boy lost the battle against unconsciousness.

"Damn it!" Tensei growled as he took the boy in his arms and carried him to the approaching paramedics. "He has second and third-degree burns on his shoulder and abdomen. He also seems to have a severe case of drowning and a concussion; his pupils were dilated."

The paramedics soon had the young man ready for transport to the hospital. They tried to take the hero, but he refused, as he still had work to do. As the ambulance left, Tensei couldn't stop thinking about the strange young man and his peculiar injuries.

----------------

Zuko woke up feeling a deep pain all over his body, but mainly in his shoulder and abdomen. When he opened his eyes and observed his surroundings, he was forced to close them again when a sudden bright light blinded him completely.

After a while, he opened them again, this time slowly so his eyes could adjust to the intensity of the light. The firebender looked around curiously, analyzing the strange place.

The room was white with strange smells. He also realized he was lying on a strange but soft bed. To his left was a device emitting very annoying sounds he had never heard before. To his right was a large window with an interesting view and a small table next to his bed, which had a glass of water and a strange device.

Zuko grimaced as he tried to get up from the bed, only to fall back feeling mysteriously dizzy from the small movement. He brought a hand to his head to try to relieve the headache that had appeared, only to feel bandages on his head. He also touched his nose, feeling a strange material on it.

Soon he began to panic, as he didn't recognize where he was and didn't remember arriving there.

"Where am I?" Zuko murmured to himself, completely terrified. He tried to remember what he had been doing last and soon began to panic when he couldn't remember anything.

"Hey, breathe, you're safe," assured a soft female voice. Zuko turned his head in the direction of the voice and saw a woman with black hair streaked with gray. She was wearing a white coat, approached him slowly, and began checking the devices. "You really hurt yourself a lot, young man."

"Where am I?" Zuko asked the woman, grimacing at how weak and hoarse his voice sounded.

"You're in the recovery room of Jaku General Hospital. I'm Nurse Tanaka," the woman replied with a small, kind smile. Then she looked at him sympathetically. "The doctor should be here soon, rest."

Zuko nodded slowly, not really understanding what the woman was talking about. He closed his eyes for a moment, and when he opened them, he was facing a strange-looking man dressed almost like the woman. He had a device with a light close to his eyes, causing him a sharp pain.

"Umm," Zuko complained, grimacing in pain and trying to move away from the strange doctor, who was causing him slight panic.

"Sorry, kid. I was checking your pupil reaction because you had a large cut on your forehead. Fortunately, it's just a concussion," the doctor explained, putting away his flashlight and then writing something in his notebook. "You're an unusual case, young man."

"What are my injuries?" Zuko asked, still somewhat dazed but now worried.

"You have a concussion, a first-degree burn on your shoulder, and a second-degree burn on your abdomen," the doctor explained while writing on his tablet and then looking at his patient. "Other than that, you're in excellent health. Now try to rest for a while; there are some people who want to talk to you."

After the doctor left, Zuko quickly fell asleep again, as sleep was overtaking him. The next time he woke up, a nurse changing his medications called for the officers who were waiting for him to wake up. When they entered, Zuko frowned, thinking he was hallucinating because there was no way he was seeing a man with a cat's head.

"Who are you?" Zuko asked, dazed as his vision cleared and he saw the strangers better. There really was someone with a cat's head.

"I am Detective Tsukauchi Naomasa," the man with the hat replied, then pointed to the other two. "This is Officer Tamakawa Sansa and the turbo hero Ingenium. We're here to ask you some questions."

"Alright," Zuko replied as he sat up a bit in the bed. "Go ahead."

"Can you tell me your name and age, please?" the detective asked as he took out a notebook.

"My name is Zuko, I'm 17... I think," the golden-eyed boy responded, somewhat unsure about giving his name.

"And your last name?" the detective asked again, looking at him intently.

"I don't remember," Zuko replied, grimacing from the headache as he tried to recall his last name. "What happened? Why am I here?"

"That's what we wanted to find out," the officer replied as he approached the young man. "Ingenium found you by the river after the Maruko Bridge collapse, but you didn't seem to be part of the victims since you had different injuries."

"What is the last thing you remember?" Ingenium asked, tilting his head.

"I... I think I was running away... but I can't," Zuko murmured as he brought a hand to his head and turned pale from the pain. "I can't... I can't remember anything else... I'm sorry."

"Hey, calm down," Ingenium stopped him as he gently took one of his hands and removed it from his head. "Maybe you need to rest and recover, you were very hurt."

"With the amount of damage you had, the doctor was surprised at how quickly you woke up," the officer commented.

"How long was I asleep?" Zuko asked sleepily, something he hadn't asked the doctor.

"Two days," Ingenium replied, who, noticing his tired expression, helped him lie down. "You should sleep."

With that, Zuko settled back into the bed and quickly fell asleep. The three left the room as quietly as possible and gathered at the reception.

"So, detective, what's the verdict?" Tensei asked as he crossed his arms. "Is he sincere or lying?"

"Before I say, what do you think?" Tsukauchi responded, crossing his arms.

"In my opinion, I think he was completely sincere," Tensei replied, raising his hand.

"I agree," Sansa said, tilting his head adorably. "So, what's the truth, Tsukauchi-san?"

"He is completely sincere, gentlemen," Naomasa replied, then looked at the young man's room door. "I can say with certainty that what the young man suffered must have been quite severe if he doesn't remember anything."

"The question is... who is he running from?" Sansa asked, looking at his colleagues.

The three fell silent, as Sansa was right. Whoever he was running from was not a good omen, and if he couldn't remember anything, he was in even greater danger.

The next time Zuko woke up, he was not alone in the room. Tensei Iida was sitting in one of the guest chairs, flipping through a list of places and jobs for the young man. The novice hero was determined to keep his promise.

He was going to help the poor young man readjust to life in Japan.

Chapter Text

Two months had passed since Zuko woke up in that hospital. So far, his life had been calm but strange, and not having any memory only complicated things.

Thanks to the help of the officers and the hero, he was able to adapt to the city in just two months. Due to his lack of memory, he was forced to attend classes on weekends to recover what he had "lost." Fortunately, he was learning quite quickly.

During those months, he also learned a few things, such as the fact that everyone had different types of powers called Quirks and about the famous heroes.

In Zuko's opinion, some were too lazy in their work. Of course, there were good heroes like All Might, Ingenium, Present Mic, and many more.

But there were also some who were too pathetic and fake, like Endeavor, Death Arms, Backdraft, among others. However, the most frustrating thing was seeing how some people were treated just because of their so-called Quirk.

Society was disgusting.

It was a quiet afternoon. Zuko was walking back to the small first-floor apartment he had rented with the help of Ingenium and Detective Tsukauchi, after a long day of work at the small café, which was relatively close to his apartment.

The black-haired young man stopped at a pedestrian crossing when he saw an elderly woman struggling to cross the street with her heavy shopping bags. He didn't see anyone looking to help her, not even the so-called heroes were nearby, so he simply approached her with the intention of helping.

--------------Fire--------------

At the Musutafu police station, Detective Tsukauchi walked through the quiet hallways of the precinct. He held a cup of hot coffee in his hand to help with the growing migraine in his head.

He soon reached his desk, where he placed the cup of coffee and collapsed into his chair, staring intently at the case file that was still active and without leads.

"Tsukauchi-san?" Officer Sansa asked as he approached the detective. "What's wrong?"

"It's the case of the young man with amnesia," Tsukauchi murmured as he looked at the boy's photo. "Everything about him is a mystery, and his amnesia doesn't help much in solving the case."

"Haven't you found anything about him?" Sansa asked curiously as he sat on the corner of the desk. "Nothing? Not even his school records? Or his birth certificate?"

"Nothing at all, not even a birth certificate," Tsukauchi replied as he rubbed the bridge of his nose. "It's as if he doesn't exist."

"That's very strange," Sansa murmured as he rubbed his chin. "Maybe he's from another country."

"I thought about that," Tsukauchi commented as he stretched in his chair. "If that were the case, he must have entered illegally, which is why he's not in the entry records."

"And what will you do now?" Sansa asked, tilting his head curiously. "We can't just leave it like this, can we?"

"I didn't plan on abandoning him to his fate, especially with his amnesia," Tsukauchi murmured as he looked back at the file. "One way or another, he's still a victim, and I'll do what I promised: help those in need."

"And what will you do? He can't depend on your guardianship forever," Sansa said with a smile as he stood up. "Maybe we could talk to him again and create a new identity for him."

"I like that idea," Tsukauchi said as he took a sip of coffee. "We can vouch for him; fortunately, he seems to be a good kid."

"I think Ingenium feels the same way," Sansa teased as he turned and headed for the exit of the precinct. "After all, I often see him patrolling around where he lives."

Tsukauchi grimaced at that, as Sansa was right. Ingenium had a certain interest in the young man; he would occasionally patrol the area where the boy worked, whether during his work hours or when he was off.

Suddenly, the doors opened, revealing none other than Endeavor, who didn't seem very happy; on the contrary, he seemed angrier than usual.

"Endeavor? What's wrong?" Detective Tsukauchi asked as he got up from his chair and approached the hero.

"What's wrong, officer!" Endeavor shouted angrily as he approached him. Tsukauchi didn't even try to correct him. "Someone kidnapped my son... my Shouto!"

Upon hearing that, Detective Tsukauchi quickly got up from his chair, barking orders to everyone. The kidnapping of a hero's son was a bad omen.

--------------Fire--------------

After helping the lady with her groceries, who thanked him profusely, Zuko returned to the shelter. When he passed by an alley, he heard a faint cry. Curious, he cautiously ventured into the place, and what he saw left him frozen: behind a trash container was a five-year-old boy with a bandage over his left eye and a few burns on his skin.

“Hey,” Zuko murmured as he crouched in front of him. The boy got scared when he saw him and tried to back away. “Hey, calm down, I won’t hurt you.”

“Stay away!” the boy whispered as he moved further away from him.

Reluctantly, Zuko stopped. He just watched the boy cautiously; he saw him very thin and frail, so he took a paper bag with some cookies he had brought from the bakery out of his side bag.

“I won’t come closer, but I’ll leave this here,” Zuko said, knowing that the best way to approach was to let the boy come to him. “I don’t work far; if you ever want more, you can wait for me here, or I can leave the food for you.”

And after leaving the bag on the ground, Zuko stood up and headed back to his small apartment, reluctantly leaving the boy behind. He hoped he wasn’t making a mistake by leaving him.

Every afternoon, almost at the same time, the boy would wait for him in the alley next to the same trash container, and after receiving the bag with the food, he would run away. However, Zuko didn’t lose hope of helping him.

Almost every afternoon, when he handed over the food, he would always ask a small question or tell him something about the little he remembered about himself.

It was a quiet afternoon when he made a good step with the boy.

“I’m Shouto,” a childlike voice full of pain responded as he picked up the daily bag and moved away from Zuko.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Zuko," he replied with a smile that he hoped was reassuring. Shouto simply nodded slowly and then left as he did every day.

A few days later, he heard the news about the kidnapping of Endeavor's son, and upon seeing the boy's photo, he realized it was the same one he had been feeding every afternoon. Zuko knew that the logical thing to do was to call the authorities and inform them, but there was something about the boy's demeanor that worried him. He didn't seem to have been kidnapped; he seemed to have escaped, and that worried him a lot.

So that same afternoon, while handing the bag to the boy, he made a risky move. He gently took his hand and saw how the boy tensed up in panic.

"Tell me, are you Endeavor's son?" Zuko asked and saw how Shouto's face turned to absolute horror, and he struggled to break free, which worried Zuko. "Hey, hey, calm down."

"No, no, no, no, let me go," Shouto sobbed. Then he created a small flame, causing Zuko to release him out of reflex. As soon as he was free, Shouto ran away as fast as he could. Zuko felt very bad about what he had done. Fortunately for him, there was no one around, as it was a very secluded alley. Now he just hoped the boy would trust him again soon.

Two days later, he felt very discouraged, as he hadn't seen the boy since their little confrontation and was sad about losing his trust.

Tensei, during one of his weekly visits, noticed his mood and became concerned.

"Hey, Yamada-san, is everything okay?" Tensei asked curiously as Zuko sat next to him during his break. Zuko had gotten used to the surname a long time ago, as Tensei had kindly explained it to him.

"I think I made a mistake," Zuko replied as he took a sip of his tea. Then he looked at Tensei. "What do you do when you find someone with family problems but don't know what to do?"

"The first thing would be to notify the authorities, of course," Tensei replied, raising an eyebrow curiously and looking at his friend.

"But what if the police can't do anything?" Zuko asked, looking at him, sadness shining in his eyes.

"Well, I would fight for that person's well-being," Tensei responded, now confused and worried about his friend. "Why?"

"I... I can't tell you yet," Zuko said as he set the cup aside. "Tell me, Iida-san... how can I rent an apartment? A bigger apartment? And a better job?"

A week passed before Zuko saw the boy again. He had been working harder to save enough for a good apartment. He wanted it to be as far away from any media as possible and, most importantly, as far away from Endeavor and, if possible, any top 10 professional hero.

Zuko saw the boy near his workplace, but this time he was accompanied by a girl who looked just like him, except her hair was completely white. She seemed to be about eleven years old and looked stressed. The two children looked tired and worn out.

"Zuko-san... We need... We need your help," Shouto said with tears in his eyes as he clung to his sister's pants.

"Please, help us," the girl pleaded desperately as she made a slight bow.

"What do you need?" Zuko asked as he knelt before them. "How can I help you?"

--------------Fire--------------

The children led Zuko to an abandoned building that looked like it could collapse at any moment. It was simply worrying.

"Our brother Natsuo has been sick for a week," Fuyumi explained nervously. "I haven't been able to buy medicine, and I don't want to take him to a hospital and be recognized, but I don't know what else to do. Then Shouto talked about you, and I decided to take the risk."

"I live in a small apartment two blocks from here," Zuko said as he checked Natsuo's forehead and winced at how feverish it felt. "We can take him there and give him some medicine."

"You're not going to turn us in?" Fuyumi asked curiously and somewhat worriedly as she held Shouto close.

"No," Zuko replied quickly and seriously, as he lifted Natsuo bridal style. That response pleasantly surprised Fuyumi and Shouto.

"Why?" Fuyumi questioned. Then she winced slightly at Zuko's expression. "I know we shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth, but why?"

"You are running away, not kidnapped," Zuko explained as he pointed to the few things around and then to the building. "And I can't just let you go back to a place where you're being hurt. I swear on my life that I will protect you."

"Thank you," Fuyumi sobbed, feeling completely grateful as she hugged her younger brother tighter. "Thank you so much."

"Now, why don't you pack your things, and we'll go to my apartment?" Zuko asked as he adjusted Natsuo in his arms. The boy shifted uncomfortably. "We should leave as soon as possible."

The children packed the few belongings they had and then headed to Zuko's apartment, which wasn't far away. Fortunately, it was late, and there weren't many people around.

Additionally, Zuko took some rather lonely alleys that he would normally avoid.

As soon as they arrived at Zuko's apartment, he laid Natsuo on his bed and then searched his cabinet for the first aid kit that Officer Tamakawa had given him. He took out the instant cold pack and placed it on the boy's forehead. Then he took out a couple of home remedies and gave them to him.

"From the way he's breathing, I think he might have pneumonia," Zuko explained. Then he paused, trying to remember where he learned that, but it's difficult; his mind is still blank. "I have some antibiotics that will help with that. Sansa Tamakawa was kind enough to leave me plenty of medications."

After treating the boy, Zuko took the children to his room so they could both rest while he kept watch to see if Natsuo's health deteriorated or improved.

--------------Fire--------------

The three weeks were exhausting for Zuko. The children helped when they could, but he didn't want to burden them too much. During the day, he worked hard at the café, then bought medicine for Natsuo, who was slowly recovering. Fortunately, by the end of the second week, Natsuo was somewhat better. He was still weak, but he could now eat solids without vomiting and could get out of bed more often.

During those weeks, Zuko bonded quite a bit with little Shouto, who identified with him because of the burn they shared on the same side of their faces. Zuko also didn't forget to treat the burn, as he somehow knew how to care for them.

After a particularly bad night for Shouto, Zuko realized he was regaining his memories. They were fragments of what he could remember.

Of the few memories he had, one stood out: his pleas to someone he assumed was his father, followed by pain in his face.

But just as he gained a painful memory, an important one also came. It was a routine he practiced in the mornings, consisting of meditation and the constant review of some interesting movements.

He also enjoyed spending time with Fuyumi. She was a very intelligent and kind girl who loved to read. Whenever he could, he brought her a small book to keep her entertained.

It was a bit difficult to connect with Natsuo. When he finally woke up without a fever, he just glared at Zuko, and Zuko understood clearly that he had had a terrible childhood. But still, he gave him a gift every time he saw him interested in something.

Of the three children, Shouto was the one who bonded with him the fastest, and it wasn't just because of the burn. It was also because he was the first to talk to Zuko and the one who trusted him the most. Whenever he was in the apartment, Shouto stuck to him constantly and didn't lose sight of him, except when he went to the bathroom or to work.

Zuko had grown fond of the children and swore that nothing would hurt them again.

It was a quiet night when that promise was put to the test. Tensei, who had been worried about Zuko's recent exhaustion, decided to pay him a surprise visit at his small apartment with Sansa and Tsukauchi, who wanted to talk to him about his lack of identification and an idea Sansa had come up with.

"Ah... Good evening," Zuko greeted them, feeling a bit nervous. The three of them noticed, as the young man couldn't lie to save his life. "How can I help you?"

"We have a few things to discuss with you, Yamada-san," Sansa explained with a smile. "May we come in?"

"Ummm, I...," Zuko stammered. Then he let out a tired sigh and looked at them intently. "Can you... can you help them?"

Confused by his reaction, Iida was about to ask what was going on, but when Zuko opened the door and revealed the interior, the three of them froze, as lying on a sofa were the Todoroki siblings, who had been missing for two months.

Chapter Text

tension in the room was palpable. The four adults were seated at the small coffee table. It had taken many pleas and requests from the children and Zuko for Detective Tsukauchi and Officer Sansa to listen to them before calling Endeavor and the police. At least Tensei had tried to hear what they had to say.

After that, the children went to the room Zuko had assigned to them to unwind, as it was already late, and at least to calm Shouto, who had panicked at the mere idea of returning to Endeavor.

Zuko, for his part, stayed with the three agents. He had prepared tea for each of them and also explained how the Todoroki children ended up in his care.

"Look, Zuko, I know you're telling the truth, I can see it both in your face and with my Quirk," said Tsukauchi while pinching the bridge of his nose, "but the first thing you should have done is call the police or us. Those children were kidnapped and need to return to their father."

"That's the problem, Tsukauchi," said Zuko, somewhat exasperated by the detective. "I didn't call because it seemed very strange to me that when I found Shouto, the first thing he did was run away, not seek help."

"What are you trying to say, kid?" asked Sansa, crossing his arms. "That those children escaped? Why would they do that? Their father is a hero, they have what they need."

"It's not like that. Appearances are always deceiving," commented Zuko, then bit his lip. "When they arrived here, I remembered a few things upon seeing Shouto's attitude."

"What did you remember?" asked Tensei with curiosity upon seeing Zuko's expression. "Yamada-kun?"

"Fire, pain, fear," said Zuko while touching his scar. "I remember being on my knees on a cold tiled floor, seeing a figure, maybe my father... since I remember begging and asking for forgiveness, but I don't remember why. After that, I felt a warm hand on my face and the next moment I felt it melting."

"Oh, for... kami," murmured Sansa in horror. The other two had the same expression of disgust and horror. "What kind of father would do that?"

"The kind of father who obsesses over something or despises anything," said Zuko while lowering his hand and taking a sip of tea. "That's why I didn't call the police as soon as I found them, because I saw in their expression, I saw fear, I saw terror at the mere idea of returning."

"The situation is serious," murmured Sansa, then looked at Tsukauchi, who was very quiet. "What should we do?"

"The logical thing, protect the children," exclaimed Tensei. He was disgusted that someone who was a father would hurt those he should protect. "We will talk to the children, present evidence and testimonies of Endeavor's abuse."

"You know it will be difficult," replied Tsukauchi while looking towards the room where the children were. "He is the number 2 hero, he has contacts, influence. Even if we build a case against him, we will lose."

"And what do you propose? We can't just allow them to return!" shouted Sansa, upset at the mere idea of returning the children to their abuser. "I can't in good conscience do that..."

"I don't either," murmured Tsukauchi, raising his hands in exasperation, "but our careers are still new. They will never believe us, we will lose everything, our license, and who knows if our freedom."

"I know... I know what's at stake," complained Tensei, looking at both of them, "but I also know that I can't allow children to return to someone who mistreats them, not even my family can fight Endeavor."

"What do you propose?" asked Tsukauchi, looking at Tensei with annoyance. "What should we do?"

"I think I have an idea," commented Sansa, looking at the two officers. "I know a couple of people who can forge documents and change appearances."

"That's new information," commented Tsukauchi, crossing his arms. "Do you have ties with criminals, Sansa?"

"First, they are my cousins," commented Sansa, crossing his arms. "Second, they both work for witness protection, I'm close to them, I just explain the situation and they will help us."

"Ah, that changes things a bit," commented Tsukauchi, somewhat impressed. "Well, then I think we have a solution."

"What is the solution?" asked Zuko, as he hadn't understood anything the two officers had said. He crossed his arms while looking at them. "I just hope they don't have to go back to Endeavor."

"If everything goes as we are planning, everything will be fine," commented Tsukauchi while looking at Zuko. "Can you call them? We have some decisions to make and they need to agree."

"I'll go get them," said Zuko. Then he got up and went to the room where the children were sleeping. He knocked on the door, waiting for a response, but heard nothing. "Kids? We need to talk. Kids?"

"What's wrong?" asked Tsukauchi, hearing Zuko sound desperate. "Yamada-san?"

"I think... I think they escaped," said Zuko in panic as he checked the room and realized all the children's things were gone and the window was open. "I think they thought we were going to take them to Endeavor and that's why they escaped."

"Damn," growled Tsukauchi. His hand reached for the walkie-talkie to report the situation but had to withdraw it quickly upon realizing what he was doing. "We need to go find them. Yamada-san? Do you know where they might hide?"

"There's the building where they used to hide, but besides that, I don't know any other places," commented Zuko, rubbing his chin. "However, I doubt they will go there."

"I was thinking the same," commented Tensei. Then he looked at the officers. "We should split up; I doubt they've gone far."

"Of course," said Zuko, as he put on his shoes and prepared to leave the small apartment, only to be stopped by a hand on his shoulder. "Iida-san?"

"You should stay... in case they come back, and besides, it's late and could be dangerous for you," commented Tensei, concerned for the safety of the children and the young man, who bristled at his insinuations.

"I can take care of myself," growled Zuko as he moved away from Tensei. "I'm worried about them, and the more time we waste, the more dangerous it will be for them."

"You won't take no for an answer, will you?" sighed Tsukauchi, knowing how stubborn Zuko was, who simply nodded at his words. "Fine, but keep your phone on at all times and report anything. Understood?"

"Crystal clear," said Zuko before running out and starting to search the city for any sign of the children.

--------------Fire-------------

In the main room a few hours earlier, the two older siblings moved with speed and determination.

Fuyumi checked her backpack and the room, making sure to take the essentials: some food they had hidden from Zuko, a flashlight, and a blanket.

Natsuo ensured they had a first aid kit and water bottles, which they had already packed.

Shouto, meanwhile, watched his siblings with curious eyes. He took the small dragon plushie that Zuko had bought him.

"What are you doing?" asked Shouto, watching them with curiosity. "Why are you packing?"

"We have to leave," said Fuyumi quietly as she put the backpack on and approached Shouto. "Come on, Shou."

"But aren't we going to say goodbye to Zuko-Sama?" asked the child, moving towards the door to say goodbye to Zuko, only to be stopped by Natsuo.

"He betrayed us! He promised not to call the police!" murmured Natsuo with contained anger, pulling his brother towards the window.

"But..." complained Shouto, looking at the door and thinking about whether he should shout to get Zuko's attention.

"Shou... Zuko-Sama promised not to call the police, and they are here," said Fuyumi, trying to explain the situation to her brother, who had already grown fond of Zuko. "We have to leave; we can't let them take us back to Dad."

With his heart pounding, Shouto reluctantly agreed to leave. The three approached the bedroom window. Fortunately, they were on the first floor. Natsuo opened it carefully, avoiding making noise and attracting the adults' attention.

And so, one by one, the three Todoroki siblings slipped outside, leaving behind the small apartment that had been their temporary refuge and which they had mistakenly thought could be a home.

The night was cool in the city, illuminated by streetlights and building lights. It seemed like a labyrinth of shadows and glimmers.

They walked in silence, hoping to find a place to sleep that night or somewhere they could be together and safe.

The streets were deserted, as it was already the middle of the night, and the sound of their footsteps echoed on the pavement, sending a chill down the youngest's spine. Natsuo led the way, with Fuyumi and Shouto close behind.

As they advanced, the city transformed into a sinister and dark landscape, with fewer shops and stable buildings. Finally, after hours of walking, they reached a forest that belonged to the city's main park.

Between the trees, they discovered the ruins of what seemed to be an old ticket booth. It was a perfect refuge, especially now, as a few drops of water began to fall and soon turned into rain.

As soon as they were safe from the rain, the three sat on a stone, exhausted but relieved to have come this far.

Fuyumi turned on the flashlight, and the light revealed the tired but determined faces of her siblings. She was about to take out a blanket to rest for a while when suddenly, their tranquility was interrupted by two shadowy figures emerging from the ruins.

"Oh, what do we have here?" said one of the criminals, with a malicious smile as he approached the three. The children tried to use their Quirks, but they were tired and not well-trained. With horror filling their bodies, they backed away, looking for an escape. "If it isn't the little Todorokis."

"Your father has a big reward for you," mocked the other criminal as they approached. Fuyumi stepped in front of her brothers. "Maybe we can have some fun with you first."

"Stay away," shouted Fuyumi desperately, looking for an escape. The two criminals just laughed and moved closer to capture the children, but before they could get near, Zuko appeared from the shadows like a ninja and stood in front of the three, fists clenched.

"Take one step," Zuko growled angrily. "I dare you."

The two criminals, one with a Quirk of tentacles that moved menacingly and the other with a Quirk of claws that gleamed with deadly sharpness, simply mocked his audacity.

"Look, kid, just get lost, this doesn't concern you," said the clawed criminal, then pointed at the three children. "Just give us the little devils."

"Yeah, Endeavor will pay us well if we deliver his brats, at least one of them," said the tentacled criminal, eyeing both Natsuo and Fuyumi. "Maybe we can have some fun before handing them over."

"Over my dead body," Zuko growled with determination, glaring at them. Behind him, Fuyumi, Natsuo, and Shouto watched the scene with fear and admiration. "I won't let you get near them."

The tentacled criminal attacked first, launching his tentacles at Zuko with impressive speed. Zuko dodged with agility, blocking the attacks with quick and precise movements. Although he didn't know how he was so skilled in martial arts, he was grateful that his body moved on instinct, as if it already knew the moves.

Soon, the tentacled criminal attacked again, and with a precise strike to a fixed point on the tentacle, it fell limp to the ground, to the criminal's horror.

"What have you done?" growled the criminal, trying to move his arms, but they didn't even twitch. "Damn it."

"Don't get cocky!" shouted the clawed criminal, launching himself at Zuko with uncontrolled fury. Zuko spun around, deflecting the attacks with a series of blows and kicks that seemed like a deadly dance. The children could only watch the scene with admiration.

As the battle intensified, Zuko began to recall Northern Shaolin techniques and some chi-blocking moves. But due to the clawed criminal's speed, it was difficult to land a precise blow to incapacitate him.

The children watched, their hearts pounding, knowing that Zuko was risking everything for them, even though they were strangers, even after they had run away.

"Get back!" shouted Zuko, protecting them from a surprise attack by the clawed criminal, taking a slash to his arm that made him bleed. The children gasped in horror.

Finally, with one last effort, Zuko managed to bring down the clawed criminal, leaving him incapacitated on the ground after delivering a solid blow to his neck.

The criminal with the octopus Quirk, seeing his companion defeated, gave up and retreated with the intention of escaping, his tentacles barely regaining mobility. Zuko didn't let him run far before the criminal met the same fate as his companion.

As soon as the battle ended, leaving both Zuko and the children in tense silence, Zuko turned to them, his breathing heavy but his eyes filled with determination.

"Are you okay?" Zuko asked, approaching the children. Fuyumi, Natsuo, and Shouto nodded, their eyes filled with gratitude and relief. "You can't just run away like that," he gently reprimanded them.

"You promised you wouldn't call the police!" shouted Natsuo, pain and betrayal shining in his eyes. Zuko sighed, knowing the boy was just hurt. "You lied to us."

"I didn't call them; they came on their own because I'm in charge of you. As you know, I have amnesia and was injured," Zuko explained as he knelt in front of Natsuo. "It wasn't my intention to hurt you like this. I had a plan to keep you safe; I was never going to let you go back to your father."

"Really?" asked Fuyumi as she slowly approached Zuko.

"Yes, we were devising a plan to put you in witness protection, create new identities and appearances for you," Zuko explained, sincerity on his face. "We wanted to know if you agreed."

To Fuyumi and Zuko's surprise, it was Natsuo who jumped into Zuko's arms, hugging him tightly.

"I'm so sorry," Natsuo cried, hugging him tightly. "We didn't want to go back... We didn't want to return... Sorry for not trusting you... sorry..."

"It's okay," Zuko murmured as he stroked his head. "Everything will be fine."

Zuko soon pulled the other two into a tight hug, whispering words of comfort and assuring them that they would be fine and that he would never leave them, that they would have to kill him first before taking them away. After crying, Zuko urged the children to get up, seeing that they were getting very tired.

As they walked back, with Shouto being carried by Zuko since he had fallen asleep and the two older siblings by his sides, Natsuo realized something.

"Zuko-Sama?" Natsuo called, tugging on Zuko's hand, receiving a hum from the boy. "How did you find us?"

"Honestly, I have no idea, it was very strange," Zuko commented as he looked at them. Natsuo and Fuyumi were curious about his response. Then he looked at the moon. "It's as if the moon guided me to you."

As they walked back to Zuko's small apartment, Yue watched the scene from above with a smile. She was happy; they had made the right decision.

--------------Fire--------------

The children looked nervously at the officers. All three knew they were in a lot of trouble for having run away in the middle of the night and alone, putting themselves in immediate danger.

"We can talk to someone from witness protection to take them in, at least temporarily," commented Sansa while taking a sip of coffee. "I have a couple of contacts who can take care of them."

"No," Shouto complained, crossing his arms and then approaching Zuko. "I want to stay with Zuko-sama."

"It's not that easy, kids. Yamada-san can't even remember much of his past; we shouldn't burden him so much," said Tsukauchi, trying to reason with Shouto, who bit his lip, on the verge of tears.

"I wouldn't mind," Zuko responded while taking Shouto in his arms, who settled into the crook of his neck. "I would like to take care of them, if possible, of course."

"It would honestly be much more preferable for them to stay with someone more capable," said Tsukauchi while watching the interaction between Zuko and Shouto; they really seemed like siblings. "But if you want to stay here, we can make the arrangements."

"Yes, we would really like to stay with Zuko-sama," responded Natsuo with joy, to everyone's surprise, as he was the most distrustful.

"Then it's decided," said Tsukauchi, albeit reluctantly, but with a small smile at seeing the children's attitude towards Zuko. "From now on, they will be in your care."

"And I am honored by the task, so I promise to take care of and protect them," said Zuko with a smile while looking at the three children. "I will protect you with my life."

(N/A:

First fact: As far as I understand, firebending movements are inspired by Northern Shaolin martial arts, so those are the movements Zuko uses.

Also, there was no fire because, although Zuko remembers a bit about his bending, he didn't want to draw unnecessary attention.

Second fact: There's a headcanon I love that Ty Lee taught Zuko some chi-blocking moves. While we never see if it's true, I like the idea of Zuko knowing it.

We all know that in canon, Zuko is agile in parkour, stealth, and swordsmanship, so it wouldn't surprise me if he knew that too.

His mind might not remember using it, but his body does, so it was unconscious and driven by a desire to protect the children.

Third fact: His firebending is weak because, although his motivation to care for the children is there, it's not fully complete yet.

And that's all for today. Thanks for reading, and see you soon 🤗🤗)

Chapter Text

During the last weeks of November, Zuko and the children moved into their new apartment with the help of the other three.

Sansa and Tsukauchi had managed to enroll Zuko and the children in a small beneficiary program for the homeless, where each month he received a bonus that he used to rent the apartment.

At the same time, Zuko had saved part of the money he earned from his job to buy necessities for the children, such as clothes, with a bit of help from Iida, who had brought clothes that neither he nor his brother used.

The children, for their part, were adapting to their new appearance and identity that they themselves, with Zuko's help, had created. It was still strange for them to wake up in the mornings and see their dark brown hair.

It was during dinner that they received a visit from their neighbors, a woman with black hair with green highlights and her son, who seemed to be the same age as Shouto.

"Good evening," greeted Zuko cordially but also alert.

"Good evening, sorry for the hour, we just wanted to welcome you," said the woman with a friendly smile. In her hands was a basket of cookies. "I made them with my son. I am Midoriya Inko and this is my son Izuku."

"Hi," greeted Izuku timidly as he hid behind his mother.

"Nice to meet you, I am Himura Zuko," Zuko introduced himself with a slight bow and then received the basket with a smile. "I hope we can get along well, Midoriya-san, and you too, Midoriya-kun."

"Likewise, Himura-san," said Inko with a smile. She then turned around to return with her son to their apartment.

"Midoriya-san," called Zuko before she entered her apartment. She stopped, waiting for the question with curiosity. "Would it be possible to schedule a playdate between your son and my brother?"

"It would be a pleasure," said Inko with a big smile as she patted Izuku's head, who looked very hopeful. "Let me know when you're free."

"Sunday afternoon?" asked Zuko with a small smile. "I want to take the children to the park at the end of the block. You can come too if you like, so they can play."

"It would be a pleasure to join you," replied Inko with a big smile. Izuku looked very excited about the idea of going out and having a new friend.

"See you then. Have a good night," said Zuko before re-entering the apartment after hearing Inko's response. The children at the table looked at Zuko with curiosity.

"Well, kids, this weekend we'll go out for a while," said Zuko with a smile as he put the basket on the table.

"What's in the basket?" asked Shouto as he peered curiously into the basket. "Ohhh, cookies! Can I have one?"

"Sure, I've already tried them and they're delicious," commented Zuko happily as he ruffled Shouto's hair. He then took the children's plates and brought them to the dishwasher.

"Why do we have to go too?" complained Natsuo slightly. Fuyumi elbowed him for his rudeness. "What?! It'll be boring to be with little kids."

"If you want, you can go somewhere else," said Zuko while washing the dishes. Natsuo looked at him with surprise. "The idea of the outing is for you to have fun, not be bored. So you can do something else if you like."

"Really?" asked Natsuo in surprise and suspicion. "There’s a catch, right? This is too good to be true."

"Umm, the only condition would be that you let me know at all times where you are and that you don't get into trouble," explained Zuko while putting the dishes in their respective places. "But other than that, it’s all good."

"Thanks, Zuko-san," said Fuyumi happily, grateful for the opportunity to explore on her own.

Zuko gave her a smile, then took the children to their rooms so they could rest, and he did the same.

--------------Fire--------------

The weekend had arrived. Shouto was excited to go out and play and finally have friends. Natsuo and Fuyumi decided to explore the neighborhood and perhaps find a good school to attend.

After the two older children left, Zuko and Shouto approached the Midoriya family, who were coming out of their apartment. Izuku looked just as excited about the idea of a new friend.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Midoriya Izuku,” exclaimed Izuku with a smile as he introduced himself to Shouto, who was nervous. “I have so many places to show you.”

“Izuku, dear, breathe,” urged Inko with a smile as she put a hand on her son's shoulder and then looked at Zuko. “I’m sorry, he’s just very excited to meet Himura-kun.”

“Don’t worry,” said Zuko with a smile. He then gently pushed Shouto, urging him to introduce himself. “My brother was also excited.”

“I’m Himura Shōryū,” Shouto introduced himself with a smile. “I hope we get along well.”

The four arrived at the park and Izuku quickly took Shouto's hand and led him to his favorite spots in the park. Zuko and Inko sat on a bench under the shade of a tree, watching the children play with affection.

“I noticed Midoriya-kun wears red shoes,” commented Zuko, glancing sideways at Inko, who tensed up.

“I understand it’s bad that he doesn’t have a Quirk, but that doesn’t make him useless or sick,” responded Inko with fear, trying to defend her son. “I’m sorry for hiding it, but...”

“You have nothing to apologize for, it honestly doesn’t bother me. He’s still a child and there’s nothing wrong with that,” said Zuko, downplaying the situation. “I’m so glad Shou has a friend his age.”

“Thank you,” said Inko with a pleased smile as she looked at the children. “It’s good that my child has a friend who doesn’t judge him for something he didn’t ask for.”

“Kids can be cruel, can’t they? It’s a shame that happens,” said Zuko, resting his elbow on his knee. “It shouldn’t be that way.”

“Yes, but I’m so happy to see him so joyful now,” said Inko with a smile as she watched the children chasing each other.

“May I ask you a favor, Midoriya-san?” Zuko asked as he watched the children now climbing the slide. “This Wednesday is Fuyumi's birthday and I want to do something really nice for her. I’d like you to attend if it’s not too much trouble.”

“Oh, it’s no trouble at all,” said Inko happily. “I can also bring her a cake.”

“No need to trouble yourself, as long as you come, that’s all that matters,” said Zuko, downplaying it.

“It’s no trouble,” said Inko happily. “It’ll be a nice gesture.”

“Thank you,” said Zuko with relief. Then, the two started chatting about various topics, especially the school that both Shouto and the children could attend, which, fortunately, wasn’t too far from their home.

--------------Fire--------------

Wednesday arrived quite quickly. Fuyumi was unaware of the surprise that Zuko and Shouto had planned. Unfortunately, Natsuo didn't know either and spent his time glaring at Zuko, mistakenly thinking he didn't care about his sister's birthday.

So, in the afternoon, when Zuko was preparing to take Shouto to the "park," Fuyumi decided to step in and take her brother instead. She wanted to go out for a while, get some fresh air, and cry where no one could see her.

"Call if there's any problem," said Zuko, looking at both Fuyumi and Shouto with concern. Although Inko had said the neighborhood was safe, Zuko couldn't fully trust it, especially knowing how dangerous it was for the two children. "Don't go with strangers and be careful."

"Yes, Zuko-san," commented Fuyumi, a bit frustrated by Zuko's insistence and Shouto's excitement, as he was pulling her to hurry up.

"Come on, come on, Izu-chan is waiting for me," complained Shouto, pulling his sister harder. "Come on, oneesan... Let's go."

"I'm going, I'm going," complained Fuyumi with a smile, then followed both Shouto and Izuku, who was waiting outside. Soon, the three of them went to the park.

Zuko waited half an hour to confirm that the three of them had left. Then he approached the cabinets and started taking out the boxes with the decorations that Inko had kindly bought. Natsuo looked at the boxes in surprise.

"You? You didn't forget...?" murmured Natsuo in surprise as he watched Zuko take out the balloons and inflate them.

"How could I forget Fuyumi's birthday?" responded Zuko with a smile as he tied the balloon. "It might be a bit lonely considering she doesn't have friends, but I hope she has fun."

"But it's something," said Natsuo with a smile. He then helped Zuko with the decorations.

They spent two hours inflating and decorating the living room. Fortunately, Fuyumi was still outside with the two children, who had explicit orders not to return until at least four hours had passed.

Zuko took out three gifts he had in his room and placed them on the table. Natsuo also took out his and Shouto's gifts that they had stored.

After a while, Inko entered the small apartment with a beautiful cake with light blue and white icing and a few snowflakes around it.

Officers Tsukauchi and Sansa arrived half an hour later, and Tensei along with his brother Tenya arrived about 15 minutes after that. It was just in time, as Zuko received a message from Fuyumi informing him that they were already on their way home because Shouto was "complaining."

--------------Fire--------------

Fuyumi let out a small sigh of annoyance as she climbed the stairs slowly. The children had decided to go ahead in a little race among themselves. The young girl sighed with sadness.

This was her first birthday without her mother and Touya. It really hurt her how her family had fallen apart after Shouto's birth because of her father.

Despite all the damage Endeavor caused, she still loved him with all her heart, and although she knew it was the best option, it saddened her to have fled.

However, it had its advantages. Perhaps, if they hadn't fled, they would never have met Zuko-san and wouldn't be experiencing what it's like to have an overprotective but loving older brother.

Every day she was amazed at how kind Zuko was and how he did the impossible to please them, and how he convinced the officers not to return them to their father.

Fuyumi loved having someone who cared for them with so much love and affection. Zuko reminded her so much of her mother that it sometimes hurt, but she loved him too.

“Onee-san,” shouted Shouto as he ran down the stairs to find her. “Hurry up, Onee-san, Zuko-sama promised me ice cream.”

“I'm coming, I'm coming,” Fuyumi replied as she quickly climbed the stairs to catch up with her younger brother. She loved how much Shouto could express himself now, how he acted like the child he was supposed to be. Zuko was really helping him to be freer, happier.

“Zuko-san, we're back,” called Fuyumi as she opened the door. She soon jumped in surprise at hearing a loud shout and seeing some people gathered in the small living room of their apartment. The banner at the top caught her attention the most; her eyes filled with tears.

“Happy birthday, Himura-chan,” congratulated Izuku as he gave her a hug and then went to his mother. Thus, each of the guests gave their respective congratulations. Zuko was the last to approach her with a smile.

“Happy 13th, Fuyu,” congratulated Zuko with a smile as he guided her to the table with the birthday cake. “I'm sorry it's so small; next year will be much better, I promise.”

She glanced sideways at Zuko, who gave her a slight smile, and couldn't help but remember when she got her new name.

“It will be necessary to create new identities, as well as a change in your appearances,” commented Tsukauchi as he took a notebook from his coat. “Do any of you have an idea of what you'd like to be called from now on?”

“Well... we don't have many ideas,” commented Fuyumi nervously, biting her thumb.

“If you allow me, I have the perfect name for each of you,” said Zuko nervously, as he stroked Shouto's hair. “It's your decision, of course, don't feel obliged.”

“What would mine be?” asked Fuyumi with curiosity. “What would mine be?”

“It would be Fuyuhime,” replied Zuko with a smile. “It means ‘winter princess,’ it would be a perfect name for you.”

“It's... it's perfect,” Fuyumi whispered with tears in her eyes as she looked at the room's decorations, then the decorations, and finally the cake. She was so happy, as it had been years since she celebrated her birthday this way, just a simple cake from her mother and an occasional gift. “It's perfect, thank you Zuko sa... ni-chan... Thank you so much.”

Zuko gave her a smile and then sat her down on the couch, then lit the candle with a small flame from his finger. Everyone in the room started singing happy birthday, and Fuyumi hadn't had so much fun in years.

--------------Fire--------------

Zuko had a routine, even when he didn’t have amnesia. He normally woke up in the mornings shortly after sunrise. Since the children had ended up in his care, his memories seemed to come back slowly and every few days. It was one particular memory that made him realize why he always woke up early: it was because of his Quirk, which reacted to the sun.

The morning after Fuyumi's birthday was no different. He woke up as soon as the sun rose. Seeing the time, he realized it was 5 a.m. He left his room and went to the living room to do the yoga exercises he had remembered some time ago.

However, this morning was a bit different, as soon as he started the last pose, Fuyumi came out of her room and, seeing him awake, was surprised.

"Good morning, Fuyumi," Zuko greeted as he got up and stretched to relax his sore muscles. He noticed the girl looking at him with curiosity. "What are you doing up so early?"

"I woke up a while ago and couldn't sleep," Fuyumi replied honestly. She then tilted her head curiously. "Were you doing yoga?"

"Yes, I do it every morning," Zuko replied before going to get a cup of tea. "Do you want some tea?"

"Yes, please," Fuyumi replied as she sat in one of the chairs and received the cup of tea. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Zuko replied with a smile. He then turned on the rice cooker and started washing the rice.

"Hey, Zuko..." called Fuyumi. She was nervous; she knew he probably wouldn’t say no, but she was still nervous.

"Yes, what is it?" asked Zuko as he turned around after putting the rice in the cooker.

"Can you teach me how to do yoga?" asked Fuyumi as she played with the cup. "Sometimes I can't sleep well in the mornings and I'd like to do something."

"Sure, I have no problem with that," Zuko replied warmly. Fuyumi smiled happily; she really liked Zuko. "We can start whenever you want."

"Tomorrow, preferably," replied Fuyumi excitedly, already imagining herself doing yoga. "Thank you so much, Zuko."

"You're welcome, Yumi," Zuko replied as he checked the rice, which was now ready. "I'd love to have a yoga partner."

"But I don’t just mean the yoga," Fuyumi clarified nervously. "I know we've already told you a thousand times, but we'll tell you a thousand more if necessary: thank you for not making us go back, thank you for helping us, for giving us a home."

"I made you a promise," Zuko explained as he placed a hand on Fuyumi's shoulder. "I’m going to protect you, I'm going to take care of you, I'll never abandon you."

Without saying another word, Fuyumi hugged Zuko tightly and thanked him many times. She also made herself a promise: that she would protect Zuko from any danger, as this boy went from being a stranger to a truly kind and gentle brother, and to the person they could consider a home.

Chapter Text

Two weeks had passed since Fuyumi's birthday and since she asked Zuko to teach her yoga. Natsuo found out a week later about their new routine and asked Zuko to train him in Northern Shaolin. Shouto, of course, refused to train or know anything about training, so Zuko didn’t force him; he hoped Shouto would be ready, knowing how traumatic it could be.

He had adopted a training routine for the children: in the mornings, he did yoga with Fuyumi, and in the afternoons, he practiced movements with Natsuo. Fuyumi joined a few days later; it was very calm.

It was a quiet Wednesday. Snow was falling gently, covering the city with a white blanket. Inside the small apartment that the children could call home, the atmosphere was warm and cozy. Natsuo was looking out the window with anticipation and nerves. He moved away from the window and went to find Zuko.

In the kitchen, Zuko was busy preparing lunch for the children. Despite his amnesia, he had found comfort in taking care of the three siblings, who proved to be wonderful and sweet children. As he chopped vegetables, he heard light footsteps that he knew belonged to Natsuo.

"Zuko? Can we go to the park to play in the snow?" Natsuo begged, his eyes shining with hope.

Zuko looked up and raised an eyebrow at Natsuo's plea. Although he knew he had to be cautious, since he internally hated the snow, the joy and hope in Natsuo's eyes were contagious. Letting out a slight sigh of annoyance, he made a decision.

"Well, I suppose a little while won't hurt," he finally said, wiping his hands on a towel. Natsuo jumped for joy, letting out a shout. "But first, we eat lunch."

That did nothing to dampen Natsuo's joy; he was still jumping with excitement. He then ran to find Fuyumi and Shouto, who were in Fuyumi's room doing homework.

After bundling up well and enjoying a hot lunch, the four of them left the apartment and headed to the Midoriya's apartment to ask Inko for permission to go out and play for a while. Fortunately, she allowed Izuku to go out with great joy.

Izuku, with a big smile, put on his biggest coat and enthusiastically joined the four. Together, they walked to the park. The three Todoroki children enjoyed the crunch of the snow under their feet.

--------------Fire--------------

Upon arriving at the park, Natsuo and Fuyumi quickly joined a group of children already playing together. Meanwhile, Zuko, Izuku, and Shouto stayed a bit behind, starting to build snowmen, with Shouto creating the snowman's eyes.

"Look, Shō-chan, this is how you make a perfect snowball," exclaimed Izuku, showing Shouto how to compact the snow, who was watching him attentively.

Zuko felt a spark of joy and affection as he watched the two children play together. Izuku, always enthusiastic, calmly explained to Shouto how to shape the snowmen, laughing at each of Shouto's comments. The atmosphere was cheerful and carefree, a rare opportunity for the children to forget their worries and troubled past.

After a while, Natsuo, with a mischievous smile, formed a snowball and threw it directly at Zuko's head. The snowball disintegrated into a cloud of white powder, and for a moment, everyone fell silent.

Natsuo soon regretted his decision upon seeing steam rising from Zuko, which meant one thing: he was furious. Natsuo prayed that his day wouldn’t be ruined because of him. Zuko had stood very still, with the snow still sliding down his face and slowly melting. Then, a slow smile spread across his face.

"This means war!" Zuko shouted at the top of his lungs and began to form his own snowball. He threw it forcefully at Natsuo, who was still somewhat surprised by Zuko's cheerful attitude. However, a smile soon spread across his face when he saw that Zuko wasn’t angry.

What followed was an epic snowball fight. Natsuo, Fuyumi, Shouto, and Izuku ran and laughed, throwing snowballs at each other. Zuko, despite being the oldest and not very enthusiastic about the snow, joined the fight joyfully, enjoying the moment as much as the children.

After a while, Fuyumi suggested they go to the nearby lake to skate. Everyone agreed and headed to the lake, where the ice was thick enough to skate safely. There was a small cabin where they could rent some skates.

"It's been so long since I last skated!" exclaimed Fuyumi, with a radiant smile on her face as she tied her laces.

"Me too," added Natsuo, adjusting his scarf around his neck. "But it will be fun, right, Zuko?"

"Yes, I'm sure it will be," replied Zuko, who was still getting used to his new life and the amnesia that accompanied him. He nodded with a shy smile, not wanting to ruin the moment.

After a few minutes of trying on different sizes and adjusting the laces, the group was ready to face the ice rink.

"Ready?" asked Shouto, looking at his friend with a mix of excitement and challenge in his eyes.

"Ready!" replied Izuku joyfully, stepping onto the rink. Both, despite being the youngest, were a bit more experienced. They glided easily but calmly, moving away from the group to enjoy the speed and freedom that skating offered them.

Meanwhile, Zuko wobbled slightly, trying to keep his balance. Fuyumi and Natsuo stood by his side, each taking one of his arms to support him.

"Don't worry, Zuko-nii," said Fuyumi with a soft, reassuring voice. "We’ll help you stay upright."

"Yeah, just relax and follow our movements," added Natsuo, guiding Zuko patiently.

Slowly, Zuko began to feel more confident. With the help of Fuyumi and Natsuo, he managed to take his first steps on the ice without falling. The children encouraged him with words of support and smiles, making the atmosphere warm and welcoming despite the cold.

A few meters away, Izuku and Shouto skated together, enjoying the sensation of the wind on their faces. Izuku, always so enthusiastic, couldn't help but express his joy.

"That’s incredible, Shō-chan!" exclaimed Izuku, skating slowly to avoid falling.

"Thank you, my Okāsan taught me," explained Shouto with a sad smile. Izuku didn't ask, as he knew a summarized version of the story. Zuko had custody of his siblings after their mother disappeared and their father became abusive. That was the story they told to those who asked.

--------------Fire--------------

The moon began to rise as Zuko, Natsuo, Fuyumi, Shouto, and Izuku returned to the apartment. Laughter and jokes filled the air as they walked, their faces flushed from the cold and the excitement of the day.

Soon, Shouto and Izuku were prompted by Natsuo to race to see who could reach the corner first.

"Kids! Don't go too far!" Zuko called, his voice firm but affectionate. The three children stopped and looked back, smiling mischievously before returning to walk with the group.

"Zuko-nii, do you think we can go skating again tomorrow?" asked Fuyumi, her eyes shining with enthusiasm.

"Sure, I have no problem with that," Zuko replied, scratching his head. "But first, finish your homework."

The atmosphere was filled with a sense of peace and camaraderie. However, that tranquility was suddenly broken when Izuku slipped on a hidden piece of ice and fell to the ground. A cry of pain escaped his lips, and Zuko ran to him, followed closely by the others.

"Midoriya-kun, are you okay?" Zuko asked, kneeling beside the small boy. Izuku was holding his hand, and Zuko noticed with concern that a piece of glass was embedded in his palm, from which blood was flowing.

"It hurts a lot," sobbed Izuku, tears rolling down his cheeks.

"Don't worry, Midoriya-kun, we'll help you," Zuko said with a calm but concerned voice. Carefully, he removed the glass from Izuku, but unfortunately, the wound was a bit dirty. "Natsuo, can you clean it? Please?"

Natsuo nodded quickly, knowing exactly what Zuko meant. He knelt beside Izuku and extended his hand over the wound, using his Quirk to clean it.

"This might hurt a little, but we don't want it to get infected," Natsuo explained, concentrating. A small stream of water emerged from his hand, gently cleaning the wound and removing any remaining dirt.

Izuku gritted his teeth but didn't complain. The sensation of the water was refreshing, and soon the pain began to subside. Natsuo continued to work carefully, making sure the wound was completely clean. From above, the moon began to shine slightly, unnoticed by anyone.

After a while, to Natsuo's surprise, the water began to glow a pastel blue, and when it stopped glowing, Izuku's wound was completely healed.

"Wow!" murmured Natsuo in surprise and joy. He then smiled at Izuku. "How do you feel now?"

"I feel much better, thank you, Himura-san," said Izuku as he looked at his almost healed wound in surprise. "I didn't know you could heal."

"Neither did I," murmured Natsuo, looking at his hand in awe.

"Good job, Shinatsu," Zuko congratulated him, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder. "That was amazing."

"That was wonderful, Natsu-nii," exclaimed Shouto happily as he hugged Natsuo.

"Your Quirk is fantastic, Shinatsu," said Fuyumi, tears in her eyes. "Mom would be proud of you."

The group soon continued their way, this time with Zuko holding Izuku and Shouto's hands to ensure no one else got hurt.

As they walked, Zuko couldn't help but feel grateful for these moments of peace and unity. Despite the difficulties and challenges they faced, they knew they could count on each other. And that, Zuko thought, was the most important thing.

--------------Fire--------------

--------------Fire--------------

Christmas arrived quickly, and the apartment was decorated with lights and festive ornaments. The children woke up early, eager to see what Santa Claus had brought them. As they entered the living room, their eyes lit up at the sight of the presents under the tree.

Natsuo was the first to open his gift. Seeing the Nintendo Switch, his eyes filled with surprise and joy, and he couldn't help but remember the day Zuko gave them their new names.

Natsuo was nervous. He looked at Fuyumi, who seemed very happy with her name. It was so beautiful, and its meaning was even more so.

He was so curious to know what his would be, but also hesitant to ask; he didn't want to sound desperate to know.

"Do you want to know yours, Natsuo?" Zuko asked, looking at him with a gentle smile.

Natsuo nodded quickly while biting his lip nervously.

"I thought of Shinatsu, which means 'wise summer,' since you are very wise and very kind."

"Yes, he brought it, he brought it!" exclaimed Natsuo, looking at Zuko with joy, who laughed lightly at seeing them so happy.

"He did! Santa did bring me what I asked for!" Natsuo exclaimed with joy, resisting the urge to hug Zuko so as not to spoil the illusion of Santa.

Fuyumi and Shouto also found their gifts: beautiful fantasy books for Fuyumi and an All Might doll for Shouto. Both were so happy.

"This is perfect," said Fuyumi, flipping through one of her new books.

"Yes, Santa brought us the best gifts," exclaimed Shouto, hugging his All Might doll.

Natsuo, with a mischievous smile, pulled a small package from behind the tree and handed it to Zuko, who looked at the gift in surprise.

"This is for you, Zuko. I hope you like it," he said, nervous but excited.

Zuko opened the package and found a script carefully written by hand. Reading the title, his eyes filled with emotion. It was the script of "Love Among Dragons," his favorite play, something he had mentioned in a casual conversation.

"Natsuo, this is incredible. Did you do this yourself?" Zuko asked, moved.

"Yes, I found it online and copied it by hand. I wanted to give you something special," Natsuo replied, smiling shyly.

Zuko hugged Natsuo, feeling deeply grateful and emotional. Despite the challenges and difficulties, this moment of happiness and togetherness was a reminder of what truly mattered.

"Thank you, Natsuo. This is the best gift I could have received," Zuko said, with a warm smile.

Christmas continued with laughter, games, and shared moments, each of them appreciating the company and love that united them. Despite everything, they knew that as long as they were together, they could overcome anything.

Chapter Text

The cold winter air enveloped the streets of Musutafu, and the snow fell gently, covering everything with a white blanket. Shouto, Fuyumi, and Zuko walked back to the apartment together, their breaths forming small clouds of vapor in the icy air.

The three of them had just left the small convenience store around the corner, carrying bags full of supplies for the week. Natsuo hadn't been able to come because he had some pending homework; besides, he didn’t want to freeze.

Fuyumi, always organized, had kept a mental list of everything they needed to buy, so she was the first to volunteer to go. Shouto didn't want to stay with Natsuo; he preferred to always be by Zuko's side. The little one observed every detail around him, enjoying the winter landscape and the freedom that Zuko had brought them. Zuko, with his calm and protective presence, walked alongside them, ensuring they were safe and comfortable in the cold, using his fire ability to keep them warm (he had recovered that memory the night before and was eager to use it with his siblings).

The three had divided the shopping to lighten the load and avoid the crowd: Zuko carried the heaviest bags, Fuyumi the medium ones, and Shouto the lightest ones.

However, halfway home, Shouto suddenly stopped. Zuko looked at the little one curiously and, with a small glance, realized that something had caught the boy's attention. He searched for what Shouto was staring at so intensely. Upon closer look in the alley beside them, he noticed near a trash can there was a small cardboard box, and inside the box, an older injured and scared cat curled up seeking warmth. It was trembling with cold and fear, its big green eyes looking at the three with a mix of pain and hope.

"Nee-san, Onii-chan, look at this," exclaimed Shouto, pointing at the box. Zuko didn’t have the heart to tell him he had already noticed.

However, Fuyumi hadn’t. She quickly approached, her heart sinking at the sight of the little animal in such a state. Zuko, always sensitive to the needs of others and the most helpless, also knelt beside the box and extended a hand carefully.

"Poor thing," murmured Fuyumi, gently stroking the kitten's head. "It’s injured and frozen."

Shouto looked at Zuko with determination in his mismatched eyes; the black-haired boy already knew what he was going to ask.

"Nii-chan, can we take it home? We can't leave it here in this cold," pleaded Shouto, making puppy eyes, which he had unfortunately learned from Izuku. That kid, as sweet as he was, could be a bad influence sometimes.

Zuko observed the cat for a moment, feeling the desperation and fear of the little animal. He knew they couldn't leave it there, alone and injured, especially in that weather, so he looked at Shouto and nodded with a soft smile at the younger one's question.

"Of course, Shouto. We'll take it home and take care of it," Zuko replied with a small smile. Fuyumi took the bags Zuko had been carrying.

Very carefully, Zuko lifted the kitten from the box and held it against his chest. The poor thing, although scared, seemed to relax a bit in Zuko's arms, who, due to his "Quirk," was warm. It also seemed as if it knew it was in good hands. Fuyumi and Shouto took turns carrying the shopping bags while Zuko carried the kitten and gradually warmed it up.

Upon arriving at the apartment, they were greeted by Natsuo, who seemed to have been napping and was surprised by the cat Zuko was carrying in his arms. Shouto placed the bags on the counter, then ran to get a couple of old blankets from his room. Upon returning, he placed them in a box he had also found in his room, creating a small bed.

Zuko carefully set the kitten down in the bed and, before covering it, began to examine it. As he did so, he used his control to warm his hands and gradually raise the kitten's temperature, which, despite being inside his jacket, was still cold. Soon, Zuko sadly realized how injured the cat was.

"We need to take it to the vet," Zuko explained, worried. The children gasped in concern; Shouto was the most affected.

The trip to the hospital was somewhat tense; the children were worried about the poor animal. Once they arrived, Zuko gave a brief summary of how the cat ended up in their care and in that state. While Zuko spoke with the vet, the children took the opportunity to look at the toys for sale, as well as the litter boxes for the kitten.

Soon, the vet finished examining it and determined it wasn’t too injured. Aside from a few scratches on its paws, mild malnutrition, and hypothermia, the cat was fine. He prescribed pills for it to recover the vitamins it had lost, plenty of rest, and food.

Zuko thanked the vet, paid for the consultation, as well as a few toys and a small litter box the children had chosen.

As they walked back, Zuko briefly explained the cat's condition to the children, who sighed in relief that it wasn't anything serious.

After returning from the vet, the kitten settled into the bed they had prepared, still weak but clearly more comfortable. The children were excited about the idea of having a new member and couldn’t stop looking at it with tenderness. Shouto, his eyes shining with hope, was the first to speak.

"Zuko, can we keep it?" Shouto asked, his voice full of innocence and desire. "I promise to take care of it and give it lots of love."

Zuko, although moved by Shouto's request, knew they had to be responsible.

"Shouto, we first need to make sure it doesn't have an owner. We can't just keep it without trying," Zuko explained calmly, placing a hand on Shouto's shoulder, who frowned in annoyance. Fuyumi, always the mediator, approached Zuko with a persuasive smile.

"Zuko, I understand your concern, but look how happy it makes Shouto. Besides, the kitten needs a home where it will be well cared for," Fuyumi explained, placing her hands behind her back. "We can put up posters and ask around the neighborhood, but in the meantime, can we take care of it?"

Natsuo, who had been observing in silence, decided to join in the plea. With his more mature voice, he tried to reason with Zuko.

"Zuko, I know you're worried about doing the right thing, but we'll do everything we can to find its owner," Natsuo explained pleadingly, also making his version of puppy eyes. "If no one claims it, we could give it a loving home. We promise to share the responsibility and take good care of it."

Zuko looked at the three children, seeing the sincerity and love in their eyes. He struggled against the impulse to agree to keep the cat, but he knew it wasn’t possible. No matter how willing they were to do whatever was necessary to care for the kitten, the poor animal might be lost and looking for its owner.

"I understand what you're saying, but we have to be fair. If someone is looking for their pet, we need to give them the chance to get it back," Zuko said, looking at the children, stern but gentle. "Let's do this: we'll put up posters and wait two weeks. If no one claims it, then we can talk about adopting it."

The children nodded, though a bit disappointed, understanding Zuko's logic. And yet, they didn’t give up.

Over the next few days, they made sure to show Zuko how much the kitten meant to them. Shouto brought it food and water, Fuyumi petted and talked to it gently, and Natsuo took care of cleaning its litter box and making sure it was comfortable. Zuko, seeing the effort and care the children gave the kitten, began to reconsider keeping it. He had grown attached to it too.

--------------Fire--------------

Finally, after five days, one afternoon while Shouto was playing in the park, he found a "Lost" poster with the cat's picture. At first, he hesitated to tell Zuko, but he knew it was the right thing to do since there was a child who really missed their pet. With a heavy heart, he showed the poster to Zuko after leaving the park.

"Zuko, I found this while playing with Izu-chan," Shouto said sadly as he showed him the poster. "I think it's the kitten we found. You were right, someone is looking for it."

Zuko gently took the poster and examined it. It was the same cat, with the same big green eyes and the same scar on its eye. He knew it must have been difficult for Shouto to show him that.

"I'm proud of you," Zuko praised, gently patting Shouto's hair, who smiled slightly.

He decided to call the number once they were in the apartment. The owners were a bit skeptical that it was really their cat, so Zuko took a photo of the kitten and sent it to them to be sure. They confirmed that it was indeed their pet, so they arranged a meeting to return the kitten.

--------------Fire--------------

On the day of the meeting, Shouto decided to accompany Zuko, while Fuyumi and Natsuo preferred to stay home.

They met in a café with a boy the same age as Shouto, named Hitoshi, who had peculiar purple hair. The boy cried with joy upon being reunited with his beloved pet that had been lost. His brother and brother-in-law, Aizawa Shouta and Yamada Hizashi, thanked them deeply for finding and returning him.

“Thank you for taking care of him,” Hizashi said, with a sincere smile as he bowed. “We’re so glad to know he was in good hands.”

“We had gone on vacation, and the person who was supposed to take care of him did a terrible job and let him escape,” Aizawa explained, with his hands in his pockets. He had a small smile as he watched his brother with his cat. “We searched for him for a long time but never had any response until today, and we truly thank you.”

“Yes, thank you very much,” Hitoshi responded joyfully as he bowed.

“We’re happy to have been able to help,” Zuko replied, smiling as he placed his hands on Shouto's shoulder, who watched the scene with both joy and sadness. “I assure you, Shou, we’ll find a pet for you all.”

“I have the numbers of a couple of shelters you can visit if you’d like,” Hizashi explained cheerfully, unintentionally interjecting into the conversation. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to intrude.”

“No, it’s okay,” Zuko said with a somewhat tense smile despite the apology. “How far is the shelter?”

“Half an hour by train,” Aizawa explained, crossing his arms and looking intently at Zuko. “I can send you the location if you’d like.”

“I would like that, thank you,” Zuko replied calmly, his smile a bit tense.

The meeting ended quickly. Soon, Zuko and Shouto made their way home after promising Hizashi a small playdate in a couple of days. Zuko accepted only if he could bring two little ones and an additional companion: Izuku, Tenya, and Tensei, with whom he had become friends. Although they lived far away, they didn’t see them often. They agreed since, to Zuko's surprise, they knew Tensei.

Soon, snow began to fall gently. Shouto, tired, asked Zuko to carry him, and he gladly obliged.

As they walked calmly towards home, Zuko looked at Shouto with great pride. He knew it had been difficult to part with the cat, but he had been very brave to return it to its owners. He was happy, as he had managed to reunite a lovely pet with its family.

--------------Fire--------------

Soon, December 31st had arrived, bringing with it new celebrations.

Especially the New Year's Eve festival in Musutafu, which was an eagerly awaited event by all the residents.

The streets were filled with bright lights and festive decorations, creating a magical atmosphere that delighted both young and old alike. Shouto, Fuyumi, Zuko, and Natsuo eagerly prepared to attend, bundling up well to face the cold winter night.

Upon arriving at the festival, they were greeted by an explosion of colors and sounds.

The lights twinkled in the trees, and the food stalls offered delicacies that filled the air with tempting aromas.

Shouto, his eyes wide open, looked around in amazement, as it had been years since he had seen such a magical festival.

"Look at all those lights!" exclaimed Shouto, gently tugging on Zuko's sleeve and pointing at the lights.

Fuyumi smiled, took Shouto's hand with Natsuo behind them, and led them to a candy stall where they bought caramel apples and cotton candy. Zuko, always attentive to the children, made sure everyone stayed together as they explored the festival.

In that magical place, they encountered their neighbor Midoriya Inko and her son Izuku, who were also enjoying the event. Izuku, with his contagious energy, joined Shouto, and together they ran to a game booth where they tried to win prizes. Fuyumi and Natsuo joined the games, and Zuko watched them with a smile, happy to see them so content.

"It's wonderful to see them so happy, isn't it, Himura-san?" said Inko, approaching Zuko. "This festival always brings so much joy."

"Yes, it's a special moment for everyone," Zuko replied, nodding.

They continued their stroll and met Tensei Iida and his brother Tenya, who were enjoying some chicken skewers along with Hitoshi and his brother and brother-in-law, Shouta and Hizashi. The Iida brothers and the Aizawa family greeted enthusiastically, especially Tensei and Hizashi, and when they finished eating, they joined the group to chat cheerfully.

While the younger ones explored the various games and attractions, the adults shared stories and laughter.

During one of their walks, they encountered Detective Tsukauchi and Officer Sansa, who were present, patrolling the area to ensure everything was in order. They stopped to greet and chat a bit, enjoying the festive atmosphere.

"It's good to see everyone gathered and happy," said Tsukauchi, smiling, especially happy to see the Todoroki family so cheerful. "These moments are what make our job worthwhile."

As they walked, Fuyumi had a wonderful idea. She led Shouto, Zuko, and Natsuo to a painter who was offering portraits at the festival. The painter, with his skill and talent, captured the essence of the four in a beautiful portrait.

"It's perfect," said Fuyumi, admiring the portrait. "A keepsake of this special moment."

Natsuo, with a smile on his face, looked at the portrait with pride. He knew that, although the path wasn’t always easy, he had family and friends who supported him. Zuko, although he still harbored his worries, felt grateful to have Fuyumi, Shouto, and Natsuo by his side.

Midnight soon arrived, bringing the fireworks with it.

"HAPPY NEW YEAR!" everyone shouted in unison, hugging each other.

They stayed together for another half hour until they had to part ways when the youngest of the group started to get tired.

With a smile, Zuko lifted Shouto and said goodbye to the others, and they walked back to their apartment, with new and happy memories.

--------------Fire--------------

Chapter Text

The days passed quickly, and the children managed to catch up on their assignments and classes they had missed through online classes.

In-person classes began in early January at free public institutions. Fuyumi, Natsuo, and Shouto studied at the same institution as Izuku, which had both primary and secondary education. Shouto and Izuku were delighted with the idea of sharing a classroom and going to school together.

Although the institution was 30 minutes away by train from their apartment and Inko had assured Zuko that it was safe, he still felt uneasy about letting them go alone. It bothered him to let them go alone, even though the children had assured him many times that they would be fine.

To ease Zuko's fears, the children agreed to let him accompany them on the first day.

The morning sun illuminated the entrance of Aldera Junior High, where a group of children prepared for their first day of classes.

Shouto, who had said goodbye to Zuko and his siblings, walked with a firm but nervous step. Izuku was by his side, chattering excitedly about studying together.

Once in the classroom, Izuku separated from Shouto and went to sit down, saving a spot for him.

The teacher, Miss Hirana, smiled as the children took their seats. Then, once they were all in their places, she signaled Shouto to come closer.

"Good morning, welcome back. I hope you enjoyed your winter break," said the teacher with a smile. All the children smiled and exclaimed that they did. "I’m glad. As you can see, we have a new student joining us today. Introduce yourself, dear. Say your name, your age, your Quirk, and your favorite things."

"Hi, my name is Himura Shōryū, I’m six years old. My Quirk is called Icy Flame," Shouto explained. Then he extended both hands; one produced a bit of ice and the other fire. This made all the children gape, and Bakugou glared at him. "I can control ice and fire, but I prefer to use ice. My older brother is teaching me to use my fire. He’s one of my favorite people, and his fire is incredible, as well as the way he fights."

"That's wonderful, Himura-kun. Why don't you sit with Bakugou-kun?" said the teacher with a smile, pointing to the boy with ash-blond hair. Shouto frowned.

"But I want to sit with Izu-chan," said Shouto, pointing to Izuku, who lit up at the statement. The teacher, a bit tense, reluctantly agreed to let Shouto sit with Izuku. Then the class began.

Murmurs filled the classroom as the students looked at Shouto with astonishment and sympathy, thinking that perhaps the poor boy had been deceived by Deku.

"Sit here, Shou-chan," exclaimed Izuku with a smile, pointing to the empty seat next to him. "That demonstration was amazing."

"Thanks, Zuko-nii taught me a lot. He’s incredible," Shouto exclaimed proudly and a bit boastfully about his brother. "He says you’re free to go to the park later today."

"Of course, I'd love to," Izuku exclaimed joyfully.

However, their little reunion was soon interrupted by a blond boy with red eyes who approached with a challenging expression.

"What are you doing sitting with Deku?" he asked disdainfully, crossing his arms. "I’m Bakugou Katsuki, and my Quirk is Explosion. Don’t go near him, he’s useless."

"I don’t like how you talk about Izu-chan," Shouto complained with annoyance, glaring at Bakugou. "My brother says we’re all equal here, that we shouldn't judge based on a Quirk or the lack of one."

"Well, your brother’s pathetic. If you don't have a fantastic Quirk like mine, you’re just a failure or a villain," Katsuki mocked, making a small explosion.

"What’s the use of a 'heroic' Quirk if you have the attitude of a villain?" Shouto murmured, using the typical phrase Zuko would say. Although he said it quietly, it was heard by the entire classroom, which fell into a deathly silence.

"What did you say?" Bakugou growled angrily, approaching Shouto, who simply crossed his arms and frowned.

"Besides being brutish, you’re deaf," Shouto commented, ready to fight Bakugou, but the teacher scolded them and made them sit down.

Reluctantly, Katsuki huffed and walked away, leaving Shouto and Izuku in peace, but not before giving a warning glare, which Shouto matched, imitating his brother Zuko when witnessing intimidation. It worked, as Bakugou looked away in annoyance.

--------------Fire--------------

In another classroom, Fuyumi, who was nervous about everything, stood up to introduce herself when the teacher indicated.

"Hello, I’m Himura Fuyuhime and I’m 13 years old. My Quirk is called Winter Mantle," Fuyumi introduced herself, while with a wave of her hands, a layer of soft snow covered the floor around her, creating a miniature winter landscape. "My favorite things are yoga and Northern Shaolin, which I practice with my brother in the mornings."

"Why do you practice martial arts if you have such a powerful Quirk?" a boy asked mockingly. "Or is it weak?"

"No, it’s not weak, my brother simply says we shouldn't rely on our Quirks," Fuyumi explained, crossing her arms, somewhat annoyed by the boy's insinuation. "My brother's Quirk can burn you to a crisp, but he prefers to use self-defense and karate."

"It's not that powerful if he doesn’t use it," another student mocked, making some students and even the teacher laugh. Fuyumi turned red with embarrassment and was about to sit down and say nothing when a phrase from her brother came to her. It was something he said to a guy who mocked him for not using his Quirk and only self-defense.

"You must be too pathetic and weak physically and mentally to say that," Fuyumi commented, imitating Zuko's serious expression. The others looked at her in astonishment. "Besides, what will you do if a villain attacks you on the street? Sit and cry while a hero arrives? At least I’ll be able to defend myself."

The two boys didn’t know what else to say, even the teacher was surprised. They simply closed their mouths in embarrassment. The other students applauded, impressed by Fuyumi's demonstration and words. The girl smiled confidently, then approached her seat next to a pink-haired girl who looked at her with curiosity and admiration.

"Hi, I’m Hamada Suzume. Your Quirk is beautiful," the girl introduced herself with a smile. "And your response was great, I’ve never seen anyone put Yamamoto-san in his place like that."

"Thanks, it wasn’t really my response, I just copied what my brother said to a guy who criticized his teaching at the park," Fuyumi replied, feeling happy to have made a new friend. "Many people are bothered that someone with a 'heroic' Quirk learns to defend themselves with karate, but Zuko has very sharp responses."

"Your brother sounds fantastic," a boy from the other side said.

"You have a cool Quirk," Suzume commented with a smile.

"Thanks, and yes, Zuko-nii is the best brother ever," Fuyumi replied with a small, somewhat tense but happy smile.

--------------Fire--------------

In his classroom, Natsuo confidently stood up after the teacher instructed him to introduce himself.

"Hello, I’m Himura Shinatsu, and I’m 9 years old. My Quirk is called Aqua Dominion," Natsuo explained proudly, while performing a small move Zuko had taught him. He raised his hands and created a small wave that quickly disappeared. He didn't mention his healing Quirk, as he wanted it to remain a secret. "My favorite things are Northern Shaolin and parkour, which my brother teaches me every morning."

"Let me guess, he's the guy with golden eyes who brought you this morning," a white-haired boy mocked, crossing his arms. "It must be humiliating to have your brother bring you by the hand."

"It must be humiliating not to have someone who cares enough to accompany you on the first day," Natsuo growled, crossing his arms and glaring at the boy, who turned red with fury but stayed silent out of embarrassment. "That's what I thought."

The teacher didn’t comment on the interaction; she simply shrugged and turned around to start writing on the board. Natsuo took a seat next to a boy with pink hair and green eyes.

"Hi, I’m Sato Daichi," the boy introduced himself with a smile. "That move was interesting."

"Thanks, my brother taught me," Natsuo replied with a smile, knowing this school year would be very interesting.

--------------Fire--------------

The day passed quickly, and soon classes were over. The Todoroki siblings returned home after their first day of classes, accompanied by Inko, who had gone to pick up Izuku.

Excitement and stories of the day filled the air as they crossed the front door. Upon entering, each went to their room to complete their homework.

It was nearly 7 p.m. when Zuko arrived at the apartment. That day had been very busy, and he was very tired, but when he heard the children's laughter, he knew all the effort was worth it. As he entered the living room and sat for a while, the children approached him excitedly to talk about their day.

"Zuko, Zuko, Zuko, today was amazing!" Natsuo shouted, sitting next to him. He hadn't mentioned his small altercation in the morning because he didn't want to burden Zuko, who looked so tired. "I met this guy with an incredible Quirk, his name is Sato Daichi."

"Umm, that's good, guys," Zuko said with a smile as he settled in a bit. "How was your first day?"

"It was amazing, Zuko-nii! Everyone was impressed with my Quirk. I gave a small demonstration and met a girl named Hamada Suzume. She has pink hair and is very kind," Fuyumi shared happily. Like Natsuo, she didn’t want to burden Zuko; she would tell him the truth if they were bullied again, but until then, she wouldn’t.

"I’m glad to hear that," Zuko commented with a tired smile. Natsuo and Fuyumi were delighted with the news. "It sounds like you had a great day. And you, Shouto? You haven't spoken."

"I liked school too, Zu-nii," Shouto said while playing with his hands. The three noticed Shouto's demeanor; he didn’t seem happy. "But there’s something I didn’t like."

"What happened, Shouto?" Zuko asked, leaning towards him, concerned.

"Some of our classmates treat Izu-chan badly for not having a Quirk. They call him useless and push him, especially a boy named Bakugou. I don’t like how they treat him," Shouto explained, with a serious expression as he crossed his arms. "And the teacher didn't do anything to help him. They tell me to leave him aside, but I won't. He’s my friend, Quirk or no Quirk, so I'm defending him."

"I’m very proud of you for defending Midoriya-kun, Shouto," Zuko said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "It’s important to be brave and support others, especially when they're being treated unfairly."

Shouto nodded, feeling comforted by his older brother's words.

"I’ll talk to Midoriya-kun's mother later about this," Zuko explained to Shouto to ease his worries. "It’s important for adults to be aware of what’s happening too. Thank you for telling me."

"Thank you for listening, Zu-nii," Shouto said with a smile.

--------------Fire--------------

The week went by quickly. Zuko had run into Midoriya one afternoon after taking out the trash and explained everything to her. Inko was grateful to Shouto for looking out for her son at school, and they both agreed to keep an eye on the children to prevent any serious situations.

On Saturday morning, Shouto woke up super early. He was so excited because it was his birthday and he couldn't wait to spend the day with his friends and family and celebrate it for the first time in seven years.

After enjoying some delicious pancakes with cream and chocolate chips for breakfast, Shouto put on his coat and headed to the park to meet his friends Izuku, Tenya, and Shinsou, accompanied by Natsuo and Fuyumi.

Zuko, on the other hand, had gone to work as he had a morning shift. Once he was done, they would be able to have Shouto's party.

--------------Fire--------------

The park was filled with laughter and games. The children ran to the swings, slid down the slides, and played hide-and-seek among the trees. Natsuo and Fuyumi kept a watchful eye, ensuring everyone had fun and stayed safe.

"Look how high I can swing!" Izuku shouted, pushing himself on the swing.

"That's awesome, Izu-chan!" Shouto responded, laughing as he tried to reach the same height.

"It's so wonderful to see them so happy," Fuyumi murmured, watching Shouto behave like the child he was meant to be.

"Yeah, Zuko is so cool," Natsuo said cheerfully. "I didn't think we could have such a great brother."

"Yes, Zuko is a great person and an incredible brother," Fuyumi commented, holding back tears. "It was good that we escaped."

"Yes, it was," Natsuo murmured with a sad smile. "I wish Touya-nii were here."

"Me too," Fuyumi said with the same sadness. "Me too."

After a few hours, Fuyumi called the children and told them it was time to go home for lunch. They could continue playing afterward.

Fuyumi asked the children what they wanted to eat so she could prepare it once they got home. The three youngest looked at Shouto, waiting for his answer, after all, it was his birthday. He responded that he wanted cold soba. 

--------------Fire--------------

Once back at the apartment, Natsuo set up the game console that Zuko had recently bought for them and started playing Mario Bros. Fuyumi, on the other hand, was about to prepare lunch when there was a knock on the door.

"Kids, can you get the door?" called a familiar voice from the other side. Curiously, Fuyumi opened the door and was greeted by Tensei, who had some takeaway food bags in his hand.

"Special delivery for the birthday boy."

"Is that cold soba?" Fuyumi asked in surprise. "But how?"

"Zuko ordered the food, and I picked it up," Tensei said with a smile. "Today, he wanted everyone to enjoy the day, especially Shouto."

Fuyumi was even more moved by Zuko's thoughtfulness. She was so happy that her little brother was having the birthday he deserved and didn’t mind that the celebration was small, knowing that next year would be even better.

--------------Fire--------------

It was almost 4 p.m. when Zuko arrived from work. He had a white box in his hands, and the other adults also arrived for the small gathering.

"Happy birthday, Shou!" Zuko congratulated him as he placed the box on the table and opened it, revealing a beautiful birthday cake. "I wish you a year full of happiness."

"Thank you, Zu-nii! This is amazing!" Shouto exclaimed with a big smile as he looked at the cake with joy.

The small party was a success. The children played some board games that Inko and Hizashi had brought, as well as racing games on the console. They ate lots of cake and opened many gifts.

Shouto was happy to have received so many presents, but what he valued most was being surrounded by his friends and family. He looked at Zuko, who was talking with the adults, and felt even more affection for the boy who had done so much for them.

As night fell, the children settled in the living room for a sleepover. The adults had left, leaving their phone numbers with Zuko in case there were any problems.

With Zuko's help, the children built a fort out of pillows and blankets, creating a cozy shelter where they all snuggled up to tell stories and laugh together.

"This has been the best birthday ever," Shouto murmured on the verge of sleep, smiling as he looked at his friends. "Thank you, Zu-nii."

"I'm happy you enjoyed your birthday, Shou," Zuko said as he gave him a small kiss on the forehead. He then kissed each child, who were also being overcome by sleep. "Rest well, little ones."

And so, soon each child fell asleep one by one, wrapped in the warmth of friendship and family. Shouto felt grateful to have such wonderful people in his life and promised to always defend his friends, no matter the circumstances.

Chapter Text

The children wished they could go to school alone in the morning, but they truly enjoyed Zuko's company, who didn't mind taking them and telling them stories.

In those weeks, they had established an excellent routine. In the mornings, Zuko would take the four children to school before heading to work, and in the afternoon, Inko would pick them up. After finishing their homework, they were allowed to spend two hours at the park or walking around the neighborhood.

The weeks had been calm since the return to classes. The children had adapted well; none of them got into trouble, and their teachers hadn't reported any issues. They behaved well, answered any questions asked of them, and were kind to other students and their teachers. Although Shouto was a bit shy, always playing with Izuku.

Shouto hadn't mentioned any more incidents with his classmates or any mean behavior towards Izuku. Everything had been relatively quiet until, three weeks after classes started, Zuko was called by the principal because of an incident involving Shouto.

Zuko requested permission to leave work for the rest of the afternoon. Fortunately, his boss was very understanding and gave him the afternoon and the next day off, as Zuko was his star employee for making delicious teas.

Without wasting time, Zuko headed to the school as quickly as possible, worried that something bad had happened to Shouto. He arrived almost at the same time as a woman with ash-blond hair, whom he recognized as Bakugou Mitsuki, Inko's best friend.

--------------Fire--------------

The secretary, seeing them, led them directly to the principal's office, where Shouto sat with a black eye and some scratches, and another boy with a broken nose and a red cheek, whom Zuko could guess was the woman's son, Bakugou Katsuki.

"I’m glad to see you here," the principal said with a big smile that looked tense and fake. Then he pointed to the children. "The kids got into a fight, as you can see."

"Katsuki, what have I told you about starting fights?" the woman scolded her son, who became even angrier.

"It wasn't my fault," Katsuki complained, glaring at Shouto. "That idiot started it all."

"Shōryū, what happened?" Zuko asked as he knelt in front of Shouto. "You're not one to start fights."

"I'm sorry, Oniichan," Shouto apologized, glaring at Katsuki. "But it was his fault. He pushed Izu-chan off the slide."

"What?" Zuko asked, frowning in annoyance.

"I can explain the situation better," the principal commented, drawing the attention of the two adults. "Bakugou-kun was playing with his friends when Himura-kun approached him and hit him in the nose."

"Shōryū?" Zuko asked as he looked at Shouto, who had clenched teeth. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the principal slightly smiling. "What really happened?"

"Himura-san, I already explained the situation," the principal said, looking a bit nervous now.

"Did I ask you?" Zuko responded angrily, crossing his arms. The principal stayed silent. "I asked my brother, who I assure you would never start a fight without reason."

"Well, let me assure you it was your brother who started the fight," Bakugou-san exclaimed, crossing her arms and glaring at Zuko. "Look at what he did to my son's nose."

"I was just defending Izu-chan!" Shouto shouted angrily. He had stood on the chair so everyone could see him. The principal seemed annoyed by the turn of events. Shouto, seeing he had everyone's attention, spoke more quietly. "Bakugou is lying. I was playing with Izu-chan on the slide when Bakugou approached and pushed him. Because of him, Izu-chan hurt his leg and arm."

"Liar, Deku tripped on his own," Bakugou complained, crossing his arms. "That damn Deku always falls and hurts himself."

"You have cameras, right?" Zuko asked, looking at the principal, who had turned a bit pale. "Let's see the footage then."

"It's not necessary; I believe Bakugou-kun," the principal replied with false calm, adjusting in his chair. "Besides, Midoriya-kun has always hurt himself. This is not the first accident Midoriya-kun has had, and it won’t be the last, I assure you. But we are here for Himura-kun, who got into trouble for the first time, and I wanted to reach an agreement with you."

"Tell me, is it normal for you to believe children without evidence?" Zuko growled, placing his hands on the principal's desk. "Or is it only Bakugou-kun you believe more?"

"What are you insinuating?" Bakugou-san complained, crossing her arms. "That my son is a bully? When clearly it’s your brother."

"I taught my brother to defend himself if necessary, not to seek fights," Zuko said angrily. Then he looked at the principal. "If he’s really telling the truth, he won't mind showing the footage."

"I already told you it’s not necessary; I believe Bakugou-kun. Besides, Midoriya-kun has never behaved well," the principal complained angrily.

"Show me the footage, damn it!" Zuko exclaimed, losing his patience. He was a bit bothered to have to use bad language in front of the children, but this principal had driven him crazy. "I won’t believe a word from you or that child until I see the damn evidence."

Reluctantly, the principal pulled up the garden camera footage, and it clearly showed Bakugou-kun and his friends bothering Shouto and Izuku, who were quietly playing on the slide.

"Oh my god," Bakugou-san murmured, turning a bit pale and angry. Then she looked at her son, who didn’t seem sorry at all, just annoyed. "Katsuki? Explain this now!"

"I don't understand why you're making such a big deal; it’s not the first time," Katsuki complained angrily, crossing his arms. The principal seemed a bit worried. "It's just a useless Deku dreaming of being a hero even though he has no Quirk, it’s pathetic."

"KATSUKI!" Bakugou-san shouted with anger and embarrassment. Zuko only looked disgusted by the situation.

"I understand the situation now," Zuko commented, crossing his arms and looking at the principal. "Kids, can you step out for a moment?"

"Yes, Nii-chan," Shouto said, getting down from his chair and leaving the room. Katsuki followed reluctantly as his mother ordered him to. When the children weren’t present, Zuko looked at the principal, who seemed annoyed by everything.

"YOU! YOU'RE JUST A DAMN BIGOT... WHO CARES MORE ABOUT A DAMN QUIRK THAN THE SAFETY OF YOUR STUDENTS," Zuko shouted with anger and fury. Mitsuki looked at him with surprise and a bit of pride. "You really disgust me. If you act this way with poor Izuku because of his lack of a Quirk, I can't imagine how you treat other children with what your damned society calls villainous Quirks. You’re worthless, no better than those 'villains.'"

"Look, Himura-san, don’t talk to me in that tone," the principal exclaimed angrily. "That child has more potential as a hero than that useless Deku, and I suggest you calm down unless you want me to expel your brother."

"Then expel him, I don’t care. Shōryū will never come back to this damn school," Zuko exclaimed, pointing a finger at the principal. "I assure you, you will never hold your position again, not now, not ever. These children deserve a real principal, not a bigoted piece of trash like you."

"What are you insinuating, kid?" the principal asked, crossing his arms. "No matter how many officers you call, none would believe you."

"Expect a call from Detective Tsukauchi," Zuko threatened angrily. He saw with satisfaction how the principal turned pale, then left the office, faintly hearing the woman's shouts.

Upon leaving the office, he found his brother putting on his shoes. Bakugou-kun was talking to a group of kids who had appeared in the video.

"Let's go, Shōryū," Zuko said firmly, holding Shouto's hand to help him up. They both heard a slight taunt but ignored it. Once there, they went to get Natsuo and Fuyumi, who were confused by the whole situation. When they left, they went straight to the apartment. They passed by the Midoriya's, but it seemed they weren’t home, so they went to their own home.

--------------Fire--------------

Once inside the apartment, Zuko picked up the landline and dialed Tsukauchi's number. While he spoke with the detective, the children changed out of their school uniforms into their home clothes.

"Why did Zuko come to get us?" Natsuo asked curiously, looking at Shouto, who blushed a little.

"I broke a classmate's nose," Shouto explained while taking out his math book. Natsuo looked at his brother in surprise. "But he pushed Izu-chan off the slide and made him break a leg."

"Ah, you defended him," Natsuo commented, impressed with his brother. "You impress me."

"Thanks... but, do you think Zuko is mad at me?" Shouto asked, clutching the edge of his shirt.

"Tsss, I doubt it, you were just doing the right thing," Natsuo responded calmly.

"HIMURA SHŌRYŪ!" Zuko shouted from the kitchen. Both Shouto and Natsuo froze slightly at the shout, as they had never heard him sound like that. "Come here right now."

"I take it back, little brother, I think you're in big trouble," Natsuo whispered cautiously, debating whether to escape now or wait and see what happened. "You should go, or he might get angrier."

Shouto swallowed nervously, then left the room to face Zuko, who was waiting for him in the living room with his arms crossed.

"Yes, Zuko-nii," Shouto said nervously.

"We need to talk," Zuko said, sitting on the sofa and gesturing for Shouto to do the same.

"Are you furious?" Shouto asked with a nervous smile.

"Furious no... Annoyed yes," Zuko replied, placing his hands on his knees. "Look, I don’t disapprove of you defending Midoriya-kun; what bothers me is that you got into trouble."

"But I couldn't let him get away with it," Shouto complained, crossing his arms. "He hurt Izu-chan."

"I understand you want to protect him, Sho, but you shouldn't hurt anyone unless they attack you," Zuko responded, placing a hand on his shoulder. Shouto was about to argue, but Zuko gestured for silence. "Look, never, ever start a fight, or there will be a punishment, but I won't say anything about defending yourself."

"Fine," Shouto agreed reluctantly, crossing his arms. Then he looked at Zuko and stood up from the sofa. "Can I go now?"

"We’re not finished yet, Shou," Zuko said, pulling him back to the sofa, much to Shouto's disappointment. "You’re grounded for a week, no games, no outings. You’ll wash and dry the dishes."

"But..." Shouto complained in annoyance, about to throw a tantrum when Zuko interrupted him.

"And any more complaints will add more weeks to your punishment," Zuko warned, crossing his arms. Shouto stayed silent and complained softly but didn't say anything else. "Good, now go to your room, please."

"Yes, sir," Shouto responded irritably, heading to his room. Natsuo was playing with his Switch, which he set aside when he saw Shouto enter.

"How did it go? I see you're still alive..." Natsuo teased, turning off the Switch.

"Grounded for a week, no going out or playing," Shouto grumbled, sitting on his bed with his arms crossed. "And washing and drying the dishes."

"Oh, at least it’s light," Natsuo commented with a smile, though he was internally relieved the punishments weren’t severe.

"And I like it," Shouto said with a smile as he worked on his math homework.

--------------Fire--------------

Later that same day, Zuko and Shouto visited the Midoriya family after they returned from the hospital. Inko greeted them warmly, and while Zuko spoke with her, Shouto went to see Izuku, who was in bed with his leg elevated.

"Mitsuki-chan told me what happened," Inko said sadly as she sipped the tea Zuko had brought. "I can’t believe Bakugou-kun hurt my son like that."

"And from what I could see, Midoriya-san, it wasn't a one-time thing," Zuko commented, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I think Bakugou-kun has been hurting Midoriya-kun, and the school passed it off as an accident."

"Mitsuki told me that too," Inko responded with pain. Then she looked at Zuko. "I’ve decided to take Izuku out of Aldera and look for a better institution, one where he won’t get hurt. I also told Mitsuki-chan that I don’t want Bakugou-kun near my son, at least for now."

"I’m sorry," Zuko said, placing a hand on Inko's shoulder. "I understand they were best friends, but it would be good for Midoriya-kun to have a change of environment."

"I know, it’s good your brother intervened. I can’t imagine what would have happened later if I hadn't found out about the lie," Inko whispered, wiping her tears. "Does that make me a bad mother? That my son doesn't tell me things? That he hides them from me?"

"I don’t know why Midoriya-kun didn’t tell you anything, Midoriya-san, but you’re not a bad mother. You’re the best: kind, understanding, and loving," Zuko said, hugging the crying Inko. "Maybe you should talk to him, ask him why he didn't tell you. Maybe that will clear up your doubts."

"Alright. I will," Inko replied with a trembling voice. Then she bit her lip nervously. "Himura-san, is it possible for you to teach my son how to defend himself?"

"Of course," Zuko responded with a smile. "I have no problem teaching him."

"Thank you, Himura-san... thank you," Inko cried, hugging him again. "Thank you."

Zuko hid a slight grimace of discomfort as he patted Inko on the back. When she calmed down, Zuko went to find Shouto to let her speak with her son in peace.

"I... want to be a hero, Zu-nii," Shouto said with determination. "I want to help people like you helped me, like I helped Izu-chan. Can you train me?"

"I’m proud of you," Zuko said with a smile, stroking Shouto's hair. "Very proud, and you’ll be a great hero."

"I’ll be like you," Shouto responded proudly, hugging him tightly. "I’ll be like you."

--------------Fire--------------

That same night, before Izuku's training was to begin, Zuko lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, pondering ways to help Shouto overcome his fear of fire. Yet, none of his ideas seemed quite right.

Realizing the lateness of the hour, he decided to sleep, knowing he had to rise early the next day.

That night, Zuko had a peculiar dream. He stood on a strange platform leading to two immense caves.

Suddenly, a trumpet sounded, and from the caves emerged two dragons.

One dragon, a magnificent electric blue, locked eyes with Zuko. Instead of fear or panic, Zuko felt admiration. Whatever the dragon saw in his eyes was enough, as it nodded.

The blue dragon approached its red companion, and together they performed an intricate dance. Soon, Zuko found himself mimicking the movements and realized it was a dance. When he finished, the two dragons were staring intently at him.

Zuko felt as if these majestic creatures were gazing into his soul, seeking something they perhaps found when they nodded. Both creatures unleashed a great burst of rainbow fire towards Zuko. Initially frightened, he awoke with a start.

Catching his breath, Zuko realized the message they conveyed upon recalling the beautiful rainbow fire.

"I understand now," Zuko murmured, a smile appearing on his face. "I understand what I did wrong."

Chapter Text

It was a calm day; the snow was still falling, but it was lighter.

In the small apartment, Natsuo and Fuyumi were doing some light warm-up exercises for Izuku to see before starting the basic katas of Northern Shaolin.

Meanwhile, Zuko and Shouto were performing a different exercise: the dance Zuko had seen in his dream. When they finished, Shouto was panting but happy.

"Now, I want you to watch this," Zuko said, sitting in a lotus position. He brought his hands together and took a deep breath, then created a small flame of different colors. This caught the attention of the other children, who approached curiously.

"Wow," Shouto murmured, looking at the fire. He raised a hand to touch it, then lowered it, embarrassed. "It's beautiful."

"Tell me, what do you feel?" Zuko asked with a smile. He slowly lowered a hand, took Shouto's, and brought it closer to the fire so he could touch it and realize it wouldn't hurt him.

"It... It feels like a heartbeat," Shouto murmured in awe, looking closer at the fire. "It's like it's alive."

"That's because it is," Zuko responded with a big smile. "Fire isn’t just destruction, Shouto; it’s also life."

"But... but fire only hurts," Shouto complained, turning his head in annoyance.

"It's only destruction," added Natsuo, crossing his arms. "It only destroys."

"Like any element, like any Quirk," Zuko responded calmly, understanding the children's feelings. "But just as you can't live without water or air, you can't live without fire either."

"Although it's not used as much anymore, it used to be the most important," Izuku clarified with a smile. "Fire gives warmth, lit up the nights, and warms your food."

The children, initially doubtful, thought about those words and realized they were right. Fire, more than destruction, is life and vital for everyone. And although it was used to cause harm, so were other elements.

"You're right," Natsuo whispered. Fuyumi, who hadn’t said anything, approached her brother and hugged him.

"They never saw that side of fire," Fuyumi explained, looking at Zuko. "Pa... Enji used to be loving and cared for Mom, Touya, and me... But he started to change when Natsuo was born and got worse when Shouto was born."

"Oh," Izuku whispered, catching the attention of all four, who had forgotten the boy was there. "Are you... are you the Todoroki family?"

"Ouch," Shouto whimpered in fear, hiding behind Zuko and hugging him tightly.

"Izuku, can we talk?" Zuko asked, using the boy's given name to emphasize the seriousness, raising his hand as a signal for Izuku to approach. "What we're going to tell you, you can't tell anyone, okay?"

"Okay," Izuku replied, approaching Zuko cautiously. Zuko looked at the children for confirmation, and when he had it, he looked at Izuku again.

"They are the Todoroki siblings, but they weren't kidnapped as Endeavor made everyone believe. They decided to escape because they couldn’t stand their father's abuse," Zuko explained, watching the boy, who grew paler and a bit angry. For a moment, he thought Izuku wouldn’t believe him. "When I found them, I decided to help. I didn’t want them to go back to the person who hurt them."

"I never liked Endeavor for a reason," Izuku added, crossing his arms. "He’s not a good hero, even though his Quirk is interesting."

That declaration made the others in the room laugh. They felt somewhat relieved by Izuku's support, who was very dear to all four.

"So, you’re not siblings?" Izuku asked, tilting his head and looking at them. "How did you change your appearance? You look so alike..."

"No, we're not siblings, at least not biologically, but I love them as if they were," Zuko explained with a smile, hugging Shouto. "It was with the help of a Quirk that they changed their appearance. They chose their hair and eye colors."

"And we wanted to look a lot like Zuko, so we chose to have his hair color, and I wanted to have his eye color. Fuyumi kept Mom's gray eyes, and Shouto changed his completely," Natsuo added with a smile, joining the hug.

"That's incredible," Izuku said with a smile, then looked at Zuko. "I always knew you were amazing, but now you’re even more so. You’re like All Might."

"Hehehe, and you’re a smart kid, Midoriya-kun," Zuko commented with a smile, patting Izuku's hair. "We trust you, and you can’t tell anyone."

"I promise," Izuku exclaimed with a seriousness that shouldn’t be in a six-year-old. "I won't tell anyone."

"Thank you, Izu-chan," Shouto said with a smile, hugging him.

"Now, kids, let’s start the training," Zuko exclaimed, standing up and positioning himself with his hands up and one leg forward. The children followed, mimicking the movement.

It was a day of laughter and joy. Zuko and Shouto made progress in fire training, while Izuku also advanced in some of the basic katas of Northern Shaolin. For his first day, he had worked hard and it was amazing.

Natsuo and Fuyumi advanced to the intermediate level of the kata set and were doing wonderfully.

--------------Fire--------------

Soon, the weekend ended and Monday arrived, bringing with it the start of a new school term. The new school the children would be attending was recommended by Shouta, Hizashi, and Tensei. It was perfect for Hitoshi to avoid the bullying he had experienced at a previous school and was safe for Tenya, being the brother of a hero.

When the three heard about the incident with Izuku and Shouto at Aldera, Aizawa, who was usually stoic, could be seen showing a bit of pride in the education Zuko was giving the three children: seeing people for who they are, not their Quirks, and disapproving of the institutions and teachers who are supposed to care for and protect students.

Additionally, Natsuo and Fuyumi had made very good friends this time.

Natsuo befriended an unusual duo: Togata Mirio and Amajiki Tamaki. Fuyumi also made two curious and somewhat rowdy friends: Takami Keigo and Usagiyama Rumi.

Zuko was grateful for this. Although the school was a bit more expensive than the previous one, he was pleasantly surprised to learn that the three children, along with Izuku, had managed to earn a 50% scholarship when they took the entrance exam and demonstrated their intelligence.

As much as Zuko hated Endeavor, he had to grudgingly accept that, at the very least, he gave them a good education from a young age. They were very intelligent children, and he couldn't have been more proud of the three.

--------------Fire--------------

Weeks passed, and soon spring arrived, bringing the Sakura festival. The children were so excited to attend the festival again, especially since it was Shouto's first festival, making it even more important.

However, the day before the Sakura festival began, things got a bit tense. Zuko, who usually woke up early to train with the children before going to work, woke up later than usual. Additionally, Natsuo and Fuyumi noticed how pale and tired their brother looked.

"Zuko?" Fuyumi asked with concern, seeing him clutching his stomach tightly and gritting his teeth. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, all fine," Zuko replied, trying to smile but grimacing. "Just a stomachache."

"Are you sure?" Natsuo asked, worried about his health. Zuko nodded but grimaced again and pressed his stomach harder, something both Natsuo and Fuyumi noticed. "No, no, no... ENOUGH!"

"Natsuo?" Zuko asked, confused by his outburst.

"I’m calling an ambulance," Natsuo said, getting up from the table and approaching the phone.

Zuko tried to stop him, but the pain in his stomach intensified, causing him to fall to his knees. Fuyumi approached with terror in her eyes, and Natsuo took it as a signal to call emergency services. They weren’t going to lose another brother, not while he had something to say about it.

The paramedics arrived half an hour later. The children had moved Zuko to the couch to rest a bit, but the pain on his face was evident.

The two older siblings were somewhat grateful that Shouto had stayed the night with the Midoriya family; at least he wouldn’t have to worry about Zuko or see him in that state.

"You’ll be okay," Fuyumi whispered, stroking Zuko's hair one last time as the paramedics lifted him onto the stretcher.

Unfortunately, being minors, they couldn’t accompany him to the hospital. Natsuo, always the intelligent one, had foreseen this and called Tensei to inform him of the situation. He promised them he would wait at the hospital.

"Everything will be fine," Fuyumi reassured again as they watched the paramedics take him away.

"Please, come back soon," Natsuo murmured, watching with pain as they took away the only person who cared for and loved them like treasures. "Please... Oto-san... come back soon..."

Fuyumi heard the last phrase and froze, but then realized that Zuko had really started acting more like a father than a brother. With that revelation, she fell to her knees, crying and begging for Zuko's well-being.

"Please... please... please, kami..." Fuyumi sobbed. "Please, don’t take him away."

--------------Fire--------------

Hours passed, and the children hadn’t received any news, which was good because it was likely that Zuko was alright.

Inko had decided to move to the Himura apartment to better care for the children and calm them down.

It was nearly one in the afternoon, five hours after Zuko was taken to the hospital, when Inko received a call informing them that everything had gone well and Zuko was recovering.

The children breathed a sigh of relief at that news, and Natsuo nearly fainted with relief, knowing he wouldn’t lose the person he considered a father.

"What did he have?" Natsuo asked Inko, who had put the phone back in its place.

"That, children, you’ll have to ask your brother," Inko commented, although she had a big smile, which made the children a bit suspicious. "Come on, get your things, I’ll take you to the hospital."

With a new wave of energy running through them, the children quickly got ready. They then left with Inko and Izuku to the hospital to see how Zuko was doing; nerves were high.

The trip to the hospital was too slow for the children's liking. They were half an hour away by train. When they arrived, Tsukauchi and Sansa were waiting for them at the entrance.

"Ah, children, it’s good to see you again," Tsukauchi said with a smile. "How have you been?"

"Everything has been fine, detective," Fuyumi said, though she really didn’t want to have this conversation now; all three were desperate to see Zuko. "How is Zuko-nii?"

"Your brother is fine," Tsukauchi said, then motioned for them to follow. "The operation was successful; the doctors say he’ll recover quickly, and you’ll be able to go home within 72 hours."

"Wait, repeat that, 'you’ll be able to'?" Natsuo asked in confusion, looking with his mouth open at Tsukauchi and Sansa. "What do you mean by 'you’ll be able to'?"

"Ah, yes... congratulations, children, you have a new member in your little family," Sansa said with a smile, opening the door and revealing a still-tired Zuko, who had a small bundle in his arms that was moving slightly.

"Hello, children," Zuko greeted with a smile, then motioned for them to come closer. "Say hello to Himura Izumi."

"Awwww, she’s so cute..." Fuyumi cooed, smiling at the little baby.

"Yes, yes, very cute and all, but... how is this possible?" Natsuo asked, completely confused by the whole situation. "I mean, you’re a man... how is it possible that you had a baby?"

"It turns out I’m one of the few men who can have a baby," Zuko said tiredly. "The pain was due to labor; I really didn’t know I was expecting a baby, I think that amnesia was even worse than I thought."

"But, but how? You didn’t even show symptoms or have a belly," Natsuo complained, pulling at his hair in desperation. "I don’t understand anything."

"According to the doctor, it was a cryptic pregnancy, a hidden pregnancy. He theorized some ideas, one being that when I was fleeing, my body decided that the best way to keep her safe was to hide her," Zuko explained, stroking Shouto's head, who had climbed onto the bed to see the baby with great interest. "She was a surprise, but a pleasant one..."

"We’re so glad you’re okay, Zuko," Natsuo said, approaching to hug him. "And she’s a more than welcome surprise."

"Yes, it’s wonderful to have a little sister," Fuyumi exclaimed joyfully. Her small comment caught Zuko's attention, who smiled at that. "I mean niece, it’s wonderful to have a niece."

"It’s okay," Zuko assured, reaching out his arm to them. "I stopped seeing you as my siblings long ago; you’re now my children... my little treasures."

"Oto-san," Shouto whispered, hugging him tightly but gently at the same time. "I’m so glad you’re okay."

"No matter what happens, children, I’ll always be there for you, always," Zuko assured, looking at them with so much care and love. "I’ll always take care of you."

The officers, the Midoriya family, and Tensei left the room to give the four Himura more privacy so they could talk more calmly.

While they talked, the officers and the hero had a case to handle: arresting the nurse who was about to commit a kidnapping.

It turned out that little Izumi wasn’t just a beautiful baby; she also had a very powerful Quirk, even stronger than her father’s. Just a few hours after being born, she had burned part of the doctor's gown, and one of the nurses, who apparently had contacts with the hero commission, made an offer to Zuko.

She suggested he sell the baby so she could become a great heroine, and Zuko would only have to worry about his siblings.

Clearly, Zuko rejected the offer, but it seemed the woman wouldn’t take no for an answer. If it hadn’t been for Tensei, who had come from talking with Inko and saw the scene, the nurse would have kidnapped the baby.

Now, the three had a mission: to protect the Himura family, not only from Endeavor but also from the hero commission.

Chapter Text

With Izumi's arrival, they had to make some changes to their routines; however, it wasn't much.

The little one turned out to be very calm. She slept through the night and day, only crying when she was hungry, had a dirty diaper, or wanted attention, which was very rare.

The children were so happy to have a little sister, especially Fuyumi, as she wouldn’t be the only girl in the family. They occasionally helped Zuko with the baby; however, it was minimal because he wanted them to enjoy their childhood and not be babysitters or take on his responsibilities.

Zuko's boss was very understanding of the situation, allowing him to bring Izumi to work. Fortunately, since she was calm, she didn’t bother the customers, who were delighted to see such a beautiful baby.

On the other hand, Zuko had to juggle his attention between the children and Izumi, who sometimes, during some training sessions, wouldn’t stop crying, and he had to cancel them, unfortunately. But the children were understanding because they knew it wasn’t Izumi's or Zuko's fault.

Zuko still had doubts about Izumi's other parent. He started to remember more details, but it was so confusing, shifting from green to blue to brown and back again, and to top it off, he couldn’t see anyone's face; it was blurry.

Weeks passed, and little Izumi began to show more personality. It seemed she would be someone explosive and bossy; if not with Zuko, then with some of the children. But they swore they had to carry her, or she would wail at the top of her lungs.

The children made a little pact they would never tell Zuko: Izumi was an exact copy of Zuko, both physically and personality-wise. Both had strong lungs and a bad temper.

Natsuo's birthday came quickly, and the boy asked Zuko that instead of a party or a small gathering, he wanted to go to the amusement park and spend the day having fun with his friends.

Zuko agreed, of course, happy that Natsuo could now ask for things without fear or shame. They made plans and organized the trip.

------------ Fire ------------

Soon, Natsuo's birthday arrived, and they gathered at the amusement park. Tensei and Aizawa decided to accompany them so Zuko wouldn't have to watch over so many children by himself.

The group consisted of ten children, a baby, and three adults, with two people in charge of the four younger and more hyperactive children and one in charge of the six older ones, who fortunately didn’t need as much supervision as the others, but Zuko still preferred not to let them out of his sight.

It was a relatively peaceful day. The six older children went on the wilder rides like the roller coaster, bumper cars, the hammer, and the spinning swings.

Every now and then, Zuko called Tensei to check on the younger ones, who had opted for calmer rides like a carousel, a gentler roller coaster, and the games section.

It was a very special day for Natsuo, who didn't stop going from one ride to another with his friends, who were also having a lot of fun.

However, an hour before it was time to head home, chaos erupted. Endeavor brought his fight with a villain to the amusement park, which Zuko found very reckless. Zuko quickly gathered all the children and the other adults to evacuate.

Zuko took charge of the children. The older ones helped the younger ones, who were panicking. Little Izumi cried in his ear, not understanding the chaos around her. Tensei and Aizawa, with heavy hearts, left Zuko in charge of their siblings while they helped with the fight, trusting Zuko to keep them safe.

------------ Fire ------------

When Zuko and the children approached the exit, one of Endeavor's fireballs missed the villain and came too close to where all the civilians were panicking.

So, without thinking, Zuko handed little Izumi to Fuyumi and stood in front of all the civilians. With a small movement of his hands, he redirected the fire upwards, and then it dissipated. When more stray fireballs approached, Zuko redirected or extinguished them effortlessly and without breaking a sweat. He knew he would probably get into trouble for using his "Quirk," but he really didn’t see another option.

Meanwhile, the children watched from a safe place in amazement as Zuko controlled and extinguished the flames without any problems.

"Your brother is incredible," Mirio praised, eyes wide with awe and admiration. "How is it possible that he’s not a hero?"

"He doesn’t like the attention," Natsuo responded with a proud smile at his brother. "And he’s not my brother... he's my father."

"But isn’t he too young to be your dad?" Rumi asked curiously. "How old is he?"

"He’ll turn 18 in a month," Natsuo replied. He then looked back at Zuko, who was helping some people who were lagging or had fallen. "He’s not our biological father, but he acts more like a father than our sperm donor. He was a monster, he hurt us all."

"He's only 18?" Tamaki exclaimed in surprise. "How is that possible? I thought he was older."

"He receives help from Tensei and officers Tsukauchi and Sansa for our expenses and education. However, despite that, he looks out for our safety," Natsuo commented with a smile.

"Even though we've only been with him for a year, he’s acted more like a father to us than our real father," Fuyumi explained with a smile. "We love him and are planning a surprise party for him."

"Yes, it will be fun and a way to thank him for everything he’s done for us!" Shouto exclaimed with a radiant smile. "I hope to call him 'oto-san' someday."

While they talked and praised Zuko, no one noticed the pale look on Keigo's face as he watched Zuko protect and help people. Every now and then, he used his Quirk to redirect or extinguish a fireball.

He prayed with all his heart that the commission wouldn’t set their sights on him or his family, especially Izumi. He glanced at the little girl, who was taking a brief nap, and thought that if her father was someone so strong and powerful with his Quirk, she would be too and would be an easy target for the commission.

"Please, let nothing happen to them," Keigo whispered as he watched Zuko finish helping and approach them with a relieved and joyful smile, happy to see them safe. "Keep them safe, kami."

------------ Fire ------------

The situation calmed down quickly. Endeavor managed to arrest the villain, and everyone was applauding him, despite the chaos he caused by bringing the fight directly to the park and endangering many lives.

On the other hand, Zuko was also praised for his quick action in helping people and redirecting Endeavor's fire. However, he also received some criticism for his irresponsibility and for putting himself in danger.

Zuko had to bite his tongue to avoid insulting them because he logically knew they were just doing their job, and he had been a bit irresponsible by using his Quirk. Nevertheless, it was still annoying. When they finished, Zuko turned to reunite with the children who had been left in Aizawa's care, who had just finished giving his report.

As soon as he turned around, he was unpleasantly surprised to see Endeavor staring at him.

"That was impressive, kid," Endeavor praised, crossing his arms. "You'd make an excellent hero. Aren't you interested?"

"No, thank you," Zuko responded curtly but politely. He tried to walk away from Endeavor, but Endeavor stopped him. "Yes, sir?"

"You should really consider the offer. I can talk to the Hero Commission. With such a powerful gift, you’d quickly become the number one hero," Endeavor explained. Zuko briefly looked around and realized that many people were watching with curiosity, expecting him to accept. It felt like a sort of pressure, which Zuko clearly didn't feel; he just got more annoyed.

"I really appreciate the offer, Endeavor-san," Zuko said with false courtesy while bowing, "but I really don’t like the idea of being a hero. I have a lot of responsibilities with my kids."

"Here," Endeavor said, handing him a business card. Zuko's eye twitched with rage, realizing that Endeavor hadn't heard a word he said. "Maybe when you come to your senses, you'll accept the offer. Or maybe you'd like a mentor for one of your little ones."

That was the breaking point for Zuko, who clenched the card tightly. He was about to insult the hero when Tensei quickly approached, realizing the situation and wanting to avoid a bigger problem.

"Zuko, let's go. The kids are waiting for us," Tensei said, grabbing Zuko's shoulders and leading him away. "We need to meet up with the others."

"Yes, you're right," Zuko agreed, taking a deep breath to calm down.

"Goodbye, Endeavor-san," Tensei said, giving a false courteous smile.

"See you, Iida-san. I hope you can make your friend see reason," Endeavor said as he turned and left with one of his companions.

"See reason my ass," Zuko muttered angrily, exhaling a puff of fire. "Damn idiot."

"Calm down, please," Tensei urged, massaging his shoulders. "Relax, my friend, relax."

"Ugh," Zuko grumbled as he walked back to the children, who didn't want to see Endeavor at all and almost panicked when he saw them. Fortunately, he only gave them a superficial glance and didn’t recognize them.

"Oto-san," Shouto exclaimed, running to meet Zuko, who hugged him tightly. Natsuo and Fuyumi also approached and joined the hug.

"Agni, I’m so glad you’re all okay," Zuko murmured against them, hugging them even tighter. "Thank you, Agni."

After such a hectic day, they all went home and ordered takeout. Soon, one by one, the children were picked up by their families and taken home.

------------ Fire ------------

That night, Zuko was singing to Izumi to help her sleep when the door to his room opened, and the three children entered with scared expressions and looking somewhat pale. Zuko quickly realized they had had nightmares.

"Can we sleep here tonight?" Natsuo asked, hugging his pillow tightly and nervously looking around, unable to meet Zuko's gaze. "Please..."

"Of course," Zuko said with a smile while settling Izumi on his chest and making room for the children, who quickly climbed into bed. "Nightmare?"

"Yes," all three answered at the same time, and curiously, it was almost the same: Endeavor found them and hurt them.

"I will never let that happen," Zuko assured them as the children snuggled closer to him, seeking the safety he provided. "Never."

Though his words reassured them, they were still scared from the horrible nightmare. Suddenly, a small memory came to him. It was a little song he instinctively hummed, and realizing it was calming the children, he decided to sing it.

That night, everyone slept with much tranquility and joy, and if the next morning Zuko woke up somewhat sore and late, no one but him needed to know.

------------ Fire ------------

Soon, Zuko's birthday arrived, bringing many surprises.

That day, while working at the café, he received an interesting offer from the owner. Noticing how much sales had increased since Zuko joined, they had enough to open another branch in another part of the city, and the owner wanted Zuko to manage it and train the new employees in making that delicious tea he always prepared. Naturally, it came with a better salary.

Zuko accepted the offer, of course, as the money would be very useful. He also gave some suggestions to attract more customers, which the owner appreciated greatly.

At the same time, the children were decorating the apartment for Zuko's birthday. Natsuo, Izuku, and Shouto handled the decorations, while Fuyumi and Inko took care of the food and cake.

Soon it was time for Zuko to arrive, and the guests quickly showed up. The officers, the three heroes, and Fuyumi and Natsuo's friends were invited. Unfortunately, Keigo was the only one who couldn’t attend, to the disappointment of Fuyumi and Rumi.

That day, however, Tensei learned the hard way never to scare Zuko from behind. The speed hero wanted to surprise Zuko by covering his eyes, but Zuko instinctively reacted, delivering a hard punch to his nose and then one to his neck, paralyzing him.

"Come on, man, that hurts," Tensei cursed, unable to cover his nose. "And how the hell do you do that?"

"That's what you get for trying to scare him," Aizawa teased, approaching Tensei with a mocking look. Then he looked at Zuko with some respect in his eyes. "Interesting move. If I didn’t know you controlled fire, I'd swear that was your Quirk."

"Nah, it's just chi blocking," Zuko said. He then approached again, pressed certain points, and Tensei slowly regained mobility. "Besides, who told you to scare me?"

"Yeah, yeah, insult me," Tensei grumbled, slowly standing up. "That was impressive, I won’t deny it."

"Thanks, I’ve been slowly recovering those memories," Zuko said with a small smile.

Meanwhile, the children, who already knew Zuko was incredible and strong, were even more impressed by his move.

"Himura-san," Tamaki said, briefly coming out of his shock. "Your father is amazing!"

"That was impressive, I’ve never seen anyone defeat a hero so quickly," Rumi said, looking at Zuko with respect and admiration. "Your dad is my idol now."

"Do you think you could teach me?" Mirio asked hopefully, looking at Zuko with awe.

"Hey, I want to learn too!" Rumi squealed with manic joy. "I can already imagine going to UA with that skill; I’d be unstoppable."

The children burst into laughter at that. Meanwhile, Natsuo, Fuyumi, and Shouto couldn’t be prouder of Zuko, and their admiration for him grew even more. They were grateful to have him as their guardian, as their father.

Soon, the small gathering ended. The guests returned to their homes, and the five Himura snuggled into Zuko's bed again that night, eagerly awaiting a story or song. That night, Zuko remembered a particular song and decided to sing it to his children:

Leaves from the vine
Falling so slow
Like fragile tiny shells
Drifting in the foam

Little soldier boy
Come marching home
Brave soldier boy
Comes marching home

And once again, they all slept peacefully, lulled by the body warmth of Zuko and Izumi. It was a warm and beautiful night.

And everyone was happy to have each other

Chapter Text

Two years have passed since Zuko met the children and took them into his care.

They were growing into very kind but also tough young individuals.

Fuyumi progressed so much in her Northern Shaolin training that, when she took a belt test, she advanced to the green belt and was on her way to obtaining the blue belt.

Natsuo, while also advancing in Northern Shaolin with a blue belt, excelled more in the use of weapons, especially the bo staff. He was also lightly training with the heroine Recovery Girl with his Quirk, until he entered UA Academy. He managed to train with her thanks to Hizashi and Aizawa, who had recently started working at UA.

On the other hand, Shouto had made significant progress in his fire training; he could now create huge flames without panicking. Additionally, he developed a new obsession: parkour, in which he turned out to be very good.

At the same time, Izuku had also advanced considerably in Northern Shaolin, reaching the orange belt along with Shouto, and he also turned out to be good at parkour.

And little Izumi took her first steps on Fuyumi's birthday, walking towards her with a gift box, and her first words were at the Sakura festival, saying "Daddy."

Zuko was doing quite well in his new position at work. He had established some rules that initially seemed strange to his boss, but two months later, they had yielded excellent results.

The rules were basic decency, such as the distribution of special foods for those who needed them. He did not allow violence or discrimination against any employee or customer; anyone who misbehaved would be kicked out of the establishment and blacklisted.

There was an occasion when a student with a "heroic" Quirk tried to hurt another student in the store. When Zuko saw it, he kicked him out and then spoke with Aizawa, who spoke with Nezu. He put the student on the blacklist of all hero academies, and he wasn’t accepted into any school.

There was also another occasion with a hero who tried to take advantage of a young girl who looked very uncomfortable. Zuko also kicked him out of the store and banned him from setting foot in it again.

He had earned a reputation among his customers, and some young people admired him for his way of acting and saw him as a hero, even though he wasn’t one.

Life was very peaceful for the entire Himura family. Everyone was happy and in a healthy environment.

-----------------Fire-----------------

A week after little Izumi's first birthday, a boy of about 15 years old, with messy black hair, bandages covering his arms, and a burn on his face, came to the store. He was looking for a job.

At first, Zuko hesitated to hire him, as he was a minor and he didn't want to get into trouble. But just seeing his desperation and a small glimmer of hope in those turquoise eyes, he gave him a job as a dishwasher.

The boy gladly accepted, happy to have a job and start earning money.

It was a tense couple of weeks at work. The boy, Dabi, didn't talk much; he just did his job and then left.

At first, Zuko tried to make conversation, but Dabi simply ignored him or gave him dirty looks, so he stopped trying.

A week after Zuko left him alone, Dabi approached him with a question. An hour had passed since one of Endeavor's henchmen had handed him another business card.

"Why does Endeavor keep giving you his business card?" Dabi asked curiously as he approached Zuko.

"The idiot is obsessed," Zuko replied while arranging the tea cups. It was a relatively quiet day. "He wants me to train my kids, and none of them want it."

"But why? He's Endeavor, the number 2 hero!" Dabi exclaimed with a frown. "How strong are your kids if he wants to train them? And didn't he have a son with a double Quirk?"

"Haven't you heard the news?" Zuko asked curiously as he looked at Dabi, who raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "His son was kidnapped two years ago; they haven't heard anything about him since then and now consider him dead."

"What?! Really?!" Dabi asked in shock, especially at Zuko's bored tone, one he had practiced many times.

"Yes, it was very sad news," Zuko said, then turned to serve a customer who had arrived.

"Himura-sama?" Dabi asked again, after Zuko was free, of course. "Do you think a person with a defective Quirk can be a hero?"

"What do you mean by defective?" Zuko asked, turning to look at him. "Dabi-kun?"

"If my Quirk hurts me... do you think I can still be a hero?" Dabi asked with curiosity. Although he had only been working with Zuko for a short time, he had realized how kind and loyal he could be, and he hoped for a different answer than he was used to.

"Anyone can be a hero," Zuko said, placing a hand on his shoulder and giving him a kind smile. Then he put a finger over his heart. "It doesn’t matter what Quirk you have, it only matters what's here. Why do you want to be a hero?"

"To be the best, of course," Dabi mocked, crossing his arms and turning his head in annoyance. "I want to be number 1... to show that I'm amazing."

"There are already too many heroes with that mentality. They focus so much on being number one that they forget the real purpose: to protect people," Zuko complained, crossing his arms and growling. That response confused Dabi. "If that's the only reason you want to be a hero, you’d better forget it."

"But you said..." Dabi complained, crossing his arms in annoyance.

"I know what I said, and it's true," Zuko explained, turning around and looking at him. "I’ll leave you with this question... Why do you want to be a hero?"

Dabi was about to answer confidently about being the best, but soon news of the heroine Scarlett appeared on TV, about how she had captured a couple of villains. Many customers were happy for the number 2 hero, but only Dabi noticed Zuko's disdain and mentally wondered why, if she did what a hero is supposed to do.

-----------------Fire-----------------

The answer to his question came two weeks later. Zuko had given him the important task of delivering some orders to regular customers.

He passed by an apartment building that was completely destroyed. There were some people crying, some shouting and trying to reach the building.

"Damn Scarlett," grumbled an old man with a white beard as he sat on the sidewalk and looked at a photo with pain in his eyes. "Damn bitch."

"What are you talking about?" Dabi asked, frowning at the man. "What does she have to do with this?"

"That bitch brought the fight here," the man muttered with hatred. "She killed my daughter and her family."

Dabi wanted to argue against that, to defend the woman who was just doing her job of catching criminals, but curiously, Zuko's words came to mind.

"They focus so much on being number one that they forget the real purpose: protecting people."

"Oh," Dabi murmured sadly as he looked around and fully realized the extent of the disaster. That night, from work, he watched some videos of heroes.

He realized many things. One of them was that heroes focused so much on catching the villain and looking good on camera that they forgot the most important thing.

Saving people. No deaths were reported, but considering how the hero commission was, it wouldn’t surprise him if they covered it up.

Only a few did what they were supposed to do, keeping civilians away from the scenes or taking the fight to areas away from the city.

That night, Touya went to bed with a lump in his throat and mentally wondered about the kind of hero he wanted to be.

-----------------Fire-----------------

Weeks passed and soon Touya felt great admiration for Zuko and how he treated people. He observed how Zuko defended those with "villainous" or "weak" Quirks, and it was thanks to him that he realized the kind of hero he wanted to be.

"Zuko?" Touya called out nervously as he approached. After all, Zuko had been the first of many to tell him that he could be a hero, regardless of his Quirk.

"What’s up, Dabi?" Zuko asked while putting some cookies in the oven.

"I have my answer now," Touya said, wringing his hands.

"I'm listening," Zuko replied, turning to look at him. "Tell me, what kind of hero do you want to be?"

"I want to be a hero people can admire, someone they can trust. I want children and adults to feel protected in my presence. That's the kind of hero I want to be," Dabi answered, standing tall and looking at him with determination. "I want to be like you... without prejudice and loyal."

"You impress me," Zuko murmured with a proud smile, placing a hand on the boy’s shoulder. "You’ll be a great hero."

"Thank you," Touya replied with a smile, then nervously added, "I heard you’re a good teacher in Northern Shaolin. Do you think you could teach me?"

"I have no problem with that, but I also train with my kids, so you’ll have company," Zuko explained, then approached the oven to take out the cookies.

"I have no problem with that," Dabi exclaimed, happy to train again. "I’m eager to learn."

"Wonderful, see you on Sunday," Zuko commented with joy, then went to attend to a customer who had arrived.

-----------------Fire-----------------

Sunday couldn't come soon enough for Touya. He spent the week eager for training, and when the day arrived, he couldn't even sleep.

At dawn, Touya got ready as quickly as possible and headed to the park. He belatedly realized that it was probably too early and Zuko might not have arrived yet, but when he entered the park, he saw him doing yoga with a girl about his age, with hair similar to his.

He thought she was the sister Zuko often talked about, shrugged, and approached them with a loud shout.

"Himura-sama!" Touya exclaimed with a smile as he walked towards them.

However, Touya froze when he got a better look at the girl's face, and she did the same. The shock was evident in both children's eyes. Zuko frowned at this.

"What's going on?" Zuko asked as he looked between Fuyumi and Dabi. "Yumi?"

"Oto-san, Nee-san!" Shouto exclaimed as he ran towards them excitedly. Natsuo followed behind him, carrying Izumi, who was looking around laughing.

"What’s happening?" Natsuo asked, confused at Fuyumi's stunned expression. He looked at the boy she was staring at and nearly dropped Izumi when he recognized him. He slowly put her down, and she went to play with a butterfly. "It can't be... this isn't possible."

"Ni-san?" Shouto murmured in shock. Then, a huge smile spread across his face, and he ran to hug Touya, who instinctively created a small wall of fire between them.

"Stay away, damn it!" Touya growled angrily. He then glared furiously at Zuko, who had extinguished his fire. "You’re a traitor. I hate you; I should never have trusted you."

With that, Touya turned and ran into the forest, ignoring Natsuo and Fuyumi's desperate cries to get their brother back.

Both children were about to run after their older brother but were stopped by Zuko, who had placed a hand on their shoulders.

"Zuko! We can't lose him," Fuyumi exclaimed desperately.

"Not again," Natsuo cried, his voice breaking.

"Nat-nii, Yu-nii," Izumi exclaimed as she approached them, noticing their sadness, and hugged Fuyumi's leg. "No sad."

"Where's Shou?" Natsuo asked, his voice breaking, as he looked around and realized his younger brother wasn’t there.

With a wave of panic rushing through the three of them, they turned in the direction Touya had fled and realized with horror that Shouto had probably followed him.

"Damn it," Natsuo murmured, looking at the forest in horror. Fuyumi gave him a light tap on the neck but also looked at the forest with fear.

"Go home," Zuko ordered as he stood up and ran towards the forest. The children reluctantly agreed and went home, praying that Zuko would bring their brother back.

-----------------Fire-----------------

The once sunny and beautiful day had now turned cloudy and dull. The clouds grew darker by the minute.

Shouto ran tirelessly, searching for signs of his brother. He couldn't lose him, not again.

He found Touya huddled under a tree, his body trembling from both the cold and his sobs.

"Onii-chan," Shouto exclaimed, but he knew he couldn't get closer again, so he stayed where he was. "Onii-chan, please come back."

"Get lost, Shouto!" Touya shouted as he quickly stood up and approached Shouto with his fist ablaze. "I hate you. You ruined my life."

"But I didn't do anything," Shouto exclaimed in pain, clenching his hands. "I miss you, Onii-chan. I want you to come home."

"Shut up! Because of you, Dad abandoned me," Touya shouted. All those years of pain and anger clouded his judgment. He grabbed Shouto by the shirt and brought his flaming hand close to his brother's face. "I hate you. I wish you were never born. I wish you would die!"

Soon, a golden flash was seen, followed by thunder. Both boys were so focused on their argument that they didn't notice the lightning heading towards the very tree they were under.

But they did hear a horrible crack and then a scream of pain.

"Nooo!" two voices screamed, filled with panic and terror.

Chapter Text

-----------------Fire-----------------

A few drops of drizzle began to fall as Fuyumi and Natsuo arrived at the apartment. They quickly removed Izumi's shoes and placed her on the floor. She went to her play area to grab one of her dolls and play for a while. Both took off their shoes.

Fuyumi, with her nerves on edge, went to her room to find her phone and call Tensei. She bit her thumb nervously.

"What are you doing?" Natsuo asked curiously, glancing away from the window to look at his sister.

"I'm going to call Iida-san to inform him of the situation and ask him to look for our siblings," Fuyumi explained, taking out her phone and quickly dialing Iida's number.

Meanwhile, Natsuo moved away from the window and collapsed onto the sofa, pulling out his phone to distract himself while they waited for news. Both were anxious to know more about the situation. Zuko, who was usually attentive to his phone, hadn't responded to their messages.

Suddenly, a rumble echoed in the sky. Fuyumi and Natsuo looked up, alarmed. Looking out the window, they saw how the sky had darkened in a matter of minutes. Thunder rumbled, and lightning lit up the horizon, creating an unsettling atmosphere.

"I hope they're okay," Natsuo murmured, his voice full of concern.

"I hope so too," Fuyumi agreed, biting her lip nervously.

It wasn't long before they heard the unmistakable sound of keys entering the door lock.

Natsuo and Fuyumi looked towards the door, praying it was Zuko and their siblings, but they only saw Iida-san, 21 years old, dressed in his hero suit. Beside him were Shouto and Touya, both with tears in their eyes and visibly upset.

"What happened?" Fuyumi asked, her heart racing, noticing that Zuko wasn't with them. "Where's Zuko?"

"Zuko has been taken to the hospital," Iida explained, his voice full of concern and some irritation, as he crossed his arms.

"Zuko isn't expecting another baby, is he?" Natsuo joked as he looked at the newcomers.

But the joke didn't have the desired effect. Shouto began to sob, tears rolling down his cheeks.

"He was fighting with Touya when we heard a crack. It was a branch breaking, and Zuko moved us out of the way," Shouto explained between sobs as he tried in vain to wipe away the tears. "The branch fell on him, injuring and stunning him."

"We were taking him out of the park when we encountered Ingenium and Present Mic," Touya explained, his voice trembling as he clutched the edges of his shirt. "While Present Mic waited for the ambulance with Zuko, Ingenium took us home."

Tensei, who was about to say something else, was interrupted by an emergency call at that moment.

"I have to return to patrol," Tensei said reluctantly, looking at the children with concern. "I promise I'll inform you about Zuko's condition as soon as I have news."

Quickly, Tensei left to resume his patrol. They waited a while before Fuyumi and Natsuo looked at each other, their faces full of concern.

"What exactly happened?" Natsuo asked, his voice trembling slightly.

"It's his fault! It's always his fault!" Touya exclaimed, with venom and disdain in his voice, pointing at Shouto. "He ruined our lives and now ruined my chance to be a hero again."

"You're selfish, Touya!" Natsuo shouted angrily, standing up from the sofa and pointing a finger at Touya. "You only think about yourself and being a hero. You're a horrible person!"

"None of this is my fault! You have no right to yell at me!" Touya squealed defensively, his voice rising at both Shouto and Natsuo, his frustration overflowing.

"Enough!" Fuyumi shouted, fed up with the situation. She approached and grabbed both by the ear. "Natsuo, Touya, stop fighting unnecessarily; you're scaring Izumi."

"I'm sorry," Natsuo murmured, looking at the poor baby who was frightened.

"And you, Touya, are incredibly selfish," Fuyumi exclaimed, turning to her older brother with disdain. "You don't care about us or Zuko, who is in the hospital because of your recklessness."

Touya took offense at that and tried to defend himself, but his younger sister interrupted him.

"You're the worst human being!" Fuyumi exclaimed, tears in her eyes as she released Touya's ear and pushed him away.

"It's your fault for being born!" Touya growled in defiance, once again blaming Shouto. "You stole our father and my chance to be a hero!"

"I wish I had never been born! I wish I had died so I wouldn't have to suffer under our father's abuse for something I didn't ask for!" Shouto shouted furiously, with tears in his eyes. His Quirk went out of control, with ice and fire appearing on his shoulders, causing Touya to back away quickly. "You're the worst brother in the world and you resemble Dad too much, too much like a villain!"

The room fell silent, only broken by Shouto and Izumi's sobs and the sound of the storm outside.

Fuyumi, heartbroken, hugged her brothers, trying to calm the storm that had erupted inside their home.

However, Shouto pulled away from her and, with tears in his eyes, picked up Izumi, who had started crying due to the shouting. Without saying a word, he headed to his room, trying to ignore the sepulchral silence that had fallen in the living room. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he tried to console his little sister.

Touya was left stunned by Shouto's words. He tried to follow him to respond, but Fuyumi and Natsuo stopped him.

"Leave him alone!" Natsuo exclaimed, his voice full of anger.

"Stop protecting him," Touya growled, trying to push Natsuo away but not hurting him. "He's just a crybaby."

"He's a child and he's seven years old," Natsuo growled with disdain. Then he punched his brother in the nose, leaving him completely stunned. His voice became calm and cold. "We missed you so much, Touya. We wanted you to be with us, but right now I hate seeing you; I hate your existence. If Zuko dies because of you, I will never consider you my brother again."

With those words, Natsuo left the room in search of Shouto and Izumi. Touya tried to defend himself again, but Fuyumi looked at him with an expression of disapproval and hatred that he had never seen in his usually calm sister.

"You're not the same boy I considered my brother anymore," Fuyumi murmured sadly. "Why do you hate us so much?"

Touya, feeling cornered, didn't know what to respond. Guilt and anger mixed inside him, creating a storm even more fierce than the one raging outside. Fuyumi, seeing the conflict in her brother's eyes, sighed deeply.

"We're all suffering, Touya. We had to escape from Enji as soon as we had the chance; we couldn't live there anymore," Fuyumi explained finally, her voice softer than usual. Those words completely broke Touya. "And after your death, we missed you so much, so much, and we really want to be with you to be a family again, like before."

Touya lowered his gaze, his shoulders trembling. Fuyumi's words echoed in his mind, but the weight of his own feelings kept him trapped in a cycle of guilt and resentment.

"I don't hate you all; I just hate Shouto for being born," Touya responded, biting his lip hard and looking at his sister.

"You're incredibly selfish, Touya," Fuyumi murmured, looking at him with sadness and disapproval. "Shouto didn't ask to be born, and I would have preferred to be born without a Quirk a thousand times over than suffer our father's abuse."

"But he..." Touya tried to defend himself again, but Fuyumi, who no longer wanted to hear his excuses, interrupted him.

"If Zuko doesn't come back and we're left alone again, we will never speak to you again," Fuyumi said, her tone of voice cutting through Touya like a hammer. "We will hate you forever for being a heartless and selfish monster. And let me tell you something: I missed you so much, but now I can't consider you my brother."

"Why not?" Touya asked, though he knew he would internally hate the answer.

"Because my brother died two years ago in that stupid forest," Fuyumi murmured, completely breaking Touya's heart. "Please go and never come back."

With those words, she turned and went in search of the others, leaving Touya alone in the room.

The storm outside seemed to reflect the chaos inside him. He sat on the sofa, his mind full of doubts and regrets.

"Did I really make a mistake?" Touya asked himself softly, looking at a small portrait on the wall as tears began to roll down his cheeks. Guilt and pain mixed in his heart, leaving him in a state of confusion and sadness.

-----------------Fire-----------------

At the hospital, Zuko was being attended to by a nurse who was finishing bandaging his head.

"You're very lucky; your injuries aren't severe," the nurse explained as she finished placing the bandage. Then she handed him a couple of pills. "You should be fine in a few days."

"Thanks," Zuko murmured as he brought a hand to his head. He gently felt the bandages before Tensei swatted his hand away. Tensei then helped him up from the stretcher and took him to reception to sign the discharge papers.

"Why didn't you call me first?" Tensei asked with irritation at his recklessness, as he accompanied him to the taxi.

"I'm sorry, but I don't regret saving the kids," Zuko responded with a tired smile. "I'd do it a thousand times if necessary."

"I know," Tensei whispered, letting out a sigh of annoyance and closing the taxi door. He decided to accompany him home and make sure he arrived safely.

Hours later, the tension in the small apartment was palpable. Fuyumi had gone to the kitchen to prepare some food for Izumi, who was already hungry. She was surprised to find that Touya was still on the sofa, but he was asleep. She let out a sigh of relief when she saw him, as she had immediately regretted her words from hours earlier.

While feeding Izumi, she heard the door open. With a flash of excitement, Fuyumi watched as Zuko entered the apartment with Tensei's help, who quickly said goodbye to return to work.

"Zuko!" Fuyumi exclaimed, running towards him. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Fuyumi," Zuko replied with a smile, though visibly tired. "I just need to rest a bit."

Natsuo and Shouto, hearing Zuko's voice, came out of their rooms. Shouto was the most excited, running towards his older brother.

"Zuko, we missed you so much!" Shouto cried as he hugged him tightly and shed a few tears of relief.

"I missed you all too," Zuko said affectionately as he hugged all three of them tightly, feeling the relief of being back with them.

"Himura-san, I'm so sorry," Touya murmured, his voice full of regret. He had woken up from the noise, got up from the sofa, and slowly approached them, not wanting to interrupt the moment.

"It's okay, Touya. The important thing is that you're all fine," Zuko said, looking at him with understanding. "It was my mistake to invite you without warning. After all, I had discovered your identity from the beginning."

"And everything you told me was true?" Touya asked in surprise. "Do you still want to train me after what I did?"

"It wasn't your fault," Zuko said as he knelt before him.

"But it was his fault you got hurt," Natsuo said with annoyance, crossing his arms. "For fighting with Shouto."

"It wasn't," Zuko corrected him as he looked at the four children intently. Izumi had gotten bored a while ago and had started playing with her dolls. "It was a simple accident. Besides, family doesn't abandon each other, not even for a small mistake."

"Why?" Touya asked, his voice breaking. "I thought you wouldn't want to see me again after today."

"I understand what you went through. I don't justify it... but I understand," Zuko said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You, like your siblings, suffered abuse... emotional blackmail. Endeavor made you believe that to earn his love, you had to be the best, you had to be a hero, and that was wrong. You didn't deserve to be treated like that and much less to be abandoned."

"Emotional blackmail?" Touya murmured, unable to believe Zuko's words but also putting the pieces together. "Oh."

"Yes, that's also abuse. It's the same as physical, abandonment, and emotional abuse," Zuko said, looking at all the children. "And the best way to treat it is with patience and love. You can only get better if you accept it."

"And do you still think I can be a hero?" Touya asked, not believing Zuko's words. "Even if I'm damaged?"

"You're not damaged, just hurt, and everything I said was real," Zuko said with a determined look. "I believe you'll be an incredible hero. I truly hope you can trust me and let me help you become the hero you should be."

With tears in his eyes, Touya accepted Zuko's words and hugged him tightly. His siblings decided to join the hug as well. The tension that had filled the apartment began to dissipate, replaced by a sense of unity and hope.

The whole scene was filled with a mix of relief and hope. Zuko's physical wounds would heal over time, but the family's emotional wounds still needed attention. But at that moment, all that mattered was that they were together, ready to face any storm that came their way.

Chapter Text

The war was over...

Team Avatar had won.

Fire Lord Ozai was chained and stripped of his firebending, Princess Azula was handcuffed and had completely lost her mind after being rejected by her father.

General Iroh had been crowned Fire Lord by the fire sages, as he was the only member of the royal bloodline who had not been defeated and whom the nations would reluctantly allow as a world leader.

However, doubt and uncertainty still lingered among the people and nations, as they all had the same question...

Where was the crown prince? And what was he plotting? For them, the answers were not good.

Many people had joined the search for the crown prince so he could receive the same punishment as his family and pay for every crime he had committed against the other nations and against the Avatar and his team.

However, despite the many searches and posters placed in every corner, there was not a trace of the prince, and that was not good for the fragile peace they were creating. For two years, they lived with that insecurity, and soon they had to turn to the only person who would know Zuko's whereabouts. However, getting any information from him would be complicated.

Fire Lord Iroh walked through the halls of the prison located beneath the Fire Nation palace. Team Avatar was accompanying him since they all wanted answers, and there was only one person who could give them.

"Well, a visit from the Fire Lord and the Avatar after two years of confinement," Ozai mocked as he looked at his older brother and Aang. "To what do I owe the honor?"

"You know exactly why I'm here, Ozai," Iroh reproached angrily, tired of his brother's games. "Tell me, where is Zuko?"

"Where else would he be, brother?" Ozai boasted madly. "That little useless boy must be doing everything possible to free me; after all, he is still my loyal son."

"Where is he hiding?" Katara shouted furiously, looking at the man with disgust. "Where is that damn coward? We always knew his redemption was a farce."

"Ha ha ha, he was never as good at manipulating as his sister, but he has always been loyal," Ozai laughed madly and then looked at them arrogantly. Though he knew every word was false, he was simply waiting for the right moment to drop the "wonderful" bomb. "You may have won the battle, Avatar... but you haven't won the war yet... With my 'son free'... I will soon return to the throne."

Those words left everyone present paralyzed, as they were true. With Prince Zuko still free, peace was fragile, and the Avatar's life was in danger.

They had to find him; they had to catch him.

-----------------Fire-----------------

In Musutafu, the day was calm and relaxing. While people enjoyed their day, Zuko was sipping a cup of tea and thinking about the mistake he had made in the park by not informing the kids of his idea. He had always been reckless, but this time his mistake was too big, and he couldn’t afford to mess up again, not like this.

His biggest regret was not taking the kids to therapy from the beginning. It was so horrible for him to hear everything they said to each other during the fight.

Learning what they thought of themselves, Fuyumi's helplessness, Natsuo's anger, Touya's disdain, and Shouto's pain was awful. Knowing that the kids were still suffering pained him deeply.

He had focused so much on giving them a childhood that he forgot what was important: giving them the necessary care for their mental health.

So, with the help of Tensei and Aizawa, they found an excellent therapist who was also a friend of theirs and could keep a secret.

Zuko really didn't want more people to know about the kids' true identities, but he trusted that they would do the right thing for them.

The psychologist, in Zuko's opinion, was a very kind and empathetic elderly man, but it might have had more to do with his Quirk than anything else.

However, the kids liked him, and he was helping them a lot.

Natsuo and Touya's relationship had returned to what it was before. They now went to the park almost every afternoon to play ball; Fuyumi sometimes joined them.

He also became closer with Fuyumi again, but they were still tense. They didn't treat each other like before, as they had always had slight differences.

Miraculously, he got along great with Izumi. When he wasn't at work or with his siblings, he spent his time playing with her and sometimes gave her piggyback rides around the apartment or the park.

Zuko found it sweet to see him act so tough and serious at work and with his siblings, but as soon as he was with Izumi, he became soft and kind.

He could see how much it hurt Shouto to be rejected by his older brother, and he sought comfort in Izuku, with whom he spent afternoons when Touya was at the apartment.

Unfortunately, the relationship between Touya and Shouto was still tense at best. For Touya, it was hard to accept that he was also suffering; now they treated each other more like strangers than brothers.

It pained Zuko to see that they couldn't get along, but he knew that time would heal the distance, and they would become the brothers they were always meant to be.

While the kids focused on their weekly therapy sessions, he secretly worked with Sansa and Tsukauchi to create a new identity for Touya. After all, he needed it to enroll him in UA next year.

Zuko hoped that at least that surprise would be well received.

-----------------Fire-----------------

Going to therapy was something new for Touya. Having to talk about his feelings and relive every moment he spent living with Enji Todoroki and every one of his mistakes was the worst feeling in the world.

But there was also something liberating about being able to express himself freely, to release everything he had bottled up inside.

Thanks to therapy, he had managed to restore his relationship with Natsuo, was on good terms with Fuyumi, and absolutely adored Izumi.

However, it was so difficult to be in the same room with Shouto. He could be civil, but he couldn't treat him like his brother, not yet... He still harbored resentment for everything, and following the psychologist's advice, it was best to stay apart for the moment and hope their relationship could slowly heal.

He was making quite a bit of progress in Northern Shaolin karate, but unfortunately, he had his limitations. Due to the coma he entered after the forest fire, the nerves in his arms and legs tended to fail at times, and that frustrated him a lot, especially when he saw how his siblings could perform the movements without any difficulty.

That made him incredibly jealous and very resentful. He told his therapist, who advised him to tell Zuko. Although he was hesitant at first, he reluctantly agreed and told him.

Zuko was incredibly understanding and got him a couple of creams and medicines to help with his muscles, but it still wasn't the same.

Touya could see Zuko thinking of a solution, and at first, he thought he would simply tell him to cancel the training, which scared him a lot. But when Zuko suggested a new type of training, chi blocking, he was more than excited.

Maybe it wasn't the same as karate, but it was training, and it was just for them.

-----------------Fire-----------------

It was a wonderful afternoon at the café where Zuko worked. On that particular day, the kids had decided to make a small visit, have some tea, and eat some cookies.

They were sitting at one of the tables farthest from the others, talking and telling jokes among themselves.

Shouto and Izuku were talking about their Halloween costumes and how they were going to go trick-or-treating with the other kids in their group.

Fuyumi and Natsuo were talking about a movie outing they were planning with their friends to see a couple of horror movies that were premiering that day.

It was a relaxing afternoon when a family of three walked into the café. Their demeanor gave the kids a bad feeling, as they had an air of cruelty about them.

The two adults ordered a couple of lattes and then sat down not far from them. They tried to ignore them, but Shouto and Izuku couldn't, as the girl kept looking at them with curiosity and occasionally smiling.

You could see in her face how much she wanted to play or say hello, so Izuku, being the braver of the two, got up and introduced himself to her. She briefly glanced at her parents, but they were too engrossed in their phones to notice.

The two boys invited the girl to draw on the floor for a while. Natsuo and Fuyumi watched with smiles as the three of them had fun and laughed.

Until the peace was broken by the girl's mother causing a commotion over the simple fact that a man asked for some blood to feed on. Both she and her husband were scandalized by the establishment allowing such disgust.

The poor man simply ignored it and left, but the woman continued with the uproar and then took it out on a poor waitress.

"Shouto, Izuku, come here, kids," Fuyumi murmured, signaling for them to hide behind her. They obeyed and urged the girl to follow them, but unfortunately, she was pulled away by her parents.

"You better get your manager or I'll call the police, you filthy monster," the woman growled, pointing at the waitress with the spider Quirk, who blushed with embarrassment.

"That won't be necessary," Zuko said as he walked out of the kitchen with a cloth in his hand. He had heard the commotion from the kitchen and was red with anger. "How can I help you?"

"How can you allow an establishment to sell such filth?" the woman exclaimed with disgust and repulsion in her voice. "This is a public establishment; they shouldn't be selling that here."

"No, on the contrary, ma'am. As you said, this is a public establishment, and we offer good service to everyone equally," Zuko replied with his best customer service voice. However, that changed when the woman slapped him.

"That's filth; you shouldn't be feeding the addictions of those sick people," the woman growled with disdain and hatred. "And you better remove those options from the menu, or I'll sue you."

"Oh, this is going to be good," murmured one of the regular customers as he took a sip of tea and enjoyed the show. "3... 2... 1..."

"You have three seconds to get out of here and never come back," Zuko growled, his voice dangerously low, a small puff of fire coming out of his nose, "or I'll throw you out by your hair."

"You wouldn't dare," the woman threatened arrogantly. She simply raised her hand to slap him again, but Zuko caught her hand in the air and then grabbed her partner by the ear, who had been very quiet.

He effortlessly dragged them both out of the café, attracting the attention of several passersby. The woman, unwilling to endure the humiliation, stood up and began shouting and cursing the place.

"That place feeds sick people with blood; what an atrocity!" the woman exclaimed with hatred. "They should cure that illness, not feed it. You should be in a cell for supporting them."

"And you should be in an asylum for being crazy," Zuko exclaimed, crossing his arms. "Tell me, do you really despise people for something they couldn't help? For a simple Quirk?"

"They're sick people. Our daughter was about to be the same, but we managed to cure her, and now she's healthy," the man who had been quiet explained, pointing to the little girl who was hiding behind the door, watching the scene with confusion. "It just took a lot of punishment for her to leave that illness."

"And that's what's missing in this society," the woman exclaimed, looking around at everyone, "more people willing to correct bad behavior and have decent children, not monsters obsessed with blood or villain Quirks."

"They need to be eradicated at the root," her husband agreed. Some people seemed to agree with them, while others did not.

"Tell me, would you like to be treated like that? Like a monster? Like a freak? Just for having something you didn't ask for and that can easily be corrected with love?" Zuko asked, pointing at the woman. "With people like you, there are so many villains... They aren't born; they're made, and it's people like you, like those who do nothing, that create villains with your misguided and pathetic ideals."

"What poor thoughts, don't expect us to come back here," the woman murmured coldly as she turned to leave. "Let's go, Himiko."

"And don't expect to be welcomed," Zuko shouted back. Then he looked at the girl who was watching him. "And if you ever need help, I'll be here..."

The girl seemed willing to say something, but her mother pulled her away forcefully, and the three of them headed home with fury in their movements.

Soon the crowd dispersed and went back to their business. Soon the video of Zuko and the café went viral. Some agreed with the woman, and others with Zuko, and it was those who frequented the café, making it gain more customers and more popularity.

Which was wonderful for Zuko, who couldn't help but smile at that little miracle. However, he worried about the girl, hoping she was okay.

It was an afternoon that changed everything, for as he and Touya were closing the shop, they were greeted by the little girl who walked into the shop. She looked very malnourished, tired, and had dark circles under her eyes.

"Help me... please," the girl pleaded, playing with the edges of her shirt.

Chapter Text

Zuko and Touya were shocked to see the girl in that state; she looked so small and fragile.

Zuko, with his protective nature, set the dishes aside and immediately crouched down to her level, speaking softly.

"Of course, we'll help you," Zuko murmured as he extended his hand for her to take at her own pace. "Come on, let's go inside, and we'll get you something to eat and drink."

Touya, though surprised, also approached slowly and offered a reassuring smile.

"Don't worry, you're safe here," Touya assured her with a smile as he went to the kitchen to get a couple of leftover muffins and some chocolate. "We'll take care of you."

Zuko guided her to one of the café chairs, where Touya handed her the chocolate and muffins while Zuko fetched a blanket to keep her warm.

The girl, though still scared, began to relax a bit, feeling the warmth and kindness of the two boys and realizing she had made the right decision.

Zuko and Touya knew they had to act carefully and ensure the girl was okay, both physically and emotionally.

Zuko decided to call Tensei and Aizawa for advice on the next steps to take and to ensure the girl received the help she needed; after all, it wasn't the first time this had happened.

And this time, he wouldn't make any mistakes with her.

A couple of hours passed when the café door suddenly opened. Touya and Zuko assumed a defensive stance, expecting to see the girl's parents, but relaxed when they saw it was Tensei and Aizawa, who entered in their hero suits, followed by officers Tsukauchi and Sansa. The four greeted Zuko with a mix of concern and familiarity.

"Zuko, what happened this time?" Tsukauchi asked, unsurprised that Zuko had found another abused child.

"This little one needs help," Zuko replied, pointing to the girl sitting in a chair, wrapped in a blanket and drinking tea. "Her parents have been mistreating her because of her Quirk."

"Hello, little one. I'm Ingenium," Tensei greeted as he approached the girl and smiled kindly. "We're here to help you. Are you feeling a bit better?"

The girl nodded timidly, still clutching her cup of chocolate.

"We're going to file a report and make sure she gets the attention she needs," Aizawa explained with his usual seriousness, looking at Zuko with some pride. "Thank you for taking care of her."

Just as they were about to lift the girl to take her away, the café door burst open again. The girl's parents entered, demanding their daughter.

"Give us back our daughter!" the mother shouted, her face red with fury. "You have no right to keep her!"

"She's better off with us," Zuko replied firmly. "We're not going to let her return to an environment where she's mistreated."

"She's our daughter!" the father exclaimed, advancing towards Zuko. "You have no right! We're just fixing her!"

Tensei and Aizawa stepped between the parents and Zuko, while Tsukauchi and Sansa prepared to intervene.

"Sir, I advise you to calm down," Tsukauchi said with authority. "We're here to protect this girl and ensure she's safe. If you continue with this attitude, we'll have to take legal action."

The girl's mother tried to advance again, but Sansa gently but firmly stopped her.

"Please understand that we're acting in the best interest of your daughter," Sansa explained calmly, though internally wanting to insult her. "She needs medical and psychological attention, and we can't allow her to return to an abusive environment."

The girl, seeing the confrontation, clung tighter to the blanket and looked at Zuko with fearful eyes.

"Don't worry, little one," Zuko whispered. "We won't let them hurt you."

Finally, the parents, seeing they had no other option, retreated, casting hateful looks at Zuko and the heroes.

"This isn't over," the father growled before leaving.

Zuko sighed and looked at the girl with a reassuring smile.

"You're safe now. We'll make sure you get all the help you need."

The girl nodded, feeling a bit more secure surrounded by people who genuinely cared about her.

-----------------Fire-----------------

A couple of weeks passed. Zuko was informed that there was an ongoing investigation against the girl's parents and their primary care doctors for allowing and being part of the abuse.

With each passing day, Zuko grew more worried about the girl.

He knew she had been placed under the custody of child protective services, but he hadn't received any updates on her well-being. The weeks dragged on, and the uncertainty consumed him.

The kids knew about the situation and sometimes tried to calm or console him, but they knew it was futile as his worry was too great.

One day, while closing the café, he saw on the news that the girl's parents had been arrested for child abuse. Although this gave him some relief, the lack of information about the girl increased his concern.

That night, Zuko decided to take action. He called Tensei for help. The hero responded quickly, and when Zuko explained the situation, he understood his urgency for information.

"Don't worry, Zuko," Tensei said with a reassuring smile. "I'll try to find out what happened to the girl."

"I'd really appreciate it," Zuko said, biting his lip nervously. "Thank you."

"I'll talk to officers Tsukauchi and Sansa," Tensei said with determination, ready to get information for Zuko. "They can access the case information and give us an update."

Despite Tensei's promises, Zuko knew it would be difficult to get information about the girl, especially since he didn't have custody and wasn't a relative.

So, on Halloween, Zuko decided to take Izuku and Shouto trick-or-treating. Natsuo, Touya, and Fuyumi had decided to go to the movies with their friends.

The two boys were excited, dressed in their costumes and ready to enjoy the night as All Might and his partner Sir Nighteye, while Zuko was dressed as a king and Izumi as a princess.

As they walked through the neighborhood, Zuko noticed a girl with very distinctive blonde hair dressed as Mavis from "Hotel Transylvania," and his heart skipped a beat recognizing her.

Behind her, dressed as Dracula, was the blood hero, Vlad King, who he realized was her guardian.

When the girl saw him, she ran towards him with a big smile.

"Himura-san!" the girl shouted with a big smile, hugging his leg tightly.

Zuko crouched down to hug her back, feeling immense relief seeing her healthy and happy.

"Hello, little one! I'm glad to see you. How are you?" Zuko exclaimed with joy while adjusting Izumi, who was uncomfortable in the position.

"I'm fine," she replied, smiling. "Kan-san is very kind and takes good care of me. We have a similar Quirk."

"Good evening, Himura-san," Kan Sekijirō greeted with a smile as he watched the girl jump up and down. "It's nice to meet you. Himiko-chan has been talking a lot about you. Thank you for everything you did for her."

"You're welcome," Zuko replied, feeling grateful that the girl was in good hands. "I'm glad to know she's okay."

Izuku and Shouto, curious, approached the girl again, excited to see her.

"Hi, Toga-chan!" Izuku greeted with a smile. "I like your costume."

"Thanks, Kan-san helped me choose it," Himiko exclaimed with a smile. "And I like yours."

"Thanks, All Might is my favorite hero," Izuku exclaimed with a huge smile. "Do you want to come trick-or-treating with me and Shouto?"

The girl nodded excitedly, then looked at Sekijirō with puppy eyes, pleading for him to say yes. The poor man sighed, resigning himself to staying up late that night but happy to see her happy.

"Sure, let's go together," Zuko said with a smile, lowering Izumi so she could walk with Shouto and Izuku. "It'll be fun, and be careful."

The kids spent the night trick-or-treating and enjoying each other's company. Zuko watched with a smile as the girl laughed and played with Izuku, Shouto, and Izumi.

That night, he could breathe easy, knowing the girl was safe and happy. It was the best gift he could receive.

At the end of the night, when they said goodbye, the girl gave Zuko a tight hug.

"Thank you for everything, Himura-san," the girl murmured while yawning. "You're my hero."

Zuko felt a great warmth in his heart and hugged her back.

"I'll always be here for you, little one," Zuko said with a smile as he hugged her back. "Take care."

As they walked away, Zuko felt more at ease, knowing the girl was in good hands and had found a new home where she would be loved and protected.

Soon they arrived at the apartment, where they found Natsuo, Fuyumi, and Touya sleeping on inflatable mattresses in the living room. With a smile on his face, he allowed the kids to change into their pajamas and then sleep in the living room as well.

As he settled on the sofa with Izumi on his chest, he couldn't help but smile at the joyful scene.

The kids were finally being kids.

He slept peacefully that night, with the children's snores as music to his ears.

-----------------Fire-----------------

-----------------Fire-----------------

The night after Halloween, the kids were eating the candies they had received. Little Izumi was playing with Fuyumi with the dolls, and Zuko was preparing dinner.

Natsuo and Touya approached him, each carrying a cardboard box. That was never a good sign.

"What are you up to?" Fuyumi asked warily as Izumi approached them with a smile.

"We have a couple of gifts for Izumi," Natsuo replied with a smile as he pulled a small cactus toy out of the box and placed it in front of her.

"No way," Fuyumi gasped, trying to suppress a smile. Sweet Izumi innocently approached the toy and started clapping with joy. She then abruptly stopped when the toy echoed her claps. "Oh, kami... hahaha."

Natsuo took out his phone and started recording Izumi, who instead of crying, began to laugh heartily as the toy mimicked her laughter. After a while, they switched it with Touya's toy, which was a small jack-in-the-box.

"Don't you dare, Touya," Fuyumi warned, though she had a smile on her face. "Touya, no."

Ignoring her, Touya turned the crank of the box. Izumi watched, mesmerized by the sound. She reached over and took Touya's hand off the handle to do it herself. After a while, a small clown popped out of the box, scaring poor Izumi, who started crying her heart out.

Her reaction worried the others, who tried to calm her down but couldn't.

Hearing his daughter's cries, Zuko quickly entered the room, completely worried, but let out a sigh of frustration upon realizing the situation.

Izumi, noticing her dad, moved away from everyone trying to calm her and ran to Zuko, crying and asking to be picked up. Zuko obliged and lifted his daughter, who buried her face in his neck.

Natsuo and Touya, at least, had the grace to look remorseful. With a warning look, Zuko turned and took Izumi with him. She had already calmed down, and soon the others started laughing heartily.

A few hours later, while watching a horror movie, Zuko handed a bowl of popcorn to Natsuo and Touya and gave a bowl to Fuyumi and Shouto, who ate contentedly.

At first, it seemed suspicious, but when Zuko started eating from the same bowl, they did the same. However, they quickly began spitting out the popcorn and gasping for air, trying to alleviate the spiciness in their mouths.

"Not again," both boys complained as they ran to get water or milk.

"Nice one, Zuko," Fuyumi said with a smile as she watched her brothers suffer. Zuko simply shrugged with a smile and started laughing.

Fuyumi leaned back against the sofa and smiled, happy to have her family together again.

-----------------Fire-----------------

The day of Obon arrived in Japan quickly. It was a significant time to honor their lost relatives.

In the Koh Psychiatric Hospital, Todoroki Rei looked at the man who had caused so much harm, both to her and her children.

"I heard you wanted to talk to me," Enji asked expectantly, crossing his arms. "What do you want?"

"I want a divorce, Todoroki Enji," Rei responded determinedly, glaring at him.

-----------------Fire-----------------

In the Fire Nation, at the Caldera Palace, Fire Lord Iroh looked at the turtle ducks with sadness and pain, imagining Zuko sitting there feeding them.

He took a sip of tea, trying to hold back the tears of pain threatening to escape his eyes.

He entered his office, determined to finish some treaties. He stopped when he felt a strong breeze enter through the windows, scattering some documents.

But there was a movement in the corner of his eye that caught his attention: a hidden piece of paper. Curiously, he took the paper he had never seen before and read it.

His face paled as he read the letter. He quickly left his office, calling for the guards to summon Team Avatar.

They needed to confirm the truth of this note, as it would change everything if it were true.

The failed Prince has been eliminated...

Chapter Text

Zuko was proud of the kids; they had achieved so much in such a short time.

Touya had mastered all the concepts of chi blocking, which was impressive.

Fuyumi was incredible at Northern Shaolin.

Natsuo used the bo staff with remarkable skill.

And Shouto was learning parkour very quickly.

Each of them had their own unique style, and that was wonderful in Zuko's eyes.

Additionally, their relationships were healing. Now Touya and Shouto could be in the same room without fighting and would even joke around. It was a significant improvement.

The documents he had been working on with the officers had taken a long time, but they were finally ready and it was time to hand them over.

That same night, while they were having dinner, Touya was trying to steal some soba from Shouto, who wasn't happy about it. Natsuo and Fuyumi enjoyed the show, and little Izumi was asleep in her crib. Zuko cleared his throat to get everyone's attention.

The kids stopped their chatter and looked at Zuko curiously, who had a serious expression.

"Touya, I need to talk to you," Zuko said seriously. This scared the eldest a bit, who swallowed nervously. "I'm afraid you can no longer work at the café."

"But... I need that job, I have to pay rent and buy food," Touya complained desperately, quickly standing up from the table. "Zuko?"

"You can't go back because you need to focus on your entrance exam," Zuko calmly explained as he handed him an envelope with some documents. "I may have taken some liberties."

"What?" Touya asked curiously as he opened the envelope and read the information inside. Slowly, his eyes started to fill with tears. "Really?"

"Yes," Zuko replied with a smile. "There's a free room; we can find a way to accommodate you. You wouldn't have to pay anything; you could focus on your studies. What do you think?"

"I'd appreciate it if next time you're not so serious," Natsuo joked, letting out a sigh of relief. "What do you think, Tou?"

"I'd really like to stay here," Touya responded with a smile, wiping the tears from his cheeks. "And please, don't do that again... you scared me a lot."

"I'm sorry," Zuko apologized with a smile, squeezing Touya's shoulder. "Welcome to the family."

-----------------Fire-----------------

Touya's birthday arrived with many surprises for him.

He was just getting used to waking up with more people around when he suddenly felt a huge weight on his back.

He quickly jumped up, startled, trying to find who had attacked him.

And what a surprise, it was Shouto and little Izumi, both with mischievous smiles on their faces.

"Happy birthday, Tou-nii," Shouto exclaimed with a smile. Izumi was beside him, also smiling with her dragon pacifier in her mouth, but you could still see her smile. "Come on, oto-san has a surprise for you."

"It's too early for this," Touya complained, then looked at the time on his digital clock, and his frown deepened. "It's only 6 in the morning, and it's Saturday."

"Tou-nii," Shouto whined as he grabbed his left hand and tried to pull him out of bed. "Come on."

Izumi, being the little troublemaker she was, followed Shouto's example and tried to pull him out of bed too, even though she didn't have the same strength as Shouto.

"I'm coming, I'm coming," Touya grumbled reluctantly as he got out of bed. The three of them left the room, Shouto and Izumi in front, smiling and jumping, while Touya followed behind with a frown for having to wake up early.

When he entered the living room, Fuyumi, who was finishing stretching, noticed with surprise and joy how Touya could now tolerate Shouto to the point of letting him wake him up.

It was a great joy for her to see her two brothers mending their relationship.

"It's interesting to see you awake so early," Fuyumi commented with a teasing smile as Touya rubbed his eyes in annoyance. She took advantage of Shouto and Izumi being distracted to flip her brother off, who returned the gesture, sticking his tongue out.

"I had no choice," Touya exclaimed dramatically, looking at the two little ones who gave him innocent looks. "My captors gave me no options."

"Oh, what a horror it must have been for you, being forcibly taken out of your bed," Natsuo teased, entering the room with a half-assembled Rubik's cube. "Poor you."

"You'll pay for this, little runt," Touya muttered, frowning at Natsuo. He quickly flipped his brother off, who just smiled devilishly, then nodded to the left. When Touya looked at what his brother was pointing at, he paled a bit, realizing that Izumi and Shouto were watching them curiously, and Izumi was trying to imitate him. "Shit..."

"No bad words," Shouto exclaimed with a serious expression while covering Izumi's ears. "Don't teach Izumi bad words."

"Merda," Izumi repeated proudly after removing her pacifier, making everyone in the room pale. "Merda... Merda... Merda..."

"Well, brother, it was nice knowing you," Natsuo sighed dramatically.

"Oh, kami bless his soul," Fuyumi prayed while hugging her brother tightly. "And guide him to the light."

"Why are you praying?" Zuko asked as he entered the living room with the last two breakfast plates.

"Nothing," the three of them said simultaneously, nervously watching in horror as Izumi approached Zuko, asking to be picked up.

"Oto, Oto... Merda," Izumi chirped with a big smile, proud of herself.

"I'm not going to ask," Zuko commented, though he had a serious face. "Just please, don't say any more bad words in front of Izumi."

"Yes, sir," the three kids said simultaneously, their faces red with embarrassment and a bit of shame.

"Now that everyone is awake, please come eat," Zuko gently ordered as he sat at the table and started feeding his daughter. "We'll be going out in a bit."

"Yes, sir," the three responded with a smile, then started eating. It was a calm and relaxing breakfast.

As they were finishing eating, Natsuo lowered his spoon with a thoughtful expression.

"Hey, Zuko? A question?" Natsuo said, looking at Zuko.

"Yes?" Zuko responded, pausing from cleaning Izumi for a moment to look at Natsuo.

"Where does all the money come from?" Natsuo asked, tilting his head. "I mean, I know you have your job and earn quite a bit, and you also have the bonus and our allowances, but I'm surprised that it's enough for all the things you buy us."

"Actually, I receive something else," Zuko explained while continuing to clean Izumi, who had gotten dirty again. "Tensei and Sansa give me a blank check with about a thousand yen."

"Wow, and where do they get the money from?" Fuyumi wondered, tilting her head.

"That's an excellent question, dear," Zuko commented, also tilting his head, thinking a bit. "I have no idea."

-----------------Fire-----------------

Meanwhile, with Tensei and Sansa, both were watching a boy with black hair and cat ears staring at a computer.

"Weren't you supposed to have no criminal ties, Sansa?" Tensei asked, looking at the hacker.

"They were my cousins; I never said I didn't have a contact or two," Sansa replied with a cruel smile as she looked at the boy. "Besides, this isn't really anything bad. We're giving the kids the money they deserve."

"I'm surprised Endeavor hasn't noticed the hack in his account," Tensei commented with a raised eyebrow. "He's the number 2 hero; he should be on top of everything."

"I doubt he notices if a thousand or two thousand yen are missing. After all, he earns millions," Sansa replied with a wicked smile. "Besides, we're not stealing from him. We're just taking what should be the kids' expenses. After all, this would be their inheritance."

Tensei simply shrugged, agreeing with his friend. The money was for important purposes.

-----------------Fire-----------------

After breakfast and changing clothes, everyone left the apartment and took a taxi once they got to the street.

The kids were a bit restless, wanting to know where Zuko was taking them, but every time they asked, he just replied that it was a surprise.

Even when he gave the driver the address, they couldn't figure out where they were going.

The trip lasted 30 minutes until they arrived at the huge Tokyo Solamachi shopping mall. The five of them got out of the taxi and followed Zuko to a Nitori store.

"Well, since it's Tou's birthday, I thought he might like to choose the decoration for his room," Zuko explained with a smile as he looked at the kids. "Also, I talked to the landlord, and we got the chance to move to a much bigger apartment, so each of you can have your own small room."

"We're moving?" Shouto asked with tears in his eyes, at the mere thought of being separated from Izuku and not being able to play together in the afternoons. "But, oto-san..."

"Shou, don't worry," Zuko reassured him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "We're not moving far, just to the next condo. You'll still be able to play with Midoriya-kun in the afternoons."

"Really? Can we choose whatever we want?" Touya asked, his eyes lighting up with joy, and the others felt the same.

"Of course," Zuko responded happily, then chuckled when Natsuo, Fuyumi, and Touya dashed off in different directions to pick out their things.

Shouto, however, stayed by Zuko's side since he was still the youngest and wasn't allowed to wander far.

Zuko first went to the kids' section so Shouto could choose his things.

They spent nearly the entire morning in the store picking out items, as everyone was excited about decorating to their liking. However, they also kept an eye on the prices—they didn't want to burden Zuko with too much expense.

-----------------Fire-----------------

After picking out their items at the store and Zuko paying for everything, which he found quite affordable, they were all happy with the arrangement.

He took the kids to lunch, letting each of them choose their favorite dish, and they thoroughly enjoyed the meal.

With the rest of the afternoon free, Touya begged Zuko to take them to see a movie at the cinema. It didn't take much pleading, as all four knew Zuko was easy to convince.

The movie was wonderful, and the kids loved it, including little Izumi, who fell asleep halfway through and slept like a rock.

Sometimes they wondered if she inherited that from her other father, as Zuko, besides being a light sleeper, woke up super early.

After walking around the mall for a while and getting some ice cream, the little family was about to head home when they heard a commotion. Curious, they went to see what it was.

Zuko couldn't help but grimace in disgust when he saw a boy about 13 years old being insulted by a police officer while others laughed at his expense.

The boy looked beaten and covered in ice cream.

"Filthy monster," the officer insulted him angrily. "You shouldn't be causing trouble."

"But I didn't do anything," the boy tried to defend himself, but he shrank back as the officer raised his hand to hit him. He looked up a moment later, not feeling the blow.

"What the hell are you doing?" the officer asked angrily, glaring at Zuko, who was holding his hand. "Let go of me, or I'll arrest you for attacking an officer."

"I'd like to see you try," Zuko growled angrily, releasing the officer's hand and poking a finger into his chest. "What the hell are you doing? Are you trying to hit a child?"

"Can't you see what kind of monster he is?" the officer asked warily. "Look at his skin; he looks like a monster."

"Monster? You, who attacks an innocent child you should be protecting," Zuko mocked, crossing his arms.

"But sir, he attacked us," one of the boys who had been mocking the child said. "The officer was just defending us."

"I've heard that same story a thousand times," Zuko muttered in annoyance, seeing the malice and cruelty in the boys' eyes. "You know what? Let's resolve this legally."

"What do you mean?" the apparent leader of the group asked nervously.

"We'll call the police to sort this out," Zuko commented, taking out his phone. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the officer trying to attack him, but he quickly dodged and then blocked the officer's chi. "Now we can add assault to your list of crimes."

After that, Tsukauchi and Aizawa quickly arrived at the scene, both looking tired and somewhat used to this.

They took statements, and although Tsukauchi could tell some were lying, they only incriminated themselves, especially after reviewing the cameras.

Although Zuko received a warning this time, both officers saw he wasn't remorseful, just angry. Since he was only defending himself and the boy, they let him go. The officer, however, was in serious trouble for abusing his power.

-----------------Fire-----------------

While waiting at the station for the train, the boy that Zuko had defended approached to thank him for protecting him and said that he looked very much like a hero.

"That's how my Oto-san is," Shouto exclaimed before Zuko could say anything. "He always acts like a hero and says anyone can be one."

"That's very true, Shou. Anyone can be a hero," Zuko responded with a small smile, looking at Shouto, unaware of the hopeful look on the boy's face. "It doesn't matter what Quirk or status you have, only that you do the right thing and never give up."

-----------------Fire-----------------

The months passed quickly, and soon the UA entrance exam day arrived. Touya was waiting for the doors to open to start the exam when he felt someone touch his shoulder. Turning around, he realized it was the same boy Zuko had helped a while ago.

"Oh, it's you?" Touya commented in surprise.

"Yep, I'm here to take the exam," the boy exclaimed with a smile. "Oto-san inspired me a lot."

"That's how he is," Touya replied with a proud smile. "I'm Himura Touka."

"I'm Iguchi Shūichi," the boy introduced himself with a radiant smile. "And I hope we can be heroes together."

Chapter Text

The day Touya received his acceptance letter from UA, the screams could be heard all the way to the park.

The kids who had been playing video games jumped in surprise at the sound of the screams, and Zuko, who had been napping with Izumi, fell out of bed and rushed to the living room, looking for a threat.

But when he saw Touya holding Shouto with the acceptance letter in his hand, he understood everything and joined the celebration.

That night, to celebrate, they had made a small reservation at Touya's favorite restaurant and invited the Iidas, the Midoriyas, the officers, and the Aizawas.

Touya had also invited Iguchi Shūichi, who had also been accepted and was in the same class.

While the two boys smiled and shouted with excitement, young Iguchi was a bit awestruck meeting three professional heroes and knowing they were friends with his friend's father.

"Your dad is incredible," Shuichi murmured with an admiring smile as he watched Zuko happily chatting with Tensei. "It must be so cool to know three professional heroes."

"It has its perks," Touya explained with a small smile, shrugging.

"It'll be exciting to teach you soon," Hizashi exclaimed with a radiant smile as he ruffled Touya's hair, making him yelp.

"Get your hands off me, Yamada-san," Touya complained, his face red with embarrassment, as he forcefully removed Hizashi's hand and shrank into himself.

Fuyumi noticed with great pride and excitement that her brother had progressed so much in therapy that he no longer sought to hit or burn people reflexively.

"Don't think that just because we're friends with your brother, we'll go easy on you," Aizawa informed him while taking a small sip of wine, wearing a wicked smile that sent shivers down Touya's spine. "Though I have high expectations of you, considering who taught you."

"Believe me, I won't disappoint you," Touya exclaimed with a joyful smile.

That night ended with many smiles and good memories; it had been a beautiful gathering.

-----------------Fire-----------------

Two weeks later.

Touya woke up early, his heart pounding. Today was the day he had been waiting for years, his first day at UA, the most prestigious hero academy in the country. He got out of bed and looked out the window, seeing the sun beginning to rise on the horizon.

After dressing in his school uniform, he left his room and found Zuko setting breakfast on the table. Little Izumi was already eating with Fuyumi, while Shouto and Natsuo were still asleep.

"Look who’s up early," Fuyumi teased with a smile as she popped a piece of egg into her mouth. "Did you fall out of bed or what?"

"I couldn’t sleep from the excitement," Touya explained, not engaging in his sister’s teasing, as he was too enthusiastic about starting classes. "I can’t believe I’m going to UA."

"I’m very proud of you, Touya," Zuko said as he placed a breakfast plate in front of him. "You’ll be an incredible hero."

"Thanks, Zuko," Touya thanked him both for the food and for the support, as he grabbed some food with his chopsticks and ate with excitement.

After a while, Natsuo and Shouto arrived, rubbing their eyes to shake off sleep. It was a big surprise that during the vacation, both boys started sleeping in and had to be woken up, when they used to wake up early. The only ones who woke up early in that house were Zuko, Fuyumi, and Izumi, although the latter always ended up napping in the afternoons with Natsuo, Shouto, and Touya.

After breakfast, they all put on their shoes and backpacks and headed to their destinations. Since they were older kids and their schools were nearby, Zuko allowed them to go by themselves.

This was a great joy for the kids. After a few hugs and Zuko giving them money for snacks, they all went to their schools and Zuko to his job.

-----------------Fire-----------------

Touya ran to the train station, where he met his friend Iguchi Shūichi, who was already waiting for him. Shūichi, with his characteristic smile, patted him on the back.

"Hey, Himura-kun!" Shūichi greeted enthusiastically. "I thought you wouldn't make it."

"Miss my first day? No way," Touya joked. Then the train arrived, and both boys got on. The ride lasted only 15 minutes, and when the train stopped, they got off at their station.

The two friends walked together towards UA, talking about their expectations and dreams. Touya couldn't help but feel a bit nervous, but Shūichi's presence calmed him.

When they arrived at the UA entrance, they found other students with the same mix of excitement and nerves.

Once inside, they were directed to the classroom where they would meet their homeroom teacher. Upon entering, Touya wasn't surprised to see Aizawa Shouta, a professional hero known for his seriousness and exceptional skills. What nobody apart from Shūichi knew was that Aizawa was a close friend of Zuko and knew his personality well.

"Welcome to UA," Aizawa said in his characteristic monotone as he stood in front of them. "I am Eraserhead, your homeroom teacher. Today, we will begin with a test to evaluate your skills and teamwork."

The students looked at each other, knowing they were supposed to attend the school's presentation, but none dared to question their homeroom teacher. Some were confident, while others were worried.

Aizawa instructed the students to change into their gym uniforms and then meet him at Gym Beta.

He continued explaining that they would be divided into pairs and face selected villains in a controlled scenario. Touya and Shūichi exchanged glances and nodded, knowing they would work together.

-----------------Fire-----------------

Unfortunately, a machine created the pairs, and Touya was paired with a girl named Hirana Yua, whose Quirk allowed her to control plants.

On the other hand, Iguchi Shūichi was paired with a boy named Tanaka Riku, whose elasticity Quirk allowed him to stretch and deform his body at will. Riku was a bit conceited and always talked about how great his Quirk was.

The training consisted of a battle between the pairs. Touya and Yua would face Shūichi and Riku to see if they could work as a team and determine their abilities.

Hearing this, Shūichi couldn't help but complain dramatically.

"This isn't fair!" Shūichi exclaimed, with Touya beside him laughing slightly, especially when his friend pointed at him. "I have to face Himura-kun, whose father has ninja skills! How am I supposed to win against that?"

Touya smiled, trying to contain his laughter. He knew Shūichi was exaggerating, but he also knew his friend always found ways to make things interesting.

Soon the training began, and some classmates' aggressive attitudes created unexpected chaos and damage.

Then it was Touya and Yua's turn against Shūichi and Riku.

During the training, Yua proved to be a formidable partner, sticking to Touya's plan and using her Quirk to create plant barriers and launch vine attacks while Touya focused on his skills to complement her attacks, minimizing damage around them.

Shūichi and Riku, on the other hand, tried to find a strategy to overcome Touya and Yua's defenses.

Riku, with his elasticity, tried to surround Yua, but she quickly trapped him with a vine.

Shūichi, seeing his partner in trouble, used his Quirk to climb the walls and get close enough to rescue Riku, but Touya intercepted him with a quick move, creating a small wall of fire.

The battle between the pairs intensified, becoming the longest so far. The other students watched in awe and admiration.

Touya and Yua worked in perfect sync, while Shūichi and Riku struggled to find a way to break through their defenses.

Riku tried once more to surround Yua, stretching his body to dodge the vines she threw. However, Touya decided it was time to use a special technique he had learned from Zuko.

With impressive speed, Touya moved nimbly through Riku's attacks, performing jumps and flips, getting close enough to apply a series of precise strikes to Riku's chi points.

These strikes temporarily blocked the muscles in Riku's body, leaving him unable to use his Quirk, causing him to fall inert.

"What the hell did you do?!" Riku exclaimed, completely indignant and furious, although there was a glint of admiration in his eyes. He had never seen a technique like that and couldn't help but admire Touya's skill. "I can't move!"

"Ha, you were too slow," Touya teased lightly, then turned his attention back to Yua, who was fighting Shūichi.

Seeing his partner was out of commission, Shūichi tried one last attack to win, but Yua stopped him with a plant barrier, immobilizing him.

The battle ended with Touya and Yua as the victors. Aizawa, observing from a distance, nodded approvingly. He knew Touya had great potential thanks to Zuko's upbringing, but he didn't want to be biased. Touya needed to prove himself, and Aizawa was sure that with time, Touya would become a formidable hero.

After the training, Riku approached Touya, still impressed.

"That was incredible, Himura-kun. I've never seen anything like that," Riku congratulated him, rubbing his arm. "I thought your Quirk was fire. Where did you learn that technique?"

"My father taught me," Touya replied with great pride. "It's a chi-blocking technique that requires a lot of precision and training."

"Well, you definitely taught me a lesson today," Riku exclaimed, nodding, still amazed. "Next time, I'll be ready!"

Touya and Riku shook hands, knowing this was just the beginning of many more battles and lessons at UA.

"Good job, Himura-kun!" Shūichi said, patting him on the back. "But next time, I won't be so easy to beat."

Touya smiled, knowing there would always be more challenges ahead. With friends like Shūichi and teammates like Yua and Riku, he was sure his time at UA would be full of adventures and growth.

-----------------Fire-----------------

After a day filled with intense training and battles, the UA students gathered in the classroom, waiting for the final words from their teacher, Aizawa Shouta. The atmosphere was tense, as everyone knew that Eraserhead was not known for his leniency.

Aizawa stood up from his desk and looked at the students with his usual serious expression.

"Today has been a day of tests and challenges," Aizawa began. "I have observed your skills, your teamwork, and most importantly, your behavior."

He paused, letting his words sink in.

"Being a hero is not just about having a powerful Quirk. It is about discipline, respect, and the ability to work as a team," he continued. "Unfortunately, I have seen behaviors that are not acceptable in this academy."

The students looked at each other, some with concern and others with curiosity.

"Therefore, I have decided to expel nine students for their inappropriate and arrogant behavior," Aizawa announced, his hands behind his back. Some students paled, while others smiled confidently. "I will not tolerate disrespect or arrogance in this class."

The classroom fell into absolute silence. Soon, Aizawa called out the names of those who were expelled, the ones who had smiled arrogantly and caused the most chaos during training.

The expelled students stood up, some with surprised expressions and others with resentment. Aizawa watched them leave the classroom, making sure they understood the gravity of their actions.

"For those who remain, take this as a lesson," Aizawa continued. "UA is a place for those who are willing to strive and learn. If you cannot meet those standards, you have no place here."

Touya and Shūichi exchanged glances, knowing they had to give their best to stay in the academy. Yua, beside them, nodded with determination.

"That's all for today. I'll see you tomorrow to continue your training," Aizawa concluded.

The students began to leave the classroom, some still in shock from the expulsions. Touya, Shūichi, and Yua walked together, reflecting on what had happened.

"We have to make sure we don't make the same mistakes," Yua said seriously.

"Definitely," Touya responded. "This is just the beginning, and we have to prove we deserve to be here."

Shūichi nodded, determined to improve and learn from the experience.

"But for now, who wants to go to the mall?" asked a girl with flaming green hair and a big smile as she joined the conversation. Everyone jumped a little at her sudden entrance, but then they all laughed heartily and soon left the academy.

As they walked to the mall amidst laughter and jokes, Touya couldn't help but look at the sky with joy, knowing that as long as he had his family by his side, he would always be the best.

-----------------Fire-----------------

The day had been quiet at the café where Zuko worked.

At 20 years old, Zuko had found this place to be a refuge, as it was his first job and the one that helped him keep the children he had taken under his care safe. It was his place of peace.

While arranging the tables and cleaning up to close, the silence of the night enveloped him. Fuyumi had taken Izumi hours ago so he could have some peace, although he initially refused, not wanting Fuyumi to be stuck taking care of his daughter. He reluctantly agreed when she convinced him, saying she wanted to have a girls' afternoon with her little sister.

He was pulled out of his thoughts when he suddenly heard footsteps behind him. He quickly turned around but saw nothing; the café was empty, or so it seemed. Zuko frowned, feeling a growing unease.

"Who's there?" Zuko asked, his voice echoing in the silence.

There was no response. Zuko continued with his tasks but couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched. From the shadows, two red eyes glowed, fixed on him.

"We know who you are, Himura Zuko. And we know who your children are," said a cold, threatening voice.

Zuko's heart raced. Without thinking twice, he pulled out a knife he always carried to protect himself and his loved ones. He prepared to attack, but the figure in the shadows moved with unsettling agility, dodging every attempt Zuko made to reach it.

"What do you want?" Zuko shouted, his voice filled with determination and fear as he looked around.

The figure remained hidden, but its voice echoed again.

"I don't seek to harm you, Himura-san. On the contrary, I offer you a deal," the figure informed, its voice sounding somewhat macabre. "Work for me, and your children will be safe."

Zuko gritted his teeth, not lowering his guard. The figure threw a business card to the ground, which Zuko cautiously picked up. The card only had a phone number on it.

Before Zuko could respond, the figure disappeared into the shadows, leaving Zuko alone in the café with more questions than answers.

"Shit," Zuko murmured as he pulled out his phone and dialed the first number he saw. "Tensei... I need help..."

Chapter Text

The tension in the small café was palpable. After Zuko called Tensei, he didn't hesitate for a second before arriving at his side to support him.

The others arrived a few minutes later, but Hizashi went to the Himura apartment with Hitoshi to stay with the kids while the others handled the situation.

After Zuko explained the situation, the others realized how serious it was. The tone of Zuko's voice gave it away, but he was more concerned about the children's safety than his own.

"Who could discover their identities?" Tsukauchi asked, worried not for his career but for the safety of the children they had worked so hard to heal. "And what would they gain by having you work for them?"

"I know many villains who would want to get their hands on a Quirk as powerful as Himura-san's," Aizawa commented, crossing his arms and looking around for any clues.

"Not to mention his other skills," Sansa reminded them while sniffing for clues, wrinkling his nose in disgust in some places. "This place smells like a rat."

That caught Shouta's attention, who stood up straight and approached Zuko.

"Can I see the business card for a moment?" Shouta asked. Zuko curiously handed him the card that had been on the table and which they hadn't thought to check.

Or at least not Zuko. The others had checked it but hadn't recognized the number, and as soon as Shouta saw it, he cursed, causing the others to turn to him curiously.

"Shouta," Tensei asked, raising an eyebrow. "Is something wrong?"

"I recognize this number," Shouta explained, clenching the card in anger. "It's from Nezu."

"The UA principal?" Tsukauchi asked incredulously. "But what does he want with Himura-san?"

"That's an excellent question," Shouta muttered, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "But I think I have an idea."

"Himura-kun, are you okay?" Tensei asked, noticing how quiet Zuko was. "Himura?"

"I'M GOING TO ROAST HIM!" Zuko growled, his eyes filled with fury, and he let out a few puffs of fire from his mouth.

"Make that two, kid, make that two," Aizawa muttered, rubbing his forehead. "Let's go, it's time to go home. We need to rest."

"And what about this?" Zuko asked, glaring at him. "What are we going to do about the threat your boss's rat gave me?"

"There must be an explanation," Shouta suggested, not defending Nezu but to give Zuko some peace of mind. "Tomorrow you can come early with Touya-kun, and we can go to Nezu's office and ask him questions."

"That sounds good," Zuko responded, albeit reluctantly, as he went to get his bag to go home. "Thank you for coming."

"We're glad you're safe," Tensei said with a smile, ruffling Zuko's hair and making him let out a squeal of irritation.

While the two of them were playfully arguing, the other three watched the scene with affection.

"I bet 20 yen that Tensei will confess in two months," Sansa said to Aizawa and Tsukauchi.

"It's illogical to bet on their personal lives," Aizawa complained, crossing his arms, but then he smiled cruelly. "I bet 40 yen he'll confess in two weeks, and it will be due to external factors."

"Oh kami," Tsukauchi murmured, then looked at the two and made his bet. "I bet 40 yen he'll wait five weeks."

The three smiled slyly as they watched the pair argue playfully, unaware of the bet.

-----------------Fire-----------------

Zuko arrived home a bit late, and upon entering the apartment, he was surprised to find the children still awake. As soon as they saw him, they sighed in relief and ran to his side.

"What are you doing awake?" Zuko asked curiously while lifting Izumi into his arms. She quickly fell asleep, feeling safe with her father.

"Where were you?" Natsuo exclaimed with concern. "It's very late, and we were worried."

"You never come home late," Fuyumi added, wringing her hands. "We were worried something might have happened to you."

"I had some problems at the café," Zuko explained, downplaying the situation. "I'm sorry, I'll try not to be late again."

"Are you sure you're okay, oto-san?" Shouto asked, gripping Zuko's pants tightly.

"Yes, I am," Zuko replied with a smile, ruffling Shouto's hair.

Natsuo, Fuyumi, and Shouto sighed in relief, knowing he was safe. Touya, on the other hand, frowned. He knew a bit about the situation since Hizashi hadn't tried to hide it. However, he said nothing; as long as Zuko was home and safe, everything would be fine.

That night, as Zuko settled in to sleep, he wasn't surprised at all when the children burst into his room to sleep with him.

Zuko knew that situations like today always caused the children slight panic, so he didn't mind them sleeping with him that night.

-----------------Fire-----------------

Upon arriving at UA, Zuko was pleasantly surprised by the size of the academy. He had seen photos but never imagined it would be so vast.

As he walked toward the entrance with Touya and Shūichi ahead of him, he noticed several students looking at him curiously. At the same time, he saw Aizawa and Tensei waiting for him at the entrance.

"Zuko?" Touya asked with curiosity and concern, seeing the two heroes waiting for him.

"Everything will be fine, Tou," Zuko reassured with a smile, hoping to calm him down as he walked away from the children and approached the two heroes with confidence.

This act caused a small stir among the students, who began whispering quietly, surprised by the scene.

"Not that I'm not glad to see you, Tensei," Zuko said, tilting his head in curiosity. "But what are you doing here?"

"We agreed that while you're with Nezu, someone should be there to keep you calm," Aizawa explained as he led him to Nezu's office.

"Excuse me?" Zuko asked, completely offended. "I can be very calm, thank you."

"When it comes to yourself, but in this case, it's about the kids, and you tend to be very impulsive," Aizawa explained with a hint of teasing.

"I'm not impulsive," Zuko complained, crossing his arms and frowning.

"Actually, Zuko, you are," Tensei intervened, trying to calm Zuko's growing irritation. "Especially when kids are involved."

"Name one time I was impulsive," Zuko grumbled, glaring at both heroes. "One... just one."

"I have a list," Aizawa teased, pulling out a notebook from his pocket with all the times Zuko had been impulsive. Tensei, standing behind Zuko, started shaking his head, trying to prevent Aizawa from adding fuel to the fire.

"Ah, welcome," Nezu greeted with his usual mocking smile, stepping out of the shadows. Zuko's head turned like in an exorcist movie, glaring at Nezu.

"I recognize your voice! It was you!" Zuko exclaimed, small flames coming out of his mouth. Tensei had to grab him by the waist to prevent him from attacking Nezu. Aizawa noted the scene in his notebook, sighing in frustration.

"It's a pleasure to see you again, Himura-san," Nezu greeted, his smile growing wider, then looked at Aizawa. "The bell will ring in five minutes; you need to teach your class."

"Yes, Principal Nezu," Aizawa said reluctantly as he turned to leave. "Please... don't get into trouble."

"I'll try to prevent him from making roast rat," Tensei muttered, tensing up when he realized Nezu had heard him. "Oops."

"Please come in, we have a lot to discuss," Nezu informed them as he entered his office, with Zuko and Tensei following behind.

-----------------Fire-----------------

Touya glanced at the clock nervously, then at his desk, feeling anxiety growing in his stomach. He knew that as long as Aizawa and Tensei were with Zuko, he would be fine, but his nerves weren't entirely calmed.

He could hear the murmurs around him, but he didn't have the energy or patience to worry about them; he was more concerned about Zuko.

"So, was that your dad?" Riku asked, standing in front of him with crossed arms.

"Did he get into trouble?" another student asked mockingly, making Touya angry.

"My dad is a good person," Touya growled with fury, glaring at the two.

"Yeah right, and my dad is friends with All Might," the student mocked maliciously.

"Himura-san is actually a great person," Shūichi exclaimed, coming to Zuko's defense. "He helped me a long time ago."

"Sure, he must be a criminal; only monsters understand each other," the boy mocked, making Touya angrier. He was about to stand up and attack, but at that moment, Aizawa entered and didn't look happy, which worried Touya. He threw caution to the wind and approached his teacher.

"Aizawa-sensei," Touya called, approaching him with Shūichi behind him. "Where is Zu... Where is oto-san? Is he okay? What's happening?"

"Himura-kun, calm down a bit. Your father is fine, he's talking to Nezu," Aizawa responded, trying to calm him. "He should be out of the meeting before noon."

"And why was Iida-sama here with you?" Shūichi asked, tilting his head. Neither of them noticed how the rest of the students watched the scene in shock, unable to believe that Touya and Shūichi knew Eraserhead in civilian life.

"Tensei is here to prevent a barbecue rat," Aizawa explained, then turned to sit at his desk. "Now, get back to your seat. I have a class to teach."

Reluctantly, Touya sat down, and Shūichi followed his lead. Soon the class began, but Touya couldn't concentrate well; he was worried.

He hoped everything would go well with Zuko.

-----------------Fire-----------------

Tensei was reconsidering all his life decisions while watching Zuko and Nezu argue.

At that moment, he didn't know whose side to take: the most intelligent and powerful rat, who could destroy his reputation in a second, or the most powerful and kind-hearted guy he had ever met and risk losing his trust.

Fortunately, they didn't ask for his opinion at any point, which was a relief. Still, he had to prevent Zuko from roasting Nezu, who seemed far too serene for his liking.

"If you wanted to talk to me so much, you could have done it like a normal person," Zuko complained, glaring at him.

"And where's the fun in that?" Nezu commented with a mischievous glint in his eyes. He was genuinely enjoying the conversation with Zuko. After all, he was one of the few who could confront him without fear, and that was impressive. "I've heard many interesting things about you, Himura-kun."

"What kind of things?" Zuko asked, trying to calm down and looking at him with curiosity.

"You have very surprising abilities, which I refuse to believe are being wasted in a simple café," Nezu commented as he served himself a cup of tea and offered one to both Zuko and Tensei. "That's why I have an offer for you."

"I appreciate it very much, Principal Nezu, but I really like my job, thank you," Zuko declined while taking a sip of tea. "But I must refuse."

"Don't do it for me or for you, Himura-kun. Do it for your kids, the little Todorokis," Nezu explained, making Zuko furious. Tensei had to place a hand on his shoulder to calm him. "If I could discover their identities by looking into you, anyone can do the same."

"What do you propose?" Tensei asked, noticing how Zuko was grinding his teeth.

"Be a teacher at UA, teach your skills to my students," Nezu proposed with a smile, noting Zuko's expression. "And I will help protect the Todorokis. I'll pay you, of course, and you'll only work in the afternoons, three times a week."

"Alright, but with two conditions," Zuko interjected, looking at Nezu with determination, making Nezu raise an eyebrow curiously. "Any money I earn, I want it in a separate account, exclusively for the kids, and I don't want anyone to know my identity. I prefer to work under a pseudonym."

"The separate account can certainly be arranged," Nezu agreed, a bit impressed by Zuko's audacity. "As for the pseudonym, how would you like to be called?"

"Blue Spirit," Zuko responded, setting down the tea cup and staring directly at Nezu.

Chapter Text

Creating a hero costume wasn't that difficult, especially since it didn't require the same adjustments as a real hero suit.

The costume consisted of an all-black jumpsuit with a hood, gray wrist guards, and knee pads. It had a gold belt with small pouches for storing weapons or smoke bombs, and two bo staffs on his back while waiting for his Dao swords, which were the only weapons taking longer to be delivered as they were personalized.

He didn't know why, but when he saw himself in the mirror with the costume ready, it felt so perfect, as if he had worn it before.

What he looked at the most was the mask. He couldn't help but run his fingers over the white teeth of the blue mask; it felt perfect in his hands.

"That costume looks good on you," Tensei commented with a smile, trying to hide his blush. "Can I ask what inspired you?"

"The Blue Spirit," Zuko replied, not taking his eyes off the mask.

"Your name?" Tensei asked, confused as he sat next to him and looked at the mask.

"No, silly," Zuko laughed. "The Blue Spirit or Dark Water Spirit is the antagonist in Love Among Dragons. I was inspired by him."

"That's pretty macabre of you," Tensei teased, nudging Zuko with his shoulder. "Or very nerdy of you."

"Shut up. Tenya-kun told me how nerdy you were in school with physics," Zuko teased back, making Tensei let out a dramatic scream. "Besides, from what I can remember, it was my mom's favorite play."

"Oh, I see," Tensei murmured with some sadness towards Zuko. "What else have you been able to remember?"

"Many things about my life," Zuko whispered, pain in his voice. "My father was a monster who never loved me, but I had my mom until she disappeared and left me at his mercy. He hurt me, and for a while, I thought I deserved it."

"You know that was wrong, right?" Tensei asked, placing a hand on Zuko's shoulder. "No one deserves to be treated like that, especially not by their father."

"I know that now," Zuko replied with a small smile. "It's good I lost my memory; I realized a lot of things."

"I'm glad," Tensei responded with a smile, then got a bit nervous as he was about to invite Zuko on a date when the door to the room suddenly opened, startling Tensei, who jumped up, confusing Zuko.

"It's time, Zuko-kun," Hizashi exclaimed with a smile, seeing him ready. "The students are waiting."

"I'm coming, I'm coming," Zuko commented as he got up and walked towards the door, but before leaving, he turned to Tensei. "See you later."

"See you," Tensei replied with a goofy smile, then frowned at Hizashi's smiling face. "What?"

"You should ask him out," Hizashi commented with a smile as he grabbed Tensei's arm and led him to the gym.

"Would you help me?" Tensei asked, making Hizashi squeal with joy, causing Tensei to regret it immediately.

"Oh, you won't regret it," Hizashi exclaimed with a big smile.

"Oh, I'm already regretting it," Tensei murmured warily at Hizashi's excitement.

-----------------Fire-----------------

A hero costume was not that difficult to create, especially since it didn't require the same adjustments as a real hero suit.

The costume consisted of an all-black jumpsuit with a hood, gray wrist guards, and knee pads. It had a gold belt with small pouches for storing weapons or smoke bombs, and two bo staffs on his back while waiting for his Dao swords, which were the only weapons taking longer to be delivered as they were personalized.

He didn't know why, but when he saw himself in the mirror with the costume ready, it felt so perfect, as if he had worn it before.

What he looked at the most was the mask. He couldn't help but run his fingers over the white teeth of the blue mask; it felt perfect in his hands.

"That costume looks good on you," Tensei commented with a smile, trying to hide his blush. "Can I ask what inspired you?"

"The Blue Spirit," Zuko replied, not taking his eyes off the mask.

"Your name?" Tensei asked, confused as he sat next to him and looked at the mask.

"No, silly," Zuko laughed. "The Blue Spirit or Dark Water Spirit is the antagonist in Love Among Dragons. I was inspired by him."

"That's pretty macabre of you," Tensei teased, nudging Zuko with his shoulder. "Or very nerdy of you."

"Shut up. Tenya-kun told me how nerdy you were in school with physics," Zuko teased back, making Tensei let out a dramatic scream. "Besides, from what I can remember, it was my mom's favorite play."

"Oh, I see," Tensei murmured with some sadness towards Zuko. "What else have you been able to remember?"

"Many things about my life," Zuko whispered, pain in his voice. "My father was a monster who never loved me, but I had my mom until she disappeared and left me at his mercy. He hurt me, and for a while, I thought I deserved it."

"You know that was wrong, right?" Tensei asked, placing a hand on Zuko's shoulder. "No one deserves to be treated like that, especially not by their father."

"I know that now," Zuko replied with a small smile. "It's good I lost my memory; I realized a lot of things."

"I'm glad," Tensei responded with a smile, then got a bit nervous as he was about to invite Zuko on a date when the door to the room suddenly opened, startling Tensei, who jumped up, confusing Zuko.

"It's time, Zuko-kun," Hizashi exclaimed with a smile, seeing him ready. "The students are waiting."

"I'm coming, I'm coming," Zuko commented as he got up and walked towards the door, but before leaving, he turned to Tensei. "See you later."

"See you," Tensei replied with a goofy smile, then frowned at Hizashi's smiling face. "What?"

"You should ask him out," Hizashi commented with a smile as he grabbed Tensei's arm and led him to the gym.

"Would you help me?" Tensei asked, making Hizashi squeal with joy, causing Tensei to regret it immediately.

"Oh, you won't regret it," Hizashi exclaimed with a big smile.

"Oh, I'm already regretting it," Tensei murmured warily at Hizashi's excitement.

-----------------Fire-----------------

On the Beta Urban Training Ground, which simulates a standard urban area with streets and buildings, six arrogant students prepared to face their new teacher in a combat that would test their skills and arrogance. The Blue Spirit, a master in Northern Shaolin, chi-blocking, stealth, and fencing, dressed in black with a blue mask, waited patiently in the center of an abandoned plaza, with a bo staff resting in his hands as he didn't want to use the swords against the students.

The students, confident in their powerful Quirks, approached the man with a nonchalant attitude. They were convinced that their individual abilities were more than enough to defeat any opponent, especially a self-defense instructor.

The first to attack was a student with snow-white hair and gray eyes, confident in her ability to control the cold. With a quick gesture, the air around her froze, and she launched icicles at the Blue Spirit. However, the master, with fluid and precise movements, deflected the projectiles with his staff, shattering them into pieces before they could reach him, astonishing the student. Then, with a flip in the air, he approached the girl before she could create more ice and incapacitated her with a single strike to the neck.

The next student, a boy with blond hair and brown eyes, taking advantage of the distraction, summoned a whirlwind, trying to destabilize the master. The wind roared and swirled around the Blue Spirit, but impressively, he stood firm against the ground. Then, with quick and precise movements, he threw the staff at the student, leaving him breathless and in shock.

With two students out, Zuko focused on the next one, who, with a roar, charged forward. The student had black hair and green eyes and possessed a super strength Quirk. His fists were like hammers, ready to smash.

Zuko, with unshakable calm, dodged the student and took advantage of his exposed back to use his chi-blocking ability, temporarily paralyzing the student.

The student fell to the ground, unable to move, his arrogance quickly fading and fear invading his body at the thought of being expelled.

From a distance, the next student, with red hair and blue eyes, and a telekinesis Quirk, tried to lift debris and throw it at the master.

But Zuko, with an almost imperceptible movement, deflected the objects with his staff, sending them back towards the student, forcing him to dodge and lose balance. By the time the student was ready to use his Quirk again, he realized too late that the master was already in front of him, paralyzing his body.

The next student, with golden eyes and orange hair, transformed into a tiger, attacking ferociously with claws and fangs ready to tear apart.

Zuko dodged each attack with quick and precise movements, using his staff to deflect every blow, finally immobilizing the tiger with a strong kick to the head that left the student unconscious and defeated.

Seeing his companions fall, the arrogance left the body of the student with blue hair and red eyes. He created an invisible shield to protect himself and his fallen companions, hoping they would recover quickly.

Zuko stopped and observed, looking for a weak point. Quickly and with great concentration, he sent some fire to his left fist, breaking the shield with a single punch, leaving the student vulnerable and surprised by how easily his defense was destroyed. The student was swiftly incapacitated.

With all the students defeated and exhausted on the ground, Zuko looked at them with a mix of disappointment and admiration.

"Your biggest mistake was not working as a team and relying too much on your Quirks," he said in a calm voice, crossing his arms. "You had opportunities to defeat me, but your arrogance was your downfall and will be the downfall of some civilians."

As the students lay on the ground, defeated and exhausted, the gym doors burst open, revealing Aizawa and the rest of the students who hadn't participated, looking at Zuko with admiration.

Aizawa, with his characteristic severe expression, approached the seven and surveyed the scene, noting every detail before speaking.

"What have you learned from this?" Aizawa asked, his voice resonating in the empty gym.

The students, still recovering from the intense battle, looked at each other before answering.

"We learned that arrogance blinds us and makes us underestimate our opponents," young Tanaka explained, his voice trembling but firm.

"And that true strength doesn't lie in our individual abilities, but in how we use them with wisdom and control," murmured the blond-haired student in pain.

"We apologize for our arrogance," the black-haired student said, bowing his head in repentance. "We promise to work together and learn from our mistakes and not underestimate self-defense."

"This was a difficult but necessary lesson," Aizawa exclaimed firmly, making the six students shiver. "We all make mistakes. The important thing is to learn from them and improve."

"I'll give you one last chance," Aizawa explained, and the students sighed in relief and shed a few tears of joy. "I won't expel you, but I expect you to show that you've learned something from this experience."

The relief was palpable in the air as the students stood up, grateful for the second chance.

Zuko, observing from a distance, nodded approvingly, leaving the students with a lesson they would never forget.

-----------------Fire-----------------

—Shit, —Shūichi murmured, seeing his six classmates on the ground, grimacing in pain. —That teacher is incredible.

—That teacher is my dad, —Touya murmured, pale. He had trained with Zuko before, but it had always been calmer. Seeing him like this, so wild and fast, he realized how powerful he was. —Shit.

—That’s Himura-san? —Shūichi gasped quietly, in shock. —But the Blue Spirit is wild, and Himura-san is gentle.

—Believe me, it's a surprise to me too, —Touya murmured, swallowing nervously. —We’re screwed.

—This can’t be, —Shūichi grumbled, nervously rubbing his eyes.

—That teacher is incredible, —Moe exclaimed with a big smile, not having heard the conversation between Touya and Shūichi.

—Did you see those moves? —Riku exclaimed with admiration. —I’ve never seen anyone be defeated so quickly without a Quirk.

—Yeah... it was amazing, —Touya agreed, smiling with pride towards Zuko. —He’s incredible.

-----------------Fire-----------------

-----------------Fire-----------------

Looking out the window, Aizawa handed 15 yen to Nemuri, who was very pleased.

"It was a pleasure doing business with you, Eraserhead," Nemuri gloated as she watched the scene with joy. "It was a splendid idea."

"Thank you for your cooperation, Nemuri," Aizawa said, crossing his arms with an arrogant smile. "It was a perfect scene."

As the two of them watched through the window, Nemuri was basking in the budding romance, while Aizawa looked forward to rubbing it in Sansa and Tsukauchi's faces.

Chapter Text

On Saturday night, the day of the long-awaited date, Tensei, usually confident and cheerful, spent almost two hours choosing his outfit. His brother initially watched him with curiosity but then went to prepare to stay at the Himura household.

The trip to the apartment was quick, but Tensei felt like it lasted two hours. They soon arrived and got out of the car.

Nerves were palpable in Tensei as he looked at the apartment, which he always visited as if it were a castle, with a prince of great beauty and heart waiting inside.

He snapped out of his daydream when Tenya, usually calm and serene, started pushing him to walk.

Soon, Tensei found himself in front of Zuko's apartment, dressed in an impeccable suit but with trembling hands. Beside him, his younger brother Tenya looked at him curiously, not understanding why his older brother was so nervous. However, the excitement of spending the night with his friends kept him distracted.

Before Tensei could knock on the door, it swung open, revealing Shouta Aizawa with a tired and displeased expression.

"What are you doing here?" Tensei asked, surprised.

Before Aizawa could respond, Hizashi appeared behind him with a wide smile.

"It's a sleepover night!" Hizashi announced enthusiastically.

"Due to your date with Himura-kun, Hizashi offered to keep the kids company to watch over and take care of them," Aizawa explained with tremendous dark circles under his eyes, while the kids played with his fiancé. "I feel like I'll be the only adult tonight."

Tensei was about to speak when he felt an anxious push on his back. With a snort of laughter, he stepped aside, allowing Tenya to run into the apartment.

The small group of friends greeted him with shouts of joy and quickly dragged him to the living room, where the video games were already in full swing.

At that moment, Zuko appeared in the hallway, dressed in a black suit and a crimson shirt that highlighted his appearance. Tensei swallowed hard, feeling his nerves increase.

"See you later, guys," Shouta said, saying goodbye to the kids before leaving the apartment with Hizashi.

Tensei and Zuko said goodbye to the kids and left the building. Once in Tensei's car, the tension was palpable.

Tensei decided to break the ice with some casual conversation.

"How was your day?" he asked, trying to sound relaxed. Zuko, sitting beside him, watched the nighttime scenery pass by the window. He turned his head and looked at Tensei with a slight smile.

"Pretty busy, as always. It's been a bit hectic lately, and with my recent job at UA, it's more tiring," Zuko replied with a tired smile, making Tensei worry. He was about to suggest postponing the date. "But I'm glad we finally have this night for ourselves."

Tensei nodded, feeling a bit relieved to hear Zuko's relaxed tone and knowing he wasn't the only one.

"Yeah, me too. I've been looking forward to this all week," Tensei murmured, trying to keep the conversation light.

Zuko blushed at that, adjusting in his seat for the fifth time, crossing his legs.

"Are you nervous?" Zuko suddenly asked, his eyes fixed on Tensei, who let out a nervous laugh.

"Is it that obvious?" Tensei admitted, a blush spreading across his face.

"Just a little. But don't worry, I am too. It's normal, right?" Zuko responded, smiling more broadly, trying to reassure Tensei.

Tensei nodded, feeling a bit more relaxed with Zuko's confession.

"Yeah, I guess so. It's just that... I want everything to be perfect tonight," Tensei confessed, his hands gripping the steering wheel.

Zuko extended a hand and gently placed it over Tensei's.

"Don't worry so much. The important thing is that we're together. That's what really matters," Zuko reassured him, his voice full of sincerity.

Tensei looked at Zuko's hand over his and felt a wave of calm wash over him.

"You're right. Thanks, Zuko," Tensei thanked him, smiling.

The rest of the trip passed in more relaxed conversation, talking about their plans for the night and reminiscing about funny moments with the kids. The initial tension dissipated, giving way to an atmosphere of camaraderie and anticipation.

-----------------Fire-----------------

Tensei's car came to a smooth stop in front of an elegant restaurant in downtown Musutafu. The warm lights and sophisticated decor of the place created a cozy and romantic atmosphere. Tensei turned off the engine, and they both got out of the car.

"This place looks incredible, but you didn't have to bring me to such an expensive restaurant," Zuko commented, looking around with a mix of admiration and concern.

"I wanted it to be special," Tensei replied, smiling as they headed to the entrance.

A host greeted them with a smile, and after Tensei gave his name and mentioned he had a reservation, a waiter was called to lead them to a table by a window, from which they could see the illuminated city. Tensei and Zuko sat down, and the waiter handed them the menus before leaving.

"The view is spectacular," Zuko murmured, observing the city lights.

"Yeah, I thought you'd like it," Tensei responded, feeling more relaxed now that they were both in the restaurant.

They both started looking through the menus, which offered a variety of traditional and international dishes. After a few minutes, the waiter returned to take their orders.

"Have you decided what you'd like to order?" the waiter asked with a smile.

"Yes, I think so. I'll have the tuna and salmon sushi and a cup of sake," Tensei ordered with a kind smile.

"And I'll have the miso pork ramen and green tea," Zuko added, setting the menu aside.

The waiter took note of their orders and left, leaving them alone again.

"So, how has work been lately?" Tensei asked, picking up the conversation.

Zuko sighed and leaned back in his chair.

"It's been pretty intense, but I'm managing. The extra money is good for the kids," Zuko responded, recalling the children's smiles. "Now I can take them anywhere, and the protection is very welcome, even though I still hate the method Nezu used."

"Yeah, I understand. Sometimes it's tough, but I think we're doing a good job trying," Tensei congratulated him, looking into his eyes.

The conversation continued to flow naturally, with both sharing anecdotes and laughs. The food arrived, and they enjoyed every bite, appreciating not only the delicious dinner but also each other's company.

-----------------Fire-----------------

With dinner finished and the bill paid, Tensei and Zuko got up from the table, thanking the restaurant staff for the excellent food and service. They left the restaurant and were greeted by the cool evening breeze.

"Would you like to take a walk before heading back?" Tensei asked, looking at Zuko with a smile.

"I'd love to," Zuko replied, nodding.

They walked through the illuminated streets of Musutafu, enjoying the tranquility of the night. The conversation flowed naturally, talking about their dreams, aspirations, and memories with the kids. Each step they took seemed to bring them closer.

They arrived at a small park with a pond in the center. The city lights reflected in the water, creating a magical atmosphere. They sat on a nearby bench, watching the stars' reflection in the pond.

"Thank you for tonight, Tensei. I really needed this," Zuko said, breaking the silence.

"Me too. It's been an incredible night," Tensei replied, looking into his eyes.

There was a moment of silence, filled with a tacit connection. Tensei took a deep breath and decided to seize the moment.

"Zuko, there's something I've wanted to tell you for a long time," Tensei said, his voice trembling slightly.

"What is it, Tensei?" Zuko asked, looking at him with curiosity and a bit of concern.

"I... I love you. Not just as a friend, but in a deeper way. Tonight has been special because I'm with you, and I want you to know how I feel," Tensei confessed, feeling his heart pound as he gently held Zuko's hands, feeling the warmth that always accompanied him.

Zuko was silent for a moment, processing Tensei's words. Then, a warm smile spread across his face.

"Tensei, I love you too. I've felt the same for a long time. I was so focused on the kids that I didn't know how to tell you," Zuko responded, squeezing Tensei's hand.

They both looked into each other's eyes, feeling a mix of relief and happiness. The night continued with them talking and laughing, enjoying each other's company and the new chapter they were beginning together.

-----------------Fire-----------------

After their walk through the park, Tensei and Zuko returned to the car and headed back to Zuko's apartment. The conversation remained light and filled with laughter, both enjoying each other's company.

When they arrived at the apartment building, Tensei turned off the engine and turned to Zuko.

"Thank you for tonight, Tensei. It was perfect," Zuko said, smiling.

"I'm glad you liked it. I enjoyed it a lot too," Tensei responded, feeling a mix of nerves and excitement.

There was a moment of silence, and then Tensei leaned forward, his eyes fixed on Zuko's. Gently, he gave him a goodnight kiss, a gesture full of tenderness and promises.

"Good night, Zuko," Tensei whispered.

"Good night, Tensei," Zuko replied, smiling before getting out of the car and heading to his apartment.

-----------------Fire-----------------

The next two weeks flew by, with Tensei and Zuko spending more and more time together. Their feelings deepened, and their relationship blossomed. They were now officially a couple, enjoying every moment they shared.

The kids were genuinely happy with the progress, as they adored Tensei and were thrilled to see the person who had saved them being happy and loved. But just as Zuko was protective of them, they were protective of Zuko. One night, while Tensei waited for Zuko for their fifth date, Fuyumi, Natsuo, and Touya cornered Tensei in the living room while Zuko was being distracted by Shouto and Izumi.

The three older kids, although they cared a lot for Tensei, cared more for Zuko, so they threatened him if he ever hurt their father or made him cry.

"Well, Zuko has taught us how to use weapons and hide a body," they said in serious voices, each finishing the other's sentence.

Tensei, of course, got a bit scared, knowing that what they said was true, and assured them he would never hurt Zuko.

They left him with clear threats but acted sweet and innocent as Zuko came out, ready for his date. Seeing the mischievous faces of the three kids and Tensei's pale face, Zuko narrowed his eyes.

"Is there something I should know?" Zuko asked, crossing his arms warily, but the kids just shook their heads, and at Tensei's insistence, he decided to let it go.

He said goodbye to his kids with hugs and kisses on the forehead, much to Natsuo and Touya's displeasure, and then left with Tensei. Inko was in charge of them, and they had permission to go out as long as they were careful.

Their date that night was spectacular and serene, like the others. They strolled through the park illuminated by city lights, enjoyed dinner at a cozy restaurant, and shared laughs and confidences. At the end of the night, Tensei gave Zuko a small gift—tickets to the upcoming Comic Con, which would take place the following week.

"It's a gift for you and the kids," Tensei said with a smile.

"Thank you, Tensei! This means a lot to us," Zuko exclaimed, surprised and excited.

Tensei smiled with joy at Zuko's enthusiasm, and they continued their date, laughing and having a great time.

-----------------Fire-----------------

That night, while everyone in the apartment slept peacefully, Zuko tossed and turned in his bed, restless. Sweat ran down his forehead as pain and anxiety gnawed at his sleeping mind.

Subconsciously, he furrowed his brow as fragmented memories invaded his mind.

"Lu Ten is dead..."

"Father is going to kill you..."

"Azula always lies..."

"Where is mom?"

"I don't know, she just disappeared..."

"I'm sorry, Father, I only wanted the best for the kingdom..."

"Get up and fight, Prince Zuko."

"I am your loyal son..."

"YOU WILL LEARN RESPECT AND PAIN WILL BE YOUR TEACHER."

"Ahh!!" Zuko silently screamed as he woke up, drenched in sweat, tears streaming down his cheeks.

"It was just a nightmare. Nothing is real..." Zuko murmured, hugging his legs. "Just a nightmare."

-----------------Fire-----------------

The next morning, Zuko woke up more tired than usual. It was Saturday, so he could take the day off. The kids would be at school, and he would have time to process the dream without worrying them. So after they left, he simply let his smile drop and lay down on the couch to rest for a while.

Apparently, he was more tired than usual because he slept almost the entire day. The kids had already come back and were in the living room, sitting in different spots, watching a movie at a low volume.

"How did you sleep?" Fuyumi asked quietly, seeing him awake.

"I slept well," Zuko replied, but he showed no signs of getting up to sit down. He just lay there watching the movie. "I think I was more tired than I thought."

"Nightmare?" Fuyumi asked, tilting her head.

"Yes, mostly voices," Zuko replied indifferently, not wanting to worry them. "But I don't want to talk about that. How was school?"

"It went well," Fuyumi replied with a smile. "We didn't do much."

"I'm glad to hear that," Zuko commented with a smile.

And as if it were a switch, the three kids who were lying on the floor on blankets and pillows started fighting over the remote control, as the movie had ended, and they each wanted to pick a different movie.

And accidentally, they switched to a news channel that was broadcasting rather shocking news.

"Is Endeavor getting divorced?"

Chapter Text

The day of Comic Con arrived quickly. Zuko and his children, along with Shouto's friends, were on a train that, except for a few people, was almost empty.

Touya, Natsuo, and Fuyumi's friends were already waiting for them at the convention, having arrived early.

The three younger kids talked excitedly about what they would see at Comic Con, their voices filled with enthusiasm and anticipation.

Meanwhile, the three older kids approached Zuko, who was carrying a sleepy Izumi in his arms.

Curiously, they began asking him questions about his recent relationship with Tensei, making Zuko blush with embarrassment.

"Dad, is it true that you and Tensei have made your relationship official?" Fuyumi asked, with a mischievous smile.

"Yes, dad, tell us more," added Natsuo, his eyes shining with curiosity and wanting to know if Tensei treated him well.

Touya, though more reserved, also looked at Zuko expecting an answer, but for a different reason—he wanted to know that Tensei was as good a partner as he was a person. He didn't want Zuko to suffer like their mother did.

Zuko tried to change the subject, though without much success.

"Well, kids, aren't you excited for Comic Con? I've heard there will be lots of incredible cosplayers and interesting panels," Zuko said with a red face, trying to divert attention from his recent relationship.

But before the three older kids could complain about the change of topic, the train stopped abruptly, scaring everyone.

Izumi woke up crying, and Zuko quickly comforted her, while the others looked around, trying to understand what had happened.

"What was that?" Shouto asked, his eyes wide open.

"I don't know, but everyone stay calm," Zuko ordered calmly, trying not to scare them.

Looking out the window, Zuko and the kids realized with horror that there was a battle between villains and heroes on the train tracks.

Chaos reigned as the heroes tried to stop the villains causing havoc.

"This can't be good," Zuko murmured with concern to himself.

Zuko looked around for a way to escape or something to break the glass, knowing that the train was designed to withstand any type of Quirk.

But before he could think of something, the bridge where the train was began to wobble, and part of the train tilted to one side, hanging dangerously off the bridge.

Everyone fell against the train wall, and the kids, along with the three civilians there, began to panic and kick the window glass to break it.

"Dad, what's happening?" Shouto screamed, clinging to his seat, desperate.

"Stay calm!" Zuko ordered calmly as he looked for a solution, holding a scared and crying Izumi.

Worried about the situation and the kids, Zuko pulled out his phone and tried to call Tensei, who answered quickly.

"Zuko?" Tensei asked, though his voice sounded somewhat agitated. "What's happening?"

"Tensei! We're on the Tōkaidō Shinkansen tracks, and the train is hanging off the bridge," Zuko explained, his voice trembling, not for his safety, but for the kids'. "There's a battle between villains and heroes on the tracks. We need help!"

"Stay calm," Tensei responded, worried. "I'll try to get there as quickly as possible."

Before Zuko could say anything else, a loud, horrible crack was heard, and soon they felt like they were floating.

"Zuko? What's happening?! Zuko?!" Tensei exclaimed with concern. Soon the call was cut off, and Zuko lost consciousness when his head hit a metal tube.

-----------------Fire-----------------

When he woke up, everything was dark. The children were crying, and he felt something shaking him forcefully.

"Oto-san... oto-san, wake up," Fuyumi sobbed as she shook him. Natsuo and Touya were trying to calm the younger ones, who were crying desperately.

"I'm fine, Fuyumi," Zuko said as he stood up, momentarily forgetting her name.

"We were worried," Fuyumi sobbed, wiping her nose forcefully. "You weren't waking up."

"I'm sorry," Zuko said as he hugged her, then hugged the others when they joined in. "I'll find a way out, I promise."

"At least we're not in the middle of the villain fight anymore," Touya said, pointing to the window. "The train sank; we're probably at the bottom of the river."

"Damn," Zuko murmured as he looked out the window, then looked at the other passengers, only to discover with horror that they were dead. "Stay calm, we need to conserve oxygen while we wait for rescue."

"And as long as the train doors stay closed, we'll be fine," Natsuo assured them with a trembling smile.

And as if by bad luck, the doors opened slightly at that moment, causing water to rush into the car. With the speed at which it was coming in, it wouldn't take long for the train to fill up.

"Damn it! You had to jinx us, right, Natsuo?" Touya shouted, forgetting the little training he had received from Aizawa. He looked at Zuko with desperation. "Oto-san, we have to get out of here!"

"I know, Tou. We'll find a way out," Zuko responded, looking around for an emergency exit.

"I'm going to do something a bit dangerous," Zuko told the kids as he tore a piece of his shirt and used it to tie each child together. "Stay together and don't let go."

"What are you going to do?" Touya asked, grabbing his arm tightly. "Zuko?"

"I'm going to try to melt the glass with my fire," Zuko explained, squeezing Touya's arm tightly.

"Let me help you," Touya said desperately, wanting to assist him.

"No... your duty is to take care of them in case something goes wrong," Zuko refused, grabbing Touya's shoulder. "I'll ask Fuyumi to create an ice shield to protect you from the force of the water."

"But Zuko," Touya complained desperately, "what about you? I can't leave you."

"TOUYAAA!!!" Zuko shouted in a tone he had never used before, scaring Touya. "There's no time, the water is rising. I can't melt the glass and put you in danger. Please... stay."

Reluctantly, the older boy nodded and went to his siblings in the corner where they were all huddled. With one last look, Fuyumi created an ice dome around them.

"I love you," Zuko whispered as he placed a hand on the dome, then moved away and approached the window farthest from the children. Using his "Quirk," he began to heat the glass.

After half an hour, the glass shattered with great force. Water flooded the car, and Zuko crashed into a railing, hitting his head and losing consciousness again.

-----------------Fire-----------------

The children watched as the water crashed against the ice dome, all of them sobbing.

They waited for a while, and Touya decided to ignore Zuko's orders and began to melt the dome.

"What are you doing?" Natsuo asked, grabbing his brother's wrist.

"If we don't do something, he's going to drown," Touya explained, tears streaming down his cheeks. "When I melt the ice, swim as fast as you can to the surface. I'll take care of Zuko."

The others nodded in agreement, even Natsuo, as he didn't want to lose the only person he considered a father.

"One... Two... Three..." Touya exclaimed and then melted the ice. The water surrounded them, but it was gentler than what Zuko faced.

While they swam out, Touya approached Zuko, who was floating unconscious at the ceiling. With adrenaline pumping through his veins, Touya took Zuko's hand and started swimming to the surface, though it was a bit difficult as Zuko was heavy.

Suddenly, he saw Natsuo taking Zuko's other hand and Fuyumi below them, creating an ice platform that carried them faster to the surface.

They managed to bring Zuko to the shore where the younger kids were being warmed by Shouto, staring in terror at Zuko's motionless body.

"He's not breathing," Fuyumi murmured in terror, looking at Zuko's pale face.

"No, no, no, no, no," Natsuo wailed in desperation, clutching his hair in fear. He then looked around, screaming for help, along with Fuyumi and the other kids.

Soon, Touya remembered something from his training with Aizawa and approached Zuko to perform CPR quickly while sobbing. It took a few long minutes, which felt like hours, but soon Zuko began to breathe on his own.

"Oh, thank Agni," Fuyumi exclaimed, unconsciously using a phrase Zuko always used. "Thank you."

"He'll be fine," Touya murmured, sobbing hard as he hugged Zuko. "But he'll need a doctor."

"But where are we?" Shouto asked, looking around.

"What do you mean, where are we?" Touya exclaimed in desperation, then looked around and turned pale.

"It doesn't look like we're in Musutafu anymore," Izuku said, clenching his hands in worry.

After making Zuko breathe, everyone realized the shore was strange.

The rocks were irregular and sharp, and the surrounding landscape looked nothing like what they knew. There were no buildings, no signs of the city—just a dense forest stretching in all directions.

Touya pulled out his phone, wanting to call Tensei for help, but the screen was cracked.

"Damn it," Touya murmured in terror. "My phone doesn't work."

"Let me try mine," Fuyumi said, pulling out her own phone. After a few moments, she shook her head. "No signal."

"What do we do now?" Tenya asked, his voice trembling with fear and cold.

"The first thing we need to do is keep Zuko warm until we find help, then we'll look for help," Touya explained, taking control of the situation.

Quickly, everyone worked together to create a small shelter for Zuko, who had started shivering.

Izumi was curled up beside him, and Shouto was trying to warm him while the others gathered supplies.

When the shelter was ready, they all huddled against Zuko as Touya made a fire.

Fuyumi had collected water in an ice container and gave it to all the kids.

Natsuo and Touya had gathered some fruits they found, at least those the heroes had taught them were safe for survival in the forest.

But they were somewhat different from what they had been shown.

Dusk had already passed when Zuko woke up. He was a bit disoriented and confused.

Fuyumi gave him some water, and to her concern, he fell asleep again.

None of the older kids had slept well that night, and the younger ones barely slept.

The next day, when they woke up, they were filled with joy and relief to see Zuko already awake and doing his morning katas.

None of them could hide their happiness and jumped on Zuko, who received them with open arms.

"You're okay, you're okay," the three sobbed as they hugged Zuko tightly.

"I'm sorry," Zuko murmured, hugging them. "I'm so sorry."

The other kids also joined the hug, happy that he was alive.

-----------------Fire-----------------

They had to wait a while for Zuko to regain some energy and explain the situation before seeking help.

"Let's walk through the forest," Zuko said, taking a deep breath before standing up, ignoring the children's protests. "Maybe we'll find a signal or someone who can help us."

Reluctantly, the older kids agreed.

With the younger kids following closely, Zuko began to walk towards the forest. The ground was slippery and filled with roots and rocks.

Each step was a challenge, especially for Zuko, who was still somewhat weak. But he knew they couldn't stay by the shore and that they needed to seek help.

"What if we don't find anyone?" Shouto asked, his voice barely a whisper.

"We will," Zuko assured him firmly. "We just have to keep hope."

The forest was dark and mysterious, with tall trees blocking most of the light. The children stayed close to Zuko, their eyes filled with fear and worry.

Zuko was tired, but he couldn't afford to show his own fear and fatigue. He had to be strong for them.

After what felt like an eternity, they reached a clearing in the forest. Zuko stopped, looking up at the sky and noticing that the sun was already setting.

"Let's rest here for a moment," Zuko suggested, seeing how tired they were. "We need to regain our strength."

The children sat on the ground, grateful for the chance to rest.

Zuko remained standing, looking around with concern. He knew they needed to find help, and quickly.

"Zuko?" Fuyumi called, her voice trembling. "Do you think someone will come looking for us?"

Zuko knelt beside her, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Yes. Someone will come," Zuko assured her, though he hoped they really would. "We just have to stick together and be strong."

They decided to camp in the clearing that night so they could get up early and continue their search in the morning.

Chapter Text

The next day, they resumed their walk, and by the time morning passed, it had started to rain lightly.

After walking for hours, Zuko and the kids finally reached a small village.

The houses were modest, and the streets were almost deserted due to the storm. A small memory came to Zuko, but he decided to ignore it because the children were more important.

"This place looks so old," Natsuo commented curiously as he looked around the village.

"It looks outdated," Touya said while looking at each house and cart. "I didn't think these still existed."

"Could they be Amish?" Izuku wondered in amazement, and the others looked at him curiously, waiting for an explanation.

"What?" Natsuo asked, frowning at Izuku.

"Amish are an ethnoreligious Anabaptist group, mainly known for their simple lifestyle, modest and traditional clothing," Tenya explained, adjusting his glasses, which, by some miracle, were still intact.

"And for their resistance to adopting modern conveniences and technologies, such as those related to electricity and Quirks," Izuku continued excitedly. "They are mainly from the United States."

"Oh," Touya responded, still confused about how two eight-year-olds knew all that.

"That's... interesting," Natsuo commented, raising an eyebrow. Fuyumi and Shouto laughed, and Hitoshi looked somewhat bored by it all.

"Either way, let's ask someone," Zuko told them, looking more closely at the village. "Maybe they can help us."

They approached a group of villagers who were sheltering under a roof, talking among themselves and telling dark jokes, which Zuko didn't want the kids to hear, so he told them to stay away.

"Good afternoon," Zuko greeted them, though with some disdain, not knowing where that tone came from. "Could you tell us where we are?"

"Of course, this is Yinglong Village," a man with black hair tied in a half-ponytail explained without looking up.

"Interesting clothes, young man," another man, this time bald and with a few scars on his face, commented.

"Uh... thanks," Zuko thanked him, feeling uncomfortable. "Do you know where Musutafu is? Or is there a hero in this village?"

"What the hell is Musutafu?" a young man with black hair tied in a ribbon asked, lifting his head to look at Zuko, who narrowed his eyes and raised an eyebrow curiously. "You look familiar."

"A hero?" the bald man asked, looking at him curiously. "You must be referring to the war heroes, friends of the Avatar."

"They're on a tour in the neighboring village of Zhenhai, helping with a ghost," the man explained, pointing north, not realizing that Zuko had turned pale upon recognizing the name.

"Avatar?" Zuko murmured in shock, trying to calm the tremor in his voice.

"Yes, the Avatar," the first man said, this time looking at Zuko and frowning as he recognized him. "You're Prince Zuko!"

In an instant, the atmosphere changed. Villagers came out of their houses upon hearing the noise and began murmuring, and soon the murmurs turned into shouts of anger.

"You're not welcome here!"

"Get out!"

"Ash maker!"

"Monster!"

"Demon spawn!"

The fury in the villagers' eyes was palpable, and Zuko felt a rage he had never experienced before.

With a quick movement, he created a huge wall of fire between the villagers and the children who had been at a distance.

"Run!" Zuko shouted, and the children turned and ran back into the forest. They occasionally had to dodge a rock or two and move the younger ones out of the way.

Zuko's heart pounded as they ventured deeper into the forest, looking for shelter. They didn't want to repeat the situation and knew they needed a plan.

After running for a few hours, they climbed up some trees to rest and catch their breath. Fortunately, Zuko's training paid off.

"We need to find a way to get information and supplies," Touya murmured, panting. "Not repeat that situation."

"By the way... why was it?" Natsuo asked curiously, looking at Zuko, who stared at the ground.

"Kids... there's something you need to know," Zuko told them, looking up at them. "Something I just remembered."

-----------------Fire-----------------

After Zuko explained what he had recently remembered about his life, how he was the prince of an enemy nation, how they were in the Earth Kingdom, how he had chased the Avatar around the world, almost killing him, and betrayed his uncle in Ba Sing Se, and how he ended up in Musutafu.

"Wow, just when I thought you couldn't get more interesting, you come up with these things," Touya murmured, running his hands through his hair.

"Can we talk about these details later, you know? When we're home," Natsuo exclaimed, pulling at his hair. "We need to find a way to get back."

"Natsuo is right," Touya commented, looking at everyone. The younger kids began to doze off a bit.

"We could go," Fuyumi suggested with a smile, pointing to herself and her siblings. "The older ones, we could go to the villages and find what we need. We're just more people in the place."

"I'm not going to put you in danger," Zuko refused, shaking his head. "It's too risky."

"But Zuko," Natsuo insisted desperately. "We don't have another option. We need help, and we can't do it alone."

"Okay. But be very careful," Zuko reluctantly agreed, then looked at the children. "I don't want anything to happen to you."

"Yes, sir," the three said at the same time.

Then, as they watched the fire crackle, Izuku raised his head with a smile.

"If you're a prince and they're your children," Izuku commented, looking at the Himura family, who were looking at him curiously, "that means they're also royalty."

"I'm not sure it works that way," Tenya said, adjusting his glasses.

"I say it does," Natsuo exclaimed with a smile, standing up and bowing. "Bow before me, peasant."

"Oh, where is my knight in shining armor?" Fuyumi said with a smile, tilting her head.

"Who would be the crown prince?" Hitoshi asked, as he liked to watch the world burn, like his father.

"It's me," Shouto exclaimed with a smile, then grimaced when Touya put his arm on his head.

"No way, little brother, that's me since I'm the oldest," Touya teased with a smile.

"No way, it's me because I'm a girl," Fuyumi replied with a smile.

"I'd prefer to be an ambassador, thanks... less work," Natsuo said, not getting into the fight.

"Also, hypothetically speaking, the crown princess would be Izumi since she's his biological daughter, and naturally, they always valued blood more," Tenya rigidly said, looking at the three kids who had lost the excitement of the game.

"What a way to kill diversity, huh," Touya complained, crossing his arms in annoyance, not feeling offended because he knew it was true... and he didn't care. Zuko loved them regardless, and they loved him the same way.

None of them cared about being actual princes or princesses; they just wanted to get home to their family and friends. That was what mattered.

"Everyone, salute King Zuko and Crown Princess Izumi," Izuku exclaimed with a smile, wanting to kill the tension Tenya had inadvertently created. "Ambassador Natsuo, Duchess Fuyumi, Captain Touya, and Counselor Shouto."

Soon the fun returned to the small camp, and the children began to play and run around briefly.

It was a night free of tension and full of joy.

-----------------Fire-----------------

The next morning, Zuko watched with great concern and pride as the older kids headed to the village to find more information or simply buy things.

While they waited, Zuko lit a campfire to keep the younger kids warm and looked for something to eat.

The children gathered around the fire and gratefully received the fruit, thankful for the warmth and food—a small consolation in this whole situation.

While they waited, Shouto asked Zuko to tell them an interesting story from his Kingdom.

Although he initially didn't want to, the other children joined in and convinced him.

So he agreed and told them the story of Avatar Kyoshi and her origin.

The tranquility of the story was interrupted halfway through when suddenly a group of hooded figures surrounded Zuko and the children.

Zuko quickly stopped and faced the threat, finding himself surrounded by five women in black cloaks and white masks.

"Zuzu, I didn't expect to see you like this," the leader mocked, removing her mask and revealing a cruel smile. "I thought Father had finally gotten rid of you."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Zuko mocked, taking a fighting stance.

"I'll handle him, you take the kids. They will serve us later," the leader ordered with a cruel smile, putting her mask back on.

"Over my dead body," Zuko growled, glaring at her with fury.

"It will be a pleasure," the leader mocked, letting out a deranged laugh.

The air was charged with tension, and the heat of the flames began to form around them.

The children—Izumi, Izuku, Shouto, Tenya, and Shinsou—stayed behind him, their eyes filled with fear and confusion. Tenya was the one who reacted quickly and ran for help, knowing that Zuko couldn't fight alone, hoping he could get there in time.

"I won't let you take them!" Zuko shouted, his voice resonating with determination. With a quick movement, he launched a burst of fire at the women, forcing them to retreat momentarily.

The firebenders responded in unison, launching columns of fire that Zuko barely managed to dodge.

The leader of the group, a woman with an imposing presence, attacked with a combination of fire and lightning, forcing Zuko to retreat. He fought with all his might, his movements quick and precise, but the firebenders were relentless.

Every time he managed to repel one attack, another came his way. Despite his bravery, Zuko knew he was at a disadvantage.

"Run!" Zuko shouted to the children, but they were paralyzed by fear, including Shouto, who wanted to use his Quirk to defend himself and his friends but was frozen by fear.

In a desperate attempt to protect them, Zuko launched a massive wave of fire, creating a momentary barrier between the firebenders and the children.

However, the leader took advantage of his distraction and launched a blue fireball directly at Zuko, hitting him in the chest and leaving him breathless.

With one last effort, Zuko tried to get up, but the leader knocked him out with a precise blow to the back of the neck. As he fell to the ground, he watched in horror and helplessness as the women took the children.

Annoyed at losing two children, the leader and her group disappeared into the darkness of the forest, taking the children with them.

Zuko, unconscious and heartbroken, lay on the ground, unable to protect those he loved

-----------------Fire-----------------

When Zuko woke up, he felt a hand shaking his shoulder. It was Fuyumi, who had arrived as quickly as she could after Tenya explained the attack.

"Zuko, wake up," Fuyumi urged, her voice filled with urgency.

Zuko slowly sat up, his head still spinning. He looked around, and his heart sank when he realized the children were gone.

Tears began to stream down his face as he blamed himself for not being able to protect them.

"It's my fault," Zuko murmured, his voice breaking with pain. "I couldn't protect them."

"What happened?" Fuyumi asked, tears running down her cheeks.

"Where are Shouto and his friends?" Natsuo asked, looking around for the children.

"Tenya said you were in trouble," Touya said, clenching his fists in anger. "Zuko?"

Zuko told them what had happened—the fight, the words of the girl, and the memory that she seemed to be his sister. Natsuo and Touya, the most expressive, exploded with rage.

"How could you, Zuko? You were supposed to protect them!" Touya exclaimed angrily, his voice firm. "How did you let them get kidnapped? This is your fault! You hurt a lot of people, and now they're taking it out on us!"

"Touya," Fuyumi reprimanded, unable to believe her brother's words.

"Touya is right, Fuyumi. This is his fault! He trusted you, Zuko!" Natsuo cried, tears in his eyes. "We all trusted you!"

"Natsuo," Tenya scolded, standing next to Zuko. "It's not his fault; he did what he could."

"But it wasn't enough. Shouto is gone. We're trapped in a world where we can die, and we can't ask for help because everyone hates Zuko," Touya shouted, worried about his brother and friends, taking it out on Zuko, who said nothing.

Zuko looked up, his golden eyes filled with guilt and pain. He knew there was no excuse for what had happened, but the words stuck in his throat.

Before he could finish, Touya stepped forward, his face a mix of anger and desperation.

"Touya, Natsuo, please calm down," Fuyumi said with a calm but trembling voice. "Zuko is already suffering because of this. We need to find a solution, not fight amongst ourselves."

Touya took a deep breath, trying to control his anger, while Natsuo sobbed softly. Fuyumi turned to Zuko, her eyes filled with understanding.

That night, the five of them slept separately—Natsuo and Touya on one side, and Fuyumi, Zuko, and Tenya on the other.

The two boys felt guilty for their outburst, but they couldn't find the courage to apologize.