Chapter Text
One year.
Zuko had been crowned Firelord one year ago, had been managing the Fire Nation for a complete year.
There had been some sort of peace formed with the other Nations, and Zuko had finally some time for himself. Time to do things he hadn’t had the time for before.
His biggest headache was the Council of Nobles, most of them were only after their own privileges and wealth, and he was searching for fitting successors.
And so, he had an idea, which included both. Someone who could perhaps be a new Councillor, and something that had been lingering on his mind for too long.
Sela and Lee.
Yes, he was aware they were Earth Kingdom. But, that place had once been a colony of the Fire Nation, so technically seen they were once part of the Fire Nation, and were allowed to serve the Firelord as a Councillor.
Or he would just change some laws if some people were bothered.
Zuko had prepared himself and some guards for the trip to the village where he hoped they still lived. Otherwise he just had to send some spies to find out where they did live. as Firelord he had a lot of options. Much more than as a refugee.
Surrounded by guards, Zuko arrived in the village. Villagers dropped to their knees, seeing the formal robes of the Firelord. They were scared for their lives. Because why would the Firelord himself be here?
Zuko looked around, his eye searching for the familiar faces. Well, not that he could see faces when all of them were pointed towards the sand beneath. His gaze stopped at the bar where he had met Lee for the first time.
There they were. Both grovelling into the sand. Fear etched into the parts of the faces he could see from where he was standing. He gave a sign to his guards, and they stepped aside. Firelord Zuko calmly walked towards the kneeling two. Unexpectedly for anyone looking, he crouched down, gently placing his hand onto the shoulder of the still little boy.
“Lee?” He asked softly, careful not to scare the boy. He had seen him scared before, and he did not like that.
Slowly the little boy looked up, thinking it perhaps was a guard, but he was met with the formal robes and the crown of the Firelord himself. Not even seeing the face, knowing thinking it was Ozai, not even seeing the face, Lee pressed himself against the floor, kneeling as deep as he could, backing away from Zuko’s touch. Tears sprung into the eyes of the little boy.
Zuko froze. Flashbacks flashed before his eye.
The agni kai.
He, begging his father the Firelord. Pleading for mercy. Stating he was a loyal son, and he would serve the Fire Nation and its Firelord.
He felt the hand on his face, his own subconsciously touching the scar.
He blinked it away quickly. This was not the time.
Why did Lee act like that? Of course, his servants acted like this at the beginning of his reign, but that faded over time as he did not punish them.
Wait.
“Guards. Does any of you know how much this village is connected to the surrounding world?” His guards froze, taken aback by the sudden question.
“Badly, Your Majesty. Not much information comes through.” One of the guards answered. Zuko slowly nodded.
So that is what is probably happening.
They all think he is his father Ozai.
“Lee, stand up.” Zuko thought the best way to let him listen in this situation was to gently order him.
Lee obeyed, his hands shaking violently. Again a flashback. His head was still pointed to the floor.
The little boy was beginning to question why the Firelord knew his name. And that that probably wasn’t something positive.
He was convinced he was going to get executed.
Silent, body-trembling sobs escaped him.
Zuko felt his heart breaking.
“Lee, please, look me in the eyes.” Not that he had eyes, not plural, but that didn’t matter right now.
Lee silently obeyed, his body still trembling. He looked Zuko in the eyes, and froze when he saw the familiar scar.
Firelord Zuko gently grabbed the hands of the little boy.
“L-Li?” Lee stuttered. “W-Wait, n-no. That-That wasn’t your name. Not your true name. It-It was Zuko, right? Prince-Prince Zuko.”
Prince Zuko.
His suspicions were right. This village did not know his father Ozai was defeated and he had taken the throne.
Zuko gently guided the little boy to sit on the floor. Not caring about the filthy ground staining his formal robes, he himself sat down too.
“Please calm down, Lee. It is alright. Breathe in and breathe out.”
The rest of the town was getting confused, not understanding what the Firelord was doing. They all weren’t able to see his face, only his back, and could not see it wasn’t Ozai.
Because the two of them looked almost alike except the scar.
“I-I apologise for whatever my son has wronged you, Your Majesty. Please, please, he’s just a little boy. He is not even an adult… please. Spare him, t-take me, Your Majesty. Please. Show mercy on him. Take me instead.” Sela begged, tears streaming down her bowed face. She had not looked up. Had not seen he wasn’t his father, he wasn’t Ozai.
“Sela, Lee. May I talk to you two in private?” Sela froze, not knowing why the Firelord knew her name, but of course, she obeyed. Anything to let her son live.
Anything.
Firelord Zuko felt jealousy, although he knew it was misplaced. His parent tried to kill him, meanwhile this parent is ready to sacrifice herself for her son.
“Oh, and I’m not going to hurt your son, Sela. I only want to talk.”
Sela did not believe this, coming from a Firelord, but she still brought him to her home. Not that she had much of a choice, this was the Firelord. Their conqueror. The one who had taken this village in their colonies.
Zuko gave his guards a silent sign, telling them to stay here and not to follow him. One of the guards seemed to refuse, wanting to keep protecting the Firelord, but one look from Zuko and that was solved. He followed the mother and her son. To their home.