the break room

"My, you're much better at keeping secrets than I thought, Zuzu. Not even the blind one noticed?" "Her name is Toph."

Snippet

"But I'm not sleepy anymore.." Izumi groaned, flopping back against the blanket in true three-year-old fashion. "You are." Zuko rolled his eyes to the ceiling, continuing to dry his hair while Izumi rolled around, mussing up the sheets and blankets. His hair was nearly dry by the time she'd crawled over to him, half-shoving her turtleduck on his lap so its beady eyes could stare pleadingly into his soul. "Baba, play with me?"

"I would greatly appreciate if you cleaned the filth off your hands before thinking of touching my niece."

For three years, Zuko harbored a handful of secrets from everyone - his family, his friends, and even the person who mattered most to him. But after he's found returning in the dead of night, those secrets may begin to spill out one by one, whether he wants them to or not. ( or, zuko is the blue spirit, a father, a brother, a son, a friend, and hopelessly in love all at once )

Snippet

There was something moving underneath his blankets, the shift so subtle that he might not have noticed as his eyes adjusted to the dimness. With a slight step forward and then another, Zuko made his way to the bedside while heat gathered in the palm of his hand waiting to be called upon to spark into flames. Yet, a voice that somewhat sounded like his Uncle's told him to wait, to watch and observe.  Neutral jing. So he stepped closer, and reached out, pinching one end of the blanket and lifting it. His heart stuttered at the sight, and the heat in his palm went cold.  Curled up just shy of his pillow case was a little girl - her arms were tucked under her chin, knees practically folded against her chest and dark hair fanned out beneath her head.