"So have you always lived here Hama?" Zuko asked as he helped her in the kitchen, he cut up some herbs to make tea like uncle taught him.

"Why?" Hama asked almost defensive in a way.

"Oh uh- sorry I was just trying to make conversation," he pursed his lips looking down.

"Sorry dear, I don't like talking about my past to strangers," she sighed a little shaking her head.

"What kind of tea is that dear?" She smiled covering up the hostility.

"My uncle calls it the west dragon, he made it himself," Zuko gulped a little.

"Your uncle? Where is he?" Hama looked at him confused.

"He's in prison," Zuko looked down.

"Oh.. that's awful," Hama huffed a little. The things these kids say.

"Have you ever heard of the southern raiders lee?" Hama asked as Zuko scrapped the herbs into the tea pot and used rocks to set a fire for the tea.

"I think I read a book before, started about ten years after the war began when the fire nation stopped looking for air nomads," Zuko nodded remembering his history books.

"You're smart, what else do you know?" Hama set her hand over zukos as he froze.

"I just read a lot," Zuko gulped.

"Do you know much on the fire nation royalty history?" Hama asked and Zuko looked at her frowning.

"Like fire lord sozin?" He asked calmly. Her touch was cold.

"And so on," she hummed.

"I'm sorry I don't know what your asking," Zuko shrugged a little.

"Would you please get your sister? It's supper time," Hama smiled brightly up at him like nothing happened.

——

"We're leaving tonight," Zuko told his sister when she walked into his room after dinner.

"Zuko you remember what Hama said, somethings not right in those woods," Azula crossed her arms.

"It's ghost story's, Somethings not right with this whole town," Zuko rolled his eyes.

"I would think you'd be on board," he raised an eye brow.

"She reminds me of a grandmother if we had one," she shrugged.

"She was being really weird during dinner, we won't be coming back anyways," Zuko sighed as azula sat on the bed with him.

"I'm over it, but when we get money I want to go shopping, it's kind of nice," she finally gave in.

"We're a team, no secrets or back stabbing anymore," Zuko wrapped an arm around her small shoulders smirking. "We'll do some sibling stuff when we have money,"

"Your right about the creepiness everywhere here but I did like the attention and a hot meal, it was nice," Azula sighed leaning her head against his shoulder not realizing it.

"True, but when this war is over, we get the palace again, uncle can be freed, we can find your friends," he explained and Azula smiled up at him.

"Yea... you think we'll get to go home?" Azula smiled relaxed against her brother.

"Depends on who wins but hopefully yea," he smirked back. It was weird sharing affection to his demonic sister.

"Do you think uncle hates me?" She asked as well.

"He probably hates both of us," Zuko rested his chin on her head and azula snorted.

"Yea, I did shoot fire at him," Azula smiled a little.

"And I betrayed his trust," he added on.

"I've tried putting him in prison twice but only succeeded once,"

"This is not a great list, uncle hates us," Zuko rubbed her arm as azula laughed softly.

Zuko looked down at his little sister and smiled seeing so much of his mother in Azula, the confidence, even physical features, it scared him before when they hated each other.

"Come here, you miss her too," Zuko wrapped his other arm around her and Azula stiffened as she has never been actually hugged in a very long time. She slowly wrapped her arms under his shoulders and smiled. He was her only actual family that loved her, who knew it would've been her brother.

"Let's go," Azula smiled up at him and Zuko kissed her forehead. She paused for a moment and smiled more.

"See, not so bad to have family," Zuko smirked.

"When did you get soft? Affection? Gross," Azula giggled getting up and shoved Zuko back.

"Your the worst," she stuck her tongue out.

"Don't hide it demon, you like the attention," Zuko followed her as it was getting later in the night.

"I like attention, just not from you Zuzu, more of peasants and servants," she flicked blue fire at him and Zuko rolled his eyes waving it away.

"I thought your name was lee and Bonnie," Hama stood at the door making them jump. Azula gasped turning to the old woman as Zuko was already was at his feet.

"I knew it, your royal fire benders!" She snarled.

"What are you talking about?" Zuko saw rage in her cold eyes as he stepped in front of Azula.

"Your soldiers killed my people!" She growled at him.

"I almost died cause of your nation!" She reached out at Zuko.

Azula put her arms up to block anything, not knowing what was thrown at them but there was no impact. She heard Zuko cry out in pain as he was forced to his knees.

Azula gasped when Zuko was frozen as he seemed to have no control over his body. He was trembling.

"Azula run!"

"Zuko!" She was about to help him but Hama seemed to control his body and slammed him on the ground knocking the prince out.

"What are you?" Azula glared at the old woman.

"A water bender," Hama smiled cruely at her.

Azula sneered and punched blue fire at the old woman but screamed when her wrist was turned in a different direction and she looked at Hama with horror.

Then it went black.