Humming echoed around the room, a foreign tune the woman had made out on the spot as she stood in front of a mirror, fixing her hair into a half-bun. The morning rays of the sun slipped in the room through the crack of the curtains, spots of light appearing all around the space, a rainbow forming against the wall from the light directed there through her sword that was left unseathed on the floor. It was a peaceful morning and Homura had for once woken up in a pleasant mood.
A knock on her door was heard and she stopped humming. "Come in."
The door opened and she couldn't help but smile as Zuko peered inside before walking in fully. He closed the door and crossed the space between them.
"What are you doing here?" she asked softly as she fixed her hair and turned to face him, standing up slowly as he came to a stop in front of her, taking in her appearance.
"I finished early and decided to come by," he admitted. "Are you going somewhere?"
"Ty Lee suggested we took a walk around the gardens. We're supposed to meet by the pond with the turtle ducks in a while."
He hummed in response as he sent her a small smile that had her heart beating faster. "You wouldn't mind being late for a while, would you?"
Her cheeks gained colour at once as she looked away. "Well, I kind of would-"
"Can I change your mind?"
She was certain by now her whole face was a not so complimentary tone of scarlet but Zuko didn't really give her a moment to reply as he leaned in and kissed her. It was useless fighting him, and Homura didn't even try. Her eyes slowly fluttered closed as she kissed him back, her hands moving from his shoulders over to his neck, a hand tangled in the back of his hair as his own hands moved to her waist, pulling her closer.
She was the first to pull back, her breath heavy. She rested her head against his shoulder, needing to take a moment to calm herself down. She could feel Zuko laughing slightly and it brought her to smile.
"Stop it," she whined as she looked up at him, her eyes narrowed in a playful manner. "Are you making fun of me?"
"Considering that's all it took to get you breathless, yes, I am."
She scoffed as she let her hands fall from his neck and attempted to shove him. Before her hands could make contact with his chest, though, he grabbed her wrists, an eyebrow raising in mock challenge. She huffed.
"I think I prefer it when you're being moody."
"That's harsh."
She couldn't help but smile as she looked up at him and with no hesitation, reached up and pecked his lips. She had hardly pulled back though when he pressed his lips against hers once more, and like the previous time, she melted against him, her meeting with Ty Lee almost gone from her mind. Almost.
"Zuko," she murmured as he pulled back slightly, his forehead resting against hers. "I've got to go to Ty Lee."
"Stay for just a while longer."
"Zuko," she laughed as she looked up at him, her eyes bright. "I hadn't realised you like me that much."
"It's been a while since we last got the chance to spend some time together," he pointed out as she reached up to peck his lips once more.
"I'll make it up to you next time we get to be alone," she murmured against his lips as she walked away.
Zuko sighed, "Fine."
"Would you like to come with me to the pond?"
"Alright."
She sent him a smile as she left the room and he followed behind her. They walked in silence, greeting a few guards and servants that walked past them on their way to the pond. They had hardly crossed half the distance there, though, when Mai and Ty Lee came running towards them.
"There you are!" Ty Lee exclaimed as she came to a stop in front of them. "We've been looking for you all over the palace!"
Homura blinked in confusion. "What for?"
Mai took a small step forward and handed Zuko a piece of parchment. "I'm sorry, Zuko."
He took the piece of parchment and read it at once and the moment he did, he froze. Homura was by his side in a second. "Zuko? What's going on?"
"They've got my family," he murmured as he turned to face her slowly. "It can't be anyone else but those who attempted to kill me at the theatre."
"I found this in your mother's house when I walked by this morning," Mai spoke up, bringing Homura and Zuko to turn to face her. "I thought the house was too quiet so I went inside to investigate. There was no sign of them and I found this."
"What does it say?" Homura asked as she turned to Zuko once more. It was Ty Lee who answered, though.
"We must go in the tunnels underneath the palace without any guards to retrieve them or else."
"It's a trap," Mai pursed her lips, "we should not go. Once we get in the tunnels they'll capture us and it's over. They might not even have your family there."
"You're right," Zuko nodded as he turned to face her. "We are not going. I'm going alone."
"No way," Homura objected at once, "you're not going there without me."
He turned to her. "Not this time. I can handle them on my own, I don't need any casualties."
"There will be casualties if you go alone, Zuko," she burst as she took a step forward, her concern written all over her face. "If you want to face them, I'm going with you."
"So am I," Ty Lee announced.
"It's stupid and careless," Mai scowled slightly, "I'm coming with you."
Zuko narrowed his eyes at them. "You're out of your minds."
"Let's go find your family, Zuko," Homura shook her head, "we can talk about everything later."
"Is everything alright, Fire Lord Zuko?"
Zuko looked up as he noticed the guard coming to a stop nearby. He exchanged a look with Homura before nodding.
"Yes. Everything is fine."
The moment the guard had turned around, he turned to his companions. "Follow me."
Zuko led them right in his study room. He got in first, Mai got in last, closing the door behind her. Zuko moved to one of the bookcases on the side of the room and started moving it to the side. Homura watched in slight awe as a passage was revealed right behind the bookcase. Once it was opened, Zuko got in and they followed after him.
The underground tunnels were like a maze to Homura. If it weren't for Zuko knowing where he was going, she would have gotten lost without a doubt but with Zuko as her guide, they were getting deeper and deeper into the tunnels. Until voices were heard.
Zuko stopped with his back against the wall before peering at the other corridor. Only to jump back as a flame almost burnt his face off. He turned to them, ignoring Homura's wide eyes as he spoke.
"They aren't here."
And then, he jumped in the corridor and started fighting. The fight had hardly began before it was over, and Zuko was straightening up as he turned to face them. "We must be close. Come on."
Homura exchanged a look with Ty Lee as they followed after Zuko. They almost ran across the tunnels before he suddenly stopped and they almost crashed into him. The reason he had stopped became evident a short while later.
They were in a circular dome, it appeared, and in the middle of the dome, was Ursa, her husband and daughter close by. All three of them were tied and Kiyi seemed to have been crying. About a dozen people were around them and Homura could recognise the young noble she had fought in the training grounds and the woman standing behind Zuko's family.
The woman had dark, long hair, tangled almost beyond repair and had eyes that seemed to be on fire. She was just like Homura remembered her, with the difference that the fire in her eyes seemed to have gotten loose and she could no longer control it. Her eyes were glued on her and slowly, a sharp smile formed on her lips.
"It's been a while, Homura."
Her eyes narrowed and her lips pursed, and she could feel Zuko's gaze on the side of her head but didn't say a word as Kiyi looked up and at the sight of them, her eyes lit up. "Zuko! Mum, Zuko's here!"
Ursa lifted her head to look at her son, evidently feeling guilty. Homura understood her guilt.
The guards moved forward, ready to attack, and Homura could feel Ty Lee and Mai get into a defensive stance, ready to fight. Zuko beside her took a step forward.
"Let them go, Chiaki."
Chiaki's smile widened. "I considered a trade. Your throne for your family's safety. But in the end, I realised there was no reason for a trade when it would be so easy and fun to subdue you." Her smile got dangerous. Homura lowered her stance. "Attack."
Zuko had attacked before any of their opponents could and Homura instantly ran over to them, Ty Lee beside her while Mai and Zuko fought from a distance. She approached the first guard and slid beneath his feet, punching him on the side, numbing part of his body before moving on to the other part. She had almost managed to complete her work when she was grabbed and pulled back.
Homura twisted in her opponent's hold as she kicked him with all the strength she could master. He let out a small groan as he let her go and she punched his jaw as hard as she could, once, then twice. He collapsed and she whirled around as she felt heat that could only belong to fire rush her way. She narrowly missed as she faced Akio standing opposite her, his stance lowered. She raised an eyebrow at him, almost mocking him.
"Even after last time, you still want a rematch?"
He smirked. "Things have changed since the last time."
Homura was hit in the back of her head, and dizzy, she fell to the ground. The moment she got over her dizziness she jumped back on her feet, punching the one who had attempted to ambush her as she took a few steps back, only for her back to hit a body. She whirled around at once, ready to attack when she noticed Zuko. A wall of fire formed around them, keeping everyone out. Homura took a moment to look around only to see Ty Lee and Mai were in a tight spot as well. She turned to Zuko.
"What do we do?"
"Get my family out," he murmured as he turned to face her. "I'll give you an opening."
She nodded as she turned to the direction of his family, her jaw set, ready to do as he asked of her. A moment later, an opening was made in the flames as Zuko started attacking and Homura jumped through, reaching his family at once. She looked around, caught sight of one of Mai's daggers close by, and under Zuko's cover, she moved to Ursa first. She had almost cut the ropes when the flames around her were put out.
Homura froze as Zuko's gasp seemed to rebound around the walls, and her head snapped up. Chiaki had him cornered, a dagger of fire beside his neck. Homura didn't even think as she threw the dagger, narrowly scratching her mother's hand.
Her focus was disrupted, the dagger of fire disappeared and Zuko got the chance to fight back but Homura lost her chance. She was dragged back, even though she kicked at anyone close to her and attempted to break free, and in a few seconds, she was subdued, her hands were tied and she was thrown next to Ty Lee and Mai. It didn't take long for Zuko to lose as well.
"I'm sorry," she murmured as he was thrown in front of her. Zuko looked over her, his gaze staying on her for a second before he turned to Ty Lee and then Mai. His eyes finally fell to his family and he turned to Kiyi who was starting to cry again, having no words to console her.
Chiaki came to stand in front of him, clutching her bloody hand as she glared murderously at Homura. "Take them out of here before anyone comes."
Homura was dragged on her feet and pushed to move forward. She followed their instructions with pursed lips, all the while, her mind constructing a plan.