Dinner at Iroh's house seemed for once awkward. Sitting in between Suki and Zuko, Homura almost couldn't believe they were here with her. She found it even harder to believe she had admitted how fond of the Fire Lord she was to his own Uncle. Zuko beside her seemed to be equally as awkward at the thought of his Uncle talking to the woman he liked and telling her all about him. He knew first-hand that it could become embarrassing and his Uncle seemed to enjoy making him embarrassed.
Dinner passed with mainly Suki and Iroh talking and a few pointers were made - like how Homura shouldn't go around singing traditional Fire Nation lullabies in the Lower Ring of Ba Sing Se - and after dinner was over, Homura returned to her home with Suki in tow. The moment they were in the safety of her home, she spoke up.
"I can't believe I didn't recognise the Dragon of the West!"
Suki seemed sympathetic as Homura trudged upstairs. "Well, you didn't see him a few years ago when Kiyi was kidnapped. You've never seen him, actually. You couldn't have known it was him."
"He has an obsession with tea, says wise phrases no one asked to hear, he stays in Ba Sing Se, his eyes are the same as mine!" she burst as she turned to Suki. "How could I have not noticed him?"
Suki only smiled as she got up the stairs as well. "No one expected you to notice him, Homura. He wouldn't have thought anything of you if you weren't so alike to your mother."
She groaned, "Of course he knew Chiaki. What kind of General would he be if he didn't know the best spy in the Fire Nation?"
Suki didn't say a word as she followed after Homura to her room. It was just like the room she had stayed in Iroh's house. Homura's sword was placed in the side against the wall but other than that, nothing else could be seen in the room. Homura sat on the bed and Suki sat on the edge, watching her carefully.
"Are you upset you didn't realise who he was?"
She shook her head, "No, I couldn't have recognised him. I wouldn't have ever thought another Fire Nation citizen would be in Ba Sing Se."
"Are you upset we found you, then?"
She fell silent as she slowly turned to face Suki. She seemed to be waiting for her response patiently, and Homura couldn't bring herself to answer while she was looking at her. With a sigh she turned away and finally, she brought herself to speak.
"I was expecting Zuko to search for me. I didn't know he would let you know as well and I hadn't thought you'd find me that quickly. My life here is peaceful and nothing has happened to make me second guess my decision but no matter how friendly Iroh is and how fun it is to hang around Chin I still miss you. It's not quite the same. Kyoshi...I spent my best years with you in Kyoshi island but I'd never been happier when I returned to the Fire Nation capital. That's home for me. But I need to start over."
"Why can't you start over in the Fire Nation capital?"
She sighed. "What will the people say if they learn the daughter of Ozai's greatest spy, the woman who almost killed their Fire Lord and his family, has come to live among them?"
"Your family has always been loyal to the Fire Lord," she pointed out with a smile, "your mother spent years in prison, she's deranged. No one will associate you with her."
"And what if they do?"
"They'll realise soon enough you're nothing like her," she assured her as she scooted a bit closer. "I don't think you'll be happy in Ba Sing Se, Homura. You said so yourself, the Fire Nation capital is your home and you have friends there. You've Zuko and Mai and even though you might think she doesn't like you, I assure you that's not quite true. After all, she did let you leave the palace."
"But in Ba Sing Se are Chin and Iroh-"
"Iroh is living his dream and you've helped Chin more than anyone else has his whole life," she cut in, "they'll move on as will you. What is there for you in Ba Sing Se other than a job and a little friend? Are they enough to keep you from feeling lonely? We hardly ever visit Ba Sing Se anyway, there are always more chances for us to see each other in the Fire Nation than anywhere else."
"How is that supposed to be a start over?"
"You're finally going to be a citizen of the Fire Nation in your terms, isn't that what you always wanted?"
There was no use lying to herself, Homura realised as she turned to face Suki. She was smiling at her gently as if knowing the struggle she was going through and understanding her decision at the same time. She couldn't help but smile back as well.
"I'm going to miss you so much, Suki."
"I'd be offended if you didn't," she teased as she scooted closer, reaching her side. She pulled her in for a hug Homura didn't bother fighting as she put her arms around her in return and closed her eyes, allowing herself to feel the comfort it brought her to be back in Suki's presence. "And you should keep the Kyoshi warrior armour. It's part of who you are at this point and I want you to have it. Something to remember me by."
"I'd remember you with or without the armour, Suki. It had been a pleasure to fight by your side."
Suki didn't say anything in response, only hugged her tighter.
The next morning Homura woke up at dawn and as she usually did, she got ready to head to the tea shop. She had just left her room and she was about to go down the stairs, though, when she noticed Suki and Zuko downstairs, talking among themselves. Slowly, she got down the stairs.
"Good morning."
Suki and Zuko turned to face her at once. He smiled as he caught sight of her while Suki grinned.
"Good morning! You'll stay here today, I'll take your place at the tea shop. Iroh said you needed a break."
Homura blinked in surprise as she reached the base of the stairs, trying incredibly hard to not look at Zuko. "I don't need a break. I'm fine."
"I wouldn't argue with Iroh," Suki chuckled, already heading to the door. "Have fun!"
And just like that, Zuko and Homura were left alone in the front room of her house.
She had nowhere else to look now and so she succumbed to the temptation to meet his gaze. She took a moment to take in his appearance - green was definitely not his colour - and other than the obvious change in clothing, he was just like the man she had come to know in the Fire Nation. There was a small smile on his lips as he watched her, an intense look in his eyes as he examined her in return. A short while later, he brought himself to speak up.
"I like what you did with your hair."
"I felt like I needed to change my appearance a bit," she admitted as she looked down at her hands. "I'm sorry for leaving like that. You didn't deserve to get only a letter but if I were to say everything to you face to face I would have never managed to leave."
"I understand."
She snapped her head up. "You do?"
"When I left the Fire Nation to look for the Avatar I left behind a letter for Mai. I couldn't have told her because I knew she'd try to change my mind." He took a few steps forward, his eyes never leaving her own. "I wish you could have told me but I know I wouldn't have wanted you to leave."
"Yeah, considering you're here now, it's safe to say I know what's your opinion," she pointed out with a smile. Zuko had the decency to appear uncomfortable as he raised a hand to the back of his head.
"Yeah...I'm not going to lie. I don't want you to stay here, Homura. I want you back at the Fire Nation with me. You can be a Fire Nation citizen if you want, you don't even have to live in the palace, I could find you a place away from the palace so you don't have to see me all the time. You don't have to stay in Ba Sing Se to start over and it's really not your fault your parents are the way they are. You did nothing wrong. I mean, I would know all about wrong decisions-"
"Zuko," she cut in softly, unable to keep herself from smiling as she noticed his cheeks heating up. He looked away.
"Yes?"
"Suki and I talked about this last night and I've realised the Fire Nation capital is the city I can call my home. I'd be miserable if I stayed in Ba Sing Se."
He lifted his eyes to hers once more, appearing hopeful. "Really?"
She nodded, "Really. After running away, I'm not sure if you'd like to have me back-"
"Are you joking?" He took a few more steps closer towards her until only a step separated them. He smiled down at her and it was contagious. He reached up and grabbed one of her hands, hesitant to do anything else. "I'd love for you to come back with me. I-I've left Mai behind as the temporary Fire Lord and if I don't come back with you she's never going to stop mentioning it-"
"You've left Mai in your place?" she couldn't help but laugh as she looked up at him, and as he avoided her gaze once more, she couldn't help but think he was adorable.
"I needed to find you and she's the only one I trust enough-"
She crossed the space between them and reached up, cutting him off by pressing her lips against his. His surprise melted away quickly as he kissed her back and she found herself smiling into the kiss as she raised a hand to his cheek, pulling him closer. He seemed to have the same thought as she did as he put a hand on her waist and pulled her to him and almost instictively, Homura curved against him with a small sigh. His grip on her waist tightened and it was then he slowly pulled back, in need of air.
"I missed you," she muttered as she looked up at him, caressing his cheek, the edge of his scar. His eyes slowly closed at her touch and he leaned closer, resting her forehead against hers.
"If you decide to ever leave me, please tell me about it. I don't want to find out through a letter again."
She nodded as she slowly pulled back with a smile, her hand not quite leaving his cheek just yet. "We should tell your Uncle."
"I think you should tell Chin first."
Her smile widened. "You've met Chin?"
"I did, yesterday," he admitted and this time, he smiled as well. "He recognised Suki and I from what you've told him about us."
"Of course he approached you," she chuckled, "he's a bubbly little kid. I met him at the Lower Ring, he stayed at the house I used to stay with my mother. I gave him an apple each day and from then on, he was attached to my hip every evening after I got back from work. When your Uncle asked me to work for him I couldn't leave him behind. Your Uncle is a very good man, you know. He gave them a home, let them stay in the Upper Ring. He offered them all I couldn't."
"Uncle wanted to keep an eye on you no matter what, that's what he wanted," he mused, "it's not every day you see someone from the Fire Nation in Ba Sing Se."
She couldn't help but smile as she nodded, "That's right."
"What have you told to that boy anyway?" he questioned softly. "He says I'm his hero."
"Only the truth," she murmured as she kissed him once more and then left his arms, heading to the front door, paying no heed to his wide eyes. "Come on, let's tell Chin the news."
It took a while before Zuko finally managed to bring himself to follow after her.