Mutatis Mutandis: Everything Changes. [OTA]

[princeinexile]

It's like a special engagement. The Midnight Showing. You know, that one time you get to see that one thing again? Maybe a rare showing of a cult favorite. It's always when you least expect it and rarely when you're ready (however you need to prepare) for it.

The Bar is like that. Zuko knows it. But he figured, a while ago, he was done with it. It had let him out into the world and it had not let him back in. He had left a student -- he had left friends and arguably, those who he could consider family. Sometimes he missed them; he missed the smell of loam and fur, bakeries that invoked a longing for a mother's touch, and dogs. After nearly two years away, he has tried to forget women with blonde hair (and the trouble they bring) and he's only been semi-successful.

But when once crown prince Zuko, now Fire Lord Zuko, at the tender age of eighteen, finds the door to his study has become the bar, he stands there, a bit dumbfounded. He is not what he was, standing in his long robes, hair done up in the queue of his station,the golden flame of the fire nation set into the knot. A lot has changed in the last couple of years for one young man. Not enough, though, that he doesn't remember something simple, something like home.

"Just a smoking mountain, Bar," he says as he approaches, and settles in to stare across a crowd that he recognizes some, doesn't others.

It has been a long time, hasn't it?


[A limited engagement showing of one Fire Lord Zuko, post animated series, after a very long absence of bar, in honor of the ATLA movie being universally loathsome. Get him while he's hotter then Dev Patel, people. You won't get another opportunity anytime soon!

CLOSED TO NEW TAGS. Thanks for the warm reception!


Tiny Tag Totally Like Aang: NARUTO]

Comments

[princeinexile]

Except for the fact that the Fire Nation 'lost' the war, and now everybody's demanding reparations and concessions.

"It's not that great," he says. "It's a lot of responsibility. I don't see my friends much," and he HAS friends now! Friends he can MISS, even! "And it's tough to negotiate peace treaties after a hundred year war. But it's a lot better then it was."

Pretty big for a kid who is only just starting to see ninteen on the horizon.

[wannab_hokage]

"I'm sorry to hear that," he said, "Did you know your parents?"

[princeinexile]

"Yeah," he says, nodding once. "But family gets complicated fast."

There's that whole thing about his father and sister being in prison, and his mother still being missing.

[wannab_hokage]

"But you had them right?" he asked.

[princeinexile]

"Yes. My mother--" Died. Went missing? "-- I lost her, when I was ten. My father, sister and I are--" mortal enemies, "not close. But my uncle is a good man, and has taught me anything my mother did not."

[wannab_hokage]

"At least you had someone," said Naruto, "I don't have anyone at home. Well, I do have Iruka Sensai."

He was quiet for moment and then cheered up, "But that is why I want to become Hokage!"

[princeinexile]

"I had uncle Iroh, yes," Zuko agrees. "Your sensei sounds like a good man, though. So you want to become a Hokage and lead your people?"

As a warrior of some sort. That wasn't Aanglike at all -- he'd ran from his responsibility. But hey, they couldn't be total doubles. Still, the vibe was there.

[wannab_hokage]

"I want my existence to be acknowledged by everyone! That way they would have to," he said, "It is good that you had your uncle. How did you get that scar?"

Yeah no manners.

[princeinexile]

Huh. That's one way to do it.

But at the sudden shift of conversation Zuko and blinks and answers rather forthrightly: "A duel."

[wannab_hokage]

"Oh," said Naruto suddenly changing the subject again, " This is good Ramen, but not as good as Ichiraku Ramen. Sorry bar."

He started to slurp up his noodles. He liked this place and his new friends.

[princeinexile]

"Can't say I've had it that often," replies Zuko. 'Commoner food'. He got it eventually, of course, on his travels, but it was nothing he sought out.

Then again, there were times when he couldn't afford to be picky about his food, either.

[wannab_hokage]

Naruto dug through his frog wallet.

"I know! Here's a coupon for a free bowl!"

He had two.

[princeinexile]

"That's okay," he says. "You keep them. I doubt I'll be near your Ramen stand anytime soon." He doesn't' have the time to go gallivanting through other worlds.

Well, one supposes he DOES, with time stopping in Mililway's but he doesn't have any intention to do so.

[wannab_hokage]

Dashing a boys hopes like that!

"Okay!" said Naruto putting the coupons back in the frog. And eating more Ramen.