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Some time after talking with Steph, Zuko still has no idea how to go about approaching the many people who he should proably talk to.

Instead, he's focusing on something that puts it all off very nicely, and practicing firebending forms out in the training field. They really do make much more sense after visiting the Masters - without having to spend to much effort on brute force and anger to produce the flame, everything flows more, and that in turn is levelling out his thoughts.

So. Another version of him had children. And they're here. They also seem to think he's their father- at least, the version that they knew. He should talk to Mel first, then. He's not sure what she thinks, but he should ask, in any case. And Iroh should know.

Later. He finishes off a form, and moves onto the next.

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"Hey," he says back, and pauses briefly, wondering how to begin.

"I met your friend Steph," he says first of all, figuring it's as good a place to start as any.

"Kinda something, isn't she?" Mel says.

Though why that would prompt him to be all awkw...

Oh.

Oh oops?

Mel facepalms

Yeah, that's an expression he recognises.

"She's very nice," he says shortly. "I..."

He looks helplessly at the girls in the buggy, then back up. "So... not just two Sokkas?"

It's the best he can come up with, for the moment.

They're both asleep right now, but Mel draws the buggy back towards her, defensively.

"No."

Well, this is awkward.

Isn't it?

"Uh..."

Zuko is not comfortable. Part of him wants to ask why she didn't tell him, while the other part thinks it knows, and furthermore thinks it was a good idea, because this is not fun. But...

"...I have to- How long was he away from the Four Nations?" He has to know. And then, he has to decide what that means.

She can do that!

"Two years," she says quickly. "Far as I know he never made it back."

Seeing as the babies are over a year old, he didn't waste any time.

Zuko's expression tightens slightly. That does not bode well.

"I see," he says quietly.

Mel shrugs.

"I don't know how to get back. Someone may figure it out tomorrow."

He nods slowly.

"Maybe," he says. "But I- I don't want to do nothing here in the hope of going back. And I was meaning to ask - before I found out that-" Those are technically my daughters, what, "About their father. If you wanted help teaching them about firebending. Uncle Iroh knows more, but if they need it - and you don't mind - I will do my best."

See Zuko ramble.

Why couldn't the world have been full of things that just attacked him? He can deal with that.

Mel's face sets a little.

"They're not yours."

It means two things: that he shouldn't feel obliged to, but also that he doesn't get to suddenly claim rights with regards to them.

"I know," he says hastily.

Do not piss off the unusually strong mother of two.

"But there aren't many of us. And when they demonstrate this early, it can get tricky- I mean," he takes a breath. "I just want you to know it's an option, if you need it."

No obligation or not, there's that thing about being responsible. You have to try.

Mel relaxes, completely not pissed off, and nods.

"Thank you. Iroh's been helping, but really they're kinda precocious and - thanks."

Zuko is relieved.

"You're welcome," he says. "Uncle would. He likes kids." Then he frowns. "Would you rather I didn't tell him? I was going to, but if you'd rather I didn't, I won't."

Mel looks shifty!

"He... kinda also met Steph."

Zuko gives an exaggerated sigh.

"I can understand you not telling me," he says grumpily. "Now I just feel out of the loop."

Still shifty! Also: shrug.

"I kinda asked him not to. Should have been me."

Wouldn't ever have been.

...Well, yes, that makes sense, but he's Zuko's uncle.

"Hmm. Still."

Uncle!

Zuko can brood about anything.

It's almost amusing when it's not Mel he's brooding about.

"Sorry?" Mel offers.

"I'll live with it," Zuko says, almost dryly.

Look! It's possible this one has a sense of humour!

Hey, the last one did, too. Just - only when they were alone, and then only in the apartments.

Still, Mel gives a small smile.

"You're different."

Not in a bad way.

Zuko pauses, and the frowns back.

"I am?"

He's still finding it hard to grasp, this alternate-version stuff.

"A little."

She shrugs. "Not in a bad way. More - centred?"

Zuko nods slowly. He hadn't known it was noticable, but he supposes it's true.

"That's new," he says. "Started a few days before I came here."

"Not that mine wasn't," Mel hastens to add, "it's just different."

That was her, and the kids. They did that.

"What happened?"

Hers. That's so weird.

"It was Toph's idea," he says. "I'd... well, my motivations had just switched, and I was having trouble bending without the same drive as before."

That drive being: Capture Avatar, Make Daddy Love Me.

"She suggested the Avatar and I search for the original source of firebending."

He shrugs, anticlimatically. "We found it."