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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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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."

Mel knows that drive! She also knows how 'protect daughters, rule apartments' replaced it.

Now she's just staring.

"You found the original source of firebending?"

IT SOUNDS LIKE A SHAMPOO.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THE NARRATION THOUGHT.

"Yes," he says. "I thought they were extinct, but when we ran into the Sun Warriors, they took us to the Masters."

By 'ran into' read 'got stuck in booby trap thereof.'

"They were dragons."

- of sticky, tar-like shampoo?

Mel blinks. And stares.

And - well, ejaculates: "Rocketship!"

Well, they had wondered why it was so minty-fresh.

"...Huh?"

Ha, this Zuko's not used to Mel's dialect. Weird.

"Means cool."

Aha! Slang.

Zuko's totally down with the hip kids.

"Oh. They were... nothing like the ones in this world."

They are a poor example of dragonkind.

Mel's stare becomes just that little more excited.

"We have dragons on this world?"

OH OH OH CAN SHE PLAY?

Zuko grimaces.

"A canyon full of 'em. They're stupid, though. No brains at all. It's where I arrived."

Beyond: O FOOD. KILL! EAT?