[ yeah, yeah, yeah, zuko can't even believe it, either. but when your dad is a douche and your sister is insane and your mother is missing in action, someone has to step up to the plate — and the man he deems more worthy of the title refuses to, preferring to be king of his own tea shop. it's his destiny, to right the wrongs of his own ancestors, and to bring the world, not simply just the fire nation, to peace. but that's not something hans may wish to hear, nor is it something zuko wishes to say, already doubting his own ability to hold a needle and thread with steady hands. ]

[ zuko cringes at your highness. as crown prince, it'd been different, a recognition of status he had been born with and surrounded by since he could remember, but it means something different, now. toph had rubbed it in his face in her own little, annoying earthbender way. it still rubs him raw, it being somewhat of a joke he's the fire lord. ] Don't call me that. [ it's not as snappish as it could've been, but he's neither comfortable with his own minor outburst, either. ] Zuko. It's just Zuko. [ he does look slightly sheepish. ] Fire Lord Zuko is a mouthful, anyway ...

[ but he frowns. he doesn't particularly want the spotlight on him. ] Why are you asking? What's so lucky about being royalty here? Being Fire Lord means nothing — you didn't even know what it was!