richest love ain't growing on the trees out here

Posted originally on the Archive of Our Own at http://archiveofourown.org/works/47400295.

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Category: M/M
Fandom: Avatar: The Last Airbender
Relationships: Sokka/Zuko (Avatar), Iroh & Zuko (Avatar), Katara & Sokka (Avatar),
Aang & Toph Beifong & Katara & Sokka & Suki & Zuko, Azula & Zuko
(Avatar), Past Jet/Zuko - Relationship, past Sokka/Yue, Sokka/Suki
(Avatar), Jin & Zuko (Avatar), Bato & Hakoda & Katara & Sokka
(Avatar), Azula & Hakoda & Zuko (Avatar), Bato/Hakoda (Avatar),
Azula/Jin (Avatar), Mai/Ty Lee (Avatar), Azula & Mai & Ty Lee
(Avatar)
Characters: Zuko (Avatar), Sokka (Avatar), Iroh (Avatar), Azula (Avatar), Ozai
(Avatar), Aang (Avatar), Katara (Avatar), Toph Beifong, Suki (Avatar),
Ty Lee (Avatar), Mai (Avatar), Jet (Avatar), Hakoda (Avatar), Jin
(Avatar), Bato (Avatar)
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Schitt's Creek AU, Zukka Week
2023 (Avatar), Zuko (Avatar) Needs a Hug, Zuko is an Awkward
Turtleduck, Protective Sokka (Avatar), One-Sided Rivalry, Small Towns,
Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, (it's ozai), Other Additional Tags to Be
Added
Language: English
Stats: Published: 2023-05-26 Words: 3,006 Chapters: 1/?
 richest love ain't growing on the trees out here
by KittyPhoenix12_xx

Summary

The day Zuko became happy was the day his family lost everything.

It happened when his father’s business manager ran off with all his money, taking his assets
with him. All but one asset that is.

“Gaipan?” Azula sneered, reading the name of the town of the deed that Zuko clutched in his
shaking hands. “Why do we own a town called Gaipan?”

Ozai leant back regally, looked down his nose and replied, “Your uncle bought it for his son
as a joke when the boy turned eight. When Lu Ten passed, it seemed that town was passed to
Zuko.”

Zuko didn’t remember this.

---

the schitt's creek au for zukka week 2023

Notes

title from Million Bucks by Smallpools (for the actual title and chapter title)

to anyone wondering, Gaipan is the town from Zuko Alone.

idk if this will finish at 7 chapters or go further. we shall see.

See the end of the work for more notes

The day Zuko became happy was the day his family lost everything.

It happened when his father's business manager, Zhao, ran off with all his money, taking their
assets with him. All but one asset, that is.

"Gaipan?" Azula sneered, reading the name of the town of the deed that Zuko clutched in his
shaking hands. "Why do we own a town called Gaipan?"

Ozai leant back regally, looked down his nose and replied, "Your uncle bought it for his son
as a joke when the boy turned eight. When Lu Ten passed, it seemed that town was passed to
Zuko."

Zuko didn't remember this.

Why did Lu Ten give him a town in his will?

Someone cleared his throat, and they turned back to Jee, who pursed his lips. "Fortunately,
Lu Ten passing the town's deed to Zuko may be what saves you." He opened his folder and
passed it to Ozai. "Look, Mr Sozin, we have seized all assets, liquid and otherwise. Including
your late wife's beach house and the fortune kept at the Capital. We've contacted the village's
mayor, and they've set up free accommodation for you and your family until you can get back
on your feet."

Ozai and Azula looked aghast, but Zuko stared at the deed, focusing on Uncle Iroh's
signature swirl as he signed them up to this joke for the rest of their lives. From the corner of
his eye, the man was sipping at his jasmine tea without a care in the world.

"How long do we have?" Uncle asked suddenly.

Jee handed him the final file and stood up. "The entire house will be seized at four pm. If you
aren't out by then, you will be forcefully evicted. Pack personal and pack light; you don't
have as much room anymore." Then he walked out the door.

The echoing footsteps faded into silence, and Zuko twitched uncomfortably when no one
moved. He could feel his father's eyes burning and forced himself to meet his gaze. "Well,
Zuko," he said cooly, like this entire thing was Zuko's fault, "You have finally made yourself
useful."

Zuko's room was too big. He tried not to feel bitter about it; he was lucky to have this much
space. But it was lonely, hollow. He swallowed guiltily as he ran his fingers over the hand-
carved bed frame his father imported from Japan, hoping whoever got it next appreciated it
more than he did.

One of the estate people followed him with a list of things he no longer owned, tutting and
huffing whenever Zuko picked up something that cost more than his eye surgery. The
mansion was louder now than ever, with men and women hustling about, carrying furniture,
paintings, and ornaments.

Zuko tried to blink the sudden burning from his eyes as he folded his clothes. Hopefully, this
man wouldn't see him wipe away a tear. He continued folding as someone came in to sort
through his jewellery. Apparently, a jeweller was here to price them accurately.

Swallowing, he turned away as they carried his mother's jewellery out, taking the soft, gentle
clinking and disappearing. Something fell out of his jeans pockets into the corner of his
suitcase. Instead of picking it up, Zuko shifted his body and leaned in.

His mum's necklace, the one he (and uncle) had bought when he was eight. It was a locket
shaped like a sun, and when Zuko flipped it open, there was a picture of them. Baby Zuko,
with his wide smile and unblemished face, his mother's arms wrapped around him.

He left the necklace in the suitcase so no one could find it and hauled his bags down the
stairs.

"Ah, Zuko," Uncle Iroh said with a smile, holding what seemed to be a thermal cup full of
tea. "Excited to start a new chapter of your life? With every page written, there are many left
unturned."

"What?" Zuko huffed and sat down on one of his cases. "Uncle, this is really bad!"

"Is it?"

Zuko groaned, letting his hair fall across his face. It was getting too long, but Ozai didn't like
when it was cut. It stuck out at odd angles, and he said it made Zuko look homeless.

Well, Zuko thought, I might as well go all the way.

"Uncle?"

"Yes, nephew?"

Zuko rolled his eyes, catching the small smile on Iroh's lips. He then rolled his shoulders
back, sat up straighter and asked, "Why did Lu Ten leave me the town?"

Someone walked by carrying one of the seven love seats. "I remember when he wrote it, he
told me he wanted you to have a place of reprieve. Somewhere to go when you needed to get
away."

"Guess it's too late for that?"

Iroh's eyes twinkled, but he didn't say anything but an amused hum.

A few minutes later, Azula came down the stairs with an entourage of men carrying her
suitcases. There were almost double the amount of Zuko's. Her hair was brushed, make-up
freshly applied, eyes glittering as they raked over him.
"Zuzu? Why aren't you putting your dirty bags in the moving van?" As she said this, the men
took her bags and Uncles. They didn't offer to take his.

"Shut up, Azula," he muttered.

Sharp, echoing footsteps stalked down the hallway. Zuko and Azula turned to watch their
father walk towards them, still tall, looming, and opposing. Zuko turned away, watching as
their bags were loaded into the van.

"Now," Ozai said, regarding them, "We may not have money, but we have our pride. As
Sozins', we have not sunk so low to mingle with the common folk we will be living between.
We carry our ancestors with us, and" here, he looked directly at Zuko, "I hope you make me
proud."

Zuko looked away.

The van was silent as it passed from the smooth road of the highway onto the uneven country
roads that led to Gaipan. They had almost missed the sign directing then, covered in rust and
peeling paint. Still, Uncle had kindly pointed it out to the panicking driver.

Azula was silent beside Zuko. They were pressed closer together than they had been for
years. Zuko would never say it aloud, but Zuko was somehow shocked to realise his sister ran
warm. She smelt faintly of orange blossoms, and he didn't know if she knew it had also been
Ursa's perfume.

They hit another pothole.

Ozai's lip peeled back in disgust as the road narrowed further. The tension in the car grew
thicker. Zuko turned his eye to the landscape, taking in the thick forest that stretched over
hills, a glistening lake disappearing into the shadow of the mountains. There were pastures
with animals grazing.

Maybe there were turtleducks.

"We’re just coming up to the town sign,” the driver murmured, glancing at Iroh.

“Oh,” Iroh said delightedly, unfolding himself like a pop-up book. “Pull over, and let us
admire it!”

“Erm…” The driver looked at Ozai, whose lips pursed like he swallowed something sour. But
he didn’t say anything further, so the driver did as he was told and pulled over when the town
sign came closer.

Iroh undid his seat back gleefully, hauling himself from the van. No one moved and waited
for him to finish admiring it, but Azula’s door opened. “Come along,” he clapped his hands,
“we should embrace our new lives together."
Azula was silent, eyeing him spitefully. “Come on, Zuzu,” she said, acrylic nails digging into
his skin, “Let’s witness the town we own.”

I own, Zuko thought as he followed her. But it wasn’t really something he wanted to be proud
of.

Ozai didn’t move. From where he sat, Zuko thought his father looked like a petulant child
who had his favourite toy taken away. He turned to the sign.

It was…

A sign.

Azula’s eyes narrowed, and her lips pursed, unimpressed.

It was faded and peeling, the soft greens now a dull grey. But what the sign was showing,
well…

“What is it?” Zuko asked.

Uncle smiled at him like Zuko had done something amazing. “From what I understand, it is a
chasm between the settlers and the indigenous people?”

Zuko squinted. He could kind of see it. The settlers seemed to be holding pitchforks.

“How appropriate,” Azula said cooly, looking at her nails before spinning around and
returning to the van.

Uncle smiled serenely at Zuko, crow's feet deepening. Zuko wondered if he would grow up
with smiling wrinkles like Iroh or if his face would be smooth and impassive like his father’s.

“I think this will be good for our family, nephew.”

“I hope so, uncle.”

The motel was the first building they saw beside a derelict farmhouse. It didn’t seem to be
hanging by a hinge, but the vacancy light was flickering, and only one other car was in the
parking lot.

From the door with ‘Reception’ hanging above it, a girl hurried out and stood as the van
parked. The driver got out and began to unload the bags quickly as Iroh and Ozai stood to the
side. Azula got out immediately, tapping out a message on her phone. As Zuko pulled himself
from his seat, the girl came over.

“Hello,” she said, smiling warmly. “My name’s Jin, and I run the motel. The mayor has asked
me to put three rooms aside, two singles and one shared.” At the less than enthusiastic
response, she clarified. “The shared has two beds. It’s just that we couldn’t give up four
rooms. The singles are smaller and don’t have as much storage.” She awkwardly handed
them to Iroh before backing away with an assurance that she would provide for them
whenever possible.

She disappeared back inside, and the driver finished unloading his bags. “Well,” Iroh said
cheerily, rattling the keys, “Let’s get settled.”

There seemed to be a silent conversation between the two brothers before Iroh handed Zuko
the key to room seven. “You and Azula check out your room; your father and I need to talk.”
There was a steely look in his eyes that Zuko hadn’t seen in a while, so he nodded.

“Um?”

Azula rolled her eyes and flicked her hair over her shoulder. “Fine, Zuzu, but I get the
window bed. And most of the closet space. This place doesn’t have a dry cleaner, and I don’t
want my stuff to wrinkle.”

“Fine.”

She stalked over the grass in her tall heels. The grass was a dull green and crunched like it
had been drying in the sun for a while. But amongst the burnt stems were the small buds of
pink, white, and yellow blooming flowers.

Zuko unlocked the door, and the siblings peered in. It didn’t look like a crime scene like
motel rooms on TV. The beds were freshly made, and a faint floral smell was in the air. There
was a wardrobe and a chest of drawers, two bedside cabinets, a table with chairs and a
bathroom.

“It isn’t bad,” Zuko said, finally stepping into the room. The floorboards creaked slightly
beneath his feet, but the shudder of horror didn’t follow. He bit his lip and turned away from
Azula so she couldn’t see his smile.

But she didn’t complain either. They both started unpacking in silence, but it wasn’t as
awkward as in the car. Zuko let Azula take the wardrobe, hanging his coat on the back of the
door instead.

There was a knock on the door, and Azula answered it. The driver had moved the rest of their
bags and left hurriedly – probably before their father kept him here as a prisoner/slave.
Outside, Iroh and Ozai were still talking (read: arguing). Azula shut the door, exchanging a
smirk with Zuko before seemingly realising and turning away.

As Zuko put his last remaining clothes away, a glint of gold caught his eye. His mother’s
necklace. With shaking hands, he picked it up and walked to the mirror. In the reflection, he
saw Azula looking at him as he put the locket on.

“Is that mother’s necklace?”

“Uh, yeah.”

She smiled slightly. “Did they let you take it?”

Zuko flushed and scratched his cheek. “I hid it before they could tell me.”

“Aw, look at you, Zuzu, you little criminal.”

“Fuck off, Azula.”

His chest was warm.

After an hour, Iroh came for them, citing exploration. Zuko and Azula reluctantly (Azula
more so) went with him. Father wasn’t waiting for them, but none of them seemed that
bothered. Ozai wasn’t really an explorer.

Jin was sitting at the front desk reading when they walked in. She looked up with a smile and
set her book aside. “Hello, Sozins!” She seemed to catch the simultaneous wince from all of
them. “How can I help you?”

Iroh smiled. “We’re looking for someplace to eat.”

“Oh,” Jin smiled. She pulled a map from the stand and handed it over. “We only have two or
three places to get a proper meal from. The best would probably be the Oolong Palace, a
café.”

Iroh flipped through the brochure gleefully as Zuko hung awkwardly beside him. He wasn’t
sure if he was meant to start a conversation with her or let his uncle decide what he wanted to
do. He could see Jin sending him glances and found himself blushing as time passed.

Before he could broach the awkward silence, the bell tingled as someone entered. Two people
entered, looking like they were related. Tall and broad, brown hair tied back and grins
stretched across their faces. The older man held his hand whilst the younger hovered eagerly
behind him.

“You must be the Sozins,” the eldest said when Iroh shook his hand. “I’m Hakoda, the
mayor.”

“Sokka!” The younger said, grinning wider when Zuko gave a jerky nod of
acknowledgement.

“Wonderful,” Uncle greeted, “We were just finding a place to eat.”

Azula seemed to text someone, probably Mai, so she didn’t look up when Sokka sidled
closer. Up close, he seemed younger than Zuko thought, more his age. He seemed to have
more muscle than Zuko realised and smelt like woodland.

“We haven’t had someone new move here for a while,” he said, still warm and still standing
close. He seemed to be talking to Zuko rather than Azula, which was also surprising. “I’m
sorry for what happened to you guys.”

“Thanks,” Zuko murmured.

Sokka eyed him for a moment, smile smaller yet more sincere. “I’d be happy to show you
guys around after you eat if you want?”

Biting his lip, Zuko glanced between his uncle and Azula and caught the slight grin on Jin’s
face before sighing and agreeing. There wasn’t enough room to be a total recluse here, and
these people probably weren’t trying to hang out with him for money, considering…
everything.

Hakoda bid farewell to them, and he and Sokka left with a, “See you after lunch!”

Uncle seemed even more invigorated, which didn’t seem possible, as he turned to Jin and
asked, “Would you like us to bring you anything?”

She smiled. “No thanks, Mr Sozin.”

“Please, call me Iroh.”

“Okay. I’m taking my lunch break now, so there’s no need, Iroh.”

Azula looked up at this but didn’t say anything. Instead, as they left Jin at the desk, she
asked, “Is father coming with us?”

“Your father…” Iroh looked unusually pensive. “Your father is taking time alone; this change
will probably be hardest for him.” That was Uncle for ‘he’s throwing a tantrum, and I don’t
want to deal with him’. Azula also knew this because she shrugged and returned to her
phone.

As they walked, Zuko couldn’t help but take in how quiet it all was. He had spent his entire
life in New York; even the mansion was noisy as the staff hurried about. At first, he worried
the quiet would be lonely, but it wasn’t. It was kind.

A dirt path veered into a thicket of trees by the sidewalk, and he could see Sokka with some
other people. They had a dog and seemed to enjoy their time in the sun. Sokka wrapped his
arms around a girl’s waist, and Zuko turned and hurried away when he kissed her forehead.

The café was warm and inviting, with the rich scent of freshly brewed tea wafting from the
windows. Azula and Zuko exchanged amused glances when Iroh caught the scent and perked
up like a bloodhound. The door opened with a greeting bell.

It wasn’t as busy as expected, two or three tables taken. They settled into a booth. Zuko
pressed against the wall beside Azula (twice a day!) and opened the menu. Or tried to. It
seemed to keep unfolding.

“Um,” Azula said, handing one side to Zuko as they both peered at the ten-page, double-
sided spread, “Is this every dish in the world?”

“Maybe!” They both jerked upwards when a perky voice appeared beside them. The girl
before them held a notepad and pen, and her apron was a soft pink matching the ribbon in her
long, plaited hair. “I’m Ty Lee, and I’ll be your waitress today!”

Azula seemed to be buffering, and Zuko was sinking into his seat, so Iroh took over, ordering
three cups of jasmine tea and the soup of the day for each. Ty Lee took the menus and
vanished. Iroh seemed settled and relaxed as he grinned at them.

“We haven’t spent time like this together for a while, have we?”

There was a flash of guilt that Zuko swallowed down. He had been busy. “It’s nice,” he
managed to add. Azula scoffed but nodded.

If father was here, the silence would be tense and awkward. He would stare at each of them
like he saw their failures before laying them on the table and indulging in them. Zuko
couldn’t say he wasn’t relieved that Ozai hadn’t come.

Ty Lee came back with their tea before disappearing. Zuko inhaled, took a sip and for the
first time in a long time, he felt at home.
End Notes

comments, kudos, bookmarks, subscriptions or whatever you are willing to give are
appreciated.

i hope you enjoyed this because I'm very excited to write this :)

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see you next time :)

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