Just as Zuko starts forward, a creepy, light baritone, hoarse laugh echoes through the hallway. Zuko freezes in place, tensing visibly. "Oh no. Not him."

Out of the shadows materializes a tall, dark-skinned man with messy white hair, violet eyes, and a long vertical scar (though bisected twice with horizontal lines) beneath his right eye. His face is split into a demented grin. "Shinnouhi," he rasps.

Zuko glares in his direction. "Tozo," he answers through gritted teeth. "Do you mind? Morning Brief is in a few minutes."

Tozo laughs and takes a step towards Ursa. "Except this time you have a lovely stranger with you..."

Zuko growls and blocks Tozo's path, Bending a burst of fire that causes Tozo to stop in his tracks and fall back a couple of steps. "Back off," he growls. "Or Kat will hear about this, and your immortal ass be in for another torture session. I'm sure Grim would love to have the opportunity to kill you about a thousand times in a row."

Tozo's face turns from a creepy leer to intense anger. "You wouldn't dare," he growls.

"If you don't stay away from my mother, I sure as Hell would dare," Zuko returns. "Back off. Now."