Disclaimer: Further research proved that the owner of Avatar is currently hiding under a rock away from those pesky fan-girls and guys. I am not under a rock. Thus, I am not the owner.
Summery: Iroh is quirky and mothers are missed. Zuko and Katara are hinting to something, but you may as well ignore that.
Author's Note: Here you go. This is probably one of my worst fics to date, and I'm not happy. At all. With the ending, but worst that happens is that I kill it later, so, whatever. It's not loaded with Zutara goodness, more with Iroh's quirks and remembering their mothers, but whatever.
-----
"Will you two boil some water to allow for tea?" Iroh asked, politely, to the two young benders glaring each other down.
"Uncle! Be serious!" Zuko broke the staring contest with the righteous water bender.
"Nephew, there is nothing more serious then my tea. And it would appear that there is a fire bender and a water bender right in front of me. And these old bones are tired after a day of traveling" and of your bickering "So if you two wouldn't mind… It would give me a nice cup of tea" and you a good way to, er, bond.
"Of course we wouldn't, Sir, just rest and Zuko and I will go boil water. Won't we?" Katara shot a side glance at Zuko, complete by a quick elbow jab in his side.
"No, of course we wouldn't." Laced with sarcasm, Zuko gave in before he found his feet frozen.
"Why thank you. And Katara?" When shot with a backwards glance from the young girl, Iroh continued with a wink, "Uncle. Please."
Katara smiled and nodded at the Dragon's request as she turned back around and walked off to get some water. She did have her pouch, but she scoffed at the idea of ever giving up that water. In case anyone ever decides to change sides…
"Uncle Iroh! You are making me work with the water bender?" Zuko used the complete familial title, as he had done when he was still a banished prince. He only used it in anger now, as he had then. If only I had stopped being so angry…
"Yes I am. I need tea. Tea, my boy, my life source! Go." Met with a blank stare from his nephew, he emphasized the word "Go!" Zuko then understood why he had been such a successful general.
Katara and Zuko settled in to make the water. It would seem a task too easy, but for every cup they made, there was something wrong. Iroh would constantly disregard the smallest mistake, causing the two to go make a new cup.
"Another one?", "Unbearable", "Was never like this with the servants" was heard from Zuko, while Katara said nothing, but as soon as she turned away from the eldest member of the group, she would roll her eyes and mutter something she certainly didn't want them to hear.
Katara would get water, Zuko would heat the tea, and then Katara would seep the leaves. "My mom always made a great cup of tea," she said, working on one of the many cups. She didn't know why she said it, and she didn't much care. She loved her mother dearly, and her hand automatically went to her neck.
Zuko noticed this action, Katara did it when she was worried or anxious or bored… she did it a lot. Since Katara was sharing a bit of information about her mom, he figured he would return the favor. He, too, loved his mother. And what happened was hazy for him. "Mine too. She always insisted that she would make it. She was always polite with the servants in the palace. She avoided them altogether when she could." Zuko added.
"I miss her." They both said simultaneously. Earning an awkward side-glance towards each other. They were curt and brief when they needed to talk, and here they were, making a cup of tea and reminiscing about their deceased mothers.
"Your mother sounds like a great Fire Lady."
"Yours sounds like a great water bender."
"She was." Again, both spoke at the same time.
