Please R&R if you liked it! Feedback is just as delicious as tea from the white-dragon bush.
Iroh blinked, frozen, shocked by the unexpectedness of the embrace - but as soon as she initiated it, she broke away.
"Are you certain you do not require any further assistance in reforming the homeland?" She asked, as curt and abrasive as usual. Iroh could see through her tough exterior, though, and knew she asked out of care and concern for himself... although any other person would never have guessed she had even an ounce of compassion in her. Showing it was not an ability she had been born with, unfortunately.
"Thank you, Azula, but you are a leader and a soldier. You are most needed out there, capturing the rebels and finding Zhao. Strong, passionate people like yourself must be there to inspire others in restoring balance to the world. Leave the politics and governing duties to the old people, like myself," he joked.
"As you wish, Uncle." She stuck out a hand, which Iroh attempted to shake warmly, despite her stiffness. "I am proud to be your niece," she stated, referring to the changes Iroh was bringing to the Fire Nation and the hope he was restoring to the world. It was slow going, but Iroh could see that she was becoming more personable every time they met. "Expect a letter soon."
"I look forward to it," Iroh said, "your letters are a welcome distraction from the debating of the advisors."
She almost smiled, but wasn't able to follow through. It was something she was still learning to be comfortable with.
"And hey," Iroh said, stopping her from turning to leave, "speaking of nieces, I wouldn't mind seeing some grandnieces or grandnephews someday."
Azula gave a hesitant nod, acknowledging the underlying sincerity below his joking tone. "We shall see," she said. "Ty-Lee has been attempting to instruct me in such matters - under your suggestion, no doubt."
"I may have mentioned it," said, Iroh, smiling.
Uncertain what else to say, she wished him luck and gave a quick farewell before turning to leave. Her two guardsmen followed a moment later, still frozen in shock at their leader's humanity.
The door closed, leaving Iroh alone with his thoughts. He quickly attempted to busy himself by collecting the tea cups and saucers, but the reality of the day set in nonetheless.
It was the anniversary of the tragedy that had left him and Azula as the only known remaining members of their family. Azula's visit helped to lessen the grief, but the sadness and remorse Iroh felt was beyond any comforting presence.
Zuko had spent years hunting the Avatar, and as each season rose and fell, the hopelessness and rage grew stronger. Iroh had done his best to console his nephew, but after Zuko's brutal banishment and the growing feeling of futility of his journey, he had closed himself off from people. Their crew members became increasingly incompetent with every rotation, and their ship began to break down as the repairmen grew less and less willing to commit the resources to doing a thorough job.
After a while, they just sailed the cold, empty seas, with neither direction nor purpose. Contempt grew in Zuko, contempt for his father, for his home. The hatred hollowed him out, then filled him up, until Zuko finally commanded their crew to sail back to the capital. There, Zuko broke from the ship and made his way into Ozai's palace. His anger fueled his fire into an uncontrollable inferno that claimed not only his father's life and those of the military heads and the royal servents, but his own as well.
Iroh would never again be able to muster up as much love for another person... as much as he tried for Azula's sake and for the people of the Fire Nation. He had had so much hope in Zuko. He'd loved him like he had his own son, and this second loss had broken something in his heart that he had held onto so very closely.
Iroh placed the dishes into the sink and used it to support himself as he sobbed and shook, alone in the silent room. Tears ran down his cheeks in little trails, collecting on his nose, where they fell in droplets and mixed in with the tea leaves.