'Kay so… It's holidays at my school so I have more time with writing.
I admit this is a bit of a drabble about Iroh and Zuko's relationship.
Pleas review.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
***
Iroh stood on deck looking out into the deep blue sea. But it wasn't that that Iroh was looking at. It was the two fish circling and chasing one and other.
It was a beautiful pure sight. He wondered what Zuko would say if he saw it. Actually, he didn't have to wonder at all. Something grumpy about Iroh being an old man and how they should be spending their time looking for the Avatar.
Iroh sighed. He remembered what Zuko was like when he was younger. He used to be the happiest little baby ever. Never stopped smiling. When he was three he was also happy he used play soldier for hours on end with his own son.
Iroh quickly blinked back tears at the thought of the two boys once so happy. But now… Now one was dead. The other had lost his way.
But what was most saddening was how fast Zuko changed. How fast Zuko changed after the death of his mother.
Iroh had not been there at first. It had taken some time to get home and a bit more time to accept the fact that his son… his little baby boy… wasn't in this world anymore.
But Iroh knew what had led Zuko down this path. It was Ozai. Ozai had encouraged Zuko's pain and rage. Though he had not done this in person. He had encouraged Azula to terrorize him. To terrorize him to the point that there was almost nothing left inside him. Almost nothing left of that once happy little boy.
Then, he finished that off when he was but thirteen.
It sickened Iroh to the very marrow of his bones. It sickened him that Zuko's own father could do that to him.
But a little voice in Iroh's head said, "That was not his father. You are his father."
Iroh knew that. He smiled at that fact a great deal.
Iroh shook all the sad thoughts from his head and knew what he needed to do. Call Zuko, get him to look at the fish, to try and get him to see the beauty of them.
Because Zuko had in him the ability to bring back the happy little boy, to find his way once more.
Zuko wasn't like the other Fire Nation men Iroh knew. Zuko had a kind forgiving heart. And Iroh would bring that heart out… even if it killed him in the process.
Why? Because Zuko was Iroh's saving grace when his son had passed. And now it was Iroh's turn to be Zuko's saving grace.
***
'Kay so… Hoped you enjoyed.
Pleas review.
—Major Grai