Slumping in my cell, I thought about the past few weeks. They had been so hard. Locked in a dark cell all day, little food, the only human contact was the rough guards- all of that I could take. Being separated from my nephew was what killed me. Zuko had voluntarily severed himself from good and gone back to Oazi and Azula. Words and proverbs had obviously gotten me nowhere with Zuko. Silence was my last hope. Ignore him. Show him that his actions had consequences. I knew what I needed to do. But that didn't make it any easier.
I had expected him before now. Zuko had waited for weeks before coming. But maybe it was for the best. If Zuko had come to me at first, I would have run to him, begged for him to open his eyes to his sister and father. I had had time to prepare myself. Now was my first test. Was I strong enough?
"Uncle, it's me."
I turned towards the wall so that Zuko got my whole back. An obvious message. A scowl came onto my face. How could I do this to him?
"You brought this on yourself, you know. We could have returned together. You could have been a hero!"
Don't listen to him, Iroh. Concentrate. Block out the words. Don't turn around and ask Zuko if he really believes that. It would mess everything up. Be strong.
"You have no right to judge me Uncle! I did what I had to do in Ba Sing Se, and you're a fool for not joining me!"
Breathe in, breathe out. He's confused. He doesn't know what he's saying. You're doing the right thing. This will help him, eventually.
"You're not going to say anything?"
I can't.
I heard a loud clanging noise and a burst of fire, followed by "You're a crazy old man! You're crazy! And if you weren't in jail, you'd be sleeping in the gutter!"
The door slammed shut. I closed my eyes. I had passed the first test. How many more could I take? I knew there would have to be many more, for this would be a slow process. As they say, Ba Sing Se wasn't built in a day. I just hoped that I could teach my nephew this one lesson before it was too late.
A few days later: "I brought you some Komodo chicken. I know you don't care for it, but I figure it beats prison food."
At least he's thinking of me.
"I admit it- I have everything I always wanted. But it's not at all how I thought it would be."
Keep going my nephew.
"The truth is, I need your advice."
Can't you see I'm giving it to you right now?
"I think the Avatar is still alive. I know he's out there. I'm losing my mind. Please, Uncle, I'm so confused! I need your help!"
I can't give you the kind of help you seek.
"Forget it. I'll solve this myself. Waste away here for all I care!"
The door slammed shut. I closed my eyes. I had passed the second test. But this time, a single tear fell down my cheek. It was not the first tear I had shed for my nephew. Nor would it be the last.
A/N: Thanks for reading this story, or at least I hope you did if you're down here! It didn't turn out originally like I had planned. At first, I had it in third person, but I've been wanting to do a first person fic for a while. This is my first one, so if you have a constructive criticism, be honest. It's hard to offend me.