Re-imagining of the first years of Zuko's exile. Influenced by Zuko's Story (Official Book). Plenty of Ocs.
There WILL BE NO ROMANCE WITH ZUKO.
Zuko will still have feelings for Mai.
Screams pierced ears and hearts.
Crown Prince Zuko had emerged from his Agni Kai half his face charred by the Phoenix's flame. General Iroh had no political strength in the Fire Nation to call out his younger brother's voracious actions towards his son. The Dragon of the West sat outside the healing room hands writhing in his lap, beads of sweat resting upon his brow. A younger guard approached with a tray laden with food and hot tea. Iroh thanked the kind palace guard before continuing his wait for news of his poor nephew.
The rising moon was replaced by the midday sun. Around the old man the air was sweltering, eyes ablaze with fury. Fire Lord Ozai was no father to poor Zuko who struggled to survive these wounds. Not even one messenger arrived to ask about Zuko's condition.
A tired healer pushed his way though the heavy absurdly decorated doors sighing deeply. A dragon appeared suddenly causing the healer to jump in fear.
"How is he?" Iroh questioned voice saturated with anxiety.
"Prince Zuko will live. I think we saved his left eye." Exhaled the healer who had just spent almost a whole day trying to stabilize the poor prince. By Roku's beard, I should have listened to my wife and decline the job to be the Royal Doctor. I would be safer on the front lines tending to the wounded than here. Even as a bloody non-bender.
Tears streamed down the general's face. The drained healer patted the shaking shoulders, he had known Iroh for years. Even was at the 600 day siege of Ba Sing Se tending the wounded on both sides. Torili gave General Iroh a detailed explanation on how to care for his injured nephew. Both men knew that Prince Zuko's father wouldn't even lift a finger for his own child. Iroh thanked the old battle medic and walked in to see his sleeping nephew. Torili sighed walking away providing General Iroh and Prince Zuko some privacy. He was going to go home, hug his family tightly, and finally go to sleep.
Days passed before Prince Zuko awoke from his wounds to find Uncle Iroh slowly sipping tea in the midday sun. Softly a breeze drifted through the window bringing traces of flowers into his room.
"Prince Zuko?" Iroh gently asked placing a warm hand on the young man's chest. The battle harden man knew that he would more than likely try to escape from bed worsening his wound. Once the boy had calmed Iroh grasped the thin sweating hand.
"Uncle?" Iroh smiled at the man ecstatic that his nephew had survived his physical wounds. Time would only tell for the emotional wounds. Tears beaded in the corner of Zuko's eye as he realized that his father was not there.
"Did...?" The wounded man asked. Iroh could not lie to his beloved nephew, not today.
"Not even once."
"He must be busy." The son reasoned away any wrongdoings of his father. The general knew better for he was the older brother. As a former father, the Dragon of the West knew that Fire Lord Ozai did not deserve Zuko's forgiveness. His younger brother did not deserve to call himself a father to his children, that monstrosity did not deserve the stolen throne he perched upon.
"Pardon my interruption." Squeaked the slender messenger.
"Yes?" Iroh placed his hand again on Prince Zuko's shoulder keeping him in his bed.
"General Iroh, you have been summoned to a meeting." He frowned at the news. Tired of meetings yet Iroh not in good enough standing to avoid politics. The older man reluctantly rose from his chair besides Zuko's bed.
"Sigh. Very well then. I will go. Please bring Prince Zuko some calming jasmine tea." The dragon huffed before soaring to another foolish meeting. He was correct when thinking the meeting was going to be a waste of time.
"Here is your tea, Prince Zuko." The prince didn't even notice the messenger disappearing or how long it took her to brew the tea. The tea was placed on the table beside his bed steam slowly drifted into the air. Slim hands helped the wounded man sit up in bed to drink tea.
"Are you hungry, Prince Zuko?"
"I would like something to eat." She bowed before closing the door. The young man's hands shook as he set the tea cup down. Trembling he touched the bandage over his wound. Pain flooded through his head and out of his lips. Golden eye opened wide at a thought crawled through his mind.
Did I lose my eye?
There was no time between waking up and Iroh flying away to a meeting for him to ask any questions besides the one about his father.
Knock. Knock. Without verbal permission a short, stubby servant entered his room.
"A message." Rude as he was short the messenger left without a bow. The golden eye wandered down to the paper. It bore the Fire Lord's wax seal. Hope danced across Zuko's eye as he opened the sealed letter.
The hope that the boy had felt was cruelly slain upon the parchment. Prince Zuko was no longer a prince. He was to be exiled from the Fire Nation as soon as he was physically able to. His sight distorted as if this was all a dream. Time flew by without observation of the wounded man.
Soothing jasmine tea grew cold.
Iroh did participate in the meeting until it was obvious they were simply repeating the same worthless tactics as before. Sacrificing those recruits would not win them that battle.
No one dared to stop the dragon from leaving. Fire Lord Ozai disliked Iroh's actions towards him. The Phoenix knew that his brother held the hearts of many, even those more skilled than his own assassins. Brothers lived in fear of each other wondering who would be the first to follow Azulon.
Uncle Iroh returned to his nephew's room to find the boy unresponsive.
"Zuko?" Rumbled the aging dragon concerned for his nephew. The teen did not respond in the slightest. Amber eyes fell upon the rumpled parchment clutched tightly as Zuko's hand covered the Phoenix's seal. Again and again the dragon prodded Zuko trying to bring the prince back.
The slender messenger appeared again holding a full tray in each hand. Two meals for the two men. Roasted duck in a savory sauce, mixture of seasonal vegetables lightly grilled, and a hearty soup for the general. Prince Zuko's meal had the same vegetables but a larger bowl of soup as per Doctor Torili's instruction. The weight of the serving tray finally started Prince Zuko back to this realm.
"Dinner for you, Prince Zuko. As for you, General Iroh." She handed the salivating man his beloved roasted duck. Even with his age Iroh did not fail to notice the black ring around her thumb. Viper Bats.
Iroh smiled into his roasted duck. Viper Bats were old friends of Iroh and their power ran deep in the Fire Nation. Their meals would hold no surprises tonight regardless of what the Fire Lord ordered. Zuko folded the parchment and set it aside. Perhaps I read it wrong. After all, my left eye is covered. The teen reasoned away the truth of the parchment.
"Ah. Prince Zuko, let me warm your tea."
"Thank you..." Meek words from a once rambunctious teen. The general fought hard to hold back his tears from falling into the tea. Iroh watched closely to ensure that Prince Zuko would eat all of his food.