Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender, or any of its characters.
A/N: Hey, this is the first fanfic I've written in a long while, and to be honest, I wrote this after the last episode of Book 2, but I never got around to posting it. I made a whole storyline outline and everything but never managed to set it out --; boo hoooooo
Anyway, I've got it out now and hopefully I can keep up with updating it (if anyone actually bothers to read it hahaha). But yeah, I'm sorry if it's nothing original or whatnot, but I did intend to put this up before Book 3 started. So if anything sounds similar to the new episodes or anything like that, I'm not trying to rip it off the show, I was already planning on making it sound that way! Honest!! .
LOL, ok, enough talk! On with the story…
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Iroh sat in his little metal cell, humming a tune or two under his breath as he sipped his tea from a pewter cup. He had been imprisoned for a week since his niece and nephew took the throne of Ba Sing Sei. His nephew had made his chambers as pleasant as his sister would allow by supplying the old man with entertainment, extra food, and access to tea at will, much to Iroh's appreciation.
"Oh, excuse me Mr. Dai Li sir, but may I request another round of delicious jasmine tea?" Iroh called out to the guard on patrol outside. The soldier paused for a second outside Iroh's door to look in through the grates as the old man tipped the simple kettle upside down. "It appears I've finished my supply in here."
Giving a small groan of exasperation, the guard nodded and disappeared, his footsteps echoing softly down the hall to fetch the old man his tea.
"Thank you!" Iroh called after him good-naturedly as the footsteps faded into nothing.
In a few moments footsteps began to echo through the hall again, although lighter and much quicker than the guards. A figure appeared before Iroh's door once more wearing the Dai Li cap and uniform, but the structure of the man wearing it was different from the man before.
"It's good to see you again nephew." Iroh said calmly as the young man raised his eyes in a quick glance to look at the old man through the grate. His eyes were guilt-ridden as they turned from the old man to something at the side of the cell door. The sound of metal scraping against metal was heard.
Soundly, Iroh stepped towards the door and helped to pull his door open. With a loud screech of metal, they managed to create an opening wide enough for Iroh to just barely squeeze himself through.
"Thank you Prince Zuko for rescuing me in my time of need," Iroh smiled comfortingly as he placed a hand on Zuko's shoulder. The young man turned his face down, hiding it beneath the brim of his hat.
"I'm sorry…" Zuko whispered before he chanced a look at the smiling old man.
"Do not worry my son. It was rather relaxing with the tea that was supplied." Iroh told him with a grin. Zuko replied with a small smile of his own before throwing the metal rod he had used to pry open the door away.
"Come on. The girls are at the harbor talking to the soldiers on her ship. The rest of the Dai Li are with them, but we can't take any chances." Zuko stated as he looked at his Uncle with a new determination that seemed to grow within his amber eyes. "We have to leave now. We have to find the Avatar."
Iroh nodded, understanding Zuko's unexplained plan as they set off running.
"By the way Zuko, what did you do to my host of a guard?" Iroh asked as they turned a sharp corner. "And did he have the tea I had asked for?"