Author's Note: Inspiration came from that one song Iroh sang on Lu Ten's birthday D: *wibble*
Disclaimer: Avatar: the Last Airbender is hereby disclaimed.
When Iroh looks at Zuko, he sees his son. He sees the war-torn path Lu Ten had once walked upon and he sees the only outlet of which to escape that bloody road. Death.
When Iroh looks at Zuko, he sees his son. He sees his son with a wife and child, living and loving. He sees the happiness that has or perhaps, could have been his fate.
When Iroh glances at Zuko, he sees his nephew. The boy torn between good and evil, fighting the opposing forces in his soul. He guides him, as he would his son, firmly leading and gently prodding. And then he stops.
There are things he needs to figure out himself, he muses.
He takes his vow of silence and quietly guides his nephew through his only way of contact.
In his jail cell, Iroh sees his nephew. He sees the forces culminating, almost to a boiling point. His nephew is ready to explode.
Iroh feels good about this situation and opens his mouth to speak. He trusts his nephew's decision.
He trusts his nephew won't follow through with his father like his son had done before him.