Title: Forgive Me, I was Foolish
Pairings/Characters: Iroh, Zuko (hints of Zuko/Aang)
Summary: Zuko admits his foolishness to Iroh.
"Uncle," Zuko cried as he hugged Iroh. "I was such a fool to betray you. I don't know why I wanted my father's respect so much."
"It was how we were raised," Iroh replied patiently, hoping to comfort his nephew. "I was the same way in my youth, and so was my father. It doesn't matter how crazy the ways of our fathers are, we are brought up to respect them and to be like them when we grow up. I even went on the dragon hunting expedition my father wanted me to go on because of a seer's prediction. I wasn't very interested in it but it opened my eyes to the world."
Iroh paused, remembering that he didn't want to tell his nephew about how dragons were still alive or what he experienced. So he concluded his story nervously and quickly "I came to my senses."
"You helped me come to my senses," Zuko smiled at his uncle. "It was your knowledge of history that encouraged me to venture on my own and leave the Fire Nation. I joined the Avatar and we had a life changing experience together."
Zuko paused for a moment and reflected on his time with the dragons, the Masters of Firebending, and continued, "I was scared. When I saw the dark eyes I felt my whole life being examined. But the eyes were also comforting, they made me feel relax. I was rejuvenated with new fire in my spirit, and so was the Avatar."
Zuko was talking non-stop and it made his Uncle smile. Iroh knew exactly what his nephew was rambling about. He felt a burden release from all the years of keeping the secret of the dragons, what was better was that he now could share his secret with his favorite nephew.
The Fire prince got wide eyed as he remembered that no one was suppose to know of the dragons and so he quickly tried to fix the problem, "Uncle, you know I was referring to the Avatar, right?"
"Oh yes, yes!" Iroh agreed with a laugh. "I knew that your adventure with the legendary creature was with the Avatar. After all after he disappeared for a hundred years some did believe he was just a myth."
Both uncle and nephew grinned before they bid farewell to one another.