The difference between his father and uncle was the difference between the big picture and small details.
"What a beautiful day, Prince Zuko." Iroh said approvingly. "As wonderful as the Fire Nation is, I must admit that we do not appreciate-"
"I'm busy!" His nephew barked. "I will capture the Avatar, Uncle!" Zuko turned away from him, staring out at that endless, willful and reckless sea. It imprisoned him, reminding him that he wasn't worthy to fire-bend, that he should suffer the sea. "I must capture the Avatar so I shall regain my honor. I am doing my service to the Fire Nation."
He didn't say it, but with honor came his father's pride. His crown restored to him. A place in the Royal Army. The Fire Nation's War won.
.
Sometimes, his ideals grew fuzzy.
"You'll join the army of course." His father said to him once, when he was six years old and Lu-Ten had sent his first letter home. "All sons of the Fire Nation do. All Fire Nation people are born to their mother country and they will be honored to die for her."
And Zuko nodded, thinking that his mother didn't really care about the War but he would join to make his father honored.
.
Then he really focuses.
"Welcome to the Jasmine Dragon!" His uncle said, his voice a dragon's purr. "And what kinds of tea does the most beautiful lady in the Earth Kingdom desire?"
The most beautiful lady is a tired woman, holding a child by the hand, one on her hip and another stands by her side. Her robes are faded to a mossy color and small wisps of hair have fallen loose. "Just a cup," she said hoarsely. "That's all."
Zuko brings it to her and she barely takes a sip before she passes it on to her children. They all savor it before they share with one another. He watches them from a table over, where he cleans up after that merchant who sells cabbages and left a very healthy tip. He brings it to his uncle at the rear of the tea shop who accepts it solemnly and marches over to the woman.
She hands the teacup back to him, both grateful and loathsome for this small luxury to end. "Thank you. How much?"
"Ah. Yes." His uncle peers at the children, standing back to discourage a tug on the beard. "It's already been paid. By a generous patron who saw and thought to treat the children. Would you like another cup? I make great tea!"
.
"What is the Fire Nation without it's people?" The Fire Lord declared. "We are a great people and we can re-build, rise up from the ashes of our past and make this nation great once more!"
The people cheered. He could make out each face from the crowd: the boys waving Fire Nation flags, the soldiers returned home, the little girl on her father's shoulders again.
Fire Lord Zuko stepped down as his wife reached out to clasp his hand. She was solemn-faced, but her grey eyes practically sang with approval. It was her idea to take back the image of a phoenix. His mother clapped too, Ursa smiling proudly at her son. His uncle wasn't there, but Zuko could imagine that Iroh was sitting in his teashop, smiling still. And Zuko smiled.
For if there was anything he learned in that teashop, it was to serve the people.
I haven't watched Avatar in ages. Just started re-watching now. But I thought of this first. Hmm? Reviews would be nice!