"Uncle, you're a silly old man," the hot-headed young fire bender exclaimed angrily as he stormed out of the apartment.
Iroh sighed and clipped another stray twig off his bonsai tree. More and more often Prince Zuko called him that. "If only you knew how more silly I was in my youth."
Many hours had passed before Zuko returned to find his older companion seated at the small table in the kitchen, sipping a cup of steaming tea. "Glad to see you back, Zuko. Please, join me for a cup of tea."
"No, old man."
He started for his bedroom only to be stopped by Iroh reaching out and grabbing his arm. It wasn't often that his uncle held him back and when he did it was of utmost importance that he listen to his elder's words.
"Please, Zuko. I insist."
Zuko was not sure if it was his own curiosity or the sincere note of pleading in Iroh's voice that made him take a seat opposite of the man and watch as he poured tea into a second chipped cup. "I'm listening."
"I am an old man, Zuko. This you have reaffirmed for me multiple times," Iroh began his tale on an odd page.
The prince looked down, a bit ashamed for his rash abuse of his only relative.
"So I would like to relay to you my tale, one that has never been known by another soul."
Now Zuko was really intrigued by what his uncle had to say.
Iroh sat his cup down on the table and stared at his reflection in the light brown liquid it held. So many memories, so many pains and joys, how could he relate them all?
"I was born the eldest son of the Fire Lord Azulon, many, many years ago. From the time I was a small child I knew that someday I would take my father's place of command. What I didn't know was that my younger brother Ozai would take my place first. But I am jumping ahead of myself.
"Like I was saying, I was born the eldest; therefore I was treated with all the respect and honor due to a son of the Fire Nation. I grew under the stern eye of my father and became the warrior he wanted me to be, much the same way Ozai did to you.
"My first memory of my father was watching him oversee the execution of several turncoats in the army. I think I was five at the time and your father had just been born a few days before. My mother on the other hand; I never really knew her. I was my father's child entirely.
"The only love I knew from my father was when I accomplished something great in the name of our family and the Fire Nation. Other than that there was nothing in my life that was truly worth anything."
"I hate to interrupt, Uncle, but where are you heading with this?" Zuko interjected.
"Patience, Zuko, I will get there momentarily. Now drink your tea and relax. I want to tell you about Natsuko."
