Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender or any of its characters.
Deep in the Fire Nation Palace, there was a small, homely room. It was nothing like the grand throne room or any of the impressive corridors. In fact, this room was much older than most people, having been built during the time of Fire Lord Sozin. Though it had been unused and blanketed by dust for three generations, it had been cleaned up and used liked a living room by the current Lord of the Fire Nation, Zuko.
At the moment, it was filled with laughter. Two days ago was the first anniversary of the Fight of Sozin's Comet and the 'GaAng' had gathered there for a reunion. At the far corner of the room was Sokka and Suki, fingers intertwined. Both were dressed in the colors of the people, rich blues and whites or dark greens and greys, respectively. Katara was near them, wearing lighter blues, but they were thinner than normal, as for the heat of the environment around her. Aang was at her side, monk's robes in dark yellows with a red sash, the necklace of wind around his neck. Toph was by herself, hair pulled back in her tale-tell bun and hairband, clothed in green and tarnished white. And, finally, there was Zuko and Iroh. The Fire Lord had forgone his heavy robes and instead wore more relaxed clothes, very similar to what he wore during his time training the Avatar, though his crown was still in his top-not. Iroh, on the other hand, was dressed something strangely resembling the tattered clothes he wore while on the run, though they were more well-kept. As normal, he held a steaming cup of tea in his right hand.
"My nephew told the kind woman that his name was Lee and mine was Mushi!" The man continued in his story, enticing a laugh from the group. "And so, those became our names, though I could have asked for a better one. Do you realize how many times someone called me 'Mush-i' instead of 'Mu-shi'?" While the rest of them laughed again, Zuko simply frowned.
"Did I ever tell you why I choose those names, Uncle?" They fell silent.
"No, I don't ever think you did." He replied at last.
"Remember when I was young and would pretend I was a Fire Nation soldier on the run from the Earth Kingdom, trying to return to the army?" A shadow came over Iroh's eyes, but he nodded. "In the game, when I was 'on the run', I would pretend to be named Lee. Lu Ten would go by Mushi."
"...He would?"
"Yeah. And when Song asked, the similarities were so obvious that I just said it by impulse."
"Wait, who's Lu Ten?" Toph injected, the others having been too polite to interrupt the clearly personal moment between the two.
"He was my son." Iroh answered with sorrow, "He fell during the Seige of Ba Sing Sa. That was why Fire Nation forces pulled out. We had broken the outer wall, but I had not the motivation to continue."
"He was just eighteen(1)." Zuko picked up, eyes drawn to the floor, head hanging low, "He was like the older brother I never had. I was closer to him than I ever was to Azula." He conjured a small flame to his hand, "He was my first fire-bending teacher." Sokka and Katara glanced at each other than back to the royal.
"I'm sorry." She said softly. Zuko gave her a weak smile and waved his hand.
"Forget about it. It happened a long time ago. I don't think about him much anymore."
But everyone knew he was lying.
Conversation returned slowly, but it was strained. Forced. Laughter did not sound.
And Iroh and Zuko did not speak again.
Iroh's tea grew cold.
He did not notice.
Author's Note:
(1) I didn't know how old Lu Ten was when he died, so I guessed. Please tell me if you know!
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