First, I want to apologize for the long break between this and the last update. The summer was a hectic mess. I had hoped to work on this more often, but life, ya know.
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar the Last Airbender. Sorry. If I did own the show… well for one, I think by now we would all know what pairings I would have been flaunting as canon. Obviously, the ones that are not canon. Second, I would know what was going on with Korra more so than I do. New season and I am already behind. How did I manage that? I don't know, but I need to watch the last few episodes. Tumblr has been filling me in with what I missed, but I need to catch up.
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Teach Me: Zuko has always had trouble keeping his temper and it is beginning to offset his firebending. Of course his Uncle is always there to teach him.
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Zuko had always struggled with his firebender and Iroh blamed Ozai for that. The man had lead his son's training with an iron fist, and no room for excuses. Even the smallest misstep has resulted in an on slaughter of both verbal, and sometimes physical backlash. It was not an environment that Zuko could survive in, and clearly not one that he could learn in.
This was all too clear to Iroh whenever he took it upon himself to train his nephew. Ozai had brushed off the request as if it were nothing, handing over his son as if he were even less. It had angered Iroh beyond belief how quickly his brother dismissed the boy. It hurt Zuko more than any of them could see whenever Ozai made it clear that he would no longer be teaching the boy; or at least trying to teach as he had sneered when he had been telling the boy of the switch.
The first lesson had proved just how timid the ten year old was when it came to the flames. At this age, he should have control over the element, or at least not fear it as much as he did. Yet, it was clear as day in the boy's eyes and the way he shrunk into himself after a mistake as if expecting Iroh to turn his own flames on him.
It sickened Iroh the fear that had been instilled into the innocent child. He had taken his rage towards Ozai, threatening the man within an inch of his life if he so much as laid a finger on the boy. Ozai had sneered a response that had been lost in Iroh's rage. Had it not been for the children down the hall, Iroh was sure he would have killed his brother then and there.
The debate over Zuko's wellbeing kept up for years, to the point where Iroh made sure he knew of the boy's location every moment. There was only so much he could do to protect the child, so he turned to his training. For the times that he would not be there to protect the kid from his own father, he had to make sure that Zuko could protect himself.
"You need to learn control." Iroh muttered for what felt like the thousandth time as what had been a relatively large flame blinked out of existence near inches his nephew's extended fist.
"I'm trying." The boy whispered, refusing to meet his uncle's gaze. The sense of failure slopped down onto the boy's shoulders, the weight of the world thrown onto the child.
"I know Zuko." Iroh said softly, refusing to allow the boy to settle into the thoughts of failure that were no doubt running through his mind. "And you are doing well. But you need to remember that firebending isn't just brute strength. Its balance, control, and most important, breath."
"Father says its rage." His voice was so low. "That the angrier you are, the bigger the flames. And I'm trying. I'm angry, I really am… but…"
"What are you angry at?" Iroh asked, kneeling in from of his nephew. "You can tell me. This does not leave the two of us. I won't tell anyone what you say. But please, tell me, Zuko."
"Everything." Zuko sighed, his head turned down. Loose black hair hung from his ponytail, framing around his face. "I'm trying, really I am, but I'm just… I'm not good enough. No matter how much I try, I can't do any of it right. I'm a horrible firebender, a sad excuse for a prince, and a poor excuse for a son."
"Now stop right there, Zuko." Iroh spoke harsher than he had intended, but it managed to snap Zuko's gaze onto him. "Why would you say such things?" The boy didn't need to answer that question though, as Iroh knew well and where his nephew would have picked up such a mentality. "I want you to listen to me, and listen well. You are amazing, Zuko. You are the most compassionate and caring boy I know-"
"But I can't be!" Zuko suddenly snarled. The look in his eyes made it clear that he hadn't meant for his voice to take such a dark turn. His infamous temper was beginning to spike, as pent up aggression and anger rose into the small child. "I have to be strong. And I'm not."
"There are many forms of strength." Iroh spoke much softer. "There is physical strength, and then there is a much more important strength. The strength of character-"
"That won't help me get better." Zuko was close to breaking, his eyes beaming with tears, and voice layered with rage. "I have to get better. I have to get this down. I need to be stronger. I need to prove that I'm worthy."
The temperature around them began to spike, the fires that rested inside lanterns in the distance suddenly simmering out of existence. The heat waves dancing off the boy were visible. There almost seemed to be steam billowing from the boy's nose in a fashion commonly seen with dragons. In that moment, Iroh realized just how powerful Zuko could truly be. He also realized that if he didn't teach Zuko control, didn't help him get over this rage that, it could overcome and devour him. The boy was innocent, caring and kind. The rage sinking over him would destroy him the moment it could.
Without a word, and without care as to who was passing by the training arena, Iroh pulled the boy into his chest, and held him as tight as he could. Zuko fought at first, but eventually buckled under the hug, his arms gripping his uncle.
"Anger isn't the way to go." Iroh spoke softly. "You have many reasons to be angry Zuko, but you cannot let it consume you. You don't need to prove anything, because you are worth more than you know."
He wanted to say so much more, as his nephew did not deserve this. He didn't deserve to feel as if the weight of the world was thrown onto his shoulders, especially at such a young age. He did not deserve the expectations shoved upon him. And he most certainly did not need to feel like he was not good enough. He didn't deserve to have Ozai's words latched onto his self-esteem and thoughts. "You are better than that. But you have to learn inner control. That is how you will get stronger. Not by allowing this rage to overcome you."
"I'm trying." Zuko muttered after what felt like hours of silence. "I really am."
"I know."
"Will you teach me how?" The question was spoken so softly that Iroh briefly wondered if the words had not truly been spoke.
"I will." Iroh whispered, refusing to break his hold on his nephew.
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So what I really want is for the creators of the show to have another series that follows the progression of Iroh and Zuko, starting from childhood, and extending into those years at sea and on the run, and then maybe after the war. Is that too much to ask? It's not like I have anything wrong with Korra, but I would much rather had a series on Iroh and Zuko. Who's with me? There just wasn't enough of them in the original series. Oh well, I am definitely making up for that lack of presents with yet another of my Irko chapters. Maybe I should just let those two have control of this challenge and be done with it. Merlin knows that they make up a large section of these one-shots.
Oh well. Hope you enjoyed.
Next Chapter…
Apologize: As Zuko spilled his heart, Iroh fought back the urge to embrace the boy then and there. But the boy needed to say these words out loud, and Iroh would allow him to do so.
(Yet another Irko chapter.)