Lost in the screams of pain is a chapter story,
All the stories are about fragments out of Zuko's and Iroh's lives.

This story happens during [Book 2, ep.14: City of Walls and Secrets].

Iroh got robbed by a young street gang, Zuko saved him. He cares for his uncle and they start to built a great family bond.

Iroh is sixty-five,
Zuko is sixteen.

Lost in the screams of pain,
Chapter 49: Family.

"Is the door properly closed, boy?" Iroh asked softly, while his nephew pushed firmly against the door knob of the tea house.

"Yeah, we can go home now!"

Iroh turned his head at Zuko with a disapproving frown. "Shhh, Lee! It's late, everyone is asleep!"

"Sorry…" The boy whispered. "Let's go home, I'm hungry…"

"Ah! Then we're with two! I'm starving!" Iroh replied while he walked next to the boy.

"What will we eat tonight?"

"Rice and chicken." The older man replied with a smile, he really did feel like eating! Aahh, some nice chicken… Iroh's thoughts were disturbed by a noise. He glared behind him, there was nobody…

Zuko had notice it as well, he walked slower and glared through the alleys, he noticed suddenly four young men. They stared at the two and followed them. "Uncle… Careful!"

Iroh turned around, "Not good, Lee…" They both walked further as suddenly a fifth boy jumped out of nowhere and pushed the older man onto the ground. Iroh fell into a wet puddle, the young robber held a dagger before the old man's face. "Your money!"

Zuko rushed forewords but the other four surrounded him. He glared patiently at them, observed their weaponry. One of them had a wooden club, the other a katana, the smallest had butterfly swords and the last one had a khukri. "We've no money!"

"Not lie to us! We saw you two in the tea shop! You get a day's wages!"

"Hah! You want money? Find a job yourself!" Zuko snarled back.

Iroh glared with wide eyes at his nephew, what was his nephew saying? Doesn't he realize how serious this is? One of the robbers got angry and placed his dagger onto Iroh's throat. "Lee? … stop it!"

The young boy grabbed his dual swords and smashed one of the four robbers onto the floor; he jumped high into the air and kicked the dagger away with his feet. "Get your filthy hands from my uncle!" The boy yelled as he smashed his leg into the leader's face, the gang leader fell onto the ground and was knocked out, his nose bloodied terribly.

"Don't you want to fight me?" The boy yelled at the four remainders, they walked backwards, they were nothing without their leader. Iroh stared at the four boys who clearly had enough of it.

The man turned his head and glared at his young furious nephew who clearly hadn't enough of it. "Well, these 'robbers' have picked the wrong guy!" Iroh said proud.

"Real losers…" Zuko muttered. "They don't want to finish what they started ... what kind of robbers are they?" The boy gave his uncle an arm and pulled him up. "Are you okay?"

The man stood up and rubbed the boy's lower back. "Yes, thanks Zuko…" He whispered in the boy's ear.

"No thanks! You helped me many times before!"

Back home.

Zuko led the candles in the apartment and stared anxiously at his sweaty and exhausted uncle, the old man crept slowly towards the oven and made their dinner. He looked disgusted at his pots, he had no appetite anymore.

"Are you alright uncle?" Zuko asked worried, his uncle wasn't in his normal doing.

The older man nodded slowly. "I'm okay." The food was ready after a while; the young boy ate it with taste. Iroh had already gone to bed; he fell immediately into a deep sleep.

The next morning,
Zuko got up early as usual.
He had to work today…

The boy walked out of the bathroom and frowned, his uncle was still asleep. "Uncle?" Zuko replied as he crept closer, he felt at the man's cheeks and forehead. It was warm and sweaty; the man had probably the flu?

Zuko walked into the living room and grabbed a piece of paper. Uncle, I'm off to work, stay in bed today! See you tonight…

"So! That's good ... He'll understand. I hope!" The boy whispered as he laid the paper next to his uncle. "Bye, see you later uncle!"

The young teenager left the apartment and rushed towards work. He hadn't much time, he was alone. ALONE, he needed to make tea by himself… And he needed to do their own household today, the boy stopped at a market. Glared fast over the stalls. Think Zuko… think… What will we eat? What? Hmm… Soup? No, I can't prepare soup… I know it's made of water but … pfff.

Egg's! I can fry an egg ... with euhm with rice! The boy smiled with proud, he was sure he could prepare that! "Four chicken egg's please…"

"That's a copper coin."

"Here you are!" The boy gave his coin and grabbed the egg's, he carried them careful to the shop and prepared at his first service alone.

Uncle had learned me the last week how to prepare tea, I can do it myself now… Well, I hope too.

That evening.

Iroh sat at the table, sipped some tea. He glared out of the window and waited at his nephew, he wasn't home yet. The boy was much later than usual!

"Hey, you need to stay in bed!" Zuko muttered as he opened the door.

"What kept you so long? I was worried! It's after midnight!" Iroh replied a bit angry.

"You weren't there and nor Pao, it was busy!" Zuko snarled.

"You served alone?"

"Yeah… and I visited the market too!"

Iroh glared over the little brown bag and smiled. "You'll cook for us? But you can't..."

"Hey, I try to do my best!"

"What memorable meals will you prepare?" Iroh asked curious.

Zuko thought about his choice and suddenly understood how pathetic it was. "Euhm.." The boy scratched behind his ear. "Eurgh man, Rice with egg's…"

Iroh smiled wide at his nephew's cute behavior, this was so typical for a young male. Being proud to prepare a meal but ashamed about his pore talents. "It sounds great to me! Come on kitchen prince… I'm hungry!"

Three days later.

Iroh's fever subsided and healed, with partly thanks to the good cares of his nephew. The man stood before his son's picture and bowed his head. Today was a special day, it was Lu Ten's birthday.

He would celebrate it today! Iroh was here in Ba-Sing-Se, nearby Lu Ten's place of death. He couldn't let it pass like it was nothing.

"Twenty-five! You would have been twenty-five today!" Iroh whispered to the picture. "That would have been great!"

Zuko passed slowly while he peeked at his uncle who was whispering some comforting words towards his son's picture. Poor uncle… The boy sat down on the seat in the kitchen and listened in silence.

"I'll go to a special picnic with you!" The man grabbed his son's picture and placed it in his basket. "Zuko? I'm away for a few hours!"

"Take your time…" Zuko replied soft and waited until the door closed. He sighed as he stood up; the young boy stared at the closet that's used as a memorial. Uncle had placed some candles and incense on it.

Zuko opened the slider and took some little red flowers and a small vase out it; he had bought them this morning. "I know that flowers are for girls… and I'm sure, you're laughing with me right now!"

"But I didn't know what else to buy…" The boy whispered emotional. "You know I… I wish you a happy birthday!" A tear rolled down his cheek. "Man, hah … I'm such a sissy!" The boy wept his tears as he thought about his cousin, who always called him sissy in the past.

"I hope you're happy there… I do my best for your father. He misses you terribly!"