Iroh tried his hardest to keep a smile on his face as he sipped the tea Zuko had made for him.
Clearly it was painful though, and very forced.
The moment Zuko groaned and turned away Iroh threw the tea away into the bush and then smiled back up at Zuko who stood with his back to him. "This sure is great tea!" he beamed. "Thank you Nephew."
Zuko snorted. "Whatever." and walked away.
Then Iroh leaned to the side so he could whisper to Toph. "That was the worst tea I ever had. Such a shame, the one he made yesterday wasn't that bad."
Toph smirked amused. "It was kind of sweet that he made it for you anyway though."
"Yes. It was." Iroh agreed.
"Your nephew is funny!" Toph laughed. "He is so loud. And barks at everything. But he's nothing but a big softy underneath it all isn't he?"
"HAHAHAHA!" Iroh laughed. "Well that may be so."
"It's like a small dog." Toph said. "Small dogs always barks way more and way louder to make themselves look bigger. That's him."
Iroh almost chocked as he had to stop himself from laughing even louder, then finally put a hand over his own mouth to keep it down while he looked at Toph. Then he hissed. "Auuuw." he had to put a hand on his wound. "Young lady. You must stop making me laugh. It's not good for me right now."
Toph tilted her head. "Should I get Katara?"
"No." Iroh shook his head. "I'm fine." he assured. "Just sore. Your friend is an excellent healer. This could have been so much worse." he smiled.
"Yeah. I guess she's not half bad." Toph shrugged.
"Erhm." Iroh hesitated. "Do any of you know how to make tea?" he asked in a whisper.
Toph smirked. "I can make some tea. Seems fair. You made some for me." she sighed. "To think all those lessons would actually become useful one day."
"Much kind." Iroh smiled. "Thank you."
Toph just grinned as she stood up to walk over to the fire and attempt a do over of Zukos failure.
Zuko was sulking as he was sitting at the very edge of the camp. His back to all the others, crossing legs and crossed arms with a big scowl on his face.
That was when Aang took a careful step towards him. "Erhmm… Hi." Aang waved a hand. "Zuko. So you'll be going soon right?" he asked. "I thought maybe. We could try and talk."
Zuko didn't reply.
"It doesn't have to be anything special!" Aang assured. "We can talk about the clouds! Or tea… Or what Momo did the other day." he said. "You know. Unimportant things."
Zuko turned his head to the left and away from Aang.
"I mean. If you're not doing anything anyway. Why not?" Aang asked. "Hey! Maybe there is stuff you want to ask me!" he offered in a grin. "What would you like to hear about? The air nomads? How the world was a hundred years ago. I can tell you about the spirit world. That place is crazy."
Zuko remained quiet. Kept sitting in that position and Aang swallowed.
"The world sure changed a lot… In these hundred years." Aang spoke quietly. "I told you about Kuzon right? He was a fire nation citizen and he was my friend. We would go to this festival, in the fire nation. And we would dance and eat fireflakes." he chuckled. "Firebenders would make these fire dragons and birds in the air. It sure was something else… I don't think the fire nation is a bad people. I mean, they weren't back then so why would they be now?" he asked. "They were such a friendly and warm people. And they welcomed the air nomads who visited them. Offering hospitality. It's so hard to believe… That the fire nation would kill the air nomads. I still don't understand it." he said.
"Just say it." Zuko muttered bitterly. "You think the fire nation is evil."
"No…. I don't." Aang said.
"Then why are you trying to defeat the fire lord?" Zuko asked.
Aang halted as he looked at Zukos back. "The fire lord isn't the fire nation." he said.
Zuko opened his mouth, ready to object. But then he halted.
"Didn't your uncle talk about that yesterday to?" Aang asked. "You defended fire nation lives while the Fire lord didn't."
"I thought I made it clear. Don't talk about it." Zuko huffed.
"Ah! Sorry! That's not what I meant!" Aang said. "I just wanted to… Talk a little." he swallowed. "Zuko…" he blinked. "Hey have you ever considered your name is kind of similar to Roku? That's weird isn't it?"
"No I haven't. And if that's the case it's a stupid coincidence." Zuko muttered. "My mother named me after her grandfather. That's all there is to it."
"Oh. So… What's his name? Your mothers grandfather?" Aang asked.
"I don't know. Zuko probably." Zuko said in a shrug. "Could you leave?"
"Right… Erhm. It was nice talking with you… To you." Aang halted. "Look. When Azula hit your uncle he almost died. It would be a lot safer if you just stayed for a few days."
"We can take care of ourselves. We don't need you." Zuko huffed.
"Zuko. It's all right needing help sometimes. There's a reason I don't travel alone either." Aang pointed out. "And… I really don't think there is any need for us to be enemies. The fire nation isn't the enemy. They are as much of a victim as all the other nations. All I am trying to do, is to find peace and restore balance. How about you?" he asked.
Zuko hissed as he squinted his eyes and now turned his entire body away and Aang sighed.
"Right… Thank you for listening at least." Aang sighed as he turned back with a hung head.
"So you're like a wise man right?" Sokka asked casually sitting next to Iroh.
"Some has called me that yes." Iroh smiled amused.
"You give good advice and stuff." Sokka continued.
"Well I try to." Iroh replied.
"What do you do when you keep telling people that things are stupid ideas. And yet they do them anyway?" Sokka asked. "And then when I told Katara. This was a stupid idea, and she does it anyway. Who ends up getting hurt? Me! Sokka! Every single time!"
"That sounds very stressful." Iroh commented.
"I knoooow! Both Aang and Katara just rushes in whenever someone is in need. Toph isn't much better! All I am saying is. Maybe we should try to observe and work out a plan or something. Or better yet. Leave it alone when it has nothing to do with us." Sokka muttered.
"Those are the most sound strategies." Iroh agreed.
"Right!" Sokka exclaimed. "So much trouble could be avoided if people would just think before walking in! And trying to make friends we strangers they know nothing about!"
"Very true." Iroh replied.
"Wow. You really are wise." Sokka gasped. "Thanks man. I feel much better now."
"You're very welcome." Iroh smiled as Sokka stood up and walked away with a smile on his face. Iroh looked down at Momo who looked up at him. "No I don't know either." he said. "I didn't really get to say anything at all."
Momo tilted his head and then ran away as Iroh shook his head.