Honored Son

Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar

It was rare for the dueling arena to be so filled with spectators, let alone when a majority consisted of high ranking members of the military and nobility. But then again, it was rare that an Agni Kai took place involving a member of the royal family.

But the scene before them had more likeness with an execution than an honor duel, as the Crown Prince of the Fire Nation bowed and begged forgiveness from his opponent: Firelord Ozai, his own father.

"Please, Father. I only had the Fire Nation's best interest at heart. I'm sorry I spoke out of turn!" Zuko begged in shock, having had no idea or suspicion that this be who he would have to fight.

But the man stalked forward, every step with power as if he were Agni himself to the young prince. "You will fight for your honor," Ozai ordered without mercy, without anger. Only impatience.

Some looked on grimly, others pleased at the display the boy was giving, knowing that there would be no escape from this duel.

"I meant you no disrespect!" Zuko pleaded desperately. "I am your loyal son."

Ozai stopped, pausing only to glare at the boy that called himself his son. The Firelord could see the expression on so many faces. The smirk of some officers, like Zhao and the general Zuko spoke against. The pity or horror, like his own elder brother wore. And then there was that cruel smile on his own daughter's face as she watched her brother squirm.

"If you are truly my son, then rise and fight, Prince Zuko!" he demanded, his voice echoing through the chamber.

To his credit, Ozai only had to wait for three long seconds before Zuko raised his head. He had been crying, but the look in the boy's eyes had shifted from fear to confusion.

Then a quasi form of understanding, a suspicion appeared to fall over the boy. He was scared, yes, but he rose and wiped his tears to force a determined look on his face. The face of one about to fail, but would fight at his best all the same.

Ozai smirked.

That was the only warning Zuko had as the fire leapt from his father's fist. The prince barely managed to deflect the blast to the side while dodging to the left. Using the same momentum, Zuko ducked under a savage roundhouse flame-kick from Ozai, delivering his own upward kick.

Ozai skillfully dodged it, smirking as he leaned away just enough to avoid his beard becoming singed. His son wisely leapt back to put some distance between them, and Ozai let the attempt pass with little more than a blast that narrowly missed Zuko.

It was obvious to all that the Firelord was merely indulging the Prince at this point by not ending it swiftly. Or perhaps he was dragging out the punishment. It was hard to fathom a man like Ozai.

Zuko continued to trade blows with his father, forced on the defensive with a few attempts to take back the initiative from the clearly more skilled Firebender. But even without using his full strength, Ozai made sure to leave no gaps in his stance, no weak spot to exploit. It was like trying to fight a volcano. And Zuko knew he was no Sozin.

Zuko would later admit to more than a little fear when Ozai neutralized his final fireball, the man's hand ripping through the fires, expelling them as he grasped the boy's fist. Zuko stared at his father, almost imagining he was pleased with his performance-

And then the Firelord's blazing fist struck his chest. Zuko let out a yell of pain as he was blown off his feet, landing on his back.

Zuko breathed deep as he clutched his chest in pain, looking up to see his father staring down at him. He didn't beg, he didn't cry.

But he did wince when the hand rose, his body bracing for the pain.

Yet new pain never erupted on him. He was almost sure he was hallucinating from the agony now, as he realized his father's hand was not reached out to strike him.

It was stretched out, palm open, offering to help him up.

More than a few surprised looks and uncertain murmurs erupted across the room as the Firelord helped his son to his feet. Zuko could be counted among them. Agni Kai's usually ended with death or burns. His eyes widened in understanding, looking down at his chest wound. It was a large patch across his torso, tender and red. The skin would likely be peeling. It would fade, but it was technically a burn, a scar.

Ozai didn't smile, most didn't believe he ever did. But if his smirk seemed more proud than domineering, no one would ever dare to say so.

"You fought well, Prince Zuko," Ozai congratulated, placing a hand on the stunned prince's shoulder, turning to face the audience on one side. The side filled with generals and officers, his own brother wearing a look of optimistic surprise, and his daughter who looked as if something was very wrong in the world now. "This is my son! Still more boy than anything! Yet already more man than half of you combined," Ozai declared as a boast, leaving a stunned silence over the crowd. Ozai fixed them all with a stare that was like lightning personified, ready to strike down any that made an issue of this further. "This match is over, the matter settled."

With that, he walked off the platform without another word, leaving a very stunned yet very honored crown prince.

He held back his wince as he headed off the stage as well, the audience beginning to trickle out of the room. But several of them made a point to bow as he passed them.

He should have been insulted by the medics waiting near the doors at his end of the room when none were on his father's, but he was actually grateful. No matter what happened, he would have needed them, he knew.

One trip to the infirmary later, Zuko found himself sitting on a medical bed with his torso covered in medical wrapping, feeling relieved. He wasn't sure why, but he felt as though he just passed a test with horrible consequences for failing.

"Zuko, are you alright?"

Zuko smiled when he saw his uncle come towards him as the medics filed out of the room. "Besides the burn, the doctor said it's just some bruised ribs. Father hits like a charging komodo-rhino," he answered with a forced smile before taking a deep breath. "Uncle, what just happened?"

"I have only my suspicions," Iroh warned, stroking his beard. "Perhaps it is best that your father answers that question himself."

"Isn't it obvious, Uncle?"

Zuko swore that if he knew how, he would have snorted fire in frustration at that too familiar voice. "Princess Azula, to what do we owe the pleasure, my lovely niece?" Iroh asked with a polite smile to his niece who was leaning on the door frame.

Zuko always found it funny how his uncle could look and sound so sincerely pleasant while obviously wanting nothing to do with the person he was speaking to, as he did not care for whatever they were selling.

"Oh, nothing, just came to see how my poor, injured brother was doing," Azula noted with her ever clever viper tongue. "But I'm impressed Zuzu. You managed to be so pathetic even Father decided to take pity on you," Azula stated with a smirk.

"Azula, lying all the time kind of makes you easy to ignore right now," Zuko pointed out with a smirk of his own, refusing to let his sister twist this mostly pleasant moment.

"What's there to lie about? The entire Fire Nation might as well have saw that pathetic display when you got on your knees and begged for mercy in the middle of an Agni Kai," Azula retorted smoothly, scowling at his lack of reaction. "And really, you called that a fight? You were essentially a baby mooselion in the maw of a dragon."

Zuko rolled his golden eyes at her. "Like you would do any better against Dad."

"He was clearly holding back on you," Azula retorted pointedly.

"And he doesn't when he spars with you?" Zuko shot back.

"Those last far longer than that sorry excuse of a match!" Azula answered with her arms crossed.

"Good for you. I just lasted five minutes fighting the Firelord before he decided to end the fight," Zuko stated with a small smirk. "Nothing you can say is going to make that feel like a bad thing right now, Azula."

"Fine. Far be it from me to deny your ego getting a rare boost. Though, I suppose a show of pity is the only thing you can be proud of," Azula taunted.

"Princess Azula," Iroh spoke up sternly. "You should be careful with your words."

"And just what is that supposed to mean?" Azula demanded with a glare to the Dragon of the West.

"The Firelord declared the matter settled, and even boasted of Zuko's admirable match, despite your brother's defeat," Iroh reminded with a wry smile. "I doubt my brother would take too kindly to contradicting that statement, claiming it to be a show of mere pity. After all, the palace walls are full of eyes and ears, especially the Firelord's."

Zuko realized that it said a LOT about how bad the relationship between him and his sister was that he actually enjoyed the flash of fear that crossed over her eyes at that revelation. No matter how old she pretended to be, Azula was still just an overachieving eleven year old. Even she made the occasional slip up in things: lessons, bending, her mind games she was so fond of playing. And Zuko could see that Azula realized she had played herself. If Ozai was willing to declare an Agni Kai against Zuko for speaking out of turn, what would he do to her for insulting him and his words?

And just like that, the fear vanished behind her controlled eyes. "Just try not to milk this too much, Zuzu. This hasn't changed anything," she warned as she left the room.

"Do you think-?" Zuko started to ask in obvious, brotherly concern.

"No, your father is not that petty, least of all to her," Iroh answered sagely, keeping private how uncertain he actually was of the depths of his brother's pettiness. "If he dueled everyone that disagreed with him, we'd have no more generals."

"They disagree with him?" Zuko asked skeptically, a surge of pain prompting him to massage the wound beneath the wrappings.

"Of course. A river's path is dictated not only by the water, Prince Zuko, but the terrain it must travel across. Your father may direct the army and state the goals, but it is the generals who grapple with how well the goal meshes with reality at the given time," Iroh explained before giving Zuko a look of reprimand. "Of course, such generals wait until it is their time and place to speak."

Zuko bowed his head in apology. "I'm sorry, Uncle. I just heard how they planned to throw away all those young soldiers as bait and-and, and it wasn't right!" Zuko declared, his hands gripping the bed. "I understand men die in war, Uncle, and that sacrifices have to be made, but-"

He stopped as Iroh placed a hand on his shoulder, the young teen meeting his uncle's proud and warm gaze. "Do not mistake me, nephew, I both agree with you and am proud that you felt so vehemently. It is the mark of a great man and ruler that cares so deeply for those that serve him yet has never met them. But knowing when to speak and even how to speak is as important as knowing when to strike and when to defend in a duel."

Zuko smiled. It was soft and it was exhausted. "I understand, Uncle," Zuko answered, and he truly believed he did. He fought off a yawn, but could not erase the haggard look in his eyes. "I'm tired," he admitted, massaging his temple.

"Even a young man needs his rest, Zuko,' Iroh encouraged fondly as the boy laid himself down.

Meanwhile

Most people didn't think about the Firelord having an office, as few realized how much reading and writing of paperwork was involved with the task. And the throne room had the issue of potentially burning potential documents.

Ozai called the room functional: a desk and a chair, two cabinets, a mirror to make sure he looked presentable after a long time in this room, a map of the world with a few different notes stabbed into it, and a few war trophies scattered about as odds and ends.

Others secretly called the personal study "cozy" when they thought he didn't hear. He personally didn't see it, but he supposed that wasn't an insult as much as he detested that word.

He was convinced his brother made that adjective popular in the palace.

Think of the Dragon and he shall appear.

Ozai wasn't in any shape or form surprised when the knock on his door was revealed to be Iroh, looking particularly neutral. Which was Iroh's way of scolding someone he technically wasn't allowed to scold. Ozai hated that look when he was young and he didn't much care for it now.

"That was a rather interesting duel, Firelord Ozai," Iroh stated respectful, hands folded within his sleeves.

"Iroh, I never cared for your roundabout conversations," Ozai stated firmly, motioning for him to take a seat on the other side of his desk. "Dispense with the pretense, skip the proverbs, and say what you came here to say."

Iroh sighed before giving his younger brother a hard yet curious look. "You surprise me, Brother," Iroh said, wishing that they, or rather he, had some tea. The Firelord had always been obvious with his lack of respect for the beverage. "When I saw you enter that arena, I was certain you would do something horrible to your own son."

"I might have, if he hadn't fought back," Ozai answered honestly, Iroh's gaze requesting an elaboration without saying a word. "I will admit that I am hard on the boy, Iroh. And I stand by what I have said in the past: Zuko was a disappointment."

"Was?" Iroh repeated pointedly.

Ozai nodded, as if admitting the meaning Iroh suspected. "Sometimes a spark needs more room than fuel to grow," Ozai stated, surprising Iroh.

"And I thought we were skipping the proverbs," Iroh noted, unable to not find amusement in this moment.

Ozai rolled his eyes, ever scowling. "They have their time and place. My point is that Zuko needs to find a motivation in life. A personal goal beyond trying to equal his sister, and something of more substance than the throne that he was born to."

"And to do that, you would have scarred your own son?" Iroh asked with disapproval.

Ozai closed his eyes briefly. "Zuko isn't like me. Power, personal or political, are not enough to motivate him. Azula's talents are enough to drag him along, but not to light the fire in his heart and under his feet."

"That still doesn't really explain what this duel was really about?" Iroh mused curiously.

"I meant what I said out there," Ozai stated simply. "In that moment when Zuko spoke up, he proved braver than most generals in that war room. I may not carry their ideals, but I can see plainly when those men compromise their own beliefs. Not for the good of the Fire Nation or respect for the Firelord, but out of fear of me specifically. When faced with challenging me, Zuko caved. That was why I was disappointed, Iroh. He caved like the rest...until he realize he was not fighting his father today, but the Firelord himself," Ozai finished with a smirk. "He knew he would lose, but he stood up to me, for his honor and for his country. He fought for that, he proved he could fight for his own ideals. And that's all I needed to know."

Iroh blinked, wish he had a very large cup of tea for a very long drink. "While not parenting I approve of, I am rather impressed, Brother. I was under the impression you find ideals like that weak?"

Ozai took a breath. "I don't care for the boy's beliefs, Iroh, but in that same breath I care little more for those that attempt to mimic my own. What I care for is that the boy finds the will to be strong for whatever he believes in. To be strong enough to defend his honor. He proved that today. And in doing so, he proved himself more my child than Azula ever has."

Iroh arched his eyebrow at the surprising praise from Ozai. "My nephew has longed ached to hear those words, Brother. But I never would have imagined you found Azula-"

"My daughter believes herself perfect," Ozai interrupted with a scowl. It wasn't angry. Concerned? Disappointed? Troubled? Iroh wasn't sure what danced across his sibling's face, but it was there and it was real. "She has excelled at everything for as long as she can remember, never having to put more than a passing effort for anything. Never having to struggle. I praised her, yes, and I am proud, yes. But I am never sure anymore where her ideals come from: copying my own out of fear of disappointment or simply wishing to be like her father because she believes the same as I do?" Ozai wondered allowed, shaking his head.

"She is rather dependent on your approval," Iroh agreed thoughtfully.

"Like me she can be merciless, cunning, and, admittedly, sadistic on occasion," Ozai admitted without shame, even a tinge of amusement before scowling. "But her reaction at the Agni Kai, how she was truly at a loss for the outcome? I have seen that expression when she thinks I'm not looking, when I find the rare reason to scold her. Yet she wore it when I applauded Zuko instead of scorning him," he paused to glare meaningfully at Iroh, a lifetime flashing between them. "I lived in your shadow for decades, Brother. I struggled every day trying to find a way to surpass you in various fields. But the mere thought of even sharing my attention with her brother shook Azula."

"Brother, she is only eleven," Iroh reminded softly. "And children don't always react well to change."

"I am aware, Iroh," Ozai stated firmly. "It is possible that she is simply going through a phase of insecurity and uncertainty. It is possible she is just fearful of Zuko overcoming her after all this time of being his better. It is possible that we're both old fools for looking too deeply into the minute actions and mentality of children," Ozai stated, a rare moment of brotherly amusement between the two. "I can't say I favor Zuko over Azula, but she will learn to accept that her place as the "best' isn't so easily kept. If she can't even stomach to have a rival, then I will have severely overestimated her," Ozai stated severely.

Iroh truly, truly wished he had some tea. He barely caught himself reaching for a cup that wasn't there, out of habit. "I suppose there is wisdom in that. But what of Prince Zuko?" Iroh asked, giving an obligatory look of disappointment. "You never did visit him in the infirmary."

"I'm proud of him, Iroh. That doesn't mean I'll coddle him," Ozai retorted bluntly. "Besides, the worst I gave him is a faint scar. If it remains, it'll just be something interesting for his bedwarmers to observe."

Iroh looked somehow both entirely unamused and completely amused by that statement. "And bruised ribs, but that's to be expected," Iroh informed, glancing at his brother's body briefly. With all the time on the throne or in this study, Iroh was impressed that Ozai found the time to maintain such a muscled frame.

"As for Zuko, I believe in a few months it will be time to send him away," Ozai continued contemplatively.

"Send him away? What do you mean?" Iroh asked with a scowl.

"Have you forgotten, brother? He's a part of our royal family," Ozai reminded flatly. "You and our father essentially made it a tradition for the heirs to the throne to go out and try to find the Avatar."

"And we failed," Iroh reminded, albeit curious by this notion.

"Yes, as did I, but the traveling certainly aided both of you. Father's travel in the North is what helped him break the back of the Northern Water Tribe's navy, pushing them back into their isolation. I believe your own travels were what allowed you to actually get the army to Ba Sing Se, in relative safety," Ozai reminded.

Iroh was impressed. Normally anytime Ba Sing Se came up with Ozai, his failure to take it was also-

"Even if you failed to take it."

And suddenly all was right in the world. "So, you wish your son to gain some worldly experience?" Iroh noted, admitting that there was merit in that.

Ozai nodded. "It's more than that, however. Zuko is not me: being here, training here will only hinder him, I believe. By sending him out into the world, I believe that he'll discover his own path. Give him space to grow, as some call it. With some guidance."

Iroh hummed. "I still don't entirely approve of your parenting, Brother, but I am happy that you are finally seeing the good in your son. And say no more, I will be more than happy to accompany my nephew on this little quest," Iroh stated with a warm smile.

"Just make sure the boy learns to keep a more level head, and that he can at least make Azula break a sweat by the time he gets back," Ozai countered in annoyance.

"As you say, Firelord Ozai," Iroh said before looking curious. "So what if he actually finds the Avatar?"

Ozai gave him a dubious look. "You don't really believe that, do you?"

"Oh? Oh! You don't know this part of the tradition!" Iroh said with a wide grin. "Grandfather offered a great reward to Father if he could capture the Avatar, and Father did the same to me. It's a grand gesture, mainly for the sake of making the quest seem legitimate."

Ozai looked honestly curious and interested at this part. "What were the rewards?"

"Hm, well, I believe Father told me that Firelord Sozin offered to make him viceroy of half the homelands," Iroh answered in amusement. "Father offered to give me a territory of the colonies to rule as I saw fit, four or five depending on the size."

"So, an extravagantly generous reward that will never be given," Ozai remarked idly. "I'll consider it, if only for the sake of tradition. Why was I never aware of this "reward" though?"

"I don't recall," Iroh answered, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "Either you were too busy wanting to get the quest over with, or someone switched my tea with alcohol. I forget which," he answered with a playful look in his eye. "I trust you won't be sending him away too quickly?"

"Of course not. It'd look like a banishment if I did. Within three to six months, however, I'll expect him to be on his way," Ozai remarked, giving Iroh a pointed look. "But don't tell the boy anything. I'll tell Zuko in my own time, or whenever he summons the courage to ask me himself."

"Whichever comes first," Iroh acknowledged with a nod before giving a jolly grin. "I will get that boy to appreciate tea though."

"Iroh, do remember I have the power to illegalize tea across all lands of the Fire Nation," Ozai warned flatly.

"This has been a most valued conversation, Brother, but I believe I have business elsewhere," Iroh stated with a smile, deciding it was wise to make a retreat now.

Ozai tried not to roll his eyes as he gave Iroh permission to leave with a wave.

It was left unsaid that this arrangement would also get Iroh out of his hair for a few years.

End of Chapter

Okay, so...slightly OOC Ozai here, but I'm pretty sure he would wanted Zuko to fight him in canon, at least try to. But he's still a harsh man here in many ways, obviously

Still, yes, Zuko got off with only a less burn on his chest, and yes, he's still going on that quest. Because that's something even Ozai did, so I'm going to say its a tradiiton now. And I threw in the funny idea that there actually is an over the top reward for finding and capturing the Avatar.

Besides all that, well, Zuko is in a better place mentally now, and Ozai himself agrees that he'll probably learn better away from home. Azula, however, is still firmly Azula, and twists everything to paint Zuko more pathetic in her mind.

Time will only tell how everyone in this fic turns out. Until next time!