Iroh's Child
Growing Flame

Pride welled in Iroh's chest, yet there was a feeling of nostalgia to said feeling as he watched Zuko slowly grow over the next few weeks, both in terms of his friendship with Akira and Hideki along with his skill in Fire Bending, even if Zuko himself didn't see the progress.

Guilt—he did not feel, as something in the back of his mind made Iroh feel Lu Ten might actually be able to rest in peace knowing he and Zuko were helping each other heal, let alone how Iroh was taking on the task he was sure Lu Ten would have taken on himself had he simply been given the chance.

"There is no way, no way at all, that Lu Ten wouldn't have taken Zuko under his wing if he'd have learned of the neglect. Agni, he might have even asked for time away from the army from father, had he known things were this bad. I mean, I knew Ozai favored Azula, but not to the point Zuko was a non-entity."

Finally, the time came.

"So, shall we show Fire Lord Azulon your progress?" Iroh asked, watching Zuko from the side while sipping at his tea.

He didn't expect Zuko to flinch. The young prince quickly recovered, making the proper greeting and bowing, even though he didn't need to. Iroh tried insisting such formalities weren't needed, only for Zuko to pointed out that Iroh was acting as his master and like his master, he was due such respect. "Or would you expect me to treat any other master differently?"

"No. You're not Azula. You know better."

That particular praise actually sunk in, but right now Iroh needed to deal with Zuko's wariness in showing off his Fire Bending to Lord Azulon, particularly after the disastrous results from the last time he showed off his bending abilities. Hesitantly, Zuko said, "If you think I'm ready."

"I don't think, I know, or do you doubt your master." Iroh let his mouth twist into a serious frown. Zuko glanced away, knowing that he shouldn't doubt his master. Iroh took a deep breath. "I know. Self-doubt is a thing. But really, Zuko..." Iroh lifted his cup of tea to his lips. "Do you really think you haven't made progress regarding your Fire Bending? No matter how small, believe me when I say Fire Lord Azulon will be pleased. No, he will be proud of you Zuko, as am I."

"Okay..." Zuko muttered meekly.

Iroh watched how his nephew's head tilted down so he looked at the ground, a stark contrast to the confidence he'd gained over the last few months, yet procrastinating would only prolong Zuko's torment at this point as he waited for the next time Iroh might say he was ready. "Not that I should step back on this suggestion, for that would set a poor example for the poor boy and is honestly what he likely expects from Ozai."

He stood up and Zuko followed, Iroh's excitement at showing Azulon the Fire Bending that Zuko created himself. His hands tucked into his sleeves as they continued walking along, a smile on his face until Zuko suddenly turned in the wrong direction. Iroh stopped walking, his head watching Zuko head towards the Fire Lord's throne room, but instead of saying something, he waited for Zuko to notice he wasn't following. Zuko turned, quite perplexed.

"Where are you heading, Prince Zuko?"

"The throne room?"

"That was where you showcased your Fire Bending before, right?"

"Yes."

"Did you really think that would be where you would showcase your progress this time?"

"Isn't it?"

A thought crossed Iroh's mind. "We don't need to be so formal, but Lu Ten actually showed his progress off quite frequently in this manner, even when he was still at the stage he was falling on his bottom."

"He did?" Zuko's attention perked, one of his eyebrows shooting up. "But he must have been much younger than me, right?"

Iroh let out a laugh. "Do you think Azulon cares?" He quickly added. "Of course you do, otherwise you wouldn't have asked that particular question. He doesn't care, and even if he did Zuko, he's fully aware the reason you're behind is not of your own making. As such, any progress you've made will in fact delight him. So, come along. Plus, there's something Azulon wishes to talk to you about, something you'll be excited about but I'm not to tell you about as it is a surprise."

Zuko's head tilted, perplexed by what Iroh said, but he followed after him, the look of hesitance gone from his facial features, replaced by that smile Iroh dearly loved seeing on his nephew's face. They continued walking until they arrived at Azulon's chambers for personally greeting individuals face to face. The paper doors were pulled aside so the Fire Bending training grounds were in plain sight off to the side, which drew Zuko's attention.

"Come and sit by me, Zuko," Azulon motioned for Zuko to come and sit by him.

"I thought you wished to see my Fire Bending process."

"All in do time. It is important, but not of such urgency that we need to rush into whatever Iroh wishes for you to demonstrate with me today. Particularly since I'd like to sit here relaxing and enjoying the moment, but you should feel like Fire Bending is an enjoyable thing, rather than something you're obligated to do?"

"Enjoyable rather than obligated?" Zuko asked.

"Yes. Iroh."

"Yes. I'll take my seat as well." Iroh sat down on the other side of his father, but soon one of the servants brought a couple of boxes forward.

The smaller one was on top, but when the servant left, Azulon turned to look at Zuko. "I believe the one on top is for you."

"It is?"

"Open it."

Zuko slipped off the pillow next to Azulon and scooted across the floor. He lifted the top off the box, but Iroh loved the look of delight which appeared on Zuko's face. "A Tiger Monkey!"

He set the lid down and lifted the Tiger Monkey toy to his chest, hugging it close. Something told Iroh the toy would soon join Lu Ten's favorite toy on Zuko's bed, but the smile on Zuko's face was gentle and kind, much like Lu Ten's was at that age.

"Thank you, grandfather."

At that moment Azulon beamed, but Iroh wasn't sure what pleased the old man more—seeing Zuko's pleasure at receiving the remade toy from when he was younger or hearing the boy call him grandfather. He spoke lightly, a lilt of excitement in his voice. "The other box. The toymaker sent a few to pick from, but I'd like you to pick the one we give to the new baby."

"Really?"

"Not Ozai, or Azula gets to pick out the toy that the Fire Lord will give to his newest grandchild. That is reserved for the older brother of the newest addition to the family," Azulon stated. Iroh held back a chuckle, knowing his father was getting into things.

"Oh. Yes. The new baby then…" Zuko smiled, carefully lifting open the box. The smile changed to a frown, as he carefully contemplated over the various items in the box, but he reached in, and soon sound filtered through the room before going back and looking at the others. When the song stopped, he picked another, playing through all three music boxes the toymaker made, lifting a few of the toys before putting them back.

He then pulled out a music box. "This one."

"What song does it play?"

"I don't know." Zuko turned the knob and Iroh closed his eyes, the words for Four Seasons tumbling off his tongue.

"That's pretty."

"Are you hoping for a sister?"

"It is another sister," Zuko stated, lowering the box to his lap. He frowned. "Which, I don't know why I said that."

"Who knows. It's going to be fun to see if you're right."

"What happens to the rest of the toys? They don't go to waste do they?"

"No. It is tradition to give out the other toys the day the child is born, often to a child who's lost a family member during the war," Iroh let out a laugh. "I think the toymaker made more toys than usual."

"Well, the tradition is meant to bring luck to both the royal infant, but also the Fire Nation, and with-" Azulon paused. Nobody brought up Ba-Sing-Se or Lu Ten's death, yet it was obvious there was plenty to lift the moral. "I think Zuko should give out the gifts. He'll have a chance to meet some of the other young nobles."

"Are you sure? Methinks certain parents will try and arrange for their daughters to meet Zuko."

Zuko cringed while Azulon sighed. "Can't be helped, but it is better than Zuko interacts with them through these kinds of events rather than—well, I think he'd rather prefer it to some of the other interactions the parents would want me to arrange. And, his friends can be there with him."

"It's part of princely duties?"

"Unfortunately, yes. Personally, I'd much rather watch my grandson Fire Bend."

"But…" There came the hesitation.

"What?"

"Zuko is afraid you'll be upset if he messes up."

"I wasn't before."

"Yes, you were."

Iroh sighed, watching the two look at each other and Azulon contemplated what Zuko just said, obviously exasperated by the out-of-the-blue comment. But then- "I was angry at Ozai and Azula, not you."

"But Azula was perfect."

"She lacked grace."

"But Azula's a girl."

"Even more reason for her lacking grace to be a problem, but even a male Fire Bender should have some form of grace to his Fire Bending."

"Really?" Zuko tilted his head, but Iroh—something told him that perhaps Azulon had said just the right thing as Zuko didn't hesitate in stepping out, nor was he bothered when he fumbled a few times.

His Fire Bending—it was definitely his own, built more in line with the old traditions, yet the way Azulon's eyes sparkled told Iroh just how pleased he was, but his father's mouth actually dropped when Iroh asked him to demonstrate what the other thing he'd learned, the thing he'd asked to keep a secret from everyone but his two friends.

"Zuko. Did you come up with that on your own?"

"The—what?"

"The daggers made from flame?"

"Yes? I'm still perfecting it though."

"Per…" Azulon smiled, shaking his head in amusement.

"I didn't do well."

"Zuko, you did quite well. Why don't you go and play with your new toy in your room so I might speak with Iroh? We'll both see you at dinner."

"Yes sir." Zuko made a quick bow, his face flushed from being praised, only to crash right into one of the wooden doors which brought out a string of apologies from the young prince.

"Well, that's something. Tell me, Iroh. What does a bender need to do to be considered a master?"

"To master the art yet continue to grow, to teach the next generation coming forward, to create something new from something old that hasn't been done before or in the very least hasn't been seen in a very long time. Those are the three ways to become a master, with someone who's achieved all three being quite rare. I mean, there aren't many who move on to become teachers."

"I was thinking the last of the three was the rarest of the three, particularly among children, though honestly things are a whole lot more complicated than that when it comes to being considered a master of one of those things."

"Zuko is still working on mastering his fire daggers."

"I see." Azulon. "That will come soon enough, but there is no need to tell Zuko that is one of the ways one is considered a master, particularly since it's more complicated than just the three criteria."

Iroh lifted an eyebrow, wondering what his father was thinking and not saying.