Iroh's Child
Given

The feeling of excitement at the birth of a new sibling eventually faded to nervous trepidation. His grandfather, after all, mentioned something weeks before Kiya was born about how certain parents would try and use the giving of gifts to their advantage, seeking out marriages, yet in the back of his mind, he didn't look forward to such things, not with his past experiences with Azula and her friends.

Yet, Iroh left him feeling—perhaps the nervousness wasn't gone, nor was the trepidation, but the feeling was good.

Zuko also felt good helping Ming out, her tears disappearing making him wonder if this was how being an older brother was supposed to be.

He didn't expect her older brother to be Chan, the young man he and Hideki had trouble with when they took a break from Piandao's place and how Chan claimed Lu Ten was a loser. Zuko said nothing, not wanting to know what his grandfather or uncle would do to Chan or his family if they knew, another inkling rattling around in his head for some strange reason. They left Chan staring and headed back to the side garden when Hideki and Akira were already waiting.

"You'll do fine," Iroh laughed, although Zuko didn't think so. "As I said, I'll be in a nearby room in case anything goes wrong, though that is unlikely. I'll leave you three to your own thing while I check on how close the servants are to finishing their preparations."

"Uh-huh," Zuko let out a sigh before heading over, but both of his friends seemed glad to see him. He watched Iroh leave "Hey."

It sounded a bit meek. Akira smiled at him. "Nervous? This is your first social event, isn't it?"

"Yes. And a lot of girls?"

"What do you mean?" Hideki titled his head, obviously confused regarding Zuko's comment.

"Arranged marriage," Zuko muttered.

"I don't follow."

"He means that likely nobles are sending their daughters so that they might stand a better chance at eventually ending up in an arranged marriage with the Esteemed Prince Zuko, but there's also the Azula effect."

"Azula effect?"

"You know. Nobody wants to deal with Azula, but Zuko's only ever had to deal with her when it comes to girls."

"Please don't remind me," Zuko let out a sigh, letting his eyes roll in frustration. "I also ran into—" His mouth twitched. "That kid who said Lu Ten's a loser."

"Him?" Akira let out a sigh. "Great."

"Why is he here?" Hideko sighed.

"You know why everybody does these social events," Akira muttered.

"I don't," Zuko said which made Hideki look at him. Akira groaned.

Hideki answered. "It's to form political connections, but remembering all of them is a major pain. I…"

"Wait. I'm expected to remember everyone?" Zuko felt his throat tighten. "That sounds—fun." He glanced at the ground wondering what else could go wrong, when suddenly—

"Zuzu!"

Zuko continued looking at the ground, sweat starting to form at the back of his neck. He remembered Hideki saying something about being glad he'd not met her, yet the way Akira acted he didn't want to deal with her either. He wished Iroh was there to deal with her.

"I'm surprised that you actually made friends, but…"

"We're friends with Prince Zuko because we want to be."

It wasn't Akira who stepped between Zuko and Azula, let alone the one who spoke. Azula glared at Hideki, taken aback at someone standing at her, yet Akira stared two, his jaw dropped at first, but then smirking because he simply seemed quite pleased. Ty Lee was giggling her head off, only stopping when Azula sent her a glare indicating Azula's usual threats, while Mai—like usual her cheeks flushed pink for some strange reason. "What he said."

"You do know that I could…"

"What? Do you think that because Prince Zuko doesn't like tattling on you because you're his sister that the same holds for the two of us? And don't you dare think about causing either one of us bodily harm, let alone killing us because everyone would know it was you, or Prince Ozai, or someone arranged by him to do so. Or do you not think that would be who the Fire Lord and Crown Prince would suspect?"

"Is something going on?"

"Nothing uncle," Azula beamed at him while Iroh gave her a look which said he wasn't so sure.

"Well, the servants are finished, but the guests won't be let in until the host and company are in place," Iroh stated, motioning for Azula to follow him in along with her friends. Mai followed after, glancing back at Zuko while her blush increased, but Ty Lee held back and said, "It's nice seeing you, Prince Zuko. Hope to see you again soon."

"Well, she seems kind of sane," Hideki's mouth pushed together.

"Ty Lee? Sane?" Zuko shook his head. "Though she's honestly normal compared to my sister."

"What about that other girl?"

"Mai?"

"She seems sane, although a bit shy." Hideki tilted his head. "Although, it's kind of understandable given…"

"Given what?"

"Hideki means she has a crush on you," Akira stated while Zuko shook his head as he thought it was something else, before patting Hideki's back. "You did a good job standing up to Princess Azula."

"I almost wet myself."

"Still. Akira's right." Zuko headed in. Azula and her friends were at the side of the room where Azula sulked, Mai blushed and Ty Lee waved cheerfully upon their arrival. Iroh motioned them to a raised platform where three pillows were as well as the gifts that were to be given out. Zuko settled in, retaining proper posture, but when the doors opened, he found himself saying, "How will I remember all of them?"

"I could, if I had a piece of paper, keep track of them for you," Hideki piped up, but Iroh overhead from the side of the room where he would be observing. So to did Azula, who smirked at the fact Zuko admitted he wouldn't be able to remember all the names, while Iroh motioned for a servant who brought the piece of paper.

Looking at the nobles, there were more females than males, yet most of them were around Zuko's age meaning that parents were wanting their daughters to have a chance at marrying Zuko. A few glanced over at Azula and her friends, almost warily. Eventually, one of the servants announced that gift-giving would begin and that they would call out the names on the list.

The first called out was Ming, but Zuko was sure he heard one of the girls mention the fact she was supposed to be first on the list as her parents had arranged it, her eyes drifting back over to look at Azula and her friends. A glance at Iroh winking said he had something to do with the order change, so Zuko didn't say anything while his eyes looked around the room, noticing how Ming's brother Chan hung back, rather nervous about the whole thing.

"Hi, Prince Zuko!"

Ming's response brought a facepalm from her brother along with giggles from some of the older girls while the one who said she would be first, glared at the small girl. Which meant—the way Ming acted wasn't how she was expected to act for such an event which made Zuko calm slightly. But then, there were mummers of how she acted like she knew the prince. "Hello again."

A silence fell over the room, while Azula gave him a look—something about the way everyone acted said he'd not acted as was expected of the Esteemed Prince. Chan looked like he wanted to step forward and pull her away, mortified at how the situation was going down. "Thank you for helping me find my older brother when I got lost."

"You're welcome, but I'm glad I could have been of help." The tension in the room broke, the facial features of the girls softened, but they seemed to—well, like the fact he'd helped a little lost girl out, but the way Iroh's eyes twinkled said that was part of his plan.

"I think Prince Zuko will make a wonderful big brother to the new Princess Kiya. Is she adorable like they say?"

"Yes. She definitely is." Zuko took the gift that Akira handed him. "Here you go."

"Thank you!" Ming clutched the doll she'd been handed tightly before hurrying over to her brother to show it off.

Slowly, but surely Zuko gave out the gifts, of sound mind that they were better suited for children Ming's age than the noble girls his age, yet they seemed quite pleased, although they kept glancing and whispering about Azula and her friends. " I can't blame them, yet how could they possibly know about her temperament already. "

"Is it true that-" One of the girls stopped short, the first to speak. "Sorry!"

"Is it true, what?" Zuko frowned, wondering if someone found out about Ozai trying to usurp Iroh's birthright because of Lu Ten's death.

"That you're engaged to Mai?"

Zuko's eyes blinked.

"I mean, that's the rumor going around the lower division and maybe even the upper division of the Royal Fire Academy for Girls."

For some reason, Mai looked at the ground as if her world were going to end while Azula smirked, enjoying watching the confusion on his face. From the side of the room, Iroh cleared his throat. "The marriage arrangement was made with Prince Ozai, but when Prince Zuko became my son, said arrangements became null and void."

Then came the glares, directed in the direction of Azula and her friends, though for some reason Zuko now had the impression the glares were directed at Mai specifically, while Mai's eyes remained glued to the floor. Azula seemed to lavish the discomfort caused while Ty Lee remained her cheerful self despite the whispers going on among the other noble girls regarding Mai's canceled betrothal with Zuko.

Eventually, the gift-giving ended, most of the girls receiving gifts and Ming stopping to say goodbye before she and her brother left, saying she hoped to see the baby princess sometime to which Zuko said he'd pass the message on, which made Azula glared at him, almost as if—almost as if she saw Kiya as her possession. He shook his head. "Royal Fire Academy for Girls?"

"That's right. You're tutored rather than attending the academy."

"It's because Zuzu is so slow." Azula chimed in. "Father allows me to attend.

"Well, I'm quite sure there's another reason Prince Zuko's not attending the Royal Fire Academy for Girls, such as it being for girls," Akira spoke up.

Azula glared, pulling Mai away while saying something about an academy for boys existing, but Zuko was sure that Mai was close to tears for some reason he couldn't understand. Ty Lee didn't follow right away, instead of bidding them goodbye. "Is it problematic that I don't attend?"

"Well, I just started attending," Hideki chimed in."

"I've been going for a few years now."

Zuko's mouth pressed together, wondering if he should ask if he could attend as well. "Azula's already attending?"

Iroh frowned. "It's actually not a good thing, Prince Ozai not following the traditions regarding sending a royal family member to the academy, but in truth, the fact no one is willing to privately tutor her has put us into a bind that the only way to educate her going forward is at the academy. Of course, my brother pushes the notion she was entered earlier than normal because she's perceived as some kind of genius. Your grandfather's already received complaints regarding her behavior."

"Oh."

"Don't worry. All in due time, Zuko," Iroh said.

And time did pass with things feeling alright—much different than before. Kiya grew bigger and was healthy, with no sign of Ozai or Azula doing anything to the small child, and Zuko's next birthday during the winter was approaching. His confidence grew and he didn't fumble the next time he showed his Fire Bending to his grandfather, but his daggers made of flame were nearly perfect.

"I've plans for your birthday," Azulon stated. "Care to hear me out, as Iroh is a bit hesitant. Specifically, he is worried about you lacking confidence in yourself, but I think this might actually build your confidence up. And, it would only be in front of nobles I feel I can absolutely trust. Do you understand?"

"Yes," Zuko said, and he found himself agreeing to said plan.