"I'm proud of you."
Iron set down his cup in front of him. Hands resting neatly in his lap.
"What!"
Did he know? Was he going to turn me in. Was this a trick to get me to reveal myself. No, uncle wouldn't do that. But he is loyal to fire nation. It would be treason not to turn me in. Treason. I committed treason.
"I know what you are thinking nephew, but calm yourself. I am proud. You saved a child."
Zuko sucked in a breath.
"I released the greatest threat to the fire nation. How can you be proud of me," zuko spoke with a clipped tone, careful not to raise his voice lest the whole ship hear of his actions.
The great general Iroh Dragon of the west sighed.
"When my son Lu Ten died it was the worst day of my life."
Zuko froze, not sure how to respond.
"I mourned for months for my son, I'm still mourning. I loved him dearly. Never in my life could I imagine hurting him. Never. Anyone who lays a hand on a child with the intent to harm is shameful."
Zuko gasped.
No uncle, you can't speak like this.
Zuko knew exactly what moment Iroh was referring to.
I deserved it. I was cowardice and weak. I needed to learn respect.
"Zuko, you saved that child's life. You saved the lives of his friends, and those in that town from terrible fates."
Zuko was frozen. Unable to scream and shout. Unable to do anything but listen.
"I am proud of you."
The young prince's voice returned.
"Why? Why would you be proud of me for helping my enemy?" He paused and then asked the question he truly wanted to ask, "why would you be proud of me for being a coward, for speaking out of turn."
Iroh shook his head.
"You are no coward nephew. It takes great strength to do what is right, even when everyone, even when your own father says it is wrong."
Zuko clung to his cup of tea like it was his lifeline. His hands shook at his uncles words.
I did what was right? But I spoke out of turn? I lost my honor?
"Prince Zuko," the generals tone took on a reprimanding tone, yet still soft, "stop lying to yourself. You did the right thing, you stood up for the lives of your people. You stood up against those who wished to cause harm. You knelt before your father as a faithful son."
The general's voice was angry now despite the quiet tone.
"It was your father who failed you. Who harmed a child, his own child. It was your father who was willing to send those men to the slaughter. It is him who has no honor!"
Zuko didn't know what to think. His father was the one with no honor? Surely that wouldn't be true, and yet here his uncle was telling him so. His uncle who he trusted.
"When my son lu ten died…" zuko knew without a doubt his uncle loved his cousin. "I can't even imagine hurting him." But my father hurt me, he hurt me badly. He loves me? Right?
"Zuko, I have tried to be patient these last three years. I had hoped you would come to see it for yourself. I have only ever tried to support you, but I can't stand by and watch you tell yourself these lies anymore."
Lies… I lost my honor… lies… I need to capture the avatar… lies… I deserved to be burned. No! I didn't deserve it. I was just defending my peoples lives.
Zuko's thoughts turned to his uncle. All the times he's yelled at him. All the horrible things he's said.
He never hurt me…
Zuko had been angry and had lashed out at his uncle many times over the years. Iroh had never laid a hand on him with the intention of hurting him. Patient, kind, even a little eccentric, these were the qualities that described his uncle.
Zuko didn't realize he was crying till he saw the ripples in his tea. His tears dripping into the cup.
He set the cup down.
"Uncle…"
He didn't get to finish. His uncle pulled him into his arms. Holding him tightly. Hugging him. For once Zuko didn't pull away.
"You know that ever since my son… I think of you as my own."
At those words Zuko broke down.
His father didn't love him, but his uncle did. He could see it clearly now. "If we met back then do you think we could have been friends?"
Could we have been friends?
The only thing Zuko knew for sure in that moment was that he was tired.