Chapter Two: Deception
"Uncle."
Iroh's eyes slid amiably from the game board before him, smiling as his nephew came onto the main deck.
"Prince Zuko, please come closer. I would like you to see how I am about to trounce our good friend here in a game of Pai Sho." Iroh recognized the edge in Zuko's next words, though they were warily composed.
"Uncle, there is a man you need to meet. Come." It was not a request.
Iroh shifted, calmly stroking his beard as he contemplated the board. He waited a moment, hummed softly, and then looked back up, smiling widely at the sailor across from him.
"I am sorry, friend, but I must ask that we resume this game later." He tilted his head to the side lightheartedly. "Unless, of course, you wish to simply give up now. There are few who could hope to match the play I have in mind!" The sailor returned his general's smile and shook his head. Iroh shrugged and left the table, nodding in recognition when the sailor stood in respect. The door's heavy bolts thundered behind them.
Zuko's demeanor changed to that of a predator become prey – wary, tense, and experienced. Iroh felt his instincts adjusting to the unknown threat.
"Uncle, is there anyone around?" Iroh's gaze shifted from his nephew to the surrounding halls, acutely aware that Zuko did not wish to reveal the height of his concern. Iroh felt an unease that kept him on his guard. The pace Zuko set was rushed and his steps clipped, as if he expected an attack from the very sky.
Perhaps he did.
Iroh tucked his hands into his sleeves and bowed his head, his words imperceptible to all but his nephew. "Is this news of the Avatar, Prince Zuko?" If it was, Zuko's silent command for secrecy when they were on board the deck did not make sense. In the two years they had been searching for the Avatar, Zuko had grown accustomed to not concealing information from the crew. Something must have happened to make him so suspicious now.
Zuko's voice was similarly low. "No, Uncle… I'm not sure."
Iroh nodded slightly, leaving silence between them.
The room was dark when they reached it. Iroh took in the burning bed impassively, letting Zuko present the unconscious man. As Zuko gave him the mask and detailed the fight Iroh remained silent, the firelight playing off of the amber in his eyes. Neither spoke for a while after Zuko finished.
"Uncle?" Zuko was watching his uncle closely.
"…. Prince Zuko… We must now tread carefully the path of the sun…" Iroh trailed off and did not look at his nephew, his disquieted gaze on the mask.
Impatiently balling his fists at this ridiculously vague piece of "wisdom," Zuko snorted and returned to examining the intruder for any signs of identification.
Iroh paid little mind to the ire of his adolescent charge. He knew the mask… But he had never expected to find one on his ship, or anywhere outside of the Fire Nation. The white clay used to shape the face was crude and unrefined. Small, unprofessional mistakes were evident to any Fire Nation eye that had seen such similar masks since youth.
A white mask. The color of deceit.
He turned the mask in his hands, waiting for Zuko to finish his inspection. Iroh knew there was no reason for him to be here until the assassin woke up, but his nephew had wanted him here anyway. When Zuko had looked at him earlier there had been a certain sharpness in his golden eyes… expectant, aware. Iroh rubbed the edge of the mask, feeling the grains of raw earth rolling beneath his fingers. Someone not from the Fire Nation had created this mask. Something in Iroh urged him to keep silent.
Zuko was just a boy, after all. He didn't need to know, so soon in his life, about the violent, devious nature of politics… the nature that had infected all of those closest to him but had, miraculously, passed him by.
"Uncle." Iroh grunted and placed the mask on the low table, coming to stand by Zuko. The look he gave his nephew was adamant in its undertones and, even if he had been inclined to ask, Zuko would not have received a further explanation on his Uncle's faltering proverb.
It worked out, since he was not inclined to ask.
"Uncle, I want this man removed below deck. When he regains consciousness I want to be the first to know… This is a private matter."
Iroh held his nephew's eyes. He nodded when Zuko showed no deviation, unsure if his secrecy was wise but loyal all the same.
"I will take care of it, Prince Zuko. Meanwhile, I suspect you have other matters you wish to investigate?"
"Yes, Uncle."