Iroh took a deep breath and smiled, letting the air out slow. He lived for nights like this, the expressions, the dancing, the meeting and catching up with friends, old and new. Of course it was nothing like the fire court where he grew up with his younger brother, but it was good enough for a ship belonging to the exiled prince.
The old fire bender's eyes narrowed slightly. Where was his beloved nephew? Iroh shook his head. Sulking in his room again, as usual. He sighed and turned away from the music night festivities to head toward Zuko's room, thankfully easily accessed from the ship deck.
"Zuko?" Iroh asked, peeking around the door into the princes room. He saw the young man on his bed, glaring at the ceiling as if his gaze could burn a hole in the metal paneling.
"What do you want Uncle?" Zuko said, breathing in deeply, not looking at the old firebender. He was dressed in his training clothes. The baggly maroon tunic and pants that ended with a yellow border contrasted sharply with his pale skin.
"It's a beautiful night nephew. Don't you think that it would be profitable to-"
"No. Absolutely not." Zuko sat up, glaring at his uncle.
Iroh pulled out his orange fan from his wide obi-like belt and waved it around, spreading the building smoke issuing from Zuko's mouth outside and into the less confined spaces of the upper atmosphere. "Calm down Zuko, you don't even know what I was going to say."
"No. I refuse to play that ridiculous instrument anymore."
Iroh grinned at his steaming nephew. "You didn't think it was ridiculous when you where seven." The elder firebender smiled wanely and waved his fan slowly. "I remember when you first learned how to play the Suugi horn. You where only a toddler, five, or maybe six years old." Iroh shrugged. "Doesn't matter. You where so adorable prince Zuko! Running around with little horn asking all the nobles if they wanted to hear you play!" The general smiled, oblivious to Zuko's now prominent temple throbbing in his forehead. "It was very amusing. You never were very good."
"I've gotten better!"