For relaxedguru, who requested Zuko&Iroh interaction.
Reciprocation
The moon is high in the night sky by the time Zuko returns to camp. Iroh sits in front of the fire sipping slowly at his tea and Zuko hopes that he used the money that he begged (he should never have had to do that) to buy some rather than repeating his previous adventure with wild plants.
"Ah, Zuko," Iroh says without turning around, "You shouldn't stay out and about so late. It's not safe."
"I'm fine, Uncle," Zuko says as he sits. "You don't have to worry about me."
Iroh nods slowly, makes a face, and Zuko knows it will change nothing. His uncle has always worried about him (Iroh never adds the, "someone has to," but Zuko hears it in the silences), and Zuko doesn't mind as much as he pretends. He never has, so he takes the tea that Iroh offers silently and leans back against a tree.
The wind whistles through the leaves and Zuko is almost finished his cup before Iroh speaks again.
"What were you up to?"
Zuko averts his eyes, thinks about the broadswords and the mask stashed nearby, about the look of horror on the man's face, and knows that his uncle would never understand.
"Just walking, Uncle," he lies, and stands immediately to grab a blanket from one of the saddlepacks, sets it on the ground and reclines. "I'm tired now. I'm going to sleep."
He rolls onto his side and closes his eyes without once looking at his uncle's face to see if he believes him. It doesn't matter. He did what he needed to (he will never countenance such disrespect).
Iroh has always spent all of his energy looking after him, but Zuko is a man now. He will not be hindered from returning the favor.