A/N: You're gonna hate me. This chapter is short and it's about the wrong characters. It's cause I'm evil. And I love Iroh.
Disclaimer: Okay, I don't own Avatar or its characters. Owell. I'll get over it. So will you. In the meantime…
CHAPTER 9:
Iroh was a heavy sleeper, and the tavern where they had found lodging was well off the main thoroughfares of the city and as far from the Fire Nation Sector as could be managed. Even so, the former general's sleeping mind had no difficulty distinguishing the series of booms from fireworks, and he was awake instantly.
Donning his cloak with its concealing hood, he made his way to the fringes of the city plaza, carefully listening to the comments of the crowd around him. He maintained the appearance and gait of an elderly man, but moved with surprising swiftness. He was able to gather that the Fire Nation's new factory was in flames and that the general concern regarded its further spreading.
The sky to the west was painted a lurid crimson, and there was no small level of panic among those residents who had brought families to attend the street festival. Still, a certain amount of order had been imposed, as most able-bodied men were already across the bridge lending assistance, while others herded women and children to the side streets and dispersal. There were very few uniformed soldiers in the plaza – Iroh assumed they were all on the other side of the river.
Iroh continued to wander the crowd, carefully considering the likelihood that his nephew would have any involvement in the evening's affairs. It seemed implausible in any case, but the excitement would certainly put the Fire Nation troops on a higher level of alert, increasing the danger of their own detection. Some hours would be consumed in dealing with the fire and calming the city populous. Even after all these years under Fire Nation domination, the Earth Kingdom people would question the Fire Nation's ability to prevent further mayhem.
And mayhem there was. It was obvious to Iroh that Fire Nation authority itself had come under attack here. Just why this target had been chosen, he had no idea. But he was sure there was some good reason. The loss of a new munitions factory would be a definite blow, both in terms of lost resources and prestige. Such losses in a war-weary society could have an impact on the tide of the war itself. And if there were something of particular importance in that factory, well, Iroh could imagine his brother's fury and the scrambling that would occur in the war room to address the problem. He was just as glad that he had withdrawn himself from these affairs all those years ago. Mistakes would be made and heads would roll. Iroh had every intention of keeping his own head firmly on his shoulders.
The garrison and officers would be kept busy dealing with the fire and its immediate effects for some time. But Iroh knew that his compatriots' sense of paranoia would have them searching for the arson's culprits, and any strangers or travelers would come under particular scrutiny. This they could ill afford. He and Zuko must leave as soon as possible. This decided, Iroh continued to scan the crowd – not for Zuko's face, for his nephew would take care to keep it covered – but for that all too familiar stance, the proud bearing that no amount of humiliation seemed to take from the boy. He made several full circuits of the place before giving up. Finally, he returned to the tavern in hopes of finding Zuko already there.
He was disappointed but not surprised. Zuko may not even have been in the city itself, and may be wholly aware of the tumult taking place in its heart. Even now he may be in a nearby town, searching out performers. Iroh heartily hoped the boy had, for once, allowed himself to be distracted, finding enjoyment in the music he followed. Perhaps, even, finding enjoyment in a musician or dancer, some sweet release.
But even as he considered the desirability of such possibilities he dismissed them. Unfortunately, Zuko was more likely to have blown up the Fire Nation factory himself than to find pleasure or distraction in another's efforts.
So he gathered their few things together and settled in to await his nephew's arrival.