Day 2
Avatar Aang had tested his chains more times than he could count, but it made no noticable difference. He didn't even have enough chain to stand up, but he supposed he should be grateful: chained sitting was better than chained hanging. And as much as Aang wanted to beat Zuko to a pulp, details like this made being the prince's prisoner a little less horrible than being Zhao's.
There was also the fact that Zuko didn't like to waltz in and mock the genocide of everyone Aang loved. The Avatar felt he should be probably be grateful for that, too.
With a grunt he tugged on his chains again. The links clinked together, but refused to break. At least if it were rope he could've gnawed his way to freedom.
"There are many chains that bind you, young man, and chains don't break easily."
"Don't I know it," Aang sighed, looking up at the old firebender that followed Zuko everywhere. He could see the man clearly beyond the bars, old face shuttered but not grim.
"You must be lonely," the old man said, turning a key in the lock to Aang's cell. The door swung open easily, and he shuffled inside. He set the key near the edge of the bars, far past Aang's reach (or that of his airbending), and approached. He carried a single candle on a small candletray, unlit.
"Your name is Iroh, right?" Aang was social even in misery; it was his nature and he actually liked that about himself.
"Observant," Iroh nodded. "We've not been formally introduced. I am Zuko's uncle."
"I'm Aang."
"Excellent," the firebender replied, a sudden smile springing up so wide that Aang almost wanted to trust it. "Now, Aang, I'm going to have to ask you to be quiet for the next hour."
"Why?" Was this to be torture? Some unspeakable horror where he wouldn't even be given the right to cry out in pain?
Iroh chuckled, and, to Aang's gaping stare, lowered himself slowly to the floor. Cross-legged, he sat before his nephew's nemesis.
"I am going to meditate," he replied, and set the candle between them. With a swish of his hand it sparked to life.
"Oh," Aang said, and then he did not speak again for the duration of Iroh's visit.
Between them the wick's tiny flame bounced and danced.