Boiling Point
Honor

The impression most held regarding man known as The Dragon of the West was an indomitable force which in turn explained why the man proved such an indomitable force at Ba Sing Se. As such, to most individuals the very idea that General Iroh would find himself heartbroken over the death of his song, never once imagining a gentler side to the fearsome figure.

Yet, Lu Ten saw that side of the man, in the way he played with him as a child and in the way he played with Zuko now that Lu Ten outgrew such things. Even when Lu Ten reached adulthood there were tender moments between the two, always private and only seen by others in the family or even his childhood friend Akio who also grew up knowing this other side to the Crown Prince.

The man following Ozai's orders sat there, twirling the hairpiece around his finger as if it weren't an antique let alone an important symbol of the Fire Nation. Despite not seeing the man's face, something about his posture made Lu Ten suspect the man was smirking under the mask, gloating about having one of the royals in front of him, lying on the floor in disgrace. "Oh, don't play innocent. You had to have done something."

Lu Ten let the corner of his mouth twist up. "There are very few of us in this world who aren't."

He saw the fire in the distance from on top of the mount he rode, his mouth twisting into a thin line as he stirred the creature closer, knowing full well his father hadn't ordered any attacks in that particular area. Wanting to satiate his curiosity, he spurred the best to head towards the village where he heard the screaming and then he saw the children walking towards him, their small bodies lit on fire by some Fire Nation soldier who thought killing Earth Kingdom children would make for good sport.

Lu Ten's throat tightened, his mind struggling to comprehend what he saw in front of him as the children crawled their way up the lizard. Innocents, they were, making the rhetoric about how great and honorable the Fire Nation seemed like some strange lie he repeated on his tongue now simply because it was expected, but the children's fingers clawing at him…

He sat up straight, gasping for air, still feeling the fingers of a child clutching at his clothing, and yet instead of the wailing screams of the villagers, he instead heard a rather meek yelp as a child buried their face into his chest. A calloused hand reached up to touch the back of the child's head, his mouth twisting into a smile, finding the child's intrusion into his sleeping quarters at the palace quite welcome. The other hand lit up a flame, illuminating the face of said child. "Zuko."

"I had a nightmare," the boy muttered into Lu Ten's chest. Ruffling the top of Zuko's head lightly, he found himself smiling, glad that he'd woken to something as innocent as his youngest family member. Scratch that. Azula was the youngest, but not at all innocent.

"Me too actually, so…"

"Nuh-uh." Zuko looked up at him, his face slightly tear-stained from whatever nightmare he had, though something told Lu Ten that it was likely the boy's younger sister. The way Zuko hero-worshiped him, adored him, put a wonderful warmth into the pit of his stomach, but the way Zuko looked at the world was a refreshing break from the war whenever he returned with a message for Fire Lord Azulon.

"Well, you can sleep here. I won't tell Azula or Ozai." He winked at the boy, smirking as he did so.

And what he'd done, what Ursa did was far from innocent.

Though, there was a time he'd also thought things with Ursa were ended, done once Ozai returned from his trip and would finally take on his role as husband to her. Lu Ten, after all, served the role he felt he needed to while Ozai was gone yet didn't think anything would occur, but with those endings also came the ending of another life. The reason Ozai came back from his search for the Avatar was that Lady Ilah suddenly became ill and was on her death bed.

Instead, he remembered far more how she'd asked to see him alone and he complied.

"My foolish boy." His grandmother reached out and patted the top of his hand. Even as she lay dying on her death bed her hands were soft and comforting, though Lu Ten struggled in taking much comfort in the act knowing that she wouldn't belong for the world. "I worry about you."

"I'll be fine." He smiled at her, placing his hand on top of hers, his mouth twisting into a smile.

"Will you."

He continued smiling. "If you're referring to the war and the possibility of me not coming back, I know that's a possibility. We all do, but why should I be exempt from such duties simply because I am a royal."

Ilah rolled her eyes. "Tell that to your grandfather. That old fool…"

"Grandfather is no fool."

"He is, and that is where you get your foolishness from." The old woman sighed, closing her eyes. "He shouldn't have exempt Ozai from participating in the war. He needed a good dose of reality, that son of mine."

"If you're referring to how he neglected Princess Ursa, he is back now, but did you hear? You're to be a grandmother again. I wish you could live long enough to see your second grandchild, grandmother."

"First great-grandchild."

Lu Ten's eyes blinked in confusion. "You must be confused."

"I must be." She then said, "Take care of Ursa."

"Because Ozai might go away again?"

"Something like that."

He'd said nothing to anyone because he found what Illah said strange, nor did he think anything of her words. Time passed, being oblivious to what she'd been trying to tell him let alone the fact what he thought went unnoticed and was in the past wasn't so much in the past. He eventually learned otherwise.

He stood in the training grounds leaning up against the wall, watching Zuko and Azula spar. His mouth twisted, watching Azula knock Zuko off his feet time after time. Eventually, the girl hurried over, her hands tucked behind her back. "So?"

"So what?" Lu Ten asked, his mouth still pushed into a frown.

"How did I do?"

"Yes, Prince Lu Ten. How are the children doing?" Ursa asked, smiling at him.

"Basics, Azula. Your Uncle Iroh would tell you that, and neither one of you have mastered the basics." Lu Ten watched Zuko's facial features brighten slightly only for Azula to shoot him a glare.

"What would you know." Azula turned on her heels, crossing her arms as she did so while sticking her nose into the air. "Father says I am beyond basics while Zuko…" She turned her head so she could sneer at her brother. "Zuko is a lost cause."

Lu Ten heard Ursa let out a sigh while the two children went back to sparring, except that wasn't quite what happened. Zuko refused to spar and tried going back to the basics which Azula took great glee at interrupting.

"She's awful," Lu Ten muttered. He then flinched, turning to look at Ursa. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that."

"They can't hear you." She nodded her head. "Tell me the truth regarding what you see regarding their Firebending. Ozai insists Azula is a child genius and, well… you heard Azula."

He let out a sound of disgust. "While it is true that she can perform some very advanced techniques, my father would be furious with me if I showed such a lack of control over the basics. As for Zuko, he's where he is because Ozai obviously doesn't take the time he does with Azula, but I've noticed…" He felt as if he were out of line. "He's neglecting you as well like he did before."

"There was a time you'd have come straight out and say as much."

"Well, back then I was clever thinking I couldn't possibly become any wiser."

"Well, perhaps Ozai suspects even at a subconscious level that Zuko isn't his."

Lu Ten at first continued watching the two children but then stiffened, turning his head to look at Ursa. "Wait a second…"

"Don't tell anyone. Please."

It wasn't just Ursa he wanted to protect, but there was no way he would admit what he'd done all those years ago, even started up again shortly after that conversation once he'd realized Ozai honestly didn't care for Ursa. Of course, there was always the chance of Ozai finding out, something which seemed completely in that moment possible.

The man behind the mask let out a laugh, not choosing to be subtle. "Well. I need to have this delivered to the general and then you and I can be on our way. Ozai is waiting for you."