Blessings


Zuko took a deep breath as he faced the solid iron door. The two guards watched their ruler uneasily.

"Open," he commanded.

The heavy door swung open on creaking hinges, clanging loudly as it hit the interior wall. The Fire Lord stepped into the lowest of the lower dungeons in the Fire Nation Palace, listening to the eerie whistling at the end of the corridor. His loud booted footsteps rang in time to the haunting tune trilling in the damp air. Zuko recognized it as an old Fire Nation lullaby.

Two more steps and he turned. A low, guttural laugh came from a dark corner.

"Zukoooo…" A deep voice cooed. "My son."

"Father," Zuko swallowed dryly. "How are you?"

"Not bad… not bad at all." The Firebender could feel his sire's menacing grin in the dark. "I've learned how to whistle."

"That's nice." Zuko still couldn't see anything moving in the darkened corner, but he heard the heavy rattle of chains against stone.

"How's your sister?" Ozai asked lightly.

"Um… well. She's doing fine."

The dark corner made an affirmative noise. A heavy silence descended between the two, and Zuko fidgeting, staring at his feet.

"Are they feeding you well?" Zuko asked.

"Oh, rather. Last night was lobster night. Cook does an amazing job. I don't know how he gets the scallions just that way, but when you bite into them, it's like heaven." Ozai sighed.

"Only the best for my dad," Zuko cringed at himself. He thought for a moment he could see his father's fangs glistening at him in the dark.

"Do you think you could ask the guards to bring me more books?" Ozai asked hopefully. "Just a few volumes of Sozen's Manifesto, maybe?"

"I'll see what I can get you," Zuko smiled. Dad always did like to read. He steeled himself for the reason he'd come to visit. "So… I'm getting married."

Silence.

"That's wonderful news, son."

"She's a wonderful girl," Zuko ventured. "Her name is Katara."

More silence. "That's… that's a Water Tribe name, isn't it?" Ozai managed from the dark.

Zuko cleared his throat. "Yeah."

There was a strangled noise as the old man held back a sob, or maybe a roar, or possibly even a laugh. Ozai cleared his throat and forced a chuckle. "Well, you are the Fire Lord. I suppose there's no woman you can't have." He said through gritted teeth.

"I love her." Zuko stared into the corner.

Chains rattled. "That's nice, Zuko."

Zuko could hear the steady drip of a leaking pipe. A rat scuttled somewhere nearby, and the noises echoed hollowly between his ears. "I was wondering…" he said suddenly. He couldn't believe he was asking this. "Do… do you want to come? To the wedding, I mean."


Awwwwwkkwaaaaaarrrrrrdd...