Family Matters


"You WHAT?"

"Invited my father," Zuko said calmly, stepping away from his hysterical relative. Iroh had his arms up in the air, gesturing emptily with his hands while he tried to gather the words to express his disbelief. "And he said yes."

"Why… on earth… would you do that?" Azula asked slowly, calmly. Zuko shrugged.

"He's our father. He has a right to be at his own son's wedding."

Iroh wandered in a circle around the room, like a directionless tin wind-up toy set off to go bumping and ricocheting off furniture legs and booted feet. He was making small, sputtering, strangled noises in his throat.

"What's wrong with uncle?" Zuko asked.

Azula slapped her forehead. "You invited dad." She repeated. "Dad. As in Ozai. As in the man who gave you that scar, banished you from the Fire Nation, pitted me against you, tried to take over the world, and kill you, your fiancée, your best friends, and everyone within a kilometer radius of the palace."

"Pfft. That's all in the past now," Zuko waved off. "He's had plenty of time to mull it over and repent. I'm sure he's sorry about it now."

Iroh grabbed a cushion off the settee and pushed it into his face. He screamed into its downy softness before dropping it and taking up another. He clutched the silk covered pillow to his chest, babbling to himself. The fire siblings couldn't quite make out everything the retired general was saying, but they did catch, "Crazy homicidal… foolish Fire Lord… completely in denial… I need tea…"

Zuko watched him in amusement. "Uncle, will you stop worrying? You act like he's going to try to kill you."

"That's because HE WILL!" Iroh wailed. "Remember how I tried to kill him? Well, he's going to get me back! Poison in my tea, poison in my cake… I won't be able to eat anything that night!"

"Dad won't use poison!" Zuko exclaimed laughingly. "Come on, we all know him better than that! If he's going to try and kill anyone, he'll do it by Agni Kai!"

Suddenly the Fire Lord wasn't laughing. Azula crossed her arms over her chest, raised an eyebrow and looked at her stupid brother expectantly.

Zuko paled.

"…Oh shit."


You know how at some weddings, there are just some people you know you shouldn't put in the same room together, but can't avoid inviting regardless? Well, let's just say Ozai has some issues with… well, everyone.