Well, I Guess We're Both Idiots 2.0
Sorry I posted late, lots of holiday work with thanksgiving and a friend's birthday.
Here's the chapter!
As an apology for being MIA, I am posting today along with posting Saturday.
Review, please!
Enjoy!
Chapter Four
Iroh was excited to see his nephew again.
Well, that was obvious; he had been busy with the Jasmine Dragon and hadn't seen him in a year.
But what excited Iroh the most was the gossip he heard as the palanquin passed through the town. Iron was wise, he knew when to not listen to gossip, but at this moment, he couldn't help but hope that the gossip he heard was true.
The first tidbit he heard was the fact that Zuko had broken up with Mai.
Iron knew people constantly talked about the royal couple: when was the marriage coming? the heir? what was the most recent argument? People talked sometimes about brief breaks between them, whenever Mai went to Omashu for longer than socially expectable or when Zuko decides to Ember Island without her.
But this gossip was different.
The shop keepers spoke up about Mai being furious throughout the town, and even more, about Zuko using a servant to send back a gift he gave her.
And then Mai moving out of the palace.
Iroh nodded to himself, coming to his own conclusions, but knowing that he'll have to ask Zuko himself
Then he heard something wonderful.
Lady Katara was in town.
Oh, everything was coming together!
Zuko had a headache.
Maybe it was because he had stayed up late with Katara— he wasn't complaining about that, not at all— but the hangover feeling he had at the moment.
And he had to sit through a court council.
All of his advisors sat around the table in the massive throne room, babbling about any problem they think important enough for the Fire Lord to see.
Zuko was glad he was hidden behind the bright firewall. Or else they might've seen him start to nod off.
He slept through the education briefing, the parks and recreation briefing, and the homeless animals briefing. He didn't mean to, really, but…
"Fire Lord Zuko?"
That's what officially woke him up. The advisors usually talked at him, not to him. If they said his name, he really wanted his attention.
"Yes, Advisor Itsuki?" Zuko spoke up, trying to sound as awake as possible.
"We had heard some rumors this morning and…and we'd like your input on them."
Rumors? Zuko thought. What rumors?
"Go ahead." A tea bearer from the kitchen and come in and was distributing it amongst the advisors, and eventually got it to him.
He must've been asleep for a while if the time for tea had already approached. He took a large sip, hoping the caffeine would help keep him awake.
"Have you really broken up with Lady Mai?"
"Yes, are you ready to be approached by our daughters now?"
"Are you single, my lord?"
Zuko choked on his tea.
It took everything in his power not to sputter, spit out the tea, and storm out of the throne room (though believe it, he wanted to).
He knew what this was going to lead to. This very conversation. Even though he already had someone in mind to be the next Fire Lady and his wide (especially now that Mai was out of the picture) he knew he had to five his advisors something.
"I— um, we are not together, no."
The throne room erupted into chaos.
Iroh was walking to his nephew's office, hoping to intercept the man before he went off to dinner. But as soon as he passed the throne room's wide doors, noblemen after noblemen flooded out, chattering, yelling, and whispering all like a bunch of young school girls.
"Advisor Enlai, what is going on?" iron asked politely, utterly confused.
"Iroh! You didn't tell me you were in town, how fortunate!" Advisor Enlai's smile widened when his eyes stopped on Iroh. "The Fire Lord is ready to see our daughters as future Fire Ladies!" He threw his hands in the air. "Praise Agni!"
Iron's own smile widened.
The rumors were true.
Fire Lord Zuko had finally left Mai (who Iroh always thought was a bit too distant for his nephew) and was ready for the noblemen's influences.
And if he was ready for the noblemen… he was ready for Iroh's meddling as well.
Katara had happened to spend that day visiting a small village, helping impoverished people.
She never heard the news.
Thanks for reading!
Review, please! I appreciate everyone who has reviewed, followed, and liked, especially since this is my first fanfic!
Also, looking for a beta-reader for a new fix I have an idea for. If you can recommend anyone, that would be great!
Happy Holidays,
Queen Sunflower