The plan was simple; everyone treated Katara and Sokka like exotic treasures, so Zuko would behave as if he was swept up in the same fever. He was a young man after all, and no one could deny that Katara was a beauty for her age. It would be an excuse to be close to her, and he wouldn't have to try too hard at all to make his affection believable.
He was more worried about getting punched by Sokka now than he had been of Zuri's suspicion.
Breakfast would be the first test of Zuko's gamet. If Iroh could overlook his familiarity with the Water Tribe siblings, then he would be relatively safe from then on.
Iroh was already at the table, flanked by two men in partial armor, papers laid out in front of him like oversized napkins. Yet as Ursa entered the room, he silenced the others, stood, and escorted her to the table. Left alone, Zuko gestured with his chin and they all took their seats on one side of the table. Despite his attention, as Iroh retook his seat, he immediately began conferring with the other men. Ursa looked at them sitting opposite her and gave them a dreamy smile.
Food came in just as Zuri entered and Zuko chuckled quietly as he saw them spin on their heel at the sight of him. Ursa called them and Zuri sat next to her, glowering at Zuko.
"And what has put such a sour look on your face so early in the morning?" Iroh asked. Zuri looked back at him.
"I find myself wondering if perhaps I've been mislead by my place at your table, Fire Lord, as you seem to feed mongrels at the same time." They replied. Iroh gave them a cold look and waved away the men with him. The pair bowed and swiftly picked up the scrolls and papers, shuffling backward out of the room. The other servants, pouring tea and scooping rice, became nervous; they belonged to the compound and the now dead governor, they were not used to Iroh's tempers.
But neither was Zuko.
"I find your over familiar behavior with my son quaint, but it has grown irritating now that you treat my nephew with such disdain and are so rude to my guests." Iroh said.
Shockingly, Zuri did not recoil. Sitting back in their seat, they merely shrugged.
"You keep me around because I'm good at keeping people alive. Why have you started doubting me now?" They replied.
Iroh then turned to Zuko.
A thick, sick sweat sprouted between his shoulder blades and trickled down his spine.
"Uncle, I'm sixteen. This is my first time truly outside of the palace and really, can you blame me for being so interested in our guests?" Zuko held out his hands and Iroh looked past him to Katara and Sokka.
Leaning back, Iroh slowly stroked his short beard.
"In my travels of the Earth Kingdom, as a younger man, I met a woman from the North Pole. She was a delight to talk to." Iroh nodded and then faced Zuri again. "I do not doubt your intuition Zuri, but I think you are distracted from your more important duties. For now, I think we can count on his mother keeping my rambunctious nephew in line."
Zuko noted how his mother's eyes flicked toward him, but she didn't actually glance at him. He was not supposed to draw so much attention, or so he was left to assume.
He wondered again what she had meant when he would be Fire Lord.
But for now, he was glad that his friendship with Katara and Sokka was deemed trivial.