Patience of a Saint
For #26:
"You can learn many things from children. How much patience you have, for instance." –Franklin P. Jones.
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"I really am sorry for having to ask this, but he just won't let anyone else watch him," the young mother gave a half hearted smile. Clinging to her dress was her son, the young fire prince Zuko.
"It's no problem at all, Ursa. Just go and have fun. You deserve it," Iroh comforted. He reached behind her to take the two-year-old's hand, and was promptly bitten. "Yeow!"
Lu Ten, watching with enjoyment from the sidelines, chuckled at seeing his aunt try to discipline the child.
It was no secret that Zuko was hard to deal with. As a newborn he would start to cry if even his own father tried to hold him. It didn't surprise the young man one bit when Zuko snapped at Iroh. He wouldn't let anyone besides his mother and Lu Ten touch him.
The older prince took pride in that.
"Hey Zuzu, don't bite your uncle," he chided softly.
The young prince bowed his head over and mumbled, "Don't call me dat."
Lu Ten chuckled and picked the young boy up, who erupted in giggles as the older prince twirled him around. "You sure you don't mind watching him?" Ursa asked.
"It is fine," Iroh ushered her out the door. "How much trouble can he be, anyway?"
Ursa left laughing.
He didn't know why, but a feeling of dread suddenly washed over Lu Ten as he sat with Zuko on his lap. It might have been the smile on the boy's face, the awful smell filling the room, or the sudden pressure that materialized on his leg. He had a terrible feeling it was all three.
"Zuko, what did you do?" he demanded. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Iroh's face contorted in ways he'd didn't think possible. The young boy in his lap just beamed up at him.
"I pooped!"
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Based on an almost true story. Luckily, I was faster than Lu Ten.
For Chibi Horsewoman who wanted a drabble on Iroh, Lu Ten, and Zuko growing up. :P Hope this works for ya! Thanks so much for the reviews everyone!
-mcl