Nothing
Zuko walked into the prison cell, his head held high. Actually, Prince Zuko walked in. He was no longer an outcast with a price on his head. He was royalty again.
In the corner, a huddled figure was whispering words, the iron chains clinking musically every time the old man moved in the slightest. It was torture.
"Uncle, what are you doing?" Zuko asked, unsure what else to say. He knew he should say something.
"I am praying for the departed soul of my child. I lost him in Ba Xing Xe," Uncle said, not raising his eyes.
Zuko nodded. "I can arrange to have a prayer niche put in here, with six candles for each year he has left this world. LuTen was our cousin and he should be mourned," he said, glad Uncle seemed more concerned about his dead son than Zuko's choice.
Uncle shook his head. "It is too early. Only a day has past. I am still mourning for the lost soul of my son. Nothing can ever bring him back. There are no prayer niches for the living dead."
"Uncle, look at me. I made a choice, the right choice, the only choice I had. You are still important to me, you know that. Look at me, look at your student," Zuko demanded, his voice growing higher with panic.
The prisoner looked up. At that moment, Zuko's entire body treamored. There was nothing in Uncle's eyes, no merry twinkle, no gleam of affection, no spark of pride. It was as if Zuko was not even standing there. "I wish I could."