Title:
Reason
Author: RedNovember
Word Count:
240
Warnings: None
Challenge: #21
Justification
Notes: At the end
"—that's unfair! The 41st division is full of new recruits! You can't just sacrifice untrained soldiers like that!" The hot-headed idiot Prince spoke out, rash words silencing the room and bringing a smile to Zhao's face.
I knew my war strategy would incite the Prince's quick temper. He fell for it so easily.
Retired General Iroh's worried face filled his vision. "—Zuko will need somebody by his side, somebody to convince him to not give up, somebody to guide him and love him—"
Two birds with one stone.
"—and because that fool son of mine went and disrespected me and shamed himself—" The Fire Lord raged on from his throne to Admiral Zhao in the otherwise empty hall. "What am I supposed to do if my only heir is a soft, weak, peace-lover?"
Zhao stared at the floor, still stuck in his stiff bow, subservient look plastered on his face. The Fire Lord thought Zhao was actually listening to him rant on, nodding every so often in perfect agreement to his words. Ozai thought the only thing good, obedient Admiral Zhao wanted was to serve and please his monarch. Zuko's father thought Zhao was bent in respect and eyes fixated on the feet of him, the Fire Lord of soon-to-be the entire world.
There was only one thing Zhao was staring at.
The golden throne of the Fire Lord glittered brightly in the torch light.
Notes: I'm not sure if Zhao was the one who came up with the plan that Zuko spoke out against in "The Storm", but for the purposes of this story I have changed it to be so.