Something about Piandao always made Zuko feel better about the world. He could never quite put his finger on why. Perhaps it was simply because Piandao was the first person who really made Zuko feel like he was good at something. Whatever it was, Zuko couldn't help but feel a deep sense of trust in Piandao. If he could rely on anyone as regent-administrator, it would be Piandao. They had gone over everything that needed to be done a million times, even though Zuko didn't really need to. Piandao knew what he had to do anyway.
Zuko called for tea and served his old master first. It was a habit he had got into when he was 11 years old. Piandao smiled at toasted him and wished him the best in Ba Sing Se. but he seemed slightly uneasy – which was very unusual for Piandao. He was never uneasy about anything. Zuko asked Piandao if anything was wrong. Piandao just said there's nothing wrong that can't wait until you get back.
Zuko, with due impatience, poked and prodded anyway. He didn't want to wait until he got back, if there was something that was bothering Piandao. Piandao was reluctant to tell him at first, because Zuko had "too much on his plate" as it was and Piandao did not want to be a burden. Zuko couldn't imagine any world where Piandao, the man who taught him swords and how to carry himself and how to just plain survive, would be a burden to him. He said as much.
Eventually Piandao said that he had been planning on addressing this with Zuko when he got back from negotiations. Piandao was hoping that Zuko would find the time to put marriage reform on the winter agenda. After all this time, and all these years, it would be nice to be able to make it official...with Fat.
Zuko's eyes widened in surprise at the directness of the request, but then narrowed in determination. He held Piandao's gaze and said Consider it done with all the sincerity he could muster. Piandao told him not to be too hasty. Marriage for people of Piandao's persuasion would not be popular with the upper crust after all. Zuko shrugged and tried a joke to lighten to mood (which was a very rare event for Zuko). He said that if he only ever worried about what would be popular with the upper crust, his reign would be one long, pompous, snotty luncheon. The upper crust loved that. Piandao smiled slightly.
Zuko suddenly couldn't help himself. He'd had a question that he'd always wanted to ask Piandao. The real question didn't come out. But another question came tumbling out in its place, at this moment. Was it a hard thing to do...being of your persuasion...with Fat...in the military? Piandao gave him a curious look and Zuko felt like an idiot for asking. Of course it was hard. Being gay and in the firenation army would have never been an easy thing. Piandao titled his head and said you're not stupid Kiddo, so don't ask me stupid. Ask me what you really want to know. With such an open offer, Zuko did. If anyone would tell him the truth about this sort of thing, it would be Piandao.
His Uncle liked to think that he was good at this sort of thing – but he flitted between ladies like he was a hummingbird tasting every flower. Zuko sometimes wandered if Iroh had forgotten what it was like to just adore one woman. He would never even broach this subject with his Uncle, because it was just 87 different types of awkward. But for some reason, he felt like he could ask Piandao. Piandao had always been honest with him before.
When you realised you loved Fat...but you knew that nobody else would ever understand or accept the two of you together and...and it would be almost impossible for you two to be together... what did you do?
Piandao smiled gently at him and said when I realised I loved Fat, nothing mattered except the fact that I loved Fat. It was a good answer, but it wasn't quite the answer Zuko was looking for. He wanted to know what Piandao had done about it.
Piandao shrugged and said I gathered up all my courage and I thought to myself "to hell with the rest of the world - this person makes me happy and that matters more than what anyone else thinks" and I told him.
Zuko couldn't help himself. Piandao spoke like telling someone you loved them for the first time was an easy thing to do. But it wasn't! It was the hardest thing ever. He had to interject But weren't you scared? He could have said no, and then...
It's the most frightening, terrifying thing I've ever done Piandao confessed with a wink. But then he added more seriously, but it was worth it...love always is.