Yes! After almost two weeks of "error" reports for trying to update this, I'm finally back! Thanks for your patience, I'll try to have the last one up in about a week.
I know that when Iroh and Zuko were talking with Azula the first time in the Earth King's palace, there was the implication that Iroh had received his title of the Dragon of the West due to the war. But then we had the Sun Warriors story, so I've mashed the two origins into this. Plus, I like it whenever Zuko thinks he's got something up his sleeve with Iroh and is proven wrong. It's just so fun.
Technically…Iroh isn't a Dragon
The first time they introduced the adults to each other, Zuko felt the constant urge to throw up. Aang was oblivious to any repercussions, Sokka was being optimistic, Toph was hiding outside in the mud, and Katara was flitting around like a canary-butterfly, trying to please everyone and manage everyone at the same time.
It wasn't that Zuko feared aggressive happenings. Actually, he was hoping for some amount of that just so that they could get it out of the way. But Iroh, of course, was his charming self. Piandao and Hakoda respected each other as warriors and behaved for Sokka's sake. The other members of the White Lotus all got along with each other already, and the handful of elders, benders, and generals that the gang had met previous to his joining were willing to put aside their own agendas for the sake of the peace that Zuko had promised and Aang supported.
It was actually all of them getting along that scared Zuko the most. He had spent the last four years rebelling against adults and forging his own path, regardless if that had been a wise decision at the time. Three years spent ignoring his uncle, the time spent traveling alone, finally denouncing his father, and then traveling with the Avatar's group had cemented Zuko's independence. The group of teenagers and almost-teenagers had grown self-sufficient and unaccustomed to adult interference. He was used to calling the shots now and feared it would be corrupted.
Toph agreed with him which was why she had taken the chance to run and hide. Toph had her own parent issues and as much as she liked Iroh and Hakoda, didn't want to spend any prolonged length of time in a room of well-meaning men, many of whom were fathers or father-figures. Zuko really envied that girl sometimes. As Firelord and the host of this gathering, he had no such luxury.
Katara had made it back to him and stood closer than protocol might have strictly allowed. But camping and fighting together certainly expunged any feelings of impropriety and none of the stuffier nobles were around to cluck at them like turtle-ducks.
"You look jumpier than a kangaroo-hare," she commented lightly. "You planned this remember? It was your idea."
Three days after his coronation, Zuko had thought that all those people who had directly helped them or supported them during the war deserved to meet each other. And so far, it seemed to be working. Iroh was talking animatedly with Song's mother, Bumi and Haru's father were exchanging earth bending techniques, and Pakku was almost smiling at the swamp benders.
"Aren't you the least bit worried that all of them will suddenly decide that we're too young to make decisions and they'll tell us to run off and train until we're old enough?" Zuko asked quietly.
"Not in the slightest," the water bending master responded immediately. "Come on, Zuko. If your uncle ever felt like that, he would have stepped in as Firelord instead of torturing you with those ceremonial robes. Most of our teachers know exactly what we're capable of and sent us off into the world instead of holding us back. Now stop worrying and get your uncle. I don't think he and Dad have been officially introduced yet."
Katara was right, as Zuko was realizing happened frequently. He followed her lead and joined her, her father, and Iroh by the fountain.
"Dad, this is General Iroh, the Dragon of the West," Katara said. It was technically Zuko's responsibility to make the introductions, but Katara was in her element. "General, this is Chief Hakoda of the Southern Water Tribe."
"It is an honor to meet the father of such skilled warriors," Iroh said with a bow he would give to an equal. Zuko fought to keep his surprise hidden as there weren't many Uncle considered an equal in all honesty. "Your children fight with skill and honor. You must be very proud."
"I thank you," Hakoda answered. Water Tribesmen didn't bow, but the deep and respectful nod the chief gave his uncle was the equivalent of acknowledging another chief. So far so good. "I'm afraid I can only take so much credit for my son and daughter, though I am proud none the less, as you must be of your nephew."
Hakoda's measuring gaze swept over Zuko and he tried to live up to it. His interaction with the chief had been brief, but he apparently had made an impression.
"It is reassuring to see the younger generation performing so well and facing adversity," Iroh agreed.
Sokka chose that moment to barrel into their group. "Sorry to interrupt, but Pakku wants to talk to Dad about the relocation of some folks from the North to the South."
"I'll go with," Katara offered, grabbing Zuko's hand and squeezing. She leaned in and whispered, "And you were worried," before following her father and brother.
"A remarkable young woman," Iroh remarked after they had left. Zuko glanced at him out of his good eye and saw a telltale smirk. "Absolutely amazing. It is a wise man who would keep her close."
"Uncle, I'm with Mai," Zuko felt the need to remind the old man.
"As a friend, of course," Iroh clarified, still smiling.
Feeling the need to redirect the conversation, Zuko thought back on a thought he had put on hold until the proper time.
"You know, I figured out you're not really a Dragon."
It wasn't often that Zuko got the drop on his uncle and he took perverse pleasure whenever he could.
The moment of absolute shock on his uncle's face lasted only a moment before understanding replaced it.
"You've been to the Sun Warriors," he commented, a mixture of disbelief and pride in his voice.
"With Aang to learn fire bending the right way," Zuko confirmed. "So, since you lied about killing the last dragon, you didn't really earn the title." The "so there" was implied in Zuko's tone.
"Ah, but Nephew, you forget that I am not just a Dragon," Iroh explained. "I am the Dragon of the West, a title given to me by the Earth Kingdom armies."
"But you weren't a Dragon to begin with," Zuko argued.
"Ah, but you must remember that the reason it was so remarkable to fight a dragon was not originally to kill it," Iroh reasoned, a flash of regret showing at the thought of killing dragons. "The tradition was actually started for fire benders to prove their control and dedication to fire just by facing a dragon and walking away relatively unharmed. It as Sozin perverted the custom that receiving the title of Dragon could only be gained by a dragon's death."
"Fine," Zuko conceded as his uncle had known he would. "You're still a Dragon."
"But, Nephew, that makes you a Dragon, as well."
Zuko felt stunned, like someone had come up behind him and whacked his head with a fighting staff. The thought had never crossed his mind.
Firelord Zuko the Dragon. Zuko considered it for a full breath before smirking to himself. Nah, that sounded way to pretentious.