Resentment
Iroh burst into the study his cheerful demeanour intact as always.
"Brother I have just been to see your lovely wife and my adorable new nephew."
Ozai raised an eyebrow at his intrusive elder brother
"And".
Iroh dropped the bright smile, in its place a serious frown, something he adopted far too often when speaking with his "baby" brother.
"You have not "was his clipped response.
Fully understanding and annoyed by the rebuke Ozai dryly stated
"I have visited Ursa".
"But not your son"
Iroh's voice was starting to rise; Ozai was perhaps the only one who could inspire this from the kindly man.
"I see no point in getting attached to the child when it will more than likely die".
Iroh was not surprised by his brother's unfeeling reply but that did not mean he was untouched by it.
Ozai was not at home with expressing his emotions but he was good to his wife and never was he out-rightly cruel. Over the years he seemed to be getting worse, colder, callous even. Not a lot scared Iroh, not great battles, ruthless earth benders or advancing armies but this shook him to the core.
"Well brother if that is how you see things perhaps you should not become attached to anyone as they will more than likely die"Iroh spat out.
"Exactly" Ozai calmly replied.
Iroh turned to leave but remembered why he came in the first place and grudgingly relayed his message
"You may not be interested but I know that you do not completely include Ursa in your philophosy and may just be relieved to know that her and your son will make it, according to the doctor"
Ozai's back, which had been to Iroh through the entire exchange, straightened and Iroh thought he heard him mutter his wife's name. Of coarse it could have been wishful thinking.
"Iroh"
The owner of said name was surprised to hear Ozai refer to him so familiarly and with such earnest in his voice. Ozai was now facing him and seemed to be judging whether to voice his question or not. "Do you………did you……after your dear wife died in childbirth did you ever ….blame him, resent him?"
Ozai's voice was low and hesitant, very out of character. Iroh was shocked and a little disgusted by what the question suggested.
"I have never blamed, never resented Lu-ten, he was the last and most precious gift from my dear wife"
"Of course you have not"
Ozai's voice was laced with bitterness as he turned his back on his elder brother, once again.
Iroh spoke with authority and vehemence
"And you should not place such thoughts on your young sons shoulders, you should not blame him, resent him for something that could have but did not happen, that he had no control over"
Iroh swept from the room; closing the door with such force it extinguished the flickering candles.
Ozai was left to dwell on his thoughts in the dark, where such thoughts belonged.