DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN AVATAR THE LAST AIR BENDER; ALL RIGHTS ARE RESERVED FOR IT'S RESPECTIVE OWNERS.

"Questions"

1.) characterized by or indicating intellectual curiosity

It was nothing more than an icy wasteland, the South Pole. Barren, glacial, yet strangely beautiful in a sense. Though the prince would never admit such a thing aloud.

As if he were disgusted with the sight, Zuko turned away from the scene all the while scowling. Crossing his heavily covered arms over his chest, he stared straight ahead, as if he were imagining the perfect victory he and his men were about to obtain. Zuko couldn't say that he wasn't thinking of the avatar's capture, but, for once, that little tidbit wasn't the most prominent thought weighing on his mind at this moment. He successfully transferred it to the back of his mind, momentarily remembering other things...

He was attempting to imagine his mother's words, her thoughts as to whether he was in the right or wrong. Would she be proud of him, if she were standing on this deck right now, clad in beautiful sleek robes fabricated from the finest silks and the richest colors, the smell of lavender and fire wood clinging to her skin; would she smile at him, tell him she was proud of him?

Zuko felt the truth stab him in the heart as if he had just received his scar, all over again. This pain was worse. No… his mind whispered. How could such a humble, kind woman even feel the first inklings of pride for her son, who was, at this very moment, preparing to massacre a village of innocents if need be. If they didn't hand over the avatar.

Zuko felt faint pressure on his shoulder. Emerging from the vice-like grip the depths of his thoughts had caught him in, he turned to his uncle. The old man, graying beard, somber eyes, wrinkled face, didn't turn to his nephew, simply stared ahead, at the future. Zuko wondered if sometimes his uncle could see the future.

No words passed between the two men as they watched the tiny blotch of white gradually transform into a whole new world, a world where Zuko wasn't welcome, even if he wanted to be.

Preparing to alert his men to proceed with caution, Zuko turned from the railing overlooking the royal blue tides below. Stretching his stiff muscles quickly, he turned on his heel.

However, despite Iroh's age and impressions of stupidity at times, the old man reached out and caught the banished Fire Prince's arm. Zuko turned to him, a question in his eyes.

Iroh had an answer in his wise ones, though it was not the answer to the question Zuko had asked, along with caution, pleading. Zuko's heart contracted painfully and he fought the urge to suck in a gasp. Pursing his lips, narrowing his eyes, and clenching his fists would have to do for releasing that pain for now.

As if not acknowledging the pleading in his uncle's eyes, Zuko turned from the old man and began to ascend to the captain's deck.

Iroh stared after his nephew, crestfallen. His chest ached with the knowledge of what he was helping to bring about: further downfall of the great and mighty Southern Water Tribe. The knowledge pained Iroh more than Zuko knew it.

The old man turned back to the small blotch of white, slowly transforming into a home. A welcome, humble place of family and love. A place that Zuko no longer had. His safe house had somehow become a vulture's nest.

The people of the water tribe had suddenly dispersed, gathering weapons in preparation for a fight, no doubt. They wouldn't have a chance.

Fighting the urge to yell at his nephew, Iroh calmly returned to the captain's deck, listening to the intense and, at times, violent strategies Zuko was telling to his men. The boy had thought out every detail carefully and precisely.

Iroh wasn't truly listening to Zuko's words though; he was noticing how the boy's eyes seemed to have lost that brightness that had so long been planted there. The brightness and luster that only Ursa's presence could bring about; that happiness had withered when Ursa had disappeared. Iroh wondered if that little boy, with dimples and a bright smile, would somehow ever wake up again.

*******So definitely NOT Zutara goodiness, but I needed something that dove more into Iroh's feelings and Zuko's earlier feelings. I wanted to better understand their characters.

TO EVERYBODY WHO HAS BEEN EXPECTING ME TO UPDATE: I am SOOOOO sorry! School has been in full swing here lately and it had been almost impossible to find the time and energy to think of a theme and write it out.

So I hope I'm forgiven. (please…?)

REVIEW PLEASE!

~Moonlit- Silhouette