The invitation came as a surprise, but a very welcome one. Iroh was ecstatic to be serving tea to the Earth King himself. Lee was happy his uncle was happy, and their benefactor was pleased to say the least. The best leaves were selected, new clothes and equipment purchased, and off they went to serve the king.

But then no one was there.

So they waited. The Earth King was a busy man, these things happened. They talked a very little, the conversation too awkward to pass much time.

And still they waited.

Sitting there in that large room, empty of all save himself and his uncle, Lee began to think. It wasn't nice. Dark thoughts crept up from the depths of his mind, and in the absence of customers and tea making and pleasant everyday normality, Lee began to lose his iron grip and Zuko began to wake up.

He went to make himself a cup of tea, maybe Uncle would like one too while they waited, but this was for the King. He looked around for something to clean, someone to serve, something anything to do. But there was nothing he could do and he kept slipping and oh no...

Zuko woke up. He blinked several times as if just remembering where he was, and then turned to his uncle and said "Uncle, please explain the significance of the White Lotus." It took far more effort than it should to keep breathing normally.

His uncle startled at the sudden question and looked at Zuko closely, as if he could lift the answers he sought straight from his eyes. Then he smiled that goofy smile of his that caused everyone to underestimate him and replied "Ah, Lee! Taking an interest in Pai Sho after all this time. The White Lotus tile is ofte-" but Zuko cut him off.

"I said White Lotus, not the tile. Uncle, what have you done?" The last part came out as a soft hiss. He knew exactly what his uncle had done, but he didn't want to believe it. Couldn't believe it- except it made too much sense.

But he loved and trusted his uncle too much to not, at least, ask.

Too bad he didn't get an answer.

Former General Iroh, Dragon of the West, brother of the Fire Lord and 'Grand Lotus', the only man to defeat Ba Sing Se's great wall, couldn't force out a single word.

Zuko watched his uncle's mouth open and shut twice and fought the building urge to destroy something. He stood slowly, every movement strained and screaming restrained rage. His fists clenched, knuckles whitened, blood welled where his nails pierced his palm, only to be burnt off as smoke.

He gave a bark of laughter, startlingly high and loud, before biting it off. "So it is true. You never meant for me to succeed. Always slowing me down... That damned tile... And now it's too late. You're a traitor, I'm banished; it's serve tea for the rest of my miserable life or face Azula coming to kill me! Oh wait, you're trying to get her and father, Fire Lord, killed! And then I'm to be the puppet prince, bringing balance and whatever else you want! You've been helping the Avatar from the beginning..." He suddenly lost all momentum and trailed off, barely able to keep breathing let alone ranting.

While he silently choked and sucked in air, his uncle stood and faced him. "Zuko..."

They faced each other for an age, neither making a sound.

"Was any of it wrong?" How he wished his uncle would say yes.

"No."

"No? Nothing? No explanation, no defence, nothing? Say something!"

"The world needs balance, Zuko! You have seen first hand the state of the world, the violence and death and ruin the Fire Nation has wrought. It needs to be fixed! The Avatar can restore balance, and with you as Fire Lord you can right the wrongs of our family. Ozai needs to be dealt with. He is insane! Just look at y-"

"Do. Not. Go. There." Zuko snarled.

"You were thirteen! And you were right! Another minute and I would have spoken out myself."

Zuko refused to acknowledge this. "So you followed me, chipping away at my resolve, and then when the Avatar finally appeared, you slowed me down! Shopping trips, special items, gambling and bathing and eating, wasting time whenever we, whenever I got close"

"You couldn't have caught him anyway! You never thought things through, he can't be contained! He's the Avatar!" Iroh was beginning to lose his calm.

"Zhao did it! A handful of archers, a net and some chains was all it took! And maybe if you had stopped hindering and started helping, it could have been over and we'd be home! Ah but then you wouldn't be able to influence me quite so well, and your precious balance needs the Avatar free to kill father, and me to be your puppet afterwards!"

Iroh went to argue back but a wave of fire from Zuko's hand silenced him.

"I don't want to hear it. I'm going to grab my stuff and leave you to your tea." He spat the last word with more venom then he had ever known possible, and turned to leave. And then burst out laughing.

Standing by the door, flanked by a dozen Dai Li agents, was Azula.