Takes place pre-canon.

Main characters: Iroh, Azulon

Other characters: Lu Ten, Ozai

Pairing(s): None


From the very moment he'd been told of the child's existence, Prince Iroh had wanted to do the right thing by his firstborn and have him or her legitimized.

Such a thing was not out of the question. It had been done before, many times. However, his father, Fire Lord Azulon, was not at all keen on the idea to say the least. Try as he might to convince him, he was having none of it. He couldn't blame him, he supposed, the circumstances were less than ideal. But still, that child was his and had a right to be treated as such!

"Suppose it's a boy?" Iroh suggested, tentatively. "If it's a boy, then-"

"Boy or no, you shame me, Iroh. You shame our entire house! A whore? Of all the women in the Caldera, a common whore?!"

"I am sorry, Father. I didn't mean to-"

"Begone from my sight!"

Seven months to the day after he'd approached the Fire Lord, his first (and unknown to him, his last) child was born. Iroh named the boy himself. Lu Ten, he called him. And Lu Ten was perfect in every way.

"Why, he's perfect, Father!" Iroh declared, proud as could be.

Azulon, though, was utterly unimpressed... but he was not an unreasonable man and despite appearances, he cared for his son. Iroh loved the boy already, he could tell. And well, he wasn't getting any younger, he needed some assurance that his sacred bloodline would go on. Neither of his sons were married despite being more than old enough, and this... this bastard was his only grandchild. That he knew of, anyway.

"You may claim your son under one condition," he finally agreed.

"And what would that be?"

"I'll not have your heir be a non-bender. So long as he's a bender, I can forgive your indiscretion."

And sure enough, little more than a week after his third nameday, Lu Ten managed to set fire to the hem of his mother's robes.

Azulon kept true to his word. Lu Ten was legitimized in the sight of Agni, and overnight, went from the bastard son of a whore to the son of Crown Prince Iroh. All rejoiced, save for one person.

Ozai.

He cornered Iroh late in the night, after the festivities had died down and their father had gone off to bed.

"I'll never forgive you for this!" he hissed, seething.

"Wha-?"

"I was your heir!"

And it was only then that Iroh realized what a terrible mistake he'd made...