Kuvira's Assistant

Chapter 32

Prince Iroh walked into the Firelord's chamber and bowed before the throne, in keeping with Royal Palace tradition.

"Iroh!" Firelord Izumi exclaimed with joy, swiftly setting aside the book of bound-together documents she was reading. She stood up and walked down the steps to greet her son.

"Hello, mom." Iroh smiled as he walked up to her with open arms.

"I'm so glad you were able to come back today... Safe and sound..." The Firelord sighed as she embraced her only son tightly, "You weren't lying to me over the radio when you said you didn't get hurt, were you? I'd better HOPE not..."

"No, no mom, I promise I'm fine... Not hiding anything this time..." He smiled as he reassured her.

She looked at him over her tipped glasses with a raised brow, as if she could sniff it out with her motherly senses.

"Are you sure?"

"... Well-"

"Iroh!!" She frowned as she gently slapped him on the shoulder, "What happened?!"

"It's nothing! I just got electrocuted is all. Nothing major, I'm alright..."

"Ohh..." The Firelord winced with worry, "Iroh, how-"

"It's a long story, so I'll tell you about it over tea. I just got struck here-" He said as he gestured at his waist, "But it doesn't hurt much now."

"Hm. Well did you go to a healer?"

"Yes, yes. Lin Beifong set up an appointment for me with Kya, actually."

"Oh-" Izumi's eyes widened as she listened.

"She said she remembered meeting me a few times as a little boy, but I didn't remember her at all, to be honest..."

Izumi tried to suppress her smile as she cleared her throat, "Ah yes, I remember the first time I took you to the South Pole where you met her. When you were about ten, however, she decided to travel the world; a little nomadically at that, I'd have to say. Since then we haven't spoken much, just circumstantially, but I'm glad to hear that she's back in Republic City... Lin must be elated."

"Right. I guess...?" He replied.

Izumi observed her son's blank expression and added, "Oh, they're just great friends."

"I see. Anyways. Mom... I don't mean to change tone like this or to disturb your work, but do you have a few minutes to take a walk with me? Or maybe sit down somewhere and talk?" Iroh began to explain, slightly choking as he elaborated, "I've got some... Uhm... Some things to tell you, mom."

"Reapply this on the scar every 15 minutes or so. I'll take the wet towel off her forehead for now, but if you feel her heating up again, just put it back on, please. I'll be back in about an hour and a half to continue her leg therapy."

A delicate hand was lifted off of Asami's shoulder and that tall, gorgeous and silver-haired healer disappeared.

After she waved her off, Asami turned to look back down in front of her seat. She hummed gently as she wringed the towel over the small bucket beside the wooden chair she sat on.

"You'll be fine... I promise..." Asami spoke quietly as she caressed her unconscious cousin's arm. Over the past four days, Asami had been slowly losing it, she felt. She still couldn't process the fact that her father was gone; she hadn't seen him for almost four years before that fatal moment anyways, but the knowledge that he was gone gone this time - not simply locked up in prison, that is - was beyond comprehension. She was beginning to feel more alone in this world; more than she had ever felt in the past three years. She just could not lose Akemi. Ever since she'd met her, she felt like a piece of her connection to her mother and her mother's family had been restored...