Growing Pains (Zuko/OC)

Chapter 7: Tea Leaves

"Prince Zuko is going to be very angry with you, Master Iroh," Kona informed the man warily. The ship veered roughly to the side, and her stomach turned in protest. She gripped her leg beneath the table, fighting to keep her face neutral. Ship life had been much harder since the winter solstice. Her nerve for sailing had yet to return, and it had led to many panicked trips to empty her stomach without anyone noticing.

Iroh merely gave her a wide grin with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. "He can be very understanding for situations such as these, Kona. You judge him too harshly."

She shrugged and made her move on the Pai Sho board. She was sure that Prince Zuko would burst through the doors at any moment to demand they be put back on course. He had been pretty short tempered since the solstice. It was a stark contrast from his good mood in the short few weeks following the reappearance of the Avatar. Kona, like the rest of the crew, just had to chase the tides of his temper once more. Thankfully, Kona had spent half of her life doing just that.

Predictably, only a short time later, the angry teenager broke Kona out of her musings by bursting through the metal doors, yelling about the change in course. His tirade stopped comically as he took in his companions. His uncle and Kona sat with two crew members playing Pai Sho, blinking owlishly at him. His eyes narrowed as he switched his gaze between his ginning uncle and the girl who was clearly determined to not meet his eye. He felt his eye twitch.

"Actually, someone did change the course." Iroh stroked his beard and smiled innocently. "I assure you, it is a matter of utmost importance, Prince Zuko."

"Is it something to do with the Avatar?" He asked.

"Even more urgent." He said, visibly distraught, and Kona couldn't hide her snort. "It seems I have lost my lotus tile."

There was a beat before the prince responded. He had to have misheard. "Lotus... tile?"

"For my Pai Sho game." Iroh explained. At his nephew's blank stare, he continued. "Most people think the lotus tile insignificant, but it is essential for the unusual strategy that I employ."

"You changed our course for a stupid lotus tile?"

Kona moved slightly away from the prince at his harsh tone. She had the feeling he was about to burst.

"See, you like most people, underestimate its value." Iroh laughed nervously. " Just give me ten minutes to check the merchants at this port of call. Hopefully, they will have the lotus tile in stock and I can get on with my life."

Unable to control his temper any longer, Prince Zuko threw his head back and breathed fire angrily out of his mouth. He stomped out of the room, and slammed the door behind him, leaving the room in silence.

"I am lucky to have such an understanding nephew."

"Prince Zuko did take that better than expected," Kona admitted. "He could have denied you and turned the ship back on course."

Iroh nodded happily. "Prince Zuko has gotten much calmer since the Avatar has returned, save for the last few days of course. Hope has started to replace some of his anger, and you supporting him has only helped lessen his burdens." Iroh played a Pai Sho piece in order to avoid having to look at her. Indeed, he had noticed a few lingering glances from the prince, but even being her guardian, he found Kona frustratingly difficult to read.

As expected, his protege deflected her involvement and praised the prince for his growth. Iroh turned his gaze to her, as she accessed the board in front of her.

Humility was one thing, but she deflected every compliment bestowed upon her, regardless of the context. She couldn't seem to acknowledge how much she had changed on their journey; she was much too focused on his nephew. She was quieter, less expressive, and withdrawn. It had taken near daily Pai Sho games since she had been relieved of her crew duties to get her to start talking to him even this much.