Tranquility [ ATLA: Book One]

04; Red looks good on you

Mirza did what Prince Zuko wanted of him, to stay out of his way. He did it for the next few days, he even avoided looking at Zuko, fearing that the Prince would burn him if he were to speak out or to him. Mirza kept his head down and focus on the floor. This reminded Zuko of the servants at the Palace, this is how Azula liked her servants. They never talked to her, their eyes never meet her's and keep their hands folded. The perfect servant, Azula would say in that situation.

Zuko was always up front with his servants, try to mimic his father's intimidating tone but he never succeeded. No, he was always polite to his servants, nice and more laid back with them then Azula and His father was. Zuko has always been the exact opposite of them, he was like his mother in so many ways. She was always polite and kind to the servants, despite Ozai's nasty chides to be firm with them. She ignored them, his mother continued to be kind to the end. Watching Mirza acting like that, made him a bit sick, Zuko felt sick and a bit guilty for making Mirza feel like that and how he acted like Azula. Iroh knew, he saw the slight change of expression everytime Zuko looked at Mirza.

Iroh knew Mirza felt bad for what had happened on Kiyoshi island, for not helping his own fire nation or get info where the Avatar might hit next. Though, Mirza never talked about it, it affected his bending. The work they were doing to improve his fighting was lacking control. Like he had a million of things in his mind then training, things he shouldn't be thinking about in those moments. Iroh had tried talking to him but there was nothing, Mirza refused to say anything bad about Zuko or anything about the crown prince. 

Everything was just too tense on the ship. It was unbearable for Zuko and Iroh, most of the staff too

" Listen, Water-tribe peasant, I-" Zuko frowns as he stared at Mirza's door, frown on his lips and fist raised. He wanted to apologize for snapping at the him and for assuming he would do something for the Prince. He acted like Azula, his cold and cunning sister, especially when it came to her servants and handmaidens. Shoving him down, acted coldly towards him without reason. " Wa-"

" I think he prefers to be called Mira." Zuko turns to his left to see Uncle Iroh walk towards him, hands together and covered with his long red sleeves. " And I think it's time to apologize to your friend Prince Zuko." 

" Uncle, the Water-peasant isn't my friend, far from it." Zuko said, shaking his head a bit making his ponytail sway behind him a bit. " I don't have friends, especially a water tribe peasant."

" Prince Zuko, when was the last time you even had a friend?" Iroh asked, eyebrow raised as Zuko snapped his head towards him with a scowl on his lips. His lips open to snap whatever came to mind but nothing came out his mouth. Zuko glared at the ground as his lips tighten into a deep frown. Zuko had no friends, well, he had a girlfriend but it was more for publicity at first before he gotten to know Mai. The other princes or noble boys were too stuck up to him or wanted to know him for their own gain. It was upsetting but true, the prince had no friends, none.