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keep it together pt 2 [zukaang]

"Careful Iroh, remember to play nice with your sister."

Iroh looked up at him, eyes wide as though he had done something wrong. It was clear by his expression that he hadn't realized he was bigger than his younger sibling, and that she was struggling underneath him, soft sniffling voices coming from her.

"Oh!" He let her go and kneeled to the ground once she had sat herself up. She rubbed at her eyes, clearly upset by the rough and tumble play. "I'm sorry Izumi, I promise I'll listen to you next time. I thought we were still playing." Zuko watched carefully, as his daughter continued to rub her eyes, ridding them from tears as her sniffling slowly came to a stop.

"How about I braid your hair later? We can even drink tea while we do it. Right, Mother?" Zuko's eye's flickered to his wife, who had been looming over a desk, littered with scrolls — some from her father that she refused to talk to, and some of his official firelord documents that he didn't mind her brushing over. "Of course, if your father says it's okay." She cast him a playful look.

"Dad?" Izumi squeaked, and Zuko felt his chest grow warm.

"Of course you can have tea with your brother Princess." They giggles together, and within seconds began running after one another in a competitive game of chase and tag. Upon leaving the room, his wife made her way over and planted a kiss on his cheek. "Who would've thought we'd be such great parents?"

"Certainly not me, Mai." She grinned and Zuko couldn't help but smile himself at the genuine emotion in her expression. It had taken years for them to get this far, for them to be as open as they were now. It had taken years, but they were well into the middle aged life and they were still as happy as they could've wished.

"You know, I think we should get some kind of award or something." She joked, but Zuko couldn't help but scrunch his nose in clear distaste.

"For just being parents? I don't think so." Mai rolled her eyes at that and snuggled in close, resting her head on his broad shoulder. Instinctively he wrapped his arms around her. "Okay stick in the mud, what about a small gathering for your birthday?"

Zuko groaned and shook his head. "No, I don't want that. I'd rather just celebrate with you and the kids, it's not a big deal."

Mai squeezed him. "It is a big deal, you've changed this place. You saved the Fire Nation. I'd say that's worth celebrating." She released him, skirting around him to return back to her desk work, despite clearly being exhausted by it. She didn't voice her exhaustion, though Zuko had known her for long enough to know when she was feeling burnt out.

"Besides," She sat down, looking at him with a mischievous grin. "I've already invited everyone."

Zuko shook his head, though he appreciated the sentiment, he was sure that the night would be full of pointless socializing and congratulating, the last thing he wanted to be was surrounded by people who constantly talked about his achievements. Sure, he'd helped win the war, and he'd guided the Fire Nation to a better future of that but now he simply wanted to enjoy his life, his family, to relax.

He couldn't do that at a party, no matter how hard he tried or how many masks he wore.

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"Father?" Izumi asked as they sat at the edge of the pond. Like his mother had done with him, he had also carried on the tradition of sitting with his children here, they would talk about whatever was on their minds and feed the turtle ducks. Izumi enjoyed coming here the most while Iroh's visits became less and lesser the older he grew, he enjoyed playing with the other boys in the Fire Nation and Zuko couldn't say no.