keep the paper lantern lit

tea

day four of zutaraang week 2020 - tea! i know im boring, but i saw this prompt and knew i had to write something with iroh :) he's the number one zutaraang supporter tbh. i hope you enjoy!

~*~

tea: happiness is a cup of tea (and an impending visit from the avatar)

"Welcome, Fire Lord Zuko," Iroh said, bowing to his nephew. "I am honored you have chosen to drink at my humble café -"

"Uncle, I'm begging you. No formalities," Zuko grumbled, dismissing the bodyguards that travelled with him to wait outside the storefront until it was time for him to leave. "I have heard enough of them from the Earth King all morning."

Iroh chuckled. As tempted as he was to continue teasing his nephew, he supposed mercy was the kinder option. "Of course." He noticed that some of the customers were staring at Zuko in a mixture of awe and confusion, so he gestured to the back of his shop. "Would you prefer greater privacy, perhaps?"

The relief that crossed Zuko's face told Iroh all he needed to know, but he waited for a nod of confirmation before escorting his nephew into the private room adjacent to the main area of the shop. He already had a pot of tea brewed on the stove, and he poured himself and Zuko a cup before sitting down across from his nephew.

Zuko raised an eyebrow as he accepted the tea. "Did you know I was coming to visit today?"

Iroh chuckled. "Well, all of Ba Sing Se was gossiping about the news that the Fire Lord would be in town this weekend, so I certainly hoped you'd drop by." Though he always kept a pot of tea warm in the back - he never knew when an exceptionally lost soul would wander in seeking comfort or guidance. He liked to be prepared.

His words earned a smile from Zuko - a small smile, but a smile nonetheless. Getting Zuko's smiles to meet his eyes was much easier these days. Iroh had a feeling a certain airbender was responsible for that. But he'd wait for his nephew to broach that subject on his own - he didn't want to put too much pressure on him too soon.

"How have you been, Uncle?" Zuko then asked, taking a sip of his tea. "It seems your shop is still doing well."

Iroh couldn't help but beam at his words. "Yes! It is the highest-rated tea shop in all of Ba Sing Se." How wonderful was it that without the threat of war and destruction looming over their heads, people were finally able to take the time to sit and enjoy a nice, steaming cup of tea? There was little that could be better, in his opinion - a sure sign the world was improving.

Though the happiness on his nephew's face when he spoke of Aang was a close second, at least in terms of Iroh's favorite things to see.

Zuko smiled again. "That's great, Uncle. I'm glad to hear it."

"And what about you?" Iroh asked after a brief pause. "I've heard much about your actions as Fire Lord through the papers and the occasional talkative customer, but I would like to hear the details from you."

Zuko grimaced, placing his cup on the table between them. "Ah... I would prefer to not get into politics right now, if that's okay -"

"That is perfectly fine," Iroh reassured him. Really, he was content with simply seeing his nephew in person for the first time in so long, no conversation needed. He was also happy to note that although the boy appeared tired, there were no bags beneath his eyes and his teenage frame was beginning to fill out into one of a man. Plus, if they chose not to discuss Zuko's duties as Fire Lord, it meant there would be more time for him to pry - only because he cared - into his nephew's love life. "I am sure that being with the Earth King all weekend has made you suffer through enough politics to last a lifetime."

Zuko sighed. "I'm sure it has. And I still have to return to his palace this evening, too, for the big meeting with the Avatar." He shook his head. "No. I refuse to think about that stupid council yet." He looked up from his tea, alertness flickering in his eyes, as if he'd remembered something. "Oh, before I forget - Aang and Katara should be arriving here within the next hour. They wanted to drop by and see you before the meeting, too."

Well, Iroh had never been one to refuse more customers. Especially ones so important to his nephew. "I cannot wait," he said with a smile. Then he winked at Zuko. "Forgive me for prying, but I trust your relationship with Avatar Aang is still going strong?"

Zuko flushed a red as deep as his robes, and Iroh couldn't help but chuckle. "Yes, it is. I hate how often we're separated because of our different responsibilities, but we arrange visits as often as we can, and we write letters all the time, too."

"Does it not bother you that Master Katara is around him more often in person? Travelling with him?" Iroh mused, taking a sip of his tea. It was more blunt than he preferred to be on such a delicate matter, but he'd learned that his nephew often needed some slight prodding to be fully open about his personal life.

Zuko shrugged. "Maybe a little bit, at first. But I've since realized that it's simply an aspect of our relationship that I cannot change. And besides." A small, satisfied smirk crept onto his lips. "As I said, Aang and I always exchange letters. So Katara may have him in person, but I have his words in a way she does not."

Iroh chuckled at Zuko's expression, which clearly read, And never will. Ah, young love. "Is there an unspoken contest between you and Master Katara regarding the Avatar's affections that I am not aware of?"

Zuko's face reddened in embarrassment at the suggestion. "No, it's not like -" He paused, tilting his head to the side. "Well, it's not a real contest," he amended. "Any jabs we make at each other are all in good fun." A small smile slipped onto his lips. "Aang does not appreciate it if either of us even imply that he loves us unequally. He always ends up pouting over it." His blush deepened. "It's... very cute."

Iroh nodded. He could almost picture such an expression on the young Avatar's face - he might describe it as 'humorous' instead of 'cute', but he supposed Zuko certainly looked at his partner with a more rose-tinted lens. "Different does not mean imbalanced," he ended up agreeing.

Zuko snorted. "You sound just like Aang. You and your proverbs and Aang with his airbender wisdom."

Iroh smiled. "Well, it is the highest flattery to be compared to the Avatar."

"Although any wise words from either of you are as annoying as they are helpful," Zuko grumbled, but Iroh didn't miss that he, too, was smiling. "Anyways. Moving on. Yes, things are going well with Aang. I'm..." He dropped his eyes to his tea, his smile widening. "I'm really excited to see him today."

Iroh didn't respond at first. Seeing his nephew so calm, so bright, so at peace with his life and the world - it filled his heart with so much joy that he almost wanted to cry. Finally, he managed to say, "It is good to see you happy, Zuko. Nothing brings me more delight. And it is high time the world made up for the pain you were forced to endure so long."

Zuko returned his uncle's smile with one of his own. "Not all of that pain was undeserved. But..." His smile widened a second time, with hope and warmth flickering brilliantly in his eyes. "I admit - it's nice. Being so happy."

Iroh beamed at his nephew, no longer caring if his eyes were watery. "I couldn't be prouder of you, Fire Lord Zuko."

(He'd have to send Aang home with a special brew of tea as thanks.)

~*~

im just saying that iroh would be one of the first people to support zuko pursuing a relationship with aang and also ask how they're doing 24/7 after they get together because he knows how much aang makes zuko smile as well as how important they are to each other :) thank you for reading!