Chapter Text
Uncle had been gone for hours and it was now sunset. Zuko was hungry. He thought back to their first night in Ba Sing Se and the ochazuke they had eaten. His instincts told him that he should make it again, that his uncle might need a little comfort.
Zuko padded into the kitchen and took out a small earthen pot. Dumping some rice into it, he then filled it with water, setting it on the stove and letting it begin to cook. Zuko then took out their single treasured tea pot putting green tea and dashi in it. Zuko carefully tried to keep the water just under boiling. Uncle said that flash boiling the tea would ruin it and they couldn’t afford to have ruined tea.
On a small pan Zuko fried some fish with a little oil and pinch of salt. Zuko had not a clue what the fish was or how it should be cooked, but overcooked was better than raw, right?
When the fish and the rice were finished Zuko plated it in their two small bowls, and if anyone noticed that Uncle’s bowl had more rice in it, Zuko would pretend to be none the wiser. When the fish and a few thinly sliced pieces of nori were placed on the rice, Zuko gently poured the hot tea over it.
Then he waited.
When Uncle finally arrived home, he sniffed the air appreciatively.
“That smells good nephew. This old man is ready to eat the delicious food mad by his wonderful nephew,” he proclaimed. Zuko ducked his head to hide his blush and muttered, “Eat before it gets cold Uncle.”
As they ate Zuko ignored Uncle’s red rimmed eyes and focused on his own bowl. The rice was overcooked, the fish was a bit burnt, and the tea was slightly too bitter. Arguably, this meal should have been mediocre at best. However it tasted just a bit better and warmed him just a bit more knowing that it was made for someone he loved.
“You did well nephew”