Work Text:
If only he had seen the errors of his ways earlier.
Lu Ten would still be alive.
The only piece of his wife that he had left was gone.
His son who followed in his footsteps had died for his lust for war.
There was no body to burn after Lu Ten died.
His desires cost him his son.
The son who had taken his first steps towards him.
The son who had loved turtle ducks.
The son who had brewed Jasmine tea for him.
The son who had been an older brother to Zuko.
The son who had been a cherished dual blades.
(Some days, it was difficult to distinguish between Zuko and Lu Ten).
He traveled to the Spirit World for Lu Ten.
(And he would not find any trace of him there).
He returned to find his father dead and Ozai on the throne.
(His birthright wasn’t worthless with Lu Ten gone).
He had immediately picked up on the griefing boy without his mother.
(Oh, how he was reminded of Lu Ten).
Zuko loved turtle ducks.
(Just like Lu Ten had).
Zuko cherished his dual blades.
(Just like Lu Ten had).
Zuko had a bright smile that rivaled the Sun.
(Just like Lu Ten had).
For all their similarities, Zuko was not Lu Ten.
Zuko failed to appreciate tea when he first brewed it.
(Lu Ten had been excited to share his love of tea).
Zuko became bitter without the love of his own father.
(Lu Ten had always known that his own father loved him).
Zuko learned to trust and to love again.
(Lu Ten had never suffered under the hands of a monster. Iroh made sure of that. How he wished he had been able to stop the suffering of Zuko and Azula and Ursa).
Zuko was his son, not the one he had lost.
Lu Ten was the son he lost, not the one he replaced.