Work Text:
It wasn't often that Zuko visited their graves, but he did it enough over the years to have a routine.
He would leave at dawn, and visit each one in a small airship, finally reaching the final one at midnight.
He would talk, reminisce, and think on the past.
The first was Ursa's, in a flower garden in Hira'a.
It always brought great joy to see the flowers well tended.
He would remember afternoons with his mother, feeding the turtleducks and telling stories.
Her grave was a great comfort.
The next to be visited was Piandao's, with Jeong Jeong and Fat's beside it.
Piandao was remembered in Shu Jing, where Jeong Jeong and Fat had chosen to have their graves placed as well.
Jeong Jeong had wanted a mixed burial, crossing Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom. His guilt had never faded.
Fat simply wished to be buried by the master he had served for so long.
Piandao was honored in his resting place. The land was undeniably beautiful. He would have loved the flowers that grew nearby.
Hama's grave was next.
He never met the woman, and never would, but he still visited his grave to remind himself of the pain the war had caused.
The insanity of it all.
It was easy to forget in peacetime.
He had mixed feelings on Iroh's grave.
On the one hand, it was beautiful.
Jasmine and chamomile and various other tea herbs grew around it, and it was next to both Lu Ten's and Iroh's wife's.
A lantern hung above it, a dragon cradling a tea cup.
On the other hand, he grieved his uncle. It wasn't enough to do the man who stayed by his side any justice.
This grave was one to weep at.
Ozai's was always visited at night.
He was shuffled off in a forgotten corner, cracked and uncared for but still commanding a presence.
He hated to visit it, the feelings just felt so raw there.
So it was here that he would air his grievances, remembering a new one every time and choosing to disrespect this one spirit of the dead.
He had no power over Zuko now.
But sometimes Zuko needed closure.
The man was dead.
Had been for years.
And yet he still visited to make sure.