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"Shh, it’s alright." Iroh sunk to his knees in front of the crying Avatar. “You’re doing beautifully and I’m so proud of you.”
He lurched forward desperately, sending a blast of air towards the Fire Lord with a tired grunt.
Iroh pushed the boy’s wrist to the side with the back of his hand and then twisted his hand around to grip his wrist. Iroh was close enough to see the boy’s eyelashes clumped together by tears. He saw the desperation in his wide eyes, and his heart broke. The world was needlessly cruel to this boy. It had ripped him from a world he knew and placed him in a new one only to throw its burdens on his young shoulders.
“That’s enough now.” Iroh lowered their arms and placed his other hand on the boy’s shoulder. “It was cruel of them to make you fight me—you could never have won.”
The boy lowered his head with a sob. “I-it’s all my fault…”
He looked at this child soldier with compassion but felt anger at those who would place the burden of the world on his shoulders. His reports had told him the Avatar was young, but when faced with his opponent he could not help but to notice how small he had been. Someone his age ought to have been running through fields and causing mischief, not fighting wars. Not fighting tyrants several years his senior.
“It’s not your fault.” When he wouldn’t look at him, Iroh grasped his chin and forced the child to look at him. “It is not your fault, Aang.”
Aang’s eyes widened at the use of his name.
Had every firebender he had faced only called him Avatar? Had they not realized the boy had a name? Had they not cared?
He pushed forward regardless, determined to give Aang the encouragement and assurance he needed. “You did the best you could under the circumstances. You accomplished incredible things. You mastered the four elements in less than year in a way that took your predecessors decades. You have overcome so much adversity and you stayed true to yourself despite what the world told you… you exceeded all expectations. The world just put too much on you… I understand you are the Avatar, but you are still a child.”
Aang hiccupped and used his free hand to wipe at his eyes. “What’re you gonna do to me?”
Iroh smiled gently. “Nothing.”
The boy’s confusion was enough to make Iroh burst into laughter despite the tragedies that led to this moment. He released the wrist he was holding and leaned back on his heels to give distance to the confused boy.
“B-but you… you were gonna lock me up and keep me alive until I died of natural causes. O-or kill me and wipe out the other nations or—”
“That was never my intention.” Iroh grasped his shoulders and looks the boy in the eye somberly. “You are a child. You deserve to rest and be happy; not fight in a war meant for men.”
Aang lifted his hand and cradled his head. “I… I don’t understand.”
“It may seem convoluted, but all I want is peace,” Iroh assured.
“B-but you kept the war going! You fought me! This doesn’t make any sense! Why would you keep fighting instead of stopping everything and making negotiations?”
“Do you really think my people would stop without a clear winner? They’d have fought despite my orders. Something like this would enrage the other nations, but it would placate mine enough that anything done after will be met with minimal resistance.”
Aang slumped. “I… I guess not…”
Iroh shifted to sit cross-legged in front of the boy when his knees began to ache. “Do you know what I really want after all of this is done aside from peace?”
“What?” Aang asked, copying the man and sitting in front of him.
“To retire and open a tea shop.”
Aang blinked twice. “That’s—uh… that’s not what I expected.”
Iroh chuckled, amber eyes twinkling with muted mirth. “I’m sure many people don’t expect that coming from the face of the enemy. Everyone has their own aspirations and fears regardless of what side of the war one is on.”
Aang smiled contemplatively. “Huh… you’re a lot nicer than I thought you’d be.”
“Thank you. You’re lot more open-minded than I thought you would be… perhaps it’s because you’re tired, too.”
Aang laughed. “I got my first night of good sleep last night before everyone gathered for the invasion thinking about all the things that could go wrong when I fought you… like in one dream I didn’t have pants and you gave me a math quiz, but when I finally slept you didn’t have pants.”
Iroh burst into uncontrollable laughter. When at last he could speak, he was wiping his eyes of tears. “Avatar Aang, you have bested me. You are a master of humor.”
Aang gave a weak, but genuine smile.
Iroh stood and held out a hand. “Let’s have some tea and sit down.”
Aang took his hand and fell into him when he found his legs had fallen asleep. Iroh supported him and waited until he steadied to begin walking back to the palace nearly two miles away. As they walked Iroh noted that Aang was slow and stumbling and supported him for a few steps before he decided it would be far simpler to carry the boy on his back. Aang protested at first but relented when his legs nearly gave out under him.
Aang found his head resting on the man’s shoulder, and he remembered resting on Gyatso’s shoulders at a young age with the scent of the sea drifting on the breeze.
“Fire Lord Iroh?”
“Hm?”
“Thank you.”
Iroh’s step faltered a moment, and he used one hand to balance himself on the steep slope.
“Are you okay?!” Aang asked.
Iroh grinned as he straightened back up. “Just fine. I may be old, but I'm not feeble!”
Aang giggled. “Yeah, I definitely know... hey, do you think you could teach me some of the cool stuff you did? Like that thing with the lightning?”
“I would be honored.”
They did fairly little conversing after this and soon the weight on his back grew heavier. Iroh did not mind and merely adjusted to make sure Aang did not fall off.
Upon reaching the palace the guards watched warily, not daring to ask to take Aang off of his back.
“Uncle! Uncle, are you-?!” Zuko’s step faltered several above Iroh’s when he catches the sleeping Avatar on his uncle’s back. “Did you…?”
Iroh looked over his shoulder at Aang’s sleeping face. “He fell asleep… someone prepare a room and clothes for my guest.”
“Guest?” Hisashi asked from his place at the door.
Iroh looked at his old friend and adviser and nodded firmly. “Yes, the Avatar is my guest. Please guard him in the meantime.”
“I… yes, Fire Lord Iroh,” Hisashi hastily bowed. He turned to one of the guards who still stared in stunned silence. “Jin, please carry the Avatar to one of the guest rooms.”
“Yes, sir,” Jin said, bounding forward and taking the young boy from Iroh’s back. He met Iroh’s gaze with a solemn gratefulness and unbridled relief. “You did well, sir.”
Iroh resisted the urge to ruffle the younger man’s hair and, instead gave a nod and made his way to the baths.
He thought after the day he’d had it was sorely needed.
Aang rolled over on the bed and buried his face in the pillow.
Pillow? Bed?! He shot up and hissed at the sudden strain of his sore muscles. He looked down at all the bruises and scrapes he’d gotten during his fight against Fire Lord Iroh and reality reluctantly sank in as he took in their cleaned state and how the worst of his wounds were bandaged with care. It seemed the Fire Lord had been earnest in his wish for peace.
He slipped out of the bed and turned on his heel to look around the room so obviously Fire Nation.
It was elegant and plain in the way any guest bedroom would be, and the ceilings were so high he’s sure an airbender toddler wouldn’t hit their head against them. He stopped his rotation facing the bed and saw on the foot of the bed a pair of orange and yellow robes that looked so close to the ones the monks used to wear that his heart ached with nostalgia. Atop the clothes was a wooden necklace with no carvings on the pendant, a sheathed knife and tassels.
He felt his chest tighten with emotion at the thought put into clothing him.
With great ceremony he carved the three swirls onto the wood with every ounce of care he could and attached the tassels. When it was ready, he dressed and put on the necklace with tears in his eyes.
I hope you’re proud of me.
He took a deep breath and walked out into the hallway.
“Avatar Aang,” a young Fire Nation soldier greeted with a bow. Aang had to admit seeing a soldier that didn’t immediately attack him was surreal. “I am Sergeant Rin, and this is Corporal Mako. We are here to escort you to the waiting room to have tea with Fire Lord Iroh and your companions.”
Aang’s heart leapt to his throat—he forgot about his friends. “Thank you.”
“Please, follow us,” Rin said.
Aang tried to relax having Mako behind him, but he couldn’t seem to make himself. Having a general mistrust of Fire Nation soldiers after a year of having them attack him on sight was to be expected.
“Corporal, run ahead and alert them to our presence,” Rin ordered suddenly.
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, jogging ahead of them and disappearing from sight.
Aang relaxed and wondered if she knew how he was feeling or if this was customary for them. He opened his mouth to ask, but she spoke first.
“I realize people are uncomfortable with someone considered an enemy behind them, Avatar,” Rin said as she turned her head to look at him with a gentle smile that made her crow’s feet stand out. He realized she was closer to Iroh’s age than Sokka’s. “We’re almost to your friends.”
They continued to walk, this time in a more comfortable silence, until they reach the door where Mako was stationed with two other guards.
“Avatar Aang,” one guard said with a deep bow before looking at Rin and jerking his head for her to come forward.
She stepped forward and they opened the doors and positioned themselves carefully within.
All the loud conversation from within stopped with Aang’s entrance.
“Aang!” Katara cried, rushing forward and enveloping him in her arms.
He grimaced at the jostling of his wounds, but otherwise returned her hug in earnest. “Hey, Katara.”
She pulled away and looked him over. “Are you okay?”
“I thought he was lying when he said you were alive,” Sokka admitted as he walked over, blue eyes assessing him critically.
“I told you he was telling the truth,” Toph muttered under her breath.
Iroh bowed shallowly towards Aang. “I hope you find my gifts acceptable, and I have not butchered your traditions, Avatar.”
Aang stepped out of Katara’s grasp and returned the bow. “Thank you, Fire Lord Iroh for this gift.”
“I believe we need tea before further discussions. Are there any preferences?”
“None for me,” Aang said.
“Uncle, are you sure this is a good idea?” Zuko asked from his uncle’s side.
“We have representatives of all nations here. I believe this is a good start,” Iroh assured as he washed his hands in a basin. “Now, help me serve our guests, Prince Zuko. Please, make yourselves at home!”
Aang sat himself on a cushion before a low table despite his friend’s hesitation. They stared at him in bemusement.
“Aang—”
“Sokka, I know it’s hard to believe, but I think sitting down with them and talking is the best idea,” Aang interrupted. His earnest gray met skeptical blue. “Please… let’s try.”
Sokka shared a look with Katara. A silent conversation passed between them in the time it took for Toph to settle in the seat next to Aang. The earthbender punched him lightly and reprimanded him for making her worry but smiled at his apology as if she had not been upset at all. Finally, the Water Tribe siblings decided to take their seats and wait.
Zuko seemed to have done very little with preparing the tea as Iroh was the one that carefully prepared and heated the tea, but the prince did serve them. He was careful and concise with his movements in a way that only someone with experience could do.
Zuko served Iroh as he sat and then places the tray back on the preparation table before seating himself to Iroh’s right hand.
Iroh took a sip of tea and sighed with content. “I hope you all like jasmine tea.”
Aang moved to take a sip, but Sokka was quick to grasp his wrist and halt him.
He stared up at the older boy with confusion. “What?”
“He could try to poison you,” Sokka muttered with a glare towards Iroh.
“For the last time, my uncle could’ve killed the Avatar ten times over already! Why would he just poison him?!” Zuko demanded.
“I don’t know how firebender minds work, but I know you’ve been trying to kill us since he got out of the ice!” Sokka snapped back.
“Enough.” Iroh set the cup down and regained the attention of the children around him. “Young man, what is your name?”
“Sokka.”
“You’re a smart young man. Tell me… what would I gain from poisoning the Avatar instead of killing him in battle? It is a more honorable way to kill an enemy, after all.”
Sokka looked away.
Iroh’s eyes grew soft. “You’re all so young… I could never bring myself to kill any of you. If anything you’ll have an easier time offing me.”
“Uncle—”
“It is only the truth. The ruthless Fire Lord being killed by the Avatar and his companions is more acceptable to the Fire Lord killing children. However in that it would lead to my nephew losing his temper and pushing the war forward regardless. For the best results it had to end like this.” Iroh placed the tea cup on the table and looks into its contents with a distant glint to his eye. “I put a lot of thought in how to end this war on the best terms.”
“You could’ve stopped the fighting years ago!” Katara argued.
“My nation is harsher than we were one hundred years ago. They wouldn’t have accepted anything except a sound defeat. If I lost and lived they would have taken none of my orders seriously and rebelled. If I died… well I already told you.” Iroh looked each one in the eye. “You are all instrumental in peace. On this road to peace, Prince Zuko will take the throne and I will retire.”
“And open a tea shop,” Aang said quietly.
Iroh smiled at him with fondness. “That’s the dream.”
“… what happened out there?” Sokka asked as he looked between his friend and the Fire Lord.
“He put things into perspective,” Aang assured. “Now… about these peace negotiations…”