Ficlet: "Yesterday's Lies Are Today's Chains" [Zuko, Iroh, PG]
For 7_chakras
Title: Yesterday's Lies Are Today's Chains
Author: sporkyadrasteia
Claim: Zuko
Challenge: Dim
Chakra: Light (Ajna)
Prompt: Escape
It takes a second for the Former General Iroh to realize that pale vision entering his line of sight is the worried face of his young nephew. Thankfully, due to years of military experience built into his reflexes, he is quick on the uptake.
"Hello, Zuko," and then, with a sly smile, "I see that the Fire Nation garb has changed recently."
This is not so much a joke as a query of Zuko's choice in those familiar-looking clothes; Iroh had been under the assumption that Zuko had meant it when he had made the choice to give up his Blue Spirit persona… yet here he was, once again dressed shoulder-down in black.
"I don't think I have the 'clearance' to be here," Zuko replies, dropping his hands apologetically, "so I followed the vents. I doubt that Father has any sort of trust in me. I'm starting to wonder whether he actually loves me at all. He doesn't seem happy to see me, just... annoyed." The dim lighting of Iroh's chamber does not hide the shadowed lines of disappointment from Zuko's face.
"Well, Ozai never was exactly bright when it came to prioritizing," Iroh offers with a chuckle. "You can take my current state as evidence of that."
Zuko hesitates to reply but then, in what can be assumed as an act of grudged admission, he silently slides down to Iroh's level.
"This is not what I wanted," he finally sighs. "None of this is what I expected."
"I can't say that this was unexpected… but I'm sorry." Iroh reaches through the bars and encouragingly pats his shoulder.
"You should have told me, Uncle." Zuko replies, now adopting a bitter tone.
"What?"
"You're my guardian. My teacher. You were supposed to tell me that this is how the world is. You're supposed to tell me the truth. I'm seventeen years old and I don't even know my father. And you're behind bars by your own brother for treason. I didn't think that the world would be this crazy."
Iroh lets out a laugh. "Yes, well, I can't exactly teach you that. Some things you have to experience yourself before you believe it. But I will tell you one I know for certain: it’s better to be miserable in company. I suppose that's one reason why you choose refuge with me in this dungeon of all places in this palace."
Zuko nods.
"Although," Iroh adds, giving his nephew a shrewd look, "one should never indulge in this behavior for long periods of time. I wonder if you passed the main Prison Guard while coming here? I meant to ask him for a hot cup of tea. He always says no, but maybe today-"
"-Yeah. I passed him." Zuko reaches for his pocket to pull out a key and then stands up to enter it in the rusty keyhole. "Come on, we don't have much time."
"Zuko-"
"-Come on!" Zuko tugs Iroh's hand and helps him come to his feet. "I'll buy you as much tea as you want if we could just get out of here."
As he followed Zuko out of the adjoining vents (albeit with minor difficulty), Iroh didn't dare utter a word after a promise like that.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
My intelligence is bewildered by Your equivocal instructions. Therefore, please tell me decisively which will be most beneficial for me.
- Arjuna (Bhagavad Gita, verse 3.2)
[All Light (Ajna) entries for 7_chakras]
Title: Yesterday's Lies Are Today's Chains
Author: sporkyadrasteia
Claim: Zuko
Challenge: Dim
Chakra: Light (Ajna)
Prompt: Escape
It takes a second for the Former General Iroh to realize that pale vision entering his line of sight is the worried face of his young nephew. Thankfully, due to years of military experience built into his reflexes, he is quick on the uptake.
"Hello, Zuko," and then, with a sly smile, "I see that the Fire Nation garb has changed recently."
This is not so much a joke as a query of Zuko's choice in those familiar-looking clothes; Iroh had been under the assumption that Zuko had meant it when he had made the choice to give up his Blue Spirit persona… yet here he was, once again dressed shoulder-down in black.
"I don't think I have the 'clearance' to be here," Zuko replies, dropping his hands apologetically, "so I followed the vents. I doubt that Father has any sort of trust in me. I'm starting to wonder whether he actually loves me at all. He doesn't seem happy to see me, just... annoyed." The dim lighting of Iroh's chamber does not hide the shadowed lines of disappointment from Zuko's face.
"Well, Ozai never was exactly bright when it came to prioritizing," Iroh offers with a chuckle. "You can take my current state as evidence of that."
Zuko hesitates to reply but then, in what can be assumed as an act of grudged admission, he silently slides down to Iroh's level.
"This is not what I wanted," he finally sighs. "None of this is what I expected."
"I can't say that this was unexpected… but I'm sorry." Iroh reaches through the bars and encouragingly pats his shoulder.
"You should have told me, Uncle." Zuko replies, now adopting a bitter tone.
"What?"
"You're my guardian. My teacher. You were supposed to tell me that this is how the world is. You're supposed to tell me the truth. I'm seventeen years old and I don't even know my father. And you're behind bars by your own brother for treason. I didn't think that the world would be this crazy."
Iroh lets out a laugh. "Yes, well, I can't exactly teach you that. Some things you have to experience yourself before you believe it. But I will tell you one I know for certain: it’s better to be miserable in company. I suppose that's one reason why you choose refuge with me in this dungeon of all places in this palace."
Zuko nods.
"Although," Iroh adds, giving his nephew a shrewd look, "one should never indulge in this behavior for long periods of time. I wonder if you passed the main Prison Guard while coming here? I meant to ask him for a hot cup of tea. He always says no, but maybe today-"
"-Yeah. I passed him." Zuko reaches for his pocket to pull out a key and then stands up to enter it in the rusty keyhole. "Come on, we don't have much time."
"Zuko-"
"-Come on!" Zuko tugs Iroh's hand and helps him come to his feet. "I'll buy you as much tea as you want if we could just get out of here."
As he followed Zuko out of the adjoining vents (albeit with minor difficulty), Iroh didn't dare utter a word after a promise like that.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
My intelligence is bewildered by Your equivocal instructions. Therefore, please tell me decisively which will be most beneficial for me.
- Arjuna (Bhagavad Gita, verse 3.2)
[All Light (Ajna) entries for 7_chakras]