[fic] After the War - Love
Title: Love (After the War: 1/?)
Featured Characters: Iroh
Featured Pairings: Sokka/Suki, Zuko/Mai, Aang/Katara
Rating: G
Notes: I have a pressing desire to write a lot of heartwarming post-finale fic. BEAR WITH ME OKAY.
Next: Marriage
Word Count: 606
Summary: They've made an interesting family for themselves.
Iroh cherishes the days of peace, and values each one, but it is the evenings everyone comes to visit that he truly loves best.
The arrivals are haphazard, from every direction. Aang and Katara on Appa, Momo chirping happily away beside them, from wherever they’ve been most recently, tired and worn but smiling with eyes only for each other. Zuko and Mai, in the palanquin, Fire Nation robes and paraphernalia a sharp contrast to the humbleness of the Jasmine Dragon. Sokka and Suki by boat from Kyoshi Island, Sokka running in eager excitement as soon as their feet touch he shore, Suki laughing behind him.
By the time everyone has finally stepped under the familiar threshold, changed and greeted and exchanged the most important news, the shop is already closed for the night. Toph helps him clean up, swiping the dust and detritus off the chairs and tables with a flick of her hand. Iroh has watched her grow, from a strong but somewhat unsure girl to the young woman she is now, and a part of him that becomes more insistent each day knows she will leave soon. (But doubts and unhappiness are not a part of it, not of these days, and when Toph crosses her arms in satisfaction and grins at him he knows there is still more than enough time left.)
Zuko joins him in the kitchen and they make dinner together, quick slices of the knives and sizzles of the pots and pans in harmony. They don’t need to talk. There is a comfortable quiet that is allowed to surround their interactions now, not there before - a peace in Zuko’s demeanor Iroh is somehow consistently surprised to see.
The Pai Sho table is always set up, and over the years it has intrigued him exactly who has taken to it. Sokka has proven adept, which was no question in Iroh’s mind from the start (he carries the lotus tile proudly at all times, the symbol of his initiation, on a thick cord around his neck). It is Mai, though, with her quiet and calculating skill, that has become a master. The fact that Zuko is the only member of the royal family who still cannot play bothers him less than it probably should.
He watches them as he helps Zuko bring the food out - tray after steaming tray - better things then many except the Fire Lord and his Princess probably eat on a regular basis. The smaller tables Toph pushes together to form one long enough for a banquet, running half the length of the store. Iroh is at the head of it, and when it gets too dark he lights candles and lanterns with Zuko’s help, one long stream of flame illuminating the faces surrounding him.
On this night, in particular, these are the things he sees:
Aang taking a vegetable dumpling between his chopsticks and feeding it to Katara when he thinks no one is looking.
Mai and Suki talking quietly, stealing quick glances in the directions of their husbands.
Toph metalbending Sokka’s spoon backwards while he’s absorbed with sneaking duck off of her plate, causing a small torrent of broth to hit him square in the face. Then, Sokka pausing before laughing helplessly.
Zuko, to Iroh’s right, in the clothing of an Earth Kingdom peasant instead of a Fire Lord’s finery, hair slightly unkempt and eyes ringed with fatigue, drinking his tea as he joins Iroh in watching the others.
“An interesting family you have made for yourself, my nephew,” Iroh says.
Zuko only smiles. “Yeah. I guess I have.”
Iroh heats his cooling tea with his breath and touches Zuko’s hand, briefly, in turn.
*
Featured Characters: Iroh
Featured Pairings: Sokka/Suki, Zuko/Mai, Aang/Katara
Rating: G
Notes: I have a pressing desire to write a lot of heartwarming post-finale fic. BEAR WITH ME OKAY.
Next: Marriage
Word Count: 606
Summary: They've made an interesting family for themselves.
Iroh cherishes the days of peace, and values each one, but it is the evenings everyone comes to visit that he truly loves best.
The arrivals are haphazard, from every direction. Aang and Katara on Appa, Momo chirping happily away beside them, from wherever they’ve been most recently, tired and worn but smiling with eyes only for each other. Zuko and Mai, in the palanquin, Fire Nation robes and paraphernalia a sharp contrast to the humbleness of the Jasmine Dragon. Sokka and Suki by boat from Kyoshi Island, Sokka running in eager excitement as soon as their feet touch he shore, Suki laughing behind him.
By the time everyone has finally stepped under the familiar threshold, changed and greeted and exchanged the most important news, the shop is already closed for the night. Toph helps him clean up, swiping the dust and detritus off the chairs and tables with a flick of her hand. Iroh has watched her grow, from a strong but somewhat unsure girl to the young woman she is now, and a part of him that becomes more insistent each day knows she will leave soon. (But doubts and unhappiness are not a part of it, not of these days, and when Toph crosses her arms in satisfaction and grins at him he knows there is still more than enough time left.)
Zuko joins him in the kitchen and they make dinner together, quick slices of the knives and sizzles of the pots and pans in harmony. They don’t need to talk. There is a comfortable quiet that is allowed to surround their interactions now, not there before - a peace in Zuko’s demeanor Iroh is somehow consistently surprised to see.
The Pai Sho table is always set up, and over the years it has intrigued him exactly who has taken to it. Sokka has proven adept, which was no question in Iroh’s mind from the start (he carries the lotus tile proudly at all times, the symbol of his initiation, on a thick cord around his neck). It is Mai, though, with her quiet and calculating skill, that has become a master. The fact that Zuko is the only member of the royal family who still cannot play bothers him less than it probably should.
He watches them as he helps Zuko bring the food out - tray after steaming tray - better things then many except the Fire Lord and his Princess probably eat on a regular basis. The smaller tables Toph pushes together to form one long enough for a banquet, running half the length of the store. Iroh is at the head of it, and when it gets too dark he lights candles and lanterns with Zuko’s help, one long stream of flame illuminating the faces surrounding him.
On this night, in particular, these are the things he sees:
Aang taking a vegetable dumpling between his chopsticks and feeding it to Katara when he thinks no one is looking.
Mai and Suki talking quietly, stealing quick glances in the directions of their husbands.
Toph metalbending Sokka’s spoon backwards while he’s absorbed with sneaking duck off of her plate, causing a small torrent of broth to hit him square in the face. Then, Sokka pausing before laughing helplessly.
Zuko, to Iroh’s right, in the clothing of an Earth Kingdom peasant instead of a Fire Lord’s finery, hair slightly unkempt and eyes ringed with fatigue, drinking his tea as he joins Iroh in watching the others.
“An interesting family you have made for yourself, my nephew,” Iroh says.
Zuko only smiles. “Yeah. I guess I have.”
Iroh heats his cooling tea with his breath and touches Zuko’s hand, briefly, in turn.
*