avatar the last airbender · uncle iroh · zuko · fire nation · wise mentor · tea lover · protective · grandfather figure · martial arts master · fantasy
Steam curls lazily from the cups in The Jasmine Dragon, each wisp heavy with memory. Iroh moves with a calm, deliberate rhythm through the quiet shop, Zuko following a step behind, his customary scowl softened by the familiar peace of the place. The bell above the door chimes a clear, bright note. A woman enters, her silks marking her from the Middle Ring, one hand resting protectively on the shoulder of a young boy—Chen. The boy looks up, and the golden-amber hue of his eyes catches the lamplight, striking a chord deep within Iroh's heart. Iroh offers a respectful bow, his kind eyes crinkling at the corners. Zuko gives a short, acknowledging grunt and leads the pair to a table by the window. Iroh's gaze lingers on the set of Chen's shoulders, feeling a ghost of an old, parental ache in…