Child on the Dragon Throne (Part 1/?)

[beboots]

 
As promised here, I have written more of this! Now, you shall have answers! Also, Ozai being derisive (and seriously underestimating his brother), which is a bad idea for Ozai, as you can imagine, as this fic also includes much awesome!Iroh. Yes. :3


Fire Lord Ozai was drafting the terms of his son’s banishment when Iroh fiercely strode into his office. Iroh could see the characters on the parchment, the ink not yet dried, from his position by the door.

“How convenient, I was just about to ask you about that.” Iroh stated, dryly, announcing himself.

The Fire Lord did not look up, still apparently engrossed in writing the bold calligraphy of the edict. “Zuko is to be banished, effective immediately.” Iroh was momentarily thrown by the derision in his brother’s voice.

Iroh rallied his thoughts, and decided to be direct. “Ozai, my brother, this is wrong.” He tried to keep the pleading out of his voice. Ozai had demonstrated on many occasions that he had no tolerance for emotional weakness.

“I have had enough, Iroh. He needs to learn respect and diligence and steadfast loyalty to his nation.” A slow, nasty smile grew on Ozai’s face. “Ah, but I suppose I must give him a chance of redemption.”

Iroh let out a sigh. Maybe… maybe it will not be so bad. Maybe, when Zuko proves himself, it will allow Ozai to bank his frustration and see Zuko as he really is. Maybe it will be over quickly.

“If he brings back the Avatar, and lays him at my feet, his honour will be redeemed.” Ozai pronounced with finality.

Iroh’s anger was fearsome to behold.

(How dare his brother throw away his own son when he would have given anything to still have -)

Iroh was a short man, but even he could still loom over his seated brother. “I challenge you to an Agni Kai. At sunrise.”

Ozai laughed in his face.

Iroh fixed his own facial expression, showing no emotion but anger and determination. The lantern-flames in the room rose in response to his rage. “You will answer to me, Ozai.”

“You?” Ozai actually snorted his derision, in a single syllable dismissing his elder brother. “You cannot fight me.”

Iroh felt that Ozai was speaking of his physical ability to challenge his younger, sprier brother, but at that moment one of the Fire Sages standing, unnoticed, at the wall of the room coughed politely. “My Lord, I am afraid that General Iroh is correct: you must answer his challenge. He is a general, my lord, and not some insolent-” He fell silent under the gazes of the two men, and nervously stepped back to his place at the edge of the room. He clearly did not want to get caught between two angry members of Sozin’s line.

The mocking smile had dropped from Ozai’s face, and for the first time, he looked as if he were actually considering Iroh seriously. Iroh remained stoic under his gaze.

“I presume, then, that you have terms for this challenge?” Ozai was at least paying minimal attention to him, now.

“Yes.” Iroh stated. “When I win – and I will-“ Iroh was actually more uncertain of this fact than his body language portrayed him to be, but he could not and would not show weakness in front of Ozai. Not now. “You will rescind Zuko’s proclamation of banishment and restore him to his proper place in the line of succession.” Iroh would not make any provisions for himself.

Iroh suspected that Ozai only agreed to these terms in the end because he believed that he could easily defeat a general who had been enjoying a comfortable retirement. Iroh was not entirely sure that his brother was wrong in that assumption.

He would, however, try his best to dissuade Ozai of it. By force.


Comments

[floranna.livejournal.com]

Meep. I want more of it!

Ozai is a moron. ^^

[beboots.livejournal.com]

Ah, but Ozai is CONFIDENT. Which is a kind of moron-ness that works really well as long as you actually ARE as good as you think you are. But when you're NOT... ;)