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A Cursed Blessing	By : Yaoiandcoffeeaddict Category: Avatar - The Last Airbender > AU/AR - Alternate Universe/Alternate Reality Views: 6939 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar Last Airbender or profit from this story... damn.

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The kettle screamed on the fire as the strong smell of mint tea filled the small apartment, mixing with the subtle almost undetectable lingering scent of blood as Iroh poured a small amount of its contents into an earthy-brown ceramic cup and waited for the contents to cool slightly. Iroh breathed a slight sigh of relief as the mint erased some of the heaviness in the room before he approached his nephew’s still form.

Beautiful golden eyes remained fixed on the tight bundle on the counter as Iroh knelt next to the worn mattress. The midwife had said they would be able to hold a short ceremony at night to ensure the safe passage of his great-nephew.

“Prince Zuko,” Iroh whispered, hoping to take his nephew’s eyes off the remains of his child. “The healer stated fluids are essential for your health. And what is better for you than the healthiest drink on earth- tea?” There was no eye-rolling or snort that usually came when Iroh attempted to impart his love of tea onto his nephew. Instead, golden eyes focused on Iroh and the cup in his hands briefly before returning to the bundle. “Sit up and drink for me, nephew.”

Several seconds passed before Zuko began to shakily comply, wincing at the first sip but happily Zuko consumed it all as Iroh gently tilted the cup’s contents into his mouth. Finally, the cup was cool and empty and Iroh set it down before helping Zuko lower himself back onto the mattress, wise old eyes not missing the wince of discomfort on his nephew’s face when his abs were stretched as he lowered.

Once his nephew had been fully eased onto the mattress, he tucked the fresh green sheet around the long frame and ran a soothing hand through the short black hair. “Everything will be okay, Zuko. You’ll see,” he promised. “You are beautiful and strong and you can survive this, Nephew. And I will be right here with you.” Iroh withdrew his hand and the golden eyes once again returned to the bundle. “Feel up to drinking some broth for me?”

Zuko surprised him by nodding slightly and Iroh almost jumped for joy. His nephew had not lapsed into a feverish catatonic state as he had thought. Zuko was most likely just overwhelmed.

Iroh rose to his feet once again, ceramic cup in hand, ignoring the cracking of his old joints that protested the move and washed the cup in the sink so that it could be refilled with broth the healer had said Zuko should drink. The pot of broth was set on the stove where the kettle had been so it would warm before Iroh turned to wash the cup.

A knock at the door briefly startled Iroh and the ceramic cup nearly met its end as it slipped from Iroh’s fingers. Luckily, the rim barely chipped. “Coming,” Iroh called as he walked to the door.

Instead of their neighbor, Iroh was surprised to find the owner of the tea shop standing on his doorstep. The middle-aged man was dressed in a light green and brown cheongsum, short fingers playing with a small loose thread at the bottom of his sleeve.

Iroh nervously shuffled his feet when his boss looked him in the eye. “Mr. Pao. Welcome to our home…”

“Mushi…,” Pao directed with an aggravated look on his slightly lined face. “While I understand yesterday’s events were traumatic, it is not very professional to not send a messenger to let me know you and your nephew were unable to work tod…” Pao cut off his statement as he took in Iroh’s appearance. “Did you get any sleep last night?”

Iroh gave a weary, tired smile as he leaned slightly on the panel of the doorway. “I’m afraid not… my nephew… took ill last night and I’ve been caring for him. I’m sorry that I neglected to…”

“Has Li seen a healer?” Pao interrupted, genuine concern on his face.

“Yes. The midwife said he should recover.”

“Midwife?” Pao repeated, confusion replacing concern only to melt into realization as Iroh went a slight, almost indistinctly paler tone at his slip.

Iroh had let information slip before but the keyword in that was ‘let.’ Sleep deprivation and emotional exhaustion had caused him to do something incredibly revealing. If his nephew was listening to this in his state, he would surely work himself into a stress induced panic and might do something foolish with the idiotic notion from their homeland that it would be best for his ‘family’ and their honor. “Our neighbor is a midwife and since we know no other healer in the lower ring of the city that would come to see my nephew in the middle of the night…”

The look in Pao’s face was doubtful. “Mushi, did you know it is law in Ba Sing Se for all family, healers and midwives to report the presence of a Blessed One to the Dai Li?” The middle-aged man appeared to be watching Iroh’s face carefully. “However, the law does not include friends of the family.” The tone of Pao’s voice implied the secret would be safe with him.

Iroh glanced towards the midwife’s apartment. He hadn’t told her not to inform any authority of his nephew’s condition. Would she… most likely she would. He resigned himself to whatever was to come. “Thank you for informing me of this law, my friend.”

Pao leaned in slightly, his voice low in a manner that would look suspiciously like a lover to someone in the hall and said, “Rich breads often help with restoring the body from menstrual bleeding according to my wife. I can go get some from a bakery nearby if you wish.”

Iroh hid his discomfort with a broad smile. “That would be most generous. How can I repay you?”

“Give me clear instructions on how to brew the most popular teas and we will call it even,” Pao returned with a genuine smile after he moved his body back to standing. Iroh surprised himself by genuinely laughing. The man really did make a horrible cup of tea. Pao however did love tea almost as much as Iroh himself.

“You have a deal, my friend,” Iroh agreed.

“Then I shall return soon, my friend,” Pao said. Pao took his leave and Iroh returned to fixing Zuko’s broth.

JETKO JETKO JETKO JETKO JETKO JETKO

True to his word, the shop owner returned about twenty minutes later with a sweet-smelling loaf of bread and Iroh thanked him with a promise to write the five teas’ instructions down at the first chance he got. Pao smiled before handing Iroh something else- a small bag of money.

Surprised, Iroh handled the brown leather like it was a mouse-skunk ready to go off. “What is this?”

“That is your wages… just in case you have some guests at your door. I can only go as far as to the middle ring of the city. You need a special pass to get into the center ring.”

Iroh sighed and relaxed his hands. “Thank you. If that is the case, I will send the instructions to the shop.”

Pao next surprised him by bowing in gratitude before disappearing down the corridor.

Iroh closed the door to the apartment and set the bread and money onto the table. Ignoring his own growing gut, Iroh broke off a piece of the bread and approached Zuko. He dipped it into the cool remains of broth so that it was saturated and easier for digestion.

Zuko consumed the entire piece he gave him and his fever seemed to go down. Pao was a present from the spirits!

JETKO JETKO JETKO JETKO JETKO JETKO

It was around noon when there was another knock on the apartment door. Iroh had been sipping jasmine tea while writing the instructions he had promised Pao while broth was warming once again for Zuko on the stove.

Iroh set the pen in the ink and the cup on a wooden coaster before going to answer the door, expecting it to be the midwife with information on the ceremony that night. Instead, a man Pao’s age or perhaps slightly younger was at his door flanked by young, muscular youths in Dai Li uniforms. The man’s clothing was of the highest quality and his grooming immaculate with an arrogant air about him not unlike what Iroh had seen before in General Zhao.

“May I help you?” Iroh asked.

“Good afternoon,” the man greeted with the rumbling pleasure in his voice of a tiger-mouse that has cornered a possum-rat. “A midwife in your building has informed us we have something important to discuss.” When Iroh said nothing, the man stated, “We can either do this the easy way or the hard way, you decide.”

Iroh stepped aside and allowed the men into his apartment, the small space that suitable for two or three people becoming overwhelmingly cramped very quickly as they filed in before Iroh closed the door.

“Now, Mr. Mushi…” The middle aged man paused before he took in Iroh’s face. “Or would you prefer I call you General Iroh?” the middle-aged man asked with a predatory smirk when Iroh neither confirmed or denied his identity. The Dai Li’s weapons were out and pointed at him before Iroh could blink. “Either way, the outcome of today will be the same. You and your nephew are to accompany me back to the Earth King’s palace where your nephew will receive proper care.”

“I am sorry, young man, but I do not know why you…”

“My name is Long Feng, General Iroh and I am the King’s cultural advisor so do not insult my intelligence. I was in command of the army when you and your son attempted your failed siege and I never forget an enemy’s face.” The tension in the apartment was overwhelming as Iroh said nothing. “If you do not comply, I will be forced to separate you and your nephew, Prince Zako is it?..., for his own good. After all, the traditions of your homeland in this matter are well known and it is my duty to ensure the safety of a Blessed One in my city.”

Long Feng had him against the wall both literally and figuratively. “His name is Zuko and we will comply as long as you do not harm my nephew,” Iroh agreed softly.

“Wise choice.”

“Uncle?” came the weak, somewhat gravelly distressed voice from the mattress by the window. Iroh could see that one of the Dai Li had taken the infant’s remains out of Zuko’s sight and was presenting the remains to this arrogant Long Feng. Iroh barfely restrained himself from punching the man who was causing his nephew distress.

“He will be a good mother if he is this attached to his child’s remains,” Long Feng observed. “Who was the father?”

“I do not know,” Iroh stated, clenching his hands as he watched one of the Dai Li pick up his nephew’s unconscious form. “He went on his own for a month once. Though I followed closely behind, I do not know who he would have been interested in to allow…”

“You left a Blessed One unsupervised?” a Dai Li soldier questioned with outrage, a look from Long Feng indicated this was not a usual occurrence.

“We had no idea he was a Blessed One,” Iroh said as he watched a Dai Li soldier delicately carry his nephew out of the apartment.

Silence fell in the apartment as Long Feng studied Iroh’s face. “He’s not lying. Have a healer check the Prince out when we arrive,” he instructed the soldier to his left, who bowed and went to follow the soldier carrying Zuko. Large hands handed the infant’s remains to the soldier who had spoken out. “And dispose of this, I don’t care how.” The large hand then grabbed Iroh’s plump arm in a fierce grip before Iroh could protest. “Come Iroh. It is time to go home.”

Iroh ignored the small crowd as he was led down the hallway and down the stairs to a carriage in front of the apartment building where Zuko was being cradled delicately on a Dai Li soldier’s lap as he thankfully slept through the journey.

TBC

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A Cursed Blessing