Author's Note: Some old Urzai that I thought I'd published already. Apparently not.

...

...

Depth and Reciprocity

...

...

001. power

It is well within the Fire Prince's power to do just as he pleases. Prince Ozai has known this from birth - which makes it all the stranger that she has the power to twist him around her finger like putty. He can't resist her.

002. sex

Dinner conversation is simple and monotonous, with both sets of parents making small talk. But her eyes are like molten gold, deep pools that he can lose himself in, and when she smiles invitingly, he tries to avoid smirking. After all, Iroh is too good at spotting that sort of thing, and he doesn't particularly want to see his older brother's reaction.

003. control

They're lucky, in an unfortunate sort of way, that their first child is male. Now that there are two blood heirs to the throne, Iroh can go to war. Now that there are two blood heirs, the Fire Lord sees his sons as expendable.

004. tea

They drink tea in silence, Ursa tossing small pieces of bread to the turtleducks. It is two years now since the siege at Ba Sing Se began, and though he'd never say it, she can tell he is worried - for his brother, for his family, for his country. So she leans her head gently against his side - a small moment of solitude before she must tend to their children.

005. fire

His last image of her is running feet, before she disappears like smoke. The next day, they light a fire - a white one, taller than the palace walls - and he is crowned king. But years later, he wonders whether it was worth it - and he regrets.