Mischievous

1.) Causing or showing a fondness for causing trouble in a playful way

The morning was a beautiful mosaic of colors and pictures. The sun's early hour rays stretched across the sky, pink and orange merging together; swirling pictorials softly caressing one another, bending into one another, as if they were lovers.

Zuko's molten eyes stared expectantly out into the open water, the vast expanse shimmering with the light the sun cast down upon it.

A hand pressed sternly against his shoulder, age having not affected the owner's strength and passion. The Fire Lord need not turn around in order to know that the hand belonged to none other than his uncle, a man whose eyes still sparkled with undeniable joy of the life he has been given, despite the obstacles he has had to overcome. That's the thing with Iroh- despite everything that was meant to break him into microscopic pieces, despite the acts and punishments that were designed by Agni to break his spirit- nothing ever succeeded. He was the person Zuko admired, who he modeled his rule after.

A smile graced Zuko's lips lightly, and he spoke, "Good morning Uncle. Beautiful day isn't it?"

Iroh removed his hand from his nephew's shoulder and walked with smooth strides to stand beside the boy, still only of the age of nineteen. So young, and yet so wise. The old man guessed that was what happened when you faced acts and evils far beyond your years. "Quite beautiful indeed," was his answer to Zuko's question, "Katara is supposed to be here any moment now is that right?"

Zuko nodded absently, studying the water curiously, observing a ship adorned with Southern Water Tribe symbols and colors make its sudden appearance across the horizon and move towards the Fire Nation dock in steady strides, slicing through the water easily, gracefully.

Katara had sent a letter to the Fire Nation royal a few months back, asking whether he would mind if she visited him in the near future. She did not elaborate as to why she sent her letter, what had affected her to the point she required a break from her duties as Water Tribe Ambassador. But, as Zuko always had, he asked no questions and immediately sent her his approval of her request. After the war, the Gaang had grown apart, only reuniting occasionally for business matters, and even then they did not ever spend quality time together. Frankly, the thought of a piece of Zuko's past reentering his life had given him a level of happiness that was foreign to him. He had eagerly awaited her arrival for many weeks and today was the day he would be able to spend time with one of his friends. He had so few of them that it would be a nice, unusual experience.

Iroh studied his nephew silently, expertly observing the slight rise of his lips into the shape of a small smile, and the awakening of a light in his golden eyes that Iroh had not seen in such a long time. The old man knew and understood the amount of energy that had been drained slowly and steadily from the younger man. The arrival of the Water Tribe girl would do the Fire Lord some good.

Iroh glanced out towards the ocean himself and watched the ship inch ever closer to the dock, and a mischievous glint found its way to his eyes, a small smile upturning his own lips. He was going to have some of his own fun during Katara's visit. One way or another, those two benders would have to declare the feelings they had been burying deep inside themselves for so long, and Iroh would make sure of it.