Iroh snuck up the staircase to the Commander's cabin.

He never came without being ordered up there, but he needed to know why his grandfather sent a scroll that was so urgent he stamped it with the Royal Insignia.

It was later than he usually came, he knew his father, like most of the ship, was asleep.

He felt terrible, knowing his father must be exhausted with his worry, but Iroh just needed to know.

He rapped his knuckles against the door.

Iroh heard movement within the room.

He was about to knock again.

A light started in the room and the door opened a moment later.

Bumi looked at him in groggy confusion, but turned around and walked into the room, leaving the door open.

Iroh followed him and closed the door.

"What's wrong?" Bumi muttered, rubbing his eyes as he sat at his desk.

"Sorry," Iroh gave him a bow. "I just--"

"Is it about the scroll?" Bumi ran his fingers through his wild, bed tousled hair.

"Yeah..." Iroh nodded faintly.

"It's nothing, kid," Bumi yawned.

"If it was nothing, Grandfather wouldn't have stamped it with the Royal Insignia," Iroh countered.

Bumi rubbed his eyes.

"Where's the scroll," Iroh said. "I want to see it."

"You can't, it's for my eyes only," Bumi said sternly.

Iroh's jaw locked, "Please Dad. I need to know what's going on."

"Iroh, it's nothing to worry about," Bumi said.

"Show me the scroll," Iroh growled, starting to get frustrated.

"No," Bumi stood up. "You are not in any rank that gives you permission to give me orders."

The look in Iroh's eyes hardened. He rarely got angry with his father, but when he did, he wasn't willing to back down.

"Get back to your quarters Soldier," Bumi ordered, pointing to the door.

"Show me the scroll," Iroh said slowly.

"As your Commanding Officer," Bumi spat. "I order you to return to your quarters and forget this!"

Iroh balled his fist, dreading the next sentence that escaped his lips.

"As Prince of the Fire Nation, I order you to show me the scroll my grandfather sent!"

Bumi crossed his arms, "As husband of the next in line for the throne, and your father, I say no and get your ass to bed."

Iroh ground his teeth.

"Now," Bumi growled.

"You're unbelievable," Iroh spat. "You think you have any authority over me? You were never there!"

"Iroh--"

"You're exactly like Aang, except instead of favoring you don't want to deal with either!" Iroh shouted.

Bumi fell silent. He turned to his desk.

Iroh walked out of the room, slamming the door.

Bumi sat in his chair, rubbing his face. He was wide awake now.

He reached into the bottom drawer of his desk and grabbed out a handful of pictures. He silently flipped through them, all of them were pictures of Suki and Iroh.

It was something he always did when he needed a pick me up. It didn't seem to work this time, especially since he only counted about two pictures that he was in.

He sighed quietly, lowering his head.

Iroh stomped down the stairs and cast a glance to the cabin window just as the light died.

He glared at his feet and went below deck.

He headed for his room and went inside.

He frowned, seeing Cho was missing. He shook his head and walked to the desk, sitting in the chair and pulling out writing supplies.

He lit a candle on the desk top and set up the papers.

Dear Kitty,

Yes, I have made many new friends, I hope you get to meet them some day.
I miss you dearly too. I've been very homesick recently and I could really use a real hug from you.
I hope Fang is helping you sleep, you can keep him when I get home if it'll help you.
If you ask Grandfather to spend time with you, I assure you he will.
Thank you for watching him, I know this time may be the toughest for him.
I am including a picture of me and my friend Sin. You'd like her, she's like you. And yes, I still have the stupid haircut.

The Commander got a scroll from the palace with the Royal Insignia on it, do you have any idea what that's about?

Write me back, I miss my Kitty.

~ Roro

Iroh reread the note before folding it and stamping it with the wax press.

He closed his eyes, folding his hands and resting his forehead on them.

Iroh glanced at the door when it opened and Cho trudged in, dropping onto his bunk.

"What were you doing?" Iroh asked him, knowing he was at least a little awake.

"Latrine," Cho muttered, plopping his pillow over his face.

Iroh put out the candle.

"You okay?" Cho yawned. "You look distressed."

Iroh sighed, "The scroll the Commander received today was from my grandfather. It was stamped with the Royal Insignia, which usually means it's urgent."

"So you're worried about him?" Cho asked.

"I'm worried about all of them," Iroh rubbed his shoulder. "I tried asking Commander Bumi, but he refused to tell me."

Cho shrugged, "Maybe it's just a United Forces concern?"

Iroh nodded faintly.

"There's something else," Cho sat up.

Iroh shrugged weakly.

"I'm up, you have to tell me," Cho said, lighting a lantern on the wall.

"I just...am thinking about the last time I spoke to my father," Iroh said carefully. "I kinda said something I regret."

"What'd you say?" Cho asked.

"I basically said he was never there for Suki and I, though I know he tried his hardest."

Cho nodded faintly.

"Have you ever said anything like that to your father?" Iroh asked.

Cho scoffed, "I say it every day about both my parents."

Iroh frowned, "What? Why?"

"Why do you think Chi and I are so close?" Cho leaned back against the wall. "Our parents disowned us when we were teenagers."

Iroh furrowed his brows when Cho lowered his eyes.

"Well, more specifically, they disowned me. Chi left with me despite how much I begged her to stay where'd she be safe."

Iroh felt his heart ache, realizing he needed to apologize to his father.

"Can I ask what happened?" Iroh sat forward.

Cho pursed his lips, "I don't know if you'd understand."

"What do you mean?" Iroh frowned.

"There is something I haven't told you about myself, something very few people even know," Cho muttered, looking at his arms.

"What is it?" Iroh looked at him.

Cho didn't respond, and Iroh could see the nervousness on his face.

"We're battle buddies, remember?" Iroh said.

"We stick together no matter what. 'Not roommates, not friends, not even brothers!'," Iroh mimicked Commander Bumi's voice.

Cho smiled weakly and sighed, "Fine."

Iroh sat forward.

"I'm gay," Cho said.

Iroh nodded faintly, "I'm sorry that your parents disowned you for something you can't control."

"Thanks. So, you don't mind?" Cho asked hesitantly.

"Why would I?" Iroh shrugged. "My father's sister is a lesbian. My family is very open minded. I have no right to judge you for your orientation and you're still the same man."

Cho smiled weakly, "Thanks Iroh...I was afraid you wouldn't want to be associated with me anymore..."

"Does Unity mean nothing to you?" Iroh teased.

Cho chuckled.

Iroh sat forward, grinning, "So, has anyone caught your eye?"

"What?" Cho laughed.

"You know my crush, it's only fair I know yours," Iroh said. "I mean, if you have one."

Cho slapped himself in the face, blushing as he laughed, "Um, honestly, yes."

"Who?" Iroh sat up. "Tell me!"

Cho laughed, "Calm down. It's only fair that I give you hints since I found out through watching you."

Iroh shifted in the seat, grinning, "Ready when you are."

Cho closed his eyes tight, "Okay. First, he's not Fire Nation."

Iroh thought a moment, narrowing down to a few men on the ship that they actually knew.

"Is he a bender?" Iroh asked.

"No," Cho shook his head.

Iroh thought another moment, "What Nation?"

"You have to guess," Cho smirked.

"Earth Kingdom?" Iroh asked.

Cho shook his head.

"That leaves Water Tribe," Iroh grabbed his chin. He looked at Cho after a minute, grinning so hard he had dimples appear, "It's Hano."

"A prince and a detective, how do you do it sir?" Cho smirked, blushing a bit.

"That's really cool," Iroh smiled. "I hope things work out for you."

"Thanks," Cho smiled. "I hope you can fix things with your Dad."

Iroh nodded faintly.

His eyelids felt suddenly heavy and he yawned.

"Looks like your insomnia is beating you in," Cho chuckled, laying down.

"Yeah," Iroh yawned and climbed into his bunk, using his bending to turn off the lanterns.

"You think anything interesting will happen while we're out here?" Cho asked.

"I'm not sure," Iroh shrugged. "It is our first deployment, sometimes we don't get put into the fighting lines."

Cho nodded, closing his eyes.

Iroh closed his eyes, soon falling asleep.