"I know you won't. Please, Zuko, sit. Before we begin, we must talk."
As if in demonstration - as Zuko is, it seems, a formal young man even though Iroh's reports have suggested one as strong-willed and obstinate as Obi-Wan himself, and Anakin before him - Obi-Wan has a seat, gesturing at the seat opposite him. If Zuko feels as though his every move is being closely watched... well, it's because it is. Observation is just one part of being a good Master, and while others would argue with him, Obi-Wan considers himself a very good Master indeed, Anakin's fits of pique aside; he is proud of what he has become, and he thinks that he will be proud of what Zuko will become as well, given time.
"You see, young one, while you have seen much fighting already, our position is on the front lines of this war. You have been prepared for this moment, but to work together underneath such circumstances, we must have trust in one another - I in you, and you in me. And while I have no doubts that you have been taught well, the only way to learn trust is to earn it."
And that goes for the both of them. Of course, they'll find themselves in the field before trust is earned (they simply don't have the luxury to spend time with one another in the way Obi-Wan would prefer, not anymore, not with so many lives on the line), but he hopes to spend as much quality time with him as possible first.
"So first, I ought to ask - do you have any questions?"
He doubts the boy will be terribly forthcoming, but he has to ask. If nothing else, the mere absence of questioning will tell him just as much as his questions would.
i'm sorry this was supposed to be a guardian meme and iT JUST TURNED INTO WAR
As if in demonstration - as Zuko is, it seems, a formal young man even though Iroh's reports have suggested one as strong-willed and obstinate as Obi-Wan himself, and Anakin before him - Obi-Wan has a seat, gesturing at the seat opposite him. If Zuko feels as though his every move is being closely watched... well, it's because it is. Observation is just one part of being a good Master, and while others would argue with him, Obi-Wan considers himself a very good Master indeed, Anakin's fits of pique aside; he is proud of what he has become, and he thinks that he will be proud of what Zuko will become as well, given time.
"You see, young one, while you have seen much fighting already, our position is on the front lines of this war. You have been prepared for this moment, but to work together underneath such circumstances, we must have trust in one another - I in you, and you in me. And while I have no doubts that you have been taught well, the only way to learn trust is to earn it."
And that goes for the both of them. Of course, they'll find themselves in the field before trust is earned (they simply don't have the luxury to spend time with one another in the way Obi-Wan would prefer, not anymore, not with so many lives on the line), but he hopes to spend as much quality time with him as possible first.
"So first, I ought to ask - do you have any questions?"
He doubts the boy will be terribly forthcoming, but he has to ask. If nothing else, the mere absence of questioning will tell him just as much as his questions would.