This is a collection of stand-alone cute stories centering on Zuko and the gAang.
Basically all the stuff I cannot fit into Fire Hazard, but do somewhat keep to the Cannon.
The sense of déjà vu was only partially broken by light laughter.
It took Iroh a moment to find where the feeling of memory had come from: this ship was nothing like the broken down old thing that had been his and nephew's world for almost three years. In the evening sun, it did have a certain orange metallic feel. But it was bigger, grander, shinier—and let us not forget painfully luxurious.
It was also full of happy, laughing, partying people.
Yet soon, the retired general spotted the source of that sudden connection to the past: Zuko was standing on the prow, back turned to his guests. He was only wearing a sleeveless shirt and half-pants; nothing like the armor and top-knot from back then, but still the imaged called to Iroh. There was nothing the old man could do but go, draw his arms into his sleeves and stand at the boy's side, to complete the picture: a memory of whom they had been, a lifetime ago.
Or was it, only as little as half a year?
As immense as this ship was, and as many the people aboard, there was apparently space for more: it seemed there was need to draw even more people to what was to be the 'party of the century'. A little to starboard, a different pair of men: two boys, were set to make this dream a reality. Sokka pulled Aang into the crook of his armpit, gesturing to shore. The Avatar wore an orange shirt with flowers; the water-warrior was bare-chested. On both their noses perched dark sun-glasses, which the elder boy kept pulling down so he could see over them.
Iroh knew the outfits were meant to impress girls: it had been a sweltering hot day in all the earth-town's harbors they had visited today, but the evening was cooler and the sun was setting. Happily, none of this deterred either of those young men, Iroh noted. Soon the younger of the two was sent out to show the prospective guests 'what he'd learned of party-bending'.
The air-bender gave a mock-salute, and whirled off to shore on his air-kite. There he started a performance that would not have been out of place in the circus: dips and spins and air bending tricks.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" the boy called, so loudly that - even though he was now a good hundred yards away from their anchored ship - Iroh could easily hear him. "I am Aang, the Avatar."
This statement, again, was accompanied with some rather impressive bending: Aang pulled waves and air in a twirl, finishing off with a small puff of flame. No doubt the boy would have liked to add earth to his repertoire, but there wasn't really any of it here, on the docks, but bending three elements was surely enough to convince anyone of the authentic of this Avatar.
"That over there is the new Fire Lord's yacht." A cocky grin and a thumb their way. "We are going to celebrate his soon-to-be coronation and the end of the war. And we want to invite as many citizens as we can fit aboard for the party. What do you all say?"
It was a sure win: as Sokka had, again, managed to target a group of youngsters out for an evening on town, they were only happy to indulge. The group started clapping and cheering, and a few girls and boys even ran off, to collect friends of theirs that should not be missing out. The Avatar was soon engulfed from all sides by excited admirers.
An angry sniff from his other side called Iroh's attention now; it was the water-bender girl. She looked less then pleased about all the attention her friend ashore was getting. But an old man knew how to smooth such adolescent feelings: "Katara." Iroh called, easily. "I think Avatar Aang may have again attracted more people than he can safely transport on his own. Why don't you go help him out?"
It had the desired effect: the girl grumbled about always having to do all the work, but she smirked as she lowered herself down on a wave of ice and propelled herself to the shore.
Satisfied, the old man nodded, lacing fingers over his belly. Now, on to the more difficult problem: Zuko still stood frozen near the stern, his fists clenching up. And he had seemed so happy only minutes ago, walking amongst his friends. Sometimes the boy was still an enigma, even to his old uncle.
Time to hazard a guess: "Nephew, I know there is a lot of work to be done. But please, try and have some fun. After the coronation, I doubt we'll have much time for a vacation."
"It's not that…" the boy's voice sounded very far away, but he snapped back: "Oh spirits! The coronation! I haven't even started on my speech!"
He would have turned and left, probably in search of ink and paper, if his uncle would not have physically detained him. "I'll help, later. Now tell me what is bothering you so we can both get back to the party."
The boy froze; again looking out onto the sea beyond. "I—it's stupid. But. Uncle, do you think…"
His uncle didn't think much, right now; honestly. For once, Iroh was at a complete loss.
It was the water-tribe boy, Sokka, again, that came by with a remarkable amount of insight. He twirled up to the soon-to-be Fire Lord, a bowl of punch in both hands, and brought his face up close to his peer; so close in fact that Zuko backed off with half a sneer, annoyed at the infraction upon his personal space.
"I know what you are thinking, Jerk-bender." The water-warrior cooed with too much luster. "And, no; if you had sailed into our little town all smiles and offered us a free pleasure trip by yacht to the capital of the Fire Nation, we would not have accepted."
The boy turned away, but then continued to a full pirouette, face again ending too close to the Fire Prince: "That old boat of yours was way below our standards."
Then the dark-skinned boy skipped away, bowls slouching as he sang: "Suuu~ki! Got you punch!"
And the old general was again left in the dust, to marvel at this boy's capacity to go from complete ditz to insightful genius and back.
"I could have…" Zuko offered in a small voice. "Cleaned it up?"
Iroh chuckled, patting his nephew on the shoulder. "Don't worry about it; it is always easy to be wise in hindsight. Although…" the old man paused, remembering. "Next time I suggest to take some of the men aside a few days to build us a sauna and Jacuzzi aboard, perhaps you would be kind enough not to yell at me?"
The boy rolled his eyes at him, but strode away happily after only a moment, joining back amongst the merry-makers.
"Toph, Uncle says we need a Jacuzzi!"
"Leave me alone. Me and your girlfriend are busy hating this stupid unsightly boat."
Mai, at Toph's side under a parasol objected that she didn't hate anything, but was just bored.
"We have fire-benders for heat, water benders…"
Zuko gestured to shore, where Katara and Aang were engaged in a competition on who could make the prettiest frozen raft to take their new guests to the ship. Both ice rafts already sported several floors, and fine carved railings and sculpted prows.
"But we need a metal-bender to dig us a hole in my deck."
"Get a contractor." Toph flipped over to her back, pretending to sunbath, though both a parasol and the low sun made this impossible.
"I told you she couldn't do it." Sokka offered, his arms wrapped possessively around Suki in her green top and skirt.
"Oh, you are SO on!"
The old uncle chuckled again, walking back amongst these people; these kids that had done the impossible. As he joined in on taking bets on how big the 'Blind Bandit' could make their new Jacuzzi within a set time-limit, Iroh could not help but think the world was finally okay.