Written for someone who likes to call themselves anonymous!
Swish swish!
Sokka sat up with a start when he heard the sound of blades slicing through the air. He'd heard the sound often enough to be able to identify it easily. Maybe too often.
He looked around, but he didn't see anyone. He quickly got up and scouted out the area. It was probably better not to wake the others, not until he knew there was a threat. He peered through a bush, and saw, to his relief, that it was just Zuko practicing with his dual swords.
Wait a second.
Zuko and swords?
That seemed unusual to Sokka, seeing as every bender he'd ever met used their bending as their weapon, and nothing else. Why did Zuko use swords?
Sokka shifted in his crouched position, and accidently snapped a twig. Zuko immediately whirled around and threw a giant wall of fire in his direction. Sokka barely had time to dodge.
Zuko ran over. He had reacted before thinking, again. Like the time he burned Toph. Oh please let it be some stupid squirrel. Sokka startled him when he stood up behind him.
" Hey! You almost roasted me!"
Oh. It was just this guy.
" Maybe if you didn't sneak around I wouldn't have done that. Why were you sneaking around anyway?"
Sokka shrugged.
" Just heard some noise and came over to investigate. Speaking of which, why do you wield swords? Isn't firebending enough?"
Zuko frowned. He thought back on painful childhood memories of having trouble with firebending.
Zuko looked over from his beginners lesson at Azula, who was at the other end of the courtyard, practicing advanced firebending.
She kicked every kick perfectly, executed every punch flawlessly. And she was the younger one. It wasn't fair.
He took a deep breath and started again. He was ten years old. He should know how to do this by now. His mother always assured that he was just a slow starter, but he had had quite a few years to "start".
Zuko went through the routine, falling over a few times, but getting back up quickly. He looked over at Azula. She was smirking at him. He glared back and continued practicing. And practicing. And practicing. But all the practicing in the world didn't seem to make much of a difference.
A month later, he found the dual swords. He took to them immediately. Finally, something he was good at! Unfortunately, however skilled he became, he was still looked down upon for his lack of firebending. So he continued firebending, no matter how many times he scorched his hands or fell over. No matter how often he just wanted to go to bed, or play. Because he had to learn to firebend well. Because he was a prince of the fire nation. Because his father expected it of him.
Sokka stood there awkardly, as there was long minute of silence. He coughed. That brought Zuko back.
Zuko sheathed his swords.
" To have something to fall back on."
In Zuko's head, however, his answer was: " Because I'm good with them."