Zuko's Vacation - Chapter 1: Meeting Old Friends

Rating: K

Pairing: eventual Zuko x Ty Lee

Ah, my first attempt at a Zuko x Ty Lee fic. My first tastes of Avatar fanfics were always towards Toko, but after reading a few Ty Luko fics, it has captured my mind, and so I decided to write this. Took me forever to get it started, but it turned out being fun to write, just what I needed to get past my writers' block. This one is almost entirely Ty Lee's perspective, with Zuko only appearing towards the end. He will be the main POV in the next installments, so don't question why it is titled the way it is. That said, enjoy the Zuko x Ty Lee sweetness.


Shuffling her feet slowly to her right, Ty Lee watches her opponent as she does the same. Mirror images shifting slowly to the side, looking for any kind of opening. The large training hall offers no sound, save for the subtle padding of feet on cool, hard wood and somewhat labored breathing.

An occasional whisper among the gathered warriors, but Ty Lee dared not turn her attention away from the girl in front of her. It being a sparring match, there was no threat of real danger, but she had something of a reputation to uphold. It seemed that they had been sparring all day, Ty Lee keeping her unbeaten record against the leader of the Kyoshi warriors.

Secretly, she always loved the frustrated look on the older girl's face when she went down, as though it were the worst humiliation one could withstand. But over the months she had been staying with the Kyoshi warriors, she had found it necessary to bemore diligent in her training. Suki was always getting better, and she knew it was only a matter of time before their roles were reversed.

Their bodies continued shifting slowly to the right, neither wanting to make the first mistake in this day's final contest. All around them, girls in identical green kimonos kneeled at attention, observing the two fighters for any tips to improve. It was held among all the girls of the island that the two most skilled fighters present were indeed Suki and Ty Lee, with the younger of the girls holding the advantage with her natural flexibility and agility.

It seemed that all the time as a circus performer had really paid off in a more practical way. Quickly, the young brunette cast her gaze out onto the crowd, her lustrous grey spheres resting on one spectator in particular: Sokka. The look of pure excitement on his face was priceless, his lips falling into one of his trademark goofy grins. For a moment it looked as though his eyes would simply bulge out of his head.

Ty Lee felt an involuntary grin cross her lips, her eyes nearly able to read the words in his head. It was always the same when he was around. Things always got interesting and crazy when he was involved, and he made his backing known whatever contest he might be observing.

Even though she had gotten over him after the war had ended, that didn't mean she couldn't show him what he was missing, right? Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a shadow at the edge of the large window, and she wondered what it had been. Just as it appeared, it had retreated almost in the same instant. Mentally shaking herself, she returned her focus to the young woman in front of her.

'I miss the old fire nation clothes I used to wear,' she thought to herself, the dark greens of the kimono and breastplate a far cry from the pinks and reds she normally enjoyed. The tension between the two girls continued to increase, and the young brunette knew the older girl wanted to simply rush forward and take matters into her own hands.

Ty Lee occasionally wondered if Suki thought she would try and steal Sokka back, and wanted to prove herself in some way in front of the guy she liked. It wouldn't be the most ridiculous thing to do, she knew. The odd stream of sunlight glinted off of Suki's metal head dress, adding a brighter color on a spot on the floor.

Lightly balling her fists up, Ty Lee decided that enough was enough, darting suddenly towards the young leader of the group. Audible gasps echoed off of the walls, Sokka's voice definitely the loudest as he began to cheer for Suki with his usual enthusiasm. Somehow it always struck her right in the heart, to know that whatever she did, she would probably always be the outsider.

She wanted someone to cheer for her, to support her like Sokka did for Suki. Her eyes narrowed almost dangerously, focusing intently on the young girl in front of her. Suki had gotten much better, and she managed to deflect or avoid all of Ty Lee's blows. Her own natural agility allowed her to do the same, and it seemed they were in a deadlock.

"Come on, Ty Lee, you can do better than that," her eyes widened in surprise at the voice that echoed inside the room from outside, everyone inside turning their attention to the window. None saw anyone there, and turned then to each other, quizzical looks on their faces.

Ty Lee felt a warm smile cross her soft features, leaping quickly away from the older Kyoshi girl. Landing softly on her feet, she took a deep breath, smile still in place as she calmed herself down. The voice… it had seemed so familiar, so friendly. But there were few guys she knew who would know her in return. Most guys around her had only ever been interested in one thing, and many of them had never even bothered to learn her name.

One was Sokka, who would never root for her over his beloved Suki. Aang was busy with his duties as the Avatar, and living his 'happily ever after' with Katara, only popping in occasionally. He also would never root for one of his friends over another, opting for his standard neutrality and wish for peace. The only other that came to mind was Fire Lord Zuko, but he wouldn't be in a place like this, with his constant business regarding Fire Nation politics.

Gathering herself up once more, she rushed quickly towards her target, lunging with precision and quickness towards the older girl. Suki was taken aback with the suddenness of the attacks, and was barely able to deflect the "killing blow" from the young acrobat. Strikes seemed to come from all directions, Suki fervently defending just to keep herself upright.

Ty lee smirked a bit in excitement as an opening finally presented itself, landing a quick strike against the older girl's right arm, the appendage falling limply down to her side. The cheering that had gone up in the room died down, replaced with groans of disappointment.

Suki refused to give in, despite the losing situation, and tried to reactivate her own pressure point. The frantic nature of her own attempts left much to be desired, and while she tried to mimic the movements of the quicker girl, Ty Lee took advantage and hit the mirror spot on the other arm. As they both hung limply at Suki's side, the older brunette bowed her head, acknowledging defeat.

"Suki!" Sokka, as one would expect with his protective instincts, rushed to Suki's side, cradling her in his arms as though she were a helpless baby. The sight brought a twinge of jealousy to Ty Lee's chest, but kept the smile plastered on her face. Soon, the rest of the Kyoshi warriors had gathered around their leader, imitating Sokka's overprotective speech.

The young Fire nation girl wondered if they would be quite as caring if it were her on the ground, suffering yet another set back. The grin on her face turned sour, the negative feelings getting the better of her for a moment. But as she turned her grey eyes onto the window, the memory of the voice sounded in her head.

"Who was that…" she asked aloud, slowly making her way over towards the window. Resting her elbows on the window sill, she watched the leaves of the nearby trees sway in the breeze, thinking over who it could have been cheering her on.

"Ty Lee?" Turning her head slightly, she noticed Suki staring at her oddly, arms hanging lazily at her sides.

"Oh, sorry 'bout that," she excused, turning around and hitting the pressure points to fix the damage she had done. Suki flexed her arms a bit, squeezing and opening her hands to get the blood going again.

"Damn, I almost had you there," Suki added happily, earning a smile from the younger girl.

"Yeah, you are definitely getting better, Suki," Ty Lee was always happy that for the most part, the older girl didn't hold a grudge over what had happened in the war, and always at least made an effort to be friendly.

"Still not good enough it seems."

"Just give it some time," Ty Lee added, bowing respectfully to the girl who led the whole group. It was a quality that everyone in the Avatar's group seemed to hold, the ability to lead and inspire others. Something she wanted to know at least once.

After the training and sparring, the girls all gathered to listen to a little speech from the leader before being excused to relax for the remainder of the day. Bowing along with the rest of the girls, Ty Lee then made her way towards her small quarters.

Passing by the small lake, she decided to take a little break, flipping her legs over the side of the railing, dangling her feet carelessly in the air as she watched her reflection in the water. Being her usual bubbly self, all around her seemed bright and cheerful, as the Sun began its slow descent into the distant horizon.

Pinks, purples and reds filled the darkening sky, and the petite brunette felt her heart swell with happiness. After all the hardships during the war, peace had been restored, and all around was pretty much as ideal as it could get. The only thing that still bothered her was this place. As comfortable as it was, as warm as the people acted, it wasn't home, not really.

The thought of what she had given up coming here snuck into her mind, as it did on occasion. As much as she enjoyed the freedom, the ability to be her own person, she still missed the Fire nation.

"I wonder how everyone is doing," she whispered to herself, smiling at the thought of her family and friends. Grasping the railing, the girl lifted herself upward and back, gracefully flipping backwards onto the ground. Making her way towards the building that served as her home, she thought back to the sparring match, wondering still who had cheered her on.

As she opened the bright green door set against solid brown wood, she sighed in weariness. Suki had challenged her to combat at least 3 times that day, more often than usual. It became something of a running joke, that Suki might be the leader in name only, as she had yet to defeat Ty Lee in a match.

Closing the door as she entered, her eyes widened in surprise, as a sound echoed from inside her bedroom. A soft, barely audible sound of her bed creaking, like someone was resting upon it. Body tensing up in anticipation, she crept steadily towards her room, heart beating faster in her chest.

Swallowing the lump that had found residence in her throat, the young brunette slowly reached out for the door, quickly throwing it open. As she hurried into her room, she felt the anxiety turn to confusion, as there was no one there. Only her usually messy bed, the sheets strewn all across the mattress.

"That was weird, I could swear there was someone there," she tilted her head to the side, soft, chocolate colored braid swaying gently with the gesture. Lips curled into a frown, the girl merely shrugged the notion off, and opted to remove her heavy green kimono. The garb of the Kyoshi warriors was indeed well enough to fight in, but left much to be desired in the fashion department.

Quickly pulling the breastplate over her head, she let the braid flop carelessly against her back, the green kimono rustling just a little loose. Unfastening the green garment, she let it fall open, sighing in relief at the rush of cool air against her skin. Letting the covering fall from her shoulders, she tossed it onto the nearby dresser, on top of the now discarded piece of armor.

Catching sight of herself in the small mirror on the wall, she gave herself a look over. The red and white makeup on her face gave her a rather comical appearance, and she let a laugh escape her soft, pink lips. Realizing that she looked rather silly in such a state of undress, she reached over towards the dresser, pulling out a pair of her favorite red pants and soft pink shirt.

Letting memories of the old days in the Fire Nation pass through her mind once more, she happily made her way to the bathroom, anxious to rinse off the oddly colored makeup. The soft padding of her feet against the hardwood floor sounded gently in her ears, toes wiggling playfully as she picked them up.

Once inside the cozy bathroom, she placed the soft garments on the nearby countertop, resting her palms on the edge of the sink as she carefully looked herself over in the mirror. Pursing her lips, she smiled once more at the silliness of the makeup, offering the mirror a couple of amusing faces which made her look like some kind of ghost. Grey eyes flashing with curiosity, she wondered if this might be what the so-called 'Painted Lady' looked like.

Running the water from the faucet, she watched, almost as though in a trance, as it slipped down the drain. Casually putting her hands beneath the water, she cupped them together, gathering the clear fluid in the makeshift bowl. Closing her eyes, the young brunette splashed the water across her face, letting it run down her smooth skin. Some strands of brown hair stuck to her face with the water, as she began to scrub the makeup away.

The clear water joined with the discarded cosmetics, making a pink mixture as it drained down the sink. After a few moments, she looked herself over again in the mirror. Satisfied that as much of the makeup had been removed as possible, she turned the dials to close the flow of water before reaching out for the dark green forest towel.

Dabbing at the remaining water on her face, she sighed once more, her true face showing bright and cheerful in the mirror. She knew she should shower, with the intense workout that she had gone through, but didn't feel it necessary. Placing the towel back on its resting place upon the metallic rack, Ty Lee grabbed her pink shirt, slipping it over her head and down to cover her well developed figure.

Sliding the loose fitting red pants up along her strong, slender legs, she gave herself one final look in the mirror, before slipping out of the bathroom and into the opening that served as the living room. Old instincts kicked into gear, and her attention shifted quickly towards the front window.

There at the window stood a sleek figure, cloaked in black, a bag hanging idly across his back. Beneath the pack could be seen a scabbard with a pair of dao swords, clasped together as though one blade on his back. The figure seemed to be on the look out for something, and was almost… fidgety. It was amusing to see a shady figure acting so nervously, and Ty Lee almost laughed.

As though sensing her presence, the figure tensed up, his head turning slowly towards her. Her soft grey eyes widened in surprise, black clothing giving way to a blue and white mask, an eerie and mocking smile to match the protruding horns near the forehead. An audible gulp filled the room, and she could not tell if it was from her or the mysterious intruder.

"Ty Lee…?" her surprise increased as the voice filled her head, the same one from earlier that day. Memories shifted into place, and she remembered rumors from her time accompanying Azula in the Earth kingdom. Rumors of a sort of heroic spirit, mythical in his thieving tasks. Robbing from the rich noblemen across the nation, his name spreading far and wide, to the point that even the Fire nation had taken out a bounty on the spirit.

"Oh my god, the Blue Spirit," Ty Lee's naturally energetic, inquisitive nature kicked into gear, and she felt an odd giddiness. It was not every day that one meets a celebrity, after all, even if said celebrity is a notorious criminal.

"Shhh," the man beneath the mask whispered, bringing a black covered finger in front of his face to emphasize the point. With some confusion, the girl clasped a hand idly to her mouth, and for a moment she thought she heard an aggravated groan from the black clothed individual.

The tension filled the room, pressing down on both individuals. Just as Ty Lee thought she would burst, the figure seemed to calm down, slumping against the inside of the doorframe.

"So, what are you doing here?" she asked, squatting in a very unladylike position in front of him. Cupping her chin in her hands, she stared at the mysterious bandit, eyes alight with her curiosity and natural optimism. She had always wondered what kind of person the Blue Spirit was, and it seemed she was about to find out.

"Nice to see you, Ty Lee," the voice spoke again, triggering that same sense of familiarity. Her face must have showed her confusion, as the black shrouded man seemed to snicker at her confused expression.

"Geez, it's not nice to laugh at people you don't even know, and how do you know my name anyway?" she asked all at once, earning another chuckle from the bandit.

"Well, is it alright to laugh at people you do know then?" he retorted, hands slowly tugging on his mask. As the ceramic slipped up along his face, Ty lee's surprise increased yet again, a familiar scar coming into view. Once the mask was fully removed, the young man pulled the black cloth from his head, ruffling his shaggy hair as he set the mask down.

"Oh my gosh, Zuko?" As he nodded, the young brunette carelessly threw herself against him, nearly knocking the older boy onto his back. "What are you doing here?" she asked, almost tearing herself away from him. His body was just as muscular and lean as it had always looked, and she had to shake herself from that line of thinking.

"It's a long story, Ty Lee. How about we discuss it over some tea?"


I know, Maiko is the canonical pairing, and it will have to be addressed here. It will, just not in the first couple chapters. This will probably be a threeshot, so please be patient as the romance will be coming, since I am a sucker for it :P Many thanks to those of you deciding to give my writing a shot, and also remember this is my first non-anime fanfic (indeed, first fic for anything other than Gintama and One Piece). Next chapter probably up tomorrow or day after, but who knows. Hope you enjoyed the first chapter.