Wow. Pretty reviews.
OK. Let me know if you want me to continue
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He put down the fire walls and stalked away motioning Aang to follow him to do some more training. Aang shrugged to Katara and Toph and ran off after the angry teen.
"So are you going to teach me how to shoot electricity yet?"
Zuko grimaced but didn't say anything, just kept walking ahead. He'd only learnt that move himself just before Iroh died.
...and this wasn't the day to remind him of family memories.
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Later on, Toph found him. Watching out of the cliff beside the mound of dirt she'd moved earlier. She didn't see him there, and he didn't make a sound but she could sense his breathing.
Not calm, happy breathing like the rest of the gang - but like he was conquering a war with every in and out motion. Like he was struggling but only because he didn't want to let the air get the better of him.
Ironic considering the guarded way that he trained Aang.
"I met your uncle... before when your sister got away from us."
It was months ago now, Zuko remembered. She must have heard the nickname from Aang. He heard it. Back then it didn't matter though. He hadn't been so stuck to join the team of exiles, with his fleet and uncle still on his side.
"That's nice"
He wasn't going to say anything. But he did. Two words - coated with 'go away'.
"He was... nice." She said again, the last word sounding like an after thought, although she'd thought about what to say long before she said it.
"Great" Zuko said. Although his mind was screaming 'if she isn't going to go now, I WILL'
He went to walk past her and move away.
"Wait" she commanded.
He wasn't going to listen but her hands had grabbed up at his shoulders and she had a strong grip.
"Let me..."
She didn't finish but the hands went quickly up to touch his face, he was almost a head taller than her but she pushed on his shoulders to lower his face to her stretched hands.
He tensed under her sweeping movements.
Her rough fingertips felt over his nose, the faint remaining scars of the pirate blast those months ago (ordered by Zhao who was probably still climbing over people to the top), and then his charred scarred flesh around his eye.
He grabbed her hand roughly, pushed her away and let go of it again, straightening himself and moving on briskly... feeling... exposed.
"You've been hurt" she called after him.
"We all have" he said bluntly under his breath, not knowing to whether she heard or not.
