"Where's Zuko, Sokka?" Katara asked when he emerged by himself.
"Probably killed him." Toph suggested. Sokka shot her a glare.
"Don't be ridiculous Toph. He wanted to be alone. I don't think he wants to face us after what he just told us. I mean I know I wouldn't." Sokka shrugged his shoulders and took his place between Aang and Toph.
"What did you guys talk about?" Toph nudged him.
"None of your business, men to know and little girls to never find out." He smirked. Toph huffed and turned away from him.
"I'm going to see if he's okay." Katara stated.
"I don't think that's such a good idea." Toph warned.
"And why is that?"
"Because Sugar Queen, he told Snoozles over here, he wanted to be 'alone'. For all we know he could be crying." No one noticed the small frown that formed on Toph's face. She knew he was crying, she may be blind but she knows Zuko and that much emotion bottled up wasn't good for him. It being released would be too much for anyone and that includes the brooding Prince of the Fire Nation.
"Oh Toph, no one wants to be alone." With that Katara got up and went after Zuko.
"Oh by all means, don't let me stop you, but I won't be the one to say I told you so."
Katara walked cautiously towards where her brother and prince had previously gone. If Toph was right, she didn't want to be seen by him. When she turned the corner she immediately regretted it. Zuko was leaning against the foot of the fountain, with his head between his knees, sobbing quietly. Katara took a few steps back, she gasped loudly when she tripped over a makeshift step and landed hard on her bum. Zuko's head snapped in her direction, eyes widening, he stood and approached her. She closed her eyes when she saw him putting his hand out. Nothing came, no shouting or pain. She slowly opened her eyes.
"You going to take my hand or not?" Zuko sniffed.
She hesitated, but gently put her hand in his. He hauled her up to her feet, looked her over then walked away.
"Zuko...wait..." But he kept going. She was left alone, feeling her cheeks getting hot. Then she remembered how she ended up on the floor.
"TOPH!" She shrieked, marching back to the courtyard.
Zuko was terrified when he found Katara. How long had she been there? Why was she there? What had she heard him say? When he saw her on the floor, rubbing her behind, he had to stifle a laugh. He was still a prince and helping someone was something his mother had taught him from a very early age. He however refused to let her see him like that. As soon as she accepted his hand he left immediately.
He was now inside the Air Temple exploring, tears still falling down his face. He opened an ajar door and his eyes widen and his jaw dropped. Scorch marks were plastered on the walls, ceiling and floor. Burnt pages were littered all over the ground and the furniture was all but destroyed. Zuko's tears had stopped, he picked up a piece of paper that was the least burnt. He assumed it was bits and pieces of the Air Nation history or maybe their religion. He could only make out a few words, 'Sky Bison', 'Air' and 'Monk'. Zuko surveyed the room again, frowning at the destruction of such a peaceful race.
"I'm so sorry Aang."
He closed his eyes for a moment whispered a prayer and left, closing the door behind him. Zuko strolled through the halls, taking in the markings engraved in the walls. Air nation symbols were the most occurring, few Sky Bisons were depicted with their Nomad riders and Monks air bending. However many were defaced with the fire nation emblem. He hadn't been paying attention to where he was going and ended up in the kitchen. Zuko put a hand to his stomach when it gurgled. He searched through the cupboards and draws looking for anything edible.
"There's got to be something in here." He moaned. Zuko felt around in the highest cabinet, he pulled out a packet of Fire Flakes.
"Huh, what are they doing in here?" He didn't remember putting his snacks in there. He shrugged and opened the packet with ease. After he finished he realised he couldn't hide from the gang anymore and decided to face the music. He slowly made his way back to the courtyard, dragging his feet with him. He was surprised to see only Katara, sitting by the fountain washing the dishes, which were used for breakfast.
"Stupid Sokka, stupid Toph, stupid dishes, stupid Zuko." Katara muttered to herself. Zuko cleared his throat when he heard his name. She whipped her head around and sighed when she saw who it was.
"Oh its only you."
"Relieved are we?" Zuko smirked. "However I don't appreciate being called stupid." He pouted.
"Sorry, it's just I shouted at Sokka this morning about me doing all the chores and he still didn't take any notice of me. He probably thought I was taking my anger at you out on him."
"What about Toph?" Zuko questioned.
"She was the reason I fell earlier." Katara blushed.
"Oh." He murmured. "Did you want help with the dishes?"
Katara looked taken aback, somehow asking Katara if she needed help was foreign to her thought Zuko.
"I...Err...please." She spluttered. "Could you please wipe them?"
Zuko grabbed a newly cleaned plate and heated his hand.
"Huh, that must come in handy." Katara raised an eyebrow in appreciation.
"Fire bending has saved my life countless times, I've lost count. I'm sure your bending helps with chores like this."
"Yeah I guess it does." She smiled a little. They continued, Katara washing and Zuko drying, talking little. When they had finished Sokka was just emerging from the corner.
"Oh there you sis. Aang was looking for you. He said it was important."
"Okay, thanks Sokka. I'll go see him, what direction would he be in?" Sokka pointed back down where he came. Katara whispered thanks to Zuko and left, leaving him along with the Water Tribe warrior.
"There's something I've been meaning to ask you Zuko." Sokka suddenly announced. "Do you have any skills using swords?"
That was an odd question Zuko thought. Why would he want to know that?
"I do."
"Awesome!" He exclaimed, clapping his hands excitedly. "Do you want to spar with me?"
This wasn't what Zuko was expecting. A threat or a insult but not a request to spar. Zuko raised his eyebrows at Sokka and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Are you sure you want to challenge me?"
"Absolutely, I need a training dummy to test my expert skills." Sokka flexed his muscles.
Zuko smirked. "You're on. I must warn you though, I won't be easy on you."
"Alright, after dinner. I never fight on an empty stomach." He patted his stomach fondly.
Dinner came by quickly, Zuko sat with Toph and Sokka, talking about the upcoming spar. Katara handed out everyone's dinner, receiving thank you from everyone but her brother. She took her sit next to Aang, addressing their previous water bending lesson.
"Please! I could still beat you with both my hands tied behind my back!" Sokka cried out. That caught Katara and Aang's attention. They turned their bodies so they were involved in the conversation.
"What are you guys talking about?" Katara asked.
Toph jerked her thumb in Sokka's direction "Snoozles here challenged Sparky to a sparring match."
"You missed the most important piece of information Toph." Sokka said. "We are not using any bending of any sort. Just swords." He revealed. Aang looked from Sokka to Zuko who smiled mischievously when they caught each other's eye.
"You haven't told them have you?" Zuko asked Aang.
"Told us what?" All three of them asked in unison. Zuko smirked and Aang sighed.
"Remember when I told you Zuko saved me from Admiral Zhao." All three nodded. "Well, he didn't use his fire bending. He used swords. He defeated almost all of the guards by himself." Aang confessed.
They all turned to Zuko. Sokka had paled, Toph punched Zuko affectionately and Katara just stared.
"So is he good at swords?" Sokka inquired, even though he knew the answer.
"One of the best I've seen." Aang offered. Sokka turned to Zuko and smacked him on the shoulder.
"First, thanks for saving Aang and second, I'll admit I'm a little intimidated by you now."
"You weren't before?" Zuko scoffed.
"Maybe a little."
"Oh please Snoozles, you were terrified of him." Toph teased.
"I was not!" He argued. "Just anxious around him."
"You keep telling yourself that." She said. Katara giggled, Aang smothered a laugh and Zuko smirked.
"That's it! Come on Zuko. I'll prove you all wrong!" Sokka declared. He pointed at Zuko. "I'll meet you on the Field of War."
Zuko turned to Katara with a confused look. She just shrugged, with a 'that's Sokka for you' look.
The boys went off to their bedrooms to collect their weapons while the rest of them got comfortable to view the fight.
Zuko returned first standing by one end of the so called Field of War. Sokka appeared and drew his sword when he approached his position. He was trying to intimidate Zuko by slashing down with it several times. Sokka noticed that Zuko was yawning and growled.
"Are you going to draw your sword or not?"
Zuko pulled on the handle of his swords gracefully. He then pulled them apart watching the shocked face on Sokka's face.
"I believe you mean swords." Zuko announced.
He didn't give him a chance to reply. He leaped towards Sokka, swords slashing down towards him. Sokka barely had time to defend himself. Swords clashed as Zuko advanced. The Fire Prince was examining Sokka's moves, determining where his weaknesses and strengths lay. Zuko was getting frustrated, he wasn't getting anywhere, he growled and launched another series of blows, harder and quicker than before. Sokka blocked each attack and on the last used all his strength to push his foe back. The tables had turned and Sokka commenced his own set of attacks he had used against Master Piandao. Zuko had to jump back when Sokka slashed at his stomach. That was all Sokka needed to use his favourite move. He raised it above his head and swang with all his might. Taking advantage of Sokka's stance, the fire prince whacked the hilt of his sword into Sokka's stomach before he could ascend his sword and swept his feet under Sokka's. Sokka yelped when he landed on his back with a sword tip to his neck.
"Do you yield?"
Sokka was panting hard, fumbling for his space sword. Not being able to find it he raised his hands in front of his face.
"I yield."
Zuko sheathed his swords and offered his hand to Sokka. He took it gladly and bent over, hands on his thighs breathing deeply.
"How?" Sokka puffed "Did you get that good?"
"I've been using swords for a very long time. You put up a good fight."
"Yeah right!" Sokka scoffed. "You owned me."
Zuko frowned. "I'll teach you if you like?" He offered.
Sokka looked up at him and smiled. "I'd like that. I doubt you'll be better than Master Piandao though."
"You trained under Master Piandao?" Zuko mused.
"Yeah I thought I was becoming master, but now, I feel like a novice." He frowned.
"Hey." Zuko put a hand on Sokka's shoulder. "You'll become a master. You just need to practice. A word of advice. Don't under estimate your opponent, no matter who it is."
"Understood, Stifu Hotshot." Before Zuko could complain Toph came running towards them with the rest of them trailing behind.
"That was awesome guys. I could feel your heart rates going crazy and that foot work. Zuko that was incredible and Sokka you put up a great defence. I was surprised he managed to break through."
"Thanks Toph, I know how hard it is for you to compliment." Sokka smiled brightly.
Zuko noticed Toph blush lightly, huh, he thought, a crush perhaps? Or just my imagination? Katara went over to Sokka to make sure he was okay. Aang went to Zuko congratulating him on his victory and if he could teach him some moves. Haru and Teo were admiring the competitors, Momo was flying above them screeching and The Duke approached Zuko timidly.
"Could you teach me how to fight like that?" He whispered, his head down. Zuko kneeled before him.
"I'd be honoured." The Duke snapped his eyes up, both boys smiled at each other.
"Sweet. A sparring partner I can beat." Sokka gleamed. Zuko raised his head to him.
"What did I just say?"
"Not to under estimate my opponent, yeah yeah." He said waving his hands around.
"Okay then, we can train when I'm done with Aang tomorrow morning. You can sit in if you want." He gestured to the air bender.
"I'd love to."
"I don't think The Duke should be playing with swords." Katara added cautiously.
"Why on earth not?" Sokka gasped. "Everyone should be able to defend themselves."
"Because, he's so young, he shouldn't have to." She argued. Before Zuko could intervene, Sokka complained.
"I learnt to defend myself when I was a lot younger than him, I was the only one who could defend our village when dad left!"
"I know, but he has us to defend him." She murmured.
"What if we get split up? What if we abandon him like what we did to our village." His outburst surprised her.
"We didn't abandon them." her eyes started to water.
"Hey guys, don't argue. It's okay." Aang reasoned. "You left for a very important mission, I'm sure the skills you taught the village boys will protect them."
"This is true." Sokka said puffing his chest out. "I'm sorry Katara, I didn't mean to say that."
Katara hugged her brother. "It's okay, I know how you feel."
"Now all the feeling are out? Can we please concentrate on what's important." They all looked at Toph is confusion.
"Snoozles has to wake up before the sun rises." She joked. Everyone laughed but Zuko.
"What!" He screeched. He rounded onto Zuko. "What time do you train Aang?"
"Just before dawn. Why?" Zuko was still incredibly confused.
Sokka groaned and frowned. " Can't we train in the afternoon?"
"No." He simply stated.
"There's no point arguing with him Snoozles. He as stubborn as an ox."
Sokka grumbled something then bid everyone a goodnight, knowing he'd have to get up early.
"Good luck waking him up." Aang laughed.
"Oh don't worry about that." Zuko smirked.
"Just don't be cruel." Katara warned. "I'll go do the dishes, Aang I'll meet you by the fountain for water bending training after."
With that she left. Haru, Teo and The Duke left with Aang to explore the temple after Zuko politely declined to go with them.
Zuko went back to his room, grabbed his guitar he had bought when he was a refugee and went to see Appa. He still hadn't thanked him for giving him a better chance at joining the gang. He sat down beside Appa and patted his thick coat.
"Hey there big guy, how would you like a song?"
Appa grunted happily in reply nudging the guitar by Zuko's side. He smiled at the eagerness of the Sky Bison and placed the guitar between his hands and started to play.
Back at the courtyard Katara heard a steady strum of the guitar playing in the distance she thought she could also hear a low gruff singing voice. Curiosity got the best of her, she stopped washing and she let her feet carry her to the source. Katara hid behind a pillar when she saw who it was. Zuko, she thought, of all people it had to be him. She took a peak from her hiding spot.
"Sky Bisons are better than people, Appa, don't you think that's true?" Why was he singing to Appa? she thought. She then noticed the change in Zuko's pitch.
"Yeah, people will beat you and curse you and cheat you. Everyone one of them's bad except you." His voice then returned to normal.
"Oh thanks buddy." She saw him pat Appa and he groaned happily in reply. She giggled when she realised he was singing a duet with Appa.
"But people smell better than Sky Bisons, Appa, don't you think I'm right?"
"That's once again true, for all except you."
"You got me, let's call it a night."
"Goodnight."
"Don't let Katara's frostbite bite." Katara furrowed her eyes brows at that lyric. I do not bite she thought. Her thoughts were interrupted when Zuko stopped playing and began to speak.
"So, how was that? You're pretty good singer you know."
Appa turned onto Zuko and smothered him. "Hey Appa, stop." He tried to keep a straight face but it cracked into a smile and laugh when Appa started to lick him. "Appa come on, stop." Zuko was able to wriggle away panting for breath.
"He really likes you doesn't he?" Zuko jumped in surprise and could only stare at the intruder.
"Oh, Katara. Errrr hi." He said awkwardly.
"I didn't know you could sing." she smothered a laugh with her hand when she saw Zuko. "You're covered in saliva by the way."
He blushed ferociously while trying to wipe the Sky Bison's saliva off. He rubbed the back of his neck before speaking.
"You heard all that huh?" Staring at the ground, he wasn't in the mood for Katara's insults.
"How long have you been able to play the guitar and sing?"
"huh?" He looked up wide eyes, he wasn't expecting that. "Oh, ummm, couple of years I guess. When I was a refugee with Uncle I played the guitar when I was bored. Which was quite often." He confessed. "As for singing, being part of a royal family, you're forced to do things that you don't want to." He smiled to himself, remembering he have to cover his ears from the high pitch squeals that were being emitted from his sister. "Now that I think about it, singing wasn't so bad knowing I was better at it than Azula."
Katara chuckled, she couldn't imagine the Fire Princess singing let alone the crowned Prince.
"The best part about the singing lessons was my mum was always there, praising me, giving me advice. When she disappeared the singing lessons stopped, fire bending practice was top priority and I got more and more angry." Zuko was frowning now. "I wrote quite a few songs when she left." He confessed, blushing slightly. Why was he telling her this? She seems so easy to talk to.
"Oh really? Your mother sounds lovely. I'm sure she's very proud of you." She grinned brightly at him.
"Thanks Katara. I'm sure your mother is too." Her smile faltered but grew even brighter when she realised it was a compliment. Zuko has changed she thought to herself.
"Well, I'm going to meet Aang. Goodnight Zuko."
"Goodnight Katara."
Appa nudged Zuko hard and groaned mischievously. "What?" He asked.
Appa turned in the direction of Katara and groaned then nudged Zuko again. He saw the glint in Appa's eye.
"Oh no no no." He defensibly said. "I do not like her."
Appa groaned loudly in protest.
"Goodnight Appa." He growled, stroking his fur before he retired to his room.