Smiling proudly, Katara watched as her class of waterbenders (three boys and one girl, all under the age of seven) tried out the simple motions she had showed them. They were uncoordinated and sloppy, but mostly getting the gist of the technique (which was more about getting a feel for their element than anything).
"Is this where you learned to wreak havoc?"
Turning, Katara was surprised to see Zuko standing a few feet away, all smiles and friendliness as opposed to his shyer behaviour the day before. Why couldn't he stick to one attitude? It was confusing, trying to keep up with his odd mood swings.
"My lessons were one-on-one with Master Pakku," she said, turning back to her class.
"Who?"
Again she faced him, this time with her eyebrows raised in disbelief. "Master Pakku! I did the waterbending performance with him during the food blessing ceremony – remember?
"Uh... right, yeah," he nodded, rubbing at the back of his neck and visibly sinking back to the shy awkwardness of the previous day. Panicking (she was not going to lose him when he had been acting so friendly and open!), she searched for something to reel him back in with.
"Wanna show these kids some real bending?"
A smirk found his lips as he slid into a stance. "I'd love to."
Their sparring match (complete with an audience of awe-struck toddlers) was cut short when someone started shouting at them for firebending so close to the houses. The rest of the afternoon was spent repairing the damage to the ice structures.
Author's Notes: This is precisely why Zuko hasn't firebended in the South Pole before this. xD
Disclaimer: I do not own 'Avatar' or any of its characters.