Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender
"Natalie, what's gay marriage?"
The question nearly knocked me off my feet.
"I'm sorry, what, Aang?" I asked, walking into the living room. He pointed to the television.
"The news guy just said it was allowed here. What is it?"
"Erm, well…" I racked my brains for a suitable explanation. How was I supposed to tell them about something that relied completely on a person's own opinion? After trying to quickly think about it, I picked the easiest way.
"If a guy is gay, it means he likes other guys."
Aang paused. "You say that like it's a bad thing. I like Zuko; I don't see anything wrong with that. Though I wouldn't want to marry him…"
"No, Aang, I think she means that the guy likes the other guy more than a friend. Enough to date or marry him," Zuko explained.
"Oh."
Toph grimaced. "This place is weird."
"I don't know," I said, shrugging. "It depends on your opinion. Some people are so against them that it's like being racist. I don't agree with gays, but at the same time I think people should be able to marry whoever they want. Love is love."
"I suppose," Katara said warily. "And what's 'racist'?"
I sighed, falling back on the couch next to her.
"Racism is when you don't like someone or think you're better than them because of their race."
"Sounds like how people are about the Fire Nation," Zuko said rather gloomily.
"Well, I mean…the Fire Nation's been trying to take over the world for a hundred years, right? That's kind of different."
"So…you're into racism?" Katara guessed.
"Ugh, no, I'm totally against it. I'm just comparing our situations, that's all."
"Oh, okay."
Time to change the subject.
"So, when should I start training? And more importantly, what am I even going to do?"
"We'll figure something out today," Toph shrugged. "You'll probably just learn some hands-on, basic techniques."
"You could try using a sword, if you want," Sokka suggested.
"Uhh, no thanks. I think I'd come out of the area with one arm if you gave me that."
They laughed a little, and so did I, but it was probably true. I couldn't use a sword! Soon, the room went silent again.
I breathed deeply, trying to keep my cool on the way to the training area. Honestly, I was scared. I had never learned anything about fighting in my entire life, not even karate. Though I wasn't afraid of that, necessarily. I was afraid of failing.
"What's the matter?" Zuko asked quietly, sensing my uneasiness. I asked him the same question I had been asking myself the whole time.
"What if I can't do it?"
"Come on; it's not that hard."
"For you guys. But fighting's in your blood. Up until now I had no reason to learn even basic self-defense." I turned to him and saw the odd expression on his face. He almost looked amused.
"What?" I asked.
"Nothing, it's just…you talk kind of funny. No offense," he added. But I wasn't offended, just curious.
"Funny how? Like, good or bad?"
"Just…funny. Different."
"Okay, I guess. But really," I said, returning to the original subject, "I'm nervous."
"Don't be. You're stronger than you think."
They weren't much, but his words and the feeling of his hand slipping into mine gave me confidence. And I was assured.
The arena coming into sight, my apprehension turned to excitement. I realized that the part of me that feared the unknown was immature. I mean, I was sixteen, not six.
Everyone walked inside and spread out over the grassy field. I wondered if I should take my sneakers off, because that's what they did most times when they trained, they went barefoot. But I decided against it when I started tripping over loose rocks.
"Okay, so first, you ta-"
"Whoa whoa whoa, stop right there, Princey," Toph said, interrupting an already very annoyed-looking Zuko.
"What?" he spat at her, exasperation in his voice. I remembered that Zuko was still pretty new to their group, and probably not so used to Toph and her 'way with words'.
"You can't train your girlfriend," she said. "You'll be worried about her getting hurt or something."
"No, I can-"
"Uh-uh. Up there." She pointed to the large boulder I had sat at when I first watched them train. I notice how the ice chunk had melted but still left a huge hole in its front. Zuko narrowed his eyes at the Earthbender, but pressed no further arguments, and climbed up the rock next to Sokka.
"Okay, now we can start," she said once Aang and Katara stopped giggling. "First thing's first: your stance. It needs to be strong so you won't be knocked over, but you still need to be able to move at any second. Twinkletoes, show her."
I looked over to Aang, who was now in the position I was supposed to make: his head, outstretched arms, and legs pivoted forward, and the rest of his body staying sideways. I mimicked the stance as best I could.
"Good," Katara said, nodding. "But you can make your hands into fists instead; because I don't think air is going to shoot from your fingertips."
I chuckle, taking her suggestion. Aang did the same.
"And now you strike with your back hand, stepping forward at the same time," he explained. I tried to synchronize the movement of my hands and feet, watching his demonstration carefully. Katara suggested I try it a few more times, and I did, while Toph put in her two cents here and there. They taught me a few more moves, and about an hour and a half later, we headed back. So far I knew how to punch, kick, and block while in a stance, and how to make some hits while running. At that point I couldn't even remember what I had been nervous about. It was actually kind of fun.
After everyone had eaten dinner and gone to bed, I remained outside on the front porch, trying to sort out my thoughts. Suddenly a stream of light came from behind me when the front door opened, and I heard the person close it then settle down next to me.
"You did well today." I recognized the dark, heavy voice immediately. It was Zuko.
"I guess it went better than I thought it would," I agreed.
"There's something they didn't teach you though," he said. "Breathing."
"Breathing?"
"Yeah," he nodded. "When you're fighting, it's crucial to focus on your breath. In Firebending, the breath becomes energy in your body, then the energy extends past your limbs and becomes fire. It can do a similar thing for you. Breathe, and feel the energy in your body, which will most likely turn to adrenaline. Think about why you're fighting, and let that become your drive."
I just sit there for a moment afterwards, letting his words sink in.
"Who taught you that?" I asked quietly.
"My Uncle. He taught me everything I know."
I guess he didn't like talking about this uncle, because the next thing he says is,
"So why are you out here?"
"Oh, I'm just thinking. Trying to get some peace and quiet."
Zuko nodded, understanding what I meant. Not only did I want peace and quiet in my surroundings, I wanted it in my mind, too.
"But I'm getting tired. I think I'm going to bed now," I decided.
We stood up, and before we walked inside I made sure to grab his hand.
"Thanks for the advice," I whispered once we were outside of my bedroom. He acknowledged this with a tired smile, whispering back,
"Goodnight."
Without thinking it through, I leaned forward (and on my toes), briefly touching my lips to his. Once my feet are flat on the floor again, I smile back.
"Goodnight."
A/N – I know, I know, short/boring chapter. But I'm soooo happy I got this done. But you guys, you can keep hating me. The amount of time since my last update is positively REDICULOUS. I apologize. And just for you all to know: Natalie can NOT bend. Sorry if I bursted any bubbles out there, I'm just clearing the air. And I can get you a new bubble, if you want. :D Also, I'll be camping for four days, and I don't have a laptop or anything so I won't be posting any new chapters till September 2nd, at least. And school starts on the 3rd for me. But don't worry, I have notebooks. So, too much Nat/Zuko? Let me know please. And this is random, but for someone enduring so much emotional struggle, Natalie holds herself together very well, I think. Maybe that's what Zuko meant when he said "You're stronger than you think." Hmm. ONE LAST THING. I started a story with my buddy Moelike! :D It's awesome, head over to her profile and look for the one called "Freedom Lake" if you'd like to read. Sorry for the fifty-paragraph Author's Note. I just have a lot to say.