To Lose or to Gain: Iroh's Child
Of the Flame

A chill ran down Akira's spine despite the heat of the flame at his neck. His mouth opened slightly, his mind still mentally taking in the sight of a move he'd never seen before, let alone never heard of. In the moment or the flurry of moments, Akira's mind didn't register the fact Piandao's hand gripped Zuko's wrist, let alone the look of horror on the young prince's face even after they stepped away, conversing with each other.

The first thing Akira's mind registered outside of the events which transpired when he sparred the young prince was hearing Hideki say, "Wow", followed closely by, "That was amazing."

"There's no denying the fact what Zuko did was amazing, but…" Akira continued staring at Zuko. "I know Prince Iroh held back on Zuko's training. I know he has, so…"

"Is something the matter?"

Akira's eyes blinked, mentally registering the voice of Zuko's other chosen companion. He turned his head, noting the look of worry on Hideki's face, making him realize all to quickly the shock of what just transpired likely appeared clearly on his face. "No. Nothing's wrong." Yet, in the back of his mind, he kept thinking over that one particular thought. "I know where Zuko was, but that his training was being held back, so how…"

His eyes opened and closed, carefully taking in how Piandao interacted with Zuko, watching the man lift his chin, almost as if to command Zuko's attention for some reason, but not long after the young prince approached them, worrying his bottom lip making it all too obvious he too found himself bothered by the situation. Zuko's eyes darted away, one hand reaching up to clutch the sleeve of his arm. "Akira?"

"I – yes?"

"Sorry." The words made Akira's eyes blink, but then Zuko followed up with. "I'm…

"Stop." Akira felt his chest tightened slightly, feeling completely agitated with the current situation despite the fact he couldn't place a finger on what actually bothered him. "I do know he shouldn't be apologizing. After all…"

"Wait. I don't want things to be…" Zuko glanced down at the ground, his fingers tightening even more on the sleeve of his clothing specifically picked out for training at Piandao over any preconceived royal etiquette.

"…quite a few Fire Bending masters would laud praise on Zuko if he were the student." A brief thought crossed his mind. "Jealousy. No, that…"

"I want to be friends, but I don't want them the same way Azula…." Akira's eyes blinked, his mind instantly going back to the conversations he held with Zuko regarding the young princess; Azula made and kept friends through fear and intimidation, so without out outright saying what he meant, Akira knew Zuko was trying to say, "I'm sorry I scared you."

Except… "You didn't scare me."

"Then why?"

"It was unexpected." That answer definitely felt like the right answer, given the fact he'd not expected the move from Zuko, who prior to coming here struggled with the basic movements of Firebending, yet now…

"That can't be right."

Akira's eyes blinked, his focus o the top of Zuko's head. "Why wouldn't it be?"

"I mean, I'm not good…"

"It looked good to me." Hideki piped up. "Akira is older than us, right?"

"Yeah, but…"

"Stop comparing yourself with Azula." Akira knew his voice sounded stern, yet in the back of his mind arguing Azula as the better Firebender in the manner Zuko did, even came to perceive didn't feel right. "Of course, I've never…"

"You've never seen her Firebend."

"No. I haven't." Akira let out a sigh. "I've also never seen that Firebending move before."

"I…" Zuko's free hand reached up and rubbed the back of his neck.

Akira tilted his head, contemplating the fact Zuko seemed just as off guard regarding the move. "He did that on instinct and instinct alone."

"You've never seen it either?" Hideki piped up. Glancing over at Hideki, the non-bender was definitely out of his element. He cleared his throat, placing his hands behind his back and rocking back and forth while his eyes drifted down to the ground. "Does this mean Prince Zuko created a new Firebending…"

"No!" Zuko lifted up his hands, palms forward, his eyes widening in horror. "Only Firebending Masters create their own moves. I am far from being a Firebending Master."

"Be it as that may…" Akira's mouth twisted slightly. "Something feels off. I mean, it is true that he is not a master yet, but he is right in saying that only masters of their elements create their own moves, the exception being…" Akira's eyes blinked. "Oh."

One of Piandao's eyebrows shot up. "You seem to have come to some kind of conclusion on your own."

"Could…" Akira's mouth twisted into a frown, wondering how he might broach the subject with the man without worrying Zuko, or getting Zuko denying what Akira suspected. He reached out a hand and ruffled the top of the younger boy's head. "It's alright."

"No, it's not."

"Yes…"

"I could have seriously hurt you."

"You didn't."

"Only because Piandao stopped…"

"While I did find myself grabbing your wrist, it ended up not being necessary. You were more aware of what was going on than you think."

"Still…"

"I don't want you to worry about this." Akira let out a deep breath. "Though I doubt you won't, so you promise to talk to me about it?"

"Yeah, but…"

"Akira says it's not a move he's ever seen." Hideki piped up. Akira speaking reminded him the other boy was there. He watched Hideki shift from one leg to another nervously, almost as if he felt out of place.

"He probably does given he's not a bender." Akira let out a sigh. "Could I possibly talk to you? Ask you a few questions?" He watched Zuko's face twist slightly, becoming just as nervous as Hideki. "I mean, You did speak with Zuko's uncle before he left, right? This, this is what you both expected, wasn't it?"

"Yes."

Zuko's eyes blinked his mouth opening, watching Piandao smile.

"Normally I'd have my students forge their own blades once they finish training, but I'd argue you've already done that Prince Zuko, not to mention I think it appropriate you actually inherit the set of blades which Lu Ten made under my instruction as that is what both he and Prince Iroh would wish to occur. Why don't you, Fat and your other young friend work on preparing lunch while I answer the questions of your friend here."

"I…"

"I believe he's curious regarding what is expected of him going forward."

"Zuko…" Akira smiled at the boy. "I am not just your friend, nor am I just your brother in bending, but I am one of your chosen companions. As such, it is my job to protect you. I need to know how to go forward with that, and I can't do that unless my questions are answered."

"So, none of my business?"

"That…"

Hideki reached out, still looking rather nervous, his fingers tugging on Zuko's sleeve; it felt like an improvement, given his fellow companion struggled with the idea of treating Zuko normally. They both followed after the man named Fat and Akira turned to look at Piandao.

"So…"

"I'm guessing you're already suspecting that learning to wield the blade was in fact Firebending training for the young prince?"

"Yes." That was one question out of the way. "Is Azula really a prodigy?"

"Now, why would you think that?" The man then said, "Isn't that what everyone is saying?"

"That is what Prince Ozai says. That is what Zuko says. Her Firebending, from what he's told me is powerful, but…"

"In that aspect, she is a genius."

"Yet she's not created her own move like Zuko has, which is from my understanding the true mark of a prodigy."

"What if I told you Fire Lord Azulon and Crown Prince Iroh would agree with you?"

"Yet, there are other things, like the fact Zuko's Firebending up until now…"

"Is considered a contradiction, right?" Piandao's mouth twisted in amusement. "I've seen it with some of the ones which approach me asking to be their master in sword training. They tell me they are gifted because of some reason or another, yet I learned a long time ago simply saying one is good at something doesn't make it true."

"That doesn't answer my question."

"I've also seen students other sword masters would never touch because they can't see the untapped potential. Ozai focused in on the power behind Azula's bending and neglected the child whose bending was weaker, not once noticing Zuko's strengths. With Azula, he's received quick results, but quick results don't mean accurate results let alone a student who understands what the teacher is trying to teach."

"That doesn't help."

"I think it's something that will become more apparent over time." Piandao's mouth twisted slightly, a frown forming on his face. "Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if Princess Azula is never truly recognized as a true master. A master never actually stops learning, but Azula will hit a plateau one day in what she can do because her training's been focused on power and power alone. It's like how she is a prodigy in some ways, but in other ways not.

Note - To quote something Azulon said back in chapter five, "while she is a prodigy in certain things - memorizing and replicating moves, the power behind her bending - comparing her to myself is an absolute joke. Learning Firebending in the new manner is child's play in comparison to the way of old."