Zuko squinted his eyes as he held his head. Grabbing his short hair nearly pulling it all out.
He just wanted to get out of here! Why was that so hard! For every second he spend in this company he brought even more shame to himself.
So why? Why wouldn't Iroh just let them leave? He wanted to leave and forget all of this!
He wanted to dismiss the avatars words but they kept bugging him.
"Look. When Azula hit your uncle he almost died. It would be a lot safer if you just stayed for a few days."
Zuko swallowed as he looked up… He hadn't seen Azula for three years.
She had grown in that time. Bigger… Stronger… crueller…
He only remembered all to well how she had acted in the past. "Father plans to kill you!"
She had said it with such glee in her voice!
"Uncle is weak. We should just kill him and let father be Fire Lord. He would be better at it anyway."
Kill him… Kill Iroh…
She had said it back then. And now… Zuko squinted his eyes as he shook his head.
"Hello Zuzu!" Not a single hello, not a moment for regret or warmth. Just an immediate attack.
… It was like Zhao. She wanted to Avatar so she would get the honour! Just like Zhao. That was all there was to it.
It wasn't personal… It wasn't…
Zuko wrapped his arms around himself. He tried to push it away. He was not afraid… He would no longer be afraid! Only the weak would show fear!
"Hey Sparky!" The blind girls voice suddenly sounded from across the camp. Toph was her name. "You hungry?" she asked.
Zuko hissed, his entire body shaking.
"We got meat! It's amazing!" Toph continued.
And then. Zuko shut up, standing up straight. He gasped for breath not looking back at the camp and then he ran. Just ran.
Away from the camp and away from these people. He just needed to get away.
It was so quick. Zuko had been sitting at the edge of the camp with his back to all the rest like he had done most of the time yesterday.
Toph had called out to him asking him if he was hungry and then suddenly. Zuko had stood up and just bolted off. They all saw it.
"Zuko…" Iroh gasped forgetting about his own injury. "ZUKO!" he called standing up only to hiss as he grabbed his stomach and fell down. "Urrgh." he hissed.
"Mr. Iroh!" Katara came running to him. "Are you okay."
"I.. I'm fine." Iroh hissed holding his side. "Zuko.." he groaned.
"Zuko is pretty strong he can handle himself." Sokka pointed out.
Iroh shook his head. "He's emotional. When he's like that he acts before he thinks. This is all my fault. I shouldn't have pressured him to stay. I just hoped that… If he saw." he swallowed. "Maybe he could see that."
"Do you want me to go after him?" Aang asked. "I can do that."
"If… If you would do me a favour." Iroh gasped. "Yes. Do go after him, keep an eye on him. But do not approach him. Stay at a distance. Please… Don't let yourself be seen." he asked. "Unless he needs help."
Aang silenced then nodded. "I understand." he said.
"Careful." Iroh asked. "Fire is such a fickle element. So quickly it spreads and become all consuming. It can burst at a moments notice and burn what is right next to it. And when something has been burned it can't be undone. That's why you should never startle a firebender."
Suddenly Aang was shaking. Only remembering to well his previous attempt at learning firebending and how horrible it had ended.
"Do you understand?" Iroh asked seriously.
Aang nodded. "I understand." he said then finally turned and began to run before Zuko made it to far and Iroh sighed deeply as he fell back. Groaning deeply.
"Let me help you." Katara asked rushing to Irohs side to help him up. "Where does it hurt? I can help."
"Well… The same place as usual." Iroh joked slightly then hissed.
Katara sighed as she found her water and gently started the healing making Iroh exhale deeply until Katara let go. Then she looked down.
"Are you okay?" Iroh asked considered.
Katara sighed. "I just couldn't help but think… Firebending. It can't be comfortable being a firebender."
Iroh blinked. "What makes you say that?" he asked.
Katara looked up meeting Irohs eyes. "Water bending is so wonderful! It can heal, it can move the water, it can make structures! And fire…. Fire just destroys. Who would want to be a firebender?"
Iroh shook his head. "It is a common misunderstanding." he said. "That fire is just death. Katara… That's not true." he said as he reached out a hand with the palm upwards. "Fire… Is life." he said allowing a warm yellow flame to appear in his hand.
Katara blinked as she looked at the small flame.
"How do you move Katara? Where does the heat of your body come from? Everyone has fire inside of them. The flame of life is very real. And it's inside all of us." Iroh informed as the small dance danced around his hand. Then let it travel across his arm to his shoulder and down his other arm where he playfully caught the little flame. Then smiled up at Katara.
Kataras eyes were on the flame then on Iroh. "I've seen fire destroy everything." she said. "Burning down an entire forest and an entire village. Fire is what destroyed my home and took my mother."
Sadly Iroh looked at Katara. "I understand." he said as he closed his hand extinguishing the flame. "Fire can be destructive. And quite terrifying especially when wielded by those who wishes to harm. But it's not all bad Katara. Just close your eyes, and feel the warmth of the sun! Offering both you and this world life. That to is fire and is as much a part of this world as the other three elements. And this it must be accepted not rejected to find balance."
Katara frowned. "Balance?" she asked. "You've been with Zuko the entire time. While trying to capture Aang. The person who we need to restore this balance."
"Well I… I was with Zuko." Iroh admitted embarrassed. "But well… Sometimes I might have been more trouble than help in regards to capturing the Avatar. Ahem." he cleared his throat.
Katara frowned. "Why?" she asked.
"Balance must be restored." Iroh said. "This is the Avatars task."
"Then why stick to Zuko?" Katara asked.
Iroh tilted his head. "He's my nephew." he simply said.
"So? Azula is your niece. You're sticking to her?" Katara asked dryly.
Iroh quieted then glanced down.
"Well?" Katara asked.
"Azula is crazy. She needs to be taken down. She has no regard for life. And destroy with glee." Iroh said sadly.
"And Zuko isn't?" Katara asked.
"You have slept right next to him for two nights in a row now. He never attacked, his honour didn't allow it." Iroh pointed out. "And Zuko. He has always treasured life. Above all else. Even if he denies it to himself."
Katara frowned.
"Believe me! I've seen it. With my own eyes." Iroh assured. "Again and again… He chose to protect life. Even above honour."
Still Katara looked very doubtful.
"Fire isn't death Katara. It's life." Iroh said. "And a true firebending master understands that."
"Zuko understands that?" Katara asked.
"No… Sadly not." Iroh said. "At least. Not yet." he then added in a knowing smile. "When he is ready. He will figure it out. I know he will."
Katara was stunned silent as she sat with crossed legs. "You really believe in him don't you?"
"I do." Iroh said. "It's hard. Because he has to make all of these discoveries for himself. I can only teach him so much. He has to learn by himself and make his own decisions! That's why I stand by him, but will not be making any decisions for him."
"Even if his decisions are bad?" Katara asked.
"Well. I will try to appeal to his better half." Iroh said. "But… yes. I tried to talk Zuko out of going after the Avatar at the north pole. But he would not listen."
"And you didn't stop him." Katara said.
Iroh shook his head. "I fear using force or authority wouldn't have been the way." he halted, then swallowed. "I cannot loose him. I know that may sound foolish and the sentiment of a sad, lonely old man who just longs for forgiveness and to protect the only thing he has left. And that's because… It's true."
Katara wrapped her arms around herself as she looked down. Squinting her eyes. "I wish I could forgive the fire nation." she said. "But I'm not sure that I can. Aang talks about how they were in the past, that they were a good people and he thinks they still are. I have such a hard time believing it. I just… I think of them and I get so. Angry."
"You're hurt." Iroh said. "It doesn't feel nice being hurt. So you lash out. Zuko is much the same."
"I don't want to have anything in common with him." Katara muttered.
"Ah. Forgive me." Iroh asked. "Thank you for the healing. Katara."
Katara sighed deeply. "You're welcome." she said. "I hope Aang will be all right."
Iroh bit his lip. "So do I." he admitted.