The next morning Katara was woken by Zuko like promised alongside Aang, they didn't make it very far though before suddenly a certain earth bender was right behind them.
"Where do you think you're going?" Toph asked.
"Erhm." Zuko blinked.
"Without me!" Toph proclaimed. "You think you just get to leech on all of my sweet knowledge without returning the favour?" she asked. "This sunrise meditation thing. Why not give it a shot?" she asked.
Katara smiled amused. "You're welcome to join us." she said. "Right Zuko?" she asked.
"Of course." Zuko said in a nod. "It would be an honour!"
"Sweet!" Toph grinned as she ran right after them.
As they reached the cliff Zuko and the others settled down. "Okay. Now." he said. "We need to concentrate on breath."
"Erhm… Excuse me."
Zuko blinked as he turned his head to see Sokka standing there right behind them holding his arm.
"Sokka." Aang gasped. "You want to join to?"
"I didn't want to be left out!" Sokka cried. "You're all doing a thing together and not inviting me? That's rude!"
Katara shook her head. "Come sit down, you big idiot." she rolled her eyes.
"I'm not an idiot." Sokka muttered but walked over to Katara and sat down. "So what are we doing exactly?"
"Meditating!" Aang beamed. "And sometimes doing stances!"
"Like what we did with Iroh when we summoned a spirit?" Sokka asked.
"Well it's kind of different." Katara tried to explain. "What we did with Iroh was all about calling out. This is about inner fire."
"Inner fire?" Sokka asked. "But you're a water bender! And Toph is a earth bender."
Zuko groaned deeply. Clearly annoyed that he had to explain this yet again. "To be alive at all you need to have inner fire. Everybody has inner fire Sokka!"
"Really?" Sokka asked. "It's not just a fire bender thing."
"fire benders are just the ones who can manipulate it." Zuko explained.
"Sokka. Does water stop existing just because there are no water benders around to bend it?" Aang asked wisely making Zuko smirk.
"Hmm. I guess you have a point there." Sokka had to admit grabbing his chin.
"Your inner fire is your resolve, your strength, your passion!" Zuko lectured.
"Wait… So if I work on my inner flame. I can become stronger?" Sokka asked.
"Yes." Zuko replied in a deep sigh. "Yes a strong inner flame means a strong spirit and a strong mind."
"Well that settles it! I'm joining to!" Sokka proclaimed.
Zuko sighed deeply. "Some ground rules! You can join but you need to be quiet." he stated.
Sokka opened his mouth only to get a glare from Zuko right back then he shrugged as he sat down to join.
While Karata was making breakfast Sokka was rubbing his chin while his brows furrowed. "I am not sure I get it." he then stated. "How does sitting help make me stronger?" he asked.
Zuko sighed as he placed this mornings cup of tea in front of Sokka.
"It's about learning to control your breathing! Conserve your strength! Having Control of your body!" he lectured.
Sokka nodded as he picked up the cup. "Funny though. That's not like your fighting style at all." he pointed out.
"What?" Zuko asked.
"You always just charge forward. That's not really conserving strength is it?" Sokka asked.
"I… I'm trying to figure that out." Zuko stated as his cheeks gained heat.
"It's not just you. It's all the fire nation soldiers." Sokka pointed out. "Well except Iroh. They yell and run forward."
"It's what we were taught. Be aggressive and be powerful." Zuko stated. "Though… That may be a mistake. Wasting our energy."
"Well what ever helps us. Right?" Sokka asked in a grin downing his tea. "Man I could get used to this." he fully admitted clearly warming up to the tea as well.
As Aang was off training with the others. Zuko spend the most of his day by himself, trying to practise some of the stances he had made with Katara the other day and imagining how he could use it with fire bending.
He also tried some of the stances Toph had done. Which was a whole other feeling. Trying to stand fast and secure on the ground.
As a firebender Zuko had been trained for quick movements. Quickly jump from foot to foot. Toph though would stand still.
Which would be terrible for dodging. But potentially help gain momentum for a more powerful and precise fire blast.
…. It would only work if Zuko himself wasn't a target who needed to be able to jump away fast thought.
Zuko found himself suddenly becoming incredible curious about the possibilities. Something which he had never tried before.
Before. Firebending had always just been a necessary tool for an end. Something he had to master. Now he suddenly started to enjoy it… It was nice.
In the evening as a pot of stew was bobbling over the fire and Zuko was sitting with crossed legs looking at the flames. Suddenly Sokka came stomping right towards him.
"Fight me Zuko!" Sokka suddenly shouted.
"What?" Zuko looked up.
"You got to try your thing yesterday! Now I want to try a thing!" Sokka stated.
Zuko blinked but stood up. The other peoples eyes following him.
"Fight you?" Zuko asked.
"Yes! But there are rules!" Sokka stated. "No fire bending!" he stated. "I want you to fight me. But you cannot do any bending!"
"Okay." Zuko nodded, honestly feeling a little relieved. He didn't really want to throw fire at Sokka.
"And because I am fair. I don't get to use my boomerang either." Sokka stated dropping the boomerang down on the ground then took a few steps away inviting Zuko to do the same.
Finally they stood at the same place Aang and Zuko had been standing the other day. Zuko blinking as Sokka took a stance. "Well?" Sokka asked. "You're afraid?"
"That's a stance mostly used by earth kingdom soldiers." Zuko pointed at Sokka. "You wait for the attacker to come to you. Grab them under the elbow and throw them down."
"Oh." Sokka stood up. "So you do know. Yeah I learned a few moves from the Kyoshi warriors at Kyoshi island." he smirked. "Scared I am going to throw you down?" he asked taking the same stance.
Zuko sighed a little resigned then came charging for Sokka. Sokka smirked. Even though Zuko seemed to know what Sokka was doing. Zuko was still coming right at him and Sokka was ready!
Then in the last second Zuko side stepped, went right behind Sokka and pushed him in the back sending Sokka flailing to the ground.
"WUARGH!" Sokka shouted, then finally landed head first into the ground.
Aang couldn't help but snort from where he sat.
Sokka pouted as he looked up, then turned around and grabbed Zukos foot, making Zuko fall down on his back.
"AHA!" Sokka grinned triumphantly.
Only for Zuko to kick Sokka right in the face, forcing Sokka to let go. Then jumped up on his feet, grabbing Sokkas arm and twisting it behind his back.
"AUW!" Sokka screamed.
Zuko smirked. "I win." he simply stated as he let go allowing Sokka to finally turn around rubbing his arm.
"Again!" Sokka demanded as he stood up. "I just needed to warm up! I can take you now!" he stated.
Zuko lifted an eyebrow as he stood.
This time Sokka came charging right for Zuko with his fist. Only for Zuko to dug and hit Sokka right in the stomach as Sokka came running. Sending Sokka backwards.
And in a flurry Zuko returned in a jump, crouched as he swiped Sokkas legs sending Sokka back on the ground on his back and then placed a foot on Sokkas chest making it impossible for Sokka to move.
"I win again." Zuko commented.
Sokka gasped for breath as he laid beneath Zukos foot. "Are you serious?" he asked.
Zuko smirked as he removed his foot then offered Sokka a hand instead, and Sokka accepted allowing Zuko to pull him back up.
"You left yourself wide open when you came charging." Zuko informed helpfully. "And when you waited for me to charge. That really wont work when I already know what you plan to do." he smirked amused.
"Give me a break. I don't really have any formal training." Sokka groaned. "Except a few days at Kyoshi island."
"Really?" Zuko asked. "I wouldn't have guessed."
"Re-Really?" Sokka asked.
Zuko nodded. "Your form is good. And you are clearly able to adapt and think on your feet. Our previous battles clearly show that. All you really lack is just training."
"Oh yeah. I have beaten you before." Sokka smirked.
"No. You haven't." Zuko replied dryly. "You got a few hits in. You never beat me!"
"Remember when Zuko came to our tribe on his ship?" Katara asked amused. "You came charging right at him and he just pushed you aside."
"Hey I was doing my best!" Sokka shouted.
"Wow now that I think about it…" Katara halted. She turned to Zuko. "you could have killed him.." she realized in a horriefied whisper.
Zuko halted, then he nodded. "He was coming right at me, completely open for attack." he remembered.
Katara gasped, then she swallowed. "Well… I'm glad you didn't kill him."
"I wasn't interested in killing anyone. I just wanted to find the avatar." Zuko sighed deeply running a hand through his hair.
And then of all things… Katara smiled. Zuko looked wide-eyed at her. He had no idea what to do with that.
"Well I learned what I needed to know." Sokka stated.
"Really?" Zuko asked.
"Yes!" Sokka stated walking right up to Zuko poking a finger at his chest. "Now you get to learn things from all the others! You have to teach me!"
"Oh." Zuko blinked. "You mean none bending combat?"
"Obviously." Sokka rolled his eyes.
"I mean I guess I could try." Zuko said. "I'm not really a good teacher though. But I guess I could teach a few moves."
"Yes!" Sokka grinned pulling down two fists.
Zuko blinked but decided it was all right to go back to the fire now and sit down. Trying to figure out what had just happened.
"How come you are so good at none bending combat?" Katara asked amused.
"My uncle insisted I should learn." Zuko said. "He says only a fool will rely solely on his bending alone."
"A wise man!" Sokka stated. "See. Bending isn't everything!" he proclaimed to the others.
"Zuko is really good with swords too!" Aang grinned.
"Swords… You can fight with swords?" Sokka asked as he wide-eyed looked at Zuko.
"Erhm… yeah." Zuko nodded. "I.. always kind of enjoyed the blade." he admitted. "Even when I was a kid. I thought blades were really cool. So my uncle would usually give me blades for gifts. This one he send me from Ba Sing Se." he said pulling out a black dagger from his torso. Showcasing it.
"Wow. That's beautiful." Katara breathed then tilted her head to look at the inscription. "Never give up without a fight." she smiled. "That's a good message."
"You held unto that?" Sokka asked.
"Yeah. It was the last thing I received from my uncle before he disappeared those three years." Zuko nodded. "And it's the sort of thing which is very practical. You can have it hidden on your person. Unlike swords which will be pretty obvious."
"I want to learn how to sword fight." Sokka whispered.
Zuko glanced at Sokka.
"Can you teach me how to sword fight?" Sokka asked Zuko.
"I… Don't think I am the best one for that." Zuko stated. "Beside. We would need a sword."
"Katara. Can we get a sword?" Sokka asked hopefully.
Katara shook her head. "I don't know Sokka. We are pretty tight on finances you know."
"Man." Sokka sighed deeply. "My dreams are all shattered."
Katara smirked amused. "Maybe we'll find one eventually. We have run into plenty of people who have swords."
"Oh yeah!" Sokka grinned. "We can just steal one!"
Katara shook her head.
"It's okay if we steal from the enemy." Sokka stated in a confident tone.
"Yeah." Zuko agreed.
"Seriously?" Katara asked. "You would steal swords?"
"Why not?" Zuko asked.
"See! Zuko gets it!" Sokka grinned. "Man it's nice with another guy on the team! Finally!"
"Hey I'm a guy!" Aang shouted.
"Barely." Sokka rolled his eyes. "Zuko and I are going to have some quality man time!"
"What?" Zuko asked.
"Sure snoozles. Sure." Toph shook her head. "Wake me when you got actual hair on your chest."
And Sokka huffed annoyed. Only to make the others chuckle.
Confused Zuko looked around at them, not really knowing how to react but finally… Finally dared to crack a small sight which Aang saw and the Avatar beamed. Thankfully not drawing more attention to Zukos reaction and Zuko shook his head.
What had he gotten himself into? And yet somehow it felt nice. This was so weird.
