A. N. : Back to the Gaang, with a chapter that I think we've probably all been waiting for. I know I have, at least ! But man, this arc is a whole roller-coaster... although the low points are mostly on the Gal Pals side of things, if I'm being quite honest. Enjoy !

It's a slow day.

Which is probably a good thing, Zuko thinks, after – after everything that happened.

They all need this. This slow focus, slow thinking, slow planning. Katara thinks they'll have to visit a village tomorrow, else they risk running out of food. The Kyoshi Warrior agreed, added that she and Uncle would need less conspicuous clothes.

So that's tomorrow's plans.

Today is – today is slow, but not in the quiet way that Zuko can't help but ruin. Today is slow practice, meditation with Uncle and Jet and the Avatar, feeling the sun on his skin and the chi in his stomach, away from Father's hand and Jet's dam and Zuko's mistakes.

He will need to apologize to the Kyoshi Warrior.

He knows that, but he didn't feel up to it, not after talking about Father and Azula, and then she asked to take the sword that pierced Sokka, and Sokka's sword too, and asked for Jet's sword-care material, and she started working on that in a deep silence that Zuko didn't dare disturb. He understands the need to fall back on habits, on known things, and so when Uncle offered to meditate together, Zuko took that opportunity himself.

The Avatar joined them because Toph wants to work on her metalbending and Katara alternates between watching over Sokka with Momo on her shoulder and Lin in her arms, and brushing Appa's fur.

Jet didn't want to stay with Katara, said the feeling was probably mutual right now, and didn't feel like practicing on his own either, so he plopped down in front of Zuko, very pointedly avoided looking at Uncle – which… at least he's not calling him Mushi ? – and got in the position Zuko taught him on the way to Tenuht.

Right, there's still Jet's habits to work on, in the future. But not today.

Today is slow and meticulous. Meditation and breath, and probably some actual bending later, now that Uncle is here and can teach the Avatar what Zuko couldn't – they're running out of moves, even if there's still work to do to polish the ones they did get to.

But there's only so much Zuko can do, as a non-Master. Convincing the Avatar to give his all into firebending, just like the other elements, is already a victory in his eyes, but it won't be enough.

He needs Uncle.

He needs – he needs to apologize to Uncle, too, for leaving him behind in Ba Sing Se, and for dragging him into this situation.

Needs to thank him. For everything.

One breath, then another, the feeling or fire bubbling right under the skin, warm and comforting.

It took some time, especially with all the distractions that kept popping up, but Zuko thinks he knows now why his fire feels different than before Ba Sing Se, before Lin, before his fever. Before he left behind the illusion of Father ever loving him.

His fuel changed, then, from hopeless devotion, to something – kinder, he thinks. The need to protect Lin. To take care of her. It makes sense, then, for his fire to have changed accordingly.

It makes him strangely happy, to have figured that out on his own. Like his fire is truly his, even if his mastery over it is lacking and he will probably never be as good a bender as he is a swordsman.

Speaking of which –

Zuko opens his eyes, lets his gaze hover on the others, on the Avatar's calm face, on Jet's fidgeting hands, on Uncle's chest and the way it rises, with perfect regularity, alive.

They should bend a little before lunch, Zuko says, brush up on the basic forms, maybe have Uncle help out with the advanced ones and – correct whatever mistake Zuko made when teaching.

Jet grimaces, then gets up, stretches. He looks around – I'll leave you guys to it – before heading in the direction of the Kyoshi Warrior, with a wave of the hand to the rest of them.

The Avatar rises in a gust of air, while Uncle remains on Zuko's level still. He reaches out, places a hand on Zuko's shoulder.

I'm sure you did great, he says, in a tone that's half loving trust, half chastising. Don't sell yourself so short.

It takes Zuko off-guard. Uncle doesn't resent him for what almost happened, doesn't doubt that Zuko did not only his best with the Avatar, not only what he could – but trusts that he did well.

Zuko swallows.

He doesn't – doesn't deserve this. Doesn't – he's so sorry, he – he must have failed somewhere, must have disappointed Uncle somehow, in some way Uncle hasn't realized yet.

Uncle looks at him, and seems to notice Zuko's hesitation. His hand on Zuko's shoulder becomes stronger, more grounding, and his smile somehow softens even more.

He pulls Zuko close. Speaks gently in Zuko's ear – I'm proud of you, Nephew, I've always been proud of you, even when it seemed like you lost your way in the desert, I always trusted you would find yourself again – and he is warm and sounds so proud and earnest and –

Zuko buries his head in Uncle's shoulder.

He missed him so much.