Disclaimer: I woke up Christmas morning and didn't find Avatar in my stocking.
So I guess I still Don't own it. Happy New Year!
Chapter 14
Stretching his arms, he yawned. Looking around he realized he was the first one up. He wondered how long the others would sleep. Stifling another yawn he continued to get ready for the day. He went to the wash room that adjoined their sleeping quarters. Bending some water to his face he cleansed the grime from his young features. Grabbing a fluffy towel he dried himself and caught a glimpse oh himself in the mirror. He stared at his image, turning every so often. Wondering if he could ever be taken seriously. Who would take orders or advice from someone who looked as young as he did? Would she ever notice him as more than a friend? A brother? And a little brother at that. Did Katara take him seriously? She did say she believed in him. She believed he would save the world and restore order to the world. But would she ever love him the way he felt about her? His mind drifted to a dark place, Zuko. He had witnessed with his own eyes as that bastard prince kissed his Katara. Shock set in the instant he realized she was not fighting him off. Sighing he set the towel down and left his dark thoughts deep within its folds.
Exiting the small room he saw Sokka stirring from his sleep. The older boy sat up his elbows on his knees, "Aang, do you have to make so much noise this early in the morning." Rubbing the sleep from his eyes he wondered if he could get away with another hour of sleep. On second thought it was best if he kept Aang occupied while Katara slept. Reluctantly getting up he went to the washroom t quickly wash up. Hoping Aang wasn't waking Katara he finished with his morning routine as quickly as possible. Leaving he saw Aang was sitting quietly on his bed waiting for him. As if on cue his might appetite made its presence know. "Come on, Aang, lets go get some breakfast."
"What about Katara?" The young boy pointed to the slumbering mass. Thinking she should be up already he went to her bed side. Reaching out a hand he found it being grabbed by another. About to protest, he felt a hand cover his mouth. The older of the two shook his head and started to lead the younger out into the corridor.
Releasing his young friend, "Aang, Katara had a ruff night. Let her sleep in." As Sokka gently closed the door trying not make a sound. His stomach protested yet again, "Let's go get some breakfast. Then we can go train." The younger boy agreed, but it bothered him, he wanted to know what troubled Katara. He wanted to comfort her. Not that bastard prince.
Sokka longing to be back in his bed as well, gave no notice to the angry young man who walked beside him. He had to see to it that his sister got her beauty rest after all. Lost in his own thoughts he almost didn't hear, "Sokka? I said what happened last night? Did Katara have a bad dream or something like that?" The young boy was know in front of him and demanding an answer.
"Something like that. She couldn't sleep so she went for a walk." He hoped a half truth would suffice. He really didn't want to get into it with his young friend. Right now he only wanted to get something to eat.
Startled, he woke from a restful slumber to find some of the soldiers causing a ruckus. "What are you doing this early in the morning?" Hand rubbing his wrinkled brow, he hadn't even had his cup of tea yet. And he already had to deal with this? "Well?" He was beginning to feel like his nephew.
The soldiers looked him in shock but one was brave enough to answer. "General Iroh, The prince isn't awake yet and we don't have any orders. What do we do?" The old man couldn't help but laugh, but the men were so loyal to his dear nephew.
"Let the poor boy sleep. He deserves it, does he not." He paused so he could guage there reaction. They looked genuinely concerned for their prince. Deciding to try to pacify the men, "Go to Captain Jee he will tell you what to do." This seemed to appease them as the left, wishing him a good morning. Sighing he recounted last nights events in his minds eye, "Oh my boy, what will I do with you?"
Walking by his nephew's room he stopped int door way. Realizing to late that he had sighed he hoped he didn't disturb the slumbering prince. "Uncle." His presence already known he didn't reply, only waited. "How can I face the day?" Turning to his side the young prince looked towards the older man.
"Just close your eyes and get some sleep, Prince Zuko. It will be a better day when you are rested." With having said that the boy turned and rested his head soon falling back into sleep. Leaving to get ready for the day to come the wise old man dressed. Quietly he left to find some sort of breakfast.
As he approached the dinning hall he could hear laughter from within it's walls. The guards opened the doors to him and he saw that it was in fact the Avatar who was doing most of the laughing. It was a sight to behold, the young Avatar was holding his sides as he rolled in the fits of laughter. And the other boy was covered in some sort of gruel. Taking a seat he gazed at the two who were oblivious to his presence, "Good morning." He offered but got no response from either of them.
Covered in some sort of breakfast slop the older boy huffed and left, in favor of a bath and some clean clothes. This left Iroh alone with the young Avatar. His laughter subsiding his eyes wandered to the old man, "Oh, good morning..." He didn't know what to call the old man. 'Hey old man' never seemed to get Sokka very far so he doubted it would work for him.
"Yes, good morning, young Avatar." He bowed his head toward the young boy as a servant placed a meal in front of him. "the young man and you seem to get along very well, just like brothers." Aang having finished his meal, or rather Sokka finishing it for him, stood and moved to a chair much closer to the old man.
"Aang." Was all he said. The old man looked up from his meal. "I said, Aang. My name is Aang. Not Avatar. Avatar is only a title, it doesn't who i am but what I am. And I happen to be Aang." He paused hoping the older man could understand.
"I understand, Aang." Reaching for a glass he took a sip. "Everyone insists on calling me General. But I retired years ago. So I would be happy to call you Aang if you would return the favor. My name is Iroh, or if you proffer you may call me Uncle." Instantly the boys eyes lit up, shaking his head he agreed to Uncles demands.
"You mean you are thee General Iroh, retired I mean?" The kind man nodded. "No way!" Aang was getting excited. All this while Prince Zuko, had the Dragon of the West traveling with him and he was never able to catch him. A chuckle escaped his lips.
"What is so funny?" Uncle asked, intrigued. This young boy named Aang was such a conundrum to him. But some part of him thought the boy was hiding something. "Aang if we are to be friends now I want you to know you can't tell me things... What is troubling you?"
Troubling him? Nothing was troubling him. 'Not unless you count your stupid nephew taking my Katara from me.' Finding him self back in that dark place he blinked and returned to the light of day. "It's nothing." He really didn't want to talk about his feelings for Katara to his rivals Uncle. As nice as he appeared to be he was still Zuko's uncle not his.
Not wanting to press the matter any further, he knew it was Zuko ho was troubling the young boy. Returning to his meal he heard the young boy called Aang excuse himself to go to train. Suddenly felling exasperated. Realizing, he had to deal with not only a young now hormonally driven prince. But also a even younger more potentially powerful boy with a crush.
He was just about to leave as the other boy returned. The girls brother bowed, "I was hoping you would still be here. I was hoping that we would be able to talk." The old man nodded and gestured to a chair, witch the young man took. "Are you aware of last nights events?"
Iroh was taken aback, not even a good morning or introduction, the boy got right down to the matter. "Young man, I must ask to whom I am speaking to? It is only proper to offer your name when starting a conversation." Pausing he sighed, this one was going to be much harder. "My name is Iroh. I am Prince Zuko's uncle. You may call me Uncle if you wish."
Feeling ashamed that he had forgotten his manners, "Sorry, my name is Sokka, I'm Katara's older brother... I must tell you that in my fathers absence I am responsible for her well fare." Arms across his chest he leaned into the chair. "So I feel it is my duty to ask exactly what are your nephews intentions to my sister."