Chapter 2 The Bending Arts
The next morning
Liam and Trinity raced through the halls of the palace on their way to the gardens. Liam was in the lead. He glanced back to his sister who was once again struggling to see through her straggly curls. He laughed at the sight.
"I'm winning Trini," he called back to her. Trinity fumed at her brothers taunting, which made Liam laugh even more. He turned back around and was suddenly face to face with Zuko's chest, but before he even had time to stop he slammed into Zuko and was knocked to the floor. Trinity covered mouth trying desperately to conceal her laughter. Zuko crossed his arms and gazed down at the boy. Liam grinned sheepishly up at Zuko rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment. Zuko was taken aback, for a moment the boy resembled Aang exactly.
"Oops, sorry Uncle Zuko," Liam chuckled slightly. Zuko smiled at the boy. Just then Katara caught up to the kids.
"Oh, Liam," she scolded, "Zuko I'm sorry for the kids running in the halls."
"Nonsense," Zuko replied, "I couldn't even begin to think of a better use for the palace corridors." His mind drifted back briefly to the days when he and Azula used to race around these very same halls. In spite of everything, he still managed to hold on to those rare memories of his sister. It was those little moments that he missed the most, the moments when she actually was his sister. Of course that was before…. He sighed heavily and pushed his thoughts to the back of his mind.
"Where is Aang this morning," he asked.
"Oh, he's still getting up," Katara smiled, "I'm afraid Trini kept him up late with her usual twenty questions game that she loves so much." Zuko chuckled.
"You two certainly have your hands full," he grinned. Katara grinned back at him.
"Don't I know it," she said sarcastically.
"Hey Uncle Zuko," Liam suddenly interrupted tugging at his sleeve.
"Yes Liam," he answered looking down upon the boy.
"Will you teach me to shoot the bow and arrow again today?" Zuko glanced up at Katara for a moment and then turned his gaze back to Liam.
"Well Liam I think that you are supposed to practice you're bending today if I'm not mistaken." Katara smiled at Zuko.
"That's right Liam," she said kneeling down to his level, "you're doing water bending with me today."
"Water bending," Liam whined, "but that's boring, I want to learn how to shoot arrows!"
"LIAM," Katara scolded, "you have to practice your bending, I don't want to hear another complaint."
"FINE," Liam exclaimed, "then I want Dad to teach me!"
"Liam, Daddy is teaching Trinity air bending and I am teaching you water bending."
"But that's not fair," Liam cried, "Daddy is better then you!" Katara was left speechless in the wake of Liam's tantrum.
"But Liam," she sighed, a hurt expression forming across her face. Liam just frowned and ran away. Katara was left kneeling upon the floor; she sighed heavily and crossed her arms. Zuko reached down and offered her a hand. She glanced upward and took his hand. He gently pulled her to her feet. Katara just shook her head.
"I don't know what's gotten into him," she sighed sadly. Zuko smiled sympathetically.
"I'm sure it's just a phase," he replied. Katara nodded.
A few hours later
Aang found Liam sitting quietly beside the pond in the palace gardens, throwing crumbs to the ducks. He silently approached his son and sat down beside him
"Hey Liam," Aang sighed. Liam glanced up and sighed.
"Hey Daddy, he whispered glumly.
"So," Aang sighed gazing down upon his son, "your mother tells me that you two had an argument."
"Am I in trouble?" Aang nodded.
"No, I just want to know what's bothering you Liam, why are you having such a hard time lately." Liam shrugged. Aang nodded.
"Well, what about your water bending," Aang questioned, "why don't you want mom to teach you?" Liam turned abruptly to face his father.
"Well it's not fair that Trini gets to learn from you and I don't," he exclaimed.
"Liam," Aang sighed, "your sister is an air bender, I am the only one there is who can teach her, but you have mom to teach you water bending."
"But Dad," Liam cried, "you can water bend too, and you are better then mom 'cause you're the Avatar."
Is that what this is all about Liam," Aang sighed, "you think that just because I'm the Avatar that that makes me a better teacher?" Liam nodded. Aang draped an arm around Liam's shoulder.
"Listen," he said, "I wasn't always a water bender you know." Liam gazed up at Aang in interest.
"Someone taught me how to water bend, I had a great teacher that taught me everything that I know…a true master." Aang gazed back at his son.
"Do you know who that teacher was Liam?" Liam nodded and gazed up at Aang questioningly.
"My teacher," Aang grinned, "was your mother."
"Mommy was your teacher," Liam marveled.
"That's right," Aang replied, "so if there is anyone in the world that's good enough to teach you it is her. Liam frowned and turned his gaze back to the pond.
"I don't think that mommy will still want to be my teacher after I yelled at her." Aang smiled sympathetically at his son.
Well Liam, Aang replied, why don't you try apologizing to her, I'm sure she will give you another chance."
"Really Daddy," Liam exclaimed leaping to his feet.
"Of course Liam," Aang replied.
Thanks Daddy, Liam smiled and threw his arms around his father's neck, I'm going to go find Mommy now." The boy hurriedly ran back to the palace. Aang just smiled and shook his head as he watched Liam scurry away.
Later that day
Zuko sat on the front steps of the palace watching both Liam and Trini immersed in their bending lessons, though he seemed to pay closer attention to Liam and Katara. He envied how patient she was with him. Katara reminded him a little of his own mother, she was so caring and patient. How much different it was to learn under such a caring hand. He wished his own mother had taught him to bend instead of his short tempered and impatient father. And Liam, well Liam reminded him of himself, he was impatient and easily frustrated when things didn't come to him easily. Zuko smiled at the two it was almost as if he were observing a far off memory of himself and his mother. Suddenly Aang approached Zuko with Trini sitting upon his shoulders. Zuko leaned back on his elbows and gazed up at his friend.
"Finished practicing already," he smiled.
"Trini's a natural," Aang smiled proudly.
"Just like the old man eh," Zuko grinned.
"What can I say," Aang shrugged. He sat down next to Zuko and gazed over in Liam's direction. He watched his son intently studying his form and concentration. Zuko leaned forward upon his knees and gazed at Liam and Katara as well.
"Daddy, why is Liam taking so long," Trini asked. Aang rolled his eyes in amusement.
"And the questions begin," he sighed. Zuko chuckled.
"He just needs extra practice Trini that's all," Aang answered.
"How come I don't need extra practice?" Aang rolled his eyes to gaze up at the little girl upon his shoulders.
"Do you want to practice longer," he asked. Trini pondered her father's question for a moment. She crossed her arms upon his head and leaned her chin upon her folded arms.
"Um not right now," she sighed, "maybe later."
"Good then, no more questions please."
"Why?" Aang rolled his eyes and sighed in aggravation. Zuko burst into laughter.
"Liam bend your knees," Katara said.
"They are bent," Liam insisted. Katara shook her head. She walked up to her son and tapped him in the back of the knees causing them to bend just a little further.
"Just like that," she said softly. She stood across from him now in the fountain.
"Now close your eyes and concentrate," she said. Liam did as she said.
"Focus on the water Liam, try to feel it."
"It feels wet," Liam replied.
"Liam," she sighed opening an eye and glancing at him, "concentrate."
"I am concentrating," he replied, "the water is wet!" Katara shook her head half in aggravation and half in amusement.
"Liam you are your father's son," she sighed under her breath. She took a deep breath and exhaled deeply releasing her mild frustration. Somehow she had managed to teach Aang so she knew teaching Liam was at least possible.
"Alright Liam," she said, "I want you to try to pull and push the water okay." Liam nodded
"Now focus, feel the water, imagine it moving back and forth." Liam concentrated.
"Now move your energy outward from your hands to the water…..pull it Liam." Liam held his hands out; he focused his energy and imagined the water coming toward him. Katara opened her eyes to watch. The water suddenly rippled and moved toward the boy. Katara smiled excitedly and turned to Aang. Aang smiled and nodded in her direction. Katara turned back to Liam.
"Okay Liam," she whispered, "Now push it…push the water." The ripples were subtly redirected and moved outward and away from Liam. Katara could see little beads of sweat forming across his forehead. She smiled; concentrating so hard had taken a lot out of him. She kneeled down beside her son.
"You did it," she whispered. Liam opened his eyes and smiled at Katara.
"Really, I did it!" Katara nodded.
"You did a good job Liam; we'll practice more later okay." Liam smiled and wrapped his arms around her neck.
"Thanks mom," he smiled.
To Be Continued:
