Zuko's been with the group an entire week before he brings them out.
He and Aang have just finished their regular routine. At least, Zuko's been trying to get the Avatar into a routine, but Aang just isn't having it.
Sokka can see what he's trying to do though.
Meditation beginning with the rise of the sun, followed by breakfast, followed by more meditation, followed by exercises that seem more focused on building stamina than on building muscle, followed by stances and forms and patterns.
He suspects that each of these activities are supposed to last a set amount of time. They usually last until Zuko's patience wears out, and then they move on to the next thing.
By the time Zuko lets Aang go, the former usually looks ready to kill someone while the latter usually looks fresh as a daisy and ready for adventure.
Zuko's really not a very good teacher, but Sokka supposes Aang is probably his first student, and it isn't always easy getting the twelve-year-old to focus.
Once Zuko releases Aang for the day he starts his own practice, starting with meditation, followed by the same basic forms and patterns he's been trying to teach Aang, but faster, stronger, and with far more fire involved.
Aang has been reluctant on the actual creating fire bit, and Zuko's reaction so far has been to scowl and tell him to practice the forms without it.
Zuko will usually meditate for a couple of hours, then practice for a couple hours, stopping to eat with the rest of them when meals are ready only to go right back to what he was doing when he's done.
After he finishes, he just kind of hovers in the general vicinity of the group, staying in sight but never getting close enough to join in. It makes for an awkward evening.
Today though, today is different. Zuko finishes his firebending practice and heads inside. Katara watches him go, her eyes narrowed in suspicion and what Sokka has to admit is probably hate. Before she can decide to follow him and demand to know what he's up to, however, the firebender is back, and he's got two swords with him.
Sokka watches as he returns to his usual practice spot, unsheathes the swords, and sinks into a stance that is entirely different than anything he has seen from Zuko during his firebending.
Zuko starts the first pattern, and Sokka is surprised. Where Zuko's firebending is all strength, aggression, and force, his sword technique is-not.
Right now Zuko is grace and elegance and agility, twin blades spinning fluidly through the air with an easy dexterity that that awes Sokka-and makes him more than a little bit jealous.
He has no idea how long he's been standing there staring, but Zuko abruptly becomes aware of it and immediately misses a step.
He straightens and turns to face Sokka. Zuko's not breathing as heavily as he would have thought, and while he's definitely sweating, it's not as much as might be expected for someone who's spent a good portion of his day exercising.
"What?" There's a sharpness there that any other time Sokka would find offensive. For now, he's too busy being impressed.
"Wow," he says, and for a moment that's all he can think of. Zuko stares at him. "I mean, I didn't know you owned a sword. Two swords. But you don't just own them, you're good."
Zuko looks at him as if he's been insulted, and Sokka has to admit that good doesn't really cover it.
"You're amazing," he says, and Zuko's eyebrow raises almost of its own accord. "I just, I don't know. I've never seen you use them before."
"I have," pipes up Aang. He's passing through the courtyard, but he's not interested enough to stop. Zuko turns to watch him leave, his eyes narrowed.
"I have a sword. I made it." Sokka curses the way he suddenly sounds like a child trying to brag, but Zuko looks back at him, and he's pretty sure there's interest shining in those golden eyes.
It's his turn to run inside, and hope he hasn't misread the situation, and that Zuko won't be gone when he returns. He grabs his sword and makes his way back outside as quickly as possible.
Zuko's waiting for him. He's sheathed the swords and set them aside and is stretching. He steps up to see when Sokka draws his own blade, and he makes an abortive motion, reaching out before catching himself.
Sokka wonders if it's a bad idea, but offers him the weapon. It's not like Zuko couldn't have already killed him with his own anyway.
Zuko examines the blade, eyes darting from hilt to blade to tip, and then he steps back, taking a few experimental swings before going into a pattern that looks just a little odd when done with one sword instead of two.
He nods, satisfied with what he's seen, and offers the sword back to Sokka. Their eyes meet, and Sokka sees respect, but he also sees understanding. Zuko knows who taught him to make this sword, and who must have also taught him to use it, and he's impressed. Maybe a little bit awed.
"What's it made of?" he asks, because he hasn't been able to place the material.
"Meteorite," Sokka replies, and watches the other teen's estimation of him go up another notch.
Zuko reaches for his own blades and offers them to Sokka for inspection. Sokka takes one, because he has no idea what to do with two, and begins his own inspection.
It's a good sword, light, well made, and strong. He can see the hand of his mentor in its make, and thinks he saw some of him in Zuko's fighting style as well.
He too steps back, tries a few slashes, but doesn't try going into an actual pattern because if he's going to be completely honest with himself he's more than a little intimidated after watching Zuko practice.
He offers the sword back to Zuko, who takes it and slips it back into its sheath, pauses, then looks up. His eyes meet Sokka's.
Neither of them say a word.
Neither of them have to.
Swords are drawn, fighting stances are readied. Sokka and his opponent slowly circle each other, each sizing the other up, each looking for an opportunity to strike.
Unlike when he's bending, this time Zuko refuses to strike first. Sokka steps forward-
And is disarmed so fast he has no idea what happened.
Zuko looks-sheepish? and waits for Sokka to retrieve his weapon. This time Sokka manages to get in a few good blows, a few good parries, before he's disarmed once more.
He frowns. He thought he was better than this. He is better than this.
He circles Zuko again, studying his opponent. He sees an opportunity, lunges forward.
The sword in his opponent's right had blocks the blow while the sword in his left slashes at his feet and when Sokka stumbles trying to get clear the sword in his right hand wrenches his own sword free from his grip while the sword in his left trips him and he ends up on the ground, flat on his ass, while Zuko stares down at him.
"Right," he groans as it clicks. "Two swords. There are two of them." He stumbles to his feet. "Got it."
He has to keep track of both.
Zuko almost smirks at him.
They start again.
Author's note: Just giving the boys some bonding time. I think they need it.
Disclaimer: Avatar: The Last Airbender certainly does not belong to me.