Zutara Week- Mentor

They were lounging by the turtle-duck pond, feeding its inhabitants bread and sharing a bonding silence. Nothing would interrupt them apart from occasional quacks and plops of the bread being pecked away at by the animals and the fact that Azula fired most of the servants. Zuko had took the opportunity to visit his childhood garden and Katara was to accompany him as his healer, adding that she was thrilled at the idea of feeding adorable, fluffy animals and other reasons she kept pushing back down. Those particular reasons kept popping back up, agitating her. Time to break the silence, before he hears her internal groaning.

"Hey Zuko?" Katara paused throwing bread into the pond. The baby turtle-ducks chirped in annoyance.

"Yes?"

"You never said who was your mentor in fire bending before." She knew Zuko knew where she got most of her moves from, Grandpa Pakku. He released a sigh that he seemed to have held his breath.

"Uncle Iroh was the best mentor I had, that I consider him a father to me. He also saved my life a lot of times, even when I was being a huge jerk towards him." Regret and a hint of awe emanated from Zuko's voice. He seemed to be holding this regret for a while now.

"C'mon Zuko, you know he forgives you. You paid him back by going against your father and joining us!" If Katara was his uncle, she would definitely forgive him.

"Yeh, I know. Sometimes I just still feel guilty about, you know, doing all those things to him. Even though I didn't actually do it, I just stood back and watched. It's just as bad."

"In the end you did the right thing, and that's what matters. Hey, look at me." Zuko tilted his head to his right, trying not the disturb his lightening wound. Katara placed a hand on his shoulder as she moved to sit crossed legged in front of him. She wants to see his eyes read the care she has in her own.

"I can see that you want to pay him back for every kind thing he did to you, but your uncle isn't like your father, he'll love you no matter what you say or do. This bond you have between him isn't a 'I'll do to you what you do to me' thing, he loves you just because he does." Katara swore she saw his eyes flick around, as if he recalled a flashback. He bowed his head slightly, so that she could still see his eyes.

"I know, and I try, but…" He sighed again and pushed his hair back. She placed her hands back on her lap while Zuko tossed the bread around the grass.

"Even if you think you still owe your uncle, just remember you sacrificed your life to save mine. It was a selfless act, he was really proud of you. Even my dad trusts you with me just as much as he trusts Sokka, and that's a big thing coming from him."

"Really? He actually thinks that?" His eyes lit up like a firefly, making him look so much younger.

"Yeh, he told me you are a good guy at heart, but you just have some rough edges." She didn't tell him that her father said that Zuko made a great dad, the thought of what he implied made her blush. Nope, this is definitely to be kept a secret. Zuko saw her cheeks turn bright red, he raised his eyebrow.

"Well, I think we should go back to the bed-NO, not like that, I mean so I can heal you some more! What do you think Zuko? Yep, let's do that!" She stuttered as the thoughts she tried to hold back came crashing all over her. Damn these stupid stomach butterflies!

…..

Juggling Zutara art and writing is annoyingly hard, so bear with the late updates. Huh, I seem to be late in a lot of things now. This prompt also was feathered very little because I didn't plan this one that well.