Avatar: The Last Firebender

by PurpleReignonHorses

Book I: Waves

Chapter III: Life on Taqqaq Village

Part II: Bonding

The Redeemer

Somewhere off the coast of Taqqaq Village

Zuko and Azula were dressed in their battle armor. The armor was made of traditional Fire Nation steel and stylized in red color with gold furnishings.

Zuko then set the wrist guards in place and took in a deep breath. He then let it out. Smoke and steam furrowed out from his nostrils. Soon the Avatar will be mine.

Suddenly, the shipyore man ran up to him. "The village where I saw that beam of light is just ahead Prince Zuko! We are coming on now!" He then pointed ahead of them. There was a small village in the distance alight by a large billowing of smoke. We are here. Finally. The visions of his banishment then flashed in his mind. He put a hand to the burn around his eye and clutched it tightly.

Azula came around and put an arm around his shoulder. "You will have your glory brother! You will defeat the Avatar and you will have your honor! I'm so proud of how far you've come!"

Zuko merely nodded and turned towards her. "I couldn't have done any of it without you Azula. Your support helped persuade Father to give me this chance. I owe you."

Azula chuckled and hugged him. "You know I don't agree with your reasons for standing against that general the way you did. But you are my only brother. I'm with you until the end."

Zuko just nodded.

Taqqaq Village, Southern Water Tribe

19 AG

The two outsiders had managed to find a second home in the small village.

Aang had no problem blending in as he was of Air Nomad origin. He also had a much more inviting personality compared to the firebender.

Kuzon, however, mostly kept to himself. The initial tension between him and Sokka had evaporated, but he still kept to himself most of the time. Kuzon enjoyed the quiet however. To him, it helped keep his true identity a secret and it gave him time to think. He was always in his head thinking of the past. It was just who he was. He was currently sitting inside his tent stuck in his thoughts. Wherever you guys are...please watch over me. I miss you all so much. He tried to hold back the tears in his eyes but failed. His voice broke down into stifled sobs.

Katara's big, bright blue eyes then peeked through a hole in the tent. He has to be here somewhere. Her eyes then came up Kuzon's form. Her eyes widened in glee. There he is! I knew I'd find him somewhere! She then pushed the tarps out of the way with a gleeful smile on his face. "Kuzon! I've been looking all over for you! I wanted to bring you to the communal dinner!"

Kuzon wiped the tears from his eyes and flashed her a nervous smile. "I-I think I'll just stay here for now. I-I'm not very hungry." His stomach then grumbled in protest. You aren't helping.

Katara felt her eyebrow twitch in frustration. Calm yourself Katara. He's just scared. You were once in his shoes yourself. She then kneeled down to his level, gently ran a hand down his arm, and grabbed his hand tightly. "Hey, it will be okay. Nobody in the village knows you are a firebender." He then looked up at her with fear in his eyes and spoke in a desperate tone. "That isn't what I'm worried about."

Katara raised an eyebrow. "Okay then. What are you worried about?"

Kuzon let out a frustrated sigh and looked her in the eyes. "I like you Katara."

Katara suddenly went red in the face. H-He likes me? Is this why he gets so cagey around me? I mean..I'm not saying the feeling isn't mutual but this is kind of too forward. We just met. "Y-You mean you like-like me?"

Kuzon immediately noticed his mistake and stammered out, "N-No! It's not like that!" Jeez. Nice one hothead. Way to make it awkward.

Katara gasped. "O-Oh." She then let out a sigh of relief. I'm relieved he cleared that up. I'm still figuring out what..this is.

Kuzon cleared his throat and continued. "I meant to say that I respect you and your brother. You both took Aang and I in and even gave us warm bags to sleep in. I am in your debt." He then gave her a traditional Fire Nation bow.

Katara was immediately taken aback but recollected herself. She flashed him a warm smile and blushed a bit. "I was just glad I could help."

Kuzon then sighed. "That is why I have to leave as soon as possible. My presence here puts you and your people in danger. They already succeeded in taking my family from me. I won't let them take my friends. That's why I've been distant. I hope you haven't been taking it personally."

Katara watched him go with an awed expression on her face. So that is why he has been so distant. Katara took her hands into his and chuckled. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a bit offended at your lack of presence at our dinners but now that I know your reasons. I have more of an understanding now." She then took his hands in hers and sighed "Kuzon...I think I know what this is about. You lost your entire family to the Fire Nation. You are reacting out of fear. You are still afraid of letting me in because you are guarding your heart against any pain this war may cause."

Kuzon was stunned. His lip was quivering. How was she able to figure it out? I..I thought I hid my fears well. He then began to sweat a bit. Katara saw his reaction and nodded. "Yeah. I thought that was what it was." She then rested her forehead against his. She was tempted to kiss him but refrained from it as she didn't want to exacerbate his already anxious state. There was a pleading look in her eyes. " Listen to me...we will come out of this alive. As long as we have each other's backs...we will survive. It's going to be okay. You can trust me. You can trust Sokka. We will face whatever comes together. That is what friends are for. Please. Don't push me away. Just come to dinner with me." Her soothing words seemed to ease the boy's anxiety.

He finally calmed himself down. "He then sighed. "Your people still don't know I'm from the Fire Nation Katara. I'm..fearful of how they will react." Katara nodded understandingly. "I can see why that would bother you. A lot of us still don't trust Fire Nationals." She then sighed. "Hmm." I wonder if a kiss would ease his worries. She then kissed him on the cheek and smiled at him shyly blushing. "Don't worry. I'll handle them if it comes to that. Nobody is going to hurt you. I promise." She then pleaded again, only this time in a more whiny tone, "Now will you please come with me? It isn't the same without you."

Kuzon managed to keep his demeanor calm. He gingerly touched the spot on his cheek where Katara had kissed him. Did she just?.. He cleared his throat. No. No. Keep your cool. Keep your cool. That was probably just nothing. He just blankly nodded. "Alright. I'll be right there."

Katara then squealed with glee and hugged him as tightly as she could. "Yes! Thank you! It means a lot to me that you are willing to do this!"

Kuzon nervously chuckled and hugged her back. He felt himself go warm in the face. "Yeah...hopefully it goes well." He began to walk out of the tent when she grabbed him by the sleeve. He looked back at her with a curious look in his eyes. "Katara?" She then spoke in a quiet tone and a faraway look in her eyes. "One last thing. I know you can't stay here. You have to master all of the elements after all."

Kuzon just nodded. "Yeah. What about it?" Katara then wrapped her arms around his neck and stared at him with a pleading look in her eyes. "I..want to come along. I've always wanted to become a master waterbender. I can't do that here in the village since the Southern Raiders killed the last of my kind. I-I also want to avenge my mother."

Kuzon gave her a nonchalant shurg. "I have no issue with you coming along. I just want you to understand that we will be on the run from the Fire Nation. You might have to freeze a few firebenders every now and then." The waterbender girl flashed him a small smirk and crossed her arms. "Don't you worry about me Kuzu! I can handle myself."

Kuzon raised an eyebrow. Katara then stood up and motioned for him to follow her. "Alright enough chat. Let's get you something to eat."

Kuzon then followed her with a confused look on his face. "Why did you call me Kuzu?"

Katara let out a giggle and winked at him. " It is a term of endearment. I called you Kuzu because you are the firebender I never thought I wanted in my life. I've come to see you as a...friend. And coming from a girl who used to hate firebenders with a passion...that says a lot about me." She chuckled at his stunned reaction. "You have a hot temper, don't say much, and get embarrassed easily. You have a big heart and yet you don't show it."

Kuzon's jaw dropped. She is good. I wonder if her knack for intuition is a Water Tribe thing. He gave her a half-shrug. "Well I-I can't disagree with you there." Katara just shook her head smiling. He is so easy to tease. I may leave more clues.

Village Center, Taqqaq Village, Southern Water Tribe

19 AG

The rest of the day went off without a hitch.

Kuzon managed to keep his anxiety in check while being close to everyone.

Aang was currently keeping the little ones busy by entertaining them with the many airbending tricks he had mastered a century ago.

Katara was giggling uncontrollably to herself. He really is something. He's sort of cute..in a little brother kind of way.

Kanna then stood up out of her seat and spoke calmly, "So Avatar Kuzon, I just wanted to say it is an honor to have you in our village."

Kuzon immediately spit out the seaweed in his mouth and looked at her with fear and apprehension in his eyes.

Katara and Sokka glanced at each other with nervous looks. This isn't good. The whole point with the fake name was to keep his true identity a secret.

Kuzon stammered out, "H-How did you know who I was?" The elder non-bender then let out a hearty chuckle and smiled warmly at him with closed eyes.. "Oh I've known of your presence for some time, young Avatar! When my grandchildren first brought you to the village, I sensed your inner flame's presence in this village. The aura of one from the Fire Nation is much different from one of the Water Tribes."

It seemed as if the air around Kuzon suddenly became many degrees colder. Nodoliq suddenly sent the young Avatar a death glare. He pulled out his sword and pointed it threateningly at the firebender. "It seems we have a Fire Nation spy in our midst! I say we kill him!"

A number of his fellow warriors seemed to agree with this sentiment as they suddenly drew their weapons as well.

Kuzon looked at the hostile warriors with tears in his eyes. "Please don't! I don't want to hurt any of you!" He immediately began shaking all over and curled into a ball.

Nodoliq and his fellow warriors then ran at the firebender with their weapons drawn.

Aang immediately sprang into action. Spirit be damned if I'm going to let them harm my brother! He jumped in front of Kuzon with staff drawn in defense. "I won't let any of you lay a hand on him!"

Nodoliq started the airbender down and darkly chuckled. "Oh really? You and what army? You started sobbing the minute you stood up to me. I'm not afraid of you monk."

This was when Katara and Sokka jumped to Kuzon's defense.

Katara drew a large wave and created ice spikes from it. Take these on for size you prick! How dare you hurt the firebender I love! She then sent the spikes hurling towards the warriors.

Nodoliq let out a strangled gasp and turned back to his fellow warriors. "Retreat!" They immediately began running to try and avoid the spikes. One of them landed directly at his feet. That almost hit me!

Sokka then gave each of them a quick glance and cleared his throat.. "Alright! Listen up! Nobody is to lay a hand on Kuzon! He is a friend of this village and is not at all aligned with the ashmakers! Am I clear?"

Nodoliq and the others merely gave the young boy a nod.

Katara then let out a sigh of relief. She laid down the rest of the spikes. They all dissipated into small water puddles. I'm glad that got resolved. She then switched her gaze to Kuzon and frowned. Look at him. He's frightened out of his mind. I have to try and help. She then knelt down and hugged the firebender. She leaned in near his ear and whispered gently, "Kuzu can you hear me?"

The young Avatar merely nodded. Katara then felt a small smile form on her face. She lifted up his chin with two fingers and looked him in the eyes. "Hey look at me. Take deep breaths. Everything will be okay now. Nobody is going to hurt you."

Kuzon managed to control his breathing and let out the deep breath he had been holding in. He was trembling all over. "Are you sure?"

Katara then brushed two fingers against his cheek and nodded. She felt herself blush a bit. "I'm sure. Sokka and I have your back no matter what happens."

Sokka gave the firebender a half-grin. "She's right. We got your back brother. Don't even worry about it."

Aang, meanwhile, was staring at Katara and Kuzon with a happy look in his eyes. Is there a spark there? Oooh yes! I'm so happy for them! He then shook his head. He then put a hand on Kuzon's shoulder. "As do I! Wherever you go, I will always follow!"

Kuzon smiled at his longtime friend. "Thanks airhead!"

Aang gave him a nod.

Village Center, Taqqaq Village, Southern Water Tribe

19 AG

An hour later

Kuzon eventually explained how he and Aang had washed up near the village.

Everyone stared at the two outsiders with looks of shock in their eyes.

Nodoliq stammered out, "S-So the Fire Nation killed your family and burned down your home?"

Kuzon gave the warrior a shrug. "That's about the gist of it."

Nodoliq felt his whole body shake with fear. "Wow. I never expected that the Fire Nation would attack one of their own. I'm so sorry."

Kuzon just shook his head at the boy. "There is no need for apologies. What's done is done." His right fist then began to smoke and he glanced at the full moon in the sky. "I will have my revenge. I will destroy the Fire Nation with my own bare hands if I have to. This is the will of my Avatar duty and part of the debt I owe my grandfather." Everyone merely gave him an understanding nod.

Taqqaq Village, Southern Water Tribe

Two weeks later

In the afternoon

It was a quaint day in Taqqaq Village.

Kuzon and Aang were busy helping Katara and Sokka with various chores around the city.

The firebender was quite pleased with how well the rest of the villagers had taken his story. He was busy helping Sokka train the young warriors in the village how to fight.

Sokka was showing them how to block a sword strike. He ran at Kuzon with a fierce look in his eyes. "Here I come hothead!" Their swords clashed fiercely against one another.

The young warriors around them looked on in awe. Wow. Look at the outsider go! He's almost as good as Sokka!

Nodoliq felt a lump in his throat and sweatdropped. I am so glad I never picked a fight with that guy! Sokka let out a grunt as he tried to push his sword against Kuzon's. Who knew that the Avatar was such a natural at swordfighting? He is both light on his feet and his reflexes are so good that I can barely keep up with him. I'm kind of jealous.

Kuzon said nothing. He had one thing on his mind at the moment. Revenge. Sokka broke apart from the firebender and charged at him again intending to stab him in the gut. Kuzon blocked this strike and forced his sword to point downward to the ground.

Sokka then tried to pull out his sword, but found he couldn't do so.

Kuzon then let out a chuckle. " I got you right where I want you wolf tail!"

The two warriors had bonded over the past two weeks. Their similar life stories and dispositions caused them to become fast friends.

Sokka was looking around desperately for a way out of his current predicament. A bright idea then came to him. I can use the snow as a distraction. He then picked up a bit of snow and tossed it into the firebender's face. This temporarily blinded Kuzon and he immediately dropped his sword to cover his eyes. Sokka immediately seized the opportunity and landed a kick in his side. This caused Kuzon to fall to the ground with a hard thud.

Sokka visibly cringed and extended a hand to his fallen friend. "Hey you ok hothead? I didn't mean to kick you that hard."

Kuzon looked up at his warrior brother with a lopsided grin on his face and got himself back on his feet. "Ah don't worry about it. This is nothing compared to what my grandfather and father put me through."

Sokka crossed his arms and stared at him curiously. "That must have been some training."

Kuzon then burst out into laughter. "It was. They were truly honorable men who taught me how to firebend. I miss them."

Sokka nodded and put a hand on his shoulder. "I'm pretty sure they are pretty damn proud of you right now. You are not only choosing to avenge their loss, but you are also working to undo the Fire Nation's legacy of destruction and colonization. You are making them proud. I am sure of that."

Kuzon felt a tear come to his eye. "Thanks brother!" Sokka grinned back at him. "Anytime!"

The two then fistbumped.

Meanwhile near the Village Center

Aang and Katara were busy helping wash everyone's clothes.

Aang's airbending had especially come in handy. His natural bending abilities provided an easy and simple way to dry off the clothes.

Katara was more than thankful for the help. Some of the other women and girls were washing clothes alongside the two of them. She shot a glance at Aang and smiled. Aang seems like a nice guy. Kind of adorable. He's not really my type. He seems like too much of a free-spirit and go-with-the-flow kind of guy but I could see the two of us becoming friends at some point. A thought came to her head. Hmm he probably knows Kuzon better than any of us. Maybe I should ask him how to get closer to him. She then turned to Aang. "Hey Aang."

The airbender glanced back with a questioning look. "Yeah Katara? What's up?"

Katara sighed. "You've known Kuzon for a long time. How do you..get him to allow you in?"

Aang let out a laugh. "It wasn't easy. He was really withdrawn when I first met him. A lot of the Nomads, myself included, tried to befriend him. He often just decided to keep to himself despite our best efforts."

Katara nodded. "So..he's naturally an antisocial person then."

Aang shook his head. "I..wouldn't say that. He's just..harder to reach than your average Nomad. I suspect it's part of the whole Fire Nation heritage. His family was the same way. They usually kept to themselves."

Katara's eyes widened. "I thought you said you two grew up together."

Aang nodded. "We did. But they had their own customs and traditions. Part of the agreement the Sho family made with the Elders is that we would respect their privacy and traditions. They..in turn would do the same for us."

Katara sighed. "I see." Aang chuckled. "Hasn't he opened up to you already? I saw how you were able to calm him down from his anxiety attack last night." Katara nodded. "He..has but I still sense a bit of reluctance when we hug or..something like that. I feel like he's trying though." She then looked down at the ground while washing another load. "I..just want him to know he's important to me. A friend. That he can come to me if he ever needs to but I don't want to scare him away at the same time."

Aang nodded understandingly. "I see." He then put a hand on the girl's shoulder. "Give him time Katara. He will open up to you when he feels ready. Just don't rush it."

Katara nodded at him smiling. "I..thanks for that Aang." She then hugged the airbender.

Aang let out a small laugh and hugged her back. "Hey! What are friends for?"

Four in one day baby

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