Blazing Melting Blades

By: Animaganerd01

Okay, sorry about the first chapter. This time Zuko and Katara finally meet (and argue) and start training. Honestly, I wrote most of this chapter during school today, instead of my essay… oh well, I have till Thursday anyway. Thank you to all of the reviewers and those who have added me to their favorites. I am truly honored!

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Not Avatar, not The Cutting Edge, none of it… Sigh.

Zuko was hanging upside down, hammering a wall together when he sensed his uncle come up behind him. After years of hockey training, bending lessons, and martial arts, he had learned to sense the presence of others without seeing them. This was rather helpful, seeing as his uncle had approached on his bad side.

"What do you want Uncle?" he asked, not stopping his work.

"I have a proposition for you Nephew," said Iroh, grinning. "How would you like to get back on the ice?"

"Seriously Uncle?" asked Zuko, swinging down and landing in front oh Iroh. "You found a team that'll take me?" His gold eyes burned with hope.

"Well… not exactly Nephew." Iroh looked down as he held up a pair of skates. "I hope these will fit."

Zuko stared at the skates his uncle was holding out to him. "Uncle… these are figure skates!"

"Ah, yes. I was hoping you would consider being on a doubles team. I know you could do it!" Iroh smiled hopefully up at his nephew.

"No," said Zuko walking back to the house he shared with his former teammate, Jet. "I play hockey, Uncle. I don't do leotards!"

"This is different! Just try it Zuko! This is the last chance you'll get with the ice!"

Zuko stopped in his tracks and stared at the ground. His last chance?

Katara watched as Iroh's black Sedan pulled into her driveway. She scowled as he got out, followed by a young man in a hoodie. She couldn't even see all of his face due to a mess of black hair and the hood.

She had been opposed to the idea of doubles the moment her father and Iroh had told her about her 'last chance'. But, somehow, they convinced her to try. Iroh had said his nephew was a perfect match. She highly doubted it.

Katara growled and stormed off to her family's private rink. She passed her brother, Sokka, in the hallway. He raised an eyebrow but said nothing. He knew better than to get in her way when she was in a 'mood.'

When Iroh and his nephew walked into the rink, she was already there, warming up. If you didn't know her, you would never have known she was injured from the way she was skating.

"So, this is your nephew, Mr. West?" she asked, gliding by.

"Yes, this is Zuko. I'm sure with the proper training and practice the two of you can make it all the way to the Olympics," said Iroh happily.

"I seriously doubt that Uncle," said Zuko, finally speaking.

Katara stopped, spinning around to look at him. "And just why's that?" she asked, hands on her hips. "You think I'm not good enough?"

"No I think headstrong hockey players and a singles skaters will make poor doubles. And," he raised his head to look her in the eye, "I don't have full eyesight and you can't land a triple."

Katara's jaw dropped as she saw the huge red scar covering the left half of his face. Her mothering nature wanted to ask 'what happened?' but her competitive nature forced her to spit out "I… I can too! I'll get the triple! It's not like you can either!"

"This is true, so even if you can, it'll take months of practice before I can," he said, trying valiantly to hold his temper in check.

"You'll learn in no time, Zuko. Now, put your skates on and let's get started," said Iroh, pouring himself a cup of tea.

Zuko muttered mutinously and put on his skates; the smaller skate felt strange to him, as he was accustomed to hockey skates. He removed his sweatshirt and slid onto the ice, dreading the months to come. Katara just scowled and went back to warming up.

"Now, Stand next to each other and…" began Iroh.

"Hey, before we get started," interrupted Zuko, "what's with these little teeth on the front of the blade?"

"It's called toe-pick," said Iroh, knowing what was coming.

"Toe-pick!" said Zuko incredulously. "Let me guess," he glanced at Katara as she glided to a stop next to him, "it has something to do with personal hygiene."

"Well I wouldn't let that get you down," she muttered.

"It helps you stop and spin," said Iroh before Zuko could come up with a reply. He frowned at Katara. She wasn't usually like this.

Zuko scowled and took a hesitant glide forward. He slid forward and he didn't feel anything wrong. He began to pick up speed and tried to turn. He caught the toe-pick immediately and fell on his face.

Katara laughed. "Toe-pick." Zuko glared as she skated around him. He got up and skated after her. He got within a few feet of her and tripped again. "Toe-pick!" she repeated. And so the pattern began:

Trip.

"Toe-pick!"

Growl, get up, and trip.

"Toe-pick!"

Trip again.

"Toooe-Piiick!"

Katara's laughter filled the rink. The back of Zuko's mind mused that her laughter would be pretty if were less condescending. But that was the back of his mind. Right now, he hated her.

"That's enough for today, Katara," said Iroh, disappointed with her and amused with Zuko. "Zuko and I will work alone for the rest of the day."

Katara frowned and left, muttering angrily. Zuko looked up from the ice where he was currently laying and sighed with relief.

"I can't do this Uncle," moaned Zuko as Iroh worked the knots out of his sore legs. He was laying face down on a table groaning as his uncle's fire-warmed hands rubbed his calves. "She's arrogant, snobby, annoying, and evil! I can't work with her!"

"It's just frustration and fear, nephew," said Iroh, chuckling. "She'll come around. She's not used to working with a partner." His hands pressed down on a particularly hard knot.

"Mmmm!" moaned Zuko.

"Now, here's some ice for your legs. The upstairs guest room is yours. Head up there and get some sleep. You'll be sore in the morning, but your muscles will get used to skating again in no time." Iroh smiled and held out a big bag of ice as his sore nephew rolled off the table. Zuko grabbed the ice and stumbled up the stairs. No one passed him as he found his room and slipped inside. It seemed his preconception of the next few months was correct: a living nightmare.

A/N: Iroh's last name in West as a tribute to the title 'Dragon of the West.' I thought it was neat. Sorry Katara was a witch. She had to be because of the story line. There will be eventual Zutara, I promise! I hope I can update soon. Reviews are welcome flames are not. They will be used to bake cookies for my reviewers!