Blazing Melting Blades Chapter 3
By: Animanganerd01
A/N: I'm sorry this took so long. And, to those of you who have seen the movie, I'm sorry I'm getting this scene out of order… I started typed the first two chapters without the movie playing while I typed. Now, since I am, things should get back in order.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Not Avatar, not The Cutting Edge, not Nickelodeon (though I hope maybe I can work for them someday), nothing.
Zuko was beginning to hate practice with an unholy passion. "Look Uncle, I wouldn't wish this on the devil himself," he fumed during their second practice.
"Be that as it may, Zuko, this is your last chance, remember? Now, Katara," Iroh motioned to Katara who was standing in front of Zuko, "raise your arms."
"What?" she asked, frowning again.
"You heard me. Raise them up," said Iroh sternly. She sighed and brought her arms out straight. "Good. Now, Zuko, lift her up. Go on," he said noticing Zuko's stare of disbelief, "pick her up."
Zuko shrugged and lifted Katara by her armpits. It took no effort whatsoever and he was almost surprised at how light she was. He raised his eyebrow at Iroh.
"Okay," he sighed, "we're done for today." He turned and walked off the ice toward his beloved tea.
'Would you please put me down?!" snapped Katara, looking back over her shoulder, down at Zuko.
His eyes flash and he dropped her, letting her fall to her butt on the ice. He smirked triumphantly. "Guess that still needs some work."
"You… you… CRETIN!" screeched Katara as she rubbed her sore backside. She turned to glare up at Zuko. He shrugged again and glided off the ice.
Unknown to all of them, Hakoda was watching the furious exchange between the unwilling partners. He sighed and walked down the steps from the balcony over the rink. Things with Zuko weren't working out as well as he had hoped.
"Young Mr. West," he said coming up behind Zuko. "Can I talk to you in my study?"
Zuko turned to look at him. He had only talked to Hakoda over dinner the previous night and still didn't know him very well. Now was as good a time as any he supposed to get to know him. So he nodded and followed Hakoda out after taking off his skates and slipping into tennis shoes.
BMB
"If you stare at it long enough, you'll begin to see an Olympic gold medal in there," said Hakoda. Zuko looked up from the empty glass box he had been staring at. Hakoda smiled, slightly. "Come sit down." He motioned to the chairs in front of his desk. "Your uncle truly is the best judge for skating I have ever seen; you should be proud of him."
"I am. Even when he drags me into these things, he usually has a reason," said Zuko, a faint smile crossing his lips.
"Ah, very good. I saw you skate at the last Winter Olympics. You were an amazing skater."
"I still am sir," said Zuko, slightly annoyed at Hakoda's implications. His eyes narrowed as he watched Hakoda get out his checkbook and start writing a check. He had a feeling he knew were this was going.
"I'm sure you are, Mr. West, and I don't want you to feel like this was a waste of your time. Here's a check for five hundred dollars and a plane ticket for the 10:00 flight. I'll inform your uncle." He stood and handed Zuko the check and ticket.
"Wait, so you're kicking me out?" asked Zuko, frowning. "Is this what you call giving me a chance?"
"I can't take a chance on being wrong, Zuko. We need a go-to guy who can work with Katara," said Hakoda, sitting down once again. He took out a stack of papers. "Here are all of the people who tried out while your uncle went to get you." (A/N: Yeah, I know I hadn't said anything about them before, but they were there.) "Han, no rhythm," he wadded up the paper and threw it at a trashcan by the fire, and missed. "Haru, no balance," wadded paper and missed again. "Bumi, Kuzon, all duds," he said wadding both together, threw them, and missed again. "So you see, I'm not inclined to believe in a half-blind ex-hockey player."
Zuko stared at him for a moment. Then, he reached out and took a sheet from the stack of rejected partners. He wadded it up slowly, looking at Hakoda the entire time. He glanced at the trashcan, which sat to his left, his bad side, then looked back at the man in front of him. He threw the paper ball, not looking at the can or taking time to aim. It went right into the can, not even touching the rim. Hakoda failed to notice the smoldered edges around the paper, where Zuko's hands had gotten a bit too warm. "My eyesight is fine," growled Zuko.
"Impressive," said Hakoda smiling, despite himself. "But maybe a lucky shot."
Zuko smirked at the unveiled challenge. He took the check out slowly. He glanced at Hakoda. "Wanna bet? Double or nothing." he asked, wadding up the check.
"You're on," said Hakoda, thinking he had the upper hand. How would he ever manage to get a ball as small as the check.
A small plopping sound filled the room as the tiny ball of paper worth five hundred dollars landed in the center of the trashcan. Hakoda laughed, beginning to like this brash young man. "Zuko West, you've got another chance!"
A/N: Yeah, short chapter. A big sorry to Sokka fans. I plan to work him in as the story goes on. Please review! It gives me fuzzies!