Chapter 8 : Lessons

by: RebLaw

Disclaimer: I still don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender.

A/N: Wow, did episode 3x13 have some slash-y subtext in it or what? I'm liking Zuko/Aang. Anyway, I hope to get this story done with soon, I'm going to get a lot busier IRL in the next couple of weeks. I may do a sequel to explore Azula and Katara's relationship more. Maybe.

Kitty-Katz-Katz – I pictured monks would have been able to at least have been married, I mean, otherwise the sex-segregated Air Nomads would've died out of a low birth-rate.

JessicaDanielle – Thank you, it makes me happy that my work makes others happy. Azula and a shrewd one, and honestly, Aang has been wanting to confess during a good chunk of season 2 anyway.

Squeaky Phantom – I'm glad you liked the chapter. Honestly, I wasn't sure how it'd be received. I'm glad that nobody has a huge problem with it.

crazyhorse08 – Thank you for following my story, I appreciate your feedback. I felt sad when I wrote that scene too, I didn't want to just ignore the Kataang that's been heavily present on the show since early season 2.

Toph's wannabe boyfriend – I'm glad you enjoy my little story.

Billy Rose – Yeah, Aang can sometimes be brave.

lilk- Yes, Yes she is. That's probably why she's my favorite character. :-)

Kitty Petro – I'm glad you like it and I hope you continue to like it. Enjoy the update.

"Punch like this," Azula instructed. She had been surprised to see Aang not heartbroken when she returned, and even more surprised when he thanked her for his advice after explaining what had happened.

Aang aped Azula's motions and was surprised when not only did his punch resemble hers, but fire shot out from it as well.

"I did it!" Aang exclaimed pleased with himself.

"Good job," Katara said, watching from the sidelines with her waterskin in tow in case of forest fires. "I knew it wouldn't be as hard for you as earthbending."

"No, it's really not," Aang agreed proudly.

"Now you just have to master about 400 more moves and you'll be a master," Azula said with a bit of an edge.

"Four HUNDRED?" Aang asked his face agape. Quickly he recovered, "But that'll include everything, even lightning right?"

Azula nodded to his initial question, "An additional 50 stances if you want to be able to do lightning."

Aang hung his head.

"It takes years for even prodigies like me to master firebending," the princess explained coldly.

"But Aang has to master firebending by the end of the summer," Katara explained. "He doesn't have time to spend years mastering firebending."

"Oh, that's right," Azula said as if she had forgotten something trivial. "Great-granddaddy's comet is coming. Yeah, Dad's real excited for it."

Katara almost chocked for a second. She had forgotten that Azula was indeed related to Sozen. That such an event would be common knowledge.

"He will be unstoppable after that," Aang said gravely. "Is there any way I can master firebending without learning so many moves?"

"I guess," Azula muttered. "Do you want to just learn one type of move? Attack? Defense?"

Aang sat down to consider it. Azula shrugged, and looked over at Katara.

"What do you think would be best Princess Azula?" Katara asked, putting a little extra emphasis on the word "princess." Katara paced a couple steps and continued. "The Fire Lord is your father, and you said you were close to him. Aang should learn the moves you think would benefit him the most."

Azula was taken aback; she wasn't expecting Katara to have thought of that. She had mostly believed the girl was a powerful waterbender. Now she knew Katara was a shrewd planner as well. It made her have to have the other girl even more.

Azula raised her eyebrows. "He's not known for being a warrior. He isn't a brilliant strategist."

Aang looked encouraged. Maybe the Fire Lord wouldn't be so tough.

"But," Azula continued her voice cold. "He is powerful and should not be underestimated. You should beware of the people around him; he often uses others as pawns to dirty their own hands so he can keep his own clean. You never even know who he'll use."

Aang swallowed nervously. Katara noticed an almost painful look in Azula's eye.

"When he attacks, he always goes for the kill. Or the scar, if that's what he's after. He doesn't want to just meet his goal- he wants to fulfill it perfectly. There's a reason why my brother's scar is on his face, where he can't hide it."

"How can I beat him?" Aang asked.

"Don't give him time to prepare," Azula answered, as if she were discussing how to make a nice chicken-duck roast. "No long speeches or sermons about how you're right and he's wrong, He'll use the time you waste to figure out how to kill you. If at all possible, don't let him see you coming-"

"Any firebending moves that would help me with that?" Aang asked.

Azula wrinkled her brow. "Why would you want to use firebending against him? He'll be able to match you blow for blow. He's not a prodigy like me, but he's had decades of firebending experience."

"So maybe Aang should concentrate on waterbending?" Katara suggested proudly. "I mean, water does extinguish fire."

"Thank you Katara," Azula said grimly. "Aang should probably learn some basic firebending defensive moves, and maybe lightning. Maybe."

"I thought firebending couldn't really be defensive," Aang protested. "Jeong Jeong said that firebending was destructive, that it was opposite of waterbending which was defensive and healing."

Azula smirked, "The best defense is a good offense."

-.-.-

It had been a long day. Katara was exhausted when sundown finally came. Between the weird dreams and the lack of sleep, Azula confronting her, Aang's confession, then watching the two firebend, Katara was about ready to lie down and fall asleep without dinner. It had been an emotionally draining day. She was glad to have all of the drama behind her. She just needed to wait until Sokka and Toph came back with Appa, it'd just be a couple more days at most.

Then she and Aang could disappear and abandon Azula.

She pictured the princess, tiny as a doll, becoming smaller and small with each passing second as Appa carried her and the others away. The princess' dark pink lips would be frowning, her beautiful amber eyes would be wide with shock. She might even chase after them. She might even beg. Plead. Humble herself. And they wouldn't have to listen.

"What are you so happy about?" Azula asked the waterbender who had an almost sadistic smile on her face.

"Oh, just thinking about how happy I am that Sokka and Toph should be back soon," Katara answered in the most innocent tone she could manage.

"Oh," Azula said neutrally. She didn't like how slow her plan was proceeding. Or how it sounded like Katara was suspicious of her. It was not going well. Her usual approach of playing a victim, and then pretending to be on her side, while manipulating her wasn't going to work. She needed to change something.

"It'll be nice when Appa gets back," Azula said after an awkward minute of silence. "I can't say I care much for the scenery."

"It's beautiful here," Katara retorted a frown appearing on her face.

"You'd love it in the Fire Nation," Azula commented lightly. "Around the mountains. It's so green."

Katara shrugged, and quickened her step. She may have to go gather food, but there was no reason why she had to do so with Azula.

"I'm sorry Katara," Azula said, her eyes looking at the ground. She stopped in her place, allowing Katara to pick how much distance would be between them.

"You should be," Katara growled. "After what you did to Aang. After all the trouble you gave to us. How could you think that you could just teach Aang a trick or two and we'd all treat you like family?!"

"No," Azula replied, putting on her best shamed face. She lowered herself to sit on the ground.

"Of course not!" Katara continued. "Just because you're a princess, because you're pretty, because you're talented, because you're amazing, because you're brilliant, it doesn't mean I have to like you!"

"I'm so sorry."

"You should be," Katara said, the conviction in her voice weakening. She didn't know why, but she was beginning to feel guilty. It wasn't like Azula was currently being evil.

"It's okay if you never forgive me, I'm a monster," Azula said in a quiet voice.

She hated acting like that. It reminded her too much of her mother. Not that her mother really upset her, but she always hated how her mother favored Zuko and continually forced her to apologize. She hated her childhood failure. So much shame, no way to undo it.

Katara sighed feeling frustrated by the conflicting emotions within her. "No, you're not a monster Azula." She hated that she said that, but it was honestly how she felt. Azula had shown a new side, and Katara had to admit having her teach Aang firebending wasn't that bad.

Azula turned her head around and looked up at Katara. The waterbender still wore an intense expression on her face, but it looked more protective than angry.

Katara sighed again, loudly. "Come on, we should find some food. I'm just tired." She was too tired of hating Azula. It took too much energy.

Azula picked herself up and gave Katara a shy smile. Apparently the way to Katara's heart was making sure she felt like she was in control.