7. Pride

Katara didn't tell Zuko right away about her decision. She knew he'd be disgustingly smug about it. Oh, and she needed to set rules to make sure that he wouldn't go too crazy on his new regime as her official Olympic swim coach.

Rule #1: No "I told you so's"

Zuko didn't call her to question her if she'd mailed the "no, forget it" note to the invitation. She now almost wished he would call—it would have been easier to tell him where his surely confident smirk would make her recant her choice. Unlike him, she didn't have his number, and she doubted she could easily find it. Katara supposed she could ask Pakku, but decided not to. Pakku, from the day he'd recommended her to Zuko, had wanted her to "go for the gold," so to speak, and he had given her mournful looks during the past few weeks that reminded her of an old dog who had a particularly tasty treat snatched away from its nose. He would be smug, too.

Katara hung around the pool casually, sometimes late after her practice. Perhaps he'd turn up.

He didn't.

She went to the gym. While chatting up the clerk at the desk, she managed to glance down at the sign-in sheets for the last couple of days on his desk. Zuko's name didn't appear. Katara ran a few miles to vent out her steam and wandered around until someone asked her if she needed help looking for something.

This was getting her downright annoyed. He was probably doing this to mess with her. Well, she'd show him! She could train without him!

Training by herself was weird.

She pushed herself, true, but she really didn't know what really she was doing. Was her form the best so she could successfully go the fastest? Could she apply something to not strain herself? The wall, how, exactly, was the best way to push off of it? Should she keep her knees bent or straight or in the middle? And her arms! Suddenly, Zuko's constant what she called "gripes" about her form, technique, speed, or endurance was something...useful. Katara stopped, crashed onto her back to float, and groaned in frustration. Another advantage the...arse that over her!

The pool was strangely quiet as she swam for a few hours, then slowly got out.

"All right. Once you hang up, you are going to call Pakku, ask for Sparky's phone number, and beg him to take you back."

"Toph, you are not helping me." Katara threw her heads up, pacing around her room.

"Yes, I am." She could imagine Toph ticking of the reasons as she said them on her fingers. "First, you just accepted competing in the bloody Olympics. The worldwide contest of strength, might, and power. You're the rookie, and you do not know anything of what to expect. You've only been training with Zuko, before, few months. That is not going to cut it. You told me you had no hint of what you were doing right or wrong at practice. You need someone, Sugar Queen. Like it or not, it's Zuko. And by the sound of things, he'll be willing to step up again."

Katara would have gaped if her friend had been standing there. "Okay. Point taken. But..."

"Sugar Queen, you have flaws. You're motherly, stubborn, impatient, hot-headed...and prideful. Here is my advice."

"I know, I know." Katara sighed, cradling her worn invitation to the Olympics in her hands. "Talk to Zuko."

"Yup. Before you get even worse."

"Shut it, Toph."

"Kidding, Sweetness. I'm rooting for you."

"So...I know we have had our troubles...but I want to be your student again. But you can't boss me around. I mean, you're my coach, so you can, but you can't treat me like...uh, gah. Okay," she peered upwards, palms sweaty. "I...uh..."

She shuffled her feet. Silence. "Okay. Okay. I need your help. Don't smirk at me!" She slugged the stomach and panted angrily. Still no response. "Alright, fine! I demand you be my coach! I command it!"

"I accept your proposal, Katara."

Katara gaped at Zuko Agni, who was right behind her the whole time she'd been monologuing to the training dummy. She glared at him, eyes blazing in indignation, opening her mouth, about to tell him he could take his acceptance and shove it...

He then engulfed her in a hug so powerful that was felt swallowed up in his arms, nearly gasping for breath.

"You stubborn, stubborn girl," he shook his head, then pulled away. "I thought you'd really quit on me. For good, this time."

Katara squared her shoulders. "Don't be stupid, Coach. Let's get to work."

Sorry it's bit short; the next one will be longer!