Ch. 10
Suki and Katara entered the house. "We're home!" Suki called.
"Aang? Can you come over here please?"
Aang floated up from the floor where he'd been laying with Momo. "Sure, what is it Katara?"
"I have good news. Hold on." She called for Sokka and Toph to join them too.
"What do you want sweetness?" Toph asked grouchily.
"Katara has some news." Suki answered.
"I brought her home a surprise Aang."
"A surprise? What kind of surprise?" He asked excitedly.
Toph stood still for a moment, assessing the vibrations of the house. "A bad one."
Just then Zuko walked through the front door shyly and gave them a lame wave. "Uh, hi."
Aang jumped back and let out a yell of surprise, his arms flying up in shock.
"Katara, Suki! Get away from him!" Sokka shouted.
"Sokka it's okay." Suki said soothingly coming to his side.
"Zuko's here to teach you fire bending Aang." Katara explained.
"How do we know this isn't some kind of trick?" Sokka demanded, glaring warily at Zuko.
"Sokka." Katara started impatiently. "He's changed."
"I just want to help." Zuko said quietly.
"Likely story." Sokka scoffed.
"No," Toph interrupted. "He's telling the truth. He doesn't want to capture Aang."
"Are you sure?" Aang asked.
Toph nodded. "Feet don't lie."
"I still don't like it." Sokka huffed. "I'm watching you." He put two fingers pointing at his eyes then back to Zuko and backed out of the room still pointing. Suki rolled her eyes and followed.
"Welcome aboard Sparky!" Toph congratulated, smacking him hard on the back, pushing him forward a little.
"Uh, thanks." He said rubbing the back of his neck.
"So…" Aang ventured. "When do we start training?" He wasn't sure about the arrangement, but he was sure he needed to learn fire bending and fast.
"Tomorrow, just after sun rise. Don't be late.
"Concentrate on your breathing. And keep your eyes closed." Zuko snapped.
Aang quickly closed his eyes; focused on inhaling and exhaling in front of the candle in the back yard.
"Focus. Each breath in the flame should get smaller and each time you exhale it should get bigger" They worked on breathing exercises until the sun had finally cleared the rooftops.
"Here, take this." Zuko offered Aang the small fire in his palm. "Too small and it'll die. Too big and it will get out of control and burn everything down!"
Aang who had been reaching for it quickly jerked back, the image of when he had burned Katara flashing through his mind. "Uh, maybe I'm not ready for that yet."
"You'll be fine. You have to learn sooner or later." He forced the fire into Aang's hand. The flames shrank to a meager flicker. "You have to make it bigger."
"I can't."
"Yes you can."
"I'm afraid." Aang admitted.
Zuko let out and irritated sigh. "Uncle says fire is not just destruction, it is life. Light and fire are necessary to survive." He started to imitate his Uncle on this last line; "Plus you need it to make a good pot of tea!" Aang still looked unsure. "It's all about balance. You're the Avatar, you're the master of balance. It'll be fine."
Aang nodded. "Okay." The flame flickered and grew to what Zuko had originally had. "I did it!"
Zuko nodded his approval.
Practice continued on like this for the rest of the day and the next few days. One day Sokka came to the living room during dinner and spread a long scroll across the table.
"This is our new schedule." He announced.
"Why?" Aang asked glancing at the different colored boxes with times and dates scribbled all over it as he slurped his noodles.
"Oh gee, I don't know, oh wait, because you're the Avatar and the day of the black sun is coming?"
"Sokka, calm down. Aang is still learning."
"And he can learn on the go. We need to start rallying the troops. We need all the help we can get if we're going to take those fire nation jerks down. No offense." He added looking at Zuko.
"None taken." He said with a shrug.
"Sokka, you have every second of the day planned. Don't you think you've gone overboard?"
Toph looked at the scroll. "Looks good to me."
"Thanks… Hey."
"So what's the plan?" Aang asked.
"We find dad." He said looking at Katara. "Then we go visit Bumi, Haru, Theo and his father and all our other friends we've met. We have to spread the word of the day of the black sun. We need them to take on the fire benders while Aang goes after Fire Lord Ozai."
"Great." Aang said in a choked voice.
"Everything will be okay." Katara comforted him.
"When do we leave oh plan master?" Toph asked sarcastically.
"Tomorrow morning. Start packing."
Zuko stood. "I need to go speak to my Uncle." He excused himself.
"Want me to go with you?" Katara asked.
"No. It's alright."
Katara watched him go as he walked broodingly into the night and back to the tea house. "Uncle, I'm home." He called into the empty tea house.
"Welcome home nephew. Are you alright?" He asked concerned, noticing Zuko's mood.
"Ya…" He lamented.
"What is it?" His Uncle prodded.
"The Avatar is going to start traveling."
"Oh? Why is that?"
"They're gathering forces to take out my father on the day of the black sun."
"Are you afraid of facing your father again?"
"I'm not afraid." He growled.
"I know you're not. But you must be nervous on encountering him again." Zuko was silent. "Azula will be with him as well."
"I know what you're going to say, they're family and Azula is my sister and I should try to find a way to get along with her peacefully."
"No, she's crazy and she needs to go down."
Zuko couldn't completely suppress a small smirk. "It's not just that."
"Oh? Is it because you're supposed to stop your father? Because you'll face up to the man who banished you." Zuko remained quiet. "This time you'll have friends. They won't let you do this alone. I'm sure your father is the Avatars responsibility." Zuko scowled. "My brother is too concerned with power, he doesn't understand the importance of family." He placed a heavy hand on his nephews shoulder. "The man you've become is one to be proud of, I couldn't be more proud of you even if you were my own son."
"Thanks Uncle."
"When are you leaving?"
"We're supposed to go tomorrow."
"Anything else bothering you?"
He looked at his Uncle, smiling at him warmly and reassuringly. "Will you be alright here alone?" Zuko asked concerned.
Iroh chuckled. "You're worried about me?"
Zuko scowled again. It felt like he was being mocked and he didn't appreciate it.
Iroh gave him a pat on the shoulder. "I'll be fine. There won't be any trouble for an old man in a tea shop in Ba Sing Se." He looked at Zuko conspiratorially. "This was the only place I couldn't storm back in my days as the Dragon of the West."
"Still…" He muttered.
"I'll be fine. Wouldn't you rather be traveling with your friends?" No response. "You're training the Avatar in fire bending." He grunted. "Wouldn't you rather be with Katara?" Zuko looked away, his face lightly coloring. Iroh chuckled. "That's what I thought." Iroh heaved himself up. "I'll make a pot of tea. Send you off with a good cup of Jasmine tea."
Zuko smiled graciously at him. "Thanks."
"Of course Zuko. I'm proud of you."
"Thanks Uncle."
Katara was waiting on the front stoop outside the tea shop when Zuko was leaving, a small red bag thrown over his shoulder.
"Katara." He greeted, a bit surprised.
"I thought I'd say good bye to Iroh."
As she said that, Iroh appeared behind Zuko. "Ah, Miss Katara. I'm glad you stopped by."
"Hi Iroh." She greeted cheerfully. "I just wanted to say good bye. I don't know when I'll see you again."
"That was very thoughtful of you. Thank you my dear." He gave her a hug and stage whispered in her ear. "Watch over my nephew for me."
Zuko scowled at him and grunted. Katara gave a small chuckle. "I will."
"Come on." Zuko said, tugging her behind him back to where Appa was being loaded up in front of their house.
Iroh waved after them. "Be careful!"
Katara turned and waved, "We will!"
Iroh watched them disappear as Zuko towed her down the street.
"Ready sparky?" Toph asked, already settled atop Appa.
He turned to Katara, beaming at him and he couldn't help but smile at the new adventure that faced him. "Ya, I'm ready." He said, squeezing Katara's hand.
Hey all, it's Sarahplainntall. Kind of short, but I just needed to wrap this half up. Comment, it keeps me inspired. Hope you enjoyed!