This is my first Avatar The Last Airbender fanfiction this chapter was not Beta read and if any are interested in beta reading my work before it's post PM
I would like to thank all my patient readers and hope you enjoy this next chapter
Disclaimer I don't own anything related to ATLA
When the Gaang finally arrived in the Fire Nation, it didn't take them long to find a change of clothes. However, the group still wanted to pick out some extra supplies before they left, so they headed into town. After arriving, Aang seemed to run off somewhere, and Sokka and Toph were too eager to check out the food vendors, leaving Zuko and Katara to find what they needed.
They both walked together for a couple of hours, browsing the shops for supplies they could afford. Despite not being recognized, Zuko felt a bit self-conscious about his disguise – a tunic and trousers from a military uniform, with white bandages wrapped around his head, covering his left eye. He figured disguising himself as a wounded soldier coming home from the war would at least give an excuse for his attire. Even then, he kept his hood up as much as possible to obscure his face further.
As he walked, some people gave him sympathetic looks, and others even thanked him for his service, which made him uncomfortable. But he did his best to shrug it off, knowing survival was all that mattered for now.
"...We should probably pick up some red threads too," Katara said, going through the shortlist in her head what they needed. She glanced down at the red top and skirt they had stolen, realizing that the blue thread she usually used wouldn't work for these clothes if they tore. As she continued talking, she noticed Zuko not listening; he seemed to be staring off into space. "Hanzo? Hanzo, are you listening?"
Zuko shook his head, brought back to the present. "Hmm, what is it?" he asked, turning to face Katara.
"I was asking if there is anything else you want to get?" Katara repeated her question as she waited for a response.
"Hmmm well, I think that's everything," Zuko said, not paying attention to what she was saying.
"Hanzo... if you want to go off like everyone else, you can. I can finish the shopping on my own. It is no problem," she said, knowing he was distracted. And truth be told, she was used to doing the chores and shopping on her own anyway. Usually, when Sokka or Aang did end up coming along, they would get distracted and buy frivolous things.
"No, no, I'll finish the shopping with you," Zuko sighed as he shook himself off. "Just feeling a bit out of it being back home is all," he said as he adjusted the sack thrown over his shoulder, carrying their goods.
"I can imagine... is the Fire Nation any different than you remember?" Katara asked curiously as they walked by a few more vendors.
"A bit... for some reason, I remembered places like this being more lively," he noted as he looked around the town. Everything seemed rather dull, with people just going about their day. He remembered how when his mother would take him and his sister to different places around the Fire Nation, everything felt so bright and welcoming. There was a sense of joy in the air. Now he's starting to wonder if it was really like that back then or simply because his mother was there.
"Well, things change. I doubt when I and Sok - I mean Li - eventually return home, it'll be the same place we left," Katara said, trying to picture the makeshift huts and the igloos that she once called home. A part of her wondered if things had changed since Master Pakku and his men headed to the South Pole. Maybe there would be actual houses there now, instead of the things they scrounged together to keep out of the cold.
"You miss home?"
"Yeah, I do. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy traveling with Kuzon, my brother, and Ishi... but sometimes I miss just staying in one place," Katara said as she continued glancing between the various merchants and venders.
Zuko silently agreed with her. He spent so many years traveling the world on his ship, that when he was in Ba Sing Se in that apartment, it was almost surreal that he had a bed to call his own. He and Katara continued to grab some things and finish up the shopping. Once they were done, they walked around town to see if they could find the others before heading back to camp.
"Ummm Hanzo, there is something I wanted to ask you. Since you are traveling with us and although you haven't agreed to 'help,' I was wondering if maybe... if you could... help Kuzon with his firebending training?" Katara asked a bit awkwardly. She knew Aang needed a firebending master. And even though Zuko was currently having issues with his bending, he was the best candidate for the job.
"You want me to train him?" Zuko arched his brow, confused.
"Yeah. I know you are struggling a bit... performance-wise. But maybe you can teach him the basics to get him started?" Katara asked, hopeful.
"I don't know, Izumi... I'm not really the teacher type."
"Neither was I, but helping Kuzon learn... Ummm, my bending helped me when I was starting out. Plus, he does need to learn firebending sooner or later," Katara tried her best to convince him as they walked to the town square.
"Excuse me. Are you Hanzo and Izumi?" a voice called out behind Zuko and Katara, making them immediately tense up, not recognizing the voice.
Zuko felt his hand drift to the knife on his belt, while Katara's fingers lingered over the water flask hidden by her waist. They turned to see two Fire Nation guards approaching them. They were both ready to strike if needed to make a getaway. "We are. Is there a problem, officers?" Zuko was the first to speak. His eye darted between the female and male guard that walked over.
"We were told we would find you here," the woman said, her words making the two teens tense up even more. Their minds raced on how they were found out. They worried that the others were captured or worse. "Do you know a Kuzon?" she asked, making Katara's eyes go wide in worry.
"Yes, we do... did something happen?" Katara said, trying to hold back any panicked reaction until she knows what was going on.
"Your son Kuzon has been sent to the Headmaster's office, and we were asked to find and escort you."
Just as those words left the guard's mouth, both Zuko and Katara went from distressed to completely dumbfounded. "Our son?" Katara asked as if she misheard, blinking in disbelief. She thought this must be some joke or something. Maybe Sokka and Toph had set them up for a stupid prank.
"Yes, ma'am. Kuzon had been causing some problems and getting into fights at school," the male guard explained. "The Headmaster has requested your presence so he may discuss potential disciplinary action with you both."
"Our son?" Zuko repeated, and the guards simply nodded in response. "We will escort you both to the Fire Nation Academy so you may collect your son," the guard said, stepping aside so he may guide them out of the town square. Both Katara and Zuko didn't really have much choice but to follow along.
"What has he gotten himself into?" Katara muttered under her breath with an irritated sigh. She followed along with Zuko, in tow, towards the school.
When they arrived and were led through the halls, Zuko caught a small glimpse of the classes and overheard the lessons being taught. He was utterly disgusted by what he heard. Everything seemed designed solely to appease his father's insatiable ego. Ozai's portrait hung conspicuously in front of every classroom, while children were being fed fake and twisted stories to depict his father as a hero, a military genius. All they were taught were lies—the same lies he used to believe when he was younger, the same lies he was glad he escaped. Unfortunately, these children will believe these lies. They are being shaped into cannon fodder for his father's ambitions. It made him sick.
Upon reaching the Headmaster's office, the imposing doors swung open, revealing the Headmaster's stern gaze and Aang's sheepish, nervous grin. "Ah, you must be Kuzon's parents," the Headmaster addressed them, while Aang sank even further into his chair. "Please take a seat; there is much we must discuss," he continued, gesturing to the two available chairs in front of his desk.
"I suppose there is," Katara said, very much annoyed, as she took her seat next to Aang. She didn't know which was worse. The fact that Aang had pulled them into whatever trouble he got himself into, or the fact that this is the third adult who thought she was an older woman without batting an eye. "I don't look that old... or do I?" she thought to herself as she crossed her arms over her chest.
Zuko took a seat on the other side of Aang as he looked at the Headmaster, wanting to get this over with as soon as possible. "What has... Kuzon done now?" Zuko asked, also very much annoyed, as he glanced at Aang with narrow eyes.
"Your son has been enrolled here for nearly a day, and he's already causing problems. He's argued with his history teacher, disrupted music class, and roughed up my star pupil," The Headmaster began listing some of the complaints he's received.
Zuko arched his brow as he gave Aang a curious glance. "That doesn't sound like our Kuzon," Zuko groaned, playing along just long enough to get out of this as soon as possible.
"That's what any father would say, sir. Now we are understanding; he grew up in the colonies and might not know better, but that is not an excuse for his disrespectful behavior here. As his parents, I would see that you properly raise your son," The Headmaster spoke in a scolding tone, which Katara took offense to immediately.
"How we raise Kuzon is not of your concern. How dare you question our parenting!" Katara snapped at the man, making him arch his brow at her outburst.
"Ma'am if you plan to live here with your family, you must learn how we do things in the Fire Nation, like proper respect and dutifully following the rules," The Headmaster stated, his tone sounding like he was scolding her as well.
Zuko could see Katara was about to snap even more at the man and quickly stepped in. "Don't worry, Headmaster. I'll straighten out our... son and speak with my... wife," Zuko said, trying his best not to gag as he forced himself to say it. "Now young man, we are going home, and we will discuss your punishment in private."
The Headmaster smirked, hearing the father's stern tone. "That's what I like to hear," he said, standing up from his seat to bow and bid them farewell. The three of them returned the gesture. They stood and bowed before they turned to leave the office. All of them were glad it was over. "Oh, and sir, before you go, I would just like to say, welcome home and thank you for your service," The Headmaster said as he bowed once more toward Hanzo.
Zuko bit his tongue and returned the gesture. "Thank you, I'm glad to be home," he said reluctantly before turning and heading out into the hall. As soon as he, Katara, and Aang were out in the hall and out of sight, they simultaneously sighed in relief. "I'm glad we didn't get in trouble," Aang said with a grateful smile.
Zuko and Katara both turned to Aang, narrowing their eyes as they listened to him. Aang gave them another nervous, sheepish smile, realizing he had really stepped in it. "Come on, let's go before they decide to question us any further," Katara suggested, and the three of them made their way out of the school.
As they walked through the corridors, passing by more classrooms, Zuko couldn't help but overhear the disturbing lessons being taught and the propaganda the students were absorbing. It saddened him to witness how some of his people remained blind to the truth, manipulated by twisted and doctored history. What was even more disheartening was that even some of the teachers seemed to believe in the falsified narratives, their voices filled with unwavering conviction.
In one class, Aang had learned that his own people were portrayed as a militaristic legion that Sozin had heroically stopped, saving the world from their tyranny. It was yet another lie propagated by Ozai's regime. Zuko felt a mix of anger and sorrow knowing how these falsehoods corrupted the minds of the young generation. But regardless of how Zuko felt, there was nothing they could do about it now. They just had to keep moving.
Once they made their way out of town, they returned to the cave where Sokka and Toph were already waiting inside. Katara then briefed them on what happened as she went to prepare supper. "Why would you want to attend school of all things?" Sokka asked after getting the rundown of what happened.
"Yeah, it's not like they can teach you anything important," Toph chimed in as she picked at her toes.
"I don't know," Aang said, rubbing his sore ear as he sat by the fire with everyone else. "I was having fun for once, just being a normal kid. It was like being back at the temple again," he said, reminiscing about his home. He remembered what it was like to play and just have fun with his old friends. Even the lessons and lectures from the monks were something he dearly missed. Even though the teachers at the Fire Nation Academy were strict and cold, being in a class was nice. "You know... before finding out I was the Avatar," he explained with a heavy sigh.
"Aang, I get it... but right now isn't the time for us to get sidetracked," Sokka said as Katara brought over the stew she was cooking. "We have a lot of people counting on us, and delays like this will only hold us back," he tried his best to explain to him, letting him down easy.
"Yeah, I know," Aang sighed, disappointed. He really wanted to attend maybe another few days of school. He didn't see anything wrong with just taking a little break, but Sokka was right; they couldn't get distracted.
"Good, now let's eat, and we can finish packing up and leave when it gets dark out," Katara said as she started handing out bowls of the stew.
As they all ate, Zuko slurped down some of his stew. He began to think about Katara's words from earlier. She asked him about teaching Aang. He had never really taught anyone before, and he was unsure whether or not he would be able to teach much while he was healing, but it would be a distraction. "Aang, tomorrow we will begin some firebending drills. If you want to learn anything, you'll have to be up when the sun rises. If you aren't up, you miss the lesson," he said as he slurped up more of the stew.
"Wait, you are gonna teach me firebending?" Aang asked, taken aback by his suggestion.
"Katara mentioned you needed to learn firebending. So if you want to learn, then you'll wake up early and learn. If you don't wake up, then I don't teach," Zuko said, not going out of his way to teach Aang. If he wants to learn, then he will show up to learn if he doesn't, then he doesn't.
"Oh, well... thanks, Zuko," Aang said, still a bit surprised and a little nervous. He hadn't really attempted firebending since Jeong Jeong. He was not sure if he felt up to trying again.
"Don't mention it," Zuko said, though a hint of uncertainty gnawed at him for agreeing to this. "By the way, you've got dish duty," he added, wiping his mouth and placing his bowl down.
"Wait, what?" Aang asked, puzzled, as he watched Zuko get up and dust himself off.
"You're still grounded, remember? Clean up and pack everything," Zuko reminded him, provoking laughter from the rest of the group.
"Yeah, Aang, wouldn't want to disappoint your dad now, do you?" Toph teased, playfully dropping her empty bowl in front of him. The others joined in on the laughter as they finished their meal, leaving their empty bowls by Aang's lap. While he begrudgingly cleaned up, the rest of the group headed to their sleeping areas, preparing to rest until nightfall.
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