Chapter 11

The day after next, Zuko was waiting outside for Izara to meet him for their next session. They hadn't had one for a few weeks, simply because he was so busy getting tied up with war-room meetings. Everything with the Supremacists had suddenly exploded after they'd attacked a supply line, so there were reports from scouts and Generals every other day. Zuko had decided to mobilise the military to protect his people against them. Still, the Supremacists had been moving around over the last year and had been having issues trying to pin them down to one location. Mostly it was just to make sure that they knew where they were, but there had been more and more issues recently, so now he needed to decide what they would do. Should they retaliate and strike back, or was he going to try and negotiate peace with them?

It kept him up at night and would continue to do so until he figured out what to do.

Izara walking over to him snapped him out of his thought process, and he gave her a smile, although it was half-assed. She was far more perceptive than he realised and narrowed her eyes at him for a fraction of a second before giving him a smile and a bow. She didn't want to draw attention to her noticing his troubled mind, and he was more than happy to leave it that way.

"Thank you for taking some time to teach me, my Lord." Her tone was polite and respectful as always, and her eyes held no hint of her thoughts.

"You're very welcome. It's taking my mind off things, so thank you." He kept his expression as even as possible and watched as Izara moved a few steps away from him.

"So I had a few questions about the intermediate sets…."

She seemed to sense his dilemma and didn't waste any time getting into it so she could help him take his mind off everything with the Supremacists. Surely she had heard about their attack, as it wasn't exactly a secret that they had been making more waves lately. Technically, she had been exposed to them more than anyone else in the Capital right now. Her Uncle was still camped in the same spot that he had been during the siege, so Izara had more time to deal with them than any of the other military officials assigned to the mission.

They spent two hours going through the intermediate forms, and he answered all of her questions. He could see that she had been working hard over the past few weeks, as her technique had doubled in efficiency, and there was no wasted energy in her movements. Before they started working together, he still found it strange that she had so little knowledge of firebending. His curiosity was growing every time he saw her, and he made a choice in his mind to try and get her to talk. If she had been in some covert military group like Suki had suggested, indeed of all people she could tell, she would be able to say to him. He wasn't interested in having her punished for any reason unless whatever she had done in the past was so terrible that he might have to take action. But her kind nature made him doubt that very much.

Once it began to get dark, they decided to finish up.

"Let's go and get something to eat." He made a casual suggestion, and she nodded in answer, which was good. He hoped that she would let her guard down and talk to him.

He went toward the library, where he often took his meals since if he was in his office, he would keep working. He would work late at night, not even realising that he hadn't eaten anything since breakfast. The library had a pleasant atmosphere, so he came here sometimes to be alone, eat and do some reading.

She followed behind him to one side and refused to walk next to him despite him making minute adjustments to his pace. The staff offered to bring him some dinner, and he asked them to organise an extra serving for Izara. They went and sat down inside, and Zuko tried to figure out how to start the conversation, so it didn't seem evident that he was trying to suss her out.

"So, how is everything so far? Getting used to being in the Capital?" He asked casually and gestured vaguely around them.

"It's definitely been a change. I hadn't been here since before the war ended." Izara answered politely as she sat straight as a wooden plank in her chair.

"Izara, can you please relax? You're making me nervous." He offered with a laugh, and she finally realised how awkward she must have appeared and shifted to a more comfortable position in her seat.

"Sorry." She tried her best to appear more relaxed, but he could tell she still felt strange.

"Suki is pleased with your progress, and so am I. Do you feel like you've caught up now?" He asked as he watched her continue to move in her seat, trying to still show respect but be more relaxed simultaneously.

"I am feeling a lot better, yes. But there is so much more I should know." His brow knitted together at her judgment, and he sighed.

"Why didn't you learn firebending before?"

"I was taught some by my mother as a child, but from what I recall, she seemed more interested in letting me do my own thing and be a kid instead of having rigorous instruction. After she was gone, I never really thought about it. I practised what I knew here and there; it wasn't something I focused on. I did want to learn more as I got older, but I never got the chance… Until now." She added with a smile that he couldn't help but copy.

Their conversation was interrupted by a staff member coming through the doorway with a cart. They were served some water and a small bowl of soup each. The soup was some sort of mix of chilli, ginger and lemongrass, and it smelled amazing. After getting a spoonful, he began to blow on it, but Izara distracted him.

"Wait, my Lord. Allow me first." She got up from her seat, moved to his left, and then pulled his bowl towards her. She carefully inspected it, then took a spoonful, smelled it and carefully tasted it. Her face was decorated with a thoughtful frown as he tried to figure out what she was doing. "It seems fine to me."

"What was that for?" He asked her incredulously as she went back to her seat.

"You don't have someone to test your food for poison?" Her tone was just as surprised as his, and she held his gaze intensely.

"No." He answered simply, and her frown deepened.

"Don't you think it would be a good idea? I don't want to doubt my fellow staff members, but anything to avoid you being at risk is incredibly important." Despite her voice's professionality, she seemed genuinely concerned for his safety, and he couldn't help but smile at her.

"I'll be fine. Thank you for your concern."

"Of course, my Lord." She dropped her eyes down to her meal as if she was feeling bashful suddenly and began stirring her soup idly.

It was silent but not awkward as they ate, and Zuko even watched Izara happily eating for a few seconds. She seemed to be enjoying the soup, and he enjoyed watching her until he realised it was probably weird and went back to eating.

"Did you ever taste your Uncle's food for poison?" Zuko asked with mirth in his tone, trying to break the ice a little.

"Yes, that was part of my duties." Her response took him off guard, and he realised its weight and sat back in his chair.

"Wait. Your own Uncle would have sacrificed you like that?" He didn't realise he had raised his voice until her eyes widened slightly.

She was silent for a moment as she considered her response, and Zuko felt frustrated on her behalf. Just like he had when he first met her.

"I can identify the smell, and taste of most common poisons, so it would be more likely for me to detect it before having a lethal amount," Izara answered quietly and in the cryptic tone that he had heard several times before.

Before he could even think of anything to say in reply, the same staff member returned with the remainder of their meals. Zuko was practically stunned and silent but still said thank you and continued eating with his mind racing. What sort of Uncle would do that to his niece? Although he knew he was fortunate to have an Uncle as wonderful as Iroh, that still shocked him.

"Did you learn that while under his care?" He ensured his voice didn't show his anger and tried to match her nonchalance. It didn't quite work, though.

Izara opened her mouth as if to speak, but her eyes moved around the room instead of being on him. The closest thing to an answer was for her to make a movement halfway between a shrug and shaking her head, and he wasn't sure what it meant but didn't press her further. She began eating swiftly as if to avoid speaking as much as possible. He wanted to respect her privacy, even though he was curious. After letting out a slow exhale, he started to eat as well. There were 3 small skewers and a stir-fried dish with meat, veggies and rice. He picked up a skewer and slowly ate the meat off it, letting himself think for a few minutes. Neither spoke, but Zuko was in his own world and didn't notice that Izara felt awkward.

Once the staff member returned to collect some of their dishes and also gave them a pot of tea and two cups. After pouring them a cup each and placing it within reach, they left just as quickly, but it was enough distraction to pull Zuko from his thoughts.

"Since you are on night shift now, is it easier for you to train during the late afternoons or evenings?" He asked, knowing that it was a much more manageable topic.

"Oh, um. Whenever suits you, my Lord. Please don't worry about me too much. I know that you are incredibly busy." Izara only made brief eye contact with him, still feeling awkward.

"Izara, how many times do I have to say that I enjoy training with you before you believe me?" His attempts at humour typically made her relax more, and it worked. She huffed and smiled before she replied.

"At least another hundred times, my Lord."

"And another hundred after that?"

"More than likely." Her quip was instant, and he laughed at her wittiness.

"Do you really think I would offer it if I didn't want to do it?" Although he kept his tone light, he was serious.

"I'm sure you do a lot of things in your job that you don't want to do. Every day you make decisions that other people wouldn't be capable of. That's why your people trust you to look after us." Clearly, she had picked up on his sincerity and was showing her own. Again, he was stunned and silent but for different reasons.

Several times, she had given him a boost in confidence, and it seemed that she knew just what to say and how to say it to get her words to hit home with him. He appreciated what she said and how she said it with such a casual air like it was pronounced. It was good to know that she felt that way, considering that she was one of 'his people and a guard who protected him. Maybe having him as her superior instead of her Uncle had made her more appreciative of his effort to look after his staff. He rested his head on his right palm and looked at her carefully until he decided what to say.

"I'm glad that you feel that way. Thank you." He looked at her until she raised her head a moment later.

"Shouldn't I be thanking you? You do so much and work hard, yet you still make time to help me." She held his gaze evenly as she spoke.

"You thank me frequently, actually. Besides, I've told you that I enjoy it." He referenced her earlier in their conversation, and she deliberately held one hand up, counting on her fingers.

"Sorry, but that's only two out of two hundred. I'm not there quite yet."

They both kept a schooled expression but broke out in laughter simultaneously after a few seconds, no longer able to hold it in. After they calmed, they continued eating and making small talk, then enjoyed the tea afterwards. Once the staff returned to collect the dishes, Izara seemed to take that as her cue and stood up from her chair.

"Thank you for extending your hospitality to me again. Shall I escort you to your chambers, my Lord?" She asked with a polite smile.

"No, thank you. I would like to do some reading, actually."

"Of course. Have a good night." She gave him her usual bow and smiled before she left the room, heading towards the guard barracks.

Her smile didn't fade until she fell asleep hours later…