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Slow Heat	By : Spleef Category: Avatar - The Last Airbender > General Views: 77367 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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Slow Heat
Chapter 10 – Seeing Red
This chapter starts during episode 3x02, 'The Headband'.
o0o0o0o
2 Months, 10 Days BSC
(Early-Mid July, 1101)
Katara
I was hesitant to wear red. Or seeing anyone that I cared about wearing it. Red reminded me too much of that fateful day, years ago, when my life had changed. It had started with black snow. It had ended with red spilled on the snow. Red was the color I had always associated with death. And now, I was wearing it, trying to pass as a Fire Nation citizen.
“Is something wrong, Sugar Queen?” Toph asked as she put on the last piece of her outfit.
“Nothing.”
“You’re lying.” Toph replied, her voice bordering on singsong.
“This is not funny. Drop it.” I snapped. My tone must have been harsher than she had expected, for she fell silent.
o0o0o0o
Zuko
I couldn’t believe we were reduced to stealing clothing off the line, like common thieves. I would have preferred to do it more… privately, rather than out here, sneaking around in front of the dozing laundry attendant. Had he been working at the Palace and the clothing being stolen was royal, the man could have expected to have the skin lashed off his back, at the very least.
It was so beneath what I was used to growing up, though I had worn worse during my wanderings through the Earth Kingdom. No doubt my father and sister would be laughing at me right now, if they could see me stealing clothes off the line!
I had to admit, it felt good wearing red again. I leaned against the rock wall with my arms crossed, waiting for the girls to finish dressing. Uncle had found a red robe that was perfect for him, and Sokka had actually found an outfit that seemed appropriate for him. I almost felt bad for the Avatar, having to cover his entire form simply because of the tattoos along his arms and legs. The warm weather would not regard his clothing too kindly…
At this point, he had recovered enough to stop going into the comatose states he was subject to after Azula had struck him down. I knew this relieved Katara immensely.
I was distracted from my thoughts as I saw Toph emerge in red. It was so different from what I was used to seeing her in, though that could be said for Sokka and the Avatar as well.
Katara stepped out into sight, and all I could do was think of how good she looked in red. The deep crimson went so well with her dark skin, and her hair looked far more becoming like that, rather than the tight braid she had, with these loopies.
With a shock, I realized that she was wearing her hair in the same way that Mother wore. She didn’t look too happy in what she was wearing, as if the color somehow displeased her. She stared down at her clothing for a moment before looking back up, and looking over at me. I saw a curious glance in her eyes as she fixed them on me for a moment, before looking back at Aang. Suddenly, I felt envious. They talked a bit about the clothing, before she glanced back at me. I offered a scowl, and she furrowed her eyebrows.
“Something has to be done about that scar.”
“What are you going to do, heal it?” I shot back. She flinched slightly, but shook her head.
“That scar is very distinguishable. We can’t risk having people recognizing your scar from say, a wanted poster, since we’re going into town. I had been thinking, why not make it look as if you were recently injured? Some gauze, and a strip of cloth around your head. It would be less questionable and recognizable.”
A while later, I was seated, with her standing in front of me. The gauze was already pressed to my face, and I knew it would be none too comfortable. At least this time I didn’t have freshly burned flesh to deal with. It had been torture to change the gauze, and put aloe on raw flesh. I had my eyes closed as she attended to me, and could catch her scent. I had no idea what a Waterbender should smell like, but it seemed right for Katara. A mixture of the ocean, of natural body odor, a faint touch of something sweet, like a flower. I sighed softly and closed my eyes for a moment. Though her movements were not harsh or painful, they were none too gentle either. It was clear she none too fond of me.
With a quick twist and tie of the fabric, the bandage was sealed, and it looked as if I had recently suffered an injury to my face.
“There!” Katara stated shortly, turning away from me before I could say anything.
A couple of nights later, I sat on one of the rock stools that Toph had created, while Katara was forming water into ice for the drinks. I thought the whole dance thing was ridiculous. I planned to just stay seated, or go outside for a walk if I needed to.
When I heard that the Avatar had been mistaken for a Fire Nation schoolchild, it almost made me laugh. While he was in classes, I took the opportunity to explore the town. It had been over three years since I was in Fire Nation, and it was the first time I was traveling through my own land without the honors usually given to me. No one bowed to me. There were no courtesies, or gifts offered me. I caught several curious glances due to my bandaged ‘wound’, but I was left alone. Being one in a crowd allowed me to see my Nation in a way that I had been unable to before.
“You don’t seem very excited about this party, Zuko! From what Aang tells us, it’s exactly what these children need!” Uncle’s voice cut into my thoughts, and I glanced over at him.
“That school is hardly a prison or a torture chamber. The teachers are qualified, and the children are fine.” I replied shortly. I had not gone into the school, but during my exploration of the village, I had walked past the school when the children were outside for exercise. They looked well-fed and cared for.
When Sokka and Katara had to pose as the Avatar’s parents, I almost laughed at his beard, and her swollen belly. Uncle would have been a good stand-in as a father, but the age difference between him and Katara was so great, even though it was not unheard of for old men to take rather young wives or concubines. Sokka had insisted on being the 'husband', and the three of them had come back, unharmed, though when I heard the names they had taken, I had to hold back a snort. Wang and Sapphire Fire? At least the names Uncle and I had taken – Lee and Moshi, were more convincing.
“Now now, Lee, all children deserve to have time to play. What’s the harm in having a party here for a night?”
“We should be working on the invasion and ending the war, not some stupid party.” I growled, crossing my arms. Uncle shook his head slowly.
“I’m not saying that these plans are not important. But even the mightiest warriors need to relax. I’m ready to just sit back and enjoy the festivities. It does my heart good to see children playing. This War has caused so much unhappiness, and the young ones are not exempt from it.”
Toph sat near Uncle, talking to him casually as the children started to arrive. I glanced at the schoolchildren, acting disinterested, but I was studying them, albeit it was a bit hard to do as I only had one eye to use. It was a headache using only one eye, and I was glad that the burn to my face had not destroyed my vision like it very well could have.
The Avatar seemed to be very popular with them. And they were obviously very excited about the party, as if it was indeed a rare opportunity for them. In the span of but two days, the Avatar had managed to win the trust, or at least amicability of all these children.
“I’m going out for a walk.” I muttered. I had no desire to dance, and was in no mood to listen to the lively music. Nor did I want to be surrounded by schoolchildren. I couldn’t help but wonder what they would say or do, if they knew who I really was.
“Why not just sit there and listen to the music? Jeez, lighten up, Sparky.” Toph said with a shrug, “One night being around other human beings isn’t gonna kill you.”
“Toph’s right! Just sit back and enjoy! It’s like a free show!” Uncle said with a chuckle. I frowned and looked down at my drink, concentrating on how the coolness of the ice made the drink refreshing.
A few children glanced my way curiously, but I simply offered a scowl before I ignored them. I tried to ignore the Avatar as well, but when he did the Southern Phoenix stance, I couldn’t help but notice. My education had covered many things, and music and dance had been part of the curriculum. Uncle had tried to show me how to play the pipa and the Tsungi horn, but I had no talent for either, and had avoided as much as possible the Music Nights on my ship. Dancing was not something I was comfortable with. Thank Agni that my tutors had not made it a large part of my lessons. I knew just the basic waltz and steps, to use at galas and such, but I did not pursue it any further than that.
The boy seemed so comfortable with it, and performing in front of all these people that he had known for but two days. Course, the Fire Lord sat in Court in front of many people, but he didn’t… dance. He sat on his throne and listened to petitions and made decrees.
In no time, all of the children were dancing. Many of them were awkward, clearly having no talent for it. But they were enjoying themselves nonetheless. There was a certain freedom in this cavern, where they would not be judged, and could express themselves as freely as they liked, their steps – or missteps – accepted as they were with no corrections or scoldings.
“Why don’t you dance?” Uncle asked with a small smile. I held back a snort.
“No. Why don’t you?” I shot back.
“A tempting offer, but I’m afraid no one would want to dance with me.” Uncle said with a soft chuckle.
“I would.” Toph piped up.
I held back a groan as Uncle and Toph danced merrily. Uncle was awfully spry, and he was obviously enjoying himself. Music nights on the ship had always been such a treat for him, even when there were no women to dance with. Why did Toph respect him so much when she was often so callous to the rest of us?
My attention turned to the Avatar, who was dancing with a girl with a ponytail and bangs. Before, when this party had started, everyone had seemed so shy. Now the party was under full swing, and the girl continued dancing with him. I started to look away as I sipped at my juice. But something caught my eye. The girl was now dancing by herself, and the Avatar had approached Katara. She was sitting across the table from me, and had not looked at me all evening, an all-too-clear indication of how she felt about me despite now knowing the truth about what had happened in the crystal catacombs.
He held out his hand to her, and she looked shy. It surprised me that she might be hesitant, because she was usually so confident and self-assured. With a bit of coaxing, she rose to her feet and went with him. As she did, the Avatar eyed me for a moment.
“Why don’t you come and dance too? It’s fun!” he laughed. I scowled and said nothing as he and Katara were lost in the crowd of dancers.
Their dancing was clearly inspired from Bending moves, and I watched as they moved around and with each other. At first, it was relaxed, languorous, as if taking their time to go through a set. I couldn’t stop watching Katara, and how fluid her movements were. But as their dance went on, her movements became more frenzied, and it was clear that some of the moves were inspired by Airbending, no doubt taught to her by her partner. Her movements now resembled more of Firebending than Waterbending, and I saw a bit of sweat on her brow.
I couldn’t help but think she looked beautiful. The red of her clothing and her dark skin blended well, and she had the spirit of a Firebender – fierce, strong. What would have happened had she been born in Fire Nation? Might we have been friends? Upon that thought, I shook my head. I had been thinking about her far too much lately. More than was healthy, I knew. Why should I be bothered by her silence towards me? Why should I care if she didn’t want to look at me or speak to me?
She moved around, leaping, spinning, dancing, as free as fire, full of energy. I found myself wishing I was in the Avatar’s position so that I could hold her hand and touch her, and have her smile at me as we circled one another, or when I swept her into my arms. What would it feel like to have her body against mine?
When the boy had her in his arms at the end of the dance, both of them breathing quickly and smiling radiantly, I felt a sudden and violent burst of envy. It had come on me so fast and hard that it shocked me. Why should I be jealous of the Avatar? Granted, he had had hardships in his life, but he was happier than I. Quickly, I rose from my seat and went to refill my glass with more juice, though the image of Katara undulating with fierce and graceful movements remained firmly embedded in my memory.
o0o0o0o
Katara
After moving around in such a frenzy and surrounded by the heat of lamps and bodies, the night air felt good. I hoped that the children would not be disciplined by the Headmaster. I had been reluctant when Aang said he was going to have a party, but these children weren’t so bad. They longed to have fun, and they were protected from the harsh realities of war through this prosperous little town. If they had a parent or sibling away at war, they probably imagined that they would come home heroes and that war was just a minor conflict, a disagreement between kingdoms like a scuffle in the schoolyard. In a way, they were lucky.
They still had their innocence. I didn’t. I sighed softly and looked down at my hands as the wind blew against my face and hair. In the Water Tribe, jewelry wasn’t worn for the sake of ornamentation. Any piece of jewelry that anyone wore was strictly functional, or was meant to signify something, such as an engagement necklace. I really didn’t see any point in wearing the arm or wristbands, except for blending in.
And even after a couple of days, I still felt out of place in red. I had always connected red with the sight of blood, since there was no other place to find red at the South Pole.
“Is something wrong, Katara?” Iroh asked gently as I felt his hand on my shoulder. I sighed and shook my head. I didn’t think he would laugh at me for my thoughts on red, and he was a kind man who I genuinely liked, but I didn’t feel comfortable talking about it.
He drew his hand away from me and didn’t press the question. I looked up at the sky for several moments, enjoying the tranquil beauty of the night. An odd feeling of being watched tingled at the edge of my senses, and I brought my gaze back down to catch Zuko turning his head away.
o0o0o0o
2 Months, 8 Days BSC
(Early-Mid July 1101)
Zuko
We landed on the next island, and were camped out to rest. It was now near dawn, and I doubted I’d even be able to sleep at all. Everyone else was sleeping with no problem, even my Uncle. I sat against a rock, and I simply stared off blankly as the sky started to lighten, absorbing a rainbow of colors from the still-unseen sun.
Uncle stirred softly with a soft groan not long after the sun came up and stretched a bit. Was it a trick of the light, or had he lost a bit of weight? He took notice of me and smiled cheerfully.
“Didn’t you get any sleep at all, nephew?”
“No.” I stated firmly.
“Why not? You know a good night’s sleep is good for you.”
“You spent the night dancing and laughing. You tired yourself out.”
“That would make sense, Zuko. But really, you should have been dancing too!”
I said nothing, crossing my arms. Uncle and the others had their fun. Why couldn’t they leave well enough alone?
“Don’t scowl like that. I just want you to have fun.”
I remained silent. I definitely wasn’t in the mood for being cheered up. He stared at me for a moment before slowly shaking his head. Let him shake his head all he wanted.
“Well, let’s do some meditation and Firebending, shall we?” he asked. Thank Agni.
Breakfast was an uneventful affair. The rations were good because of the supplies that had just been bought from that town and I savored the spices in the food. It wasn’t as spicy as Fire Nation food usually was because it had been used very sparingly, but I was glad for a bit of familiarity. Having Uncle’s tea with it, with some good quality leaves from the same town made it better.
I was finally feeling relaxed, when Uncle’s next statement was like a firecracker thrown in the middle of the group, stunning us into silence for several long moments.
“This is hard for me to say, but it’s time for me to leave this group.” Iroh stated, his voice calm. It was clear to me that it wasn’t a spur of the moment decision.
“But why?” Katara asked, being the first one to speak, “Did any of us offend you?”
Uncle chuckled and shook his head.
“Nothing of that sort, my dear. I can honestly say that it has been wonderful being part of this group!” he said, his smile warm. He especially had a soft spot for the Waterbender, who after all had been the one to restore him to good health. Before anyone could ask any questions, he continued.
“The time has come for me to seek out some connections which will cement our victory in the War, and also help stabilize the country when it ends. It is important that I secure their help now before the war ends, and to let them know what is happening so they can be ready.”
The White Lotus. It made sense. At least, that was what the most logical part of my mind told me. The rest of me said otherwise. My hands tightened around my chopsticks and bowl, and I felt my pulse quicken. Leaving?
“As lovely as it has been to travel with all of you, there is important work to be done and I have my own part to do. I am sure that all of you can understand that. When we stop in the next town, we shall part company.”
o0o0o0o
Katara
I honestly was sad to see him go. He had such good tea, and his mellow personality was truly a pleasant part of the group. His work with Aang was invaluable. I hated to admit it, but it was a good thing we had run across him and Zuko.
“No one makes tea like you. And you’re fun to be with.” Toph said, pouting a bit almost like a child. Wait, she was a kid. Iroh laughed and drew her close, hugging her.
“I’ll miss you very much. But I promise, we shall cross paths again.” he said cheerily. I moved forward, and was rewarded with a hug. He was warm, and his hug filled me with warmth too. Though I was still wary of Fire Nation, I held far less reservations against him than anyone else in the Fire Nation, except for Jeong Jeong.
“I shall miss you too, Katara. Thank you for what you have done for me. The spirits blessed you with a gift, and I am forever grateful to be a recipient of it.”
I smiled a little, and he smiled back before he turned to Sokka and Aang, giving them both a firm warrior’s handshake as he exchanged words of farewell and good luck with them.
o0o0o0o
Zuko
He turned to me and I nodded.
“I’m ready to go.” I stated simply.
“Go where?” he asked with a small smile.
“With you.” I said, my pulse quickening a bit at his bemusement. He wasn’t seriously thinking about leaving me behind, was he? When he has first made his announcement, I had indeed felt panic but rationalized his decision by telling myself that he would take me with him. There was no reason not to. I already knew of the White Lotus, so it wasn’t as if Uncle had to hide it from me.
“No, no. This is something I must do myself. Besides, the Avatar needs someone to continue his Firebending lessons.”
I stared at him for several moments.
“You’re leaving me behind?” I said softly. I could feel the eyes of the group on me, even if they couldn’t hear my words. Mother had left me, and now Uncle. I had the fear that I would never see him again.
“Why should you be so surprised?” he asked. I shrugged.
“You never said anything about leaving me when you made the announcement. I want to go with you. Is this punishment for me leaving you before?” I asked, trying to not sound so frantic. He placed his hand on my shoulder and shook his head.
“You had your reasons, and you needed some time on your own. That has nothing to do with this, and what I am doing is for a different reason. This is something I must do on my own.”
“So I would be in the way?”
“No, it’s not that. You have more important work to do here. Right now, the Avatar needs you more than I do.”
I knew he was right, but, still. It had been one thing to travel on my own, without him at my side. But now, I was to be part of the Avatar’s group, without Uncle. He was a positive influence. Everyone liked him, and I pretty much let him do the talking for the two of us. Usually, I just said nothing, and answered only if someone asked me to help with a chore or some such.
“I know you’ll do just fine.” Uncle stated with a smile. I was silent as I looked down at him. He led me away several paces, out of the Avatar’s sight. His hand slid into his robe and he pulled something out – a parchment.
“Read this in private. I wrote these things down, for it is important for you to know them. And I have a bit of advice for you. Relax. Try not to be so tense. These people are our allies, not simply people you are traveling with.”
“I’d rather go with you.” I muttered. I didn’t want to be left alone with these people! And I knew that they liked having Uncle around, but I was by no means their friend. I slipped the parchment into my own robe, but I shook my head.
“Be well, nephew.” Uncle said, as I found myself in a hug. My heart was pounding, and had I had a weaker character, I might be on my knees begging him to not go. A feeling of numbness came over me, much like the one that had settled in after my shock when I saw that Mother had disappeared. I didn’t respond to his statement or offer him a farewell.
He took a step back and placed his hands on my shoulders.
“Understand, nephew. We both have things we need to do.”
With his pack strapped to his shoulders, Uncle started down the road. He stopped for several moments and turned back to face us. His body bent forward in a bow, and all of us returned that bow, though I didn’t bow as much.
“It’s gonna be sad to not have his tea at breakfast and dinner.” Toph said dryly as she kicked at a clod of dirt. I crossed my arms.
“Don’t feel so sad, Sparky. You still have me. And us!” she said with a grin as she punched my arm playfully. I winced a bit
“Yeah, you got us!” the Avatar stated optimistically.
“Yay.” I muttered, looking down at the ground, “I’ll try to contain my joy.”
“That’s the spirit, Sparky!” Toph replied sarcastically.
That night, I sat near the fire, having finished my dinner. It wasn’t the same without Uncle’s tea. I had tried to ignore its value when I was on my ship, searching for the Avatar. Back then, I hadn’t understood why Uncle liked it so much. Now, I had a better appreciation for it. The tea that the Katara made was passable, and I stared at my cup dully. It was half-empty, but I had no appetite for the rest, so I dumped it on the grass.
Immediately, Katara stared at me hostilely, as if I had made some unforgivable transgression.
“What?” I growled.
“I’m sorry my tea isn’t as good as your Uncle’s, but if you didn’t want it, you didn’t have to take it!” I heard the Waterbender’s voice snap at me from across the firepit. If I had wasted food, or spilled some clean water from the jug, I could understand her being upset. But it was half of a little cup of tea!
“It’s just a little cup. I’m full.” I muttered.
“If you were full, then why did you take some tea!” she asked acidly. The others were silent. I merely shrugged.
“I changed my mind. I’ll do whatever I want.” I growled.
“Oh, so now you’ll do whatever you want?” she snapped. I stiffened and narrowed my eyes.
“I’ll remember to not take any tea next time you make it. After all, it’s not as good as my uncle’s.”
“Good.” Katara replied, her eyes blazing in the firelight. I knew I shouldn’t have said the last sentence, but there was something about her that made me want to push her, to see the fire in her eyes.
Toph laughed softly as Katara stalked off to get ready for bed, and I glared at her, knowing she could feel it. She didn’t seem to care, and smirked widely, laying down with her hands under her head, staring up blankly. Her comment was meant for herself, but it reached my ears clearly.
“This is going to be fun.”
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