(1) Augmentum | Zuko

Chapter Forty-Three

The sun is setting above the river where Aang, Katara, Rana, and Sokka have stopped for the night with Appa, Momo and the pokemon. They just need a few hours to sleep. Specifically, Rana needs to sleep. She's been pushing herself so hard the last few days. Really hard. Rana crouches at a river's edge as she bathes. A moment to wash all the bad days off of her. Cleanse herself of her feelings for Zuko. Just shake them off. Focus on her duties and her destiny with the Avatar. He's supposed to be her main focus. She dunks her head into the water, soaking her hair through before she leans back. It's been five days since the pirate incident. Five days of fighting everything inside of her. Of pushing herself to learn how to better herself. How to be a better elemental for Aang. Pushing her bending techniques. Pushing her pokemon too to learn with her.

"Have you slept at all?" Sokka asks as Rana flips her wet hair back from her face, she glances at Sokka stood behind her, Rockruff sleeping in his arms.

"No" She answers. "I want to get some more meditation in..."

"You need to sleep" Sokka argues as he moves closer. She pushes herself up and moves to meet him. The two of them sharing a look. Sokka showing just how worried he is about her. How worried they are all about her. 

"I need to not listen to you" She argues and then pokes his nose before walking away. He lets out a breath and shakes his head before he turns and moves to their little camp set up. Katara and Aang are already there and ready to sleep. Sokka drops onto the ground and lets out a groan. Katara turns to him from where she had been watching Rana.

"How long has she been awake now?" Katara asks him.

"Five days" Sokka answers and flops back against his sleeping bag. "How can she do it?" He asks. "I want to sleep....alllll the time" Katara rolls her eyes slightly. "Who's turn is it on Rana watch?" Sokka asks but he's already falling asleep, curling around a pokemon egg. Aang watches Rana as she wades into the water and holds her hands over the top of it, the water rippling as she water-bends it. Katara turns to Aang to ask him what he thinks.

"I'll do it" Aang assures her. "I have an idea anyway..." He then takes off into the trees leaving Katara to stare after him, she looks at Sokka who curls around the egg tighter and she shakes her head before turning to Rana who bends some water around her, but her arms shake with how tired she is. She's pushing herself too hard. They've told her that she doesn't need to. She doesn't need to be some legendary figure to be their friend, to help them. She just needs to be herself.

......

Zuko sits at his desk, a report in his hand, clenched tightly. Eyes swimming with how exhausted he is. Iroh walks into his quarters with a tea tray, heading towards his nephew. Iroh sets a steaming mug at Zuko's hand, and motions for him to drink it. Zuko is sure he's said something too but he can't focus enough to hear him. He hums though. Acknowledging him.

"I don't want any of your tea, Uncle" Zuko scolds as he re-reads the report for the third time. His eyes are so tired. He is so tired. He refuses to sleep. If he sleeps, he knows he will think about Rana. So he works. Reads report after report on the Avatar. Of course, the doesn't actually stop him from thinking about Rana. He still thinks about her. All the time. His self-ultimatum did nothing to stop that.

"Do an old man a favour, but his old heart at ease" Iroh pushes and Zuko lets out a breath before looking at the tea at his side. If it is going to be the only way his uncle is going to leave him alone. Fine. Zuko picks up the mug and drinks the entire thing in one go. He then blinks and it's instant. Zuko's head clunks to the top of the desk, fast asleep, as Iroh takes a seat picking up the Elemental tome to read it.

..........

Aang is boiling some water over the fire, dropping leaves and herbs into the water as he watches Rana practising water-bending, despite the fact she hasn't been sleeping, she has been getting better at it, with Katara and Wartortle's help. The pokemon are all asleep now too. Close by to the camp this time. Keeping watch despite their unconscious states. Rana wades out of the water and pulls her dress back on.

"I made some tea" Aang offers, she looks at him. "Please..." He adds and smiles at her. She lets out a breath and nods, moving to sit with him at the fire. He sets the little cup down on the ground next to her sleeping bag. Aang pours himself some, as if he is going to join her. She sits cross-legged on the top of her sleeping bag before picking up the cup. She looks exhausted, like every step she takes is agonising. Rana takes a sip of the tea and hums, giving Aang a small smile. He smiles back and blows on his own whilst still watching her. Waiting. Rana blinks a little, eyes drooping. She sets the mug down, luckily, before she falls back against her sleeping bag. Fast asleep. Aang smiles and pours out his own tea before crawling into his own sleeping bag. Everyone gets to sleep tonight.