Zutara - Their Spark

Chapter Ten - Training

Sweat drops trail his back and leak to the scorched ground below.

"Again!" Zuko barks, watching as Aang fails over and over.

Aang breaths and punch's an arc of fire through the air once it makes contact with the ground he whirls, kicking a weak flame to follow. But it gasses out before it meets the concrete. Aang growls in annoyance at himself and fumes as Zuko yells once more.

"Again, Aang!"

Aang huffs and almost screams. His anger fueling him forward. His eyes narrow on his target and he punches. Following through until he's sure. He whirls, forcing the power from his hands to his feet.

With little success, the fire once again puffs out.

"What the hell!" Aang screams. "What am I doing wrong?"

"You aren't focused, Aang." Katara aids from her spot on the sidelines a few yards away. Distance from fire bending practice is always best. Given the history. "Even I can see that from here."

"Why are you here." He barks, not meaning a single word.

"Hey. Don't get mad at her. Listen to her she is right. You aren't focusing." Zuko scolds.

"I am!" He yells. "I am literally focusing so hard!"

"You aren't feeling it!" Zuko bellies back. "You have to breath with it."

Zuko demonstrates. Fluidly, he arcs the fire and whirls his kick in a wave to follow. Landing easily without even a hair out of place. "Like that." He smiles, smug and turns around to walk away.

"Ugh!" Aang screams and he whirls, kickomg out as much fire as he can without looking to see where it is aimed.

Zuko grunts in pain and stumbles back.

"Zuko!" Katara yells and runs over, not bothering with the smoldering embers around her. Zuko is on his feet but cradling and arm.

A smile plastered on his face as he watches the horro on Aangs face.

"Zuko! I'm so sorry." Aang frowns and shame fills his chest.

"That was perfect! Although I do hope you weren't aiming for me, which will need to get better."

Katara squeezes Zuko's shoulder and places a hand over his on his wounded forearm.

"I'm going to heal him. Keep practicing." Katara is careful with her response. She knows that Aang is reluctant with his firebending and to hurt someone by accident is devastating. But Zuko knew what he was getting into by being his teacher. A few mistakes were bound to happen. Which is why she was here to begin with.

Zuko and Katara walk to the shade under an elm she was sitting under. Pulling out a flask of water she asks him, "Is anger really the best emotion to ground Aang's firebending?"

"It was for me." Zuko admits, indifferent. He watched her bend the water around her hands and start to heal the blisters. The glow changes the color of his skin from the stark angry red to its normal color. "Or it use to be." 

Before he can think, he reaches for her hand. The cool water wraps around his and he places his palm against hers watching the water fluctuate around them, feeling the movement of the small currents inside this small bubble. As he watches, he forgets to feel self conscious about the girl making the water move. An idea worms it's way into his head and he smiles

"Aang should take a break. Will you demonstrate some of this for me?"  Zuko asks, taking back his hand and wiping it on his pants to get rid of the small droplets that clung to him.

"This?" Katara asks, her voice caught in her throat and he looks at her for the first time. Her cheeks are flushed the deepest red and her eyes are frantic.

"Waterbending."

"Yeah, right." She says and stands, walking toward Aang.

"Aang, take a break." Zuko says and waves him over.

"What is she doing?" Aang asks, slumping to ground, exhaustion obvious.

"She mentioned something about firebending being fueled by anger. It shouldn't be. It doesn't have to be. Just watch her."

Kataras eyes flicker to the boys. She takes a deep breath and drags some water from a nearby stream, not wanting to use her own. It floods through the air and to her smoothly. She arcs it around her and creates and shield of water. The sunlight glitters off and blinds them. Only for a second, because then it hardens into ice and Katara appears on top of the cylinder of protection. She eyes the boys and shoots deadly spikes of ice racing toward them. She stops them inches from their heads and melts them into water, sprinkling them with a refreshing splash. Her giggle echoes and Zuko turns to Aang, but doesn't take his eyes off her as she melts the ice again.

"Don't focus on anger and hate when you bend fire. You will lose control. Focus on protecting people. Focus on protecting her."

"I don't think she needs it, you saw the ice picks right." Aang counters.

They watch as she plays with the water now, practicing excersizes, swirling it around her and up through the air and back down. Controlled movements meant to strengthen the muscles. But all Zuko can see is her body and hands. She is delicate in her bending, but strong.

"Even if she is powerful, you saw what happened with Azula. Fire and water put each other out and not much more. Even if she is strong and smart, at some point it won't be enough and the flames will reach her. Even by accident." Zuko's words echo in Aangs head. And he remembers burning her.

"Protect her." He whispers and a spark flares on his fingers. He blinks at it and lets it wrap around his hand, but careful to control it.

"You guys threatened enough by me yet?" Katara calls as she filters the water around her and rises in the air.

Zuko and Aang stand to start practicing again.