Blades and Fans

The Teacher

Zuko and Iroh remained in each other's arms in what felt like hours, even though only minutes had passed. Iroh didn't want to let Zuko go and Zuko wanted to comfort his Uncle, a man he had not seen in months. They both had so many questions for each other, so much they didn't know about the other's journey. However, those questions could wait until tomorrow. Soon Iroh did finally pull away reaching up to cup his nephew's face smiling to him. "I am glad you are alright my nephew," Iroh finally said as he looked up to the young prince.

"Me too Uncle," Zuko said simply as he saw the exhaustion in his Uncle's eyes. "You look tired, maybe you should rest Uncle... we could talk more in the morning," he said not wanting the old general to overexert himself.

"Maybe you are right," Iroh said his old bones aching a bit as he rubbed his neck. "You should rest too my nephew, you've had a long day as well," he said patting his nephew's shoulder. Before slowly pulling away lingering a bit longer as he got up. "Goodnight Prince Zuko."

"Goodnight Uncle," Zuko said watching as his Uncle waddled over to a few blankets on the floor. Before laying down and covering himself doing his best to rest and sleep. Though his Uncle went to sleep easily, Zuko could not. His mind was elsewhere, his gaze turning to the small window, peeking out at the night sky. This was the first time in so long that he couldn't tell Suki goodnight. The first time in so long that he didn't have his mother's mask at his side. He wasn't sure which made his chest feel so hollow, his heart sinking into his gut. But he knew it was a feeling he didn't want to bear for too long. He needed to get back to her, he needed to find her and knew exactly where to look.

Through no control of his own Zuko's eyes did finally close, his mind drifting off as he slept. He soon found himself dreaming of Suki, to the moment of their first kiss. Their first real kiss by the river. Her hand on his scar, His hand in her hair. That moment where she saw him for who he truly was, without seeing his face. In that moment, he wasn't a banished prince, he wasn't a dishonorable thief, he wasn't even a firebender. He was just him and she was just her, and that was enough. His mind remained in that moment keeping at peace as he slept the rest of the night.

The next morning the sun rose high in the sky, but Zuko didn't rise with it. He remained curled in his sheets trying to remain with his Suki in his dreams. Wanting to linger just a bit longer. However soon as the scent of warm tea reached his nose he couldn't resist his eyes from fluttering open. He groaned as he sat himself up, the sun shining down on his face through the window. He rubbed his eyes clearing his vision as he looked around the shack, but didn't see his Uncle anywhere. Confused he pushed himself to his feet letting the sheet that was draped over him fall as he went to look for his Uncle. But just as he got up his eyes went wide in confusion.

"What the...?" he looked down at his body in shock seeing his once bruised and scarred body, completely clear. He reached out and felt his skin, feeling the smallest indents where his healing scars once were. He then felt his ribs, at first he winced preparing for pain, but he felt nothing. His bones didn't shift, there was no pinching or semblance of pain. Though his body ached, it was mostly from exhaustion. He couldn't explain it. How was he healed? Then it clicked.

"The water peasant... she healed me?" Zuko said completely confused. "Why would she do that?" he said to himself as his mind flashed back to yesterday. Seeing the Avatar and his friends coming to his aid. It still perplexed him even then. "Why would they do that? Did they pity me? Did they look down on me?" he argued to himself. However, he remembered when he helped others when he came to other people's aid. He never did it because he pitied them or look down on them. he just did it because it was the right thing to do. He immediately shook his head at the thought, deciding he must just be tired and overthinking things. Instead, he listened to the grumbling in his gut, resolving to get something to eat and to find his Uncle instead of dwelling on what happened.