COLLISION - a zuko and yue centric tale

Chapter ten

The next day Zuko is restless with the excess energy he has gotten since partially healing. His wounds are nearly all closed except for the one in his gut. It will be a few more days before he is back to normal and then he will have to be careful for a few weeks after. Not that he will. Yue notices that the storm has cleared outside, and the blue sky can be seen, the sun shining overhead, reflecting brilliantly on the snowy land beneath. It almost hurts her eyes, how bright it all is. It is one of those moments where she can feel how fusing with Tui has affected her, increasing her perception of things, including vision.

(You aren't even seeing everything just yet.)

(When will I get to see everything?)

(In time.)

Thinking of the day prior, of Zuko's near-outburst, Yue decides to drag him out. The fresh air and the chance to firebend freely will do him good. Zuko is staring at the ceiling when she opens the door to the cabin.
"Come outside."
"Why?"
"It's nice out."
"How can it be nice in a snowy wasteland like this?" Zuko sneers.
"It is not a "snowy wasteland."" Yue retorts, feeling offended.
"Do you have eyes, princess, because all there is to see is snow and then more snow. It's a ridiculous excuse for a nation."
"Tribe, and don't tell me the Fire Nation has no taste, prince?"
"We have more taste than you peasants."
"You can't call me princess and then peasant in the same breath, you're just contradicting yourself."
"I'll clarify. You are the Princess of Water Tribe peasants."
Yue scoffs. "Well, you're the Prince of fiery idiots, like that Zhao person."
Zuko springs to his feet. "I am not like Zhao."
"Then prove it." Yue stares at Zuko. Zuko returns the stare. The oil lamp's flame is dangerously high. Zuko growls and turns around, intending to stalk over to the kitchen. A snowball is hurled at his back. It hits him square on the back of his neck. Zuko freezes as the snowball drips down his shirt. "Come outside," Yue tells him. "You can firebend outside freely."

Yue backs away from the door, swinging it open, letting Zuko see outside as he turns to face her. He stalks outside, brushing past Yue and walking a ways from the cabin. Yue is almost worried he will just keep walking. He stops. He takes a deep breath and roars like an angry tiger-dillo. Arms outstretched, head raised, fire streaming from his hands and his mouth. Yue's eyes widen. Breathing hard, he moves into a firebending form. Red fire puffs out with every jab, hook, and kick.

A/N: Just reminding people that the red fire thing is because at this point in time, Zuko isn't a great firebender and has little breath control. Yue is still impressed because she's never really seen firebending before and Zuko is creating a lot of fire because he is really angry but it is not under control, as evidenced by the oil lamp flame growing just off of Zuko's emotions.

Zuko doesn't know why he doesn't direct his rage at the cause; Princess Yue of the Water Tribe. Iroh is most likely the cause of it. Trying to give him morals. It was useless. Zuko draws on his anger, watching it turn into flames that are extinguished too quickly by the cold arctic climate. Another thing he hates. He's too cold. Even under all the blankets, there's a chill. Some of it is his wounds drawing on his energy, part is because of the cold climate, and finally, he's cold because he's a sorry excuse for a firebender. A firebender, cold? It should be impossible. At least, that's what his firebending tutors ground into him.

Yue watches the prince. He pours everything he can into his firebending. Yue briefly wonders if it might be visible from the city, but then figures that they are far enough out and Zuko's flame isn't large enough. Something stirs in her at the display of firebending. Tui. The spirit stirs, wanting to balance the firebending with waterbending. Yue suppresses the urge. Not now.

Zuko quickly burns himself out. Lungs burn for air, muscles tremble, limbs heavy. He trudges back into the cabin without another word. He trudges past Yue. He has to bite his tongue to avoid saying thank you. He should be saying thank you. She saved him. She did, but Zuko's pride won't let him accept it or even see it.