The Water Bender and the Fire Prince//Zuko Fanfiction

13 ~ Sea Squid Soup

"Rise and shine," Iroh's voice cut through Enyo's dozing. "Time for training!"

Enyo popped one eye open to look at Zuko, who Iroh stood over. He was grumbling, but moving off of his mat.

The morning sun streamed downwards, warming Enyo's skin and leaving her sleepy. They had camped next to a small lake, the remnants of last night's fire dark and ashy. A clearing of trees wrapped around them, providing shelter from the main road.

"You too,"

Enyo groaned as Iroh's foot dug into her side and she opened her eyes. "I can't fire bend, why do I need to train?"

Iroh raised a bushy eyebrow. "You are a waterbender, and as far as we know, have never been trained. All the elements are connected, and if Zuko wants to redirect lightning, he best learns that skill from you,"

Enyo couldn't suppress the sly grin as she looked around Iroh at Zuko. The boy was shuffling his feet, obviously uncomfortable with learning waterbending techniques. She looked back at Iroh.

"Redirecting lightning is waterbending?"

"Not exactly. It requires a firebender, but the technique is based in waterbending."

Enyo nodded and pushed herself up.

A few moments later, she was stripped to underclothes, standing up to her knees in the warm lake water. Her toes sank into the wet sand and she planted her stance.

"Enyo," Iroh addressed her. He was fully dressed, standing on the shore of the small lake. He tucked his hands behind his back. "How much bending do you remember?"

Enyo glanced at Zuko. He was wearing his underclothes as well, standing close by. Not near enough to touch-- not that she would. She could see his bare chest and turned her gaze back to Iroh to avoid turning pink. They had all lost weight in their travels across the Earth Kingdom, but it did nothing to Zuko's toned stomach.

Enyo shook her head. "Not much of my training-- or if I was even trained. I think it's mostly muscle memory."

Iroh nodded. "I can work with that, can you copy me, but bend as you do so?"

Enyo nodded and shifted her stance wider, anchoring herself in the silt. She copied Iroh's motions, spreading her arms wide and sliding through the movement. A faint buzzing filled her hands and she slid along, pulling the water and moving it through. Enyo let it fall back into the water. The corner of her lip tilted up as Zuko got splashed.

"Excellent technique!" Iroh cheered.

Enyo smiled at the praise. It was unusual to feel so comfortable openly bending in front of Firebenders let alone getting praised for it. 

"Zuko," Iroh looked at the prince, who was shifting uncomfortably. "Follow Enyo's movements."

Enyo looked back at Zuko, made eye contact, and twisted back to look at Iroh. She moved through the bending again, this time purposely splashing Zuko with the water.

Iroh frowned. "Zuko, you are far too stiff. You need to be more fluid." He moved as if to step into the water, and crinkled his nose. Enyo could see him eyeing the water-- no doubt trying to avoid getting his clothes wet-- and if Enyo was being honest, she didn't want to see Iroh naked again. Not after the incident where he was kidnapped by Earthbenders.

Enyo moved back, deeper into the water. It was up near her hips as she stood behind Zuko. She paused. "Can I touch you?"

Zuko looked back at her, and Enyo could swear that she saw his face turn pink. He turned his face forward. "Yes."