Throne of Ashes (Avatar: The Last Airbender Fanfic)

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Slowly, Zuko became acclimated to how his firebending felt and the power behind it when he let his movements flow.

"That is a good thing, as I've heard you will be starting up at the academy soon, and I'll be attending with you," Minato said, overseeing him, sometimes showing him traditional waterbending movements that Zuko adapted into his bending.

"I'm not sure," Zuko sighed. "The fact I bend differently will stand out like a sore thumb."

"Likely," Minato said. "Let's run through the routine you want to show Hana again, but I think we should prepare to show it before you go to the academy as it will tire you out, but you'll have less time to spend with her."

"I won't be able to spend much time with Hana?" Zuko let out a sigh. "But she's nice, and I spend time away to show her this."

"Then, perhaps you should show her tomorrow?"

"I'm still worried regarding how she will react."

"Remember? What might help her not have a negative reaction?"

"I'm opening with the waterbending movement you taught me, letting the heat flow through my body."

Minato frowned. "Where did the last part come from?"

"What. Isn't that how it feels to you, when you bend, that the heat is moving around inside you?"

Minato tilted his head, looking up at the clouds, sighing. "It's more like a cool, cold bubble, but it stays in my gut, so I'm not sure what's going on with your bending. When he's observed, Prince Iroh hasn't corrected you much, particularly at all of late, so that must mean you are doing well."

"I guess so," Zuko sighed. "That's kind of odd.

"But, we'll show her the next morning."

Which—

Nervously, Zuko stood there while Minato instructed Hana to stay in one spot while Ursa and Hama also watched. Looking around, Azula and her friends weren't there to interrupt his concentration.

Taking a deep breath, he began moving, not paying attention to the look on Hana's face, knowing seeing her upset might upset him, or so Minato advised.

With ease, he swirled around, letting his fires dance around him in smooth arcs, his jumps coming with ease from a starting stance that didn't feel stiff and ridged, but he moved with speed and agility.

The power behind his flames—Zuko felt a sweat start up on his pale skin, and finally, he finished and bowed. "There. I am not sure my bending has improved any, but..."

"But it has!" Ursa said. "I know I'm not a bender, but that is much different from when you showed your bending to grandfather. He might..."

"No, no!" Zuko stood up straight, his arms crossing. "I'm not ready. Don't think I ever will be."

"He's shown he is bending to the Firelord?" Hama asked.

"It didn't end well, particularly since Azula went first," Ursa said. "But I'm very proud of Prince Zuko for trying, even though he stumped in the process."

Zuko took a deep breath and looked at Hana, who clapped her hands together. "You liked? It didn't scare you?"

"That was different," Hana said. "That wasn't like..."

And then her facial features faultered, and Zuko swallowed. He lifted his hands, eating again. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you think of something bad, of a bad memory. Is it a bad memory, though? Of firebending."