Wanting to be loved (Zuko)

42.

Midday Zuko disappeared again. 'Do you know where he is going and how he gets all this food? If you do then tell me please' Iroh said. 'Unfortunately I have no clue either. I haven't asked his because I don't want a fight. But next time he goes I will follow him' I tell Iroh. 'I would like that' he said reassured.

I really wonder where he gets this stuff or better from who does he steal. Zuko comes back with a bunch of nice things. Iroh tries to question him and I try to stay out of it.

Iroh says that Zuko must not fall into despair and always keep hope even without catching Aang. Zuko leaves again and I follow him silently and I see him sit on a rock. It looks like he is thinking so I let him alone and return back to Iroh and help him pack everything so we can go further when Zuko returns.

'He is coming' I say to Iroh. Zuko says to Iroh that he thought about what he said and he thinks it's better to go their separate ways. 'Okay, but Miku will go with you so she can keep you out of trouble' Iroh says and I give him a sad look. I walk to him and give him a hug. 'Till the next time we meet' I say to him and walk over to Zuko who started walking already. 'Wait!' Iroh says and I look back. He comes with the ostrich horse and gives him to us. 'Are you sure?' I ask him and he only nods.

Zuko places himself on the ostrich horse and I sit behind him. I look at Iroh for as long I can see him. 'You are sure that this is what you want?' I ask Zuko. 'Yes, you didn't have to come with me because my uncle said so' he tells me. 'I didn't come because of Iroh. I came because of you and you can't sleep without me so how do think it would've worked out' I joke. 'I guess you're right' he admits 'Well Zuko that is because I'm always right you know' 'Okay now you have to stop' 'Yeah, yeah whatever you say prince Zuko' I say and give him a kiss on his neck.

We travel for a while and then decide to set up a camp. We eat the food Zuko brought with him. After dinner I practice my bending. 'Why do you practice so much? It's not like you need it' Zuko asks me. 'I find I calming to practice and I come up with new things to try. Since I never had a master I learned these things myself and I make up moves too.' I tell him and keep up the movements.

'Don't you get bored training by yourself?' 'You can join me if you want. I haven't seen you practice in a while' I dare him. And of course it works, don't touch a man's pride, I know this from Sokka with him it always worked. Zuko stands in front of me and I wait till he begins. I know he will because he doesn't have the patience to wait until his opponent attacks. I on the other hand prefer that my opponent begins so I can see how he will fight. Zuko blasts fire towards me and I turn around to avoid it.

Then I attack and hit him with a water whip. He sends fire to my feet and I make a backflip and land a little further away. Now I freeze his feet but he soon melts the ice. But I take the minute to move closer to the water. Zuko runs to me still attacking and now we're in a half bending and bare hand fight. This is something I need to train. Fighting without my bending when my opponent is a man and stronger and bigger than me.

I fought with Sokka but he is my height and not really that strong. Suddenly a stressed feeling comes over me and I know it's from Aang. Because of this I lose focus and Zuko pins me to the ground. I tried to get away but he is too strong. So now I concentrate and try to get the water to me, it works and soon we are covered in water and I freeze Zuko so I can get away. I crawl from underneath him and he melts the ice. 'That was a good move' he admits 'Thank you' is all I say before I attack him again.

I can hit him with waves a few times so he loses his balance. He is starting to trip and then he falls. I quickly jump on him so he can't get up. I take my sai and stab them in the ground next to his neck. We are both panting. I smile at him and want to stand up but Zuko holds me by my hips. 'If it wasn't for you I would beat the crap out of you because you beat me, twice' he says and sits up, I just grin at him. 'I mean it. If you were some guy I really would' and I know he's telling me the truth.

'I can't understand that without a master to train you and not even the time to practice every day for hours that you're so strong' he admits. 'I think it has to do with determination. And to survive. If I wasn't strong and knew how to defend myself or if I didn't know how to catch my food I wouldn't have been here' I tell him and think about how easy my life was now compared to when I was still at home. 'Did they ever hurt you physically?' Zuko asks me and I just look at him.

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- xo Calypso-Nox.