The Wind and The Flame

Chapter One: Zuko's Redemption

Zuko stood in his room at the Western Air temple. He was still shook from the threat he had received from Katara. The rest of the team seemed to accept him, why didn't she?

He rolls his eyes and flops down on his bed. It's not as comfortable as his bed back in the fire nation, but he could adapt. It's funny to think, just weeks ago he was hunting the avatar, and now he's a couple rooms down from him. The old Zuko probably would've taken advantage of this situation and kidnapped Aang while he was sleeping, but that's not who he is. Not anymore. His fascination with the Avatar has shifted. His honor would never be returned to him through his father. He would just have to restore it, himself. Which is why he found himself here.

As he lay back in bed staring at the ceiling, Aang's words from three months ago echo in his ears. "Do you think if we knew each other back then, that we could've been friends too?" Zuko smiles. He wanted to believe the young boys words now. He wanted another chance, and this time, he wasn't going to mess up...

His thoughts shifted to his Uncle. He remembered the look of disappointment on his face when he last saw him. He regrets what he said, and what he did. He hoped, that one day, his Uncle would forgive him and see the person who he's become because of him.

Being this close to his former enemies still felt weird to him though. Hard to believe they really welcomed him, even though they hadn't at first. Burning the Earthbender's feet hadn't helped. It took Zuko helping them to take down Combustion man for them to even start to trust him. Zuko didn't know why he helped them when they rebuked him. Maybe because he wanted them to accept him, maybe it was something else. Zuko remembered how back in Ba Sing Se his Uncle had convinced him to release Aang's sky bison, but truth be told, he had planned to do so all along. He could imagine how sad the boy must've felt seperated from his lifelong companion like that. Zuko knew... He was separated from his mother. It still tore him apart at times, but he taught himself to endure through the pain. If there's one thing he was good at, it was pain endurance, he thinks to himself as he touches his scar. He sighs and faces the wall as he slowly drifts to sleep. He had a feeling he would need his energy, the next day he was supposed to begin teaching Aang firebending. He could tell, that was going to be a challenge.