When Hatred turned to Love (ATLA Zuko x OC)

Chapter Thirty-One - Bitter Work

It took about an hour of healing. The glowing water played within her fingertips. Katara had told her that she had mastered healing and right that moment Iris couldn't be more grateful that she had offered to teach her.

Zuko hadn't talked to her since the fight. He had only nodded when she offered to heal his uncle. He sat on the ground resting his back on the wall of the deserted house with his hands crossed while Iris worked on Iroh's wound. They both tried to avoid each other's eyes, both afraid of making things awkward. Why did she stay? He only asked that in his mind. She didn't stay with me since the North Pole, why now?

Her voice drew his attention and he looked up at her. "He'll be fine," she said raising her gaze to his.

Zuko just nodded. He had missed the sound of her voice and he bit his lip harshly just in the thought of it. He managed to raise his gaze meeting hers. Guilt, sorrow, both clear in her purple eyes. She stared back at him, her eyes unwilling to draw away from his eyes' amber color.

They both snapped out of it when they heard Iroh from behind trying to wake on sitting position. Iris immediately turned around and she helped the old man sit.

"Uncle, you were unconscious, Azula did this to you. It was a surprise attack," Zuko said crossing his legs.

"Somehow that's no so surprising," Iroh said wincing as Iris helped him stand in sitting position. "Thank you, Iris, it's good to have you back," the old man said smiling kindly at her.

Iris smiled back at him and she said "I tried to heal the most of it. How do you feel?" she asked.

"Much better, actually, a burn was supposed to let me unconscious an entire day, thank you," Iroh said gratefully. "You're the Defender, aren't you?" he asked.

"Surprise," Iris said opening her arms.

"That wasn't surprising either," Iroh said.

"I hope I made it the way you like it," Zuko said pouring a cup of tea to Iroh and giving it to him.

Iroh wrapped it and he took a sip. His eyes widened immediately in disgust. "Good..." he managed to say. He drank quickly the rest of it letting a small moaning of disgust and he said kindly "...that was very... bracing,"

"Would you like some?" Zuko asked looking at Iris.

"Oh, thanks, but, I'm okay," Iris said raising her hand and smiling kindly at him.

Zuko poured another cup of tea for Iroh and he said "So, uncle, I've been thinking, it's only a matter of time before we run to Azula again. I'm going to need more advanced fire bending if I'm going to stand a chance against her. I know what you're gonna say, she's my sister and I should be trying to get along with her,"

"No, she's crazy and she needs to go down," Iroh said letting the cup beside him. At that Zuko nodded. Iroh managed to wake up, with Iris's help, wincing and he said "It's time to resume your training,"

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"I don't understand what went wrong, he did it exactly the way you did," Katara said confusedly.

"Maybe there's another way. What if I came at the boulder from a different angle," Aang said getting in an air bending stance and walking towards the boulder.

Toph stopped him wrapping his napkin "No, that's the problem. You need to stop thinking like an air bender. There's no different angle not clever solution, not trickery trick that's gonna move that rock. You've got to face it head on, and when I say head on, I mean like this!" Toph said.