MfWAT: Different Kinds of Healing
Memories from Western Air Temple
Chapter Title: Different Kinds of Healing
Characters: Aang, Zuko, Katara, Toph
Arc: Legacy Arc
Setting: after No Justice Is Meant for All, before Fire’s Legacy
Rating: K+
Warnings: none
Summary: Even after visible wounds fade, a bit of reassurance can heal the invisible ones.
Once the group had made it back to the camp, they handed Azula over to the Order members to be properly restrained. Katara went to retrieve some more water so that she could tend to Zuko’s injuries while Aang got Zuko seated on a log, sitting down beside the firebender when the arm thrown across his shoulders for support refused to retreat. Aang didn’t mind the closeness at all and pressed himself against his companion’s side with a content smile.
When Katara came back, Zuko pulled his arm away from Aang, like he thought he wasn’t allowed to touch Aang in someone else’s presence. Aang refused to wallow in that thought and simply grabbed a hold of the retreating hand and pulled it to his lap, lacing their fingers together gently. Zuko didn’t resist the gesture.
Katara started the healing wordlessly, the cold touch of water causing Zuko to jump slightly. But the firebender settled again afterwards, and in moments Katara had managed to heal his injuries. All the burns had faded away into mere pink splotches on Zuko’s skin, ones that would heal on their own within days.
“There. That’s all I can do.” Katara straightened herself and watched Zuko in silence for a few moments. “Try to stay out of trouble for a while now.” The girl clearly tried for a scolding tone, but was apparently too shaken up by the earlier events to reach her usual sternness, coming across as merely relieved.
“Katara.” Zuko’s hesitancy was present in both his tone and expression and the girl looked at him expectantly. “Could you ask Jun to keep an eye on Azula, just checking up on her a couple of times a day? I think having some responsibility might help her feel less bored.”
The request was an odd one for Zuko, who rarely asked for help, especially from this certain waterbender. But then Aang saw just how exhausted Zuko was and understood that as much as Zuko would have preferred to talk to Jun himself, he probably lacked the energy to as much as rise up from his seat. That made Aang realize that he could only guess at the effort needed for bending life itself.
“Okay.” Katara nodded her head once in agreement and was then gone, leaving Aang and Zuko by themselves. But the two didn’t stay alone for a long time before Toph showed up to check on Zuko. Aang still felt envious of the easy manner between the girl and the prince, but he was also glad to see Zuko able to be so open with people other than him, even though at present the two boys were plagued by a certain awkwardness.
Soon enough Toph seemed to be satisfied and the discussion stopped as she nodded her head in an approving manner. Then the earthbender made to leave the two boys, only to hesitate.
“Firecracker.” Toph’s voice tone was suddenly reassuring, something that couldn’t be a good thing. “I don’t think you have to worry about Twinkle Toes’ kissing, since I’m sure he will improve with practise.”
Aang stared at the girl. “Excuse me?”
“That show you put on back there was less than mediocre.” Toph was completely calm, like there was nothing strange on bringing up ‘seeing’ your friends kissing. “I suggest you two get to practising, since a performance like that won’t do at your wedding.” The girl’s smirk was so wide it seemed to split her face. “It’ll be the one spectacle no one in the world would want to miss: the Marriage of the Avatar and the Fire Lord.” That said, the girl finally wandered off.
The two benders sat in silence for a while. Then, finally, Zuko shifted and cleared his throat. “I wasn’t expecting that. Sorry.”
“How was that your fault?” Aang frowned at the other, whose cheeks flushed slightly.
“We’ve been talking. She knows how I…feel.” Zuko tried to meet Aang’s gaze but his embarrassment caused him to lower his eyes. “Toph really loves teasing me.”
“She would have teased us anyway.” Aang smiled encouragingly at his companion. “I probably shouldn’t have kissed you like that without paying attention to our surroundings. I was really asking for it.”
“I didn’t mind.” Aang would have thought Zuko was just trying to make him feel better if it weren’t for the fact that Zuko’s obvious shyness was a clear sign of sincerity. And so Aang took the invitation for what it was.
“Next time will be more private.” Aang was spared the trouble of elaborating just why he didn’t want to kiss Zuko again right there and then when Iroh arrived, expression a mixture of anxiety and relief. Next time, Aang swore to himself, his next kiss with Zuko would be much more romantic, like the firebender deserved.
More Memories from Western Air Temple
Chapter Title: Different Kinds of Healing
Characters: Aang, Zuko, Katara, Toph
Arc: Legacy Arc
Setting: after No Justice Is Meant for All, before Fire’s Legacy
Rating: K+
Warnings: none
Summary: Even after visible wounds fade, a bit of reassurance can heal the invisible ones.
Once the group had made it back to the camp, they handed Azula over to the Order members to be properly restrained. Katara went to retrieve some more water so that she could tend to Zuko’s injuries while Aang got Zuko seated on a log, sitting down beside the firebender when the arm thrown across his shoulders for support refused to retreat. Aang didn’t mind the closeness at all and pressed himself against his companion’s side with a content smile.
When Katara came back, Zuko pulled his arm away from Aang, like he thought he wasn’t allowed to touch Aang in someone else’s presence. Aang refused to wallow in that thought and simply grabbed a hold of the retreating hand and pulled it to his lap, lacing their fingers together gently. Zuko didn’t resist the gesture.
Katara started the healing wordlessly, the cold touch of water causing Zuko to jump slightly. But the firebender settled again afterwards, and in moments Katara had managed to heal his injuries. All the burns had faded away into mere pink splotches on Zuko’s skin, ones that would heal on their own within days.
“There. That’s all I can do.” Katara straightened herself and watched Zuko in silence for a few moments. “Try to stay out of trouble for a while now.” The girl clearly tried for a scolding tone, but was apparently too shaken up by the earlier events to reach her usual sternness, coming across as merely relieved.
“Katara.” Zuko’s hesitancy was present in both his tone and expression and the girl looked at him expectantly. “Could you ask Jun to keep an eye on Azula, just checking up on her a couple of times a day? I think having some responsibility might help her feel less bored.”
The request was an odd one for Zuko, who rarely asked for help, especially from this certain waterbender. But then Aang saw just how exhausted Zuko was and understood that as much as Zuko would have preferred to talk to Jun himself, he probably lacked the energy to as much as rise up from his seat. That made Aang realize that he could only guess at the effort needed for bending life itself.
“Okay.” Katara nodded her head once in agreement and was then gone, leaving Aang and Zuko by themselves. But the two didn’t stay alone for a long time before Toph showed up to check on Zuko. Aang still felt envious of the easy manner between the girl and the prince, but he was also glad to see Zuko able to be so open with people other than him, even though at present the two boys were plagued by a certain awkwardness.
Soon enough Toph seemed to be satisfied and the discussion stopped as she nodded her head in an approving manner. Then the earthbender made to leave the two boys, only to hesitate.
“Firecracker.” Toph’s voice tone was suddenly reassuring, something that couldn’t be a good thing. “I don’t think you have to worry about Twinkle Toes’ kissing, since I’m sure he will improve with practise.”
Aang stared at the girl. “Excuse me?”
“That show you put on back there was less than mediocre.” Toph was completely calm, like there was nothing strange on bringing up ‘seeing’ your friends kissing. “I suggest you two get to practising, since a performance like that won’t do at your wedding.” The girl’s smirk was so wide it seemed to split her face. “It’ll be the one spectacle no one in the world would want to miss: the Marriage of the Avatar and the Fire Lord.” That said, the girl finally wandered off.
The two benders sat in silence for a while. Then, finally, Zuko shifted and cleared his throat. “I wasn’t expecting that. Sorry.”
“How was that your fault?” Aang frowned at the other, whose cheeks flushed slightly.
“We’ve been talking. She knows how I…feel.” Zuko tried to meet Aang’s gaze but his embarrassment caused him to lower his eyes. “Toph really loves teasing me.”
“She would have teased us anyway.” Aang smiled encouragingly at his companion. “I probably shouldn’t have kissed you like that without paying attention to our surroundings. I was really asking for it.”
“I didn’t mind.” Aang would have thought Zuko was just trying to make him feel better if it weren’t for the fact that Zuko’s obvious shyness was a clear sign of sincerity. And so Aang took the invitation for what it was.
“Next time will be more private.” Aang was spared the trouble of elaborating just why he didn’t want to kiss Zuko again right there and then when Iroh arrived, expression a mixture of anxiety and relief. Next time, Aang swore to himself, his next kiss with Zuko would be much more romantic, like the firebender deserved.
More Memories from Western Air Temple