MfWAT: A Matter of Observation
Memories from Western Air Temple
Chapter Title: A Matter of Observation
Characters: Teo, Zuko (main) The Duke (minor)
Arc: Unity Arc
Setting: after It's Fine Because I Say So, before “Southern Raiders”
Rating: K+
Warnings: spoilers up to "Boiling Rock"
Summary: Teo was more of a thinker than a fighter. Still, it was better that the others did not know all the things he thought of in his active mind.
At first Teo did not understand just what was the problem that everyone seemed to have with trying to get to know Prince Zuko better. In his mind, it was better to get close to the firebender than to leave him to his own devices. If they could manage to get to know Zuko better then they would perhaps be able to see any upcoming betrayal from the teen. When they were pushing the other away they were encouraging traitorous behaviour.
That had all been before Teo tried to talk to Zuko himself. He had gone up to the firebender when the other seemed to have been doing nothing in particular and had gained his attention easily. But then those golden eyes had looked right into Teo’s own dark ones and the crippled boy had lost his voice. In that short, unguarded moment that their gazes had met, there had been such tormented agony in the other’s eyes that Teo had been frightened. He had not tried to speak to Zuko face to face since.
Zuko was a broody person and that made him difficult to approach. And because of that it had taken a long time for the prince a long time to truly settle in within the group. But it had happened, gradually, and by the time Teo really thought about the matter again the firebender already was one of them. When the raven-haired teen and Sokka had returned with the people they had rescued from a Fire Nation prison, Teo was one of the many people who were happy to see that Zuko had also come back unharmed.
It seemed that the trip with Sokka had done wonders to Zuko’s self-confidence. This became apparent when it was once again time for them to travel in town to buy new items. They tended to visit different towns each time so that they did not draw attention to themselves and this time they went to a town surrounded by thick woods, where they could hide Appa a short distance away so that the bison would not be noticed.
Things had not been alright in that town and they had become aware of this when they were nearly finished with their shopping. They had split up into smaller groups so that they could take care of everything faster and Teo had ended up with The Duke and Zuko and they had come across a small group of mismatched ruffians harassing a young woman. The Duke had immediately shied away from the scene and while Teo was still contemplating if it would be smart of them to interfere and draw attention to themselves when Zuko stormed past the two and towards the three men.
Even though startled, Teo still reacted quickly enough to realize that he would probably have to tell Zuko not to firebend at the men but in the next instant he closed his mouth again. Even unarmed, Zuko did not seem to need any bending to take care of the thugs.
Moving quickly Zuko rushed at the men and jumped high in the air in order to deliver a sharp kick in one man’s chin, sending him crashing down into the ground. Somehow, the aerial strike looked a lot like something Aang would have done, but perhaps not as ruthlessly.
The second grunt had turned to Zuko, only to receive a series of fast punches to his chest and stomach. As a finishing touch, like performing a firebending kata, the prince kicked out with a foot and Teo could swear he heard the man’s ribs crack upon contact.
In mere moments Zuko had taken out two out of three large men but the third one had had enough time to both become aware of the attack they were under, as well as to slash out with a sword that had been resting at his hip. The broad sword swung through the air and met nothing more as Zuko leaned backwards, his body bending backwards with the grace of a stream of water while he supported his weight with a hand planted on the ground underneath. And, as the thug’s body moved forward along with his attack, Zuko allowed his body to continue the movement and flipped backwards. His knee hit the man’s chin with a painful sound and as Zuko landed back on his feet the man fell on the ground in a heap.
After regaining his balance, Zuko took a couple of deep breaths and then started to speak. He had straightened his posture and was speaking in a tone of voice that commanded attention. Four heads rose to look up at him, the girl kneeling on the ground and the defeated men. Zuko stood like a rock and Teo doubted any earthbender could pull off looking more stony than the firebender right at that moment. Zuko talked slowly, and the men listened to every single word. And that was when Teo realized that they had all been neglecting to remember the one thing that was obvious: Zuko was a prince, a born leader.
Teo felt a shiver run up his back as he listened to Zuko speak in an icy voice, threatening the beaten men with unspeakable terrors that he would inflict upon them personally unless they left the town at once. In the next instant the men were running towards the town gate like their lives depended on it and Zuko was pulling the girl to her feet. And, after brushing the grateful female’s thanks off, Zuko walked back to Teo and The Duke. The firebender placed a hand on each of their shoulders and smiled kindly, like he had not just scared off three men that must have all been trice his age and weight.
As The Duke began to chat cheerfully with Zuko, seemingly already forgetting about what had just occurred, Teo watched the Fire Nation prince from the corner of his eye. In the end he came to the conclusion that even though Aang was the Avatar, he did not really look the part. Zuko, on the other hand, had just become Teo’s image of the saviour of the world.
More Memories from Western Air Temple
Chapter Title: A Matter of Observation
Characters: Teo, Zuko (main) The Duke (minor)
Arc: Unity Arc
Setting: after It's Fine Because I Say So, before “Southern Raiders”
Rating: K+
Warnings: spoilers up to "Boiling Rock"
Summary: Teo was more of a thinker than a fighter. Still, it was better that the others did not know all the things he thought of in his active mind.
At first Teo did not understand just what was the problem that everyone seemed to have with trying to get to know Prince Zuko better. In his mind, it was better to get close to the firebender than to leave him to his own devices. If they could manage to get to know Zuko better then they would perhaps be able to see any upcoming betrayal from the teen. When they were pushing the other away they were encouraging traitorous behaviour.
That had all been before Teo tried to talk to Zuko himself. He had gone up to the firebender when the other seemed to have been doing nothing in particular and had gained his attention easily. But then those golden eyes had looked right into Teo’s own dark ones and the crippled boy had lost his voice. In that short, unguarded moment that their gazes had met, there had been such tormented agony in the other’s eyes that Teo had been frightened. He had not tried to speak to Zuko face to face since.
Zuko was a broody person and that made him difficult to approach. And because of that it had taken a long time for the prince a long time to truly settle in within the group. But it had happened, gradually, and by the time Teo really thought about the matter again the firebender already was one of them. When the raven-haired teen and Sokka had returned with the people they had rescued from a Fire Nation prison, Teo was one of the many people who were happy to see that Zuko had also come back unharmed.
It seemed that the trip with Sokka had done wonders to Zuko’s self-confidence. This became apparent when it was once again time for them to travel in town to buy new items. They tended to visit different towns each time so that they did not draw attention to themselves and this time they went to a town surrounded by thick woods, where they could hide Appa a short distance away so that the bison would not be noticed.
Things had not been alright in that town and they had become aware of this when they were nearly finished with their shopping. They had split up into smaller groups so that they could take care of everything faster and Teo had ended up with The Duke and Zuko and they had come across a small group of mismatched ruffians harassing a young woman. The Duke had immediately shied away from the scene and while Teo was still contemplating if it would be smart of them to interfere and draw attention to themselves when Zuko stormed past the two and towards the three men.
Even though startled, Teo still reacted quickly enough to realize that he would probably have to tell Zuko not to firebend at the men but in the next instant he closed his mouth again. Even unarmed, Zuko did not seem to need any bending to take care of the thugs.
Moving quickly Zuko rushed at the men and jumped high in the air in order to deliver a sharp kick in one man’s chin, sending him crashing down into the ground. Somehow, the aerial strike looked a lot like something Aang would have done, but perhaps not as ruthlessly.
The second grunt had turned to Zuko, only to receive a series of fast punches to his chest and stomach. As a finishing touch, like performing a firebending kata, the prince kicked out with a foot and Teo could swear he heard the man’s ribs crack upon contact.
In mere moments Zuko had taken out two out of three large men but the third one had had enough time to both become aware of the attack they were under, as well as to slash out with a sword that had been resting at his hip. The broad sword swung through the air and met nothing more as Zuko leaned backwards, his body bending backwards with the grace of a stream of water while he supported his weight with a hand planted on the ground underneath. And, as the thug’s body moved forward along with his attack, Zuko allowed his body to continue the movement and flipped backwards. His knee hit the man’s chin with a painful sound and as Zuko landed back on his feet the man fell on the ground in a heap.
After regaining his balance, Zuko took a couple of deep breaths and then started to speak. He had straightened his posture and was speaking in a tone of voice that commanded attention. Four heads rose to look up at him, the girl kneeling on the ground and the defeated men. Zuko stood like a rock and Teo doubted any earthbender could pull off looking more stony than the firebender right at that moment. Zuko talked slowly, and the men listened to every single word. And that was when Teo realized that they had all been neglecting to remember the one thing that was obvious: Zuko was a prince, a born leader.
Teo felt a shiver run up his back as he listened to Zuko speak in an icy voice, threatening the beaten men with unspeakable terrors that he would inflict upon them personally unless they left the town at once. In the next instant the men were running towards the town gate like their lives depended on it and Zuko was pulling the girl to her feet. And, after brushing the grateful female’s thanks off, Zuko walked back to Teo and The Duke. The firebender placed a hand on each of their shoulders and smiled kindly, like he had not just scared off three men that must have all been trice his age and weight.
As The Duke began to chat cheerfully with Zuko, seemingly already forgetting about what had just occurred, Teo watched the Fire Nation prince from the corner of his eye. In the end he came to the conclusion that even though Aang was the Avatar, he did not really look the part. Zuko, on the other hand, had just become Teo’s image of the saviour of the world.
More Memories from Western Air Temple