Memories from Western Airtemple
Worthless
Author's Notes: Here is the update I promised. This chapter takes place during the episode "Firebending Masters". It's a missing scene of sorts.
Memories from Western Air Temple
Chapter 6
Worthless
The whole day Zuko had attempted to summon a flame and had been unsuccessful every single time. No matter how well he controlled his breathing or how deeply he concentrated, the flames he created paled in comparison to those he had used to be able to produce.
How in the world was he supposed to teach the Avatar, ‘Aang’ his mind now corrected him, how to firebend if he was not able to do it himself? What had happened after the last time he had bended to make him lose all of the abilities he had worked years to master? How could they have just vanished within the span of a few days?
It was obvious that mulling about all those questions was not going to help him. There were no answers to be found within his own mind, despite what his uncle had told him in forms of different metaphors during the years they had travelled.
Zuko dug the heel of his right hand into his eye, cursing the insistent itch that had formed there the moment he had thought about his uncle. He was so very lost without the man there to give him guidance and cryptic advice. Even the mere presence of the tea-loving ex-general would have been a blessing to the tormented prince.
He needed to tell Aang. Zuko shivered in a wave of mixed feelings at that thought. The young Avatar should have already figured out that something was wrong with Zuko’s firebending after the display the prince had put up earlier that day. But, considering the boy’s positive attitude, Aang was probably convinced that it had only been a fluke and that Zuko would be back to his normal fiery self the next day.
Maybe, if they all put their heads together, they cold find an answer to Zuko’s predicament? The prince snorted before folding his hands on top of his knees and lowering his chin onto the pile on limbs. After receiving the cold shoulder from Katara for days now Zuko seriously doubted that the girl would lend him any assistance. And even though her brother had not displayed open animosity towards Zuko, the firebender could tell that the warrior did not consider him welcome in their group either. As for Teo and Haru, the latter did not even talk to Zuko, let alone try to make his stay at the temple any easier. Teo seemed to tolerate him well enough, though, but they were not exactly friends either. The Duke might have supported him along with Toph but Zuko did not exactly feel comfortable with being defended by the frailest-looking members of the group.
And as for Aang, Zuko groaned as he buried his face in his arms at the thought. Aang would be so disappointed in him. Why would the airbender keep an enemy around if he was not going to be of any use or, worse yet, was going to need taking care of? He had come after the Avatar to help him, not to get helped by him. Katara could probably easily convince the younger boy to kick Zuko out of the team now that he had become a liability.
With a sigh Zuko unravelled the cocoon his body had wrapped itself into. He sat leaning against one knee that was propped up while his other leg crossed beneath it and pushed a finger into the dirt on the ground. Slowly, the prince’s hand moved, leaving behind spirals in the dirt. When the teen was done, he pulled his hand back and glanced at the flame he had drawn.
It was not the Fire Nation symbol, not was it the symbol of the fire element that his uncle had drawn for him once. The figure in the dirt was at first unfamiliar to even Zuko himself and it took a moment for him to remember why it was familiar to him at all.
Thoughts drifting to the artefact tucked away safely in the backpack that was inside the temple Zuko had to really wonder what he was so afraid of. He remembered how Aang had taken him into the inner sanctum of the temple only a couple of days ago. He remembered the young boy’s kind mannerism and friendly words and gestures. Those memories were what Zuko needed to realize that he could trust Aang not to abandon him in his time of need.
Getting up from his seat on the ground Zuko turned to where he knew Aang and his friends were still awake. Even if they did not consider him to be their friend, he himself did, and he was not going to keep them in the dark anymore.
To be continued...