"We Were the Kings and Queens of Promise"

[markofthebrave]

Who: Zuko, Aang, and Katara
What: Family Dinner!
When: April 15th
Where: House 56
Summary: The Fire Lord, the Avatar, and a Master Waterbender all sat down to dinner.
Rating: Should be fairly low key

Life goes on. And as Sokka and Suki go off to celebrate their very real love and their very real anniversary, someone still has to make dinner. And tonight, as with many other nights, that someone is Katara. There is a vegetarian dish for Aang, a large dish of rice and mango, and some spicy shish-kabobs for Zuko (and some less spicy ones for Katara). Despite the awkwardness, this is life, and they have to keep living it.

Comments

[burningdownfate]

[WHAT is that glance for, Katara?] I don't use the Dome either.

[markofthebrave]

[Sigh.]

So, Aang - when you're from, what's your status on your bending? Have you mastered them all?

[Even at the end, she'd heard Toph saying that he still needed practice on his earthbending. She'd never really even seen Aang successfully firebend, come to think of it.

Hmm.]

[savedtheworld]

I think I'm at a really high level with all the forms, but I wouldn't say I've completely mastered them. Except for Airbending, of course. I still knew enough to survive against Ozai. [He paused to sip some juice and briefly wondered if mentioning Ozai in front of Zuko was a bad idea. So he quickly continued.]

I still have to practice regularly to keep things up. And there are still a bunch of techniques I never learned... like metalbending. But I can deflect lightning, thanks to Zuko here.

[burningdownfate]

[It's okay to mention Ozai. Just don't expect long conversations. Zuko shrugs one shoulder and picks up one of the shish-kabobs.] We could spar, if you wanted. There's no sense in letting your firebending go by the wayside here.

[markofthebrave]

[Ha, and she didn't even need to kick him under the table.

Katara takes a satisfied sip of soda.]

[savedtheworld]

Sure, Zuko. My firebending is the one I have the least experience in, and you did kinda think I didn't know enough back before the last battle. I can pick things up if you want.

[burningdownfate]

Yeah, you could use some training there.

[savedtheworld]

Alright, Sifu Hotman. [He grins and then faces Katara, ready to expand the meal.] Can you pass the rice, Katara?

[markofthebrave]

Here you go. [She passes the rice.]

...you know, Aang, I don't think I've ever even seen you firebend. Besides that one time.

[With Jeong-Jeong. But she doesn't like to bring that up.]

[savedtheworld]

[He briefly looks off to the side as he remembers the Jeong-Jeong incident, but he quickly dismisses it from his mind.]

Right. I didn't start really start learning until after the invasion. [Pause] Do you want to see some? [He asks somewhat hesitantly, recognizing it is a hot button issue (no pun intended).]

[markofthebrave]

[It's true. Fire is not her favorite element.

But you happen to be her favorite Avatar.]

Maybe I'll just watch you and Zuko one time. I'd like to see what you've learned.

[It's important for him to have embraced all the parts of his calling.]

[savedtheworld]

[He collected some of the rice and mangoes for his place while smiling gratefully.]

Sure. It'd be nice to have an audience. [And maybe act as a buffer if Zuko got too strict.]

[burningdownfate]

[Zuko holds out a hand.] Rice, please. [Pause] An audience won't make me go easier on you.

[He knows what you're thinking, Aang. He knows.]

[savedtheworld]

[Aang just meekly hands over the rice. He catches a glimpse at Zuko's food as he does so and quickly averts his eyes. In a thought less likely to be predicted by Zuko, he can remember shish-kabobs being delicious. Aang quietly buries himself in his rice.]

[markofthebrave]

I'm sure that you'll do just fine, Aang.

[There is no light note of threat in her voice towards Zuko, and those aren't the droids you're looking for.]

[savedtheworld]

[Aang of course doesn't notice the presence or absence of such a threat, especially when receiving a Katara complaint. He looks up and smiles at her.]

Thanks, Katara. I'll do my best.

[markofthebrave]

[And Katara takes a sip of soda and gives Zuko a Significant Glance.]

When do you think you'll have your first lesson?

[burningdownfate]

Whenever Aang wants to start. [Zuko shrugs.] I do my bending practice every morning.

[savedtheworld]

[Aang noted this strong concern about his bending training.]

I don't have much in my schedule except for school, so I can do some practice before I head there pretty much any morning. Maybe we could even start tomorrow.

[Early to bed, early to rise was the Avatar way.

...He was almost ready to suggest more Waterbending sessions with Katara as well, but he soon realized that it would be too weighty to suggest considering how connected such practice was to that horrible other week. He focused on his rice instead.]

[markofthebrave]

[The bending was a concern, but... Katara was from a point where Zuko and Aang weren't exactly friendly, and she... was concerned, okay? Sometimes things got weird, and she just wanted to make sure that everyone was as they should be. That everyone had someone to fall back on.

Also, ugh.]

What you call "morning" I call "pre-dawn."

[savedtheworld]

[Of course, this Aang was used to everyone getting along with the exception of Zuko at Yu Dao. He would probably be surprised at Katara herself getting along with Zuko if he thought out the time she came from.]

That's because you're a sleepyhead. We can find time to practice when you're awake.

[burningdownfate]

Hey, sun's up when I practice. [You know. Barely.] Tomorrow's good. If you're up early enough, I'll make enough breakfast for the both of us.

[markofthebrave]

[There is something seriously wrong with both of you.]

[savedtheworld]

Sure! That sounds great, Zuko.

[He nibbles on some mango.]

[burningdownfate]

You got it. I'll wake you when I get up, then. [They're not crazy, Katara. Just different.]