(no subject)

[found-myway.livejournal.com]

Weeks of searching, more weeks of life on Stacy, and Zuko still hadn't found who he was looking for.

He was getting plenty sick of tunnel-crawling, too, and closer to a Punishment than was probably smart. And he hated to think of how much time "missions" were going to take away from his search . . . but whether he lacked time or not, he still needed to train.

The scarred prince ran through his katas in the Sensoriums, a breeze cooling the sweat on his back and blowing away the heat from his flames as he practiced in an open-air dojo. They were basic katas. His uncle would have been proud -

Except, no. He really wouldn't. Zuko faltered in his stance, remembering the last time he'd seen his uncle - the dim prison, the quiet disapproval in his voice, and Zuko's fireblast went wide as he stumbled.

Shit. At least nobody was there to see, right . . .?

Comments

[so-pregnable.livejournal.com]

"Smoooooth," says the Kryptonian in the doorway, but the grin on his face is friendly.

[found-myway.livejournal.com]

Friendly, or patronizing?

No, friendly, but when it involves one of his failures, Zuko doesn't care about the difference.

"I wasn't focused enough," he snapped. He retook his stance, and began running the kata again. The floating guy would get bored and float away. Right? Riiight?

[so-pregnable.livejournal.com]

The floating guy can't really float too much. He hates walking everywhere, but things are what they are, so he sets down and walks into the room--not too close though. Fire and him haven't always been pals, what with his TTK not shielding against it very well, and TTK is all he's got right now.

"You don't have to get all touchy about it. I screw up all the time with my powers--or they screw up on me. Then again, I get a new one popping up every other week, but even the one's I've had forever like to go all wonky on me sometimes."

[found-myway.livejournal.com]

"Hey, my powers don't screw up, I screw up."

. . . yeah, way to talk yourself up, Zuko. He realizes only too late he could have gotten away without saying that, and frowns . . . more.

He breathes in and out. "My mind is unfocused, and it makes me sloppy. I need to regain my inner calm in order to improve."

And he NEEDS to improve. Who's to say Azula isn't going to show up here one day? Or his father? Stacy might keep them from killing each other, but Azula doesn't need to physically hurt people to still find ways to be evil.

[so-pregnable.livejournal.com]

"That's kinda what I mean. Focus isn't exactly my strong point. Which don't work so good when everything rips like cardboard if you touch it the wrong way," says Kon.

[thethirdhalfa.livejournal.com]

"Oh, so THAT'S what you meant by firebending. Cool!"

Why look, Zuko, there's that little girl you don't like. Looking at you with a happy and impressed grin.

"Great recovery. First time trying for that wide a blast? Hopefully it'll get smoothed out," she said. Sounding quite sincere in her words instead of mocking. After all, Dani is a 'try and see if it works' fighting style kind of girl.

[found-myway.livejournal.com]

It's not that he doesn't like you, Dani, you just . . . got off to a bad start.

Which is pretty easy to do, because Zuko is touchy as . . . a touchy thing.

He sighs as the flames around him dissipate. "No, these are basic katas." He doesn't LIKE admitting that he's having a bad day, but, well, excuses are for people who aren't really interested in improvement. "I lost my focus. I've been distracted lately and it's been making me sloppy."

Normally, he'd be mad that Dani was giving him ANOTHER distraction, but she probably wasn't here to distract him on purpose.

[thethirdhalfa.livejournal.com]

"Distracted? By what?" Dani asked curiously. "And what's a kata?" Luckily Dani has no clue how Zuko really feels about her. Takes her a bit to catch subtle hints like glares.

So she'll happily ask questions. Even if she doesn't mean to distract.

[found-myway.livejournal.com]

If Zuko wanted her out, he would have kicked her out by now. But really, being left alone with his thoughts never helps him get over his internal conflict, and he WOULD have someone to talk it out with, but, well . . .

"Guilt." The prince owns his shame. "I betrayed the only member of my family who really cared about me." Apart from his mother, but, well, she hasn't been around lately. "Back home, I was on my way to break him out of prison when I got stuck here first."

He sits down on a bench, hunched over as if under the weight of his own dishonor.

". . . and a kata is a martial arts form."

[thethirdhalfa.livejournal.com]

Dani stared then, looking...well, not really pitying. It was more of an understanding look. She walked over, thinking about her response. A rare instance, but she knew betrayal wasn't to be taken lightly.

"Well...you were going to break him out? To make up for what you did, right?" Dani asked. "An...apology?"

[grayaura.livejournal.com]

Mai stood in the doorway for a moment, arms folded, eyes following Zuko's movements. Then she stepped forward, taking a seat on one of the dojo's steps, "Zuko... are you sure you're doing alright?"

[found-myway.livejournal.com]

He sighed, falling backwards onto a bench. "No. I'm sloppy, unfocused, my technique is awful -"

That . . . probably wasn't what she meant.

Reposted for typo. And crappy work internets.

[grayaura.livejournal.com]

No. It really wasn't. Mai frowned and leaned forward, eying him, "I mean mentally, Zuko. I mean physically. I've barely seen you - you're always wriggling around inside this... thing..."

She waves a hand to indicate Stacy, "...and you don't rest. You're always gone. What's going on, Zuko?"

This is her way of showing she cares. Really.

[found-myway.livejournal.com]

He sighs.

"I've been here too long, and I still haven't found -"

He wonders how to phrase this. Doubtless the last thing Mai wants to talk about is Zuko's renewed chasing of the Avatar.

[grayaura.livejournal.com]

"Haven't found what? Zuko, I want to help you. Stop shoving me away like this. You know I can handle myself."

She folds her arms, lips pressed together into a thin line.

o hay zuko

[sonof-mogh.livejournal.com]

Worf stands near the entrance, watching for a moment before he comments.

"You should not allow yourself to be distracted. It could prove fatal in a real confrontation." And of course, he's quietly impressed by the fact that this kid can shoot fire from his hands.

Re: o hay zuko

[found-myway.livejournal.com]

Zuko grits his teeth at the admonishment, but nods, because Worf is exactly right and he knows it.

"I let myself be distracted by thoughts of home," he admits, bowing to Worf in greeting. "I left many loose ends back in my home. My firebending is suffering because of it."

He might not be Azula, but he's better than this, dammit!

Re: o hay zuko

[sonof-mogh.livejournal.com]

Worf returns the bow respectfully.

"It is understandable. Being abducted by unknown forces is not particularly good for keeping your mind focused. " He nods, still as grim faced as ever.

"Your style is very interesting. It is most reminiscent of a martial art known as 'Northern Shaolin Style' in my home. Except it lacks the fire."

Re: o hay zuko

[found-myway.livejournal.com]

You know, something about Worf's perpetual grimness appeals to Zuko. He feels a lot more comfortable speaking to people who he doesn't suspect are making efforts to smile at him.

"In my country, it is called firebending. There are hand-to-hand adaptations for nonbenders, so that might be what you've seen."

Re: o hay zuko

[sonof-mogh.livejournal.com]

Smiling is rare for Worf. He has to be seriously amused to even crack a smile. He's a dour guy, what do you expect?

"I see. I do not practice the style myself. I do, however, practice an art known as mok'bara."

Kung Fu Talk

[a-fist-of-iron.livejournal.com]

"What is that, Northern Shaolin?" Danny asked, leaning against the wall. "Looks like some Northern Seven Star Mantis thrown in there too. Can't say I've ever seen a form like that, but then again, most of the ones I've seen don't involve shooting fire."

Re: Kung Fu Talk

[found-myway.livejournal.com]

"It's firebending. Worf mentioned a Northern Shaolin style, but I don't know it."

Zuko has not yet accepted having his training sessions perpetually interrupted today, but being interrupted by somebody else who sounds like they know martial arts could lead to more productive training.

"Firebending is the art of my country."

(frozen comment) Re: Kung Fu Talk

[a-fist-of-iron.livejournal.com]

"Wait, you mean everyone where you're from can shoot fire?" Danny asks, amazed. "Huh, well, I'll try not to get anyone angry if I go there for a visit."

This teenager seemed to have good form, much better than the average person his age.

"You looked pretty solid from what I can tell. This firebending seems pretty interesting. I know other guys who can control fire, but not like that."

(frozen comment)

[found-myway.livejournal.com]

"Not everyone," Zuko corrects. "It's a rare gift, but an honored one."

He nods at the compliments. He knows better than to brag about his firebending. "How do they do it?"

(frozen comment)

[a-fist-of-iron.livejournal.com]

"They usually just point and fire. Not usually a whole lot of skill involved, but maybe it just works differently. But it's very cool to see powers used in combination with martial arts. Much more effective."