Try to see it my way

[raavashing]

Characters: Wan, Aang, Zuko
Date: 08.07 just after this
Location: Wood Sector; Mu-Gai
Situation: Wan takes Zuko to see Aang
Warnings/Rating: Awkward Zuko and Tears

[Wan followed the pull on his soul that he figured was most likely Aang. He still couldn't tell Aang and Korra apart from each other - and they both still just felt like him - but Korra didn't live in the Wood Sector like both Aang and Wan did. And the second tug on his soul was further out. The closer to Mu-Gai they got, the stronger that tug felt and he knew he'd chosen the right one to follow.

Wan trotted up to the door and knocked on it while he turned to look back at Zuko.]

He knows we're here... well, he knows I'm here, anyway. He should be down to see us pretty fast.

Comments

[12goingon113]

[Aang's mind reels as he begins to worry more now for Katara than ever. He so preoccupied with worry that he doesn't even realize what he says next.]

Katara teaches her waterbending.

[It's just an aside, not something he's even paying attention to. Crowing about Katara's achievements is just something Aang does.

Then...he blinks, as what he's just said finds purchase in comprehension.]

Katara teaches Korra. She has to outlive me to do that. So...that means she...she defeats Azula.

[Right? This is sound logic, isn't it? There's no way Azula would just let Katara walk away, right Zuko?]

[lordhotman]

[Katara teaches Korra waterbending? That's... interesting, and sounds so far into the future that he can hardly comprehend it.

But he does nod to Aang when he makes the connections.]

She had to have. There's no way she Azula would just let her go.

[Especially not in the state she was in. But that still left the question of his fate open.]

[raavashing]

Then everything is fine!

[Wan grinned brightly, looking between the two before it slowly faded.]

Right?

[12goingon113]

[Aang looks from Wan to Zuko and then back again.]

Fine isn't really the word I would use. But things might be moving towards better.

[lordhotman]

Yeah...

[Zuko isn't looking particularly convinced that everything is fine.]

I should go talk to my uncle.

[Maybe if he's lucky, Iroh could shed some light on a few things.]

[raavashing]

[Wan hesitated a moment before nodding and grinning again.]

Sure, Zuko! We'll see you later, okay? Do you know how to find your uncle?

[12goingon113]

[His head tilts to one side and Aang blinks.]

You came here before you went to see General Iroh?

[Because that...that's kind of unexpected from where he's standing.]

[lordhotman]

[He turned to go but Aang's question made him pause and face him again.]

Making things right with my friends is more important than drinking tea with my Uncle.

[He then looks to Wan.]

He gave me directions.

[raavashing]

[Wan gave another nod before offering a bow.

When he straightened, he turned to Aang and nodded toward the door.]

Can we talk? Inside?

[12goingon113]

[Aang nibbles on his bottom lip even as he nods in Wan's direction. There's another unsure glance towards Zuko.

He's thinking. Really thinking. Trying ever so hard to absorb and internalize the conversation that's just occurred.

On his doorstep no less. He moves to one side to give Wan space to pass.]

Tell General Iroh I said hi, and that I hope he's doing well.

[lordhotman]

I will.

[He says this to Aang before putting a fist to his palm and bowing to the both of them.

Zuko then takes his leave.]

[raavashing]

[Wan moved into the house and waited just inside the door, watching Zuko leave until he either disappeared or Aang shut the door.

Once it was the two of them, he turned around and started to head inside, looking for the kitchen.]

Do you mind if I make us some tea?

[12goingon113]

Uh uh.

[Aang's voice is distracted. There's too much to think about and he's watching as Zuko. Zuko. Crown-prince of the Fire Nation. As he just...walks away from his doorstep. It's only after Aang loses line of sight of Zuko that he closes the door with a quiet click and turns to follow in Wan's wake towards the kitchen.]

[raavashing]

[Wan found a teapot quick enough (ew, metal) and set it up so he could heat the water with his own hand. It was easier to get the temperature right that way, even if he had to hold his hand out a few inches from the pot because of the metal.]

I need to get you a proper clay teapot. This one is terrible. Where do you keep the tea leaves?

[Wan was totally going to make small talk for a little while.]

[12goingon113]

[Aang's head tilts to one side. After all that's just happened Wan's worried about tea?]

They're in the...here I'll get them.

[He opens the cabinet door and with airbending moves the container of tea from the shelf over to the countertop closest to Wan.

In the process he's instantly reminded of Gyatso, and how the older man would make him tea, or play Pai Sho with him when ever Aang was having a particularly stressful day.

oh.]

[raavashing]

[Wan's back was to Aang so he didn't see the realization of his little ploy dawn over the the younger man's face. Instead he took the tea and added it to the now-boiling water as he removed his hand, and with it, the heat. His next task was to search for cups. By the time he found them (and was satisfied with how clean they were), the tea was ready to serve. He poured it expertly - by hand - and finally turned around to offer a steaming cup to Aang.]

Is this your favorite tea?

[Smiles and small talk and an absolutely relaxed attitude. He was trying to do his best to radiate an aura of safe.]

[12goingon113]

[Aang is careful to stay out of Wan's way as he watches him pour the tea, remembering very vividly how the smell of Gyatso's favorite brew would fill the abbey almost like incense.]

Not really, it's just the stuff we have on hand. If I had a favorite tea I wouldn't know how to make it. It was a special blend my mentor drank and I never paid enough attention to get the recipe right.

[raavashing]

Do you remember what it smells like?

[Wan asked as he sat down opposite Aang and let his tea cool just enough that his tongue wouldn't burn when he drank it. But he wasn't going to let his own cool much more than that. He'd drunk enough cold tea before leaving the Lion Turtle to last him a lifetime.]

We could experiment and try to recreate it.

[12goingon113]

[He nods, pulling his legs up onto the seat so he can wrap his arms around his knees.]

Like home. I...

[Life is messy.
Aang looks towards his own cup. With a flick of the wrist a small whirlwind appears. It scoots over towards the steaming cup of tea and cools it to just the right temperature for drinking.]

I don't know that I'm ready for that. Not yet.

[raavashing]

Okay.

[Wan wasn't going to push Aang. This was about getting him to relax and destress, not poke at topics that would make things worse.]

Then we'll just keep trying all the teas in the city together until we find one you like. And a teapot. And I'll show you how to make it properly.

[12goingon113]

[A ghost of a smile starts to curl at the edge of Aang's mouth.]

That's a lot of tea.

[raavashing]

Well, we don't have to try it all at once.

[Wan grinned, laughing a little.]

We could just start making a list and buying a little at a time and trying it. And we can go to Iroh's tea shop to have what he serves. He makes great tea.

[12goingon113]

[Aang's smile broadened.]

He gives really good advice too.

[He takes a sip from his tea.]

This isn't it. This tea does remind me of Omashu though. Bumi never cared what he drank.

[raavashing]

[Wan took a sip of the tea himself and then made a face.]

If Omashu is made of dirt and dead pine needles, then I guess this is a perfect tea for them. It'd be better with more pine needles.

[12goingon113]

[And that gets Aang to laugh out right.]

It kind of is. It's one of the Earth Kingdoms, so...lots of dirt. And it's in the mountains, so there are lots of trees too.