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The van/Pride (Original link) Author: Kirschreich Zuko knew it was always just around the corner. Even Azula had noticed that it was there. It's waiting just outside of school today. Zuko can see just behind the front window and frowns at the man behind the steering wheel. He has a feeling, a strange kind of feeling. "Jet?" he asks the boy sitting next to him. "Yeah?" the other grunts, eyes fixed onto the expensive handheld in his grasp. "Watch Katara for me for a second, ok? I need to make a call. If she gets ready to leave, tell her to wait here for me." "Ok," Jet replies, his eyes still fixed onto the video game. Half an hour later, Zuko, Katara and Aang are on their way home when the van pulls up next to them. "Hey kids," the driver says, smiling toothily at them. "You want a ride? I got a litter of kittens at home and I'm looking for someone nice to take one or two of them home," he added. At the mention of kittens, Katara's and Aang's eyes lit up. "Kittens!" Katara exclaims. "Oh, I always wanted a cat!" The man chuckles and opens the passenger door. "The moment I saw you I knew that you're a girl that likes cats. You'd give me little babies a good home, wouldn't you? Well, hop in." "No, thank you," Zuko says in a strong voice that is very much unlike him, taking a hold of Katara's wrist. "Our ride is just around the corner and we need to get home." "But Zuko it's kittens!" Katara says as if that were all the reason you'd need, turning pleading blue eyes towards him. "No," he repeats firmly, shaking his head. "But he seems like a nice guy," Aang pipes up. "And he's looking for someone to take care of the cats he can't keep. Grampa Gyatso always says that if you can help someone, it is your duty to do it." "See!" the brown haired girl says and pulls her wrist out of his grasp. "Katara, no!" Zuko says again and this time, there is that strange lurching sensation in his stomach because he knows Katara and how her perchant for adventure overrides common sense faster than he can eat a twinkie. She's also way too close to that van for comfort and if that guy wants to he can just grab her and drive off and gods where is his -- "There you are; I've been worried about you three," Ozai says from behind them. The children spin around, wide-eyed and the man in the van swallows hard. "The car is parked over there. Azula is already in the backseat. I'll take you home," he says and his tone of voice leaves no room to argue. Zuko gladly endures Katara's accusing glares. That night, when Zuko is lying in bed, there is a knock at his door. "Are you already asleep, son?" his father's voice asks and Zuko sits up and shakes his head. "I wanted you to know: what you did today ... has made me very proud. You've shown me that you are a responsible young man that can take care of himself and others. I am proud of you, Zuko." |
