17 - [voice] Return to the land of the living

[forged_anew]

[Zuko turns his communicator on, but there is only silence for a long time. He doesn't really know what to say. After a while, he speaks, voice quiet and flat.]


I'm... back.


[.......]



I apologize for having worried you.


[And that's it. The communicator shuts off with a soft click.]

Comments

[voice]

[forged_anew]

I guess some might.

Some people just... fight.

[voice]

[confide-in-me13.livejournal.com]

Just fight? Because they can?

[dontcallmegol.livejournal.com]

[It's alright, he knows teens have a short attention span. And besides, one of his friends just died so he's uh... not feeling up for really striking up the convo again either.

Insert drawn out, uncomfortable silence here.]


...anyway, don't sweat it kid. You're alive. That's what counts. Pick yourself up and get the hell out there and be strong for your Nakama. They need you.

[Ya know, instead of moping and being emo about the fact you died.]

[voice]

[forged_anew]

Basically.

Bending is dangerous and powerful. Some people misuse that power.

[forged_anew]

[But Zuzu's so good at being emo! Oh, well. He knows you're right, but he might mope a little longer. He's trying to sound better though.]

Don't worry about me. And quit calling me "kid," will you?

I plan to look out for my fr-- Nakama, whether I have my Firebending or not.

[dontcallmegol.livejournal.com]

[At least he's trying. But ffff you said the magic word!]

I've been hearing that a lot lately. I'm inclined to think I should worry anyway.

Firebending huh? Sounds like something I'd have to see for myself one day.

[He's a smart man, he can put two and two together and figure out what firebending is. It intrigues him to no end that there's another fire user \o/]

[forged_anew]

Well, don't. Not that I don't appreciate it, but you don't even know me.

[Ffff, sorry, Ace, he appreciates it, he does. He just really hates making people worry about him.]

I can't Firebend right now.

[commentlog \o/]

[foxtamer.livejournal.com]

[Damn. The kid's back to brooding again. He must have lied about being over his death. Minato figured he did, but now he's more sure about it.

He lets out a sigh, then stretches and leans back, putting his arms on top the back of the couch, on either side of him. Conveniently, one arm is over the side Zuko is on. It's not touching him, but it would only take a moment of movement to change that.]

...

Thank you! And aaaaack sorry this is so late; I forgot to track the post for replies *does that now*

[beatsupboys.livejournal.com]

[Still just standing there, really awkwardly-- for once, she's at a loss for what to do]

Do you want me to stay, or do you guys want to be alone?

[dontcallmegol.livejournal.com]

I won't. Like you said, I barely know you. I wasn't serious.

Many of my friends have been telling me not to worry and one of the ones who said it the most just died of the same thing you did.

[He didn't mean for that to come off a little bitter.]

Neither can I. [Think on that second Firelord Emo.]

[commentlog \o/] Congrats on Kushina, Minato~ XD (and sorry this is novel length >< )

[forged_anew]

[Zuko stiffens a little when he registers the older man's movement, the placement of his arm. He knows what Minato is doing, and his chest and throat are tightening suddenly in response, at the prospect of just letting himself seek comfort.

But no, he can't do that. He'd stayed strong in front of Mai; he'd keep it up. He isn't a little boy anymore. He can take care of his problems on his own. Isn't that what he'd been doing for years now? Ever since Mother left... He has no need for this. He barely knows this man.

And already he was wishing Minato had taken the role of father in his life long ago. He can't remember Ozai ever offering what the blonde man offered right now. Never.

But, no, he can't... So he'd died. So what? People here don't care about death; they come back. They accept it. It's not a big deal. He's being childish and he isn't a child anymore.

Jaw clenched and fighting the lump in his throat, Zuko doesn't let himself look over or lean back, and simply pretends not to notice.

The silence continues.]

np~ <3

[forged_anew]

[Zuko merely shrugs and turns to look back out the window again. He doesn't mind, if it helps Mai. He hopes it will.]

[forged_anew]

[...]

Sorry about your friend.

[He sounds a little taken aback, and he means it.]



...are you mocking me?

[Firelord Emo doesn't get what you meant. :| ]

[dontcallmegol.livejournal.com]

It's okay. He'll be back and his suffering has ended for now.

[His voice is very even and calm. No hurt feelings kid, it's alright.]

No, I'm sorry. I can normally manipulate fire myself.

[forged_anew]

Yeah...

[Well, he wasn't expecting that.]

Oh.

[dontcallmegol.livejournal.com]

[Really that last bit up there was not to reassure himself too. No. Not at all.]

... like I said, your firebending, I'd like to see it sometime. We'll compare notes.

and you thought she was gonna save you from awkwardness. :|

[represses.livejournal.com]

[Mai was, oddly enough, thinking something along those same lines; Ty Lee's presence, always a fortifying force, might do Zuko some good. She tried to smile at the other girl... and failed, but not completely; at least, her expression was a LITTLE less sour than normal.]

It's fine... c'mon, sit.

sooooooob

[beatsupboys.livejournal.com]

[She sits, staring down at her feet]

So, um... you guys want to talk or something? Or...

[forged_anew]

[And this is definitely a more friendly tone. He doesn't exactly feel bad about snapping at you, but no reason to keep at it.]

Sure. I'd like to see your fire manipulation too, when... we're both able.

Comparing notes sounds good.

Oh, God, the awkwaaaard! =A=

[forged_anew]

[Zuko looks over again as Ty Lee joins them, noticing how at a loss the poor girl looked.]

Uh...


[But he can't think of anything to say. Great job, Zuko. The awkward silence continues.]

/dies forever. QUICK, SOMEONE PULL OUT A GUN, THEY CAN PLAY RUSSIAN ROULETTE. ;~;

[represses.livejournal.com]

[Even Mai, accustomed to awkwardness, found this... unsettling. Talking about her or Zuko, though, would be... well. EVERYONE knew what had been happening to them. So... that only left one.]

...what have you been up?

[...a sad conversation-starter, but, considering that she'd never tried to do that before? Not a bad first try.]

[commentlog \o/] He's all excited. AND NOVELS ARE AWESOME, don't diss! /NOVELS RIGHT BACK. XD

[foxtamer.livejournal.com]

[Minato lets the silence hold on for another minute before he sighs and glances softly to Zuko.]

I'll tell you a secret about being an adult.

[He smiles sadly.]

The difference between an adult and a child is that an adult knows when they need others to help them through something. A child either asks for comfort all the time or never asks for help, even when they need it. They either end up crying all the time or never showing how upset they are until they explode. Neither is healthy. What you have to do is to find balance.

You may think you're burdening others by talking about it, or being upset, but it's more of a burden to not tell anyone. Especially when you're dealing with something like death and can't easily work out the emotions by yourself.

[Minato sighs, then glances forward, not looking at Zuko's anymore. His face takes on a somber look. It's time to do it by example.]

When I died... I couldn't stop thinking about my family. About how I wouldn't see Naruto grow up, or see Kushina's smiling face again. I wouldn't be there for the first day of school, the day he graduated, the day he became one of the best ninjas of our village. It physically hurt, knowing that.

[He swallows a bit, and it's obvious the next part is a bit harder to say.]

But that wasn't what terrified me. What terrified me was that I could feel my life force slip away. Bit by bit, as I completed the technique that would seal the demon. And the sealing too so long, far too long, and my ninjas were dying left and right, trying to hold back the demon fox until I arrived. Part of me wanted to hurry the technique, and thus hurry my death so that I could protect my people... but at the same time, I d-didn't want to die.

[His voice drops lower, almost to a mumble.]

I still wonder if I could have saved more people if I hadn't of been afraid of dying....

TY LEE WOULD IF SHE KNEW WHAT A GUN WAS (except she really, really wouldn't XD)

[beatsupboys.livejournal.com]

[A shrug]

Not much, really! Just the usual stuff.

... You guys should come visit more often. Or I should visit you.

[voice]

[confide-in-me13.livejournal.com]

A-ah, scary.

But you're a good guy right?

[voice]

[forged_anew]

I didn't used to be...

I try.