[An ice dragon! That's so cool. Aang grins up at Zuko's back when he more-or-less admits to trying to dance with it, and barely resists the urge to rib him a little bit.] Maybe it just likes water tribe dances instead? [If Zuko doesn't stop him, Aang will try those. And feel not at all ridiculous about it when they don't work.
After Zuko's first shoulder-slam into the door, Aang glances up and down the hall before—] Hang on! [and, because he has absolutely no respect for personal space, he just reaches right around Zuko instead of getting him to move so he can try the doorknob. What do you know, it's open! He doesn't make a comment (because it's not like he hasn't also bent doors off their hinges for the drama when he could probably have tried the knobs before), but he can't stop the cheeky look he throws over his shoulder as he ducks into the room past the prince. Look, it's just fun to needle Zuko sometimes. He makes it so easy.]
Okay, I'm just gonna be a little while. [Aang hopes he sounds more confident than he feels, but either way he retreats to the center of the room and sinks down to the floor so he can tuck his legs into the lotus position and get to it. Luckily it's not so hard now: meditation had eluded him for his entire time in the cage, but the security of the silent room with Zuko guarding the door allows Aang to clear his mind and sink into a trance quickly. He closes his eyes and pictures the hypnotic flowing push and pull of the Ocean and Moon spirits circling each other in a small, crystal clear pond—and then he's gone.
It only feels like a few moments to him while he searches deep within, pulling at the strings of himself where he's tethered to the spirit world, but it's definitely closer to half an hour (sorry, Zuko) before he swims back into awareness and lets out a sigh. When he stands back up it's with the characteristic puff of air that billows out his clothes and makes the movement fluid and silent. Thank the spirits that worked.] I did it! [He whoops, before he can stop himself. Then his expression turns sheepish.] I mean, I knew it would work. Anyway, let's go! [He bounces towards the door and makes a grab for Zuko's arm so he can drag him along. No time to discuss anything, clearly.]
Well, I don't know any water tribe dances! [ Zuko huffed before nearly falling through the door as Aang twisted the knob and slipped past him with a grin. He caught himself and scowled at the Avatar before turning quickly to shut the door behind them, barring it with one of his swords.
As always Aang was a flurry of movement, already meditating by the time Zuko turned around.
Knowing better than to say anything Zuko let his shoulders slump, his hands hanging at his sides as he looked back to the door, listening and waiting for the first sign of someone, or something, trying to get inside.
As the minutes ticked by Zuko went from listening at the door to pacing in front of it, stopping now and again to cast a glance back in Aang's direction - as though he expected to be able to glean something about how it was going from the Avatar's outward appearance.
In another burst of motion, Aang returned to himself, bursting onto his feet with the airy lightness Zuko had come to know, first as a growing irritation, and now - as something more familiar. Almost a comfort - especially here, where nothing made sense. ]
You did it? What happened?
[ He pulled his sword free of the door Aang already seemed to be rushing through, leaving Zuko to fall into step behind him before quickly catching up as they turned to ascend the staircase. At least his bending was back. They didn't stand a chance in this place otherwise.
The staircase was empty, but the sounds of a fight just above them sounded through the corridors of the tower, and for a moment Zuko swore he heard the sound of the dragon groaning. ]
There's a banquet being held up there, I wonder if the undead made it that far yet.
[Listen. Don't question Avatar Things, Zuko, because 90% of the time Aang can't explain them. (Also he didn't actually do anything so much as his abilities were inevitably going to come back with time, but using those minutes to center himself certainly did wonders for him after the last few days.) He waves a hand like he's dispelling his own flimsy response, distracted only by the definitely-not-imagined faraway sound of a disgruntled ice dragon that probably neither of them should mess with, even while able to bend.
Aang swallows, hesitating in the middle of the stairway. With his glider and his bending back, he could whisk them both far away from this place as soon as they find a window high up enough on the building, and truly he doesn't want to stay here—there's relatively very few other places he's been more excited to leave behind forever—but he can't just ignore that. Even if he's pretty sure the people hosting the banquet would have been the same people who put him in a cage and (presumably) suppressed his ability to bend.
He waffles for a moment, glancing back over his shoulder where he's inconsiderately trapped Zuko on the steps behind him. They're not in the clear yet (no windows or rooftops in sight) but he feels like an entirely different person knowing that he can bend again. Braver. Maybe that will make enough of a difference.] Shouldn't we warn them? [Aang knows that they should, obviously, those undead were not playing around. But even with being the Avatar, he's never really been the leader of the group: decisions are up to everybody, even when "everybody" is just two people.]
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After Zuko's first shoulder-slam into the door, Aang glances up and down the hall before—] Hang on! [and, because he has absolutely no respect for personal space, he just reaches right around Zuko instead of getting him to move so he can try the doorknob. What do you know, it's open! He doesn't make a comment (because it's not like he hasn't also bent doors off their hinges for the drama when he could probably have tried the knobs before), but he can't stop the cheeky look he throws over his shoulder as he ducks into the room past the prince. Look, it's just fun to needle Zuko sometimes. He makes it so easy.]
Okay, I'm just gonna be a little while. [Aang hopes he sounds more confident than he feels, but either way he retreats to the center of the room and sinks down to the floor so he can tuck his legs into the lotus position and get to it. Luckily it's not so hard now: meditation had eluded him for his entire time in the cage, but the security of the silent room with Zuko guarding the door allows Aang to clear his mind and sink into a trance quickly. He closes his eyes and pictures the hypnotic flowing push and pull of the Ocean and Moon spirits circling each other in a small, crystal clear pond—and then he's gone.
It only feels like a few moments to him while he searches deep within, pulling at the strings of himself where he's tethered to the spirit world, but it's definitely closer to half an hour (sorry, Zuko) before he swims back into awareness and lets out a sigh. When he stands back up it's with the characteristic puff of air that billows out his clothes and makes the movement fluid and silent. Thank the spirits that worked.] I did it! [He whoops, before he can stop himself. Then his expression turns sheepish.] I mean, I knew it would work. Anyway, let's go! [He bounces towards the door and makes a grab for Zuko's arm so he can drag him along. No time to discuss anything, clearly.]
no subject
As always Aang was a flurry of movement, already meditating by the time Zuko turned around.
Knowing better than to say anything Zuko let his shoulders slump, his hands hanging at his sides as he looked back to the door, listening and waiting for the first sign of someone, or something, trying to get inside.
As the minutes ticked by Zuko went from listening at the door to pacing in front of it, stopping now and again to cast a glance back in Aang's direction - as though he expected to be able to glean something about how it was going from the Avatar's outward appearance.
In another burst of motion, Aang returned to himself, bursting onto his feet with the airy lightness Zuko had come to know, first as a growing irritation, and now - as something more familiar. Almost a comfort - especially here, where nothing made sense. ]
You did it? What happened?
[ He pulled his sword free of the door Aang already seemed to be rushing through, leaving Zuko to fall into step behind him before quickly catching up as they turned to ascend the staircase. At least his bending was back. They didn't stand a chance in this place otherwise.
The staircase was empty, but the sounds of a fight just above them sounded through the corridors of the tower, and for a moment Zuko swore he heard the sound of the dragon groaning. ]
There's a banquet being held up there, I wonder if the undead made it that far yet.
no subject
[Listen. Don't question Avatar Things, Zuko, because 90% of the time Aang can't explain them. (Also he didn't actually do anything so much as his abilities were inevitably going to come back with time, but using those minutes to center himself certainly did wonders for him after the last few days.) He waves a hand like he's dispelling his own flimsy response, distracted only by the definitely-not-imagined faraway sound of a disgruntled ice dragon that probably neither of them should mess with, even while able to bend.
Aang swallows, hesitating in the middle of the stairway. With his glider and his bending back, he could whisk them both far away from this place as soon as they find a window high up enough on the building, and truly he doesn't want to stay here—there's relatively very few other places he's been more excited to leave behind forever—but he can't just ignore that. Even if he's pretty sure the people hosting the banquet would have been the same people who put him in a cage and (presumably) suppressed his ability to bend.
He waffles for a moment, glancing back over his shoulder where he's inconsiderately trapped Zuko on the steps behind him. They're not in the clear yet (no windows or rooftops in sight) but he feels like an entirely different person knowing that he can bend again. Braver. Maybe that will make enough of a difference.] Shouldn't we warn them? [Aang knows that they should, obviously, those undead were not playing around. But even with being the Avatar, he's never really been the leader of the group: decisions are up to everybody, even when "everybody" is just two people.]