Writer's Note: A prompt from Floranna, exploring the idea that Zuko was born an airbender and not a firebender.

When it became clear that Zuko didn't have the early signs for being a firebender, Ozai's prognosis was simple: "Send him away to the Earth Kingdom to a colonial family. He's useless here, and once he's grown he can be used for political insight."

Ursa, while understanding the logic in the statement, did not agree. "Just because he's not showing signs yet doesn't mean he lacks the talent. Some people are late developers. You know that."

Ozai's eyes had narrowed when she said this, but he said nothing in reply. He knew she was right, even if she presented it in a personal manner.

Blissfully unaware of the judgment being passed upon him, Zuko spent his days between lazing about with his sister and her friends and learning politics and decorum from his tutors. Despite Ozai's protests, Ursa also hired a firebending instructor, just in case Zuko needed a nudge.

However, reports of his hoped-for progress were grim. "He watches me do the forms, yes," the teacher admitted. "He studies them closely and even moves a little in time to what I'm doing, but once it's his turn, he does them completely wrong. He twists and turns too much, circles around too much, and once it's time to attack, he skirts away." Unspoken was the word 'cowardly'.

Zuko didn't care. Much, anyway. He tried not to let his father's narrowed eyes and tight frown cut too deeply into him, especially since Ozai never looked that way at Azula. He knew that what he was doing during firebending lessons was the wrong way, but something deep within his core rebelled against what he was being shown and taught. Even though he could go through the moves without much thought, his body moved itself away from what he was learning. And one of the first lessons he ever learned in bending stated that you should always - always - listen to your body.

So he did.

Perhaps he was just strange, anyway. He was born in the fall, something unheard of when it came to Fire Nation royalty, and it wasn't the fall that was days following a hot summer, either – it was smack in the middle of the dying season, when the leaves fell and the cold air hit the nation. Maybe that was why he was having trouble.

The only person who didn't seem to care was Mai, who was quickly growing from being "Azula's friend from school" to "my friend". Mai wasn't a bender, and she didn't seem bothered by it. "My uncle teaches me things that would make my mother's hair fall out," she admitted one day, her lips drawn up into a cat-like smile. "I know how to defend myself and fight."

She then blinked and looked right into his eyes. "Hey, maybe I can teach you something, just in case you end up not being a bender…like me…" And here she blushed, deeply, looking away and trying to hide it.

But Zuko had seen it, and had felt the responding flutter deep within his breast, and he smiled, feeling his own cheeks burn. "That…would be nice," he said softly.

"Okay, sure." She leaned over and, without looking at him, reached into her sleeve and held out a sharp and glittering knife. He took it, and together they rose to their feet. The knife was still warm from being held close to Mai's skin, and his blush deepened, holding it a little closer.

Carefully, Mai showed him how to hold the knife in his hand before throwing it. There were specific grips, she said, that told where the knife to go ahead of time. "But let's start with 'forward' for now," she said with a small smile.

She crouched down, held her other hand at her side, then drew her armed hand back slowly. Zuko mimicked her, his eyes on her, noticing how easy it was for her, how at ease she seemed to be just doing it.

"And…throw," she said, tossing her arm out and flicking her fingers, releasing the knife as she did so. It buried itself an inch or two into the tree they used as their target, and she straightened, smiling proudly. "Now you do it."

Zuko turned to move like she did before she released her knife, but as he did so, something clicked, something deep inside of his core, and he froze, just for a split second. Always listen to your body…

So he listened. He shut his eyes and let his instincts take over. And he turned, slowly, in a circle, his feet dancing in patterns that he had never been shown before. When he made a complete circle, his eyes opened and he threw both arms out, and something warm and fierce gust out from his hands. The knife soared in the air, burying itself into the tree to the hilt. He stared. So did Mai.

"Zuko…" she whispered. "That was…airbending."

He broke into a cold sweat, but he realised he knew that already. He realised he had known all along.