i have a deleted scene from my long fic that i genuinely cannot use but i just found it again and i want it to see the light of day so. snippet under the cut
“I need to practice waterbending,” Aang said, locking down thoughts of home for a better time.
“Indeed. It is difficult to maintain a productive schedule when our circumstances change with so little warning.”
“It’s nice to be back somewhere familiar, but I still miss the Water Tribe sometimes. I wish I could still train with Aluki.”
Gyatso placed a hand on his shoulder, warm and feather-light. “Our situation is less than ideal. But you are skilled - I know you will succeed in spite of this.” He paused. “When is it true that one has learned something?”
“When they can teach it to someone else. Perhaps you can teach me.”
Aang blinked. “You want me to teach you waterbending?”
“Can I not learn about it, even though I cannot bend water?” Gyatso asked.
“Okay. Okay, sure,” Aang said, smiling. “Uh, should we start from the very beginning?”
“Your basics are the most important part.”
Aang nodded. “So, the stance for waterbending is similar to the airbending stance, but Master Aluki always said to stand like you were standing waist-deep in the ocean. You have to be light enough to move with the water, but firm enough to not be pulled out or knocked down,” he said, getting into his waterbending stance. Gyatso copied the movement, settling down into a steadier stance than his usual with ease.
Aang nodded, a little surprised. “That’s perfect. Wow.” Gyatso rocked on his feet.
“A lifetime of watching, my young friend. An old man like me is bound to pick up some tricks.” He held out his hands over the water. “What next?”
Aang smiled. “Well, the most basic movement of water is the wave,” he said, calling up the water and rocking back and forth, pressing his hands out. In response, the water moved in a small wave, back and forth. He looked over at Gyatso, copying the movement.
“It’s all in the wrists, pull them in slowly and flick out,” he said. “Otherwise, it’s just a surge, not a wave.”
Aang saw Gyatso watching him with a strange expression.
“What?” he asked, dropping the wave. “Do I have a wolfbat in the cave?” he asked, covering his nose. “That’s embarrassing.”
“No,” Gyatso laughed. “No wolfbats in the cave.” He paused.
“I simply wanted to tell you that you have done very well in your training. You have much to be proud of.”
Aang frowned, dropping his gaze. “Bumi’s been showing me some basics for earthbending, but it’s going so slow. I was already learning katas in waterbending after only a few weeks, but with earthbending my stance still isn’t quite right.”
“You do not credit yourself. Did I ever tell you I was eight years your senior when I received my tattoos? I do not believe you realize how remarkable it is that you’ve mastered two elements already at such a tender age.”
Aang grimaced. “I don’t know if I’d say I’ve fully mastered waterbending. Sometimes I can still hear Aluki in my head correcting my form.”
“That is the mark of a good teacher. Tell me, do you hear my voice when you airbend?”
“No, but that’s ‘cause you’re always right there,” Aang grinned.
“I can’t really imagine that.” After a beat, he pulled a stream of water from the pond and flared it over his head, making it into a mist. “I want to test something. Can you bend this?” he asked, sending the mist into the space between them.
Obligingly, Gyatso bent. When the misted air moved, he laughed in delight.
“You have managed to make a waterbender out of me.”
