A/N: Hi. I hope you are having a happy day. Ok, this story takes place at the Western Air Temple and it is right after Zuko was allowed to join the Aang Gang.

Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar: the Last Airbender. A girl can dream can't she?

Sokka had showed him to his room albeit a bit reluctantly a while ago. It was a nice little room. It at least had a bed, a mini table, and was a reasonable size for a person to live in.

After the surprise visit from Katara, Zuko had forced himself to relax. She seemed as cruel and cold as Azula when she entered and warned-no threatened- him about Aang's safety. One look in the table's direction and he immediately calmed. The father figure in his life, a guardian, only family member that ever knew he wasn't a failure (not including his mother, she was gone when he needed her the most). His Uncle, the Dragon of the West. He's doing this for his Uncle, for his mother, for his sister, for his nation, for the world.

Zuko felt a surge of warmth as his inside flame grew with determination. The sun was swallowed up in the darkness of space during the same time he felt his fire grow.

"Um… dinner is ready. We are eating out in the fountain area. Just follow us." A little boy replied nervously, who looked about the age of Li (Sensu's little brother). A man with a mustache was leaning against the wall across from the little boy and gave a nod to confirm what the boy said.

Not waiting for a response they turned and started walking down the corridors at a surprisingly fast pace.

"Wait up!" Zuko yelped while jumping off the bed and running to catch up to them. Zuko didn't want to face everyone yet, especially at dinner, but his tummy was rumbling so loud he was surprised the whole temple couldn't hear it.

They didn't respond to Zuko's plea, but the older boy started walking at a faster pace then one would think possible while walking. Zuko growled not quite loudly, but loud enough for both of the guides to hear.

"What is the matter Fire Prince?" Haru called to Zuko innocently, but still keeping his pace.

"Are we late for something? No? Alright then, slow down." Zuko hissed in between breathes as he walked alongside Haru, not giving the man a chance to answer his question.

"I thought the fire nation was the best in the whole damn universe? You wouldn't need a peasant like me to slow down for a prince. Right my prince?" Haru spit out the word 'my prince' like it was something vile on his tongue that needed to spit out.

Zuko was surprised by this man's sudden hostility toward him. He didn't even know this earth bender! What did he do to deserve this? Oh right, the spirits loved making his life miserable even when he was trying to help. Ugh.

At the prince's surprised face, Haru snorted. "That's what I thought."

Zuko stopped himself from saying something back to the earth bender, for they had reached their destination.

All the talking and laughing the teens were making around the camp fire immediately ceased. All the eyes in the open space were on the scarred prince who non to subtly took a step back ready to flee if need be.

"Umm…." Zuko really had no clue of what to say. He really should have thought this through some more.

"HA! I win, pay up Snoozles." Toph exclaimed loudly, breaking the silence.

Zuko sighed in relief. All the eyes had left him and were on Toph. Zuko always was shy and hated when he had a lot of attention, but walking into an area filled with once-enemies was way worse then just being a shy person.

"Well, I thought that Sparky was going to come out for dinner, and I was right of course. But Snoozles here thought that Sparky would be too much of a possum-chicken to come out. We bet on our chores, so now Snoozles has to do my chores for a week. Ha-ha!" Toph answered smugly.

"No! Toph, I totally said three days!"

"You're lying," the blind earthbender replied in a sing song voice.

"Thanks a lot, Zuko." Sokka grumbled sarcastically.

"Don't listen to him, Sparky. Snoozles is just a sore loser because I am awesome and I beat him in the dirt."

Zuko almost smiled at the 12 year old earthbender, almost. The rest of the group all laughed while Sokka sulked, but the moment Katara had finished dinner he was happy again, murmuring something about 'amazing meat' as he got his bowl of food.

Katara handed Zuko his food last, but not without a glare. Zuko went to find his seat a little way off from the groups, knowing he wasn't wanted anywhere.

The water tribe siblings glowered at him the whole time, though Katara's glare was freaking him out a little. If looks could kill, he would be frozen to death. A subtle shiver went up his body as he remembered swimming in the ice cold water of the northern water tribe, and the blizzard the almost ended his life if not for the Avatar's mercy. Damn Zhao. When ever he thought back to the northern water tribe, he would always see those eyes that haunted him at night. He couldn't save him. He couldn't even save an enemy! How pathetic is that.

"Grab my hand!"

"Zuko, are you alright?" Toph voice was laced with worry and fear. Everyone around the camp fire turned to Toph, surprise etched in all their faces. Toph was scared and worried.

Zuko was snapped back to reality, and saw Toph looking at him biting her lip. Soon all eyes were placed on the prince once again.

Not hearing what Toph asked, assuming Toph was the one who asked, he questioned her. "I apologize. I didn't hear what you said."

"I was just wondering if you were going to eat anytime soon, Sparky." Toph replied calmly, all the fear she showed a minute ago, left no clue they had even been there.

"Oh." Zuko looked down to the cold soup in his hands. He forgot to eat. Oh well, he lost his appetite. "I am not hungry anymore. Would anyone like it?"

All he saw was a blur of blue as his bowl left his hand.

"Sokka, stop eating like a chicken-pig and eat slowly." Katara scolded.

Sokka looked up to stick his tongue out at his little sister, but his face was covered in goop and he had grown a soup beard. The gang burst out laughing as Sokka just looked at everyone with one brow quirked up in question to what was so funny, unaware of his newly acquired facial hair/food.

Zuko took this time to quietly slip out to the woods. He went unnoticed except for one person who didn't understand what was so funny with Sokka. Her eyes foggy, she turned to the area where he was just seated, but kept quiet, trusting that he wasn't a spy.

"Ouch! Stupid…dumb….ugly….ugh…root…will...die!" Zuko looked down to his sprained ankle. He really should have lit a fire in his hands when he was walking. Limping, he decided to turn around and go back to the temple.

Something rustled in the bush a few yards away. Zuko tensed. Something told him it wasn't an animal. Zuko's instincts were telling him to run and get help to check it out together, but it was not in Zuko's nature to flee so he stood his ground.

"Why hello." A cold voice said from the shadows.