Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar, The Last Airbender
Zuko was pretty tired of the waterbender complaining, constantly, night and day.
I hate him.
Why Zuko!?
How about we leave him in a ditch somewhere?
I hate him.
Let's get rid of him.
No one will miss that scum.
I hate him.
Now, he had to hold himself back from sending a trail of flames at her as she questioned Aang, yet again, as to why they really needed Zuko with them. He was about to stand up in a burst of flames, he was about to send a glare that could drop a child, and he was about to tell her to shut up and deal with it. Yet he knew that if he did, he would never gain their trust.
Aang was passive with the decision to let him join, obviously putting his need to learn firebending ahead of his feelings. Toph didn't care at all, and only insisted that as long as the firebender leave her alone she was fine. Sokka and Katara both played pranks on him and insulted him constantly.
He learned to ignore it and deal with it, just leaving them to their peace during dinner and training, going off in his own little world. Like every night, he scooped his soup that Katara had prepared for them and walked away, entering a nearby clearing where he would eat alone like always.
Zuko didn't mind, because he had gotten used to loneliness after he lost his mother. It was something that grew on him, and he never really cared. He sat on a rock with a sigh and observed his soup carefully. He let the liquid drip from the spoon, studying it. After a moment he dumped it out onto the ground, confident that the waterbender had poisoned it again.
His stomach was still a little shaky from the last time she successfully slipped an unknown leaf into his breakfast. Standing he walked back into the clearing, drawing stares from his teammates as they had yet to even start their dinner. Zuko placed his bowl by the rest of the dishes and picked up his swords, silently leaving as soon as he came.
Katara cursed her luck, knowing well that he had figured out her trick. Aang sent her a glare when Zuko was gone. "Katara, Zuko hasn't eaten in days, can't you give him some good food for once?"
"He's eaten, why do you think he gets his swords? He goes and gets a pig or something every night." Toph took another bite of her food.
"He's hunting?" asked Sokka. "Maybe I should go with him, give him some pointers."
"Anyway..." Aang interrupted, clearly annoyed that they had done the same to him. "Can't you be nicer to him?"
"Why should I?" asked Katara. "He's nothing but Fire Nation scum."
"He's right, Scarface has gone through a lot Sweetness, lighten up."
"I'm never going to like, trust, or treat that slime as a person." Katara crossed her arms and looked away.
Aang sighed and looked out after his firebending teacher.
A few hours later Zuko pulled the Avatar away from the group, somewhat reluctantly to start training again. Katara eyed them suspiciously while they walked away. When the two had left the waterbender pulled a rather large cup of dead bugs, and proceeded to pouring them down Zuko's sleeping bag.
Sokka watched with a snicker and Toph watched with a shake of her head.
When the two came back from the training session it was obvious they were tired. Aang gave a wave to his friends before hopping in his sleeping bag and drifting to sleep. Zuko decided to do the same, stretching his aching muscles and slipping out of his shirt.
Katara watched with an evil grin as the Fire Nation Prince slipped into his sleeping bag.
Zuko knew something was wrong before he even closed his eyes, feeling the slimy, hairy bodies and wings of dead flies. With a yelp he jumped up and hopped around hopelessly, trying to untangle himself from the animal hide that served as his sleeping bag. He stumbled back and crashed into Appa, angering the mighty animal.
With a grunt the bison pushed Zuko back forward with his tail, sending the pour firebender into the still dirty dishes. Katara and Sokka burst out laughing as Zuko struggled to still stand up. Toph managed a snicker but that was about it. Aang looked up at his teacher from his position on the ground with a frown.
Zuko mumbled and growled silently under his breathe as he stormed away from the camp.
It wasn't fair, just like everything in his life. Walking alongside the nearby stream he had to convince himself countless times that was what formed his character and maybe it was a good thing.
He stopped with a sigh and sat down next to the stream. It wasn't the constant insults and pranks that they played on him, but the fact that they would never accept him, and that always made him feel like a monster. A snap startled him and he turned behind him to the bushes that shook.
Two large ears sprouted from the leaves and Momo emerged from the foliage. The lemur seemed to look around for a moment cautiously while Zuko watched him. After seeming to approve of the area he ran back into the bushes and then came back, carrying a small pillow and blanket.
Zuko managed a chuckle as the lemur pushed the two things towards the firebender. Zuko accepted the items and scratched the lemur's ears in thanks.
