Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender. It's too cool to be owned! (Don't tell Bryan and Michael)

A/N: One-shot or maybe more, and canon pairings if any (mainly a friendship fic). It takes place during Book Two between Zuko Alone and The Chase. Please read and review! Enjoy…

The Avatar was close by, and Zuko didn't even know it. The disaster at the Earth Kingdom village had caused Zuko to ride away on his ostrich horse at top speed, and without looking back. Now he rode through the rocky terrain, not thinking, not planning where he would go or what he would do. For all he knew his Uncle was in Ba Sing Se by now. Gone to open the teashop he'd always wanted. After all, his own nephew had deserted him, Zuko thought guiltily. He shook his head, as if to rid his head of confusion. He couldn't think like that. He had done what he had to do. His Uncle would understand. He would understand.

Sokka was trapped. Only an hour ago he had decided to get some real meat. He had taken his machete and sharpened a stick into a hard spear, perfect for skewering some dinner. He ran off to hunt, telling the others it wouldn't take long, and he'd come back with a big juicy turkey pig to roast over the fire. What a stupid idea! And I'm supposed to have the GOOD ideas! Sokka thought. Now he was trapped on a ledge on the cliff face, suspended high over dangerously sharp rocks. He had leaped at the animal he was hunting, a hen cat, and missed his prey. The bird flew just out of his reach, and Sokka was sent flying down the Cliffside, only to tumble on to the ledge. His ankle hurt…bad. It was problem broken, or maybe just sprained, but he couldn't hope to climb back up the cliff like this. He would have to wait for his friends to find him. He tried not to wonder how long it would take.

Zuko dismounted the ostrich horse, ready to set up camp for the night. He gathered sticks and set a fire. His stomach growled and Zuko realized it had been a long while since he'd eaten anything. The ex-prince got to his feet and strode through the brush and wooded surroundings, impatient with hunger. If he could catch an animal and cook it…or maybe find some no-poisonous berries… Zuko's pondering was broken by the sound of someone (yes it had to be human, he decided) yelling not far away. He could not make out words, and so moved towards the sound cautiously. He reached a cliff and slowly made his way to the edge to look over. He could now make out the sounds as cries of help that were coming from somewhere below.

As he reached the side and looked down, he nearly yelped with surprise, and watched in disbelief as someone he knew to be an enemy desperately yelled for his friends.

"Help! Somebody help me! Katara? Aang? Anybody!"

It was the watertribe boy. He had called for the others- was the avatar here too? The thought sent Zuko's mind reeling. Finally, he thought things are beginning to work out. The avatar! If he could just capture him, everything would go back to normal! He could return home, have his honor restored, and his father…His father. In all the excitement he had forgotten he was a fugitive now. His father would not just accept him back for capturing the avatar. Or would he? He could just imagine it now, being back in favor with the Firelord, having everything he had every wished for… only if father will forgive me. Zuko tried to assure himself that he would be welcomed back no matter what-he was still family-but there was still a nagging doubt in his mind. His father sent him away, why would he want him back now? Admiral Zhao's words flashed in his mind. If he wanted you back he would have let you come home by now, Avatar or no avatar.

Zuko tried to push away the thoughts and focus on the problem at hand. What of the avatar's friend? Should he leave him here so he wouldn't get in the way? Or have him lead him to their camp and then demand a prisoner exchange? From Zuko's vantage point at the top of the cliff, it didn't look like the boy was up to much walking, or anything really. There was a clear enough path up the Cliffside; he could have climbed up it by now, steep though it was. He must be injured. Zuko guessed. He still yelled to his friends, or anyone near enough to find him but silence was his answer. His voice grew hoarse. The boy sighed and leaned back, grimacing with pain.

He was loath to admit it, but Zuko actually felt sorry for the younger boy. He was hurt and alone, and Zuko couldn't help but feel as though they were in the same boat, firenation or watertribe. Zuko acted on impulse, as he often did, and began to step carefully down the steep slope towards the boy in need. Okay, so maybe he didn't have a plan. But he wasn't just going to leave him there, regardless of what would happen later on. As he approached the boy looked up and plastered a shocked expression on his face that quickly turned to anger.

"You! What are you doing here, trying to capture Aang again? Well you won't!" he cried, brandishing his spear at him and taking as stable of a battle stance as he could in his weakened state.

Zuko took a moment to respond. Now what? Did he really intend to help his enemy? Why should he when the boy would rejoice if he himself were in danger, and not lift a finger to help him. Zuko vaguely thought, Maybe this was a mistake…

Then suddenly, the earth shuddered under their feet, and a large crack appeared between the ledge and the cliff's face. It was breaking off. Sokka cried out as the ledge started to slide downwards.

Zuko didn't have time to think. He just made his decision, knowing that no matter who was on that ledge, he had to help…and fast.

"Let me help you," he said quickly. He reached out a hand towards the boy. Sokka drew back from him and said viciously,

"Why would accept your help of all people! After everything you've put us through? No way, I don't want it!"

The firebender drew back his hand as if he'd been burnt. The words and action dealt him a powerful blow. He felt a great weight in his stomach, and a lump rising in his throat. It was Admiral Zhao all over again.

The earth rumbled again and the rock slid downwards even more. Zuko locked eyes with the other boy, golden on blue, and said lowly but forcefully,

"Don't do this."

Sokka scowled at him, glaring coldly before turning his head swiftly and looking away. Anger welled up in Zuko and before he could stop it, he drew his hand away and turned to walk away. He yelled back at the watertribe boy,

"If you'd rather die than accept my help, then go ahead!"