Chapter 2

Zuko sat silently in the lunchroom fuming in anger from yesterday afternoon. Why did he have to let it slip of his past abuse, why show a moment of weakness, why did he get pushed into sharing by preppy Aang and mothering Katara? Zuko easily could have said nothing to those that have the damn nerve to ask such personal question. But no, he had to go and bust out the freaking sob story about how Daddy never loved him but adores Azula. Maybe it is a good thing that he doesn't give a damn about Zuko and always includes Azula into the 'family business' in which Zuko wants nothing in part of. It would be hell, well more to add on anyway, if his Dad or Azula found out that Zuko had detention and on top of that an impromptu therapy session. The only reason Zuko goes to it is because the fucking school threatens to call his Father, and Zuko wasn't having any of that.

The loner decided to take his mind off of depressing thoughts and look around the rambunctious cafeteria. As usual the school was split up into the thee nations; the Water Tribes, Earth Kingdoms, and Fire Nation. Then there were the loners in each group like him. Zuko didn't mind being alone though; he's been on his own since he gotten the scar, the summer before freshmen year, when his Dad thought it was best that Zuko continued his education in the Inner City so after buying a one bedroom one bathroom apartment and the change of last name to Yen, Zuko was for the most part banished from the Agni Estates.

Zuko quickly shook his head of past memories and roved his eyes to a round table, which happen to be Aang's table. As usual Aang was surrounded by a group of girls and the ring leader was close friends with Aang name Suki Chen. Usually the scrawny kid would happily gossip away like a hen-pig but today he was silent, contemplative even. Suki would sometimes look over to her friend with worry but otherwise left him alone. Zuko noticed that some of the jocks looked at the table with glares, well at Aang with glares. It surprised Zuko that he actually felt irritated at the jocks, since when did he actually care for Aang even remotely so?

Zuko's eyes quickly moved to another table. His eyes stopped at a table with an oddly quiet Katara, the others at the table, Sokka, Yue and a few other Water Tribe students Zuko didn't know the names of. Katara looked to be reading but she has been on the same page for the past few minutes. What is she thinking so hard about? The final table Zuko peered through his bangs was Toph's and the other Earthbenders.

It didn't surprise Zuko that Toph sat facing away from the group and was silent; she usually did that every day at lunch. For the longest time Zuko was a little bit curious as to why she never talked to anyone, but because of yesterday he now knew why. He couldn't help but think that Toph was probably thinking of yesterday afternoon like the others were. "What the hell?" he muttered to himself, the bell rang and Zuko was one of the first to leave the cafeteria. It was all probably nothing, Zuko desperately tried to convince himself.

After school Aang and Suki were walking down the congested streets of the Inner City. Aang was trying to listen to what Suki was saying but his mind kept wandering. Yesterday's detention had to have been the most surreal moment so far in his life. He didn't know what possessed the principal with the need to give him and the other three a group therapy session. What was even more curious was why Principal Guru and Counselor Roku thought it to be necessary.

Sure Aang's life wasn't perfect but it wasn't as bad as other students. He only had been in a couple of fights, never to start them, when there are a few guys who 'want to teach him a lesson'. Aang won a few if it was one on one, but it usually wasn't. But everything else was fine, Aang could see why the others would need therapy, Toph's trust issues and resentful parents, Katara needing to grieve properly about the death of her Mom, and Zuko needing to get away from the dangers and stress from his Father. Aang really felt bad for all of them and could understand why they were in therapy, but he wished he could understand why he himself was in with them.

"Okay Aang you've been quiet all day. What's up?" Suki stepped in front of Aang her hand on her hips in a no nonsense kind of pose.

Aang wasn't surprise at all. He knew Suki was looking out of the corner of her eye all day wondering what the hell was going on in his head. He knew it was unfair to give Suki the cold shoulder all day, especially when she was patient enough to see if he would go to her first. Besides his Mom and Uncle Iroh, Suki was the only person he trusted fully in the Inner City. She was like the older sister he never had. She was the one that introduced him to her foster Mother Kyoshi Shu and thus learning how to fight and adapt it to his skills. The two have always stood with one another and could rely upon each other when all else fails. Suki and Aang had no secrets, so Aang knew underneath the anger Suki was worried for Aang. "I'll tell you after work okay? Just meet me on the rooftop after closing." Aang gave Suki a small smile.

The older girl reluctantly nodded. "Alright but you better tell me. I'll see you later." Suki enveloped Aang in a quick hug, he was taller than the girl now and he gave a quick kiss on top of her head before seeing her off to her foster Mother's.

Aang had two more blocks to walk before he got to his street that was essentially a food court and a run down market that was robbed at least once a week. He and his Mom lived with an old man name Iroh, though prefers to being called Uncle Iroh, above his small restaurant called The Jasmine Dragon. It was a semi-comfortable three bedroom, one bathroom place, so at least Aang had his own room. Uncle Iroh refused to accept any rent, saying Aang working as a waiter was good enough; his Mom was a secretary at some Uptown editing company. She usually doesn't show up at home until around seven pm, taking either a taxi or the subway. "Good afternoon Aang!" Uncle Iroh called out from the kitchen

"Hey Uncle Iroh." Aang said, he walked up to the pantry dropped his backpack and tied on an apron before getting a notepad and a pencil. Aang then hurried out to the restaurant for the three o'clock rush from school.

"So what's up?" Suki sat down next to a tired Aang. Iroh had just closed down the restaurant minutes ago before taking a box with him and leaving out the front door. Aang would wonder where Iroh would go every night but figured the man had a right to privacy. His Mom was currently sleeping soundly in her room leaving Aang and Suki the only ones awake in the whole building.

"You remember yesterday how I had detention after fighting Zuko?" Aang asked

"Yeah? Oh crap did the asshole give you a hard time in detention, do I need to go find him and kick-"

"Suki!" Aang interrupted the high rate girl. "First of all you're not going after anyone alone, especially a Firebender. Second he didn't give me a hard time, sort of. Look the whole afternoon was strange can you just let me finish telling you before you go all ninja on me?"

Suki smiled sheepishly at her friend before motioning for Aang to continue on. "Anyway, as it turned out it wasn't just me and Zuko in there. Some Water Tribe girl name Katara and an Earthbender name Toph was also with us, and then the Guidance Counselor Roku comes in and we end up having a therapy session."

"What?" Suki asked confusedly

"Yeah I know, how random right? He wanted us to see that regardless what country or ethnicity we are we still have the same issues."

Suki was quiet for a few minutes. "So did it work?"

"...Yeah I think it did." Aang said softly. "How weird is that? Me feeling sorry a Firebender. You should have seen them in there. All this time I thought Toph was just some loud obnoxious girl, but really she's this alone insecure girl that puts on a tough mask. And this Katara she still grieves over the death of a family member." he frowned down at his hands. "Suki you know I love you right?" Aang looked over nervously.

"Yeah I know, and I know you wouldn't do anything to hurt me intentionally...you're going to reach out to the others aren't you; including that Firebender." it wasn't a question. Firebenders were a sensitive subject for Suki. That being said she knew Aang long enough that he wouldn't just jump into a situation head first he would think things through. And if he was thinking something that Suki suspected then he'll need his sister by his side. The city was on the brink of war between the four nations, tensions between races were high from the Inner City all the way up to Uptown. It was all Suki grew up in, and now it looked like Aang wanted to change that just by making friends to other ethnicities. A dangerous thing to do now with the Gang Wars breaking havoc in the Inner City.

"Yep...and if it's not too much I would like you help me?" Aang looked over to Suki for reassurance.

"Always. I just hope you realize what you are doing. And you know at some point you'll have to let them know what you really are."

"I'm just making new friends Suki, not starting a revolution." he ignored her last sentence. C'mon it's late you can call Kyoshi and let her know you're spending the night."

"Thanks." Suki smiled, though on the inside she was still nervous that Aang was about to start something big in the city.