AN: This is what happens when I have a three day weekend and don't feel like doing homework. I write fanfiction! ^_^ So I decided to write another chapter for this, and there'll probably be another…and another…and another… Dang plotbunnies multiply like weeds.
Still in need of a beta, if anyone feels like volunteering.
Disclaimer: Avatar isn't mine. Thank goodness. If the show had been up to me, I wouldn't've been able to do it justice.
"Zeph," Aang said, "would you please tell the bonehead sitting next to you to pass the fire flakes?"
"And refill my glass?" Kuzon added, holding his cup out to Zeph. She took it uncertainly and looked at Bumi.
"They want you to--"
"I heard them," he grumbled, grabbing the glass from her hands. He refilled the glass, slammed it down before Kuzon, and shoved the bowl of fire flakes Aang's way. At the head of the table, Monk Gyatso wiped his mouth with a napkin to hide his smile.
"Thank you, Zeph," Aang said.
"Uh...you're welcome?"
"So, Zeph," Kuzon said conversationally, "what did you do with the rest of your afternoon? You know, while Aang and I were stuck up to our chests in solid rock." He glared at Bumi.
"Oh, well, uh... Monk Gyatso and I made fruit pies! And I got to lick the bowl, and we made dinner, and..."
"Wow. Sounds fun," Kuzon said, still looking pointedly at Bumi. "A lot more fun than being stuck in the mud."
"I've apologized a million times already!" the Earthbender exclaimed. Kuzon turned his attention back to his meal.
"Zeph, please tell Bumi that he can apologize all he wants, but it really doesn't change the fact that Aang and I were practically buried alive and had to be dug out by hand."
"Bumi, Kuzon says--"
"I know what he's saying; I can hear him! And I'm sorry about the whole getting-dug-out-with-shovels thing, okay? I'm not well trained enough to Earthbend you out, and there weren't any other Earthbenders nearby."
"Zeph," Aang sighed, "kindly remind Bumi that we are in the Fire Nation, so there aren't exactly random Earthbending masters wandering around."
Zeph glanced at Bumi, who was glaring at Aang. She sighed and had a bite of rice.
"Well, I'm sorry!" Bumi said indignantly.
"Zeph, tell Bumi that saying sorry isn't going to get us those three hours of our lives back," Aang said, and Zeph promptly airbent Aang's bowl onto his face.
"Oh, tell him yourself," she huffed, getting up from the table. "Zonpa needs her dinner."
"Don't take too long," Monk Gyatso said. "It'll be time for pie soon, and knowing how these three eat it'll disappear quite fast."
Aang pulled the bowl off his face in time to see his only method of communication with Bumi leaving the dining room. "Wait, Zeph, come back!" When she didn't, he switched tactics. "Well, so long as you're out with the bison, can you feed Appa for me?"
"Actually, my dear pupil, I think that is something you should do yourself," Monk Gyatso said, looking at Aang pointedly. The younger monk sighed and got up.
"Oh, alright."
"Hey, Aang," Bumi snickered. "You might want to clean your face before you see Appa. Otherwise he might try to eat you."
"Huh?" Aang said, feeling his face and finding clumps of rice sticking to his skin. "Oh, gross! Zeph!" He frantically brushed the sticky rice off his head.
"Could be worse," Kuzon laughed. "You could have hair."
"Ha," Aang snorted, leaving the dining room. "That'll be the day."
He headed outside, where Appa and Zonpa were idly grazing. Kuzon's family's vacation house was situated in the middle of a wide, open plain at the foot of the mountains, a mile away from town. The bison were capable of surviving on the grass in the meadow, but the Air Nomads liked to be sure the animals got some extra treats.
Aang found Appa chewing on some grass, and the animal grunted a greeting as the monk approached. As he got closer, Aang saw Zonpa standing on Appa's other side. Zeph was using her airbending to toss watermelons into the smaller bison's mouth.
"So tell me," she said, getting into formation in front of a melon. "Are all boys this hogmonkey-headed, or is it just you three?"
"I don't know," Aang shrugged. Zeph took a moment to roll her eyes before taking a deep breath, twirling, and whooshing her watermelon into Zonpa's waiting mouth. "Your aim's a lot better than it was last year," Aang noted.
"I've been practicing," she said proudly. "I've almost mastered level six now."
"That's great, Zeph!" Aang grinned, grabbing a melon and tossing it to Appa. "Funny. A year ago we were only at level two."
She set up another melon. "So what are you up to now, exactly?" she asked, starting her bending motions.
"...Level fifteen."
Zeph's melon went wide off its mark, and Zonpa lowed in annoyance. Zeph didn't notice.
"Fifteen?" she repeated. "How are you up to level fifteen already?"
Aang shrugged, throwing Appa another melon. "I don't know. It's just been really easy for me. Monk Gyatso says I'll probably be a master in a few more years."
"A few years?" Zeph asked, looking shocked. "How is that even possible?"
"I don't know," Aang shrugged. Zeph's face had taken on a sort of downcast expression, and he sighed. "Don't worry, it's not like you're behind or anything. It just comes naturally to me." When she still frowned uncertainly, he added, "I'm the only one--none of the other kids at the Southern Air Temple are so far ahead."
Her face broke into a relieve grin, and she laughed. "Oh, good. So you're just weird, then."
"Hey!"
"Come on," she smirked, bending one last watermelon into Zonpa's mouth. "Let's get back inside before they eat all the pie."
They returned to the dining room just as Monk Gyatso was cutting into the desert, and Bumi and Kuzon were already fighting over their pieces. Aang and Zeph slid into their seats, watching the two boys argue.
"That piece is mine, okay? I claim it."
"That's not how it works! You can't just claim it!"
"Well, that's how it works in my family!"
"Well, in my family, whoever grabs the plate first gets it!"
"That's nice, Bumi, but seeing as you're staying in my house..."
"Boys," Monk Gyatso chided, "all the pieces are exactly the same size."
"Nah-uh," Kuzon shook his head. Pointing at one of the slices, he said, "This piece is slightly bigger than the others. I claim it."
"You can't claim it!"
Monk Gyatso sighed, placed the slice in question on a plate, and set it in front of Zeph. She beamed.
"Thank you, Monk Gyatso."
"Thank you for helping me bake it," he answered. Kuzon and Bumi sulked as they were served average-sized pieces. And then Bumi grinned.
"Told you you couldn't claim it."
"Oh, shut up, Bumi."
AN: Poor Zeph. It's gotta be hard growing up and learning bending alongside the Avatar. XD Hope you enjoyed reading!