Hello faithful readers!

It has been so long, I won't even try to make up excuses other than the fact that I just finished my first year of university. Here's another chapter for you and, although it's short, it's purpose is both to remind you that, yes, this story is still going on, and maybe refresh your memory on what has happened so far. Chapter 9 will come within the next few weeks and will fill in the gaps and finally get this story going again.

Enjoy!

Betaed by: Omega . whiskey, who writes amazing Zutara stories herself, and whose story I am currently Betaing. Check out Prince's Slave! :)

DISCLAIMED: I do not own, nor do I claim to own, any part of Avatar: the Last Airbender. Only Areida is mine.


Chapter 8: Training

Areida's POV

"I can't believe I'm actually doing this."

We were out on the deck again, far from Zhao and his ship, the sun beating down on us despite the fact that we still were not that far north. Yet I was already starting to sweat. Maybe living on Kyoshi for so long had made me soft— but the sight in front of me was also a likely contributor to my problems.

Prince Zuko stood in front of me, shirtless, a fact I tried hard not to think too much about, knowing I'd failed miserably the moment he'd casually removed it. I'd been so distracted by his bare chest that I hadn't really listened to what he was saying, what his explanation was for suddenly dragging me out here. Then he'd said my name sharply and repeated himself, something he probably wasn't used to doing as a prince. "I'm going to teach you Firebending," he'd said. "No objections. You are a bender— don't look at me like that. You held fire just now. Something that would be impossible for anyone else."

Now he watched as I awkwardly stood the obligatory few feet away, probably looking like the most pathetic bender in history. He was studying me, I realized, and I had no idea what I was supposed to do now. I met his gaze head on, though I was sure it would get me into trouble somehow; he'd seen me frightened enough for one day. When he finally looked away to watch the sky, he asked a question.

"Areida, why don't you want to Firebend?"

I glanced at General Iroh, the only other person near enough to hear. He was immersed in a game of some sort, but whether or not he was listening, I couldn't tell.

Choosing my words carefully, I said, "Maybe that's a story for another time." When he said nothing, I added, "Why do you want to teach me?"

Zuko met my eyes again and I thought I saw a trace of a smile on his face. "Another time."