"This is humiliating." Katara spoke.
"Do you mean getting thoroughly spanked by the Firenation or having to walk all the way to the Western Air Temple?" Sokka asked.
"Both."
"Sorry guys, but Appa gets tired carrying all these people." Aang piped up.
"I wonder how the rest of the troops are." Tao wondered.
"They're probably on their way to a prison." Haru voiced. "It seems like my dad just got out. And now he's going back in."
"I miss Pipsqueak." The Duke admitted.
"I miss not having blisters on my feet." Sokka grumbled.
"Hey! We're here!" Toph called from the front. "I can feel it!"
"Uh. I think your feet need their eyes checked." Katara confessed.
"Nothing's there." You said, looking out over a cliff. Another cliff sat on the other side, but it was certainly no Air Temple.
"No. She's right. We are here." Aang agreed.
You looked over at him, raising an eyebrow.
Sokka looked around, shrugging.
"Wow. It's amazing." Toph breathed.
"I wish I could agree, but since I can't see it…" You trailed off, crossing your arms.
"Appa can take us down." Aang said. "It's not far."
Everyone climbed on Appa.
The bison flew over the side of the cliff, lowering himself.
Your eyes widened. "Oh."
There was the temple. In all of its upside-down glory."
"It's so different from the Northern Air Temple." Tao noted once everyone climbed off. "I wonder if there's any secret rooms."
"Let's go check it out!" Haru exclaimed, rushing towards a set of stairs.
Tao and The Duke chased after him.
You smiled.
Aang ran forward as well, but Katara stopped him with his staff.
She turned to the others. "You guys go. We need to talk about some things."
"Why can't I go?" Aang asked, turning to Katara after the three disappeared.
"We need to decide what we're going to do now. And since you're the Avatar, maybe you should be a part of this."
Aang sat down on a rock, crossing his arms. "Fair enough." He stated, though clearly not happily.
You shook your head, walking towards Appa. "Hey, buddy!" You greeted.
The bison roared softly at you.
You smiled. "Why don't we get this heavy, albeit cool, armor off of you? What do ya say?"
He roared again, laying down so that you could reach easier.
You grinned, climbing up and taking the pieces of armor off.
Sokka, Katara and Toph came towards you suddenly as you stroked Appa's fur.
"Appa, let's go." Sokka said, climbing up and grabbing the reigns.
"What's going on?" You asked.
"Aang's not listening to us. He ran off."
"What? Why?"
"No time to explain. Hop in."
You climbed in the saddle with Katara and Toph.
Appa took off and flew around, searching for the boy.
"Aang! Can we talk about you learning firebending now?!" Katara shouted as she spotted Aang.
"What!? The wind is… too loud in my ears!" He yelled back.
"Somehow I doubt that." You muttered, crossing your arms.
"Check out this loop!" Aang called, diving and rising on his glider.
"Aang! I think we should be making plans for our future!" Sokka hollered, continuing to chase the Avatar.
"Okay! We can do that while I show you the giant pai sho table!" Aang landed, Appa shortly after. "Oh, you're going to love the all-day echo chamber!"
"I think that'll have to wait." Toph said seriously, pointing behind her.
You all turned as Appa moved, revealing someone… unexpected.
"Hello. Zuko here."
Your heart felt like it leapt into your throat.
Everyone drew their weapons.
"Hey. I heard you guys flying around down here, so… I just thought I'd wait for you here."
You blinked in disbelief, even as Appa licked the firebender.
Aang, seeing Appa's affection for him, lowered his staff slightly in confusion.
"I know you must be surprised to see me here." Zuko went on, rubbing the slobber off of his face.
"Not really, since you followed us all over the world." Sokka reminded.
Zuko looked away. "Right. Well, uh… anyway. What I wanted to tell you about is that I've changed. And I, uh, I'm good now. And… I think I should join your group. Oh! And I can teach firebending." He turned to Aang. "To you."
Aang's expression softened.
Zuko, noting the silence, went to continue. "See, I uh-"
"You want to what now?" Toph asked.
"You can't possibly think any of us can trust you, can you?" Katara demanded. "I mean how stupid do you think we are?"
"Yeah!" Sokka agreed. "All you've ever done is try to hunt us down and capture Aang!"
"I've done some good things!" Zuko defended. "I mean, I could have stolen your bison in Ba Sing Se, but I set him free!" He gestured to Appa. "That's something!"
Appa licked him again.
"Appa does seem to like him." Toph noted.
"He probably just covered himself in honey or something so that Appa would lick him." Sokka reasoned. "I'm not buying it!"
"Guys, how would Appa escape on his own?" You questioned. "Who in the Dai Li would have set him free?"
"I'm sure there's a perfectly logical explanation."
"I can understand why you wouldn't trust me." Zuko said. "And I know I've made some mistakes in the past."
"Like when you attacked our village?" Sokka asked.
"Or when you stole my mother's necklace and used it to track us down and capture us?" Katara accused.
"Look. I admit I've done some awful things." Zuko closed his eyes, holding his head. "I was wrong to try to capture you, and I'm sorry that I attacked the Water Tribe. And I never should have sent that Firenation assassin after you."
Sokka's eyes widened. "Wait, you sent Combustion Man after us!?" He demanded, drawing his boomerang.
Zuko lowered his hand, looking over at Sokka. "Well, that's not his name, but-"
"Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to insult your friend."
"He's not my friend!" Zuko snapped.
"That guy locked me and Katara in jail and tried to blow us all up!" Toph yelled.
Zuko sighed, closing his eyes. He reopened them, turning to Aang. "Why aren't you saying anything? You once said you thought we could be friends. You know I have good in me."
Aang looked over at everyone.
You watched him. "Aang, think about this."
Sokka shook his head, urging Aang to refuse.
Aang turned back to Zuko, voice stern. "There's no way we can trust you after everything you've done. We'll never let you join us."
Zuko's eyes went wide in distress.
"You need to get out of here. Now." Katara told him.
Zuko squeezed his eyes shut in irritation, clenching his fists. He took a desperate step forward. "I'm trying to explain that I'm not that person anymore!"
"Either you leave, or we attack." Sokka warned.
Zuko closed his eyes in defeat. "If you won't accept me as a friend, then maybe you'll take me as a prisoner." He got down on his knees, holding his arms out.
"No. We won't!" Katara shot water at him, sending him backwards. "Get out, and don't come back! And if we ever see you again… well… we better not see you again!"
Zuko stared up at everyone. His gaze shifted to you. His golden eyes were filled with pleading hope.
Your stomach flipped.
"Y/n?" He stood, turning so that he was fully facing you. "You know I have good in me. You helped me when no one else would. You helped my ship, you set me free at the North Pole-"
Your eyes widened in panic. You wanted to silence him, but it was too late.
The damage had been done.
The rest of the gang turned to you.
"You set him free!?" Sokka demanded, voice harsh.
You flinched.
"Why would you set him free!?"
"I don't know!" You yelled back. You sighed. "I don't know." You repeated more quietly, looking away.
"Whose side are you on?" Katara questioned sharply.
You looked up at her, glaring. "That's funny, Katara. You were the one who was so convinced that Jet was on our side." You gestured behind you. "The point is, Zuko is here. Aang needs a firebending teacher. We may never find another one! He shows up, pleading with you to be allowed to teach Aang firebending, which he needs to learn, and you won't even consider it!?"
The others remained silent for several moments.
"There's no way we can trust you, now." Sokka said sternly.
Your eyes widened. "Are you kicking me out?"
They didn't respond.
You nodded, pursing your lips. "That's okay. It's not like I made much of a difference anyway. Really, you'd probably be better off without me, since I only ever take up space. Why would you need me when you have the mighty Katara?"
"What?" Katara asked.
"Katara's such a good waterbender. Katara gets spirit water from Master Pakku. Katara can break out of Hama's hold. Katara's such a versatile waterbender. Katara's a better healer than me, even though I've had years of experience. Katara, Katara, Katara." You ranted. "You jerked a thumb at your chest. "Well, what about me!?" You hollered. "Every time I try to do something, someone else is there, doing it first! I want to matter!"
"You do matter." Aang insisted.
"No I don't!" You took a moment to try to get your breathing under control. "No I don't." You gestured behind you towards Zuko. "Maybe I helped him because he was the only one who acted like I existed." You said quietly.
It began to pour, raindrops hitting the Air Temple and pooling.
"We can't trust you!" Katara yelled, sending water at you.
You blocked her attack, maintaining eye contact as thunder roared and lightning struck. "Trust my rage."
You stared down at your bracelet. You had briefly taken it off because of the hurt and anger you felt, but you felt strange without it. Like, part of you was missing. Or that you somehow betrayed your brother and Sokka.
"I'm sorry."
You turned, glaring up at Zuko. "I'm still mad at you!"
He flinched, taking a step back.
"Just because I stood up for you back there, doesn't mean I've forgotten what you did in Ba Sing Se."
Zuko frowned, hanging his head. He closed his eyes as his hair fell in front of them. "I know."
"You hurt me." You told him quietly.
He looked up at you, his golden eyes peering into your e/c ones with regret and shame. "I know." He repeated more quietly.
You stood, walking over to him. "You were finally starting to change. Finally doing the right thing." Your face fell. "But in the end, your father's acceptance mattered too much to you."
Zuko squeezed his eyes shut, turning away from you. Looking you in your broken eyes was too hard.
"I trusted you."
Zuko looked back over at you. "I know. I'm… so sorry. I realize now that my honor is something that I have to earn. It can't be given to me by my father. During the eclipse I went to see him. I confronted him. I told him that I would join the Avatar." He frowned. "But I guess that isn't working out the way I wanted it to."
"Well, you can't be surprised." You guessed, crossing your arms.
"I'm not."
You both fell silent for several moments. "In Ba Sing Se, I thought-" You cut yourself off. Zuko felt bad enough. "But I guess it doesn't matter."
Zuko looked over at you cautiously. "Can I see it?" He asked hesitantly.
You looked over at him, confusion etched onto your features. "See what?"
He gestured vaguely. "Your back. Where Azula burned you."
Your eyes widened in surprise. "Why would you-"
"I want to see how bad it is. My sister marked you. It's… I don't know how to explain it."
You studied him for a moment, trying to see if he was for real. Finding no signs of dishonesty, you turned away from him, rolling up the back of your shirt. You glued your gaze onto a rock. "It's ugly, right?" You tried joking. You gasped in surprise when you felt his fingers running along the marks.
"I don't think so." He said quietly.
You pulled your shirt back down before turning to face him. "Well, now we match. We've both been marked by your family."
His eyes widened. "How did you-"
"I ran across Iroh in Ba Sing Se when I was looking for directions. We talked." You smirked suddenly. "How was your date?"
Zuko flushed, scratching the back of his head and looking away. "You knew about that?"
You nodded. "I saw you leave, although I must say, I didn't recognize you. Iroh said that you were on a date. So how was it?"
"It was nice." He answered quickly.
You both fell silent again.
"Why… did you help me?" Zuko asked.
You looked up at him. "Remember in the North Pole, when you kidnapped Aang?"
Zuko visibly flinched.
"Well, you were talking to him, and… I happened to overhear you talking about your sister. I understood why it was so important for you to capture Aang." You smiled slightly. "Besides." You shoved him lightly. "You saved me, remember?"
He chuckled lightly, the sound strange to your ears.
"I like your hair, by the way."
Zuko ran a hand through it. "Oh. Thanks."
"How is Iroh?"
Zuko shook his head. "I don't know. I went to free him during the eclipse, but he was gone."
You frowned. "Gone?"
"One of the guards said that he got out."
"You were planning on going in the jail, with no firepower, to rescue your uncle?"
"Well, I had my broadswords."
"I didn't know you had swords."
He smiled lightly down at you. "It never came up."
You fell silent again. "You said that Aang once said that you could be friends."
Zuko nodded. "That was a long time ago. The Blue Spirit is behind me."
Your eyes widened. "You were the Blue Spirit?!"
He nodded.
"I saw a wanted poster for the Blue Spirit outside of the fire festival. I didn't know it was you."
He nodded. "I rescued Aang from Zhao. When he figured out it was me, he must have pulled me away. That's when he said that we could have been friends."
"Well, you saved Aang. That proves you have good in you."
Zuko shook his head, his hair waving back and forth slightly at the action. "It doesn't. I only rescued Aang so that I could take him back to my father. I wouldn't get my honor back if Zhao brought Aang in instead of me."
"Oh."
More silence.
"Would you like to stay here with me?" Zuko asked suddenly.
You looked over at him, surprised. "Stay with you?" You echoed. "Why?"
"Well, I figured since you've got nowhere else to go, you could stay here with me, and keep me company, and maybe we can both join the others, and-"
"Okay, Zuko, I get it." You said, holding your hands out to silence him. "I'll stay with you."
You were shaken awake the next morning. You cracked an eye open, seeing Zuko. You drew water, sending it at him.
"Whoa! Wait! It's me!" Zuko yelled.
You relaxed, bringing your water back to your canteen. "Sorry. I'm not used to waking up and seeing your face."
Zuko flopped on the ground, resting his forearms on his knees as he sat, facing the forest. "Well, you'd better get used to it, because I don't think I'll be joining the team for a while."
Your eyebrows furrowed as you sat down next to him. "What happened?"
"Toph came last night. I- I didn't know it was her, and accidentally burned her feet."
Your eyes shot wide. "Ugh, if I had been awake I could have healed her!" You pinched the bridge of your nose. "At least we know Toph is willing to work something out."
Zuko fell over backwards, extending his arms out on either side of him. "I don't know about that, now."
You frowned, looking down at him.
He closed his eyes, sighing.
You reached over, brushing some hair out of his face.
His eyes opened, looking over at you with golden irises.
You did your best to seem unaffected. "Well, you can't give up." You insisted, drawing your hand back to your side. "Aang needs to learn firebending, and right now, you're his only option. If only he'd take it."
"I'm going over there." Zuko declared, standing. "I need to try again." He looked over at you, extending his hand. "Are you coming?"
Zuko swung on the rope, knocking into Combustion Man.
Combustion Man's explosion missed its mark, hitting the temple instead.
"Stop!" Zuko instructed, walking towards him.
You climbed down the rope, seeing the gang carry Toph away.
"I don't want you hunting the Avatar anymore!" Zuko stood in front of the assassin. "The mission is off! I'm ordering you to stop!"
The assassin shoved Zuko out of the way.
You jumped down from the rope, landing on the ledge with them. You helped Zuko up. "You okay?"
He nodded wordlessly before charging Combustion Man. "If you keep attacking, I won't pay you!" He shot fire at him, but Combustion Man grabbed him. "Alright! I'll pay you double to stop!"
Combustion Man breathed deeply, about to shoot again.
Zuko jumped up, kicking the assassin in the chest, redirecting the blow.
Combustion Man turned to Zuko, shooting at him.
Zuko created a fire shield, but was sent backwards by the blast, falling over the cliff.
"Zuko!" You shouted, jumping over the edge, freezing the rope around your leg so that you didn't fall, too. You grabbed his arm with both of your hands. "Zuko, I've got you!"
Zuko looked up at you, reaching up with his other hand as he grabbed onto your wrist.
Another explosion was visible in your peripheral vision.
You kept your eyes on Zuko. "Don't let go." You told him. "I'm going to let go with this hand. You have to keep a good grip on my other arm."
Zuko's grip tightened around your arm.
You let go with your left hand, reaching up and grabbing the rope. You pulled with all your might, grunting from your own weight and the added weight of Zuko. You squeezed your eyes shut, yelling as you pulled up.
You couldn't feel Zuko.
Your eyes shot open as you looked down, seeing that Zuko was high enough to grab onto the rope. You looked down at him. "Don't do that again." You whispered.
He nodded.
You unfroze your leg, both of you climbing back up the rope.
An explosion rippled through the air, and part of the temple fell down the cliff.
Combustion Man's metal arm flew passed your head.
You stared at it in shock before pulling yourself up the rest of the way. You turned, pulling Zuko up onto the ledge as well.
You both collapsed, exhausted.
You and Zuko stared at the gang once you got down to the lower level.
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but… thanks, Zuko." Aang said.
"Hey. And what about me?" Sokka asked. "I did the boomerang thing."
Zuko walked towards them. "Listen. I know I didn't explain myself very well yesterday. I've been through a lot in the past few years, and it's been hard. But I'm realizing that I had to go through all those things to learn the truth." He bowed his head. "I thought I had lost my honor, and that somehow my father could return it to me. But I know, now… that no one can give you your honor. It's something you earn for yourself, by choosing to do what's right. All I want now is playing my part in ending this war. And I know my destiny is to help you restore balance to the world." Zuko turned to Toph, bowing. "I'm sorry for what I did to you. It was an accident. Fire can be dangerous and wild… so as a firebender, I need to be more careful and control my bending, so that I don't hurt people unintentionally."
Aang looked down in thought before looking back up at Zuko. "I think you are supposed to be my firebending teacher." He admitted, taking a step forward. "When I first tried to learn firebending, I burned Katara." He said, gesturing at her. "And after that, I never wanted to firebend again. But now I know that you understand how easy it is to hurt the people you love." Aang placed his hands on top of each other in the proper firenation salute, bowing. "I would like you to teach me."
Zuko's face softened and he bowed back. "Thank you. I'm so happy you've accepted me into your group."
You walked towards him, placing a hand on his back to show your congratulations.
"Not so fast. I still have to ask my friends if it's okay with them." Aang informed.
You felt Zuko tense up beneath your hand.
Convincing Aang was one thing.
Convincing Sokka, Katara and Toph was another.
"Toph, you're the one that Zuko burned. What do you think?" Aang asked, turning to the girl.
"Go ahead and let him join." She pounded her fist into her palm. "It'll give me plenty of time to get back at him for burning my feet."
Aang smiled, but it fell when he turned. "Sokka?"
Sokka was silent for a moment. He shrugged. "Hey, all I wanna do is defeat the Firelord. If you think this is the way to do it, then… I'm all for it."
Aang smiled, nodding again. His expression shifted into a frown. "Katara?" He asked, walking towards her.
A few beads of sweat trickled down Zuko's face.
You gently took his hand, squeezing it slightly for support.
It was clammy.
Katara turned to Aang. "I'll go along with whatever you think is right."
Aang smiled.
Zuko walked forward, his hand slipping out of yours. "I won't let you down! I promise!" He exclaimed happily.
Aang and Katara walked away, Sokka picking up Toph and following.
You and Zuko were alone again.
"Good job, Zuko." You told him.
He turned to you.
You stared up at him, gaze flickering between his eyes. "I guess I'll see you around." You said quickly, turning and walking away.
Zuko caught your hand, pulling you to a stop. "You're not staying with me?"
You shifted, turning to face him. "I don't think that would be wise. I hurt them… badly."
"Well, so have I."
"I think I may have hurt them worse. I was a friend. An ally. I betrayed them."
Zuko took a small step closer, placing a hand on his chest, though not letting go of yours with his other hand, afraid that if he would let go, you'd leave without giving him a chance to try to keep you there. "But I betrayed you. Worse than you betrayed them. You didn't give up on me. Why should they give up on you?"
You looked at the ground, feeling uncomfortable under his gaze. "I can't make them change their minds, Zuko. And neither can you." You took a step away, sliding your hand out of his.
"I don't want to be here without you." Zuko pleaded. "You're the only one that's understood me. If you leave, I'll be alone."
You walked back over, placing your hands on the sides of his face. "Zuko, listen to me." You began quietly, but firmly. "Fulfill your destiny. Help the Avatar defeat the Firelord."
"What are you going to do?"
"I don't know." You brought your hands down to your sides, gaze falling to the ground. "Maybe I'll go back to the North Pole and see Liam. Maybe I'll travel the world some more." Your eyes lifted to meet his. "Maybe I can see if I have a destiny."
Zuko stared down at you, his eyes filled with conflict and his mouth slightly parted as if he wanted to say something, but couldn't think of anything.
You turned around, beginning to walk away.
"Wait!"
You closed your eyes, stopping. You opened them, turning to face Zuko.
"What if I can convince them to let you stay?"
You chuckled softly. "I don't think they'll listen to you, Zuko."
"Let me try. Wait right there." He instructed, running off.
You stared at the spot where he had just been.
The sound of wind was the only thing filling the silence.
You sat on the edge of the fountain, waiting. You clenched and unclenched your fists, trying to ease your anxiety.
Would they take you back?
Or did you mess up too badly this time?
You sat there for what felt like hours, but in reality, it was less than one. Hearing footsteps, your head shot up, gaze immediately landing on Zuko.
You didn't want to ask.
"They'll take you back." Zuko informed, smiling.
You stood, only a foot away from him. "Really?"
He nodded. He opened his mouth, about to say something, but he stopped when he saw Sokka walk in.
Your heart raced.
"I'll show you to your room, Zuko." Sokka informed.
Zuko looked at you one last time before walking further into the temple.
"I'll be with you in a minute." Sokka told him.
Zuko nodded, disappearing from view.
You squeezed your eyes shut, turning away from Sokka. "I'm sorry."
"No. I'm the one who should be sorry." He said quietly. "I'm sure you were only doing what you felt was right. If I could forgive Zuko, I could forgive you."
You nodded in understanding, not trusting your voice.
"When you walked out of here yesterday, I started thinking. You were right. We really have been ignoring you. I don't intend to do that again."
You finally looked over at him, seeing sincerity in his eyes.
He raised his arm, revealing his bracelet. "Friends?"
You raised your arm, nodding. "Friends."
You hugged him tightly. "I'm sorry for yelling at you."
"No more apologies." Sokka declared, pulling away and looking down at you.
You nodded.
"Alright. I'd better go show Zuko his room." He did a double-take. "Man, that's gonna be hard to get used to."
You laughed as he walked away, disappearing around the corner that Zuko had. You entered the temple, approaching Toph. "Are you okay?"
"I'll be fine. Although, I didn't expect to find you with Zuko." She admitted, a grin on her face.
Your face flushed. "Yeah, well. I had nowhere else to go." You said, drawing your water and healing her feet.
"Uh huh."
You pursed your lips, walking away.
"Okay, this is really weird." You heard Sokka say as he approached Aang.
"Get used to it." You advised.
Sokka nodded, walking away, you and Aang following.
"Oh, I'm gonna go check and make sure he has everything he needs." You spoke up, walking away. You froze, hearing Katara talking quietly in the doorway of Zuko's room. You hid behind a wall.
"You might have everyone else here buying your… transformation, but you and I both know that you've struggled with doing the right thing in the past." Katara said. She walked further into the room, her voice slightly muffled. "So let me tell you something right now. You make one step backward, one slip up, give me one reason to think you might hurt Aang, and you won't have to worry about your destiny anymore. Because I will make sure your destiny ends, right then and there. Permanently." She came into view again, walking away.
You glared at her back before walking into Zuko's room, knocking softly on the doorframe.
He looked up quickly, relaxing when he saw that it was you.
"Can I come in?" You asked.
He nodded.
You stepped in, walking towards him. "Look, I'm sorry… about Katara… she's just-" You cut yourself off to avoid saying anything too mean.
"I understand the way she feels. I wouldn't trust me, either. I'm just glad Aang did."
You looked up at him. "If she ever becomes a problem, if you want, I'll be there for you."
He nodded slightly in appreciation. "Thank you." He muttered.
You smiled softly up at him. "Anyway, I came to ask if you needed anything."
He looked around his room briefly before looking back at you. "No. I'm just happy to be here."
You nodded in understanding, quickly tearing your gaze away from a painting of Iroh in the corner to look Zuko in the eyes. "If you ever change your mind, let me know." You offered before walking back to the doorway. You placed your hand on the frame, turning back to him. "See you tomorrow."