Disclaimer: I do not own ATLA or it's characters.

78

Kuzon was just as Aang had remembered him. Cheerful, easy-going. The human version of a golden retriever, all happy-go-lucky smiles and good-natured greetings. And still insatiable: his Fire Nation friend was putting away his fourth bowl of rice and reindeer sausage. Aang had to hide his amusement at Katara's alarm. She'd never seen Kuzon eat before; it was a sight to behold.

"So, Kuzon," she said, clearing her throat. "You really love Water Tribe food."

"Oh, yea," he agreed around a mouthful of rice. "Love it." He swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing. "It would be a dream come true for me if I could travel to the Poles. That's where you're from, right? I think Aang mentioned something about that."

Katara nodded. "My brother and I are from the South Pole."

"That's so cool," Kuzon said enviously. "Your brother is Sokka, right? And he's dating... Suki?"

Aang dropped one arm over Katara's shoulder. "Yea, Suki."

"It's awesome how you all ended up rooming together," Kuzon said. "It's like Tetris, or something. You all landed together perfectly."

Katara beamed at him. "We got lucky," she agreed. "And, what about you? Aang told me that you're a physical therapist."

"Sort of," he laughed. "I got a job at a surgery rehabilitation center, but it wasn't the fulfilling job I was looking for. I'm not trying to suggest that those jobs aren't important, but I just didn't feel connected to my clients. I quit a few months ago."

"I didn't know that," Aang said. "So, where are you now?"

Kuzon swallowed another bite of rice and sausage. "I've decided to open my own gym," he announced, a curious mixture of nervousness and pride in his voice. "I want to create environment for all people, steeped- I hope- in inclusivity."

"That sounds amazing," Katara congratulated him.

"I'm really excited. I kind of put it all on the line for this," Kuzon admitted. "Drained my savings to buy a building in the Fire Nation Capital- super nice spot downtown. Took out a big loan for exercise equipment and remodeling. Onji is helping. With her interior design background, she might be able to save me some money."

Katara rested her elbows on the table, leaning forward in interest. "That's smart. Are you going to hire trainers, and receptionists and stuff? Aang might be able to tell you what to look for."

At this, a nervous look filled Kuzon's round face, and he fidgeted in his seat. "That's part of the reason that I'm here. I came for the seminar to look for employees, but I had someone in mind first."

"Who?" Aang asked, his curiosity piqued.

"I've benefitted personally from your work outs, Aang. There's no one out there better than you," Kuzon said slowly.

Aang blinked. "Thanks."

"So," Kuzon continued, "I came here to ask- well, I was kind of hoping that... you'd partner with me. Come and work with me; make your own hours, set your own schedule. Train your own regimens. Classes, if you want, or private clients. Whatever you felt comfortable with. Partial ownership. We already have nearly a full membership. The area was severely lacking a gym, and people were interested right away."

"You want me to work with you? As a part-owner?" As soon as Aang said the words aloud, a dream took hold. An opportunity to use the skills and talents and things he had a passion for to help other people. He could see it clearly in his mind's eye.

It was Katara who voiced the other part of his mind, the one protesting loudly. Her eyes were wide with concern as she turned to him. "But... it's in the Fire Nation. Aang... you'd have to move away."

"Can I get two cappuccinos, please?" the girl asked quietly, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. She peered directly at Zuko, who blinked in confusion at her strange behavior.

"Sure," he said, ignoring the way her brown eyes bored into him. "Two cappuccinos. Card? Great, swipe here." Turning to avoid the girl's direct gaze, he leaned back and called the order out to Suki.

"Mai's going to have to get it," Suki replied. "I need to grab some cleaning supplies from the back."

He leaned even further to make eye contact with Mai. Her amber-colored eyes were watching him- they were always watching him- waiting for him to ask her to make the order. He kept his mouth shut.

It had been like this for two weeks. Two miserable, wonderful, intense weeks, where the burning in her eyes matched the desire that curled low in his belly. They hadn't been alone together since the night she told him that she liked him, but he could still feel her eyes on him. Every move she made was poised, like she knew he was watching her, too. And, damn it, he was. It was enough to drive a man mad.

So, instead of breaking the dam and speaking to her, he began making the cappuccinos himself, tucked behind the counter, hidden from Mai's amber gaze and the thoughts they brought with them.

The girl with the brown hair cleared her throat, and he paused his drink-making long enough to watch Mai stalk irritably over to her.

"Yes?" Mai greeted in snipped tones.

Zuko couldn't see her face, but it wasn't hard to imagine the brown-haired girl quailing in fear as Mai towered over her. "Um, I was just wondering if you knew that guy's name."

"You were wondering if I knew my manager's name?"

"Could you tell me his name?" Her voice was stronger this time.

But Mai was unperturbed. "Why?"

"So... so I could ask him on a date."

"Ooh, sorry," Mai said, not sounding sorry at all. "He's busy that night." She strode from the counter to grab the now-finished cappuccinos from Zuko's hands.

"But I didn't even say what day-"

"Thanks for coming," Mai spoke over her. "Enjoy your night."

It was clear dismissal, and the girl's shoulders slumped in defeat as she slouched away.

"That was terrible customer service," Zuko reprimanded Mai. "And, maybe I wanted to go on a date with that girl."

"You didn't."

He glowered at her. He hated when she was right. "How do you know?"

She stalked over to him. He was reminded of a cat stalking her prey. "You don't want her." Her breath fanned across his cheeks as she leaned into him. "You want me."

Was it normal for a heart to pound this fast? "Maybe I do, maybe I don't," he murmured.

At that moment, at that infernal moment, when her lips were centimeters away and when he was already bunching his muscles to close the gap, Suki strode back into the kitchen. "It took me forever to find this," she declared, holding up a box of towels. She froze at the sight of them. "Damn," she muttered under her breath. "Aang won. Fuck me."

A/N: TR13Reader, Katara picked up Kuzon from the airport in ch 77 because Aang was working but I forgot to mention it. That's one of the drawbacks of this 'going with the flow' method of writing. I knew Aang was at work. So I assumed we all knew Aang was at work. *cue embarrassed forehead smack*