Hello again. C: Sorry to take so long writing this chapter. I did write it twice already, but I trashed both of those. xP Otherwise, I really have no excuse for why this took so long. I'd really love to finish this before the new season, but… who knows. There's only one more chapter after this one, I'm sure of it.
Anyway, I really appreciate all of the feedback I get. Thanks a lot y'all.

Avatar is © Bryan and Mike.


The smoke, from the fire, rose and disappeared in the sky. The tension, the silence and Zuko's numerous plans of escape followed suit. His fish was still looking at him; a staring contest Zuko couldn't win. He covered the fish's face with his boot.

"Thank you for breakfast, Sokka. The fish was delectable," Iroh grinned and leaned back noisily.

"Sure," he swallowed and continued gnawing on his fish's spine.

"I didn't know you could eat fish raw," Katara speculated.

Iroh continued to grin while his nephew's misery grew. Zuko wanted to scream, he wanted something gritty and raw. And he didn't mean sushi. He wanted out.

The fire began to diminish. All eyes were fixated on it. Momo dug the fish out from under Zuko's foot.

"Iroh?" Aang cleared his throat.

The log creaked and rolled backwards a bit as he sat up.

"Yes Aang?"

"Could you tell us some more stories about firebending?" Aang lowered his eyelids. Katara leaned in and Sokka slouched back.

"Prince Zuko, I have not told them anything about you, do not worry. I've just spoken about myself." Iroh said soothingly, noticing the look of horror on his nephew's face.

"Uncle, the Fire Nation is not meant for bed time stories!" The prince scorned, appearing more patriotic than he felt.

The familiar silence returned. Only Sokka, who could either be seen as brave or extremely stupid, dared to say:

"But it's not bed time. We just ate breakfast."

Zuko's skin boiled and steamed, clashing with the fire. He stood and marched away, steadily and angrily. Sokka stuck out his bottom lip, receiving looks of concern and annoyance; mostly from his sister. Even Momo had stopped chattering and picking at his fish.

"I… uhm… I'll go-"

Sokka tripped over himself, standing and sprinting after the trail of smoke.

"Be sure not to rip any more articles of clothing, Sokka!" Katara yelled after him. Sokka wasn't sure if she meant anything by it or not, but he blushed regardless.

"I worry about those two."


Darting around obstacles, he was reminded of the hunt. Hunting was a familiar feeling for the Prince; it was what his whole entity depended upon. Now that he was camping with the Avatar, he felt a void in his life. He had no point to carry on like this. He was a traitor to his own nation. A corrupted, power hungry nation filled with murder. Zuko didn't want to be like that, he didn't want to be constantly on a rampage. He-

"I... huu… finally found you!"

The Prince turned his back to the moron, falling against a dark tree. He allowed his body to bend slightly.

"You were looking for me?" He growled.

Sokka bent over, clutching his knees and panting.

"Well, I followed you," he explained.

"Ohh, so you were following me?" Zuko grunted.

Sokka bit his lip, unable to give a reason as to why he had followed the firebender into the wilderness. The way Zuko said it made Sokka seem mad.

"Your uncle is worried about you."

Zuko looked around his shoulder. The water tribe boy was staring at the ground, resting on it, with his forehead on his knee. He looked crippled, but his common sense told him that this was an opportune moment.

The fire skidded into the dirt and grass, a near miss of Sokka's foot. Zuko's aim was very good. Sokka yelped and jumped, defying gravity. Zuko chuckled.

"What's WRONG with you?" Sokka managed. "You try to kill me, now you're laughing! YOU'RE STILL LAUGHING! Hey, do you have a death wish or what?"

Zuko turned his head, smirking. "Is that a threat?"

Sokka moved closer. "Yes."

"You want revenge for your chipped tooth, ehh?"

Yes, he did want revenge for his tooth! His mouth suddenly hurt, now that he was thinking about it again. But… if he did anything to Zuko, Katara would know. And then she would murder him, a death worse than anything Zuko could do to him.

Sokka looked at the ground again. "No. I don't think it's chipped, after all. It doesn't even hurt."

Zuko curled his lip. Sokka was a bad liar. Maybe he'd come to his senses that he'd never be able to beat Zuko in a fight. He vaguely recalled fighting Sokka, once before, and it had been no match, no competition. But that had been a long time ago.

"AHH! Would you STOP throwing fire at me!"

"Come on, let's battle," Zuko stated. He had never considered battling as fun before. But now that he didn't need to fight to survive, he felt he had to latch on to his fighting skills, his one skill.

"Wha… Why?" Sokka stood on his toes, prepared to dodge another fireball.

"I want to see what you're made of. Sokka."

Sokka threw his shoulders back. Had Zuko just called him by his name? Not "moron" or "peasant", but… Sokka? It was strange and embarrassing to hear his name in that tone. It was similar to the way Yue had said his name. It made his stomach churn.

"Fine." He grabbed his boomerang.


"So, there I was, surrounded."

"Surrounded by how many?"

"At least ten. I was armed with only my fists. They had weapons of all sorts; daggers, swords-"

"Did you win?"

"Of course he won, Aang."

"That's right Katara."

"Wow. You must be a powerful bender."

"Ohh, Aang, don't say that..."


Sokka fell, smelling the dirt. He turned his face, breathing and licking the mud off of his lips. It tasted salty. It tasted like blood. He saw red and whipped his boomerang backwards. He heard a groan and jumped to his feet. Zuko was blocking his face; the boomerang was on a path back to its owner. Sokka caught his weapon of choice and launched it at Zuko's knee. His leg gave out from under him and Zuko found himself kissing the ground as well. Sokka leaped onto Zuko's back, grinning.

"I win."

Zuko lifted himself, arching his back. Sokka grew wide eyed and grabbed onto Zuko's hair, hoping to stay on his back. Zuko sneered; having his hair pulled was an unusual and uncomforting feeling. He reached his fist back and pushed Sokka off of him. He turned on his side, far too tired to deal with another attack. Sokka, on the other hand, was now standing. He still appeared ready for a fight, energetic. He was silhouetted by the shadows of the trees.

"I win," he repeated, loudly.

Zuko sighed and stood up, flicking a spark at Sokka's ear.


"I'm getting worried, Katara."

She sighed and dropped the newly acquired firewood.

"I know." She turned in her brow and smiled at Aang. "Sokka would never allow himself to miss lunch."

"Who's up for a game?" Iroh boomed, grabbing his stomach. Katara and Aang looked at each other, wrinkling their noses and eyebrows.

"Uhm, sir, don't you wonder what's happened to Zuko and Sokka?"

Iroh looked around the campsite. "Yes, but I think we should leave them be. Let them sort out their differences, so to speak."

Aang frowned but Katara shrugged as Iroh began to chuckle.


Sokka collapsed, letting his body fall onto the ground next to Zuko's. Standing was too tiring for him.

"Zuko, how are we going to get back to camp?" He asked, his voice sounding dry and quiet.

"We won't be able to Sokka. It'll be night soon. We'll have to sleep here."

Zuko turned his head, facing Sokka. Sokka had removed his shirt and was in only his leotard again. He was covered in blood and panting. His body looked exhausted, small and unusual. Zuko coughed and the younger boy lifted his head to look at him.

"You… you're a better fighter," Zuko mumbled.

Sokka's mouth was open and his tongue started to sweat with the rest of his body.

"Really? You think I'm a good fighter?" He leaned towards the prince. He was dizzy, but he was sure his hearing was intact.

"No. Just better," Zuko spat blood, mixing with the blood on Sokka's face.

Sokka smiled. There was a neutral respect between them now, which was strange considering they'd just beaten one another to the point of no return.


"No, we should stay here. I'm sure they've already found a place to sleep for the night."

"But- but it's not safe out there," Katara bit her lip.

Iroh smiled and patted her shoulder. "Do not worry, they will take care of one another. Aang is asleep already and you look tired as well."

Katara yawned, covering her mouth in an attempt to disguise it. How Iroh thought that Sokka and Zuko would ever get along was beyond her. She thought he was a bit mad anyway, after spending the day playing unknown card games with him.


Zuko awoke to the sounds of the night; woodland creatures howling, the trees swaying, Sokka rustling. He was sweating, still, and his clothes felt tight and wet against his skin. Despite this, he couldn't stop himself from shivering. He breathed loudly and began to regret challenging Sokka.

He sat up, slowly, holding himself up. His head throbbed as he tried to regain his eyesight. He began stripping himself of his armor. He'd slept in it the night before and had awoken with a great ache in his back. Free of his confining battle armor, he breathed easier. He sat against the tree he had been sleeping against. He licked his dry lips with his dry tongue, looking over at the Water tribe boy. He seemed to stir and the grass moved. Zuko heard a gasp.

"What?" He closed his eyes, feeling disoriented.

"You… the moon is shining right on you," Sokka whispered.

He opened one eye. "It's dark everywhere. You're seeing things."

Sokka sat up, appearing far too energetic. He crawled towards his sparring partner. Zuko opened both eyes and held his breath. Sokka was starring at him, inspecting his face. Zuko looked ahead, concentrated, and didn't blink.

Sokka bit his lips, which became re-coated in fresh blood. He forces his eyes shut and stuck his neck out, tilting his chin upwards.

Zuko let his breath out and, upon drawing it back in, tasted blood.