Boiling Point
In the Moment

"I wish I could take back those words the moment I said them."

The look of hurt on Zuko's face honestly hurt deep down, nor was that the way he wanted the truth to come out, yet hearing that Ozai hurt Zuko by scarring him on his face also hurt, but he found himself wanting to throttle the man in that very moment. All eyes were now on him, possibly all mulling over how he blurted out the truth, some wide in shock while others remained calm.

Sokka, whose eyes went wide upon hearing the words, quickly retorted with, "That's not nice. You..."

Hakoda held up his arm in front of his son. "Any man who wants a child to call them father would never do that to their own flesh and blood."

Lu Ten's eyes blinked, realizing Hakoda might be saving him face, while Akio gave him a look of relief. He glanced away, not wanting to look at the scar Ozai gave Zuko let alone the others aboard the airship. "Zuko, I'm sorry for my outburst."

"No. It's fine." Zuko then said something strange. "Not being related to him might actually have been a relief, but..." He shook his head.

Akio swallowed. "How did that happen though?"

"Who are you?" Zuko asked.

"He's my childhood friend," Lu Ten said, suddenly thinking Akio's son should have been friends with Zuko just as Ty Lee and Mai were friends with Azula growing up. "He's a really good friend."

"It happened in an Agni Kai."

Lu Ten jerked his head around, his throat tightening. "What?"

"You heard me."

"You were in an Agni Kai with your father?"

"It was supposed to be the general I argued within the war room," Zuko retorted, but there was a smile on his face. "Uncle Iroh, he tried telling me for a long time I'd done the right thing then, the honorable thing, but I kept listening to father that I'd dishonored the Fire Nation. But what nation throws away the lives of young men that have given everything to that nation just to win a battle?"

"I told you he was banished for doing the honorable thing," Chit Sang said. "I was also right in backing you like I did, and I will continue to do so."

"Well..." Lu Ten looked out the window. "Maybe."

"I've got the headpiece back at camp," Zuko piped up. "I made sure to take it with me when I left. I'll get it..."

"No." Lu Ten turned his head. "That belongs to you."

Zuko startled, looking him in the eye. Suki looked at him, confused, then at Lu Ten. "What headpiece?"

A sigh escaped from Zuko's mouth. "You're the Crown Prince, Lu Ten, not me."

"Oh. The headpiece of the Crown Prince," Ty Lee piped up. "That's been missing for well over a hundred years, hasn't it? Azula's wanted to get her hands on it, like, forever."

"There's a rather long story behind that." Lu Ten smiled softly at Zuko. "That's all you have left of your mother right now, isn't it?"

"That doesn't mean..."

"You look like her, you know."

He watched Suki glance from Zuko to Lu Ten and back again, but Sokka's eyes blinked as if he were also putting something together. She was the first to react. "Oh."

Then Sokka started saying, "Wait a sec..."

A quick elbow in the ribs and a shake from his father's head made him stop, meaning Hakoda had figured it out. Ty Lee's eyes blinked. "Am I missing something?"

Sokka gave him a look, before turning towards the young acrobatic, making him think Sokka would in fact blab. "Zuko's cousin just said he looks like a girl."

Hakoda suddenly facepalmed while Chit Sang let out a laugh. Akio's face contorted with discomfort while Zuko turned, sputtering much like how Lu Ten remembered from his childhood. "What! Take that back!"

"Will not, won't ever, may tell everyone else!" Sokka chortled, laughing as he did so, a twinkle in his eye as he cast a look right at Lu Ten. Suki walked over, frowning, right before slapping him on the back of the head. "What?"

"It didn't cross your mind that he was saying Zuko doesn't look like Ozai?"

"Oh. That's true," Sokka laughed. "I wouldn't want to look like him either."

"Very funny," Zuko rolled his eyes before leaning against the wall, closing his eyes. "Ty Lee. You mentioned uncle escaping."

"Yes."

"I'm glad." Opening his eyes, he looked right at Lu Ten, saying. "I'm sorry."

"Sorry. What for?" Lu Ten watched his son swallow. "Zuko. What's the matter."

"The only reason he's in there is because I betrayed him."

"Well, you could have both ended up in there you know," Ty Lee retorted. "And then where would we be? The Avatar most certainly wouldn't have a Firebending Master, would he?"

"I'm not..." Zuko rubbed the back of his neck. "I wouldn't call myself a master, but I am teaching him. I've got to make up for the wrongs I've done somehow."

"Like burning down my village?" Suki piped up, attempting to tease Zuko.

Lu Ten's eyes widened. "What is that about?"

"I..." Zuko quickly bowed his head. "I am so, so sorry!"

"No, don't..." Suki looked a bit uncomfortable at that moment.

"I do. I..."

"Dude. Suki's trying to tease you," Sokka intervened.

"I..." Zuko glanced up from the bow, looking rather uncomfortable himself while Suki tried smiling at him, only for her mouth to twitch.

Sokka sighed. "Okay. So, just so everyone knows, Zuko here is rather socially inept and certain things do go over his head, so be nice to him. He's a rather nice guy. Just took time for him to figure that out himself."

"That..."

"Zuko, stop bowing. It's okay. In this war, I've done some things I've regretted as well, but beating yourself up over them isn't healthy."

"I." Zuko stood up, looking him in the eye. "Yes sir!"

Akio attempted holding back his laughter, yet the worry was there in his eye while Zuko remained awkward around everyone else, something that didn't surprise Lu Ten given his limited social interactions with others growing up.

Soon, they arrived, but before Zuko and Sokka could leave the airship they'd taken, Ty Lee hurried out, rushing over to a small boy with a blue arrow on top of his head, but Lu Ten couldn't help but feel as if there was a wind in her step. A girl who Lu Ten guessed was Hakoda's daughter raised her water to attack, while a smaller girl simply started laughing, just as Ty Lee scooped the boy into a hug.

"Hi! I'm on your side now!"

"Not a threat Sugar Queen," the little girl laughed as Zuko and Sokka hurried out of the balloon. The next thing Lu Ten knew, Sokka ended up soaked from Katara's water.

"What was that for? Don't you want to see who I rescued? And why didn't you soak Zuko as well?" Sokka asked.

"Because she knows it was your idea Snoozles," the little girl continued laughing. "Plus, Sparky can just dry himself off a lot easier than you can."

"You've seen him do that?" the boy with the arrow, whom Lu Ten assumed was the Avatar asked.

"Of course, I've seen it Twinkle Toes!" For some reason, her smirk grew

Zuko let out a grown. "Of course, she's not seen it."

"It amazes me how many times you guys forget that I'm still blind. So, who did you guys rescue?"

They left the ship so they might introduce themselves. Katara muttered something to her father about their mother's killer, but Lu Ten found himself distracted by the blind girl tugging at his sleeve. "Yes?"

"A little closer please."

Letting out a sigh, he leaned in closer. "Yes?"

"What did you do to upset Sparky?" She spoke in a whisper so only he could hear.

"Zuko you mean?" Lu Ten looked over at his son. "Why do you ask that?"

"Because every time he looks at you, his heartbeat changes, but Suki and Sokka keep looking at you nervously."

Lu Ten thought about an answer. "So, you can feel the heartbeat through your feet?"

"Yup."

"Well, I kind of did turn out not to be dead."

"Oh. I guess that would do it." The girl tilted her head. "My name's Toph by the way."

"I'm Lu Ten, but I'm Zuko's cousin."

"No, you're not," Toph whispered. "I don't know what your lie is, but I do know you're lying." She then added. "I won't tell Sparky though. He's got enough stuff upsetting him."