Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender

Author's Note: Okay, this is where I totally go off into my own world. I will be using some of the details from later episodes to flesh things out.

An Unexpected Offer

Sokka immediately turned and drew his boomerang. Katara ran up beside Aang and uncorked her water pouch, taking up a defensive stance. Aang, however, merely stood and watched curiously, half leaning against his staff. The two approaching firebenders showed no sign of attacking. Furthermore, they looked tired, hungry, and even paler than usual. Zuko dismounted and helped his uncle to do the same.

"Please, relax," Iroh said, hands spread in a gesture of peace. "We are not here to fight."

"Why should we believe you?" Sokka menaced.

"We have a proposition for you," Iroh continued as though Sokka had not spoken. Zuko finished tethering the horse-ostrich they'd been riding and followed Iroh. Aang held up a restraining hand to his friends.

"We might as well listen to what they have to say," he told them, throwing each an earnest gaze in turn. Both looked at him in astonishment, but they stood down. It was Sokka who broke the awkward silence and tension that followed.

"So, what's with the war chicken?"

Some time later, after the camp had been completely set up and food distributed, they all sat down in the ancient, cross-legged attitude of parley. Although the youngest, Aang almost unconsciously took the lead.

"First, I think we ought to have formal introductions," he said. "Allow me to present my friend and teacher, waterbending master Katara." Aang felt a smug sense of pride when he noticed Zuko's eyes widen at her title.

"This is my brother Sokka," Katara picked up the thread. "Warrior of the Southern Water Tribe."

"And I think you all know Aang, Avatar and last of the airbenders," Sokka finished.

"Well met," Iroh said graciously, speaking for his side. "Let me introduce to you my nephew, Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation, son and heir to Fire Lord Ozai."

"This is my uncle, Iroh, brother to the Fire Lord and Dragon of the West," Zuko concluded arrogantly.

"So, now that we all know who we are, what do you propose?" Aang asked.

"In short, we wish to join you," Iroh replied simply.

"Why?"

"As you can see, my nephew and I have fallen on hard times of late. We are now considered outlaws by the Fire Nation and enemies by everyone else. We have nowhere to turn."

"What's our benefit?" Sokka interjected.

"The Avatar will require training in firebending," Iroh answered him. Then, he turned back to Aang. "I am a master, and I offer my services to you."

Aang was stunned. Judging from the silence, his friends were, too. Katara found her voice first.

"You would teach Aang firebending?"

"Yes, in addition to providing the protection two firebenders could afford all of you."

"You realize that I have to master waterbending and earthbending first?" Aang asked cautiously, trying not to appear too excited. "I don't even have an earthbending tutor yet."

"Of course I am aware of the proper order of things," Iroh said calmly. "However, my nephew and I might not survive long enough on our own to find you again when you are ready. We do not know how to live off the land, and no one will knowingly assist us. I believe you will find it very difficult to engage another teacher."

Aang's mind was racing. Certainly, the old man was right. Master Jeong Jeong was the only other firebender he'd met that had been both willing and able to teach him, and it would be nearly impossible to find him again. Also, the Avatar and his companions would no longer be running from one of the parties chasing him, which could be advantageous.

"You've been very quiet, Zuko," Sokka said. "What do you get out of this?"

"It's in my best interests that my sister not find you or us," he said simply.

"That's it?" Sokka asked doubtfully. Zuko's eyes flickered to his uncle, who nodded slightly.

"When the Avatar's training is complete, I wish to take him to my father," Zuko said. Another stunned silence followed this request.

"You want to take me to the Fire Lord fully trained, knowing what I'll be capable of?" Aang asked him in disbelief. Zuko could not meet his gaze, but his jaw was set.

"He tasked me with capturing you and bringing you to him. Holding you after that is not my concern."

"My friends and I must discuss this alone," Aang said solemnly.

"Of course," Iroh allowed, and the three companions withdrew.

"You can't go with him to the Fire Lord!" Katara exclaimed emphatically. The concern in her eyes touched Aang, but he answered matter-of-factly.

"I have to face him by the end of the summer anyway," he pointed out. "If I go with Zuko, we both get what we want. And I don't have to sneak around. I can just walk in the front door."

"But you'd have to go without us," Katara argued.

"Unless we posed as prisoners, too," Sokka put in.

"We can work those details out later," Aang said dismissively. "What are we going to do now?"

"I don't trust them," Sokka stated flatly.

"Neither do I," Katara sighed. "Iroh has a point, though. How are we going to find another firebending teacher?"

"They're definitely telling the truth about being in dishonor," Aang said. "No Fire Nation warrior would cut off his topknot except as a sign of deepest disgrace."

"And I suppose they could give us valuable information about the Fire Nation," Katara added thoughtfully.

"Like those three girls in Omashu?" Sokka asked.

"Exactly."

"They do look like they need help," Aang said. The three exchanged glances. "So we're agreed then?"

Katara nodded her assent.

"Okay," Sokka gave in. "But I think at least one of us should stay awake at all times, at least for a few days. We can take two-hour shifts through the night."

"That sounds like a good idea, but I'm not sure it will work," Katara said thoughtfully, looking as though she were doing some mental calculations. "In order for us all to get enough sleep, we'd have to have overnight stops of 12 hours."

"Okay, that's not practical," Sokka admitted. "Those two are definitely not going to need that much sleep."

"Besides cutting into our travel time," Aang added. "Also, spring is here, and the nights aren't that long."

"I think we're just going to have to take our chances," Katara commented. Then she broke into a grin. "Well, you know what they say: 'keep your friends close and your enemies closer.'"

"Sounds like a warrior's philosophy," Sokka approved. "Okay, I'm in." The trio returned to the Fire Nation outlaws.

"We accept your offer," Aang told them with careful formality. "We will all travel together, providing each other protection. Iroh will teach me firebending, and when the time comes, I will accompany Zuko to the royal palace."

"Then we are agreed," Iroh said with equal formality, rising and bowing politely. Aang returned his bow, and everyone sat down again.

"We were also hoping you could give us a little information," Sokka said. "We met three Fire Nation girls in Omashu. Any chance you'd know anything about them?"

"We can try. What can you tell us about them?" Iroh asked.

"Well, the one in the middle seemed to be their leader," said Katara. "She was definitely a firebender, but it was weird blue fire."

"And lightning," Aang added, remembering the girl chasing him through the city.

"Azula!" Iroh and Zuko said at the same time.

"Who's Azula?" asked Aang.

"She's my sister," Zuko admitted.

"That's your sister?" Sokka exclaimed. "I'm sorry. Seriously."

"She's up there, in the city?" Zuko said with concern. "Maybe we shouldn't be staying so close."

"I don't think Azula will move until at least morning," Iroh disagreed. "Besides, we are all settled and well screened. However, I would suggest making an early start tomorrow."

"I second that," Sokka concurred.

"What about the other two girls?" Zuko asked then.

"Well, one was dressed all in pink and seemed to be some kind of acrobat," Katara answered him. "She was able to do something to me that took away my bending for a while."

Aang looked over at the girl in sympathy. He could imagine how much that must have unnerved her.

"Sounds like Ty Lee," Iroh commented with a frown. "I wouldn't have thought that hunting us down would be her kind of thing."

"Azula probably bullied her," Zuko replied. "If that's true, I can guess who the third one was. A tall girl with straight black hair, narrow eyes, and a flat voice?"

"Yeah," Sokka said. "She sounded like nothing ever made her happy. She also had a really impressive knife-throwing technique."

"Please don't tell me you liked her!" Katara pleaded, staring at her brother in amazement.

"Merely a professional observation," he sniffed airily, crossing his arms.

"I take it you know her, too?" Aang asked, trying to regain control of the conversation.

"Yes. That's Mai," Zuko said distastefully. "She and Ty Lee were childhood friends of my sister's."

Aang wondered what had happened that Zuko remembered Mai so bitterly.

"I'm afraid my nephew and I can tell you little more than you already know," Iroh apologized. "We haven't seen those girls for years. Except for Azula, who was trying to capture us the last time we met."

"Hm. Sounds familiar," Aang couldn't resist saying in a light tone, though he kept his eyes wide in mock innocence. Sokka and Katara both snickered. Zuko merely glowered, but Iroh laughed out loud.

"Excellent point, young Avatar. Now, would you happen to have some tea on hand?"

"Sorry, no tea," Aang replied apologetically.

"Pity," Iroh sighed sadly.

"Zuko, there's something I've been wanting to ask you ever since we met," Sokka broke in. He pointed at the scar surrounding the other's left eye. "What's the other guy look like?"

Zuko's face froze completely, and he stood up suddenly.

"He's fine," was the short response before the prince turned and walked into the darkness.

"Please, forgive my nephew," Iroh said, lowering his head sadly. "You see, the 'other guy,' as you put it, is Fire Lord Ozai."

This information was greeted by utter silence. Katara found her voice first.

"His own father did that to him?" she asked in horror. Then she reached behind Aang and smacked her brother on the back of the head.

"Ow! What? I didn't know," Sokka complained.

"I suppose you have a right to know the truth," Iroh said heavily, and he briefly told them the story behind Zuko's exile.

"Like I said, model family," Sokka said, but this time there was no trace of humor. Instead, his tone was closer to disgust.

Aang looked off into the darkness, contemplating what he had just learned. Iroh followed his gaze and sighed.

"Even after all that has happened, a boy wishes to please his father." He turned back to them. "I don't know if you can understand that."

Sokka took out his boomerang again and turned it over in his hands.

"I think I can," he answered quietly.

Eventually, Zuko returned, the lamps were put out, and everyone lay down to sleep.

Author's Note: The "war chicken" comment was courtesy of my husband. If any fangirls out there are curious about what Sokka might be like in 30 years, I married him. Seriously, my husband is all about meat and sarcasm, and I think he's the reason Sokka speaks to me so clearly in my writing.