Hi, again guys! How are you? This took a little longer than intended but here it is. The next couple of chapters are going to be a lot more heated so prepare yourselves.

Thank you to everyone that reviewed this, I do this for the reviews, It warms my heart and it helps me improve. So thank you reviewers and please keep doing it.

Response to reviews:

WT Aids - I'm sorry I don't understand.

wil02 - Thank you. She is a sweetheart, and you might have gotten what you wanted in this chapter, don't worry, in time we will get our Katara back, the one we all love. Yeah, Azula just doesn't know how to deal with that stuff but she is learning. Sokka is great to write, I can just have him do the dumbest things. Thanks for the review!.

TheQuietReader23 - Haha! Your interpretation has got me laughing. Yeah, don't worry, Katara and Sukki will be good friends from now on out. And yeah, what happened wasn't as harsh, I don't think Katara would have fallen for that one. And yeah, don't mess with Hakoda's little girl. Thanks for the review!

Airbender117 - You were the catalyst, bro. Thank you so much for the inspiration and all of your suggestions. Thank you thank you! Yeah, that was kind of mean to write, but it is something Azula would say in this setting, and Aang reacting that way you will see how he regrets it. That's what I'm trying to do, I want something unique. Thank you so much!

Ashley Barbosa - Thank you! Hope you like this one too!

Warning: Some cursing.

On with the chapter! Enjoy! And please, please review!

I don't own ATLA or anything else mentioned here.


Connections and improvements.

The time was 6:52 A.M. when Azula woke up from a 'nightmare'. She relived the encounter with Aang from yesterday, again and again, but with every time the look of hurt on the face of the Airbender intensified and contorted until at last, he was crying. That's when she woke up and thought. Why do I feel guilty about this shit? I barely even know him, we barely even talked!

The only person Azula ever felt guilty or sorry about was Ty Lee, and she had been her friend for as long as she could remember. Although she despised the cheeriness of the bubbly girl, sometimes it was the balance she needed when she felt that she was about to explode from the pressure, so they ended up caring about each other a great deal. But this monk? He meant nothing to her. It must be the hormones. The fucking hormones again! She thought with a scowl as if directing hatred towards her own body.

Well, get him out of your mind!

She just laid there for a minute or so, and when he didn't come back, she smiled. "That's what I'm talking about" She said groggily while snuggling closer to her pillow but then looked at her phone because it started ringing.

Azula stopped the alarm and got up to get her morning started. She did a little stretching and heard a couple of cracks, put on some exercise clothes, went outside to the training arena, and practiced some of her forms. The blue fire contrasting with the late dawn was majestic, it reminded her of how special and unique she was.

After that, she went to her bathroom to take a bath, and when she finished she choose an outfit, something casual for today. She showed up in the dining room and made the personal chef make her some spicy bacon to get things up and running in her body. Neither Zuko nor Ozai were at the table, that was weird, but she assumed her father already left for work to get the chance of scolding every employee that got to work after him, and Zuko was being a little bitch somewhere, so she continued with her breakfast.

When everything was finished she went to the garage and found their chauffeur and Zuko already in the car waiting for her. Her brother was typing on his phone. Mai, probably. She thought and shook her head, to be in love like them that you couldn't just be a couple of hours without one another was a sickening prospect for her. Gahh!

Half the trip she spent on her own, listening to music while looking out the window, to her left Zuko hadn't even said a word. Until suddenly he spoke. "I could have sworn I saw guilt flash in your face yesterday when I mentioned a certain Airbender" He said with a smirk and a little suggestive tone.

There were many things Zuko did to irritate her, but teasing was not one of them, it was usually the other way back, so that left her feeling vulnerable, and that was not permitted. You better erase that smirk out of his face or I swear!. She looked at him with the same smirk and spoke in the same tone. "I could have sworn I saw despair in your face when mom left us"

The contortion of Zuko's features signified a win, the look of hurt in his eyes and how distant his gaze became - as if recalling the day - and his mouth slightly open, he quickly diverted his gaze. What she didn't expect was to experience the same amount of hurt herself that was expressed in his face. Why did I say that? She asked herself curiously and with a little regret.

Her mother's departure had been confusing and very troubling to both, but especially to Zuko. He relied on her mother the most when Azula was clearly favorited by his father, but it's still hurt to Azula that she left and didn't even say anything to her. No goodbyes. No hugs. No reasons. You just left! She thought about her mother.

The rest of the trip was spent in charged silence, so when they made it to the school they were both eager to get out of the car. Mai and Ty Lee were waiting on them and when Mai saw the look on Zuko's face she knew something was wrong, she looked at Azula and she shrugged. "Come on Zuko" Mai said and they were gone. Probably to kiss the hurt away somewhere outside of the school. Azula thought shaking her head.

"Hi, Azula!" Ty Lee said with a huge smile on her face but then it morphed into a frown and an inquisitive look "What's up with Zuko?"

"Nothing. Don't worry about it. Let's go in!" Azula responded evasively.

"O-Okay. How do I look?" Ty Lee once again changed to bubbly mode fixing her outfit a little bit.

"You look nice" Azula said not even looking at her but Ty Lee didn't notice.

"Thanks! I put a lot of work on it today, I'm hoping to get the attention of Aang". Ty Lee said with a dreamy look thinking about the guy.

Again this fucking monk!

Ugh! Just ignore it! She thought with a furrowed eyebrows and a scowl.

They made it inside and walked down the halls while Azula glared at everyone that dared look at her. About a third of the way through they saw those blue tattoos. Aang was wearing blue jeans and a yellow t-shirt. They were looking at him from behind and could see the tattoos on his triceps. He was with a group of three people talking and laughing, they seemed really happy. People happy. Ugh! Can't stand it. Azula thought while narrowing her eyes towards them.

Ty Lee didn't want to be rude or intrusive so she decided on just a drive-by. They walked behind him close enough but continuing with their route and Ty Lee said with a flirty tone and half-lidded eyes. "Hey, Aang!" as they passed by. Both girls looked back his way while walking, trying to see his response.

"Hi, Ty!" He responded with a smile and a wave but quickly inserted himself back into conversation while the people in his group looked at him weirdly. Ty Lee giggled and Azula scoffed but continued on her way.


"You know them, Aang?" Katara asked after a while of staring at him and the girls disappearing in the crowd of people, she couldn't conceal the jealousy of her tone.

Aang scratched his neck in a sing of nervousness and nodded half-heartedly. "Y-Yeah. I met Ty Lee on the mall one time and, Azula and I are doing a history project together" He said while not making eye contact.

"Wait, you're in a group with Azula?" Sokka asked incredulously and Aang nodded. "And you are still alive?" Sokka asked, to which Aang looked at him weirdly and patted himself, and nodded again. Sokka kneeled before him, he bowed his head and said. "You are a hero to us all" in a deep warrior voice, that got a smile out of Aang and he laughed while the girls shook their heads at his antics. Sokka stood up and curiously asked "How you do it, man? She's the literal worst"

"Oh, don't hype me. I'm just barely surviving, it's not going well at all" He finished with a sigh of defeat.

Then the bell rang and Sokka said. "Well, good luck with that man" and went on his way.

"Yeah...good luck" Suki said and followed suit.

Aang looked at Katara with a smile and said "See you at launch?"

"Yeah! See you at launch" She said with a half-smile not yet able to get past that initial jealousy of the encounter and went on her way too, Aang looked at her go and made his way towards the Math classroom.

On his way, he encountered Teo trying to make his way there and gently helped him with his wheelchair. "Hey, Teo" Aang said with a grin from above as to make his presence known.

Teo looked at him from below and smiled. "Hey, Aang. How it's going?"

Aang couldn't stop thinking of that last chat with their friends and sighed. "Ok...I guess, you?"

Teo caught his tone and looked up. "I'm alright. So...what's the problem?" he prodded gently.

He sighed again and looked forwards. "It's Azula" at the mention of the name Teo flinched.

"W-what's up with her?" Teo asked.

"Well...she said something that set me off and I pushed her against the lockers and now I'm feeling guilty that maybe I hurt her" He finished his thought.

"I thought Nomads didn't use violence for anything?" Teo said curiously.

"That's what's making me feel guilty, I don't know what came over me. The way she talked about my people...I guess it's something that gets mentioned a lot and it kind of got old and I wasn't expecting it at that moment and now I'm really sorry and-"

"Aang, calm down. You just have to apologize. Look I don't like Azula at all, but using force on woman, not cool." He finished sternly.

"You're right man. I'll apologize" Aang said decidedly.

"Nice. Change of topic. How did you fare with homework?" He asked with a knowing smile and a teasing tone.

"Ugh! Not good man! You know I'm not the best at Math. I might need your help" Aang said hopefully.

"Yeah, no problem. I'm tutoring another guy, maybe we could meet up some other time and you could study together" Teo said with a smile.

"Yeah, that would be cool. Thanks, Teo" Aang finished with a happy tone as they made it to class before the second bell ringed.

Math class passed by quickly as Aang did his best to keep up but was distracted by thinking about the next class and how he was going to apologize to Azula. Once it finished he was eager to get that out of the way and walked hastily to History class. Once he entered he wasn't disappointed, Azula was already there looking cute playing with her phone.

He sat down beside her and tapped her shoulder, Azula looked at him annoyingly. Did he just touch me? She asked herself. "Hey, Azula. I'm sorry about yesterday I don't know what came over me...I'm really sorry." He said looking at her apologetically. Maybe you grew some balls yesterday for a second but they shrinked back it seems. She thought with an amused smile that Aang took as good news.

"Forgiven" She said simply and looked to the front again, shattering all expectations from Aang that she would apologize for what she had said, he just sighed and looked front too but then she added. "We'll finish the project after school at my house, you better have been working on it." She said as she pointed a finger at him with a stern gaze.

"Yeah, I'm finished with Kuruk and Yangchen" He said proudly and was rewarded by a surprised look from her part that but she quickly averted her face in hopes of concealing her smile. I was not expecting him to be already finished with it. I guess he's not as dumb as I thought.

The rest of the class passed by quickly as they were talking about Yangchen and Aang had to help the professor check-proof all of the quotes and observations that he presented to the class.


"How can you like that sport Sokka?" Aang said with disgust in his tone. "It's literally people trying to hurt each other" He finished shaking his head at imagining it.

"Look, Aang. That you and your people condemn violence doesn't mean we all have to." He answered pointing at himself. "It's cool, it's manly and...it's cool!" He finished crossing his arms with a smug smile on his face, Aang just shook his head.

"At least you don't have to hear his screams when they watch a match with my dad" Katara added whit a look directed at Sokka.

"You watch UFC women too Sokka?" Suki asked trying to see if they could both have that other topic for conversation in their list given that Suki did watch it.

Sokka put both hands on the table dramatically and his eyes widened. "UFC women? Puff. What a joke! Women can't fight" He finished as if it was a given.

Suki was fuming at his words. "It's that so?" she asked furiously and the thought about something "I could whoop your ass" She threatened with a smirk.

"What?!" he responded and started laughing maniacally. "You. Whooping. My ass?." He said between laughs.

Katara looked at him with furrowed eyebrows and an intense pout and whispered to Suki. "You better give him a couple of kicks for me as well" knowing that Suki had training in some martial arts because they had talked about it last night through the phone.

"Don't worry girl. I plan on giving him plenty" Suki whispered back slyly. "What Sokka? Are you scared?" She finished while smirking.

At that, the laughing stopped and he looked at her while narrowing his eyes. "Me? Scared of a girl? In your dreams woman" He responded smugly.

"Well then...what about we have a little friendly UFC match? I'll tell you something...we'll make it Sunday so you have a couple of days to prepare. What do you say?" Suki said still with a smirk and narrowing her eyes at him while extending her arm for a shake.

"I don't want to hurt you, Suki" Sokka responded while looking away.

"He's scared, Suki! Sokka's scared!" Katara taunted with a smile while Aang looked at her with his own smile.

"I'M NOT SCARED! Alright, this Sunday, you better not whine about it after the match, Suki!" Sokka said.

"Oh, don't worry about me, boy" Suki said smugly.

"Okay. Okay. Enough teasing for today!" Aang interjected before the teasing became a match out of its own.

They continued with their banter, talking about random things and laughing at some parts but they didn't notice that they were being watched curiously from another table at the cafeteria. Azula was looking at Aang trying to make up her mind about something when Mai said while raising her eyebrow in the slightest. "What are you looking at, Azula?"

Azula shook out of her trance and responded casually. "Nothing. It's just this stupid project I want to get finished today".

"Uh uh uh. She's thinking about that group project with Aaaangg" Ty Lee responded teasingly while nudging her elbow.

"What? No! Wait...don't you have the hots for this guy?" Azula asked curiously and Ty nodded. "And you are teasing me about him?"

"Well...we can share if you get him first" Ty Lee negotiated with a finger on her chin.

"I'm. just. going to ignore that" Azula said before she said something that caused problems again. As if this idiot could handle two girls at once. She thought between lines.


"Alright, class. Yesterday and the day before we did some tests to get to know each other. Today at P.E. we are going to the School Gym to lift some weights. So, pick a partner and form a line and I'll give you both some exercises" Piandao commanded.

Instantly some girls made their way to Aang to ask him if he wanted to be partners with them but Aang shot them down gently saying that he already had one while looking at Katara with a smile, which made her blush. "So...wanna be partners?" Aang asked with a smile while tilting his head a little. That so cute. Katara thought and nodded with a grin.

They made it to the line and waited for their turn, as they did so, they appreciated each other's bodies. Aang had a really fit sleeveless orange t-shirt that showed his arms and pecs for the girls to feast their eyes on and had some black shorts that exposed part of his really toned tights and in tandem if you looked at him from behind. Look at that butt. My god! Katara thought while intentionally stepping behind a little.

Katara herself was wearing some black flex leggings that accentuated her butt and a blue short-sleeved loose t-shirt that showed her perfect tan skin. Aang was doing his best not to look and was questioning if he could hide his excitement for whatever exercise they had to do together. That's when they made it to Mr. Piandao who looked at them and then at a paper in front of him.

"Alright. Katara and Aang. I want you to do four sets with the lat pull-down bar, start slow and then put the most weight you can endure on that final one, then after that do some step-ups, four sets too, and on the final two pick up some dumbells while you do it. After that go to the track and do a couple of laps, there is no rush so just relax your muscles and then we do some stretching back here. Got it?" They bot nodded and went on their way.

"OK, first the pull-down one" Aang said decisively and sat down on it, put on barely any weight, and started drawing the bar near his shoulders really slowly and then back up at the same pace. Katara was behind him looking at his back and arm muscles almost salivating. I wonder how he looks like without that shirt. She asked herself but quickly shut those thoughts down before getting into a sticky situation.

When her turn arrived Katara asked for his help and some tips. "Can you follow my movements? I never know if I'm doing it right" she asked embarrassed and Aang noticed with a smile.

"Hey, don't worry. Nobody really knows" and then they both laughed. "Okay, let's see how you do it" He said as she took the bar and put it in position with her arms way above holding it, then she pulled it back down asymmetrically - one side of the bar was more elevated than the other - to about a little lower than her chest and then let it go too fast.

Aang stopped her up there and suggested. "Okay, you got the motion down, but why don't we take out the weight so I can give you what I think and you can practice it more easily?" He said really gently genuinely wanting to help her get it right and Katara noticed and nodded with a grin to her side. They took out the weight and Aang said. "Okay, now do it". She did as told and the motion was smother but still some fo the same mistakes. As she was doing the second rep Aang took her hands in his and Katara nearly let go of the bar because of the shock that went through her body at feeling his skin. "Try to bring it down evenly, without lifting one side more than the other." He said gently, she shook out of her daze when Aang let go of her hands and did as told correctly. "Nice, now, you don't need to pull it all the way back here" He said as he pointed to her lower chest making her blush a little. "Just above your shoulders it's fine" She did another rep and did as told again. "And finally, when you let it go up, try to do it more slowly" She did a final rep and did everything right. "Alright, you got it perfect" Aang said with a smile and Katara lifted herself up from the seat.

They proceeded with the next sets all the while Katara was thinking of how understanding and how gently he made his indications, always in her best interest and not trying to show off how much he knew. He seems really humble. She thought with a smile as they finished and took a breather.

"So, Aang...where did you learn all that?" Katara asked curiously and he smiled at her.

"Well...the monks in the temples are all about exercising the body...although it's a lot more of dead weight exercises the same principles apply to these machines." He finished sagely. It's there something this guy is bad at? She asked herself and decided to pry.

"Is there something you are bad at?" She asked with a raised eyebrow also testing his humility.

"Yeah!" He responded with a laugh. "There's plenty, I'm a really bad liar. I'm trash at math and science. I get distracted easily-" He would have kept going but Katara stopped him while smiling. He didn't really care about showing his weaknesses, she wished she could be as open as he was.

"Okay, okay. That's enough" She laughed and he smiled sheepishly. You are truly perfect. She thought to herself while looking at him. "Okay, let's do this." She said pointing to the step. She was the one to start it, and they didn't have problems in this one, the only one being Aang's as he didn't know where to position himself while she was doing it. I don't want to look like a pervert. Should I go in front of her? He thought as he went there but his eyes widened when he could see her boobs giggling at the motion and he blushed deeply. Nope, maybe from the side. He moved there but again the sight was just too good, he could see the curvature of her hips and her butt, he shook his head. Maybe just look somewhere else. He did as he thought. Yep. Now that's better.

Katara was much more straightforward, just standing behind him, looking straight at his butt with a stupid smile on her face, but he didn't notice because as he neared the last repetition she went to his side on the four sets. Sneaky.

They finished the repetitions and went for the little jog talking about random things. "Wow, I didn't know it was like that here. I thought they trained combat bending if you wanted in the school." He said while jogging.

"Nope, they only give healing training in High School tough we did have a bending class in Middle School. So if you want to become a master you have to pay for a private class." Katara finished her explanation.

"Well...that's too bad. I hope you can become a master someday. It's weird how they do it here, I would rather teach bending that Math for example." He said while nodding to himself, Katara just laughed.

"Of course you would!" She said in between laughs. "I guess they just think...what is my bending going to help me with during my office job?" She concluded.

"Well yeah...but bending is a part of who we are...while I was training with the monks I discovered a lot of things about myself that I wouldn't have otherwise." Aang pointed wisely. "I don't know. It just saddens me. I would do it in another way" He finished and Katara couldn't help but share his line of thinking, she would love to be a master, but there were more important things to focus on apparently. "Hey, I've never seen you bend!" Aang affirmed and then an idea came to mind. "We should do a bending hang out some other time!" He suggested with a smile looking at her from his side of the track.

"Yeah! We should, maybe on Sunday when Sokka and Suki have their duel" She advocated while looking at him with a wide grin and he nodded in approval while they finished their jog.


"You fucking bots" Azula muttered under her breath as she waited for his partner to show up while she released some tension from her body playing COD against some bots, not wanting to get too worked up with online players and alert her father.

She was so engrossed in her game that she didn't notice Aang open the door and made his way towards her. He invited himself to sit on her bed adjacent to the desk and that's when she noticed him and paused the game. "Hi, Azula! I didn't know you played COD" He said with a smile that Azula couldn't help but return. Why can't I control myself when this idiot is around?

"Hi! Yeah, it helps me vent." She responded with an unreadable expression and then asked "You play?" Maybe we could play together some other time and I could tell you how bad you are at the game while we are at it. She thought.

Aang shook his head with a little frown and said "No...I tried but I can't, every time I hear someone dying it just shakes me up too much" He said while looking down, Azula laughed in response and he looked at her questioningly.

"Come on! It's just a game, no one is suffering in real life, dum dum!" She reasoned while containing her laugh. Except for the players I destroy. She thought wickedly.

"I know! But I can't help it...it makes me feel bad" He said while looking elsewhere, somehow embarrassed by her laughing.

Azula shook her head and said disapprovingly. "I can't believe you!" then sighed and added. "Well...let's just go to the project before I make you grow a pair" She teased with a smirk.

He contained his anger at being called that and thought. This is a challenge, Aang. You can do it. If you can help Azula there is nobody you cant help. With that thought, his face morphed into a decisive and calm look, and said. "Alright, let's finish this". He sat beside her and their knees touched, she noticed the contact and quickly retreated her knee into her safe space while blushing slightly. He rummaged through his notes until he found the Avatar Yangchen section and pointed. "Ok. Here's what I wrote about Avatar Yangchen, when it finishes it goes right into Avatar Kuruk, so you can check it all for yourself." He finished with a smile.

"Alright. Here, page 56 starts with Avatar Roku, and then it goes into Avatar Kyoshi" She responded while not making contact with him fearing that she would smile or blush. She took his notebook and started reading.

Half an hour later they were done reading and the only interesting thing she likes from what he wrote was the following passage about Yangchen. Despite being raised by the Air Nomads and understanding their respect for all life, Yangchen put pacifism aside to fulfill her duties, believing that the goal of protecting the world and human emotions justified the means. In her duty of protecting life, Yangchen displayed a willingness to make deals with criminals to prevent bloodshed. Although the Air Nomads taught separation from the physical realm, she believed that the Avatar can never do this because their sole duty is to the world. From what she saw of the only nomad she knew it was hard to believe that Yangchen would put aside her pacifism. You never know I guess. What might Aang be hiding? She asked herself curiously thinking of how he reacted when she insulted his people the other day.

From the viewpoint of Aang, a lot of changes had to be made to what Azula wrote, there were a lot of personal opinions on her part and they had to clarify a lot of them and discuss them properly. "We can't let this and I quote 'Avatar Roku was a pussy because he wasn't man enough to accept that the Fire Nation was in a position to share its prosperity with the world' and all that follows that in the paper, I don't agree with any of it. The four nations should remain their own, and only when mutual agreements are met they should band together equally, like what happened in republic city. You can't force them into submission, Azula!" He said exasperated.

"Well, It's what I think he should have done." She responded calmly.

Aang just looked at her incredulously and sighed deeply, it seemed there was no way out of this one. "Well...at least could we turn it down a little, cut the pussies out and put that maybe if there was an agreement of sorts, Avatar Roku and Firelord Sozin could have shared the technological prosperity of the Fire Nation? Would you agree with that?" He asked carefully and she nodded. "Okay, let's write that instead." He said happily.

After about half an hour of corrections, they had it all finished and were starting idle conversations with each other. "So...do you have a pet cat here somewhere?" He asked as calmly and with as little teasing tone as he could, with a really neutral expression.

"Next topic." She said firmly and asked herself. "Is it true that airbenders can steal one's breath?" She asked curiously and he smiled slyly.

"With our looks? Of course!" He said as he made some stupid posses and Azula rolled her eyes but couldn't help the smile that found her way in her face.

"No, you idiot! I'm serious!" She retorted.

Aang laughed and then put on a serious expression. "Yeah, it's true but they don't teach that anymore...it's forbidden" He said that last part in a whisper shielding his mouth in a cone while he looked at his sides with suspicion and Azula snorted at his idiocy.

"That must be pretty cool!" She said while she imagined how easy and stealthy one could use that move.

"Mmm...I don't know about that... although I know a cool move we could do together" He said that last part with a smile.

"Together? How?" She asked now curiously.

"Do you have a training ground or something?"

"Yeah. Okay, follow me" She said as she got up from the bed and went to the door to the hall while he followed suit. They went outside and Aang couldn't help but look at her butt as they walked, she was wearing some really tight black short shorts and her butt was jiggling as she walked. No! Aang! What are you doing man?! He scolded himself and his teenage hormones. They made it to a ring of dirt at the far end of the property. "Okay, here we are. Now show me!" She demanded.

"Okay! I used to do this with a friend in the Fire Nation. Basically, we combined our bending, he gave a continuous stream of fire and I a continuous air source and the result was a much powerful flame, we used to be able to make blue fire." He finished proudly but before she could say that she could already make that he added. "I heard that you can make blue fire and I'm curious about the color we could make together" He said with a gentle smile and she perked up, curiosity consuming her at the prospect of the amount of power they could exert together.

"Okay, you got my attention, let's do it!" She said with a smile.

"Put your right hand out and get in your stance" She did as told and he put his left hand on the side of her right one, their pinkies were touching and she blushed at the contact but quickly got her act together, she really wanted to see how this would go. "Now, when I tell you give me the best flame you can muster." He inhaled and got on his airbending form and then yelled "NOW!"

The fire and air mixed together and their resulting explosion made them put on a lower stance to hold their ground. There was a loud roar, the loudest she had ever heard and an intense heat coming from the front, she had to avert her eyes sideways because the light was too intense, but when she finally accustomed herself to it she got a look at it and everything around.

It was a beautiful several foot wide and long dark purple flame. It was pointed to a stone wall at the far end of the residency and it illuminated everything with a surreal glow. Azula was smiling widely. This is really fun. She thought with a sparkle in her eyes. She looked at her side at Aang and he was smiling at her, they nodded to each other and put on all the juice they could muster. The flame responded and widened but they couldn't hold it for too long and a couple of seconds later they receded and the flame disappeared.

They were breathing heavily and sweating profoundly but they both had tired smiles on their faces. "That. Was. Awesome" Azula said trying to catch her breath.

"Yeah, I don't think there is a hotter color in the flame spectrum" He said with his hands on his knees and then looked up to where the flame was directed and his eyes widened. "Oh my spirits, Azula! Look at that wall!" She did as told and couldn't take the astonished look from her face at what she saw. The stone solid wall - that was a good 100 feet away - was half consumed, all blackened and there was a pile of ash at its base. The testament of the true power of their bending combo.

"Wow! I can't believe we did that!" She said with a proud smile with her hands on her hips and Aang snickered at her pose. Azula looked at him and suddenly found herself questioning something. "Why are you here?" She asked curiously.

Aang stopped laughing and looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "What do you mean? I came to finish the project" He answered calmly.

"Yeah, I know but we finished it, you could have gone home already. Why are you really here?" She prodded some more with a raised eyebrow.

Because you are unstable and clearly need help. He thought but couldn't say it so he went for the next best one. "Because I feel like we are meant to help each other?..." He questioned.

"Naw, why could I possibly need help from you?" She asked again.

Because you need to learn to calm yourself and stop being so destructive? He thought again but decided to go on another route. "I don't know...I guess I just want to know you better" He finished with a smile that made her blush. "Would you be ok with that?" He asked.

Azula seemed to ponder that in her mind. Well, I don't see a problem, and it also could help me train my hormones. She thought with a finger on her chin. "Ok, I don't see a problem with that." and at that, he smiled "But now I'm tired, so get out of my sight!" She said sternly.

"Okay! See you tomorrow, Azula!" Aang said snickering at her changing disposition as he made his way through the backyard. Azula looked back with a smile. Why isn't he scared of me? She thought while looking at his behind and biting her lips. Maybe something good will come out of this.

What both of them didn't notice was a nearby window and a tall man looking at them both. "You better not give him any ideas, Azula!" He said sternly while narrowing his eyes at her smiling daughter.


Katara had already done her homework and was now getting some extra healing training thanks to her stupid brother. He was training with a punching bag for his fight with Suki and had twisted his wrist weirdly somehow. "Come on Sis, I want to go see the match!" He said impatiently.

"Okay, okay, there, you are done!" She said while shaking her head and putting her things back in place in her room. Sokka made his way out of her girly room in quest of some needed manliness and went back to the couch where his father was already seated.

They were about to watch a UFC match between two tough opponents and were ecstatic to be exposed to such brutality. In her room, Katara prepared her ears for the shouts and was disappointed in the hope that somehow the match got canceled when she heard Sokka yell "DAD! DID YOU SEE THAT? HE ATE THAT PUNCH RIGHT TROUGH HIS FACE!"

"Ugh! Idiot" She muttered under her breath. That's when Malina showed up and smiled at her from the doorway.

"Hey, Katara! Would you like to help me make some dinner for the boys?" She asked gently trying to get on Katara's good side. In spite that Malina had been living with them for the past month and a half it was still hard to understand that her father had moved on so early, only after two years of the death of her mother. She knew her anger towards the woman wasn't justified and she was aware of it more and more in the last couple of days, she guesses just from being in a better mood altogether. So she smiled at her back.

"I'd love to help you" She said happily. "Although we could put some sleeping pills inside the meat so they don't yell as much" She added sarcastically and in perfect timing, her brother's shouts echoed thru the house. "WHOOHHH! TAKE THAT!"

They both laughed at the timing and went to the kitchen to start cooking. A while later they were all seated in the dining room and eating peacefully, chatting here and there, when Katara decided that she should tell them something she had been thinking about for the past day. "I've been thinking lately and I want to join the swimming team this year" She added casually. They all stopped their conversations and looked at her.

"Are you sure honey?" Her father was the first to respond, with a gentle voice, to which Katara smiled and nodded. "That's great! I know how much you love to swim. I can't wait to watch your meets!" He added happily and with enthusiasm.

"We can't wait to go cheer you on, Katara" Malina said with a smile of her own.

"I'm happy for you Sis but, where did this come from?" Sokka asked curiously.

"Thanks for the support!" She said happily looking at all of them with a smile and they all smiled in response. "We were talking yesterday with Aang and Suki - before you came - and it goes hand to hand with what I did about Ice Skating." She said and then added with a sad smile. "I miss mom, I really do, but she wouldn't want me to quit the things I love in honor of her memory...she would want me to follow what I like, and that's what I'm going to do" She finished decisively.

Her father got up from his chair and hugged her. "I'm proud of you, little penguin" He whispered, using the nickname her mother used to and she teared up a little. Then Sokka joined in the hug and they looked at Malina who didn't know what to do.

"Comer here Malina, join the group hug!" Katara said with a wide smile and Malina smiled widely and joined them.

That evening night surrounded by her family, Katara understood that things were changing for the best, and it all might be thanks to a certain Airbender. As she thought about him she couldn't help but smile thankfully.

Later that night, as she prepared for bed, she remembered to write to her mother, so she got her penguin and diary and opened it.

August. 18th. Wednesday.

Hi mom! Today was great! Things are starting to look up, I feel so so much better, I feel happy for a change, and I'm so excited for the things to come.

I want to enroll in the swimming team mom, I always wanted to, I loved swimming with you at the lake and at the pool, I love water and I think it will be really helpful for me to practice a sport.

Everything is so much better, I have two friends now at school and they are both great. Suki is really cool and badass and she helps keep Sokka in check. And Aang. Aang is just perfect, he is so gentle, and caring and calm, reassuring and happy, he is everything I needed mom.

I need to thank him. I think the best way to do that is to tell him about the things that happened, opening up to him, he always says he is there for me and I want to tell him everything.

I know he is a good guy, I just know it! He is nothing like that idiot jet! but I want to follow what dad and Sokka planned, so until dad approves I can't tell him. After that I'm opening up, I feel ready. And maybe something more.

She smiled slyly.

Maybe if dad approves I can start flirting with him and see where it goes. I really think he is the one mom. I wished you could have met him, he's been so good to me. And I've seen the way he looks at me, I think he likes me!

She smiled dreamily at the chance of being with him.

Okay! Enough for today! I see you tomorrow mom, another great day and I can't wait to see my friends again! Goodnight! I love you so so much!


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