A/N: Thank you again to my beta's, Astromisbrewinga nd DeepAzulaEyes, You guys are great and thank you again. Sorry that this is later than I wanted to post. I went home for the weekend, and limited internet access. You guys understand. So, here's the next chapter and don't forget to review! Thank You!

Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar or Transformers

Chapter 3

Toph observed Zuko in her own way after that night. His mood was lighter, but there was still a wariness to him. He still acted tough and untouchable, but started letting his guard down slowly when they were studying alone. She was glad her father didn't make an appearance again and was sure it would either come to blows or Zuko would storm out of their study sessions if Lao did appear again. Zuko became more confident about biology and hanging out with the gang, but it was only a week. Friday came all too soon for Toph and as she walked to school with Zuko, they quizzed each other on biology.

"What are endotherms?" Toph asked Zuko.

"Toph, we've been over this a million times," Zuko sighed. "And that probably won't even be on the test."

"But it might be," Toph replied, smirking. "Come on, answer."

"Fine," he growled. "Endotherms are warm blooded animals. They rely on their own internal heat. Why did you make me study that anyways?"

"Because I know Dr. Yugoda likes hard extra credit questions. And biology is fun!" Toph heard Zuko shake his head in disbelief at her cheerfulness, but soon she was frowning as she thought about her tests after biology. "Unlike some other subjects. Hey, are you any good at history?"

"It's my best subject, though currently not my favorite," Zuko replied evenly and Toph knew he was talking about his history teacher, Zhou. "Why?"

"I have a test Monday," Toph sighed. "And history is definitely not one of my better subjects."

"No, biology is," Zuko replied with a smirk in his tone. Toph turned her face up to him in surprise that he had even attempted to joke and smirked back before punching him in the arm.

"Well, uh…canyouhelpmewithhistory?" Toph stumbled through the request in one breath, just trying to get it out. She felt better until she heard Zuko stop altogether.

"What?" she asked as she stopped ahead of him and turned back to 'look' at him.

"I heard you never ask for help," Zuko said as he started walking again. From his tone, he was studying her and seeing a new side of her.

"I'm not good at history and I need to pass this class. So, will you help or not?! You know you owe me!"

She was starting to scowl and stopped when she heard a light laugh come out of the odd senior.

"Yeah, I know I owe you. We'll need to stop by my place on the way home for something, and then I'll help you learn history. What are you taking anyways?"

"American history. The test is on the revolution. Thanks by the way." Toph smiled up at Zuko as they reached the school. "Catch you later and good luck on the test."

She left him looking at her oddly at his English class and hurried to her own.

XXXXX

Zuko tried to concentrate on the English lesson, but his thoughts kept straying to biology and Toph. The blind girl was definitely odd, but she was interesting. The bell rang and he made his way out and towards biology, but there was something missing. He was halfway to the science class when he realized Toph wasn't escorting him to her favorite subject.

Toph had practically dragged him from class to class the entire week and suddenly she had vanished. Zuko hurried through the crowded halls to biology and found only Aang at their table.

"Where's Toph?" Zuko hissed to the cheerful sophomore as the bell rang and everyone took their seats.

"Oh, she didn't tell you?" Aang asked innocently. Zuko merely scowled at him and Aang looked startled and slightly frightened. "She takes her tests verbally, in the office," Aang said, pointing to the door on the side which Dr. Yugoda came through at that moment. "Don't worry, we'll see her after."

Zuko wanted to ask for more details but Dr. Yugoda spoke up first.

"Now, our second test for this semester. There are three versions of the tests, and only I know which are which. Hahn, switch with Li," she said, frowning at two boys in the front.

Zuko saw the older brown haired boy frown before getting up and he took his time moving to the seat closest to the desk while the biology teacher continued to frown at him.

"There will be no cheating," Dr. Yugoda continued, still frowning at the boy. "Any hint will result in an immediate F. You have the hour to complete the test. When you are finished, bring your test to me for your anatomy and extra credit question." She started passing out the tests and frowned again at the boy she had pointed out earlier as she passed him his test. "If you have any questions, raise your hand and I'll be right there. If you finish early, you may leave the room, but remember to stay in the halls and be quiet. Begin."

She finished as she handed the last tests to Zuko and Aang and smiled at them both before turning to head back to her desk. Zuko looked down at the test and with a small smile, started on it. Half an hour later, he was the second to rise and hand the test into Dr. Yugoda. She smiled up at him and handed it back with a pencil.

"Good, now write the answers to these questions on the back," she said in a low tone. She pointed to a small organ in a dissected frog and Zuko wrote down his answer. He glanced back up at her and saw her give an approving nod. "And for extra credit, what are endotherms?"

Zuko almost grinned as he wrote the answer, but restrained himself, handing the test to the teacher as he finished. He retreated back towards his seat and saw the boy Dr. Yugoda had frowned at glare at him with icy blue eyes as Zuko walked back to his table. Zuko quickly picked up his backpack and walked outside to find Toph looking bored in the hallway, leaning against the far wall.

"Finally," she whispered as he closed the door. "I thought you'd never get out. So, any wrong?"

"Maybe one or two," Zuko admitted in a low voice as he walked over to lean next to her. "You?"

"I never get one wrong," Toph smirked. "Well, for this class anyways. What'd you get for the anatomy and extra credit?"

"Gall bladder and endotherms."

Toph punched him in the arm, smiling up at him and Zuko couldn't restrain himself as he smiled back. They waited in silence as a few more students trickled out and Zuko remembered the icy glare he had received when the other boy who had moved came out.

"Who was the guy up front?" Zuko whispered to Toph. "Tall, menacing, teacher doesn't like and hinted that he's cheated before. His name was either Hahn or Li."

"Oh, Hahn," Toph sighed, blowing a few bangs out of her face. "He's a rich, snotty, spoiled little brat who thinks he can get his way just 'cause his parents are loaded."

Zuko started to smirk and Toph turned her face towards him and smirked first. "And no, I'm not like him at all. He's a junior, but cheated on the final last year, so he has to take it again. And he only dates rich girls, the others he only sees if they can be used to his advantage. He tried to break Sokka and Yue up last year, and after Yue died, he went after Katara. Sokka almost beat the dumbass up for that." Toph smiled broadly. "Oh, and his nickname is Dumbass. His last name is Du-moss, so I just adapted it to his attitude."

Zuko nodded, watching the door, but the icy eyed junior didn't come out. "He ever hit on you?" Zuko asked.

"Nope, but I know he will soon," Toph stated. "When he does, I want to grind him into the dirt so hard he won't even look at me twice."

Zuko smiled back at Toph and they waited in silence for the rest of the hour. Aang came out later and Hahn was the last to come out, just before the bell rang. The snotty junior glared at Zuko as the scarred teen stood next to Toph before Hahn started walking away. Toph frowned after Hahn before leading the way to math.

XXXXX

Toph focused on the math lesson as she heard Zuko scribbling formulas behind her. The entire class had groaned when Mr. Mechanist had told them that there would be a test the next Friday. Now she had two tests to look forward to the following week and she was sure the hag Hama would give her a test too. But she pushed that out of her head for the moment. She'd find out soon enough. She turned her thoughts to her new friend and his new nemesis. Zuko definitely knew how to make people hate him, but it seemed to her that Hahn was merely hostile to Zuko because the new guy associated with her.

So far, she had been able to avoid the snotty junior and had been able to brush him off with her own rough attitude. But she knew she was getting older, and, as her mom repeatedly pointed out, was becoming a young woman. It would come to a head soon, and from the vibes she got off Hahn, it would be very soon. She heard Zuko give a small relieved sigh as the bell rang and smiled. Maybe Zuko would help her teach the brat a lesson. Obviously her new friend didn't like Hahn either from the way he had described him. Thankfully, that was her only class with the dumbass.

Toph walked with Zuko in silence to chemistry. She heard glass clinking when she entered and felt a sense of dread, knowing it was a lab. Zuko kept his stuff together and Toph followed his lead as they sat in their seats, waiting for Mrs. Hama.

"Hello, class," the older teacher said as she entered once the bell had rung again. "We have a lab today on mass and volume," she said as she turned and started writing on the chalkboard. Several people sighed in relief while others groaned as quietly as they could. "Also, there will be a test next Friday," Mrs. Hama continued to a very loud groan from the class. The groan ended abruptly as Toph heard the teacher turn back to the class and tapped the chalkboard with her nails. "Good, here are the instructions. Form in groups of four to six and start. I want a report with your observations and results by the end of the hour."

Toph waited and soon Jin and Song came to her, asking if she needed a group. The two girls were sweet and kind, and always sought Toph out when there were labs. They just seemed to know she needed help and didn't like to ask.

"Can Sunsh…Zuko join too?" Toph asked them.

"Of course," Jin said sweetly. Toph heard the girl's breathing quicken as she turned towards Zuko and Toph felt herself get angry with the sweet girl, but didn't understand why. Pushing the confusion out of her head, she got up and followed Song to where they usually did labs while Jin turned to Zuko.

"Can you help me get the stuff needed?" Jin asked Zuko breathlessly.

"Whatever," Zuko muttered in an aloof tone before following Jin to where the equipment was.

Toph felt herself get angry again and another emotion started to intrude, but Toph pushed them away. She recognized the other as jealousy and knew she shouldn't be jealous if Zuko got attention. She had only known the guy for a week. Surely she hadn't started liking him like that, could she? Toph brushed it off and decided she just liked Zuko as a friend and was only looking out for the lonely, odd senior.

Jin and Zuko returned with the scale, beakers and marbles and started on the lab. Song took notes silently as Jin had Zuko and Toph help her with the experiment. Zuko remained silent as Toph just held the beakers, waiting for a command as Jin weighed and measured the beakers, water, and marbles as they determined the mass and volume of the marbles. Song wrote the report and asked Toph for help with the calculations at the end. They finished just before the bell rang and Toph practically dragged Zuko out of chemistry after they had grabbed their backpacks.

"What's your problem?" Zuko asked once she slowed down in the hallway as they made their way to lunch.

"Nothing," Toph muttered.

She knew Zuko was looking at her oddly. "How do you know those two? They were…odd."

Toph felt better as he spoke as if he didn't want to associate with Jin again. Toph shrugged. "They're juniors, and are usually shy and quiet. They know I don't care for chemistry and always ask me to join them for labs. You ok with them?"

She heard Zuko shrug. "Yeah, I guess. Though that one girl had better stop bugging me. Could you tell how she kept asking me to do stuff when both you and she were fully capable of doing it?"

"Yeah," Toph said, starting to smile. "But don't worry about her. Now c'mon, I'm suddenly starving."

XXXXX

Zuko watched oddly as Toph got the spring back into her step. He didn't know what had bugged the blind girl, but something he said had made her feel better. Obviously it had to do with the weird girl, Jin. He knew the junior was hitting on him, but he didn't need that kind of attention. His luck with girls wasn't great and with him and his uncle moving every few months, he definitely didn't need another girlfriend anytime soon.

He followed Toph into the lunch line and saw that they were serving spaghetti. He could see Sokka, Katara, and Aang already sitting at their table as Toph paid for her lunch with her card. Zuko pulled out the few bucks he had and grabbed a pack of skittles to celebrate his victory over biology. Toph must have heard him grab the candy and turned back to him, questioning him with her gaze.

"Just had an extra buck," he muttered, but Toph smiled knowingly back at him before heading to their table.

Toph slid in next to Aang, but took up the entire bench, only leaving a spot next to Katara. Zuko met her blue gaze and she scooted over a little more, but before he could sit, Jet moved in.

"Sorry, Scarface," Jet said as he sat, "but this beautiful lady is mine."

"I told you we were finished," Katara said, pushing Jet away. "I want you to leave me alone."

Jet captured her arms pushing on his chest in one hand and wrapped another arm around her shoulder to pull the blue eyed girl closer.

"Leave me alone, Jet," Katara said, struggling.

Zuko saw Sokka move to try to save his sister, but Zuko was faster. The scarred teen grabbed Jet's arm pulling Katara in and moved it behind Jet's back, twisting it so that the spiky haired teen had to let go of Katara and rise up to keep his arm from being dislocated. Zuko moved Jet so that the senior had to step away from the table before he let go.

"Leave her alone," Zuko growled before he sat next to Katara. He was aware of Jet glaring at him and the entire cafeteria was watching them as he started on his lunch.

Katara had drawn away from Zuko into her brother and was watching Jet anxiously.

"No one…no one…takes me away from my girl," Jet seethed.

Zuko swallowed his food and turned towards Jet, so that he could see him through both eyes. "As far as I know, she's not your girl. She's told you so, so leave."

He turned back to his food and saw Jet move to punch him. Sokka, Katara and Aang all cried out, but Zuko moved faster and grabbed Jet's wrist, turning it and rising at the same time. He turned Jet as he stood until the spiky haired senior's back was to him and the guy's wrist was pinned against his back. Zuko pushed Jet away and grabbed his backpack, stalking out of the cafeteria before anything else could happen. He heard someone chasing after him through the empty hallway and turned, ready to defend himself from Jet, but stopped short when he saw Toph hurrying towards him.

"Leave me alone," Zuko growled to the blind girl as he turned back and started walking away from her.

Toph caught up to him and gave him a smile. "This way. I know something that'll make you feel better." She then turned and started walking away from him. Zuko stopped and stared after her. With a sigh, Zuko stalked off after Toph. She slowed down until he got within 10 yards of her and then she picked up her pace again. Zuko followed her through a set of doors and found that she had led him to the gym.

"So," Zuko growled to the blind girl as she smiled up at him. She pointed to the corner and Zuko followed her finger and saw a punching bag.

"Mr. Jeong lets me come in here and let loose my frustrations," Toph said, still smiling. "It's all yours."

Zuko smirked and dropped his backpack before walking up to the punching bag. He started hitting and kicking it, imagining Jet's face before that changed to another face. The face that always haunted him, the one he always saw whenever he hit in anger. The face he ran from. Zuko punched and kicked more savagely until he was out of breath and sagged against the punching bag.

"You were right, Toph," he heard Mr. Jeong say from behind him. "He is talented. He also needs a way to let out his frustrations as you did. Something creative."

"Yeah, he's good. Maybe we can do that club you approached me about," Toph stated.

"What are you two talking about?" Zuko asked as he turned and wiped the sweat away from his forehead. "I'm probably going to be suspended for that stunt Jet pulled.

He saw Toph smirking at him and Mr. Jeong had a knowing smile on his face. "I saw the whole thing," Mr. Jeong said as he walked up to Zuko. "Jet threw the first punch. You merely defended yourself and your friends. Jet will be suspended for a week, while you are free of all charges. Besides, your uncle asked me to keep an eye out for you in case any hotheads provoked you."

Zuko scowled up at the teacher, but the gym teacher merely continued to smile down at him. When Zuko didn't speak, Mr. Jeong continued.

"I was hoping to start a martial arts club, but I needed a few more students to help me guide and teach others. Toph is nearly a master of Hung Guar. Her friends, Sokka and Katara, are excellent at Tai Chi and Aang is one of the best I've see at Ba Gua. The only thing missing is…"

"Shaolin," Zuko muttered. He looked up into the teacher's brown eyes and frowned. "It's too dangerous. I won't teach anyone Shaolin."

"I'm not asking you to teach it," Mr. Jeong said gently. "Just guide those who already know some of it. Maybe teach some of the defensive moves like you used on Jet today. I know all the forms to some extent, and if you agree, I hope to start the club next week. Will you be there?"

Zuko studied the teacher and saw Mr. Jeong waiting patiently for an answer. "How do you know my uncle?" Zuko asked.

The teacher's eyes narrowed slightly, but he continued to smile. "He was my Colonel just before Vietnam. He always stopped by and got to know his troops. When he saw I knew a little Shaolin, he showed me a few moves. They saved my life. We kept in touch and he told me he was moving here a few weeks ago and asked me to keep an eye on you. I've been living nicely as a teacher for the past twenty years, but having an old friend close by who knows Pai Sho is a great improvement on this town."

Zuko sighed and ran a hand through his hair. Of course the teacher was a friend of his uncle. Zuko knew his uncle would have eyes on him no matter where he went. He glanced at Toph and saw her looking confused.

"Fine, I'll join," Zuko said and saw Toph perk up from behind the teacher. "But I won't teach anyone Shaolin."

"That's fine," Mr. Jeong said as he handed Zuko a piece of paper. "This is a permission slip. First meeting will be Wednesday after school here in the gym. I'll see you later."

The teacher started walking out as Zuko glanced at the paper. "Oh, and feel free to come in here anytime you need the punching bag," Mr. Jeong said before he left.

Zuko sighed again and made his way to stuff the permission slip into his backpack. Toph was still studying him as he stood up and slung his backpack over his shoulder.

"I'll tell you later," Zuko said as he made his way to history. Toph nodded and fell in alongside of him. He saw her dive a hand into her pocket and withdrew his bag of skittles.

"Here," she said, holding the candy out to him. "You didn't get to eat lunch."

Zuko took the candy and ate it, savoring the candy as his stomach growled. He saw a wishful expression on Toph's face as they walked on and touched the bag to her hand.

"You can have the rest," he said as she took the bag with a handful still in it. "And thank you."

Toph grinned and downed the candy before the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch. She then hurried off to her own history class as Zuko took a deep breath and went into Zhou's class for another tedious lecture on the Romans.

XXXXX

Toph smiled as she walked home with Zuko. He was going to help her with history and the big mystery that was Zuko had gotten bigger. And, he had told her he would explain later. She didn't expect him to spill all, that would be silly of her, but he would let her in a bit. He had sounded so angry while he used the punching bag at lunch, and she had a sneaky suspicion that it wasn't just Jet he was angry at. She wondered what could have caused the odd senior to be so reclusive, so careful, and yet so angry. She knew it all fit together, and all she had to do was wait for him to tell her.

"I just need to stop in my house to get something," Zuko said as they turned onto their street. They continued to walk in silence to his house and he hurried in. "Uncle, this is Toph," Zuko said as Toph followed him into the entryway. "Toph, my uncle, Iroh."

"It's good to see you again Miss Toph," Iroh said in a slightly accented voice. Toph smiled up at the man.

"I'd say the same, but can't. It's good to hear you."

Iroh chuckled, his laugh warm and inviting. "Would you care for some tea, my dear?"

"Nah," Toph said, waving it off. "Sunshine said he just needed to grab something before we head to my place to study history."

"Sunshine?" Iroh asked, confused before he laughed again. "It suits him. And history is his best subject. Did he do well in biology?"

"Aced it, Uncle," Zuko said as he came back out. "Thanks to her. She's more ruthless than…well, she's ruthless and now I'm returning the favor. I'll be back later."

Toph felt Zuko walk past her and she smiled once more at Iroh. "Maybe some tea next time," she told the older man before following Zuko out and to her house. "You didn't have to be so mean to him, he's nice," she said to Zuko as he stopped and waited at her door.

"I wasn't mean," Zuko said. "Just…he'll talk you to death sometimes."

Toph heard in his tone that Zuko cared for his uncle, but was annoyed with him at the same time. She figured it had to do with what he and Mr. Jeong talked about as she knocked once. Fong was there quickly and opened the door for both of them.

"Anything to eat, Miss Toph?" Fong asked as Toph led the way to the living room where they had studied the entire week.

"Can you make some sandwiches? Lunch wasn't that great."

"Of course," Fong said before retreating to the kitchen.

"Thanks," Zuko whispered as he let his backpack drop onto the floor. It fell with a thud, much louder than it should have been and Toph turned her face to Zuko, questioning him as he pulled a cushion off the couch and sat on it.

"Ok," he sighed. "I can tell you some, but you can't tell anyone else."

"My lips are sealed," Toph said as she pulled a cushion off the couch and sat across from Zuko.

"My uncle was a general in the army," Zuko said quietly. "He made a lot of friends and he always makes sure we move to a place where some of his friends are to watch out for me. It's so frustrating sometimes, but it needs to be done."

Toph waited as he retreated into silence. "Why?" she asked when he didn't continue.

"There's…someone…after me. Trying to hurt me. So my uncle sets up his friends to watch out for me to keep me and him safe. To let me live at least a semblance of a normal life."

Toph heard the pain in his voice as he struggled to talk about it and yet not reveal anything. She knew how much her freedom meant to her, and for Zuko to live like he did, it wasn't freedom. He acted like he was free, but knew that he wasn't.

"I'm sorry," Toph muttered. "I know what it's like to be caged. Thanks. For telling me some." She smiled up at him and thought that he was feeling better about it. "Now, how can you get me to learn history?"

Zuko moved and got something out of his backpack, and then the sounds of several things being placed on the table occurred. Toph reached out and found the things to be small figures of men with swords, guns, cavalry and even cannons. They weren't the cheep plastic army men, but porcelain figures, probably painted. Fong came out and placed the sandwiches and drinks on the table before retreating quietly.

"I brought models," Zuko said with a small smile in his tone. "What battles are you studying?"

"Bunker and Yorktown," Toph said with a sigh.

"Ok, Bunker first," Zuko said as she heard him draw some change out of his pocket. He slipped a few pennies under some of the figures of men. "These are the Americans," he said, taking her hand and letting her feel the figures on the coins. He then took a book and placed it on the table and the American figures on the book. "They took Bunker Hill during the night and fortified their position. The Americans had about 500 men, so we'll use two figures," he said as he removed several extras. "The British had 2200, so we'll use the rest as the British. They attacked in a two prong attack."

Toph heard Zuko move the figures around and then took her hand and moved it so she felt about five figures coming from one side and another five coming from the other side, going up the book. It started to click as Zuko moved the pieces up the book and telling her how the Americans had waited until the British were close before firing. He removed four pieces from the British side as they made three waves of attack and eventually removed one from the American side as the other American figure retreated to a smaller book.

Toph soaked it all up as more figures were added to the British side as they enclosed on the smaller hill and five more figures were removed before the British finally won.

"Does that help it make sense?" Zuko asked once the battle was finished.

"Yes!" Toph said eagerly. "Show me Yorktown now!"

She heard Zuko chuckle softly as he moved the figures around before explaining the battle of Yorktown. After he was done with the battles, he explained the politics and strategies and used her own method of remembering taxonomy and applied it to history.

"Miss Toph," Fong interrupted when they were discussing the French joining the Americans. "I'm sorry, but Master Fu is waiting for you."

"You can watch again," Toph said to Zuko as she rose from the cushion and stretched.

"Sounds good," Zuko said as he got up to follow her to the dojo.

XXXXX

Zuko waited just inside the doorway as Toph disappeared to change and studied her master discreetly. The man avoided Zuko's gaze and instead had taken down a staff and was practicing with it.

"Ok, Xin Fu," Toph said as she brushed past Zuko into the dojo. "What do you have for me tonight?"

Xin Fu turned towards Zuko and narrowed his green eyes at the scarred teen. "Are you sure you won't give me a demonstration?"

"No, I won't," Zuko stated.

"Very well, do the tiger form, Toph," Xin Fu said, turning back to his student. "And then we'll spar."

Toph nodded and did the series of forms, stretching and loosening up as she went. Zuko watched her as she and Xin Fu sparred and she easily bested her teacher, pinning him twice.

"Maybe the young man will give me a break," Xin Fu said as he got up from the second pinning.

Zuko looked at Toph and saw her waiting for him to answer. When he didn't, she smiled slightly.

"We can go at your own pace, Sunshine," Toph said to Zuko, turning towards him. "No faster than you want it to be and we can stop anytime you want."

Zuko was hesitant, but he had seen Toph take out her teacher many times. He just hoped he could stop if it was needed.

"Fine," he sighed and removed his shoes before stepping onto the mat.

He saw Toph smile as she stood in a horse stance as he approached her and dropped into his own stance. He knew Xin Fu was smirking at him for finally giving in, but he didn't care. He was doing this for Toph, not for her teacher. Zuko jabbed in and Toph deflected it to the side, jabbing back. Zuko sidestepped and kicked up towards her head, but she brought a hand up to block his kick effortlessly. He knew she was better than this slow pace and increased his own pace slightly, punching and kicking.

Toph stayed in one position, only moving a little to block or turn his attacks. Zuko kicked high and saw her block before he spun onto his hands and used his other leg to knock her feet out from under her. She had a surprised look on her face as her feet left the ground, but then she rolled back over her head and was up in a horse stance again, waiting.

"That was tricky," she smirked. "I like that. What else do you have?"

"A few more tricks," Zuko replied as he kicked at her again. He punched and she returned the punch, but instead of blocking, he grabbed her arm and twisted it as he had twisted Jet's. Toph turned with her arm, spinning through the air and landed a solid kick into his stomach before finding her feet again. She grabbed his arm still holding hers and twisted it, but Zuko ducked under her arms, kicking out with his feet again to try and knock her down.

Toph jumped over his leg and Zuko used the moment to jab in and grabbed her throat. He was about to punch her again when he noticed where his hand was and let her go immediately, backing up.

"I…I'm sorry, I gotta go," he said in a rush. He grabbed his shoes, ignoring Toph's look of confusion and Xin Fu's look of disbelief as he rushed back into the living room and grabbed his backpack. Zuko pulled his shoes on quickly and stalked back home, his hands clenching into fists as he thought about how close he had come to hurting the one person who was his friend.

"Nephew, I'm glad you're home…" Iroh said as Zuko stalked into his house and slammed the door behind him. "Nephew? Is everything all right?" Iroh asked as Zuko dropped his backpack and went to the garage.

The scarred teen saw his own punching bag and started hitting it and kicking it, letting loose all the anger he held within him. Anger towards himself for accepting Toph's offer and nearly hurting her. Anger towards his uncle for keeping an eye on him everywhere he went. And anger towards the one who had caused him to live his life the way he did. His father. Zuko looked at the punching bag and saw his father's face sneering at him as he had seen it on the punching bag at school and started pounding the bag with all his might. He lost track of time as sweat started pouring down his face and with a great roar, he kicked the bag savagely and it was flung off of the chain holding it up and against the wall.

"Well, now I know you're good at killing punching bags," a voice said from the doorway behind him.

Zuko turned to find Toph sitting on the step leading down from the house with two cups of tea. One was empty and the other no longer steaming, but she still held it out to him.

"What are you doing here?" he asked her.

She ducked her head and her face was hidden behind her bangs as she took the cup of tea back. "I was worried. About you," she said. "You stormed out when I was about to pin you and I didn't know why. You ok?"

Zuko just stared at her. "Pin me?" Zuko asked. "I was about to punch you in the face! You weren't anywhere close to pinning me!"

Toph brought her face up and he saw she was frowning at him. "I was too! You left everything vulnerable and I was about to grab your arm and flip you if you hadn't retreated. I can show you, too!"

Zuko watched her in astonishment as she got up and walked to him, picking up his arms. She moved one hand so that it was on her throat. "Punch me," she ordered. "Like you were going to."

"No. I won't," Zuko stated, trying to withdraw his hand from her throat.

Toph just held it there with an iron grip. "Do it, and I'll show you. You can even go slowly so that we both know you can stop it."

"Toph…"

"Do it," she stated.

Zuko sighed and started the punch, going slow enough so he could stop it, but fast enough that there would be momentum behind it needed for the move she had explained. Lightning fast, she grabbed his incoming arm and twisted it as she rolled back. She pushed her feet into his stomach and pushed him up and over, rolling over him so that she landed on his chest a second after he landed on his back. She had twisted both of his arms so that he couldn't move them without injury to himself and grinned down at him.

"See? I told ya."

He could only stare at her before he stared laughing. She looked down on him in confusion and her expression just made him laugh harder.

"What's so funny?" Toph asked, starting to scowl.

"Me," Zuko said as he calmed down. "I was so angry for almost hurting you and you…you're amazing. I couldn't touch you if you really let me."

Toph smiled and got off of him, holding a hand out to help him back up. Zuko took it and was surprised at the strength in her arms as she hauled him to his feet.

"Well, you did surprise me with that spinning move," Toph said as she retreated to the step by the door. "And don't doubt yourself, Sunshine. You're great, probably better than you make yourself out to be. You don't have anything to be ashamed of."

"Yeah, I do" Zuko sighed as he sank onto the step next to her. She handed him the cup of tea and he drank it. Wincing at the lukewarm tea, he downed it quickly. "I've hurt people before."

"I'm sure it was an accident," Toph said.

"No, it wasn't," Zuko replied, his tone becoming harder as he remembered. "Three broken arms, two broken legs, and a couple of bruised ribs on four different people. And all because they insulted me because of this stupid scar."

He felt like he wanted to pound the punching bag again, but sighed desolately as he saw it lying limp in the corner. He would have to fix it soon, but not that night.

"You stood up for yourself," Toph stated in a determined tone. "That's nothing to be ashamed of. I don't know how many black eyes and broken noses I've given kids who made fun of my blindness."

"That's because you can't see them," Zuko remarked and was punched lightly in the shoulder as a reward for the lame joke.

They sat in silence for a while. "Come out with us tomorrow," Toph said. "Sokka, Katara, Aang and I are going to see Transformers and just hang out. It'll be fun and get your mind off of whatever it's on."

"How can you see the movie?" he asked and was punched harder that time. Zuko rubbed his shoulder and looked over to see Toph frowning at him.

"I listen. And even though I'm told I miss all the great special effects, I can still hear it and it sounds great. Come out with us and we'll study history afterwards if you're up to it."

"Will you stop punching me if I say yes?"

"For tonight, unless you make another stupid comment," she smirked.

"Then yeah."

"Great!" Toph said as she stood up. "I'll come by to get you. Probably about 11 or so."

Zuko just watched her as she opened the door back into the house and said a farewell to Iroh before he heard the front door close. Slowly Zuko rose and picked up the two tea cups before heading inside and to the kitchen. There he found his uncle with a fresh pot of tea and two teacups at the small dining table they had. Iroh watched him patiently and Zuko sank into the chair opposite his uncle and grabbed the hot tea.

"I'm gonna need to fix the punching bag," Zuko muttered before he started drinking the tea.

Iroh smiled and nodded. "That is all right Nephew. I'll get a new one. That one was getting soft anyways."

"Today was a rollercoaster day," Zuko said to which his uncle merely smiled and nodded. Zuko smiled back at his uncle and continued to sip his tea as they sat in comfortable silence.