Zuko stared at Todoroki's message for a few more minutes. An almost-smile traitorously sat on his lips. He had to admit that he found the conversations he shared with the commoner slightly amusing. Even if they were mostly just annoying and a waste of time.

He didn't even know how it had happened, but one minute he was peacefully drawing his plans of capturing the avatar, and the next they were being ruined by an invisible force writing things in a language he could not understand.

But then, the other obviously understood Common, because he began speaking it after Zuko started writing in that language. It was strange to think that there was someone out there so completely out of touch with reality he thought things like the avatar and the Fire Nation didn't exist and were fantasy created by himself.

In fact, it was almost disturbing. If Todoroki hardly knew anything about the world he lived in, were there others out there as well?

It seemed plausible.

Zuko stood up and walked up on deck. It was warm, that day, but there was no trace of the avatar from what he could see. There had been sightings of him here and there, but nothing he could use. No one he talked to seemed to know where the avatar was headed and without any leads Zuko was stuck wandering the ocean for days on end.

The last encounter had been in the storm when he had foolishly let the avatar slip through his fingers once again. A decision that, at the time had seemed like the right thing to do, but was now the beginning of the end in his search for the avatar.

With days of nothing, Zuko felt himself get impatient. Felt it in the way he yelled at his crew, felt it in the way he snapped at his uncle, felt it in the way he paced the ship. Up and down, left and right, days of restlessness and nights of lying awake staring up at the ceiling. That is until yesterday, when he'd first made contact with the fifteen-year-old Fire Nation commoner.

The very sheltered commoner who knew nothing about his own nation. He supposed it made slight sense to keep him from the war, and Zuko understood his parent's reasoning. Todoroki was the youngest in his family anyway.

Zuko only wished he had a family who cared that much. But that was more than he could afford to hope for. He couldn't afford to hope for that kind of acceptance, couldn't afford to be ignorant, and definitely couldn't afford the time to learn math.

Zuko ignored the background noise of his crew and instead simply peered out at the water. "Looking for something?"

He turned to face his uncle and scowled, "You know I'm looking for something; the avatar!" he snapped.

"We have lost his trail for days, no need to be tense all the time."

"You wouldn't understand! And it's not being 'tense' it's being prepared all the time. That way, unlike some people on this ship," his gaze slid past his uncle to the rest of the crew next, "I'll be ready to capture the avatar as soon as he's spotted. That way we can immediately return."

"I think we've already established that it'll be harder than simply, 'capturing the avatar'." The captain met his gaze, which made him unreasonably angry, but he didn't care.

"We'll find him, and catch him! This time won't be like all the other times!"

The captain scoffed, "How so?"

Zuko bit the inside of his cheek until blood filled his mouth.

It took all of his will to turn around and walk away without throwing a punch, "Yeah, I didn't think so."

Zuko whirled around, fire already shooting out of his hands. The captain barely got out of the way, and by that time he was already throwing another punch.

This time it was stopped by his uncle, but before the other man could get a word out, Zuko turned around and stormed out of the vicinity as fast as he could, slamming the door shut.

He quickly walked down the hall and threw open his bedroom door. Closing it afterword he took off his boots, got in bed, and determinedly tried to go to sleep. Thankfully, it wasn't very hard since he hadn't slept in a couple days anyway.

Zuko didn't know what time it was when he woke up but the entire ship was quiet so he assumed most were asleep. He stood up and glanced at the papers on his desk.

Another message from the boy, Todoroki. What could he possibly want to talk about now? Though, he supposed if he considered how sheltered he was, he likely hadn't anyone to talk to.

Okay, so… I'm done with homework. It didn't matter anyway, because I got an awful score, but whatever. Can you talk now?

Zuko didn't even allow himself to feel surprised. He didn't know why, but after talking with Todoroki for a while, he had concluded the other was rather gifted. Maybe he had been wrong, but he seemed bright, or at the very least, level-headed. Even if he was a little strange, and a little impulsive.

I should've known you were stupid.

Zuko put down the quill and went to go back to sleep, except there was a response immediately. This kid really didn't have anything better to do, did he?

Maybe you're right, but I doubt you're any smarter.

Zuko scowled and clenched his fists. Shut up! I at least have some form of an excuse!

And what excuse would that be?

I'm a prince, so I don't have to learn peasant problems.

Is that so? Seems rather egotistical.

Ego-what? Maybe he should've pretended he knew what that word meant. But it wasn't like he could erase the words he'd already written.

Egotistical- excessively conceited or absorbed in oneself; self-centered.

Zuko knew that if he could punch this paper, and know the boy on the other side would feel the pain, he would do it.

I really will behead you.

I'd honestly love to see you try.

Zuko could just picture the other laughing. He couldn't exactly pinpoint why he pictured Todoroki laughing, but he did. And it was infuriating.

By challenging me, I can promise that not only will you see me try, you will see me succeed!

Okay. Say, what's your favorite thing to do when you have nothing else to do?

And this was how Zuko was constantly reminded Todoroki really knew nothing about him, his family, and somehow, he didn't even know anything about his own nation. He was reminded in the way Todoroki casually talked to him, was reminded in the way he ignored who Zuko was, and was reminded in the way he casually dismissed Zuko's threats. Like the war raging for one hundred years wasn't happening right out his window.

And yes, he was loathed to admit it, but Zuko was actually grateful for that. It was, how should he put it? Refreshing. If it had been anyone else, he was sure they would've stopped talking the moment they heard he was from the Fire Nation. And the fact that he was the prince of the Fire Nation was just an added blow with the sledge hammer on any friendship he might acquire.

I don't know. I guess I always have something to do.

There was a pause on the other end before a response, I guess… when I have nothing else to do. I mean absolutely nothing, I like to troll people.

Troll…

Yeah, it's kind of funny. People really do get worked up over the strangest of things.

Zuko didn't want to sound like an idiot by asking once again, what something the other had said, meant. But he figured he would sound even stupider if he responded and took the meaning the wrong way.

What does 'troll' mean?

It just means that I purposely try and make people angry. Either by doing something offensive, or by being funny when something is supposed to be serious.

You are really something. Zuko didn't know what else to say to that, it seemed like something horrible, but he would be lying if it didn't sound amusing too. Was it strange he found it somewhat admirable? Not the fact that Todoroki made people upset, but the fact that he was calm enough to be able to make someone else angry without getting angry himself. Zuko didn't think he could ever do this 'troll' thing, and would more likely be the one getting 'trolled' by someone just like Todoroki.

You really have a lot of time to do stupid things.

I didn't say I had a lot of time to troll people, I just said that I like to when I do have nothing else to do.

I would hate to be on the receiving end.

Oh, you already are sometimes. You get angry really easily, it's rather comical.

Zuko frowned and supposed he had gotten angry at Todoroki before, but he'd never thought much of it. Until now.

Well, now that you've warned me, I guess I won't fall victim to it so easily!

Just because you know what's happening doesn't mean you can resist the pull of argument. Geez, the Fire Nation really is full of utter morons.

It is not! The Fire Nation is full of very intelligent individuals, myself included!

I doubt it. If you are what the Fire Nation considers smart, then I very much pity the rest of you.

Well don't! If anything I pity you. You are the ignorant fool, unaware of the world you're living in, and the dangers of talking to your prince so casually! Plus, you are a peasant, someone who must do menial tasks and jump through dozens of hoops just to get an income for a small house!

I think we all have to jump through dozens of hoops in life. It's just what you have to do. A couple days ago, weren't you just talking about how you had to capture the avatar to regain your honor? Sounds like a hoop to me.

Shut up! You know nothing of hoops, you lowly peasant!

It's better than being an idiot prince.

Zuko nearly snapped his quill in half as he glared down at the paper. He knew what was happening, how could he forget. Todoroki had just explained it to him, but for some reason, knowing what was happening but not being able to stop it just made him even angrier than he would have been if he was ignorant.

Stop trolling me, you imbecile!

You most likely knew it was happening the entire time.

Zuko had only figured it out after like, the fifth time he burned scorch marks into the floor, but for the sake of his pride he responded,

Yes, of course.

I told you that it's hard to not argue, even if you know what's happening. Maybe even especially if you know what's happening. Because if you know what's happening you'll likely turn the tables. Is that what you were trying to do? Make me angry?

Zuko didn't even have to lie this time. Yes, I was. But you were too logical.

I know. I've trained myself not to let people get to me. I got a lot of practice not getting angry due to certain circumstances.

I see…

Maybe you could learn a thing or two from me.

Zuko glared at the implication that this brat knew anything that he didn't. He didn't care if Todoroki had proven that he did know more about some subjects than Zuko did, it was the principle of the thing.

Oh yeah, well maybe you could learn a thing or two from ME!

Doubt it.

A round of silence.

Stupid head. Todoroki added.

I am going to kill you!

Good luck, you'll need it. I'm not exactly easy to kill, you know.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I must get going. I have more classes to attend and you'll be happy to know, they're smart classes.

You're saying you don't think I could do it?

Your words, not mine. Bye!

Come back here you little shit!

Nothing.

Was this how Todoroki felt when Zuko left him to stay up all night waiting for a response? Was this how he felt when Zuko left him to do his math homework. This endless feeling of complete and utter betrayal.

Zuko frowned at the parchment for a few minutes before he decided to go outside. He doubted anything big had happened or he would've been alerted, but he might see something out there.

He wouldn't know unless he went and observed. Zuko put on his black boots and stomped up on deck throwing his bedroom door open and slamming it closed, hoping he woke up the crew and let them know he had NOT forgotten what had transpired earlier. He WOULD find the avatar, he WOULD capture him, and he WOULD return home to restore his honor. He had to make sure no one doubted that, least of all himself.

And he would not allow the crew to feel their mission was hopeless either, no matter how the evidence was stacked against him.

He opened the door to the main deck and walked out. There was nothing out of the ordinary out there. In the night, the air had cooled, and the stars were bright and twinkling. There was nothing to suggest anything was disrupted.

Once again, another day, there and then gone, with no trace of the avatar, and no hope of returning to his nation. It had been three years scourging the sea and nothing to show for it.

He didn't know when it happened, but some time ago capturing the avatar and regaining his honor became less of a goal and more of a dream. Like it was something impossible, something he could only hope for. Because for all his yelling and insisting they would succeed in their mission, Zuko was just as skeptical as everyone else.

He couldn't be that in the open though. He had to believe, more than anyone else, that they would succeed in capturing the avatar. If he couldn't even do that, if he couldn't even reclaim his title as prince of the Fire Nation, than he really wasn't much of anything at all.

Hell, he suspected even Todoroki was more important to the world than he was, and all that kid ever did was sit around and let the war pass him by while ignorantly turning his back on it.

"Sir,"

Zuko didn't allow himself to jump, but he did whirl around, and it took every ounce of his self-control not to put his fists up and take a swing.

"What!" he snapped.

"In the sky," The crew member pointed up at the starry darkness. Did he spot something, the avatar perhaps? Zuko turned and squinted through the darkness, trying to see something. "Lots of stars. They're pretty, aren't they?"

"Oh," Zuko tried not to let disappointment show. "Yes, I guess they are." He muttered.

"Oh, and I can see the avatar."

"I swear, if you're trying to pull my leg…"

"No, really, up there in the sky, to the north."

Zuko stared as hard as he could, amber eyes searching for what the crew member saw. He narrowed his eyes and saw something, far in the distance, illuminated just perfectly in the moonlight for a split second before the flying bison dipped back down into the obscure darkness.

But that was all it took for Zuko to be able to tell where they were going. "Set course for the North Pole."

"How can you be sure that's where they're going?"

"There's only one place worth visiting in that direction and it's the Northern Water Tribe in the North Pole. Tell me, if they're not going there, then where are they going?

The crew member was silent and then said, "I'll tell them."

"Good."

Zuko smirked and took a step back. Finally, after days of searching they had caught up. By luck or by fate he didn't know and didn't care. He certainly hadn't been tracking the avatar, only knew the general direction he was traveling from rumors.

He spent hours preparing the ship and crew for a chase. Told them the plan, prepared everyone for battle. And no one rested until early dawn the next morning.

Everyone then went to bed to get some rest before they had to fight, again. Zuko was tired of the routine just as much as the next person. But not many could understand that he didn't have much of a choice.

He only had one shot, the Fire Nation was the only place that would possibly accept him. Maybe they did so begrudgingly, maybe he shouldn't even want to be accepted by people like them. Maybe he shouldn't even want to be accepted by his father.

But he knew that, knew all of it. Knew he shouldn't want to be accepted by the nation waring with the world, knew he shouldn't want to be accepted by the father who burned and banished him. It didn't change his mind though. He just wanted to belong somewhere, just wanted to fit in. It didn't matter where it was, just so long as it was somewhere.

Not in the middle of nowhere on the empty sea, feeling just as vacant as the big blue waves. Not there, anywhere but there.

He walked back downstairs into his room. On the table, a message from Todoroki.

So what do you wear to bed? I wear and XL T-shirt and underwear. One of my friends came in and her nose bled for some reason, it was weird. What about you?

Zuko wore his clothes all day and changed the next day. The only thing different was he took off his armor before going to bed. Zuko sighed, wondering why Todoroki wanted to know the most trivial things about him. Then he reminded himself that Todoroki lived under a rock and didn't have many people to talk to. Didn't have many people to ask questions about. With this information in mind, he answered,

None of your business.

A/N Ah, so finally, here we are at Zuko's POV. You know, it was really awkward for me, I don't know why. I thought maybe it was because I wasn't very comfortable with the characters, but in starting the next chapter and running through conversations I realized I didn't want someone else not to talk to Zuko because I was awkward with the characters, but just because Zuko is awkward with them and I don't know other reactions except anger, lol. But getting to the point, I'm having a really hard to with the ATLA timeline because everything moves so quickly and while I'm watching the show it does make sense but it's hard for me to remember.

Anyway, hope you liked this chapter, do you think I got Zuko's personality down, or was he too depressing? I dunno, reviews are love and make my day, I will see you next chapter, bye!