"Azula." Zuko bit out drawing Shouto's attention to him. He hadn't noticed Zuko there. It was kind of strange but he was rather easy to overlook, despite the fact he didn't lack personality, that was for sure.

And as for the girl, Shouto didn't know who she was, but her presence didn't bode well for them, that much he was sure of. In fact, he almost just lashed out at her in a split-second decision. But something about the tension in the room kept him from doing so.

He felt as if he'd heard the name Azula before, but he couldn't remember clearly, so he stopped trying. "What are you doing here?" Iroh asked.

"I'm just here to bring the two of you back home. Father realized he wants you back, right by his side."

"Why would he decide that?" Zuko asked.

"I don't pretend to know the mind of the Fire Lord. All I know is what he told me, Zuzu."

"Don't call me that!"

"The Fire Lord doesn't just change his mind very easily." Iroh said.

"Oh come on, there's nothing for the two of you to worry about. Father wants you home, are you saying you don't want to go home?"

"No, I want to go home." Zuko said. It was all he'd ever wanted for so long. To go home, for his father to decide he was worth something, to regain his honor, to have it returned to him. "But I haven't captured the avatar, I haven't succeeded in my mission yet."

Shouto didn't trust her. At all; she just gave him such a wrong feeling. Shouto didn't pretend to understand people, and he couldn't read people like Katsuki could, but he didn't need to be able to in order to not trust her. Unfortunately for him, Zuko didn't seem to share his point of view. And Shouto didn't think that was because he was blind, but because he was the one being tempted. This was what Zuko wanted, even if it held no appeal to him or anyone else.

"Father's decided that doesn't matter. And that you'll be more successful in capturing the avatar once your home. Time is running out and we need to capture the avatar before he causes irreparable damage. So father recognizes that you should come home. That he needs you to come home."

"He does, he really needs me?"

"Yes, of course he does. But it's your choice. We depart in an hour, I hope to see you there."

Shouto watched Azula carefully as she walked out and she seemed to be eyeing him too. "Your friend can come as well, if he wants." She said, giving a smirk before disappearing around the doorway.

"Zuko, this doesn't seem like a good idea."

"Why? Because you were wrong, because my father does want me? I know your father doesn't want you, but that doesn't mean mine doesn't want me."

"No, that's not why, I just don't trust her."

"You don't have to come if you don't want to, but I'm going." Zuko said, already packing. "My father loves me, and he's going to restore my honor so I can work alongside him."

"She could be lying though, couldn't she."

Zuko paused in his packing, but if this was it, he wasn't going to jeopardize it on the slim chance Azula was lying to him. "Azula is not known to tell the truth very often, and she makes false promises." Iroh said, frowning.

Zuko clenched his fists, "Why can't the two of you just be happy for me! Look, I'm not going to MAKE you come, so just stay here and rot for the rest of your lives if that's what you want. But I'm not going to become that, and I'm not going to let my only chance at regaining my honor slip between my fingers!"

"Can you tell me honestly that you believe what she's saying."

Zuko didn't answer and stood up. "I can't tell you I believe what she's saying, because I know it's probably a lie, in one way or another. But if it's not, then I'll gain everything I ever wanted, and that's too much to give up on a 'what if'."

He grabbed his bag, "I'm leaving, and if the two of you want to come you can, or you can stay here." Zuko's eyes met his and Shouto could remember, some time ago, when he would've jumped off a bridge if someone told him it would make his dad love him. And Shouto hated to understand the feeling, because it was hard to see someone else doing horrible things, things that they probably knew were wrong, but didn't care because it was all in the name of his father's desires.

Then he was gone much like Azula. "Do you think she's lying?" Shouto asked, almost hoping Iroh said 'no'. Because Zuko was right about one thing. They weren't the same, and just because Shouto had ended up hating his father, and never being anything more than a tool, he hoped Zuko's situation was different, and that his father did love him, and had only made a mistake.

"I know she's lying." Iroh said. And it went left unsaid, but Shouto still heard. Azula was lying, which meant they couldn't let Zuko go alone.

So silently, they packed up everything else and ran to catch up with Zuko. "You're coming?" he asked.

"Of course." Iroh said.

"Sure, I could use a little adventure." Shouto said with a shrug. Zuko smiled gratefully at them, making Shouto's heart skip a beat. Frowning at the odd sensation, it didn't happen again, so he ignored it and focused on the battle he would most likely be fighting soon.

The nervous feeling in the pit of his stomach only got worse as they grew closer to the boat and doubled when he saw Azula on top of it. "So, the three of you all came, good choice."

Shouto didn't much feel like it was a good decision. "Father will be delighted to see you, so delighted." She smiled, but it wasn't one of happiness. It seemed rehearsed, to Shouto, and even then, filled with malice.

She turned as the guards helped them board. "Alright, the prisoners are onboard, let's set sail."

Shouto didn't miss the slip-up, and from everyone else's reactions, they hadn't missed it either. The captain, most of all, looked horrified by what he had said, hand clapped over his mouth and everything.

Shouto couldn't help but let out a small laugh, and disguise it quickly as a cough.

"You lied to me!" Zuko shouted after a second to process. "Father doesn't need me by his side, he wants me as a prisoner, and nothing more!"

After another moment of shock, Azula seemed to push it down and shrugged. "Oh, Zuzu, after a certain point, I thought you would stop believing my lies, but apparently people will believe anything I say, as long as I make it tempting enough."

"I can't believe you would do this! Azula!" Zuko growled and ran up the rest of the stairs, onto the ship and threw a stream of fire.

Shouto could believe it. He didn't even know Azula very well, but he could sense she was bad news.

Iroh started fighting the guards and Shouto had to say, he was impressed with the man's technique. Maybe he could learn a thing or two about hand-to-hand combat, which he wasn't particularly skilled at since he mostly used his quirk to win his battles.

On the other hand, while Iroh was winning his battles, Zuko was obviously losing his. It was clear, even from where he was standing. It felt like such a personal battle, Shouto didn't really want to intrude on it, and even if he did, he thought he would mostly just get in the way. He didn't know as much about fighting without quirks like these people obviously did.

And well… he didn't really want to 'fire bend'. Even after the sports festival, Shouto was hesitant to use his left side. Midoriya had made a good point, the fact that it was his quirk.

But if it was his, why did it feel like he was turning into his father whenever he used it. Always had been one of his worst fears, always would be.

The battle was over quickly, and Shouto felt bad he hadn't even lifted a finger to help, but he wasn't all that confident in his abilities, ever since his right side had been restricted because he was now a 'firebender'.

Which meant he could only use fire, which was bad news for him, because after seeing firebenders fight he concluded that their technique and his were not the same, which meant a lot of his problems he would prefer to solve without his quirk.

Which meant he'd have to learn how to fight with his fists. That was no problem, though it was a bit inelegant.

"Come on, hurry." Zuko said and rushed Shouto forward as they all took off in the opposite direction.

Zuko turned back one last time as they ran away. Away from Azula, away from the boat, and away from the last chance he'd had to regain his honor and his father's love.

Finally, the Gaang stopped flying after dark and they all settled down at some sort of campsite. Izuku helped everyone unpack and setup camp whereas Katsuki sat on top of Appa, crossed his arms, and berated Izuku on everything he was doing wrong.

"Well if you're so great, then you get down here and help me do it 'the right way'."

"Fine, I will, ya dumb nerd!" Katsuki growled and slid off the saddle and snatched the bag out of his hand, aggressively unwrapping the sleeping bag and slamming it down on the floor. "There!"

That was the way Izuku had done it, albeit calmly, but he didn't say anything. Meanwhile the others were trying to start a fire, though they seemed to be having a bit of trouble. "Everyone shut up!" Katsuki shouted.

"No one was saying anything, Kacchan."

Izuku was met with a glare and a snarl so he fell silent, frowning. "Nobody asked for you opinion, Deku!"

"… But no one WAS talking, so it's not an opinion, it's a fact. And why do you want us to be quiet anyway?"

"Because your voices give me a headache."

Izuku frowned and crossed his arms. He didn't think his voice was that annoying and the others weren't either. Kacchan had always been weird about things like that though, even the smallest things agitating him, so it wasn't exactly odd behavior.

Izuku just wished he wouldn't be so rude. These kids were going out of their way to help them. Without them, Izuku and Katsuki would probably still be stuck back at the North Pole, freezing to death.

"Finally, that's it." Katsuki said and wiped his hands on his pants. "What're you looking at, Deku."

Izuku quickly turned away, not meaning to stare. "Let's just join the others."

"Fine, whatever."

They came over and took a seat. "Ugh, why won't the stupid fire start." Katara adjusted her position and then kept sparking the rocks together.

"You have trouble a lot?" Izuku asked.

"Yeah, she can never get it right."

"Well you can't either, Sokka! Why do you think I'm always the one doing it!" Katara growled throwing down the rocks in frustration.

"All your whining's pissing me off, just shut up!" Katsuki growled.

"Kacchan, you're the only one who's always complaining." Izuku said in Japanese.

"Shut up, nerd!" tiny explosions rocketed off in his palms.

"All I said was the truth. Besides, we both know this isn't the time for a fight."

"OH IT'S NOT GONNA BE MUCH OF A FIGHT, MORE LIKE A MASSACRE!"

Izuku ignored him and turned back to the others "You know Kacchan, you could probably start the fire." Izuku said.

"It won't be the only fire I'll be starting." Katsuki grumbled, knowing they were surrounded by perfectly combustible trees. He sparked the branches anyway, allowing a huge fire to blaze up in front of them.

"So, are you… a firebender?" Aang asked. "I mean, it'd make sense since your looking for your firebending friend but…"

"No. And half n half ain't a firebender either, baldy."

"Oh… then how can you do that?" he asked.

Katsuki opened his mouth and then closed it, thinking for a long time before finally shrugging. "I dunno."

"See, we are not from here." Izuku said. "We are from Japan, and we do not call it bending. We say they quirks."

"You sound like an idiot." Katsuki said.

"I'm trying!"

"Quirks?" Sokka asked, "What do those do, they sound cool."

"My quirk's called Explosion, and I explode things. And this guy," Katsuki punched Izuku's arm, "cheated and got a quirk."

Izuku glared. "I did not cheat!"

"What does your quirk do?" Katara asked Izuku.

"I am strong." Izuku said.

"He's really strong, could probably break all your bones if he wanted."

"But I do not want to."

"Ugh, you sound like a robot! Didn't anyone ever teach you your conjunctions!"

"No."

"Your speech would be bearable if you just learned those you piece of crap!"

"Sorry…"

"So, these quirks, they let you control more than just the elements?" Aang asked.

"Yeah," Katsuki said, "why does that matter to you?"

"When can you tell if you get a quirk?" Aang asked, his eyes lit up with what almost seemed like hope.

"Aang, you're not getting one of these quirk things." Katara said.

"Four." Izuku said. Aang instantly deflated with that news. "Normally. I did not get my quirk till fourteen, but I was not normal."

"You said it." Katsuki snorted.

Izuku didn't understand what he'd said so he kept silent. "But since we're not from here, that's why we need to find our friend, so we can figure out a way to leave." Katsuki said.

"Wait, so your friend isn't Fire Nation then?" Katara asked, frowning.

"No, he isn't. Why? Did that icy hot creep tell you otherwise?"

"Yes, he said he was from the Fire Nation, but that he didn't want to fight. Not that it really mattered anyway, he ran away shortly after that. We think he went with Zuko, they seemed to know each other."

"Did it seem like they were friends?"

"Sort of. I guess if Zuko can have friends."

"Can you tell us more about this 'Zuko' guy."

"I can tell you that he's bad news. He wants to capture Aang so that the Fire Nation can rule the world and kill so many people." Katara growled, digging her nails into her palms.

"Anything else?" Katsuki asked. "Something… redeeming?"

"Redeeming? No, there's nothing good about him." she said.

"Well…" Aang started and then paused. "I… I can think of one thing."

"What is it?"

"Well, there was this one time where this general, Zhao, he captured me and held me captive. I never could've escaped on my own, but there was this guy in a blue mask and he rescued me from Zhao, risked his life to do it."

Aang glanced at his friends, "I didn't say anything, because it wasn't important, but that blue mask guy, it was Zuko. Zuko risked his life to save me."

"Probably for his own gain." Katara said. "So he could capture you himself and take all the credit. People of the Fire Nation are selfish like that."

Izuku could only get bits and pieces but basically he thought Katsuki was trying to figure out why Shouto would willingly go with Zuko. Because it had to be willingly. From what Izuku had gathered from the benders of this world, they could only bend their element unless they were the avatar, and there was only one of those. Other than that they could only bend their element. And they could only bend what was existing, not make it.

Shouto couldn't be overpowered by one bender, no matter how good they were, he had too much raw power for that. So he must've gone with Zuko willingly, the only question left was why.

And the only answer Izuku could think of, was that he saw something these kids couldn't, something worth fighting for, something worth saving. Perhaps he even saw similarities between the two of them. When Izuku had first met him, Shouto had seemed a little lost, and maybe that was how he viewed Zuko and was trying to help him find the right way to go.

Izuku would have to judge that for himself, but if his friend could find something good then Izuku would try his hardest to find that good too.

"You're probably right, I don't know why I brought it up." Aang said. "I just thought that kind of thing might be what you were looking for."

"You were actually surprisingly helpful. And I just thought you were a stupid kid."

Aang smiled, "I usually surprise people."

Katsuki wasn't impressed and ignored him. Shouto obviously saw something if he had willingly followed Zuko, and if he had willingly talked to him and became worried when he didn't get a response. It was just that Katsuki wasn't sure what Shouto saw or if it was just him being stupid, that was almost equally likely. So, Katsuki wasn't exactly sure what he was supposed to think, but one glance at Izuku and he could tell in an instant that he was thinking the exact same thing Katsuki was. Besides, he and Izuku could think and speculate all they wanted, but the only way they were going to actually get the truth was if they asked Shouto himself.

And to do that, they were going to have to find him.

Only, they had no idea where they were looking for.

Thankfully, Katsuki figured that was okay. For whatever reason, Zuko and the rest of these kids seemed to gravitate towards each other, so he had a feeling Shouto would turn up eventually.

A/N Here's the next chapter, sorry it took so long, guys! Anyway, I hope you enjoyed, reviews are love!