A/N

I apologize in advance for the shitty chapter, and I apologize for it taking so long, and being so short.

I feel like this is a horrible story. It started out okay, but it feels like the writing's just gone downhill from the first five chapters into the flaming heap of trash it is right now.

I'm really, really struggling to find a way to make this story interesting right now. It follows so closely to canon, that I don't know where to take it anymore. I don't really want to do the Library, but it's important, and I didn't really want to do the scene with Shouto and Zuko either, because... you know, canon. I really liked their conversation, I think it's necessary, I think it's adorable, but it isn't the kind of interesting I usually like.

I'm not sure what to do. After this should I completely destroy canon and just do whatever the hell I want? Should I continue with canon and hope things get better? I'm not sure anymore. I'm so sorry. I'll try to update again soon, and I'll try to make it a better chapter, with better writing because I still really love Shouto and Zuko's relationship, and this story started out with so much potential.

Also, I know the word count says otherwise, but don't be fooled, this chapter is only about 1.5k.

Again, so, so sorry, and thanks to anyone who took the time to read my stupid ramblings.

On a lighter note, this story now has some amazing fanart

/Dirkapitation1/status/1292618877864751112/photo/1

They're really good, please check them out. And on another lighter note, the chapter.

I love reviews, thanks to everyone who's stuck with me.

When they arrived to their place of destination, it was very dusty and hot, scorching the back of their necks and sending cool sweat down their spines. It made sense though, considering they were in a desert.

They walked into a dark building, with a lot of shady looking people who stared at them as they entered. Shouto just stared back, unsure of why they were looking at him in the first place.

Maybe they thought his hair was weird.

"Would you stop challenging them." Zuko grumbled.

"Challenging?"

"Why else are you staring at them intently like that?"

Shouto shrugged. It would feel weird to ignore the stares and then just feel a bunch of eyes on him, so he figured looking back might make things feel not so creepy. "They make me uncomfortable." Shouto eventually admitted.

Zuko didn't respond and followed Iroh over to a pai sho table in the back. "Uncle, I'm sure Shouto didn't mean to say we actually need to play pai sho."

"Oh, but this is necessary." Iroh said, placing a lotus tile in the middle of the board. "May I have this game, good sir."

Zuko groaned, knowing they could be here for a while. Shouto just watched silently, still feeling the stares of others on the back of his neck, but managed to ignore them this time.

As Iroh played, Shouto and Zuko waited a bit away from the table.

Zuko kind of wanted to talk, but he wasn't sure what to say, and Shouto didn't look as if he were going to say anything for a while. "So, uh…" Zuko trailed off, cursing himself for breaking the silence only to have nothing to say. That made the silence even more awkward.

"Do you think that people's stares feel different?"

"What?" Zuko asked.

"Do you think some stares are angry and some are curious, because stares just feel uncomfortable to me. But Midoriya says they have different feelings."

"Um… I-I don't know?"

"Oh… do you like milkshakes."

"I don't know what those are." Zuko had wanted to start a conversation but this wasn't working.

"It's like thick, flavored, sugar." Shouto explained and turned to look at him.

First of all, that sounded disgusting, and for some reason, Shouto just kept staring at him.

"What?" Zuko asked.

"What?"

"You're staring at me." He bit the inside of his cheek lightly and stared back at Shouto.

He wanted to lean back when Shouto leaned in, but for some reason his body was glued to its place on the floor and all he could do was stare into Shouto's eyes. For a moment he couldn't even process what color they were, they were just Shouto's eyes. And the room felt like it was getting hotter, even though he could've sworn it wasn't like this a minute ago.

"Do you think…" Shouto started, "do you think we're ancestors?"

"Yeah, I mean if it's okay with you, I…" Zuko paused and took a deep breath, "wait one moment." He was still processing what Shouto said. "Do I think what?"

"We're ancestors. Like you're my great, great, great, great uncle or something."

Then Zuko did lean back and let out a huff of annoyance. "No, I don't." he growled.

"But our lives are so similar, almost like it's passed down from generation to generation."

"No, it hasn't. No we aren't related, just… no."

Shouto tilted his head, "But why not?"

"Because I like you, you absolute moron! And why would I want to think about us possibly being related when I like you! That's gross, and I don't want to think about it, so no! We aren't related."

At least that was what Zuko wanted to say. Instead it came out, "Uh… well um. You see, I just don't think you and I could possibly be related. Just because you're kind of dumb and I don't think stupidity really runs in the family. And our situations aren't similar at all because I'm the oldest in my family, and you're the youngest and so our lives are astronomically different."

Zuko didn't exactly know why he said that, but why Shouto looked to be considering that explanation was completely beyond him. "Just because our lives are similar, doesn't mean we're related. It's probably very unlikely that we are, impossible even." That was what he'd meant to say the first time, and now that he said it, he really wished he could take everything else back.

"That makes sense." Shouto eventually conceded and turned back to staring at what seemed to be an intense game of pai sho. Zuko could already feel himself getting irritated. There was the tell-tale crick in his neck and he started bouncing his leg impatiently. They didn't have time for his uncle's games.

After what seemed like forever, two men approached them, but Iroh's friend made a scene and they all managed to quickly escape the tavern into the dusty, scorching hot desert again.

Zuko glanced at Shouto then the ground as they walked.

Iroh's friend led them to what seemed to be another shop, with plants everywhere. On the shelves, on the floors, even hanging from the ceiling. And at the back of the shop, there was a single door. "Members only," Iroh told them when they tried to enter too, only to have the door slammed in their faces.

As an appropriate response, Zuko broke a potted plant and kicked the pieces into a dark corner where no one would see until long after they left.

"This is ridiculous, a dead end. I can't believe I let him drag me into another side adventure, to further hinder me from capturing the Avatar!" Zuko gritted his teeth.

Shouto had a blank expression as he always did, and just stared at Zuko with his passive face. "Is the Avatar all you think about."

"Why wouldn't he be." Zuko grumbled and rolled his eyes. "The Avatar is the one I need to restore my honor and go home. I know YOU think it's not worth it, but I don't really care what you think."

"I think it's bullshit."

"It isn't!" Zuko growled, turning a glare on Shouto.

"Thought you didn't care what I thought."

And there it was. The barest hint of a smirk on his face that if Zuko wasn't looking for it, he would've probably miss it. But he didn't miss it, he stared that pleased look down with a furious one of his own. "You don't understand."

"I think that you think I don't understand what you know I understand, and I know I understand, and the one who doesn't really understand is you, and that's what I think."

"What?" Zuko tried to ask evenly, but it sounded like more of a snarl. He knew what Shouto was doing. That troll thing or whatever it was called, but he couldn't help but get angry. Especially when everything the boy said didn't make a single shred of sense.

Shouto didn't answer, "What are you going to do after you capture the Avatar?"

"Haven't thought about it. Go home, take back my rightful place. After that, I guess I'll just do whatever comes to me."

"You don't seem like the type of person to just sit back and let things happen to you."

Zuko gritted his teeth, "You don't know anything about me. So shut up."

"Okay." And Shouto did shut up, but he kept watching Zuko, even as he observed the plants disinterestedly, he could feel Shouto's burning stare on his back. When he turned around though, Shouto's expression was cold, he didn't look happy, or sad, or angry.

The look sent chills rolling down his spine.

"What are you looking at, Bison." Katsuki growled.

"Appa can probably sense your anger."

"He's just an animal. He probably doesn't sense shit. He just likes to piss me off!"

"If he can't sense emotions, how would he know he's doing that? You're kind of dumb honestly."

"You know what little Earth girl? I used to like you. But now I don't give a damn! I just want to go home, but Deku's being a total shithead like usual!"

"Cussing so much makes you sound like the unintelligent one."

"Fuck off! I don't need to sound intelligent to be smart. I'll have you know, my grades are better than the nerd's!"

"So you're an even bigger nerd!"

"No! I'm not a nerd. Go to hell!"

"No thanks. I don't have to do what you say. You could calm down you know. Make the best of your situation."

"This is me making the best of it!"

Toph crossed her arms and leaned back against Appa, "I'd hate to see you make the worst of it then, Explosion Boy."

Katsuki was really tempted to kick a bunch of sand in her face, but instead he stomped to the other side of Appa and ignored her.