I do not own Avatar the Last Airbender.

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Aang Katara and Toph sat on a bench on the edge of town watching the sunset. Well Toph just sat.

"He just said no?" Aang asked.

"Just like that," Katara answered.

"Looks like fire boy has some nerve," Toph said with a wide grin.

"Did he say anything else?" Aang asked.

"He said he had his own reasons," Katara said. "It looked like he would almost take the job if he didn't have to fight the Fire Lord."

"You just had to tell him didn't you?" Toph asked her.

"Yes. Yes I did," Katara said shortly.

Then Lee saw them and ran up to them. He looked very eager.

"What did you do to the firebender?" He asked eagerly.

"We asked him to teach the Avatar firebending," Toph said calmly.

Lees jaw dropped and he looked a little angry. "What was his answer?"

"No," Toph said.

"Did you do something bad to him?" Lee asked; his eagerness was back again.

"Nothing it was his decision," Toph answered evenly. "We have no right to punish him for it."

Disbelief etched Lee's face. He turned around and walked away. A ridiculous grin appeared on Toph's face as soon as the boy couldn't see it.

"Why did you have too do that to him?" Aang asked.

"There is nothing to do in this boring town," Toph said in an obnoxious tone.

"Why are you acting like this?" Aang asked.

"None of your business Twinkle Toes," She said shortly.

Katara was starting to get worried about those two.

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Zuko was sitting very near a small fire. Since it was the early morning and it was just starting too warm up. It got very cold in the desert at night. He thought about her offer. Then he reminded himself of what he was, and how she would hate him if she found out. Just like everyone else did when they found out.

"Why am I putting myself through this?" Zuko screamed too himself.

The Flame crackled and bad memory reared its ugly head.

"Zuko you realize that by not choosing you have marked yourself as a traitor," His Father spat in his face.

"Father isn't there some other I can provide for our nation?" Zuko pleaded desperately. His face had a bandage on it. I had only been a week since the Agni Kai

"You have chosen cowardice and weakness. A boy who chooses that can never serve the Fire Nation.

"I will assist my nephew in whatever path he chooses," Iroh said boldly.

"As Fire Lord I forbid you to help him," Ozai commanded coldly. "Zuko will be deported to the Earth Kingdom."

"Father please!" Zuko cried out.

"There is no other option. You will be deported to the Earth Kingdom, and if any of our solders catch you will be severely punished," Ozai yelled at Zuko who was trembling like a leaf. "If you set foot on fire Nation soil again you will be killed.

The Fire Lord turned around and Zuko was dragged away by two solders.

Zuko's face furrowed with anger at the memory of that day. After that day Zuko had no one to lean on. That meant he had to face the cold hard truth on his own. During the first few months he had been an emotional wreck. Contemplating suicide was not uncommon during that time, but he never did it. Zuko chose strength. He had taken the high road.

Then he remembered his first day in this town.

He stood right in front of the town. The bandages that were once whit were now a dirty yellow. The clothing Zuko wore was torn and faded. They were fire nation and they still looked enough like it to get him in trouble.

Then he saw a man throw away some white clothing. When nobody was watching Zuko lunged for the clothing and found a private place to change.

When the sun had set Zuko started to explore the town. He noticed a barrel full of water and gazed into it. It was like mirror. Zuko slowly unwrapped the bandages around his face. That was the first time he saw his scar.

Zuko cringed at the memory of that day. The only reason he stayed was it had the only reliable source of water around. The spring in the middle of this town flowed eternally, but the water was dirty and brown.

Then a pair of travelers came close enough too see him so Zuko moved to a different spot.

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"So lets go over the plan again. We feed him until he is healthy and strong. Just in case that is the problem. Then we record any conversations with him down in this journal," Aang said holding up a paperback journal.

"What should I ask him about?" Katara asked Aang.

"I want to speak to him face to face," Aang said with anger and jealousy in his voice.

"Okay," Katara said mystified the way Aang was speaking.

Toph took him aside and pushed him down into a chair.

"Look Twinkle Toes if you aren't going to make your move you can't keep her away from other guys," Toph told him.

"It's just so hard. What if she doesn't like me like that?" Aang asked. "Why did you pull me aside to tell me this? I thought that you would blurt it out."

"None of you business," Toph snapped.

Aang backed off and went to Appa mope. Even though the back of the Inn wasn't pretty someone who would listen was there. Toph went back by Katara.

"What did you say to him?" Katara asked with concern.

"The truth," Toph answered bluntly.

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"Are sure you still want to talk to Zuko?" Katara asked Aang.

"I have to find a firebending teacher," Aang said in a flat tone. Then a small grin cracked on his face. "Besides who could be better at speaking to the local ghost than the Avatar."

With that he walked out the door and into the ally.

"Hello I am a friend of that girl you talk to," Aang called out. "I have some food for you here. It's hot fresh meat."

When Zuko heard the words hot fresh meat he couldn't move fast enough.

"I didn't think that you were that hungry," Aang commented.

"All I have eaten for two and a half years is butcher scraps, the parts they cut off vegetables, and the occasional rat," Zuko explained to him.

"Then here," Aang said holding out the meat like it would bite him. Zuko snatched it from his hands and ate ravenously.

"What status were you born at?" Aang asked while slowly backing away from Zuko.

"How do you know about status?" Zuko grilled. He drew himself up to his full height. "I was born at a very high level."

"I'm the Avatar. I saw the Fire Nation before the war even started. You can tell me who you are I wont judge you," Aang said softly.

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Mwahahahahahaha. A cliffhanger. No I do not take medication and I do not need it either. Sorry for taking so long to update. Thanks to all reviewers. I appreciate the support.