I've just noticed something and maybe you have too. Why is that Katara and Sokka live in cold/freezing weather and are so dark? Even more importantly, why is Zuko and his family so freakin' pale and they live in the sun?? I don't know…but they do look better the way they are. That's why….

Disclaimer: I don't own ATLA or any of its affiliates!! (I love it when a plan comes together!)

"May I ask you a question?" Zuko asked as they jogged down the dirt path. His companion was breathing steadily through her nose and out her mouth. She nodded her head. "I suppose."

"Why do you wear sunglasses? Especially now, you know…it being nighttime and all."

She shrugged. "It's very simple. Identification reasons."

"Well that's funny. I thought you were good enough that you wouldn't even have to worry about stuff like that." Although he knew her... "profession"…was less than admirable, he couldn't help but provoke her just a little bit.

She turned to him with an eyebrow arched, never losing her rhythm. "I'm good, but I'm not stupid," her mouth twitched, "or cocky, such as yourself."

He tried to maintain his breathing as he turned around and started to run backwards. "What? You mean like this?"

She chuckled. "Now you're just being arrogant."

Zuko shook his head. "No I'm not!"

He neatly flipped and landed, never losing his stride. "Now I am."

She shook her head. "Yeah." Her eyebrows shot up. "Zuko! Look out!"

Zuko turned, but too late. He slammed into a tree and the branches shook from the blow. He grabbed his nose and tried to stumble away but only managed to trip himself. He attempted to brace himself with his hands, but they slid away from him against the soft earth. He landed face first with a "thud". Zuko moaned and pushed himself on his elbows and looked to his companion for help. He groaned at what he saw.

"It's not funny, you know." He touched his nose and winced. "I hope it isn't broken."

She held her stomach and pointed towards him. "It wasn't really you hitting the tree, Zuko, you just….you just looked so damn stupid! You should have seen yourself!! Your arms all flailing about!!" She fell into another state of laughter.

Zuko grunted and tried to stand, only to promptly fall back down on his face. He sighed into the dirt. "A little help would be appreciated." When he felt nothing grab his arms he brought his head up. "You are enjoying this way too much."

Her laughter began to slow and she wiped a tear from her face. "You're right, you're right. Just…don't move, all right? I don't want to end up looking like you."

Zuko mumbled under his breathe as she helped him stand up. He was surprised, though, when she reached out and touched his nose. Zuko winced and caught himself before he slapped her hand away. "Ow! Why'd you touch it!?"

She pulled away and put her hands on her hips. "I just wanted to make sure it wasn't broken! But if you want to walk around looking like Boo Boo the Fool, well that's just fine by me!"

Zuko turned towards her, eyebrows high. "What? My nose, what's wrong with it?? Who the hell is Boo Boo!?"

She started to laugh again and gently patted Zuko on his back. "No one, Zuko! It's just an expression my mother used to say!"

Her face and hand froze. Zuko noticed this. "Hey, what's up? Are you okay?"

His companion shook herself from her thoughts and gave him a weak grin. "Yeah, um…just thinking about my mom, it…it hurts still."

Zuko didn't want to pry, but he had a sudden feeling that this was something that she needed to share.

He took a deep breathe. "What happened to her?"

She grabbed on to her shades as if to remove them, then pulled her hand away. "She…she was murdered, I think." She shrugged. "I don't really remember. I was little. I just remember…," she brought her hand to her temple and her face started to contort, as if it hurt to remember. "I remember…all…all the blood, the…the screaming. The fire…,"

Zuko felt something twitch in him. "Fire? What fire?" His eyes widened. "Was she burned to death?"

She shook her head and brought her hand down. "No. She wasn't." For some reason, she chuckled. "I can remember the saying, and that she was murdered, but I can barely remember anything else about her." She turned to him. "Isn't that weird?"

Zuko nodded. "Just a little."

She sighed and kicked at the dirt. "What about your mom? I bet she's real nice."

Zuko frowned. "She's dead."

The girl looked up, and though you couldn't see her eyes, she looked apologetic. "I'm sorry, Zuko. I didn't know..,"

He waved his hand dismissively. "You couldn't have." He smiled. "But yeah. She was really nice. Made me into what I am today…," he swiftly pointed at her. "Don't you say a word."

She pushed his finger down. "Wouldn't think of it."

Zuko smiled again. "Yeah. She was great…," he sighed. "She was diagnosed with cancer. She died a few months after that."

He felt a hand on his shoulder. "I'm really am sorry, Zuko," she whispered.

He turned towards her and smiled. "Trust me, she's in a better place now."

He saw her mouth twitch. "Well, that's a positive way to look at it." Zuko nodded. "Uncle told me that she wouldn't have wanted me to be sad. She would have wanted me to move on. Be happy, go out and meet other people."

Zuko didn't realize how close she was until he looked into her sunglasses and saw his reflection. His companion's smile grew. "I'm really glad she did."

Zuko's heart started to beat fast again and he quickly stepped away. "We should, um…," he motioned down the path. "…move along. You said yourself that it was a long walk. We want to make it there by morning, right?"

She smiled and stretched her legs. "Well, since you're in such a hurry, I suppose we should go."

Zuko couldn't figure out why she was still smiling. "Stop smiling."

She kept smiling and stretching her legs. "Why?"

Zuko grumbled and crossed his arms. "It's making me uncomfortable."

She moved towards him, still smiling. "But its fun making you uncomfortable."

Zuko coughed in his throat and started to jog. "Yeah, let's just keep going."

As they started to jog, Zuko tried to look for a statement that would bother her.

"Hey, the sun's going to be up in awhile." He turned his face to look at her with a triumphant smirk. "Maybe now you'll have a real reason to wear those sunglasses."

She nodded. "Yeah. Hey Zuko can I ask you a question?"

This was foreboding

"Yeah, what?"

She smiled and kept her head forward. "How did that dirt taste?"

Zuko grimaced. "Shut up."

You guys, I am SOOOO sorry about the long wait!! Most of the busiest part is over, though it still will be hard to update quick enough. Anyway, I want to try and finish up this story before the season finale, 'cause, it ain't lookin' too good for Zutara (spoiler, sorry!). To the one review who asked if Aang was going to be in this…I don't know. Surprisingly, I forgot all about him. Hmm…..well, review pleaaaaze!! ;)