note: Post "The Firebending Masters", post"The Boiling Rock". Suki had been rescued, why all others rescued on that mission went their seperate ways, including Teo, The Duke, and Haru.

Chapter Fourty Two

Trust

I stared tiredly up at the cracked ceiling, my eyelids half closed with fatigue, but I knew I couldn't sleep from numerous attempts beforehand. The night air was chilled and wafted around my warm sleeping bag, but I was growing restless. Exhaling silently, I exited the cocoon, instantly shivering as I entered the night. I grabbed my shawl from the bottom of the sleeping bag, and with that, I shuffled off quietly from the camp.

My feet wandered aimlessly, but I found myself ceasing to walk in fron of the larger-than-life statues of the meditating nuns. My eyes rested on the three ladies, a sense of longing pulling at my heart. But I quickly dismissed it and turned around, sitting on the edge of the cliff, my feet dangling over the drop-out.

"Uhm...hey, Vinca." The familiar voice caught me off guard and I jumped, whirling around to face the sound. I relaxed upon seeing that it was only Zuko.

"Hi," I greeted, patting the empty spot next for me for him to sit.

The firebender settled down, his black hair shielding his face as he glanced over the edge.

"Did I wake you up?" I inquried.

Zuko shook his head in the negatives, "No. I was already awake."

"Oh." I mumbled.

There was a pregnant pause before he spoke again, "So, why are you up? Nightmares?"

"Not really. I just...can't sleep." I shrugged nonchalantly. "Why are you up? Nightmares?" I repeated his words, an edge of teasing entwining each one.

"Nah..."

I studied him. It was difficult because of the darkness, "Yes, you are."

"No, I'm not."

"Yes, you are."

"Fine."

I smiled slightly, plopping back down on my back, staring up at the ceiling, "What are they about?"

"I don't really want to talk about it."

"Oh." Another blanket of silence drifted over us. I absently sat back up, tugging at my shawl for warmth. After that, I created a small orb of air, watching it race in my palms. Without taking my eyes off of my creation, I asked, "What was life like in the Fire Nation?"

"Wha—Oh. Didn't you live in a Fire Nation village or something?"

"Well, it was in the Earth Kingdom, but yeah, the Fire Nation kind of...I don't know, took it..." I said wistfully, "But what I want to know is, what royal life was like."

He blinked, his golden eyes vaguely illuminated in the dim, "Uh...I don't know how to describe it." He admitted.

The ball of air was gradually growing bigger. I moved my right hand back behind my left outstretched palm, and airbended the ball over the side of the cliff. "Was it...grand?"

The former prince chuckled, "I guess so. My family wasn't grand—well, save my mother and my uncle," he suddenly looked worn and saddened, "But my father and sister are...messed up. And so was my grandfather Sozin."

"Hm...well, they are kinda messed up, no offense or anything, but tell me about your mother and uncle."

Zuko lowered his head, "My mother disappeared when I was only a child. I-I...she was the only one who loved me, not Azula. Except for my uncle. Uncle Iroh...let's just say I've made a big mistake when he was the only one there for me." he huffed quietly, running his hand through his hair.

I frowned, subconsiously bending yet another orb of air and sending it over the edge. "If he was the only one there for you, I'm sure he must've loved you a lot. And he probably still does, and he'll forgive you for whatever you've done." I tried my best at comforting the firebender.

"Hopefully. I would understand if he didn't." he sighed, "What about your family?"

I closed my eyes momentarily, "You've met him. Olin."

"What about your parents?" Zuko pressed.

"My father died of a Fire Nation raid. When they first came to the village," I explained, "And my mother died the same year of a sickness."

"I'm sorry."

"It's alright. I was little when they died. I don't remember much of them."

"What about your other family? Uncles, Aunts, Grandparents?"

"My grandmother died in a...fire..." I swallowed, turning my head away from him.

Zuko didn't ask anymore questions.

"Hahaha! I'm winning! Wait—Momo, no! Timeout, timeout!"

"There are no timeouts!"

"But I can't see! Momo—please, get off my face!"

I grinned, lifting my glider upwards, catching a quicker air current. I turned my head back slightly to see Aang struggling to steer with one hand while his other tried to pry Momo off his head, where his tail was blocking Aang's sight. I giggled, turning my head back forward as I doved downwards, racing towards the finish line.

I dodged an upside-down house, swooping to the left as I missed another. A loud crash was heard behind me and I turned to see that Aang had crashed into one of the homes. Concerned, I gusted myself over, cautiously walking inside the house.

There was familiar laughter, and I felt a brief air gale next to me and looked to see Aang flying away, towards the finish. And then there was Momo, who was rejected by Aang's face, jumping on mine.

"I still don't think that it's fair." I pouted playfully, nudging Aang as we laid in the garden. The sun glimmered over top of us, the breeze tickling the roses around us, sending their sweet aromas into the air.

Aang chuckled, "I think it's completely fair, don't you, Momo?" The Avatar petted his flying lemur.

"But he was on my face!"

"He was on mine, too."

I sighed, "Fine."

"You accept that I, Aang, rightfully won our race?" He had a mischiviously glint in his eye.

I raised an eyebrow, "Yes," I mumbled.

He laughed, getting up and proceeding to do his goofy victory dance, causing me to laugh as well.

Aang was about to make a comment when a loud screeching of what sounded like metal hit our ears. Once it had died down, he glanced at me with wide eyes, "What was that?"

I shook my head, "I don't know. Let's go see."

We both hopped to our feet and took to the air, along with Momo, who thankfully didn't decide to rest on anyone's head.

It was an airship, Aang told me as we watched the two giant flying aircrafts float in the valley.

I bit my lip as they, now silently, hovered. "What should we do?"

He flicked open his glider, "We have to tell the others quickly."

"But we'll have to pass right by them to get there. They'll see us."

"We'll have to go around the Temple."

"That'll take forever."

"Not if we leave now."

We were now flying over the top of the Temple, which was the plains we have walked on after the Invasion. We were traveling as fast as we could, but I knew we wouldn't get there in time.

Zuko was heating water for Katara, who still wouldn't look at him decently. Or, rather, at all.

"That's hot enough." She said, not glancing at him as she motioned him away for that she could cook.

The firebender huffed, "You're welcome."

The Water Tribe girl was silent, ignoring the former prince.

He sighed. What would it take to win over this girl's trust? Everyone else seemed to trust him. Even Suki. Well, you did help save her from the Boiling Rock. But still. Vinca even seemed to trust him, but then again, she was one of the newer additions to the group, so she didn't witness half of the bad things he's done.

His golden eyes drifted around the camp. Sokka and Suki were chatting, Toph was earthbending quietly while talking to Olin, and Aang and Vinca were off somewhere.

A black object began to rise out of the valley in the distance, and he stared at it in confusion. Zuko suddenly realized what it was as a fireball hurtled towards them.

The firebender drew in a breath as the fireball hit the ceiling. He jumped, grabbing Katara out of the way as the ceiling came crashing down.

"Get—Get off of me!" She cried, "What are you doing?"

Zuko blushed realizing their position, but quickly smoothed over the situation as he stood, offering her a hand which she did not take. He frowned, "You could say thanks. Considering I just saved your life."

Katara blinked, lowering her eyes. She looked like she was going to make a sharp remark, but hesitated, "Thanks, Zuko." She mumbled, rising to her feet.

The former prince turned to see that the airship had moved closer. Standing on top of the ship was...

Azula.

"Shit," He cursed aloud as he witnessed her devious smile.

Sokka, Suki, and Toph had hurried over. "We have to leave!" Suki exclaimed, biting her lip as more fireballs were arriving.

Zuki firebended the soon-to-be explosions away hastily.

"What about Vinca and Aang?"

"They'll catch up with us!"

"We can't just leave them!"

"Come on!"

Sokka was already boarding Appa. Most of their things were already packed, and Katara was quickly throwing the things not onto the bison. The group hurriedly go on, and with a quick flick, they were in the air.

I slowed to a stop as we neared the camp. I studied the camp. No one was there, and the airship had already arrive.

They can't be...

Suddenly, a loud roar echoed off of the Temple walls and I glanced down to see Appa heading straight towards us. A relived smile tugged at my lips as I closed my glider, dropping along with Aang onto the saddle.

"Thank the Spirits you guys are alright," Katara sighed.

Olin shook his head as he sat by me, "Danger prone."

I nudged him, laughing lightly, "Maybe."

Zuko was staring over the edge. And when I looked back, he was gone.

"Zuko!" I exclaimed, watching him fall onto the airship. "Sokka, we have to go back!"

Sokka let out a loud sigh as he steered Appa back around.

We watched the firebender fight his own sister. All of a sudden he was knocked off the side of the craft. Aang took control of the reins, and with that, Appa was swooping quickly down. There was a thud as Zuko landed in the saddle, a dazed expression on his face.

"Now, let's get out of here." Sokka ordered.

AN: that chapter was full of dialogue, yes? That might've been a filler chapter. I know there wasn't a lot of detail in this chapter, but I wanted to work on the dialogue a bit. Last night I typed a whole different chapter, but my computer spazzed out and didn't save it. I am still heartbroken. So, instead of writing that chapter all over again I started from scratch. I might still use the main idea of that chapter for a new one coming up. As always, thanks for all the reviews! :)