Forgive me?

Ch. 2

Disclaimer- Avatar: The Last Airbender does not belong to me, but this plot line does.

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STOP! Now!" Zuko exclaimed.

"What for?" Aang stated, and the ex prince did something very un-prince like. He grabbed the boy's shoulders and pulled him towards him, causing the boy to lose his balance, and lose control of the bison. Realizing his mistake, Zuko loosened his grip on the young monk, and backed away slightly. Zuko felt a splash of water hit him square on, with a decent amount of force. Thank God he could hold his balance, or he would have had the deadliest fall of his lifetime.

"Zuko!" exclaimed Katara, "Are you still trying to kill us!"

"Are you insane!" exclaimed Sokka, and Zuko pushed away from the Avatar.

Zuko dropped his grip on the Avatar and put his hands on the saddle, trying to ignore the dagger like eyes piercing his sullen form. "Uh."

"Geez Princey!" spoke Toph, loosening the tension, as she slapped him on the back, "I'm afraid of heights as it is, the last thing I need to be is a flat pancake!"

"S-sorry," Zuko spoke as he regained some of his speech. "This city, I know it."

"What?" asked Duke.

"When my uncle and I were on the run, we met a healer nearby. She was very kind, and took me and my uncle in right away since we were "hungry travelers' as she mentioned, it was her nature…and I…"

"You what?" Katara said with a glare.

Zuko decided to omit his confession of thievery. The girl looked like she might finally begin to warm up to him, he wasn't about to spoil it. "I did something that was rude, and I wanted to apologize and thank her."

The blind girl looked skeptical, if you could call a blind girl skeptical, and furrowed her brows. She then crossed her arms.

"You know," said Toph, "I think this is first time you decided to hide something from us."

"HIDE?" exclaimed Katara, hard look back on her soft features, and Zuko tensed his shoulders.

"Um..." He sometimes forgot that the Earthbender could detect lies. Noticing both girls, and some of the boys with suspicious looks, he bowed his head and defeat. 'Oh well,' he thought.

"I was confused and I did something that I regret to her family. I 'd like to make it up to her." His voice softened, "I'd rather not mention it."

"That's better," Toph said with a smirk, and turned towards Sokka. "There any other cities nearbye?" she asked, and the water tribe boy crossed his arms with a secretive expression.

"Not for a while." And then shouting across the wind, "Hey Aang!"

And the young monk turned towards his friend's, "Is this the place you guys were talking about stopping earlier?" he asked, and Sokka grinned.

"Sure is," there was a mischievous look on his face as he noticed the fire prince's puzzled expression, then turning back to the young monk, "It's one of the few free areas. We can stock up on supplies, and drop of Haru, Duke, and Teo to gather any other troops or allies. Isn't that so?" he said in regards to the three Earth Kingdom boys.

The boys gave him the A-Okay sign with their fingers, and Sokka grinned even more.

Zuko answered with articulate… "Wha?" and Aang smiled.

" In truth, all I really need at the moment are my teacher's," the monk paused, " We want to get as many people as we can to free the adults, and some supplies, Besides Appa can't carry all the extra weight forever, ain't that right boy?" Aang said as he petted the giant bison. Appa groaned in approval, and the group flew towards some near bye trees so the bison could be hidden.

As soon as they stopped, Zuko was relieved. He immediately pulled out some sacks and leaped of the giant bison. He was about to take off without thinking, when a firm hand gripped his sleeve. Zuko was tempted to form some fire or steam to push his captor away, when the water boy's voice caught his attention.

"You're not going to go in that?" a voice scolded, and Zuko turned to see Sokka staring in disapproval. "WE know you're on our side, but the citizens don't and will probably jump you if you're in fire nation red. Not that I'm totally against that but, you know, Aang does need a teacher."

Ignoring that last sentence, Zuko looked down at his clothing, and groaned. Sometimes his thoughtlessness amazed him. He looked at the water tribe boy with a mix between annoyance, embarrassment, and shame.

Annoyance because of being reprimanded by someone in a lower status, embarrassment because stumbling into earth kingdom territory occupied by soldiers with fire red, was suicidal, and shame because had he not sided with Azula like an idiot back in Ba Sing Se, he'd still have his earth kingdom clothes. When he had returned to his palace life, Azula had taken it upon herself to burn all vestiges of their undercover takeover.

Zuko looked to the ground with a sheepish look on his face. Within a moment a dark hand with a blue tunic and pants was perched under his nose. Zuko looked up expecting to see Sokka's fervored brows, but was surprised to be staring in large crystal blue depths of insecurity, and almost, kindness. The wind tousled his hair, and a calming wind surrounded him. There was almost an understanding.

"Katara what are you doing!" shrieked the nearby water boy, effectively cutting off the moment. "Those are some of my best clothes!" He attempted to steal them from her hands but was shackled with earth cuffs.

"Oh shut up snoozles, we needed firenation disquises in the firenation, so of course he needs something other then firenation clothes here."

"Thanks Toph," Katara said with a smile, "Couldn't of said it better myself."

"Katara!" whined Sokka.

"Stop it Sokka, Haru only has the clothes on his back, and you're the second oldest boy here!" She bit back, and Zuko smiled, somewhat relieved to not have her biting comments focused on his decisions and ego for once

"Thank you," he bowed somewhat humbly, and Katara put her arms across her chest haughtily.

" Quiet you." There was a stern tone in her voice, but not the biting hatred, and there was a slight blush on her face. "Just because I'm trying to be reasonable, doesn't mean you should lower your guard. I'm still watching you."

Zuko nearly laughed at this, maybe they could be friend's afterall. "Of course not," he said with a light tease. Katara noticed it and a look of indignation came into her face.

Hey!" she cried, "What's that supposed to mean?"

Zuko chuckled slightly, and looked up towards the sky. "Nothing." He was quiet for a moment, "I'll meet you back here later."

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To be continued…