Okay, double-checked and triple-checked, and off we go! Last one for now, though. I need sleeeeeeep!

Once I've calmed down enough to think clearly, I realize what's happening here. When Hide mentioned a colonial to take care of, he was probably talking about Kuzon. I didn't even know Kuzon is a colonial, I didn't get that good a look at him. But it may explain his old-fashioned name. If his parents are Earth Kingdom, they probably can't tell ancient names and contemporary ones apart.

I pick myself up. Teachers don't take kindly to students straying through the building during yard break. I rush outside, and when I see the students gathering in some kind of circle, I know I'm missing out on something. People don't gather like this to watch Hide beating someone up, even if that someone happens to be a new student. Not so many of them, anyway.

I slip through the crowd until I catch sight of Kuzon and Hide. There is a scorch mark on the ground, which means that bully firebent at Kuzon. But mysteriously enough, the colonial seems uninjured.

Hide starts at the boy, trying to knock him to the ground. And then, the next Kuzon-related unbelievability happens – the boy sidesteps Hide. I watch in awe as Kuzon, amazingly light on his feet, dodges Hide and just keeps going, hands folded behind his back, without even breaking a sweat.

Hide, with increasing fury, swats and swipes at Kuzon without even grazing him. Heck, Kuzon unbalances him at one point, grinning all the while like this kind of engagement is some funny sort of crazy mid-day gymnastics.

I feel the urge to cheer him on. I've never seen such an enjoyable fight – because it's Hide being at the receiving end for a change, even though there is barely any physical contact. But I keep my mouth shut. I know Hide is going to win this in the end... somehow. Kuzon's movements are amazing, but... alright, here it comes! Trouble for Kuzon, served by the headmaster.

Hide, by the time too upset to look where he's going, trips over his own two feet, landing basically in front of the big boss. Some fake tears do the rest, the headmaster finds his star pupil sniffing on the ground, with a thoroughly confused Kuzon standing over him. At least I think so, I can't see that well from my position.

"Picking fights on your second day?" the headmaster asks coldly and one of Kuzon's classmates steps up. For a moment there, I believe he's actually going to defend Kuzon and clear things up. But I should have known better, the headmaster continues uninterruptedly, "We need to have a conference to discuss your punishment. Bring your parents to my office after school."

"Parents? But..." Kuzon's obviously trying to say something important. Not that the headmaster cares, it's about Hide after all.

"Don't be late!"

And with that, the headmaster strolls off, a smug Hide trailing him, probably to get his injuries treated. The injuries from not hitting Kuzon.

The students disperse into smaller groups, whispering among themselves. It seems that the feat of not getting beaten up by Hide isn't the only oddity Kuzon has pulled in his two days. Apparently, he's also contradicted the history books, but the content of the contradiction has been distorted by word of mouth. It varies, some say Kuzon claimed the Siege of Ba Sing Se never happened, then there are those discussing Sozin's comet and some actually say Kuzon noted that the Air Nomads didn't have a military. One thing more ridiculous than the next. Well, and then there is that thing about the guy dancing during music lesson, that he has no manners whatsoever and is basically the open-mouth-insert-foot-kind of character. But hey, he's a colonial, what exactly did people expect? That he's civilized?

I still want to hug him, though, just because he's shown Hide. It makes the kid infinitely sympathetic. Which is why I screw up all my courage and approach him.

I don't really like the look in his eyes, he seems just about to jump someone, like a cornered viperrat. Nasty beasts, they are.

"Uhm, hi!" I try saying anyway. He may be a colonial, but he can't be worse than Hide, right? It also helps that I'm taller than Kuzon.

The haunted look disappears faster than I can call my name and a grin splits Kuzon's face. "Hi!" He seems to recognize me as a senior, because he bows. It's a start. "I'm Kuzon!"

"So I'm hearing. You're stirring up quite a ruckus."

"Yeah, I've noticed," he chuckles awkwardly and rubs the back of his neck. He's cute, actually. Oh for the love of... My mum's going to kill me if she finds out I'm bonding with a colonial again. It also reminds me that I shouldn't put too much trust into Kuzon. "I'm sorry about that, this place is just so different from what I'm used to! So, what's your name?"

"My name is Kamina. And I want to tell you that I really liked how you managed to evade Hide. He terrorizes the whole school, he deserved being outdone by someone else."

Kuzon raises an eyebrow. "I'm not sure. I mean, I guess the students are better off without him, but I don't think getting violent is the answer."

I realize Kuzon's words only from the fringes of my perception, I've found something a lot more interesting – his eyes. At first, I thought it was a trick of the light, but his eyes are dark gray, just like mine.

"Uhm..." Kuzon drawls. "Is there something stuck to my face?"

I gesture wildly, trying to wave it off. Getting caught staring is a bit awkward, colonial or not. "No, no! I just thought... never mind." I wonder if he'd view it as an insult if I tell him that he looks like an Air Nomad. He may have mixed ancestry, too, and I really don't want him to get involved. He may start asking questions. "I just wondered if you can teach me to move like that," I add in an afterthought. It's a streak of genius, actually, if I do say so myself. It would be so helpful to be able to sidestep Hide's punches, helpful doesn't even cut it!

Now Kuzon really looks insecure. "I'd love to, but... I don't think you'd want me as a teacher."

"Why not?" He's right, of course. Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't ask a colonial to teach me anything. Colonials must be taught, not the other way round. But learning those dodging skills is definitely worth swallowing my pride. "I wouldn't ask you if I didn't."

"You don't get it!" Kuzon explains friendly, but firmly. Then he sighs and turns away. "It's complicated."

"I see..." I give in. I'm pretty sure I know where these answers are coming from. There is something Kuzon just doesn't want to talk about, and I have to respect that. Besides, it's not like I can't understand. But still, he's a colonial. Whatever he's hiding, it can't be good. "Well, that's unfortunate."

Seeming satisfied that I'm not going to probe any further, Kuzon is already back to his happy grin. "I can show you some dance movements instead, if you like! It's not all that different, actually."

"Dancing?"

Before we can go deeper into that suspicious topic, another voice sounds, "Hey, Kuzon!" A brunette girl with a ponytail joins us. I recognize her as On Ji. She smiles at me and bows. "Good morning, Kamina!"

"Hello, On Ji," I greet back. "You've been looking after Hide, right? How is he?"

"He's fine. He has some minor bruises, but the uniform took the brunt of the fall."

I narrow my eyes. What a shame, I've been hoping for a bit more. But well, Kuzon didn't touch him. What would have been there to leave serious injuries? "That's good. Kuzon would be in terrible trouble if Hide ended up hospitalized," I still find an upside to all this.

"Well, I already am in trouble," Kuzon remarks, causing me to look at him sideways.

"No, you're not. Unless your parents aren't on your side, that is. I already had one of those conferences, you just need to look thoroughly mortified and let your parents handle the rest."

"Uhm... what did you do, exactly?" Kuzon asks skeptically. He doesn't seem too impressed by the rest of my advice.

"I blew up a classroom," I state dryly.

"You did what?"

"Well, at least that's what she officially did," On Ji explains. "No one believes it, because it sounds so incredible that it must be a lie, but still. You know, there has been a loud crash in the music room, and when people came to look, it was a mess. With Kamina in the middle of it."

"Something must have shaken up the shelf with the small instruments," I add. That certain something was a sneeze of mine, actually, but I can't say that out loud. I've been hiding from Hide in the music room, but my hiding place behind the shelf was so dusty that it tickled my nose. And seeing how I'm an airbender, I've sent some instruments tumbling. "And someone had to be blamed for it. Since I was there, that was me, but my parents convinced the headmaster that the notion was ridiculous."

Kuzon laughs. "Yeah, it is ridiculous." Then he sobers and adds, "It's not going to help me, though. I did mess up."

"I've heard. Don't worry, Kuzon, you'll be fine as long as your parents got your back and you..." A deep sound carries over the yard, effectively cutting me off.

"Oh, that's the gong," On Ji states. "Let's get back inside!"

"Yeah, let's," I confirm and I'm already in the process of turning to the doors when Kuzon asks me to wait.

"What is it?"

"Thanks for your advice," he says and bows once again. "I'll talk to my parents about it."

I chuckle. "Sure thing! Anyone who can put Hide in his place is my friend. Wouldn't want you to get expelled for that, right?" Wait, what? Tongue, what are you doing?

On Ji keeps silent (it's her boyfriend we're talking about here), but she shoots Kuzon a glance which definitely agrees with my opinion. I wonder if she actually has the hots for the short colonial?

Returning to the classroom, I feel like things are looking up. With Kuzon around, I believe Hide is going to tone down a bit, having met his match. And if I stick around Kuzon, it may keep me safe.

Yeah, it's like using him for my own advantage. But that's okay. He's a colonial. A strong one, but a colonial nonetheless. I'll stoop down to his level and befriend him if it means he'll protect me. Maybe I'll even find out what's up with those eyes of his. While dark gray isn't strictly Air Nomad, he could be an Air Nomad's descendant, too. That would be weird, but I'd like that. Not being alone anymore...

I shake my head. What's going on with me? While the part of me which is responsible for reason says I can't be actual friends with Kuzon, that he's a colonial and I should be a bit more distrustful, another, smaller part of me whispers that I really do like him, and that my attempts at building a friendship were actually sincere, as opposed to what I'm trying to persuade myself into believing so I have a socially acceptable justification for such a relationship. Shouldn't be too hard, right? Colonials aren't there to put your trust into them. Colonials are there to be taken advantage of. That's how it works.

Someone like me cannot trust anyone.

Hard one, this was. Trying to make clear that Kamina is torn between what she knows/learned and what she sees... Not easy!

I like The Headband episode a lot, but I don't really like copying the script of an episode. I know a lot of people do it, but to me, it feels sorta wrong, so I'll keep it at a minimum!

And now, I'm off to bed. Most people reading this are probably in another time zone, so you guys have a nice day!

Zentauria over and out!