The next day found the Fire Nation siblings learning more firebending techniques and Sokka at home with Katara, trying to not be too bitter about missing out on the training he knew was occurring. It was infuriating. As he mentally went over possible strategies he could use to stop the Fire Nation, Katara went over to him.

"Sorry that Dad won't let you train."

"He's just too worried about something happening."

Peeking over his shoulder, the girl saw the plans he was writing.

"Can I look at those?"

"Sure," he said, handing them to her.

Katara's eyes widened as she got a better look. "These are like the ones Dad makes. If you can't fight with him, maybe you could be a strategist."

This visibly made the boy mull over what she had said. "I hadn't thought of that, but I kind of like that idea. The only problem will be getting people to listen to me. There's no reason to with Dad telling them what to do. I'm just stuck on the side until I can find a way to be useful."

Realizing that the time was going by quickly, Sokka glanced out of the home. The coast was clear, so if he wanted to go, it would probably have been best to not wait any longer. His actions caused Katara to raise an eyebrow.

"Why do you keep going out there?"

"…I like spying on them," he lied.

Sokka felt a little bad for lying to her about this, but it was just easier than explaining what he was really doing. Before another question could be asked, he hurried out and went to the shipwrecked vessel. He was not there long before Zuko joined him.

"Hey," they said to each other.

As the older boy walked over, Sokka noticed something was different.

"Are you limping?"

Zuko stopped, shocked that the slight change in gait had been noticed. "A little."

"What happened? Did you get in a fight at one of those schools of yours?"

"No, I don't go to school anymore. I got burned in a training exercise," he said, hoping he sounded believable.

Sokka tilted his head at him in confusion. "But you said kids go to school. Why don't you?"

"Well, I used to," the boy admitted. "My sister and I had private tutors so that we could go faster than what's normal. We graduated last year and now spend the mornings working on firebending training."

"Why did you have to graduate early?"

"It's just traditional for my family."

The Water Tribe boy frowned a bit, then shrugged. "You're just full of weird facts. I guess that means you were a good student at least."

"Yeah, I kind of was." Zuko paused. "It's weird, but I actually miss school."

"Now that actually doesn't sound weird to me," Sokka said, chuckling. "Why would it? Who doesn't want to learn things? I'd rather learn more about the world than just keep whatever information I have and never find out anything else."

"School tends to be strict in the Fire Nation, so not very many people enjoy it. They always like to get out of class and return home to their friends and families. I think all the tests stress them out."

"That part makes sense. We have a coming of age trail involving manning a ship which I've heard can be pretty stressful. What makes you miss school then?"

Zuko looked away from Sokka for a moment. "Because it actually let me be good at something. I'm not that skilled at firebending, but my sister and I were the same for high grades. We were equals."

"So that's why you didn't use any on me when we met. Knew I was too lucky otherwise."

This earned him a frown. "No, that's not why. I can do enough to burn you, but I didn't want to. I'm just not that good in comparison to my family."

"Is that why your dad is just protective of your sister?"

"Probably."

Sokka got quiet, noticing the sad expression on the other individual's face. "I don't understand what it's like to not be considered a strong bender, but I can say that it sucks to not be a bender at all. You guys can control things with just your mind sometimes and I can hardly even get how that's possible. So…I don't know….I'd probably think any firebending you did was impressive personally."

A small smile appeared on Zuko's face. "Thanks."

The expression made its way to Sokka's face, then he sat down with an expectant look on his face. "Don't leave me hanging. Show me some fire blast or something. I've never seen it not used to hurt somebody."

"You really want to see something?"

"Yeah. Who knows? I might even be convinced to reconsider calling it 'jerkbending.' No promises, though."

Zuko looked hesitant and stepped a bit away so that the younger individual was a safe enough distance from him. Then, he blew a careful stream of fire out of his mouth, melting some of the ice by the ship. Sokka fell backwards, eyes wide.

"Wait, what?! That's a thing? I didn't know firebenders could do that. I guess waterbenders could spit at people, but I thought benders couldn't use their mouths to manipulate elements."

This made the bender chuckle a little. "It's not just us. Airbenders can do it too. At least that's what I've heard. My uncle taught me how to do this move."

"That was cool!" Sokka said, not even caring that he had shown more excitement than he had initially intended. "But if you said you're not a strong firebender, what do the others in your family do?"

"Basically everything. Everyone but my sister so far knows how to do lightning, but she'll learn that soon too and probably just destroy the entire world in the process."

"Is she really that bad?"

"She likes hurting people for no reason, so I'd say so. It makes her feel big when others feel small."

Sokka cringed. "I'm glad my sister isn't like that." An idea came to his mind. "So, do firebenders ever use other weapons? I've never seen the soldiers use swords or anything."

"They don't, but I do."

"That's fun. I've always wanted to sword fight."

"Really?" Zuko asked, eyes twinkling.

"Of course! It's such a great weapon. It's strong, sharp, and gives you a nice reach while letting you be closer to the target than a bow and arrow, so you can still do hand-to-hand combat. One day, I'm going to get a sword and learn."

"You'd have liked my swordmaster. He was really good. He probably wouldn't even have minded training you."

"Um," Sokka gestured to his clothing. "Water Tribe. I'm flattered that you stopped considering me a peasant long enough to forget, but I doubt he'd be okay training me to use weapons."

"I don't really think you're a peasant."

"Ooh, I've been promoted to not 'really' a peasant," he said with an ornery grin.

The older boy noticed the grin, but he did not quite understand its cause since it seemed neither innocent nor sinister. "I didn't forget, though. I just don't think he cares about stuff like that. I've never heard him show support for taking places over or join in on conversations talking about another group of people being inferior."

"He sounds like a nice guy then."

"He really is."

"Were you better with swords than firebending?"

"Much. I still practice even though I don't have sessions anymore."

Sokka put a hand to his chin and began considering something. "Why'd you stop?"

"It's not respectable for a firebender to use weapons too. It implies that you're not good. Is it the same in the Water Tribes?"

"I don't know how they do it in the North, but I don't think it was something here. From what I remember, warriors who were waterbenders did learn how to fight with machetes and other weapons too. They just also learned how to use their bending. Every once in a while, something happens in nature which weakens waterbenders' powers, so it's just better to know how to fight with or without it."

"I think I've heard of that. It's weaker during the day also, right?"

"Apparently, but I don't think it's that bad during the day."

"Just during things like a lunar eclipse?"

Sokka paused, lifting a brow. "Yeah…How did you know that?"

"It was part of our classes to learn about different weaknesses of the nations."

"Of course it was," the future chief sighed. "Well, firebenders are kind of the opposite of waterbenders, so you rise with the sun?"

"That's right."

"So…" he dragged, "you'd be out of fire if it was something like a solar eclipse."

Zuko stopped to consider this. "Probably, but I've never been in one to see it happen. We don't talk much about that."

Sokka laughed. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised. The teachers probably don't like to think about the Fire Nation having any time when it's not powerful."

"It's definitely not just them. Some people will go to extreme lengths to not feel weak."

The tone used sounded frustrated, but Sokka could tell that it was not directed at him.

"Why is that so common there?" he asked. "I might regret this later, but you don't seem overly terrible. If you're right about that swordmaster, he isn't either. I don't get what makes you so different from anyone else, so what made so many people in the Fire Nation attack while everyone else was fine living in peace?"

After a moment, Zuko shrugged. "I don't really know. After Firelord Sozin attacked the Air Temples, it's like he revealed a new world to everyone and anyone with a little too much ambition fell in love with it despite what it meant for everyone else."

There was a silence before Sokka sighed. "I guess they're just stuck in their ways and we'll have to figure out a way to deal with that. I have to head back before my family gets worried. See you tomorrow?"

"Yeah…also," Zuko added somewhat awkwardly, "I meant it when I said I don't think you're a peasant anymore."

His companion had a small smile on his face. "I don't think you're a jerk anymore either." His expression became sillier. "Of course, that could change, so just know that."

There was that grin again. This time, Zuko realized what it was. It was good-natured joking. He was unaccustomed to being around people who did that often, so this was going to take some getting used to, but he did not necessarily mind. When Sokka got back to his home, Katara was gone, but his grandmother was there.

"Hi, Gran Gran," he greeted.

She gave a nod of her head and a slight smile was on her face. "Are you going to be seeing your friend again tomorrow?"

Sokka froze. "I must have misheard her," he thought.

"Well? Are you going to see your friend from the Fire Nation?"

"Guess I didn't," he realized. Aloud, he asked, "How did you know? Did you see us?"

"I didn't see you together, but I have seen him, and noticed that you kept leaving. If you are not training, you are still Sokka and will try to find some other way to help the tribe."

The boy could tell she was not upset, but a troubling thought was still in his mind. "Are you going to tell Dad? He'd just think I'm getting into danger."

"I won't, but you should eventually." She turned back to the food she was making. "I'm glad that you're talking with the other child. It'll be nice if you could make a new friend."

"We're not friends," Sokka corrected. "I mean, he's not awful, but he's still from the Fire Nation. I can't ignore that."

"It sounds like you can't forgive that either, but it's not his fault for what's happening."

The boy's face drooped. "It's all their fault. Even he admitted that the others in his nation are power crazy."

"Then, it sounds like he disagrees with them."

"I think he does."

"So, do you have a reason why you cannot be friends?"

"I…I just don't want to be. Katara and Dad would think I was a traitor anyway."

"They would never think that about you. They know you'd do anything for this family and love you."

Sokka became quiet. He did not doubt her words, but they still were not making him want to go find the two relatives and share with them what he had been doing. If he and the woman were wrong, what would that mean for their family? What would it mean for the tribe? They could turn against him and view him as someone who took their time of need as an opportunity to kiss up to an enemy. That was what the boy was after all–an enemy. He could not view Zuko as a friend. He could have been using him as well and even had said that the point of the interaction was to learn more about different cultures. Zuko had every advantage, so Sokka needed to level the battlefield some. Those talks were not for the purpose of hanging out and having fun. They were strictly business and there was one more part he needed to see if he could add. He was not going there to make new buddies; he was going there to help his people.

Sokka considered this while Zuko returned to the ship for the day. He made his way to his room and started practicing with the sword again. This went on for a bit until his heart nearly stopped. The door was being unlocked again.

"What did I do this time?" he wondered, quickly putting up the weapon.

When the door opened, his father did not enter. Instead, his sister did. It took him a second to realize she was alone and the expression on his face made her smirk.

"Aw, did I scare you, Zuzu?" she asked.

That was what he expected after seeing a smirk on someone's face: mocking. Azula closed the door and leaned against it as she crossed her arms, eyeing him.

"Dad's not coming tonight. You should be glad he's so nice. You don't even have a black eye right now–just some burns and you limp around here like a wounded fire ferret. Maybe he'd have less of a reason to have these visits if you weren't such a coward."

Zuko clenched his fists. "You don't know how he can be."

"And I won't," she stated matter-of-factly. "Dad would never hurt me. I'm his daughter."

"Well, I'm his son, but that doesn't seem to count for much."

Azula pretended to yawn. "You're also dull. As fun as it is to talk about Dad, he's not why I'm here." She pushed off the door and lowered her voice. "I'm here because you have a buddy in the Water Tribe."

Blood drained from Zuko's face. "What makes you say that?"

"You think I don't notice where you go? The ship is only so big, Dum-Dum. You can't hide here."

Zuko did not know what to say since he knew any lies would not be believed and yet confirming her suspicions seemed like the worst possible action.

"I wonder who it is," she mentioned. "I suppose I'll find out one day. It doesn't really matter. It just matters that you're talking with one of those peasants. They don't deserve to even live in this world with us and you're talking with one like an equal. I guess that's fitting. You're worth as much as they are."

The boy glared. "You don't have the right to act like we're better than they are or anyone else. The Fire Nation is a nation just like every other one. We're all just trying to survive."

"Spoken like a true commoner. You really can't be my twin. I'm sure there was a mistake." She paused as a cruel smile appeared. "This does change things, though. There's a traitor among us. It would almost be as treasonous of me to not tell Dad."

"You can't tell him," he pleaded in a harsh whisper. "I'm not doing anything that's hurting the Fire Nation. He wanted us to relocate here for the time being. I'm just talking. That's not a crime."

"But would he see it that way? I guess we'll have to find out."

"Please don't tell him. He'll…"

"Kill you? Probably. If he did, I could move some of my stuff into your room. Maybe Ty Lee, Mai, and I could even have sleepovers in there."

Zuko's expression was desperate. It contrasted perfectly with Azula's calm smile.

"You should keep going to talk. I'll have fun holding this over you. If you bore me and stop, I might have to tell Dad just to make things interesting."

"How do I know you won't just tell him anyway?"

"You don't, but you know for a fact that I will if you don't do what I say, so there's some certainty in your life at least." Azula turned and reopened the door. "Sweet dreams, Zuzu."