Sorry for the late update. I've been really busy

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The morning bell had just started to ring when Aang walked nervously up to Zuko's locker. Even though Zuko had been hanging out with them for two months, Aang still didn't know that much about him. "Hey Zuko, I was wondering if I could ask you something."

"Sure." he said, not glancing away from his phone.

"So I'm supposed to start learning firebending in a week, but Jong Jong said that I should learn some of the basics before I start. So anyway, I was just wondering if-"

"Spit it out." Aang gulped.

"Will you teach me some firebending?" Zuko sighed, put his phone away, and turned to face him.

"Of course," he said, "Does tomorrow work?"

"Yes!" This was easier than I thought.

"Great. I'll pick you up at 5."

"Um, like after school?" Aang questioned.

"No." Zuko shoved his backpack into his locker and slammed it shut, "In the morning."

"Oh." Aang shrugged, "I guess I'll see you then."

~~~

Aang couldn't do anything before his morning meditation, so he had to wake up at 4 AM. After he meditated for an hour, he grabbed a clementine to eat for breakfast. Then he woke up Appa, who was sleeping under the kitchen table, and headed outside, where Zuko was was waiting in his gray Audi. He opened the door to the front seat, but Appa climbed in before he did, so he sat in the back.

"Really," Zuko said flatly, "your dog is taking priority over you?" Appa jumped up and licked Zuko's face, "For the record I never agreed to this."

"Appa and I are a package deal," Aang said happily. Zuko sighed and turned the key in the ignition.

"So where are we going exactly?" Aang asked.

"On a hike."

"Oh. I thought we were going to learn firebending."

"Well, this is how my uncle taught me to firebend," Zuko said. They drove in silence for a while, heading into the rocky hills that stood in the west. After about a half an hour of driving, they reached a trail head that Aang hadn't even known existed. Appa excitedly jumped out of the car panted happily. There was a thick layer of fog outside, and you could barely see 20 feet ahead of you. Aang shivered and pulled his beanie over his ears.

"Well this isn't creepy at all," he said as they set off along the path, "Two teenagers, seemingly alone in the early morning, on a trail that's covered in an ominous mist." Zuko laughed. It was weird to hear him laugh.

"Trust me. It'll all be worth it in the end." they walked for a few minutes, Appa ran ahead, wagging his tail and exploring his new surroundings.

"So what's been on your mind lately?" Zuko asked.

"Well, I'm going to see Gyatso and the other airbenders in a few weeks, on the three day weekend, and I'm going to ask a friend to come with me..."

"And you're thinking of asking Katara?" Zuko guessed.

"Yeah," Aang admitted.

"And are you going to tell her that you like her?"

"What?! No," Aang said with decision.

"So you do like her!" Zuko said. Aang sighed.

"Okay. Yes, I like Katara as more than a friend," it was slowly starting to lighter outside, and the mist had almost completely cleared, "but how should I tell her that."

"Honestly, I don't think you'd have the guts to tell her directly," Zuko said frankly, "I think you should write her a letter."

"A letter. That seems, I don't know- cheesy?"

"Well, Katara's a bit of a nerd, right? Just give her something nerdy and ask her out."

"I guess..." Aang said hesitantly.

"Look, Zuko said, "You should ask Katara to spend the weekend with you, and you two should just have fun. You can show her where you used to live, you can plan for the school dance without the rest of us bothering you. You can fall in love," there was a pause, "With the beautiful scenery. If you feel like you two might have something more afterwards, ask her out. If not, just stay friends."

"You're right, Zuko," Aang said, gaining confidence. They were made it to the crest of the hill just as the sun began to rise.

"Firebenders don't get their power from anger or aggression," he said, a bright flame on his hand, "They get it from the sun."

"You're right," Aang said as a feeling of warmth spread through him. To his surprise, a tiny spark of fire danced across his fingers before extinguishing. It was small, but it was a start.

~~~

"Katara, can I ask you something?" Katara turned around on her way to the cafeteria and saw Aang coming up to her.

"Of course," she smiled.

"Do you think you'd want to come with me to see the other airbenders for the weekend?"

"For the weekend?" Katara felt her heart pounding.

"Yeah, you know, just, as friends," Aang meandered, "I haven't really told you that much about the other airbenders and Gyatso, so I'd love for you to meet them."

"As friends," Katara said softly, then came back to reality, "That sounds great! I'll talk to Gran Gran and make all the arrangements."

"I need to go to my locker and get my lunch."

"I'll come with you."

~~~

Katara and Aang hadn't gotten to the cafeteria yet when Zuko sat down next to Toph and handed everyone a cherry hand pie from the Jasmine Dragon.

"Katara and Aang are going to be gone for the weekend in a few weeks," he said, "I think that we should get the money from my old house and then surprise them when they get back."

"I'm all for it," Toph replied, "Let's break some rules!"

"I don't know," Suki said, "Sokka and I are going to start having track meets soon, and I'd rather not have a criminal record before that happens."

"My dad's going to be on a business trip," Zuko said, "There's no way he would catch us in the act."

"But Azula's still going to be home, right," Sokka said frantically, "I don't know man, she freaks me out, and why do you even care about this so much anyway?" Sokka saw Zuko's eyes glance over at something that seemed far away, but in the instant it was there, it was gone.

"Katara and Aang are some of the nicest people on the planet. I think it would be good to just help them out, you know?" It was convincing.

"Fine," Sokka and Suki said at the same time.

"Hi." It was Mai, who seemed to have just... appeared out of thin air, "I'm coming."

"Okay," they said more out of fear than anything.

"Where did you find this girl?" Sokka whispered to Zuko.

"At a slam poetry competition," Zuko said with a smirk.

~~~

Thanks For Reading!