The atmosphere was cheerful in the airship. Sokka hadn't stopped talking and explaining his adventure with Zuko before they found the others. He also started ranting about the situation they were in, how Zuko was Aang's firebending teacher now, but of course, he was just happy to have his girlfriend and his dad back from jail. Chit Sang was a new addition, but he counted that as a win too. Sokka was a positive person.

Zuko was sitting a little furthest than the rest of them. He didn't talk unless they asked him to. Other than that he just observed the chatting. He noticed how Sokka and his dad interacted. It was nice, something that Zuko considered abnormal. He and Ozai would never had even a conversation like that.

Ozai…his father…

He dropped the thought immediately. It wasn't this long ago he confronted him and spat at his face. It felt so good to be able to do that. But also very very scary. And to be honest, yes he was happy for Sokka and his father.

He was happy that he helped in reuniting a family, but he was also a little anxious. His glance fell on Hakoda more often then normal, observing the other man. Hakoda was a little bigger, stronger and kinda intimidating.

He hasn't heard much about him. He was a new stranger to him. Well Chit Sang was bigger than Hakoda and he was also a stranger, but he didn't feel that way about him.

Zuko realized why.

Hakoda was a man like Chit Sang, but he was a father.

He could be a threat to Sokka.

Or Katara.

Or at the rest of the group back.

Zuko tried to drift away from these thoughts, reminding himself that Hakoda couldn't be like his father.

.

.

.

.

Right?

He remembered the lightning Ozai threw him. Without hesitation. In an intention not to hurt him, but to kill him. If Zuko reacted a bit too late, or had not learned that technique from his uncle, he wouldn't be with them in this ship.

He should keep an eye out for the man. Just in case.

They they arrived at the Air Temple. Katara and Sokka were hugging their father. Zuko admitted it, he felt a little jealous. And worried. They were too close. Too close for their father to-

He swallowed at the thought.

Then it was dinner time. The whole group was around a circle, chatting and laughing. That night was their best one there. Sokka and Katara were not moving an inch away their father. Zuko was observing. Thinking. Ready to strike, or at least protect the twins.

"…And then Mai comes out of nowhere and BAM she took down at lest four guards!" Sokka said excited.

"Who is Mai?" Teo asked.

"Zuko's girlfriend." Sokka said looking at Zuko. Then all eyes were on him. Zuko felt immediately uncomfortable. His social skills were worst than his tea making skills.

"Wait that one gloomy with the knives that chased us with Azula and that other girl?" Katara asked her brother.

"That's her." Sokka grinned.

"Wow Sparkles I didn't know you had a girlfriend!" Toph said bumping his shoulder hard.

"Ouch." Zuko made a grimace.

"Yeah…I actually missed her a lot." Zuko said with a sad voice. "She betrayed Azula, her best friend. The consequences won't be nice at all." He added. "I wonder if she is still alive by now…." he whispered.

"Come on! Azula is a monster but I doubt she would kill her best friend, right" Suki said. They all looked at Zuko again.

"…You don't know her like I do." He said.

"Of course, it takes one to know one." Katara said with hate in her voice. Zuko just shrugged and looked down.

All eyes were on Katara.

"Katara..that was…you know…mean." Aang said.

"Yeah Katara! Zuko was a huge help in the rescue mission! Without him, I wouldn't be here, either Dad or Suki!" Sokka said.

"Hey, don't forget about me!" Chit Sang raised his hand.

"Oh yeah. Sorry." Sokka said sheepishly.

"Oh, come on Sokka! You and I both know what that monster did to us! He hunted us down! He hunted Aang down! He burned Suki's village!" she yelled and pointed at Suki.

"Well…I mean yeah, he did, and I was angry of course but…now that he helped me escape from that prison, I kinda forgave him." Suki said. "Also, he apologized."

Katara was about to laugh. "Oh, not you too Suki." She said.

"Toph? He burned your feet!" she said looking at the blind earthbender.

"Firstly, that was an accident and you know it Sweetness. Secondly, it was my fault too. And lastly, I also forgave him." She said looking at her bowl or rice.

Katara knew of course that Toph forgave the Prince. She was the first one after all.

"Seriously, isn't someone here on my side?" she asked and looked for responses. Everyone felt a little awkward, but none raised his/her hand. Katara exhaled in an angry way.

"I am going to make tea." She said and rushed off.

"I am going with you." Zuko said getting up.

"I don't need your help." She said glaring at him. Zuko flinched a little, barely noticeable from the others.

Feeling their piercing eyes on his back, he didn't want to stay there any longer. He didn't want their pity looks. And god he didn't want to answer at any questions. Especially if her Dad asked.

"I am going to rest for tonight." He said blankly and firm. Then looked at Aang.

"Same time tomorrow."

And with that Zuko went to his room.

He closed the door behind him and lied down to his bed.

He let out a breath he didn't know he was holding.

The others sat together a little longer, and after drinking tea in little to complete silence, they went to sleep too.

That night Zuko had the same old nightmare. His father burning his face. He turned and tossed around in his sleep, sweating like hell. Toph was awake that moment too. She could feel through the floor his heart rate and she could "see" that discomfort he was in. She wondered if it was a good idea to go talk to him. She remembered the last time she did that he accidentally burned her feet, so with these circumstances, she would startle him. She closed her eyes again, trying to ignore Zuko's grunts and whimpers.

The next morning (maybe dawn) Zuko woke up with tears on his eyes. He acknowledged that his sleep was far from peaceful. He actually got these nightmares often. He remembered his first weeks in banishment. He could always have these nightmares when he closed his eyes.

It was torture.

His Uncle would always come to his cabin and check on him.

He regretted so much betraying his Uncle. He was like a father to him.

He quickly wiped his tears away and went down to the lowest platform of the Temple to meet Aang so they could start their training.

"Good morning Sifu Hotman!" Aang said cheerfully. Zuko didn't even bother to yell at him for this stupid name he constantly called him.

"Morning Aang." Zuko said.

"You look tired. Did you not sleep well last night?" Aang asked his teacher.

"I am fine" Zuko said. "Come on let's begin with the katas I showed you yesterday." He said. Aang nodded.

Zuko was glad that the young airbender knew when he could ask questions. The last he wanted now is for him to ask about the yesterday's Katara-hates-you incident.

In two hours the others were up too. Katara and Haru made breakfast. Teo and the Duke made tea.

"So this is the place where you are hiding after the invasion." Hakoda said to Sokka. "Smart move."

"It was Aang's idea actually." Sokka said.

"Speaking of him, where is he?" Hakoda asked looking around for a sign of Aang.

"He is with Zuko training firebending." Sokka said. "Why don't you go and watch them? Zuko is really good at firebending, well I can see that now because he is on our side, but now I think about it actually he was pretty good back then when he was chasing us-" Sokka continued with his rumble.

Hakoda sighed. He was really his son.

"Good idea son. Me and Zuko haven't actually have any interaction, even at the Boiling Rock." He said. That was true. They were too busy with the escape plans -and battles- that they didn't even have time to greet each other, much more talk.

"Where are they again?"

Zuko was focused. He controlled his breath, just like Uncle taught him to. In and out. Breath and fire.

Control.

He glanced at Aang. The kid was doing pretty good for his age. When Zuko was 14, one year in his banishment, struggled with these katas.

But Iroh was always there to help him get it right.

He didn't know if he felt proud or jealous, watching the kid.

They both ended their form and exhaled putting their arms down. Zuko looked at Aang ready to tell him something about his form, but then he realized that the Chief of the Southern Water Tribe was some meters away behind watching them. Aang noticed where Zuko was looking. He saw him too.

"Good morning Chief Hakoda!" Aang cheered and went closer. Zuko didn't move a muscle.

"Good morning to you too Aang." Hakoda said smiling at the Avatar. "You too Prince Zuko." He said looking at him. Zuko winced a little.

"J-just Zuko. Zuko is fine." He said. Then he realized his mistake. He didn't say please.

Before he could apologize, Hakoda spoke.

"Zuko then. Then call me Hakoda. I don't really like formal etiquette."

Zuko blinked. He didn't know how to answer to that. He always and always addressed others with formality. Luckily Hakoda spoke for him, filling the silence between them.

"I saw your training session. It is amazing to look at, especially if the fire isn't directed to you." He said with a smirk, implying that was a joke, but also, not a joke.

"You kids are really good at firebending. Ozai won't have a chance." He said.

"Thank you Chief!" Aang said.

"T-thanks." Zuko said. He knew that the man didn't trust him. Like Katara. He was probably there so he can stop him from hurting Aang. And of course he would stop him with physical actions.

Zuko saw no weapon on him, since he wore the prison outfit.

But he would be hiding something. Like a knife.

Or maybe he was a waterbender.

"Oh yeah I think that breakfast is ready. Come and join us." He said.

"Yayyy breakfast!" Aang yelled happily and he made an air scooter, rushing to the rest of the group.

It was Zuko and Hakoda now.

Zuko felt really uncomfortable that he was alone with the man. They were a little far away from the group. Anything could happen.

Zuko started breathing faster.

The man could hit him.

The man could kill him right here and there. Throw his corpse off the cliff. Say it was an accident.

Zuko started feeling dizzy.

"Zuko? Are you alright?" Hakoda asked with a worried face.

"Not now. I have to show I am strong." Zuko thought.

"I-I'm f-fine." He said stumbling across the words. Great effort there Zuko.

"You sure? You kinda seem a little pale." Hakoda staking a step forward. Zuko flinched.

"S-stop right there." Zuko said. Hakoda was took by surprise by that outcome. He didn't expect Zuko to act like that. He stopped at his tracks.

Zuko's eyes widened when he realized his second mistake. His lips were dry and his heart didn't stop pounding. His fear grew stronger and stronger by the second.

He will hurt me.

That was the only thing Zuko was thinking right now.

He will hurt me because I showed disrespect. Again.

He remembered the last time he did that.

It didn't end well.

It ended with a scar on his face.

"C-chief….i'm s-sorry…" Zuko tried to from words but it was very hard for him. He was ready to beg. To cry. To scream.

"There is nothing you should apologize for." Hakoda said. "But…I would like to know why…" he continued, trying to find the right words.

Zuko didn't know what to do. He didn't know what he expected to happen right now. His fight or flight instincts were kicking in.

"I am s-sorry!" he said and started running away, heading to the other side of the Temple, in the opposite side of the crew. Hakoda stood there, watching Zuko running from him like running away from a snow leopard.

He went back to the kids, hoping that Zuko would appear again in the near future.

The group was eating breakfast when Hakoda showed up.

"Hey dad! Grab a bowl and sit with us." Sokka said chewing the rice porridge.

Katara gave him a bowl. She was smiling now, Hakoda thought. Maybe because Zuko wasn't here.

"Wait where is Zuko?" Aang asked when he didn't see him coming with Hakoda.

"Maybe he did us a favor and disappeared." Katara said angry.

"Now, now, Sugar Queen don't be so nasty." Toph said.

"She is right Katara." Hakoda said. "I was ready to come here with him but…I don't know why, but he ran away." Hakoda said.

"Where?" Teo asked.

"Towards that side of the Temple." He said and pointed in the direction.

"Did something happen between you two?" Chit Sang asked.

"I don't think so. For some reason he apologized for something I don't understand and left. He reminded me when I ran of from an arctic wolf with Bato." Hakoda said.

"I think we should go look for him." Suki said.

"I think that he will be alright. It is Zuko we are talking about. He will reappear sometime later. If he won't, then we will search for him." Sokka said.

Toph nodded but couldn't help to think about yesterday's events. Zuko wasn't just running because he felt like it. There was some reason behind it. She would ask him when he came back.