Zuko sat against the pillar at the Western Air Temple, dangling one leg off the edge, with the other close to his chest while staring at the sun set. It had been a week since the Fire Nation Prince been accepted into the Avatar's group. He hadn't started fire bending training with the Avatar yet because they were still adjusting to his presence. Of course he didn't blame them, after everything he's done. But after his change of heart he was surprised at the hostility of many members of the group. Zuko heard footsteps coming towards him but ignored the urge to see if it was the water bender coming to abuse him again. Two pairs of legs slung over the edge; paler than the water bender's, he noted.

"Hey Sparky, expecting someone else?"

Zuko snorted, "What is it you want Toph?"

"Hey, no need to get defensive, just wanted to talk."

Zuko glanced sideways and caught the blank expression of Toph staring over the edge, obviously seeing nothing, he thought.

"What does the sunset look like?" Toph asked.

Zuko was taken by surprise. "uh...well..it."

"Is it really that hard to describe it? I mean it's the sun, you know everything about it, you're a fire bender and all" Toph teased.

"Alright, alright." Zuko sighed and looked back at the sunset."It's like a fiery orb, slowly diminishing, giving off little solar flares across the sky."

"Wow... That sounds beautiful. Never knew you were such a poet Sparky." She gently nudged him, knowing he could snap at any point.

Zuko scowled at her, "Hey, you asked."

"Alright, keep your pants on." Toph waved her hand defensively in front of her. "So how is everyone treating you?"

Zuko laughed at this. "Aang is being, well, nice. Haru, Teo and The Duke keep their distance. Sokka keeps giving me death glares and to be honest they don't intimidate me one bit and Katara is about ready to kill me."

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. He looked over at the campfire and caught her staring at him. She furrowed her eyebrows and snapped her eyes back towards Sokka, who was waving his boomerang around his head making lion moose noises.

"Just give them a chance, they'll warm up to you eventually. I know I have." She turned her head towards where Zuko's chest was and gave him a warm smile. Zuko was again taken by surprise by the young earth bender, he never expected such friendliness from his former enemy. Since he'd joined, Toph was the only one who welcomed him with open arms. They had become close and Zuko felt at home when he was with her. The fire prince felt wanted, needed and even loved by the young girl. He gave in and finally smiled."Thanks Toph."

Toph sniggered "I don't think I've ever felt you smile before Sparky." She punched his arm hard.

"Hey! what was that for?!" He exclaimed, rubbing his arm.

Zuko noticed her cheeks flush, "It's how I show affection."

He didn't want to embarrass her, just in case she decided to earth bend his off the side. So he changed the subject.

"So, Toph, how are your feet?"

"A lot better actually, it wouldn't of happened if you just looked."

"Sorry."

"Eh, its fine. I'll get revenge sometime." She smirked.

"And I'll look forward to it." He grumbled. "I hear you're a pretty good earth bender." Before he could say anymore Toph jumped in.

"I believe you mean the best earth bender who ever existed. I can bend metal you know." She said proudly, cracking her knuckles in the process.

"Metal huh? That's impressive." Zuko complimented. He glanced at Toph taking in her appearance, she was covered in a layer of thin dirt but under it was, to Zuko, a lady.

"Hey, Toph I was wondering where in the Earth Kingdom you were from?"

Toph frowned at this question, "I knew this was going to come up sooner or later." She took a deep breath before continuing. "My name is Toph Bei Fong, my parents kept me a secret to the world because they thought I was a little, fragile blind girl who needed constant supervision. When they discovered I could earth bend they bought me a teacher. They ensured I would only practice the basics. What they didn't know was the fact I taught myself with the help of the badger moles."

She waited for Zuko to speak, protest or exclaim. But his words never came, he was waiting for her to continue.

"The badger moles were also blind, they used their senses to see the same way I can. Once I became more skilled I joined Earth Rumble Six and became the champion three times in a row. Then Aang, Sokka and Katara showed up and I left with them and I'm never going back." She made sure to emphasise on the last four words. Zuko didn't seem to notice.

"Bei Fong? You really are a lady." He smirked when Toph gasped and punched him again.

"That's what you got from that?" She exclaimed.

He smiled down at Toph and punched her lightly back. "You know I'm glad I joined you guys."

"Why's that?"

"I got to meet you." He blushed slightly and turned away. "You're the only real friend I've ever had."

Toph gasped, "Of course I'm your friend Sparky!"

"To be honest, you're more like a sister I've always wanted. Tough on the outside but soft and gooey in the inside."

The earth bender smiled and leaned into Zuko's chest. She felt him stiffen at the gesture. "Well, you're like the brother I never had." she sighed happily when he relaxed and she let her eyes close. Toph listened to the steady heartbeat of the fire bender.

"You know someone I knew gave me the best advice, I think you might like it."

Toph grunted urging him to tell her the advice.

"They said to me each day's a gift and not a given right. Make sure not to leave no stone unturned, leave your fears behind and try to take the path less travelled by. He also said that first step you take is the longest stride."

Toph felt the steadiness of his heartbeat as he spoke these words. Obviously the person who told him this was someone the fire bender trusted with his life.

"How many other fire benders do you know that have taken the path to help the Avatar?"

"None I would expect." Toph reasoned.

"My first step was talking to you guys, trying to convince you that I had changed sides. My stride won't be complete till you all and I mean ALL trust me."

Toph knew he was talking about Katara, the poor boy had endured the wrath of her since he showed up. It was going to take up a lot of time and energy for Katara to trust Zuko.

"Katara does seem to hate you."

"No kidding" Zuko snorted. "And what on earth could I do to make it up to her?"

"You could try and fix whatever you did to make her so mad at you." She suggested.

"hmmm...maybe." He fell silent, trapped in his thoughts and memories of the day he crushed whatever hope he had at possessing the trust of the water bender, Katara. He must of spent a couple of hours thinking when he snapped back to reality and noticed Toph snoozing in his arms. He saw the moon bright in the sky and the gang had all but turned in. The only one awake was Katara and himself. He gently nudged Toph awake.

"Hey don't fall asleep on me now" he smirked."Let's get you to bed, it's been a long day."

He awoke the next morning just before dawn, as was the way of the fire benders. It was the first lesson of fire bending today and he was eager to teach Aang. He crept to the Avatar's room ensuring not to wake any of the others. Zuko noticed his own room was kept apart from those of the group.

"It's amazing I'm not lost in these damn halls." he murmured to himself.

He reached Aang door and lightly knocked before he entered. The room was decorated in tattered air nomad drapes and the only light was directed at the small body sleeping soundly in the centre of the room.

He shook him "Hey Aang," Zuko whispered. "Time to start training."

Aang responded with a wave and a groan, twisting his body away from the intruder depriving him of his sleep. Zuko was not a patient person, he stood over Aang.

"Hey Avatar!" he shouted. "Get up before I drag you across the temple and make Appa lick you awake."

Aang jerked up, snorting, when Momo screeched and jumped onto his face. As his eyes slowly adjusted to the light. He noticed two thick legs standing over him, he raised his head and came face to face with a frustrated fire bender.

"Oh, hey Zuko."

"Don't oh, hey Zuko me." Zuko threw Aang's blanket at his head. "Get up now, meet me in the courtyard in ten minutes, fire bending training starts at dawn. You're already late."

Zuko walked to the door and looked back at Aang, who still had the blanket on his head.

"I don't like to be kept waiting." He threatened.

Zuko stalked towards the courtyard. He sat on the fountain edge and waited for Aang. He showed up several minutes later, dragging his feet to where Zuko sat with Momo perched on his shoulder.

"Alright, you're here. Let's start with breathing exercises." Aang groaned with frustration.

"Do we have to?!" He pleaded. "I've done loads of breathing exercises with Jeong Jeong and we never got anywhere with that."

"Jeong Jeong?" Zuko asked confused as to why he was mentioned.

"Oh, right you weren't there. Jeong Jeong was my fire bending teacher before you." He explained.

"What happened to him?"

"Well, at first he said I lacked the disciplinary principles which would aid me in controlling the power of fire bending."

Zuko smirked at this comment. "Smart man."

Aang scowled at him. "Anyway, he eventually agreed and we did tons of breathing exercises. Then Admiral Zhao showed up and he just disappeared."

Aang purposely left out the fact he had burnt Katara and swore to never fire bend again. He sighed and looked at his new teachers reaction.

Zuko just shrugged. "Okay."

"That's it?" Aang was not expecting that response and his shoulders slouched. He yawned and stretched his arms above his head. Momo flew towards the fountain and wrapped his tail around his body and fell asleep.

"No sleeping on the job Avatar." Zuko sat crossed legged on the ground and motioned for Aang to do the same. He waited for his pupil to sit across from him before he started the lesson.

"Fire is the element of power. The sun is the greatest source of fire as it is in perfect harmony with nature." Zuko started to explain before Aang interrupted scoffing.

"Well that's obvious and the fact that fire bending is driven by rage, destruction and hatred."

"Don't interrupted me when I'm speaking!" Zuko barked. "Originally fire bending was fuelled by pure energy and life, it wasn't till the Hundred Year War it was distorted into those you spoke of." Aang nodded. "Power for fire bending comes from the breath. If you do not have discipline, self control, precision and patience you'll easily lose control of every flame you produce. A rock without a bender won't throw itself, but fire is alive, it breathes. But without discipline it will rage and grow rapidly. Leaving destruction behind it."

He looked upon his student who was listening intently, waiting.

"That's why we will start with breathing exercises." Zuko smirked when Aang tilted his head down, frowned and groaned.

"Meditation is the best way to understand the chi movement through the body."

"We're meditating?" Aang looked up surprised. "Since I'm an air bender, this should be a breeze." He giggled at his own joke, hoping he teacher caught on.

"Ha...ha." Zuko was emotionless, "Let's begin." They both took a breath, closed their eyes and focused on their chi movements. "Can you feel when you breathe in that the chi is moving up and is waiting to be expelled from the body?"

No response. Zuko opened his non scarred eye open and saw Aang snoozing, a snot bubble was forming. "Oi, wake up!" Zuko yelled.

Aang jolted awake, before he could splutter an apology, he noticed the change in his teachers posture, once straight, was now hunched. Zuko was frowning and muttering to himself, he was also looking just over his head. Wanting to know what had made the sudden change he glanced over his shoulder to see Katara marching over, with a death glare especially for Zuko.

"What on earth do you think you're doing Zuko?!" She shouted. "Are you trying to wake up the entire Air Temple let alone the whole nation and give Aang a heart attack?"

She bent down and placed a hand on Aang's shoulder. Ignoring Zuko completely she asked softly. "Are you okay Aang? What are you doing up so early?"

"I'm fine Katara, I was just..." Before he could finish Katara rounded onto Zuko.

"You, why are you up so early? Planning to kidnap Aang while we are all asleep? Or were you planning to run back home and grovel to your daddy, begging for his forgiveness."

Zuko stood and towered over her. Katara took a step back in surprise. Zuko was ready to shout and argue with the overprotective water bender but he glanced at Aang and saw the fear and caution shown on his face.

"I don't have to explain myself to you." He seethed and stalked off.

"You can't just yell at him like that Katara!" Aang exploded "He was teaching me fire bending and he was actually being open for once. Why can't you just get along with him!"

Aang air bended himself onto his feet and ran after Zuko, with Momo on his tail, leaving a shocked Katara behind.