Accidental Avatar 3.5: The Burn Book

No Thanks Mr Traitor

A/N: Well, hello there, my humans. Sorry that this chapter has been so long coming. I've been just a little busy with December exams, visiting the wife's family in the states, Christmas, New Years, and starting back at uni again. But, here it is now. I am so sorry, guys. Love all yall :)

The kids flew around while Muteki and I made this place a bit homier. He finished setting up the tents and unpacked Appa while I set fire to a couple of logs to get some food on. It looked like Aang was more interested in showing off than actually dealing with anything. The kids flew several circuits around the temple as I cooked our rations before coming in to land.

"We can do that while I show you the giant Pai Sho table," Aang suggested as he landed. "Oh, you're gonna love the all-day echo chamber."

The young nomad started for the halls.

"Dinner first!" I demanded, banging my pot.

"I think that'll have to wait," Toph pointed at Appa.

"Did Appa just do a stinky in the camp again?" Muteki asked.

The giant bison moved aside to reveal a particularly sheepish looking Zuko standing there. At first, we were surprised, then we all got angry.

"Hello," the spoiled brat waved. "Zuko here."

"Really?" I raised my eyebrows and my fists. "That's the opening you're going with?"

"Amaya said the same thing," Zuko shrugged.

"Jou Dikgat!" I yelled at him, throwing a firebolt. He dodged and rolled to the side. "You never get to mention her name again!"

"I understand," he remained on his knees with his hands up and head bowed. "I'm sorry."

The others readied to attack, but I held my peace. He just knelt there, like a puppy. Too sad to try and defend himself.

"Why are you here?" Muteki demanded.

"I heard you guys flying around down there," Zuko shrugged. "So I just thought I'd wait for you here."

Appa growled, and I thought the mammoth might take a bite. Instead, Appa licked him, nearly knocking him to the ground.

"I know you must be surprised to see me here," Zuko said slowly.

"Not really," Sokka said matter of factly. "Since you've followed us all over the world."

Zuko seemed quite uncomfortable at that. Just like when we told him that he was a stalker.

"Right... Well, uh... anyway," he stammered. "What I wanted to tell you about is that I've changed, and I uh, I'm good now."

"You tried that already," I growled. "Remember Ba Sing Se?"

"I can never forget," he bowed his head. "But I have changed this time. And, well, I think I should join your group. Oh, and I can teach firebending... to you. See, I uh..."

"You want to what now?!" Toph demanded.

"You can't possibly think that any of us would trust you, can you?" Katara almost screamed. "I mean, how stupid do you think we are?"

"Yeah," Sokka agreed. "All you've ever done is try to hunt us down and capture Aang."

"I know, I've done some bad things," the prince hung his head. "But I've done some good things too. I mean, I could've stolen your bison in Ba Sing Se, but I set him free. That's something."

Appa proceeded to lick Zuko's back, much to the boy's surprise.

"Appa does seem to like him," Toph suggested.

"He probably just covered himself in honey or something so that Appa would lick him," Sokka said. "I'm not buying it."

"I can understand why you wouldn't trust me," Zuko looked so hurt, even I felt a little bad for him. "And I know I've made some mistakes in the past."

"Like when you attacked our village?" Sokka accused.

"Or when you stole my mother's necklace and used it to track us down and capture us?" Katara added.

"Or were you talking about the time when you betrayed us and got Amaya killed?" Muteki spat at the boy.

"Look, I admit I've done some awful things," Zuko bowed again. "I was wrong to try to capture you, and I'm sorry that I attacked the Water Tribe. And I regret my part in her death with every breath I take. And I never should've sent that Fire Nation assassin after you. I'm gonna try to stop him."

That was news to us. I'm sure it showed on our faces.

"Wait," Sokka interrupted Zuko's rant, drawing his boomerang. "You sent Combustion Man after us?"

"Well, that's not his name, but..."

"Oh, sorry," Sokka Sokkasmed. "I didn't mean to insult your friend."

"He's not my friend!"

"That guy locked us girls in jail," Toph pointed in the sassiest and angriest manner I have ever seen a blind person point. "And tried to blow us all up. He nearly killed Mangetsu!"

Zuko's eyes widened at that, which made me think... Has he met Mangetsu before? Cause he's not with us.

"Why aren't you saying anything?" Zuko turned to Aang. "You once said you thought we could be friends. You know I have good in me."

Aang looked towards the rest of us. Sokka shook his head at Aang. Muteki's fists clenched further, almost as if they were about to implode.

"There's no way we can trust you after everything you've done," Aang said slowly. "After what you've put us through, after what you did, we'll never let you join us."

"You need to get out of here," Katara confirmed. "Now."

The prince closed his eyes, deep in thought. I closed my eyes too. I know he didn't kill her, but yes, I do blame him for her death.

"I'm trying to explain, Zuko pleaded, "that I'm not that person anymore." He took a step forward, but Sokka stepped into his way and thrust his boomerang out as a warning.

"Either you leave, or we attack," the boy threatened.

"If you won't accept me as a friend," Zuko knelt with his head bowed again. "Then maybe you'll take me as a prisoner.

Zuko held up his hands as if offering his heart to us on a platter.

"No," Katara cut in, drawing her water whip. "We won't!"

She proceeded to lash out at Zuko, who was pushed over by the small wave of water. Zuko lay there, facedown on the ground in a puddle of water. The poor boy was absolutely sopping wet.

"Get out of here and don't come back," Katara ordered. "And if we ever see you again...Well, we'd better not see you again!"

Zuko rolled over and pushed himself to his knees. He looked like he was about to say something, so I stepped up to him.

"Koko," I placed a hand on his shoulder. "Just go. I hope you find peace, but you need to find it elsewhere."

With water dripping from his hair, Zuko closed his eyes in defeat. He stood and bowed to Aang and me before turning and walking towards the setting sun.