Week III, DAN 101, M/W/F; 0800]

[pyromatics.livejournal.com]

[It was the third week. On and off since his stupidity in trying to attack a T-Rexaur a few weeks back, Zuko had been attending classes regularly. Some days he wasn't around much in class, using those days to get some extra rest or spend some time with Dr. Kadowaki. While other days he attended the full hour and a half. Today was going to be no different.

He was seated off to the side and leaning back against the wall on one of the benches aligning it, his right arm still bound snugly in the sling to his chest. Next to him sat some light-weight notebooks for his other morning classes.

Zuko would glance at the door every once and a while as if looking for someone and when he wasn't, he was ignoring the looks sent his way from the other cadets. The pitying looks. He'd had enough of those in his day.]

Comments

[pyromatics.livejournal.com]

I only meant me being cheery won't speed up the healing process.

[monkingaround.livejournal.com]

Who knows? Maybe it will!

[pyromatics.livejournal.com]

The waterbender's helping just fine with that. [Zuko shrugs his good shoulder, eyes looking towards her direction.]

[monkingaround.livejournal.com]

['Waterbender?'] You can call her Katara, you know.

[pyromatics.livejournal.com]

[Calling her by her name only adds to the awkwardness he feels around her already. Gah.]

Katara, then.

[monkingaround.livejournal.com]

You guys still didn't make up yet? What's taking you so long?! [Aang is tired of all this awkwardness between his friends. He just wants them all to go back to how they were before he was sent here.]

[pyromatics.livejournal.com]

[The awkwardness is a mix of awkwardness. Something Zuko doesn't expect Aang to understand.]

It's harder than you think.

[monkingaround.livejournal.com]

That doesn't mean it's impossible.

[Aang thinks for a moment, then switches from serious to looking like he's come to a realization.] I know! You just need another life-changing trip with her!

[pyromatics.livejournal.com]

[Have a disbelieving look.]

Another? I haven't even had the chance to have one!

[monkingaround.livejournal.com]

Well, you did--just not yet. [Time compression is such a tricky thing.] That's the problem!

[pyromatics.livejournal.com]

[Now Zuko's frowning, glancing at him, and then looking away. He tries to look and sound disinterested.]

So... What did we end up doing?

[monkingaround.livejournal.com]

Well...it's kind of personal.

[pyromatics.livejournal.com]

Right. Forget I asked, then.

[Glances at Aang and then over to where Katara's standing.]

[monkingaround.livejournal.com]

Maybe you should talk to her.

[pyromatics.livejournal.com]

Hn. [That's all he says, still watching the waterbender standing off with her brother. Then he looks away to the front of the class.]

[monkingaround.livejournal.com]

Katara's really nice! But I think she's mad at you for something.

[pyromatics.livejournal.com]

[Quietly:] She has every reason to be mad at me for what I did.

[monkingaround.livejournal.com]

What do you mean?

[pyromatics.livejournal.com]

I didn't betray just my uncle in Ba Sing Se.

[monkingaround.livejournal.com]

Zuko... You're not like that anymore.

[pyromatics.livejournal.com]

You don't understand. [Looks at him now, brows knitting.]

The timelines in which you and Katara both come from aren't the same. She still hates me for betraying her.

[monkingaround.livejournal.com]

You just need to show her you've changed! If she could trust you then, she can trust you now. I know her, Zuko. Katara's stubborn, but you can change her mind.

[pyromatics.livejournal.com]

We'll see how well that goes.

She's just as stubborn as I am.

[monkingaround.livejournal.com]

Tell me about it. [His tone is tired.]

[pyromatics.livejournal.com]

[Sends Aang a sharp look but then shakes his head.]

Yeah well, that's what you get for trying to make the opposite ends of a magnet stick together... [Mutter mutter.]