"Ew that's so gross," Sokka watched over Kataras shoulder as she pealed the bandage off of zukos shoulder and it was still healing but the skin was pink and was only missing the one layer of skin from the burn.

"Sokka don't say ew about wounds," Katara said in a motherly voice as she was use to gore.

"I think a healing session should help once more besides letting the muscle heal so it'll be sore," she bended water over and placed it around zukos shoulder while he stayed silent.

"Does it hurt anywhere?" Katara asked, it wasn't that she didn't want to hurt him she just wanted to make sure she did it right.

"Just feels like a bad sun burn," Zuko grunted a little and she moved her hand around to behind his shoulder and Zuko gasped a yell as he covered his mouth.

"Got it," she grinned knowing where it work now and focused on the painful spot.

Zuko balled up his sleeve and bit down trying to hold back on any sounds of pain. Clenching his jaw tightly till the water felt soothing instead of stabbing.

"That was horrible," Zuko grumbled when she pulled away.

"Youre welcome," she rolled her eyes.

He scrunched his nose at her and she gave him a warning look.

"Don't-" "I'm not!"

"So where are we off too now? We have to make a little decision," Toph walked over with Aang.

"For what?" Sokka asked.

"Do we continue with the enemy or keep him around?" Katara said bluntly crossing her arms.

"There's a town few hours west, I'll be there by sundown so it's on you if your not farther," Zuko rolled his shoulder with a sigh standing up and cracked his neck.

"Your not going to try anything?" She glared over her shoulder at him.

"Promised that one I'd give you three days, I still want to take that other one down," he pointed from Toph to Aang with no emotion on his face.

"Man I liked having you around, funny guy," Toph whined and Aang elbowed her a little.

"You know he wants me dead right?" Aang asked uncomfortable.

"Hmm sure," Toph grinned. She had a feeling the guy was all talk.

"Or I could break his legs and then we'll be safe for a bit," she offered with a shrug.

"You still have Azula to worry about, when she hears dead or alive she only hears dead," Zuko told them calmly as a warning to them.

"Listen before You go then, can I get some pointers on the fire nation? You don't like them like them right?" Sokka tip toed over to the fire bender who glared back at him.

"My home?" Zuko asked.

"I hate the fire lord, not the people," he kept his arms crossed while he quietly admitted.

"How do we get to the fire lord?" Sokka smiled more hopeful.

"Kill Azula,"

"Not funny," Aang frowned hiding behind Katara now.

"Little funny," he shrugged.

"Fire lord and his daughter, lot of hate for the royal family, what about the prince too?" Toph tilted her head to the side.

"He's a coward for staying in the palace cause it's cozy and away from the war," Zuko rolled his eyes. "He's always been weak,"

"The fire lord will do what ever he can to win this war if that means sacrificing his children, he doesn't care for the people or the soldiers, that's all I'll say," he said in a mumble but they all heard.

Sokka tapped aangs shoulder and motioned back, Aang grabbed Katara to follow and Toph got the hint and went with the others to talk separated. Zuko stood there confused as they left him.

"What are we going to do with him?" Sokka asked again but quietly.

"He said he's going to the town," Katara glared over.

"We could use him for his fire nation blood, he knows the country, he knows the military, he has connections," Sokka told them now serious. "We need to know as much as we can of the fire nation, he was born there, he knows the land,"

"That's actually kind of smart," Aang was hesitant.

"But what if he doesn't want to turn again his people?" Katara asked flatly as she crossed her arms.

"He's already on the run from the princess of the fire nation," Toph grinned.

"He seems like a stubborn guy, he says he hates the royal family but not the country itself, I don't think he'll bite," Aang fiddled with his fingers but Sokka waved it off.

"A fire bending soldier on our side? We need that," Sokka grinned excited.

"He's not an accessory," Katara smacked her brother.

"I just wanna experience the moment of Sokka giving it a try at this point," Toph chuckled.

Katara did like the sound of that.

"Alright, go crazy," she put her hands up and Sokka punched the air.

"If I can get a fire nation map from him I'm never letting go," Sokka giggled and went over to Zuko who was by the small creak to fill his water and washed his face.

"Think he'll agree to stay?" Aang asked hiding behind the girls as they all watched Sokka make a mistake.

"I'm curious," Katara nodded.

"Zuko hey man," Sokka tip toed over as the fire bender was cupping water in his hands and splashed it in his face.

"What?" He glared over and Sokka squeaked fearful.

"So, we were just thinking about the opportunity for you to stick around with us?" Sokka rubbed his neck nervously.

"My shoulder is fine," Zuko washed his hands off a little keeping his back to the other boy.

"No just possibly helping us out a bit? We need a fire nation map and to know a bit more might be useful to end the war," Sokka gulped waiting for the fire bender to explode.

Zuko frowned looking at the creak. He didn't bother looking back at the others but he felt scared, he was terrified of getting caught by Azula. He had no safety back at the troops, or at his home land. But he would be sentenced to death if he actually helped them. He would be betraying his brothers and lee would be so disappointed in him.

"No," he whispered.

"I'm not helping you guys in anything, I want the avatar to pay and I can't betray my soldiers," Zuko ran a hand through his hair closing his eyes.

Sokka sat with him on the shore.

"I understand your anger, I didn't see my mom die like Katara and I had no control of my dad leaving to fight the war, I'm so upset I have had no part to actually make a difference in this war till we found Aang, and all I want is my family together and the blood to stop," Sokka told him quietly as Zuko kept his eyes down staying calm.

"It's different, I don't have a home to go back too, no family, no house, and if I help you I have nothing, I'd be fighting against my brothers and my commander if I joined you, if I helped you, they're all I have," Zuko rasped as his fists shook when he clenched them to his chest.

"Zuko let's be real man, they may respect you either way but you have a bounty by the princess of the fire nation, there's no coming back from that with this war," Sokka gulped a little seeing it was a sensitive topic. This was the same soldier from the North Pole, that watched his fellow soldier get killed for him, who is now on the run and just wants to go home.

He was just a kid like them.

"Let us help you, and you help us," Sokka sighed.

"What do I get out of it?" Zuko asked confused.

"A bed, food? You technically wouldn't be on soil to get hunted on by earth kingdom or fire nation, but we need your help, we need to know what you know of the military and the fire lord," Sokka offered gently and Zuko rubbed his face with a groan.

"You shouldn't offer food to a starving man," Zuko mumbled rubbing his head.

"So you'll help us?" Sokka smiled.

"For a little, but that means no more killing soldiers," Zuko stood up from the dirt and sokka punched the air while the others look surprised there was no screaming or fire being punched.

"Deal, anything else?" Sokka followed him back to his bag.

"I get one good punch at the avatar," Zuko tilted his head to the side.

"Hey, no," Katara put Aang behind her.

"I can't bring him to the fire lord, so I want to punch him, little vengeance," Zuko had his arms crossed as Toph burst out laughing.

"It's okay Katara, if this what it takes to earn zukos trust then I'll do it," Aang nodded taking a deep breath.

"I'm ready," Aang held his arms out and closed his eyes.

Zuko looked at him then at Katara and Sokka who were surprised.

Aang peaked an eye open when he wasn't hit and let out a breath of relief when he saw Zuko with his arms crossed.

"See you are a good person at heart, I know it's not forgiveness but I am sorry for being the cause of your brother's deaths up at the North Pole," Aang smiled sadly with guilt.

Zuko rolled his eyes as Aang smiled back at Katara and Sokka with a thumbs up. When he turned back Zuko had a hand on his shoulder and knocked his fist into Aang torso.

Aang barreled over with a groaned as he held his stomach while Zuko kept walking.

"Don't bring it up again," Zuko shook his hands out releasing the tension he had.

"So are we going or what?" He asked calmly.