"THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE IF IT GOT INFECTED," KATARA POINTS OUT.

In the morning after her return from the Boiling Rock, Katara offers to help heal Kida's wound. It had been healing, but all the fighting with Azula had exasperated it.

"It doesn't feel that great either way," Kida points out. She sits up and puts her shirt back on, looking over to the team located a few metres away. Aang and Zuko are practicing firebending, Suki is reviewing warrior forms, and Toph is aimlessly bending earth, while Sokka and Koa are off to the side in deep conversation. The others must be exploring the temple. Kida turns back to Katara. "Thank you," Kida adds. "I do appreciate it."

Katara shrugs. "That's what I'm here for - and I'm happy to do it." Katara shifts to sit cross-legged next to Kida. "We missed you. I missed you."

"I missed you too," Kida replies without skipping a beat. "Katara, can I ask you something?"

"Anything."

"Do you trust Zuko?"

Katara pauses. "I didn't at first, but now, I do."

Kida nods, staying silent.

The Western Air Temple is a great hiding place, and quite beautiful, in Kida's opinion. The original architecture is mostly intact, with steps built into the cliff to connect the various tiers and buildings. There were many different areas to discover in the interior, but the team had camped out in a certain corner and spent most of their time in the outdoor area overlooking the mountains. When it came to deciding where everyone would sleep, Koa wanted to catch up with Sokka, and Suki was happy enough to bunk with Kida, just like old times.

"It'll be like we're back on Kyoshi," Suki had said with a smile, one that Kida, to this day, can't seem to resist.

In a sense, it was like they were back on Kyoshi, whispering between each other after dark. Once Suki had fallen asleep, Kida was still wide awake, so she sneaked out of their shared room, which was also kind of like old times when her mind would race. Now, free from the Boiling Rock and back with the team, Kida had other things to worry about. Mostly, about her brother: was he still alive? Where was he? How could Kida ever find out for herself what the truth is?

"Couldn't sleep?" someone asks as they approach.

When she hears Sokka's voice, Kida immediately feels a small wave of comfort. He sits down next to Kida, looking out from the mountain side with their backs against the wall.

Kida shrugs. "It's nice being outside, with the open air and the stars and stuff. Plus, I forgot that Suki snores."

"Really?"

"No, not really," Kida laughs. "It's more the other thing." Kida pauses, taking a deep breath. "So, how are things with Koa?"

"Awkward, but good, I guess. We started to talk things through. At one point, I think he was hoping we would be together," Sokka admits.

"Oh." Kida clears her throat. "Is that...is that something you would want or ....?"

Sokka shifts closer to Kida so that their shoulders are touching. Kida looks up at him, already finding his eyes searching hers. "I told him about you and me."

Kida smiles, feeling her cheeks heat up, and looks away. "What, that we're reluctant acquaintances?" she jokes.

"Oh please," Sokka laughs. He gently grabs Kida's chin and turns her towards him. Then, he tucks hair behind her ear, finally resting his hand on her leg. "I don't think you kiss a reluctant acquaintance the way you kiss me," Sokka teases back.

Kida shakes her head, and leans closer until her lips touch Sokka's. She smiles into the kiss and can imagine that Sokka's doing the same. Kida pulls away, their lips still inches apart.

"I think you might have a point," she mumbles.

Sokka smiles and sits back against the wall. "Before I forget." He reaches next to his leg and offers something to Kida. "Your sword is in my room, but I thought you'd want this sooner."

Once he places it in Kida's hand, she sees that it's the knife he got for her from that Fire Nation town. "My fruit knife?"

"Well, it's your only knife now. The other one was --"

"Embedded in my abdomen? Yeah, I remember," Kida interrupts, only semi-jokingly. She attaches the knife to her belt, feeling a comfort in having a weapon in her hand. "But, thanks. I promise not to use it on Zuko." Again, only semi-jokingly.

Sokka sighs. "Kida, I know, it's hard to trust him, but --"

"You don't need to finish that sentence," she interrupts once again. "I doubt it will change my mind."

"Katara felt the same way," Sokka explains. "It got to a point where she couldn't stand him being on the team. But then Zuko took her to find the man who....who killed our mother."

"Whoa. What?"

"Yeah, it was a big deal, but the point is, she gave him a second chance."

"That doesn't mean I have to," Kida counters. "I don't really believe in second chances."

"You gave me a second chance after the North Pole," Sokka points out.

Kida groans. She gets up and starts pacing back and forth. "That's not the same. You were hurt and, yeah, you said things that you shouldn't have, and I was hurt, but I understood why you did what you did. I will never understand why someone, after everything the Fire Nation has done, would side with them and still be a good person."

"He's teaching Aang firebending, we all trust him. Doesn't that count for anything?" Sokka gets up and waves his hands, trying to catch Kida's attention.

"Sokka, if Azula knew that my brother is alive, you don't think that Zuko might have known too?" Kida snaps. She finally stops walking and stands in front of Sokka. "That means every time I talked about Hiro or -- fuck -- almost cried in front of Zuko because of it, he was staying silent. He let me feel that pain. I would have left Ba Sing Se to find Hiro in a heartbeat."

Sokka sighs. He steps closer to Kida and softly places his hands on her cheeks. His skin cools hers down, but Kida still feels her blood boiling. "I'm sorry, I am. I'm not trying to say that what he did was okay. It wasn't. Just, promise me you'll at least try to give him a chance. Not for him, or me, but for the team. Just....just talk to him."

»»---------------------►

ONCE AANG AND ZUKO ARE FINISHED TRAINING, KIDA CORNERS ZUKO AWAY FROM THE GROUP.

"We need to talk," Kida declares, not really giving him a choice. She leans against the wall, crossing her arms.

Either way, Zuko seems surprised that she's at least speaking to him directly. "Uh. Sure. What's up?"

"I just wanted to be clear: I don't trust you.

"I've helped you escape a prison and reunite your boyfriend with his father. I'm training the Avatar. What else do I have to do?"

"I will tolerate you." Kida narrows her eyes. "I don't care that we're related, that we share blood, those people over there?" She points towards the team. "They're my family, not you. Hurt any of them, and I'll be sure you regret it."

"Kida, I know you're mad at me, and I'm sorry, but let me explain --"

"You don't know me Zuko! And, you lied, so maybe explain that," Kida snaps. "Did you know that my brother was alive?"

"Hiro? He's alive? Who told you that?"

"Who do you think?"

Zuko shakes his head. "Azula always lies."

"She didn't lie about Koa being a prisoner. She knew....she knew that Hiro didn't have the tip of his pinky finger. That's not something you can guess. She must have seen it to know. And, unless you told her --"

"I didn't."

"Then Hiro's alive and out there somewhere," Kida reasons. She realizes that she got all she needed to know, and isn't interested in continuing this conversation or hearing what else Zuko has to say. "Good discussion. I guess I'll see you later." Kida pushes away from the wall and gets ready to walk away.

"I did tell Mai," Zuko realizes.

Kida turns around slightly. "Would she have told Azula?"

"Maybe. I mean they're best friends."

"So it's a possibility, but not a guarantee. Good to know." Kida turns away once more, leaving Zuko alone.

»»---------------------►

author's note!

thank you for reading! there are only 3 - 4 (longer) chapters left, so stay tuned :)