Thoughts for the Flames

Center of Attention

Zuko knew that she was watching him. It embarrassed him to admit that it took him a while to figure it out. She must have been watching him for days... not that he blamed her or anything. I guess she's as sneaky as Sokka says, Zuko pondered. Sneaky alright... but not sneaky enough.

Toph wasn't the only one watching him... and Zuko knew this. Suki has been watching him since the Boiling Rock... along with Hakoda. The firebender knew that he deserved this type of behavior from the others... but he couldn't help but feel uncomfortable. Zuko never liked to be center of attention, and it seemed that that's exactly where he was at the moment. He couldn't escape. He was stuck.

Supper was not at all graceful. It was truly the most awkward thing Zuko ever had to live through. The teen sat there, silent, while the other kids chatted away. Zuko attempted to listen in on the conversation, but gave up almost immediately. As if a prince knew how to use bending to catch a lop-eared rabbit. So instead, Zuko pushed his rice around, letting his mind explore itself...

"Why aren't you eating?" The raven-haired teen looked up from his plate to see a landmass of eyes staring at him. "Do you not like it?" A certain waterbender asked. Zuko internally groaned. He really wasn't in the mood for this.

"No... Katara it's fine," Zuko responded softly. "I'm not... very hungry... that's all."

Take it slow... Zuko... slow and easy...

Katara didn't respond. Instead she glared at him, setting her arms across her chest. Zuko frowned and eyed the humans that surrounded him. Why are they all staring at me... can they stop? The silence stretched even longer... making Zuko even more confused. Do they expect me to say something?

"Uh..." Zuko mumbled, gaining attention from the others. "I don't know how to deal with this."

Toph stifled a laugh while Aang and Sokka burst out in laughter. The Duke and Teo smiled in amusement while the others stared at Katara, waiting for her reaction. "You think this is funny?" Katara raised her eyebrows in disbelief. "You think that you can just flounce in here and become 'Mr. Funny' guy?" The firebender opened his mouth to reply, but closed it abruptly, not knowing what exactly to say. "Well you can't!" Katara hissed.

"'Flounce'... what a strange word to use..." Zuko mused, causing even more laughter to erupt. No but really... who says 'flounce'? I should take a note of that...

"Don't change the subject!" Katara scolded. "You're a traitor and that's all you will ever be!" Zuko let out a sigh and stared at his lap, this was going to take a while. "You're the enemy! I bet that you're planning to attack us when we don't suspect it! I bet-"

"Calm down sugar queen!" The blind earthbender chuckled. Katara swiftly turned to Toph with wide eyes.

"Do you hear yourself?" The brunette questioned. Toph gave the other girl a lazy shrug.

"I'm pretty sure."

"What's wrong with you?" Katara exclaimed. "How can all of you just sit there like nothing's wrong?"

"Well," Sokka started. "You gotta tell us what's wrong, Katara."

"What's wrong?" Katara snorted in disbelief. She then threw her arm out at Zuko's direction. "He's wrong!"

Zuko didn't even have to look up to know that all eyes were on him. Obviously, where else would they be? Maybe they are admiring the sky...? In your dreams Zuko! Even my dreams are terrible! They're nightmares! Well who's fault is that? Mine. Exactly! Zuko pushed his rice around on his plate some more, drowning in his thoughts. Are they still staring at me? Zuko looked up slowly to see everyone watching him. Oh dear...

"So..." I'm an idiot.