Elemental High School (Modern ATLA)

Concerns and Dismay

Zuko's POV:

I apologized to Katara yesterday. I knew she wouldn't forgive me right away, but I had to start somewhere. Maybe if I tried talking to some of her friends and got them on my side, she'd loosen up. Azula's here, and I can tell that I'm losing my power in the school. I'm tired of keeping up the same act. When Azula approached me, she told me that Father still didn't want me back and that I had no place in our family. However, as she told me this, I felt a capacity lift from inside me. I knew from that moment that I didn't want to return. I know that I can regain my honor for myself. I don't need Dad's approval to have dignity. He can't return my honor; only I can prove myself worthy of my honor. I need this change. Maybe, my uncle, Iroh could help; he got away from the demands of our family.

Aang's POV:

My plan worked. Technically, it was both my and Suki's plan, but it ended up working. I was happy that we were planning on taking our relationship slow. I don't think I'd be able to handle a failure just yet. I love how understanding Katara is and how she's willing to be patient with me. Before anything, I wanted to tell her Dad. I didn't exactly ask permission from him, so he would be among the first that I would tell.

As usual, I started my day with my meditation. I took a shower and went downstairs to get breakfast. Nothing was out of sorts, but Gyatso knew something was up. Yesterday, he was asking about what happened yesterday after school. I had told him that I'd be hanging with a friend after school, but he wanted details. I feel somewhat guilty about keeping this from him, but I wanted to keep my word.

"Good morning, Gyatso," I chirped while opening up the refrigerator. 

"To you as well, Aang." 

I pulled out the eggs and some vegetables that I could chop up. I pulled out the cutting board and laid the vegetables out. 

"Are you going to tell me what you were doing yesterday?" 

I took out the knife, starting chopping, and said, " I went to the mall after school with a friend." 

Well, now she's more than a friend. I finished chopping everything up and started whisking two eggs in a bowl. 

"Do I know this friend?" He asked. 

"Yes, Gyatso, you do." 

I pulled out a pan and set it on the stove. 

"Am I allowed to know who it is?" 

I thought about it while pouring the stirred eggs and vegetables into the heated pan. 

"It was Katara." 

I could practically feel the stare emitting from him. He hummed and continued reading his newspaper. Waiting for the omelet to cook, I scrolled through my phone to look for what braille looked like and how to create the letters. For Toph's bracelet, I planned on using the beads she picked out to spell her name in braille embedded in the bracelet.

I folded the omelet and completed cooking it. I slipped it on the plate and finished the design process for Toph's bracelet. I ate my omelet and headed back upstairs to get the string and beads to attach to my water bottle. Hopefully, I'd be able to work on it during my free time during class. Swiftly, I tied up the strings to my water bottle and brought my backpack downstairs.

In the kitchen, I took out my lunchbox and set it on the kitchen counter, so I would be able to assemble today's lunch. Did I break a promise? I mean, I didn't tell him that we started dating, but the fact that I was keeping something from him had probably sparked an idea in his brain. I admit it; I suck at lying sometimes.