For @Just_Not_Here please enjoy, sweetie!
Word count: 830

Zuko closes his eyes and breathes in deeply, holding the breath, and stretching out his arms. He folds his fingers to his palms; leaving only his pointer and middle finger out. With an exhale, he moves his arms in front of him and pushes them forward; releasing a gush of fire.

Next, he spins around and does the same. Before the fire disappears, he crouches under it and sweeps his leg with a fire trail behind it. Then he rests on his hands and continues to spin around; expelling fire.

Suddenly, his ear twitches. Someone is coming. Zuko ignores it and continues his training near the waterfall; where it should be peaceful but isn't. The sound of the gushing water constantly reminds him that he has to be as forceful as the water crashing onto the rocks with his fire bending.

The sound of footsteps continue to get closer, which gets Zuko frustrated. He can't afford to be interrupted again during his practice. His practice is all that matters. So, he goes back to his standing position and inhales again, moving his arm out, folding in a certain amount of fingers, getting ready to exha-

"Zuko!~"

Dammit. Zuko exhales alright, but steam comes out of his nostrils. He turns in frustration towards the voice and is greeted, yet again, by the skinny-boomarang-kid.

"What do you want, Sokka?" Zuko grunts.

"Dinner is ready." Sokka replies, still cheerful.

"Sokka, how many times have I told you? I can eat later. Right now, I have to train."

Zuko turns around and starts his position up again.

"Yeah, but you never eat dinner anyway. By the time you've finished your training it's nightfall and you're exhausted."

Zuko sighs and drops his arms down by his sides.

"My training is the most important thing right now. You understand that. So leave me alone."

Sokka sighs quietly and scratches the back of his neck. He knows he has to be gentle with his next words.

"Zuko, look, I know how hard it must be for you," Zuko tenses at Sokka's words, "but we'll find her, and we'll get her back. Right now you should eat."

Zuko turns around to look at Sokka again but his face is as stern as always.

"I'll eat when I'm finished." He says bluntly.

"And when will that be? When everyone else is already asleep?" Sokka argues.

"My training is more important than whatever monstrosity Katara is cooking in that rusty pot!"

"Food will help your strength! You can't just skip every dinner and expect to stay perfect!"

"Food is a distraction, and one that delays us! It's a waste of time!"

"Practicing the same damn battle stances is a waste of time!"

"Everytime we stop our journey to camp is precious moments we are wasting to save (Y/N)!"

By this statement, Zuko was already close to Sokka and towering over him with his ember eyes flickering like flames. Sokka knows theres no point in arguing back; Zuko will just find some way around his objection.* Instead he sighs and backs away slightly.

"Fine. Continue your practice. I was only trying to help."

Sokka stares at Zuko for a moment longer before turning on his heel and walking back over to the camp.

Zuko goes back to his training but now he is far too angry to master his stances anymore. He sighs, punches out a flame, and sits down on the rock which he was standing and stares at the waterfall.

Around about their second bowl, and third for Sokka, the gaang were merrily eating in silence when footsteps started approacing. Everyone looked up besides Toph, as she knew those grudgingly footsteps anywhere.

Zuko walked into the camp and sat down on an empty log near the fire. He stared at the flames for a moment before grabbing a wooden bowl and spoon.

"Is there enough left for me?" He asks.

Katara smiles warmly and fills his bowl up with the herbal soup she made. Zuko flashes a quick smile, still annoyed, and eats the soup. With surprise, the soup actually tastes quite pleasant.

"Glad you could join us, Zuko." Sokka smiles.

Zuko looks up at him and then smiles gently, thanking him through his expression,° and goes back to eating the soup which is almost already finished.

Aang puts his hand on Zuko's shoulder and smiles at him.

"We'll find her. Promise." He says.

Zuko nods.

"Yeah, she's bound to rock up somewhere." Toph says, waiting for a response.

Katara is confused and looks at Aang who shrugs his shoulders. Sokka looks like he's about to be sick.

"No, Toph, just no."

"Oh, come on! That was classic! It was from the stone age!"

"Toph, your jokes are unbearable, please stop."

"I'd say they really rock!"

Sokka groans and burries his head in his hands while Toph continues to make jokes. Katara and Aang laugh at the two and after another spoonful of soup, Zuko grins.

Next Imagine: Cato (The Hunger Games).

* OBJECTION!!!! Sorry... had to.

° Does anyone else really cherish the bromance between Zuko and Sokka?