"We did it." The corner of his mouth fastens tightly to one side.
"It's over," she whispers. She steals a quick glimpse of his face. Gold eyes are fogged by the enchanting hues of dusk. He moistens his lips, raking his teeth into the sensitive flesh.
"Not quite," he claims. "There is still so much to be done."
The pace of each breath he releases is steady, but slowly restricting. She draws her shoulder closer to his. The callous pads of her fingers soothingly trace the outline of the worn emerald fabric against his abdomen. He gasps. Her palm flexes. She cautiously attempts to pull away. His hand swiftly confines hers. He finally looks at her.
"H-How does it feel?" She pants. The flecks of purple in his eyes continue to glow from the eve of nightfall. His thumb brushes lightly along the curves of her knuckles. Thick ebony strands sweep gently against his forehead. He leans forward. A small itch in her stomach begins to mount.
"Better." He smiles. "What about you?" he asks, as his nails tenderly graze a pattern on the lines of her palm.
The itch inside her flutters, yet she does not avert his gaze. "I'm in good health." She grins.
"With the Avatar beside you, of course you are." He smirks. His eyes suddenly lingering on the soft pink shade tinting her cheeks.
"Y-Yeah. I guess so." Her eyes sag toward the ground. His fingers gingerly knead the firm tissue in her hand. He dips his head further down. His breath almost blistering her skin, as it intermingles with her own.
"He loves you," he says. She glances over his shoulder. Muffled laughter resonates through the securely shut double doors of the renovated teashop.
"I love him." Her voice cracks.
"I know you do." His hold on her slackens. Blue orbs dance left and right, searching his face.
"Zuko…" she murmurs. He opens his mouth. Silence. He steps back.
"We'd better go inside," he states, noticing the tiny bumps prickling up and down her arms. "It's getting a bit chilly out."
His arms extend out to her; she complies, enveloping her thoughts into his warm embrace. She closes her eyes, relishing his scent of cinder and cinnamon. His frame is not as gentle as Aang's, it's much more rigid. Yet Aang's heart never beat so violently when he held her, as Zuko's did.
"Thank you... for everything," his lips mumble into the crown of her head. "My friend."
The back of her teeth file against one another. The reminding itch inside trembles again, yet it never seems to go away the third time.
As disappointed as I was about the cliche "hero ends up with the heroine" aspect of the series finale, I have a lot hope for the future. Thank gods for fan fiction. : )