Chapter 1 – Spring blossoms

Zuko and Aang had always been distant. But the looks they exchanged were out of this world. Aang had always watched the older boy and his scar like a puzzle. Zuko watched Aang's shy smiles from a distance and always smiled back a second too late, when the boy had already turned away;

Aang and Zuko were from opposite gangs.

Life on the streets is hard. But what if you hadn't known anything else? Some people accept it; and then some see miracles. Some personalities have no problem with such a life, because they don't question it. Some just can't question it because they're not left with the alternative. That was Aang and Zuko's case.

Aang's parents had died long before he was old enough to remember them, and he'd been found and raised by his gang. There never was a choice for him, really. Zuko had fled his household after his mother had disappeared and had walked for weeks before he was found on the streets by what would become his only family.

There were few fights between their respective gangs, because their territories were clearly marked and none of them wanted trouble with the other one. The norm was to ignore as much as possible anyone not from the gang. But then there were Aang and Zuko.

For years, they exchanged shy looks from far away, afraid to get caught. But everything started to change when they were both teenagers.

One spring day, Aang and Zuko talked for the first time. It was May and even in the dark streets they walked through, pink petals were all around. It was Aang who talked to Zuko for the first time. The streets were deserted and the sun was shining with admirable brightness on Zuko's timid face. Aang approached him, slowly and unsure of himself. He was afraid but he wanted to finally know who the mysterious boy was. And Zuko was afraid too, but he didn't know what to do so when the younger boy said "Hey", Zuko answered. "Hi", he said shyly, and Aang cleared his throat. "What's your name?"
"Zuko. What's yours?"
"I'm Aang."
"What are you doing here? You're not supposed to be talking to me."
"Well, this is neutral territory, isn't it? And I don't see anybody around." Zuko didn't answer but gave him a surprised look. He looked interested.
"Come." Aang said and Zuko followed him without really thinking about it.
They walked for a minute until they were out of sight of anyone who might come around. They were in a small garden, and both of them felt more comfortable now that they had left the street.

The two boys talked for almost two hours of their stories, and how life went in their gangs, before Zuko had to leave. "I'm sorry, I really have no choice."
"I'll see you again, won't I?" Aang asked without thinking.
Zuko gave him a tender and amused smile. "Yeah. Promise."
Finally they left and Aang got lost in thought on the way home.