READ THIS FIRST:
I am currently under the impression that the Zukaang section needs more oneshots. And more love! So, yes, that's why I'm writing this. A bit of a half-formed concept behind this… it was meant to be a sort of traipse through various moments in certain episodes (not really put in chronological order, though I've tried), highlighting on Zuko and Aang. This oneshot is told in their alternating points of view, starting with Aang, and then Zuko, and then Aang, and so on.
I'd tried to keep it as close to canon as I could, which would explain the references to canonical relationships, while still implying Zukaang here. Not quite sure I pulled it off, but whatever. That's what reviews are for. xD
--
Intense.
The fire burned him-- almost.
But he didn't care.
--
"Do you think we could have been friends too?"
He'd meditate upon the question at night.
"Do you think…?"
He shifted. No, never again.
--
He wondered.
"Trust your heart and you will be with the one you love."
He smiled suddenly, lightly blushing. Katara, of course.
Eventually, gradually… it would happen.
--
Sometimes he'd think about Jin.
He wondered if she survived the takeover in Ba Sing Se. Maybe, perhaps, no…?
He'd pulled away from her kiss, he remembered.
Things were much too complicated.
--
It was a quick kiss, nothing special. Done in the darkness of the cave.
The second was more real, he knew. He needed courage, and she had always been a comfort to him. A hero kissing his soon-to-be maiden.
Suddenly, he was struck by the unexpected image of a hero kissing a prince.
He laughed at the absurdity of it.
--
Mai. She was pretty, in a way, to him.
Tall, thin, and endearingly sarcastic.
His mouth burned from her kisses, fire touching fire.
A bit sleepy, he wondered if air could cool it.
--
They danced together, laughing, his red headband atop his head, her brown hair flying, tapering off to a curl.
They were utterly in sync with each other. He couldn't help but notice the slight blush his partner had.
There was hope.
He refused to think of the fire that he'd hoped wanted him.
--
The day he'd decided to join the Avatar, he felt strong. Determined and utterly composed. In a way, he somewhat felt like that now, but it seemed his composure was crumbling.
He could see the slender figure among the stone pillars of the Western Air Temple.
Looking down, he waited.
--
He blinked.
Couldn't, would, shouldn't. But his eyes wandered back.
The scarred fire bender was looking back at him, as if at a loss for words.
He felt it, knew it. The prince was being sincere.
But he shouldn't.
--
The Dragon Dance unified them in ways he could never have imagined. On the way back to the temple, he remarked, marveling at how his voice was steady:
"You dance pretty well."
The Avatar laughed in reply. Predictable, really, but afterwards, the boy turned away, as if wishing to hide his eyes.
--
He watched them out of the window, the two figures entwined.
"Hey." He half-turned, tea tray still in hand. Pale arms encircled his waist. "You all right?"
He tried to stop it, but his eyes gave one last, flickering glance towards the pair outside. His voice hid everything, though. "I'm fine."
Her eyes barely moving, Mai spied them through the window: the Avatar and the water bender. A vague, half-correct suspicion flitted through her, and she tightened her hold on him.
--
They kissed, a single, unifying kiss.
Yet he couldn't help but wonder at the opportunities he'd had. All of them, missed and blatantly ignored.
He tried not to pull away, but Katara already had her arms around him, so he gave in.
--
A bit short, in my opinion. Uhm... yeah...