The Smell of Hotness

One: Secrets

"So, what did you say that you had for me?" Azula walked into the dark walls of the fire nation castle. It was full of cells, which held guilty prisoners, including Iroh. Azula walked standing up perfectly straight, with her hands gently tied behind her back, as she tried to talk discreetly. This labyrinth was quite chilling, made of pure stone; the lack of insulation gave it its own cool.

You could hear her footsteps a mile away from her fire nation shoes, clacking against the hard, concrete flooring. Azula stopped as she reached a corner of the labyrinth, and a small smirk of machination appeared upon her face. It reached placidly, touching from each cheek.

"This better be good. You know how I hate to be disappointed, don't you?" Azula's smirk fell from her face, as it was now clear business. She was standing in front of a very, what seemed like, an intimidating man. He was quite tall and built large. He towered over Azula, but was still giving his good bit of respect and dignity towards her as a Princess. He had dark brown hair, which was short but not buzzed. It was a flat top that reminded you of fresh cut grass in the fall. His eyes were brown, and he had a deep scar above his left eyebrow. He wore an official fire nation uniform, but didn't seem to be too conspicuous. He wasn't your average fire nation material.

"I found something I thought you'd really be interested in." the man smiled with hidden eagerness.

"Well, if it was sent by a fire nation air hawk, then it must have been some distance away. It must have some worth then, correct?" Azula sighed.

The man pulled out a velvety, emerald cloth from his pocket. The shape of the object inside was shone off from the cloth's lack of shape, showing that the wanted object seemed to be round. The man slowly wrapped the object and brought it up to eye level with Azula. Azula reached up and grasped the round object within her palm. She stared down at its silvery surface. It shined a rainbow glow, but gave the indication that it was just a normal rock. Intrigued, Azula covered the object back up and flashed a smirk at the man.

"This definitely isn't just nothing. Don't worry; you'll be handsomely rewarded." Azula smiled once more before closing her conversation…

¤ ¤ ¤

"One, two, three, four… five—" Zuko had just begun his nightly crunches before he went to sleep. He had candles set around the room that gave off a sedate feel. It seems this is how he expresses his anger. He doesn't. He holds it in and takes it out on his body. This form of exercise wasn't really making him cathartic nonetheless. Like that was surprising.

Within minutes, he had gone through hundreds of crunches, and was still determined to keep going. His face began to sweat, but didn't faze him at all. His focus and concentration wouldn't be disrupted by anything…

"One hundred eighteen, one hundred nineteen, one hundred twenty, one hundred—"

"Zuko." A voice was heard at his door; it was loud, yet nonchalant and placid. Zuko hit his head on the floor. He growled under his breath.

"What." He said with an annoyed tone as he opened his door. There stood Mai with crossed arms. "Oh, Mai. What is it?" he rubbed the back of his neck. It's funny how his voice suddenly grew softer.

"You're not going to leave me alone are you? I mean - you didn't forget, did you?" she stood there in his doorway, reminding you of a demanding mother, just tapping her foot at you.

"I don't know what you're talking about." He plainly answered.

"Come on Zuko." Mai sighed, pulling him from his room. Then, she turned to him and let go.

"What?" he asked in a demanding tone.

"Put a shirt on." She stated and began to walk away.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

"Meet me in the ballroom." She answered, and went on her way.

Zuko mumbled all the way back to his room. He opened his drawers and put on a random shirt. It was a dark red with black outlining. The collar was flipped up, making him seem of proxy, which he was. It was opened through the front and showed his built up pecks. He simply continued out of his room and headed for the ballroom…

¤ ¤ ¤

"So… why are you eating bugs again?" Aang asked, curiously. Sokka had sunken so low as to eat bugs found on the ground. His stomach sounded like an angry bear on a rampage.

"Hey! Well at least I'm not the hungry one!" Sokka snarled and crossed his arms.

"Sokka get up and have some dignity." Katara commented, walking past him.

"I have none!" Sokka yelled back. Katara just rolled her eyes.

"Hey guys!" Aang yelled, "Look." He pointed down in front of them. Low and behold, besides trees, rocks, and grass, stood a small town. Aang's, as well as everyone else's, eyes lit up.

"I bet they have food!" Aang smiled and went running down the long hill.

"Aang!" Katara called down after him, "I swear, he's just so persistent and juvenile sometimes." She crossed her arms; "He has to realize he just can't go running around like that anymore."

"His arrows are covered up." Toph commented and slid down the hill after him.

"Yeah, Katara. Lighten up." Sokka said and slid down after them.

"Oh… what the heck." A light smile grew across Katara's face, and she too followed Aang's dust tracks.

"Wheee! Ahaha!" Aang laughed as he about reached the end of his little hill ride. He jumped and stuck a landing on his feet. He smiled and turned around to find Toph right behind him. She was surfing on the land with her earth bending.

"Better watch out Twinkle Toes!" she yelled as she jumped and basically landed right on Aang.

"Oof!" Aang fell on his butt. Toph's bottom was on his stomach as she just sat there.

"I told you to move…"

"Hahaha!" Katara smiled as she too, reached the bottom of the hill as she held onto Sokka's back.

"Ahhh!" Sokka's arms were flying everywhere while he tried to hold his balance.

"Whoa!" Katara jumped off as she reached the bottom part of the hill. However, Sokka wasn't so fortunate as to land on his feet.

"That was fun." Katara smiled as she walked over to Aang, whom Toph was still sitting on.

"Get off!" Aang whined.

"Okay." Toph smirked and stood up.

"I can breathe…" Aang sprawled out over the dirt. He looked up at Katara, "Hey, where's Sokka?"

"Right there." Toph pointed to the ground next to the hill. Sokka waved his arm while his face was like permanently grounded into the dirt.

"A ri-tt-le helrp?" Sokka muttered from the dirt.

¤ ¤ ¤

"Mai?" Zuko called as he made his way to the ballroom. He looked through the copious amount of crowds through the palace. "What are all of these people doing here?" He asked himself.

"Don't you remember – Zuko?" Zuko heard Mai's voice, and turned to see her standing there with her arms crossed.

"What are you talking about; I didn't forget anything." His voice rose a little.

"Duh. We're having the big Fire Nation dinner tonight. Did you forget?" she asked in that little monotone of hers'.

"Oh, that's tonight?" he scratched his head with his right hand, and put his left arm around her.

"I'm hungry. Go get me some food." Mai stated.

"Okay." He said nonchalantly. He walked away from her and walked over to the long table full of food for the feast. They had anywhere from clams to chicken rolls to key lime pie. There was mainly appetizers; all before the Admiral's and Fire King's meal. All the common people, even Azula and Zuko, had to stick with Appetizers. Speaking of—

"Hello brother." Azula greeted Zuko next to the food table.

"What do you want Azula?" he asked and continued his search for his girlfriend's sustenance.

"Oh nothing… Just wanted to check up on you. You know, see if you're enjoying the gathering so far." Azula smiled mischievously.

"It's fine." He stated, with some anger in his voice. He gets a little cranky when he's tired.

"Actually, I have something for you Zuko." She smiled.

"What are you talking about?" Zuko looked up from the table, focusing in on her smile.

"A gift. Can't a sister be appreciative? Just think of it as… a welcome back present." She smirked, handing him a small glass container. It was a clear bottle with a red, decorative cork inside it, to keep from spilling the substance. It was a light yellow liquid that shined brightly in the lighting. Zuko examined it strangely.

"What is it?" he asked and looked up at her.

"Oh, just a little cologne." Azula smirked.

"Cologne?" Zuko sniffed it and seemed to be appalled; "I'm not wearing this stuff!"

"Why not? You could at least show some appreciation towards my efforts. Besides, girls like a little cologne. I'm sure Mai would love it…" Azula smiled.

Please review everyone!

This is my first Avatar fic, so I hope it's up to expectations. I just thought of this idea the other day while I was watching an episode and I was like hey! So, like previously stated, please review! ;-)