Flying Lessons

Seria's POV

I inhaled the sharp and fresh morning air, feeling the sun's early rays warm my cheeks. I rolled my shoulders back slowly to let the muscles loosen up. The stone floor ended abruptly at my toes and gave way to a great abyss, full of sharp stones and boulders at the bottom. One step forward would ensure a rapid decent to the rocks below, but for now it held a place to admire the view. It was a beautiful sunrise, the sun just skimming the cliff walls which sent the first flicker of light into the cliff's valley. There was a strong wind that weaved its way through the buildings of the Western Air Temple like an eel, supplying the place with new smells and sounds as they're carried across the rift.

I brought my hand up to cover up to cover a yawn, eyes watering and jaw cracking. Sure, it was beautiful. But the scenery didn't change the fact that it was close to four in the morning – far too early to be awake. Even the birds weren't out of their nests yet. Everyone back at camp was still snuggled up in their sleeping bags and, well, today I'd found out that I'm not a morning person.

"Now," I began, turning to Zuko beside me, who currently had my glider in something close to a death grip as he stood on the edge of the temple floor. I smile at his awkward grip and shift his hands slightly further along the handles. "The only thing you need to remember is to hold on, okay? Do that and you'll be fine."

Zuko gave his head a slight shake. "You don't have to remind me about that," he peered over the edge and if I didn't know him better, I'd say he was feeling nervous. "Are you sure this will work? Air's more your element than mine, Seria."

I sighed. "It will work. I just need you to trust me," I said.

"I trust you," Zuko answered gruffly. "Just not this flimsy staff thing–"

My eye twitched. "Glider."

"Whatever."

I shot him an irritated look, but any impression I wanted to make was quickly overridden by another yawn. It had been a hard climb to the highest spot in the Western Air Temple and one that I'd managed to do half asleep. But although it was early, I knew that this was the best time to fly, especially if Zuko didn't really want everyone else to know what we were up to (something to do with 'manly pride').

I mean it's not every day Zuko charges up to you and asks to have a go on your glider. Well, okay maybe I'd given him a little encouragement but still.

We'd had a bit of practice beforehand and Zuko had got acquainted with how to handle the glider and I in turn, familiarised myself with bending the glider when someone else was on it. This was a completely new experience for me and I had to be sure I didn't risk Zuko's life because of some missed practice. However, now I was confident we really could do it and besides, it wouldn't hurt to have a bit of fun, won't it? Things had relatively quiet so far since the fight with the soldiers and killing Chen–

…killing Chen…

Shuddering, I turned my mind back to the present and buried that fact within me, promising myself to deal with it later.

"Listen, Zuko, you're thinking about it too much," I said watching as his amber eyes flicked to mine briefly, before being glued back onto the patch of sky he was about to launch himself into. I put my hand on his shoulder and kissed his cheek. "Don't think. Just go."

He lifted his chin up in a determined way and I smiled, taking a step back. I heard each breath get further apart until it had slowed to a steady breathing pattern.

He swayed forward alarmingly on his feet, as if testing the air in front of him, and I turned and quickly hopped onto Appa, grasping the reins in one hand. The wind had picked up and was rolling into all three of us in great waves. Appa growled slightly as the wind ruffled his fur and I stroked the beast's head absent-mindedly, watching Zuko intently.

"Just let yourself go, Zuko!" I shouted over the wind, deciding to repeat myself. Suddenly I was eager for him to go. "Jump and I'll catch you!"

That seemed to do the trick.

Zuko leaned forward, his centre of weight shifting so he dropped off the side of the plaza like a stone. I swiftly guided Appa to follow as we began our decent into the air. I just hoped Zuko would remember what I told him.

.:oOo:.

Zuko's POV

Those first few seconds of free-fall were both terrifying and electrifying. My stomach clenched almost painfully as the wind roared past my ears, watching through tears as the world above spun away in one multi-coloured blur. The rocks at the bottom that had been out of sight moments ago were becoming larger with each passing second.

Some images of being flattened into the cliff's bottom came to me and fear began to creep into the edges of my mind. I'd wanted to see what all this fuss about gliding was about. Seria seemed to love it and I guess it seemed kind of fun so when she'd suggested the idea to me, I'd wanted to try it. But right now; I was wondering if curiosity would lead me to nothing more than a sudden death.

Where is she? I thought in panic, looking about wildly. I'm going to freaking crash before she reaches me–

But a few seconds before I could be flattened against a rock, a shadow passed over me and the glider angled sharply upwards in a wide arc, seemingly all by itself. My arms strained as they took weight and at the lowest point of the curve, I could've reached out with my hand and touched the rocks below. The glider levelled and so I was now horizontal to the ground, the rocks gliding past further down harmlessly. I let out the breath I'd been holding and felt the glider smoothly turn to fly along the edges of the Western Air Temple.

Swallowing a lump in my throat – that could've well been my heart – I looked to my right and saw Appa with no driver flying alongside of me. Reins abandoned, Seria was standing with her feet firmly planted on the saddle, twisting and waving her arms as she bended the air around the glider to her will, her face painted with concentration.

I stared. For some reason, with the wind tearing at her clothes and hair, she looked even more stunning than usual.

Distracted, I almost lost my grip as the glider turned sharply, forgetting to lean into the turns. My pulse hurtled up a few paces as I dropped a few metres, before the thing was shakily brought back up again by Seria.

"Dammit! Careful, Zuko!" I heard her shout and I made a point of rolling my eyes at her. In response she growled at me. She was so moody in the mornings.

Nonetheless, I adjusted my hands and tightened my legs' hold on the glider. Feeling experimental, I dipped it left and the wings smoothly obeyed, gliding on a slight air current that was no doubt one of Seria's. As I continued Seria slowly handed me more freedom with manoeuvring the glider. A smile fought its way through as I picked up speed, an idea forming in my head.

"Seria!" I shouted, leaning it to the right. "Lift the glider up! I want to try something."

I caught a look of surprise from Seria, but still she complied and I rose in an unsteady corkscrew as high as I could, up and up until I was above the cliff. I took a deep breath and adjusting my grip on the handles…

And dipped the nose forward and plunged back down to earth, dropping as if I was suddenly madde of lead. My eyes watered and I couldn't help but grin in thrilling exhilaration as I accelerated, before Seria pulled me up again. By this time I was laughing, drunk with adrenaline.

I caught Seria's smile, looking a little smug.

"You like it!" She cried excitedly. It was a statement.

"Well, yeah," I flailed to shout back an answer. "I guess it's… alright."

She laughed. "Alright? Is that really all you'd call it?"

"Okay, okay it's great," I growled and watched her smile grow. But I wanted to take the next step… "So… How about a loop?"

Her eyebrows shot up in surprise before she hooted. "You're kidding me, right? You're lucky to still be on the glider after that stunt! And now you want to try a loop? They're still tricky for me even!"

I gave her a mischievous look. "What can I say? I'm an excellent learner."

"With a death wish it seems," came her sharp reply. Smiling, she shook her head and began to bend the glider closer to Appa, despite my efforts to subtly turn it the other away. "No, that's enough flying for today," Seria continued. "Besides, you're too clumsy."

Scowling, I let go of the glider once it was hovering over the bison's saddle. But I found that the glider was higher up than I thought and I ended up crashing into Seria. There was a yelp of surprise from Seria as we both fell over, landing heavily onto the hard hide of the saddle, and I smacked my shoulder painfully in the process.

I groaned and looked down at Seria, who was laughing; apparently finding it to be the funniest thing in the world, as I unsuccessfully tried to untangle myself from her.

"And that," She spluttered between laughs. "Is why you can't do the loop."

I shrugged. "It's just landing."

"Yeah right," She grinned. "But I have to admit… you were actually pretty good. For a beginner it was great – but it does help if you, you know, can airbend. Now can you get off me? "

rubbing my sore shoulder.

Seria stands and frowns worriedly. "Your shoulder okay?"

I'm just about to reply when her eyes widen.

"Crap! The glider!" Seria curses, scrambling to the edge.

Rolling away from her destructive path, I watch as she pretty much dives over the side of the saddle, disappearing from sight.

"Gee, I'm fine thanks, Seria," I mutter sourly, sitting back down.

Some time passes and she hasn't come back yet. I get a bit nervous at her absence – she did just jump into thin air after all – and drag myself to the side. I look over; just in time to see her fly back up with the glider. She lands lightly next to me, her hair messed and tangled and eyes slightly red from wind-burn.

"That was close," she sighs, sitting down next to me and smoothing down the wings of the glider. "It was almost smashed against the cliff! Teo would have killed me."

I remain rigid. "Mmm."

She apparently doesn't notice.

"It's too early for this," she yawns and leans against me, head resting against my chest. My bitterness disappears and I place an arm around her shoulders to make it more comfortable. I see her eyes close and I grin. Not one for early rises then.

I frown. She looks so fragile when she's asleep…

I hold her tighter and we stay like this for a while, ignoring the growls of the bison and the wild wind, when an unexpectedly warm feeling rises up inside of me. It was so foreign yet comforting at the same time, I felt like diving off the side just to get the familiar, heart-pounding adrenaline back. Then I realised what it was and I'm surprised. It had taken me a long time to find it, but here it was; unexpected and stupid – yet welcome and warming – happiness.

But inevitably, the moment was shattered quite spectacularly by a huge explosion that resonated across the valley.