This was fun to write. That is all I am going to say.

Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender


Muscle

His muscles burned like fire.

His muscles burned like fire and he just didn't give a damn. All he cared about was her. For her to be safe. For her to have something to hold onto, even though it was his hand. His arm flexed back, muscles twisting and straining to hold her up as she screamed, called, pleaded. No, he wouldn't let her drop. He would never let her drop.

Because what was below them was hell. Absolute hell. Flames blazed, casting an orange glow on everything around them. Her ears pricked with the sound of billowing of flames, like a gale of wind whistling across a lonely desert. Except louder, more thunderous, fiercer.

Sure, he was fucking dislocating his arm, but he just didn't care.

Sweat poured down from their faces. He was the only thing she could clearly see right now, and he would not leave her to die in the fiery darkness. She would only feel pain. Raw, burning, searing pain. She would be choked with the sweet scent of ash in her throat and nose; her ears blocked with the sizzling of her own skin. Like hell he'd let that happen. Like hell.

They were going to get out of there. There were going to get off that airship alive and together. The both of them. Too many lives had been wasted over this war, and he wasn't about to let either of their poor souls join them. There were going to live another day. They were going to see their teammates again. They were going to live.

But when she asked, "Is this the end?" he wasn't sure how to answer. Her voice was sad, not like the fierce, sarcastic voice he'd always known. Here was the little girl she'd kept locked away. Here she was, acting like her age for the first time. He almost smiled, but didn't. He kept a straight face.

"I don't know."

Tears streamed down from her face, falling into the blazing fire that could very well be the death of her.

"I'm not sure that I can hol-"

"The only thing we can do is hold on," he gritted through his teeth. "You are not letting go of my hand, no matter how sweaty, nervous, or guilty you feel. I'm not letting go of your hand, no matter how twisted, how pained, or how tired I get. We are not letting go of each other. Do you understand? Never. Let. Go."

She nodded, not questioning his complete change in attitude. He was all she knew at the moment, besides the heat waving up to meet her sensitive feet. He was right. All they could do was hold on.

His muscles burned like fire, and he never complained, not once.