Avatar The Last Airbender

(I don't own A.T.L.A., Mike D., Brian K., & NICK do.)

Avatar the Last Airbender

Unusual Circumstances

What would happen if Aang and Zuko realized how much they

had in common, and actually began to develop feelings for

one another? How would they handle it, and how would their

friends react to this?

(Disclaimer: I do not own ATLA, nor do I own any of the characters

therein. They are the property of Mike D., Bryan K., and Nickelodeon)

Chapter-1 One Small Step at a Time

(Set During "The Western Air Temple")

Aang still could not quite believe what he was hearing; Zuko, who had pursued them all over the world was now asking for the chance to join their group. Zuko, who had used his fire bending for intimidation and violence, was now offering to teach Aang that same art to put an end to the war. More important than these last two issues the banished prince's driving goal, in fact his very reason for living, had always seemed to be to return home and reclaim his birthright as heir to the throne. And now he claimed that he had thrown all of that away to help Aang and his friends.

Sokka and Katara were vehemently opposed to the notion, they had seen too much of the prince's aggressive side to believe he was capable of anything else. The prince had also seemed to have difficulty making the choice between doing the right thing, and taking the easy way out; if what Katara had said of their encounter beneath Ba Sing Se was anything to go by.

Toph, for her part had gone to see; (metaphorically speaking), Zuko the night before, after his first attempt at an overture yesterday afternoon; and he had burned her feet. But, even she admitted that it was because she had surprised him, not a deliberate attack.

The blind earth-bender had only encountered Zuko once before, briefly during their group's battle with Azula in that Earth-Kingdom ghost town.

Aang couldn't forget about that either; Zuko had helped them fight his own sister. In addition, that was not the first time the prince had helped him. In his guise of 'The Blue Spirit' he had risked life and limb to rescue Aang from Zhao's fortress prison.

All of these thoughts were racing through the young avatar's mind, and he only vaguely heard Zuko make mention of the assassin Sokka had dubbed 'Combustion Man'; he snapped out of his reverie when he heard his friends react angrily to this. In a misguided attempt to silence the demons of his past, the prince had hired the assassin to finish what his sister hadn't been quite able to achieve in the crystal catacombs.

At just that moment everyone caught their breath as they heard the telltale deep inhalation, followed by a popping sound that marked an attack by the aforementioned assassin. Just as the lethal blast was about to reach its mark, Zuko raced forward and pushed Aang and Katara to the ground. The blast missed them by a hairsbreadth. Zuko picked them up, one of each of their hands in each of his, and pulled them behind a stout pillar where Toph and Sokka had already taken shelter.

At the moment their hands intertwined Aang felt a surge of warmth rush through him, and was surprised to recognize the same thing mirrored in Zuko's face. Aang dismissed it as just adrenaline due to their current situation, at any rate he could not afford to dwell on that now. Just then, the prince rushed off and was climbing a vine up to the terrace above their own, apparently to confront 'combustion man' face-to-face

Aang was shocked when he heard Prince Zuko shout "Stop, I don't want you hunting the Avatar anymore!" Aang and his friends watched, mesmerized, as Zuko stood toe-to-toe with the man, more than twice his size, blocking his line of fire. 'Combustion Man' merely shoved him aside and took aim down below again.

Zuko again rushed forward building his own fiery attack; the assassin simply grabbed the prince by his shirtfront with his metallic prosthetic arm and picked him up, ruining his shot. Zuko struggled uselessly against the vicelike grip then he exclaimed, "Okay, I'll pay you double to STOP!"

The brute threw the younger man aside, and then apparently deciding that he'd had enough of his erstwhile employer's interference, he turned his attack on Zuko himself.

Zuko bent a shield of his own fire to protect himself from the assassin's, but, the impact pushed him back over the ledge he'd just climbed up.

For a split second Aang felt his heart leap up into his throat, that strange feeling when his and Zuko's hands had touched earlier was back, and was replaced with relief when he saw that the prince had managed to grab the vine he'd just climbed and saved himself from plunging to his death.

Strange, why did seeing his former pursuer almost die, at the hands of a murderer he himself had hired, terrify Aang so much; and why did his survival make the young avatar feel so relieved and grateful?

Just then, Sokka, recognizing his chance, stepped out from behind their pillar, whispered to his trusty boomerang, lined it up, and then released the weapon with the mightiest throw he could manage.

Aang and his friends watched the boomerang's arcing flight, and were overjoyed to see it smack Combustion Man squarely in the 'third eye' tattoo in the center of his forehead with a bone shattering crunch.

The brute went down, "Yeah, Boomerang!" Sokka shouted as he leapt up to catch the weapon as it returned, followed by a dejected "Aaaww, Boomerang," when Combustion Man stumbled to his feet, he was dazed, but still very much alive

He was decidedly unsteady, however, and had blood streaming from his nose and ears. He also appeared to have trouble taking aim, but he fired his mental flame burst just the same; with spectacular results!

The unfocused burst of energy blasted the cliff on which he was standing right off the mountainside.

The last Aang and his friends saw of him was his metallic arm spinning down after the rocky debris and presumably, whatever was left of the arm's former owner.

The young Avatar and his friends went to each other and warmly embraced to celebrate their victory, but their celebration got interrupted by a low groan coming from over the side of the terrace.

Aang, Sokka and even Katara exchanged a fearful glance with each other and rushed to see what had become of their unexpected ally in this encounter.

The teenaged Fire-Nation prince hung precariously from his vine but from the looks of the taut vine and his straining arms, neither of them was going to be able to hold on too much longer.

Aang and Sokka began hauling up the vine aided by Katara with the technique the mysterious water-bending sage Hue, had taught her; bending the water in the vine itself.

Soon they had Zuko back on solid ground where the four of them, the Avatar, the Water-Tribe siblings, and the Fire-Nation prince collapsed into a heaving, gasping heap.

Eventually, it dawned on them that they were in a rather awkward position and, with grudging "thanks," and embarrassed "you're welcomes," the group disentangled themselves from one another.

Without really knowing why Aang went back toward Zuko and hugged the prince, who despite being nearly a head taller and physically, if not in terms of bending, much stronger than Aang, looked decidedly scared by this.

"I can't believe I'm saying this, but thanks, Zuko" Aang exclaimed giving a beaming grin to the prince, who looked embarrassed.

Zuko was unaccustomed to people making public displays of affection towards him; and in particular, people showing him gratitude, or friendship.

Zuko swallowed, and then blushed, smiling as gently as could while he patted the younger boy on the back saying, "You're welcome, Avatar."

Aang looked taken aback by this, nobody he knew not Katara and Sokka, not Toph, nor any of their other friends called him by his title which he really preferred to down-play.

Then, it dawned on him that Zuko may never have actually learned his name.

Aang held out his right hand and properly introduced himself saying, "My name is actually Aang, Prince Zuko."

Zuko now looked embarrassed, as he accepted the offered hand.

He smiled awkwardly and said "You're welcome, uuh, Aang, but you no longer need to call me 'Prince Zuko'."

Zuko saw the confused looks on the faces of Aang and his companions and knew he owed them an explanation, about a lot of things. He told them about his brief confrontation with his father during the eclipse, and how he learned about the true costs of the war and the devastation it had caused. He told them going after Iroh, but that he'd already gotten himself out. Lastly he said that he knew this all had to end, one way or another; and that's why he came here.

It felt right accepting Zuko's offer, especially after he spoke of understanding the need to control his fire. Aang knew Zuko could relate to the turmoil he felt after burning Katara. Aang had also seen the heroic side of Zuko, the side that had risked life and limb to save him from Zhao.

Aang explained about Katara, "When I first tried to learn fire bending, I accidently burned Katara. After that, I never wanted to fire-bend again. Now, I know that you understand how easy it is to lose control and hurt someone unintentionally. I'd like you to teach me."

However, he could not make a unilateral decision. "I need to ask my friends if it's ok with them first; they will have the final say," said the Ava-Aang; Zuko corrected himself. Zuko was about to protest, and then thought better of it, he had wronged all of these people; and they deserved to be angry, even to hold a grudge, against him. He would allow himself to be at their mercy.

Aang first turned to the blind earth-bender, "Toph," Zuko made a note of the girl's name, he'd have to learn all of their names, eventually. It wouldn't help his cause if he kept calling them 'peasants'.

"You're the one Zuko burned, what do you think?" "Go ahead and let 'im join," she said cavalierly. It'll give me plenty of chances to get back at him for burning my feet."

"Katara," Aang asked the Water-Tribe girl, who had a sullen expression laced with hostility. Zuko knew, that of all of Aang's friends, hers was the opinion he probably valued most. She was also the least likely to trust Zuko now, for she had done so once before, beneath Ba-Sing Se; and he had really let her down. Her brother might be easier to convince, but Zuko would have to provide some damned good proof

"I'll go along with whatever you think is right," she said; but there was no mistaking that she really thought this was a terrible idea.

Aang however, decided to take her statement at face value, and turned to her brother.

"Sokka, what do you think?" Aang asked of the teenaged Water-Tribe boy. Although Zuko could see the mistrust in Sokka's eyes, to his credit the young man said "All I want is to defeat the Fire-lord and end the war; If you think this is the way to do it, then I'm all for it."

Cupping his right hand into his outstretched left palm, Aang formally bowed to Zuko and said "I would like you to join us, and be my fire-bending teacher."

Zuko returned the bow, in the Fire-Nation's style of closed right fist against the heel of the open left hand and replied simply, "I'm very happy to be accepted by your group."

However, they said nothing; they simply turned and walked away, motioning for him to follow. Sokka stopped first and leaned down to pick up Toph, who was still unable to walk.

Zuko supposed it was a start, at least. They were walking away, not fleeing, and they seemed comfortable enough to turn their backs to him. Zuko sighed, and thought "Well, one small step at a time."